The Church Under the Tang Dynasty: A Forgotten Outpost of Christianity

When we talk about the history of Christianity in China, most people tend to think about the Jesuit missionaries from the Early Modern Era. However, almost a thousand years before them, the Christian community thrived in medieval China during the rule of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE). These Christians belonged to the Church of the East, an ancient church that arose in the Sasanian Empire.

The Christian community in Tang China managed to survive for as long as the emperors were tolerant of other religions. That changed during the rule of the emperor Wuzong (841-846 CE), who banned all foreign religions.

The Tang Dynasty: China's Golden Age

After a long period of disunity and civil war between northern and southern states, China was reunified into a single state once again during the Sui Dynasty Period (581-617). Emperor Wendi (581-604) managed to restore the kingdom's bureaucratic apparatus and centralize the state that he ruled from the rebuilt city of Cnag'an. The construction of the Great Canal from 605 to 609 CE united the Empire economically.

Although the Sui Dynasty ruled for a short period of time, it laid the foundation for the power and prosperity that China experienced during the Tang Dynasty. The Sui Dynasty's rule came to an end with the revolt against the emperor Yangdi (604-617) because of his unpopular and unsuccessful wars against Korea. General Li Yuan, who led the revolt, took the throne and ruled by the name of Emperor Gaozu (618-626). With his rule, the Tang Era began.

During the reigns of his successors, Taizong (626-649) and Gaozong (649-683), China's territory was greatly expanded. Through a series of successful wars against Turkic tribes to the east, they established control over the Silk Road.

Trade with other Asian countries expanded through both land and maritime routes. Thanks to this expansion of trade, during the early Tang Period, China entered an era of economic, social, and cultural prosperity. A great number of foreigners came to China, mostly from neighboring countries but also from other parts of Asia. They settled in big trading cities and towns and were mostly engaged in business, but they also influenced China's cultural life during this period.

Various forms of cultural activity bloomed during this period of peace and prosperity, such as art, poetry, and fashion. The capital city of Cnang'an became the residence of many artists, such as Zhang Xuan (c. 713-755). Tang China also served as a model for other Asian countries and their dynasties, such as Korea and Japan. They looked to Tang Dynasty rulers in order to use their experiences to strengthen their states.

Early Tang emperors, like their Sui predecessors, promoted Buddhism, which became an integral part of the Chinese state and society. A great number of Buddhist temples flourished throughout the country, which positively affected the development of both the culture and the economy. However, the promotion of Buddhism did not mean rejection of traditional Chinese religions, such as Confucianism and Taoism, which still played an important role in society.

In times of peace, emperors tolerated other religions that found their way into China during this period. In the capital city of Chang'an, members of various other religious groups lived and thrived, such as Zoroastrians, Muslims, and Manichaeans. Under the early Tang emperors, China became a multicultural and cosmopolitan empire. Such circumstances enabled Christians to find their place among other religions in China at that time.

The Church of the East: Early History and Expansion

In order to better understand the history of Christians in China, we need to look at the history of the church to which those Christians belonged. To do that, we need to look back a few centuries. The Church of the East is an ancient church that has its origins in ancient Persia. Christianity appeared in Persia in the 1st and 2nd centuries CE, during the Parthian Empire. It is not known exactly how Christianity spread into Persia. One possibility is that it was done by Greek-speaking refugees from the Roman Empire who fled persecution.

Inside an ancient Mar Toma Church in Urmia, Iran, photo by Mar Sharb.

According to Medieval Historian, Wilhelm Baum, the earliest Christians emerged from Jewish communities in Persia. Aside from them, early Christians in Persia included local Persians, Arab tribes, and the Aramaic-speaking population, who made up the majority of Christians in that period.

In the second half of the 3rd century CE, Persian Christians had developed an episcopal structure of their own. At the beginning of the 4th century CE, the bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon managed to impose supremacy over all other bishops. This marked the beginning of the Church of the East.

With the rise of the Sasanian Empire during the 3rd century CE, Zoroastrianism was declared the official state religion. Because of that, Christians faced persecution from time to time during the 4th century CE. The situation changed again during the rule of the Yazdegerd I (399-424).

In the first half of the 5th century CE, the Church of the East established its organization, headed by the Bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon. It gradually distanced itself from the Church of the Roman Empire and declared its independence in 424. However, at the Council of Seleucia-Ctesiphon in 410, the Church of the East accepted the teachings proclaimed at the First Ecumenical Council in 325. The decisions of the Council of Ephesus in 431, which condemned the Patriarch of Constantinople, Nestorius, were not accepted. Nestorius thought that the title "Theotokos" (Mother of God), given to the Virgin Mary, was not appropriate and that only the title "Christotokos" (Mother of Christ) could be applied. The Church of the East did not participate in any other ecumenical councils after this.

Because of this, the Church of the East was, and still is, wrongly described as "Nestorian." The Christology of the Church of the East was created under the influence of Theodore of Mopsuestia, a representative of the Antiochian school. Members of this school of thought considered that there were two separate natures in Jesus Christ. This was different from the official dogma of the Church in the Roman Empire, according to which the two natures of Jesus Christ were united.

Rabban Hormizd Monastery in Iraq, 7th century.

During the 5th and 6th centuries CE, the Church of the East spread throughout the lands controlled by the Sasanian Empire and Christians became a significant religious minority. During the 6th century CE, monasticism spread, and many new monasteries were built.

When Byzantine-Sasanian wars broke out, Christians in Persia faced persecution again. However, thanks to capable patriarchs such as Mar Abba I the Great (540-552), the Church of the East managed to survive and thrive.

During this period, the Church of the East spread beyond the borders of the Sasanian Empire, among the Arab tribes, in Central Asia, and even as far away as India and Sri Lanka. The church even survived the Arab conquests of the 7th century CE. During the rule of the Muslim Caliphs, the Church of the East belonged to the ahl-al-dhimma, that is, religious groups that, in exchange for religious freedom, paid tribute to the state.

A Golden Age of Christianity in China

Map of the expansion of the Church of the East.

For many years, very little was known about the history of Christianity in China until the arrival of missionaries from Europe. That changed with the discovery of the so-called "Nestorian Stele" in the city of Xian in the early 17th century. This stele, 2.79 meters high (9 ft 2 inches) and 99 centimeters (39 inches) wide, was erected in 781 CE and is inscribed in Chinese script with a few lines at the end written in Syriac.

The author of the text was the monk Adam, with the Chinese name Qing-Qing. The Xian Stele tells us about the arrival of Christian missionaries from Syria to China during the reign of Emperor Taizong (626-649). At the head of this mission was the Syrian monk Alopen (or Olopen), who came to Chang'an in 635 and presented the Christian holy books to the emperor. This was followed by the imperial edict of 638, which allowed Christian missionary activity in the country. A Christian monastery was immediately built in Chang'an where 21 monks could live.

According to the emperor's orders, the Christian holy books presented to him by Alopen were translated and stored in the imperial library. Alopen was most likely part of an official mission from the Sasanian Empire as an official representative of the last Sasanian ruler, Yazdegerd III (632-651). His son, Peroz III, was in exile in China after the Arab conquests. Peroz was responsible for the construction of another Christian monastery in 677 CE. In Chinese documents, Christian monasteries are called "Ta-qin monasteries." "Ta-qin" was the Chinese name for the Roman Empire or the Middle East, depending on the context.

During the decades that followed, Christianity continued to flourish in China. It enjoyed the support of Taizong's successor, Gaozong (649-683), and many important people in the empire. According to the Xian Stele, Gaozong allowed Christian churches and monasteries to be built in every province of the empire. This does not necessarily mean that monasteries were built in every province, but it is a good indicator of the spread of Christianity in China during that period.

In addition to the central parts of China, Christianity spread to the surrounding countries, to Tibet, and among the Uyghurs. The Church in China was officially organized as the Metropolitan Province of Beth Sinaye under the patriarch Saliba (714-728).

Some Christian priests managed to reach important positions and served as advisors or even generals. For example, general Issu was the right hand of Lord Guo Ziyi. Issu was a priest of Iranian origin. His real name was Yazdebod, and he served as a general, who protected the northern borders of the empire. He was a great benefactor of Christian communities, and his name stands out on the Xian Stele.

Art and Literature

Nestorian Hymn from the Book of Praise, 8th century. ( Bibliotheque Nationale de France)

The history of Christianity in Tang China spans two centuries, and a small number of Christian texts in Chinese have survived to this day. Christian monks and priests carried out a great deal of effort in the translation of Christian texts into Chinese. During the 780s CE, an Indian scholar named Pradschna resided in China. He helped a monk named Adam, whose Chinese name was Qinq-Qing, translate Christian texts. By the end of the 10th century, around 500 texts had been translated into Chinese, including the complete New Testament and part of the Old Testament.

Out of these 500 texts, only a handful have survived to this day. Among them, the oldest ones are the Book of Jesus, the Messiah, and On the One God. They were written in 635-638, and 641 CE, possibly by Alopen. A memorial pillar from Luoyang, erected in 814/815 CE, contains the text titled Teaching on the Origin of Origins of the Da Qin Luminous Religion. Aside from that, another pillar contains the epitaph of a Sogdian Christian woman, and it is decorated with pictures of a cross and winged angels.

Restoration of the silk painting of a Christian figure from Mogao Caves, 9th century.

Some other Chinese Christian texts that have survived to this day include the Book of Praise (presumably written by Qing-Qing in the late 8th century), the Book of Venerable Men and Sacred Books (written in c. 906-1036), and the Book of the Origin of the Enlightening Religion of Ta Qin (written before 1036).

In addition to these texts, some remnants of Chinese Christian art have survived. A silk painting of a haloed Christian figure, dating from the 9th century, was found in the Mogao Caves. A painted male figure is represented with a halo and a winged crown containing a cross. The position of his right hand is taken from Buddhism, and it symbolizes the explanation of a doctrine. The silk painting depicts either Jesus Christ or a saint.

At the beginning of the 20th century, three frescoes were found in the remains of the Christian temple in Kocho, two of which have been preserved. The first one possibly depicts a celebration of Palm Sunday. The fresco depicts a man of Middle Eastern origin, most likely a deacon or priest, in front of three believers. According to another interpretation, it depicts a ceremonial greeting inspired by Buddhism. The second fresco depicts the Repentance and is smaller than the previous one. The third fresco, lost today, once depicted the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.

Persecutions and Demise

Christian fresco from the Mogao Caves, 7th--9th centuries. ( Discovery of Civilizations of Central Asia)

At the end of the 8th century, the Christian community in China reached its zenith. However, most believers came from foreign populations: Iranians, Sogdians, Turks, and Uyghurs. Very few Chinese converted to Christianity because it was still a foreign religion to them.

According to Baum, during the middle of the 9th century, there were about 260,000 Christians in China. The survival of Christians in China depended too much on the goodwill of emperors and local rulers. While peace reigned and the emperors promoted religious tolerance, Christians lived in peace. In turbulent times, however, rulers often turned against foreigners and foreign religions.

Christians experienced the first persecutions in China during the reign of Empress Wu (683-705). As a fanatical Buddhist, she elevated Buddhism to the level of the state religion in 691 and turned on members of other religions, including Christians. During her domination of the state, several monasteries were looted and burned. The persecutions ended during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong I (713-756).

Christians experienced their final downfall during the reign of Wuzong (841-846). He was a traditional Taoist and turned against all religions that he considered foreign. First, in 843, he banned the practice of Manichaeism, and later his persecutions were extended to other religions, even Buddhism. His edict from 845 banned "Persian religions," namely Zoroastrianism and Christianity. All members of these religious groups were ordered to leave China.

Cross on a lotus flanked by two Angels, Detail from the Pillar of Luoyang, 814/815.

During the next century, Christians perished in China completely. With the fall of the Tang Dynasty in 907, China once again entered a period of civil war and internal instability. Because of this, trade routes with the West collapsed, and the remaining Christians lost contact with their patriarch.

Around 980, patriarch Abdisho I sent six monks to China to examine the situation. They reported that Christianity had completely disappeared in China. Churches and monasteries were destroyed, and there was only one Christian left. This, however, did not mark the end of Christianity in China. It would be revived in the 13th century, during the reign of the Yuan dynasty.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 10. The Azerbaijani Army launched a counter-offensive operation, later called the "Iron Fist", on September 27, 2020, in response to the large-scale provocation of the Armenian armed forces along the frontline.

The erupted 44-day second Karabakh war ended with the liberation of Azerbaijans territories from nearly 30-year Armenian occupation and the restoration of territorial integrity.

First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva has made an Instagram post on the occasion of the historic Victory.

In a post on her official Instagram page, Mehriban Aliyeva says:

"My fellow compatriots!

The great day  the day of Victory has come! The territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan is restored! The historical justice is restored! I do sincerely congratulate the Azerbaijani people on this truly landmark event!

Armenia has acknowledged its total and unconditional capitulation! We have accomplished our noble mission of liberation with honor! We have made a stand for Motherland, liberated ancestral Azerbaijani lands from the occupation, gained a victory so desperately awaited by Azerbaijan! Over long years, we have waited for the triumph of truth and the historic justice! Our almost 30 year-long participation in the negotiation process for peaceful settlement is an obvious case of our commitment to the peace. During 27 years, Armenia has been ignoring the UN Security Council resolutions that demand immediate, full and unconditional withdrawal of aggressor forces from all occupied Azerbaijani territories. There was no end of military provocations staged by Armenia. Azerbaijan has demonstrated and proved to the entire world that it is able, on its own, to liberate its occupied lands using own forces and might, and Azerbaijan has done so!

During military actions that lasted since 27 September 2020, the Azerbaijani Army has liberated over 300 living districts, including 5 cities and 4 towns coupled with a huge number of strategic elevations. Only a few hours following the liberation of cultural pearl of Azerbaijan  the city of Shusha, our soldiers have succeeded to put under their control 72 living districts and 9 strategic elevations which have incontestably led the military and political leadership of Armenia into the impasse.

Our Army has fought for the sake of its sanctuaries, our Motherland, our common home, and it has stood up and became victor in this sacred battle!

In these minutes, Azerbaijanis around the world are driven by sentiments of joy and pride! They feel proud of our President, our brave soldiers and officers, our patriotism, unity, staunchness and solidarity of the Azerbaijani people!

Each of us is immensely thankful to our President, Commander-in-Chief - Ilham Aliyev! The modern and strong Azerbaijani Army is created under his leadership! Indeed, thanks to his staunch will, braveness, resolve and determination, the Azerbaijani Army has made enemy to collapse by defining the end result of this war and bringing its victorious end! Respect, passion, confidence, faith and support of the Azerbaijani people that are the sources of force of our President have helped him to terminate the Armenian-Azerbaijani, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict which is one of the longest conflicts in Eurasia. Under his leadership, we have gained the Victory that restored our peoples self-confidence! The greatness of this Victory will leave a centuries long imprint in the history of the Azerbaijani State!

Dear brothers and sisters:

There have been also tragedies and heavy losses both in the years of treacherous occupation of our lands and in the period of current battles. Peaceful civilians of our cities and villages have perished in the aftermath of cruel attacks far from the combat zone. Children, women and elderly have lost their lives. But, Azerbaijan has stood up! I do once again express my deep condolences to the relatives and beloved ones of the dead! Their death has not gone unpunished! The Azerbaijani Army and the Azerbaijani State have avenged for all bloodshed for all our compatriots!

In the heart of every Azerbaijani, we will always cherish the bright memories, respect and sincere pride for the generation that defended and revived our Motherland! Our soldiers and officers have fought with no spare of their own lives. They have become the examples of nobleness and genuine patriotism. All of them are united today by heroic deeds that they have made for the sake of Motherland and its might! We pay tributes to their fearlessness, will and intrepidity. We revive the memories of all those that have bravely fisted the occupant and restored the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan! We bow our heads before those parents that have grown and educated their brave sons whose names are forever inscribed in the history of the Azerbaijani State! May Allah rest the souls of all our martyrs that have died for the sake of Motherland in peace!

This war has once again demonstrated us one thing that we knew throughout the centuries: a friend in need is a friend indeed. Our thanks go to all our friends around the world! Our thanks go because you have shared our grievance and openly expressed their principled and fair standpoint in support of the Azerbaijani people. I express my particular gratitude to the brotherly Turkish people and personally, to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Their solidarity and support cause the sense of pride of every Azerbaijani!

We thank the representatives of mass media. Thanks to their high professionalism, objective vision, impartiality, rapidness and responsibility, it has become possible to deliver current Azerbaijani realities to the entire world. Thanks go to our citizens that defended the position of Azerbaijan out of their Motherland and demonstrated the aggressive nature of Armenia to the international community! Thanks go to the entire Azerbaijani people that formed the iron fist and shown our solidarity and might of the Azerbaijani State to the entire world!

My fellow compatriots:

I congratulate all on the day of Great Victory! Congratulations on the day of great triumph! Congratulations on the day of glory and might of Azerbaijan! Congratulations on the day of liberation of Karabakh! We have gained the Victory! Karabakh is Azerbaijan!

With lots of respect and love

Your MEHRIBAN"
A recent report by Save the Children said that Afghanistan comes at number six on the list of most vulnerable countries to the impact of climate change. At least 25 of Afghanistans 34 provinces face severe or catastrophic drought conditions, affecting more than half the population read more

COP29: The 29th UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 29) will take place from November 11 to 22, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan. Image: unep.org

Afghanistans Taliban will attend COP29 for the first time since their takeover in 2021, the countrys environment agency announced on Sunday.

The UN climate summit will commence on November 11 and is an important diplomatic step for the Taliban as they do not have official recognition as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan.

The National Environmental Protection Agency posted on social media platform X that a technical delegation had gone to Baku to participate.

What does Taliban hope to gain from it?

By participating in the COP29 Summit, the Taliban aims to enhance collaboration with the global community on environmental protection and climate change, highlight Afghanistans needs for access to existing financial mechanisms for climate action, and engage in discussions on adaptation and mitigation strategies.

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Climate change and Afghanistan

Experts told The Associated Press that climate change has led to numerous and negative impacts on Afghanistan, creating serious challenges because of the countrys geographical location and weak climate policies.

Climate change has resulted in higher temperatures, which reduce water sources and cause droughts, significantly affecting agricultural activities, said Hayatullah Mashwani, professor of environmental science at Kabul University. The reduction in water availability and frequent droughts pose severe threats to agriculture, leading to food insecurity and challenges to livelihoods.

Meanwhile, a recent report by Save the Children said that Afghanistan comes at number six on the list of most vulnerable countries to the impact of climate change. At least 25 of Afghanistans 34 provinces face severe or catastrophic drought conditions, affecting more than half the population.

Afghanistan also had the highest number of children made homeless by climate disasters of any country as of the end of 2023, according to the report.

With inputs from AP
Our hands stained with mud, yours with blood, chant thousands of protesters who held demonstrations in Spains Valencia. The protesters demanded the resignation of the regional President Carlos Mazon read more

Volunteers help firefighters remove mud from a basement, in the aftermath of floods caused by heavy rains, in Alfafar, near Valencia, Spain, November 3, 2024. File Image/Reuters

Thousands of Spaniards took to the streets of Valencia on Saturday, demanding the resignation of the regional president who was overseeing the emergency response to the devastating floods that killed over 200 people. The floods, which jolted the region on the night of October 29, left 20 people dead with 80 people still missing.

Residents staged demonstrations, protesting against the way the incident was handled, putting immense pressure on regional leader Carlos Mazon to step down from office. The protesters slammed his administration for failing to issue alerts to citizens phones, hours before the flood started, The Guardian reported.

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The regional government was also criticised for not taking prompt action despite the State Meteorological Agency warning five days before the floods that there could be an unprecedented rainstorm. The officials noted that the attendance at the protests was estimated to be 130,000.

Protesters clash with riot police

Things started to escalate quickly after protesters clashed with riot police in front of Valencias city hall at the start of their march. The authorities used police batons to push the protesters back. Meanwhile, many demonstrators held homemade signs and chanted Mazon resign. One of the banners at the site read: Our hands are stained with mud, yours with blood.

As a symbol of defiance, some of the demonstrators dumped muddy boots outside the council building to express their discontent with the regional government, The Guardian reported. 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 insisted that he respects the marches but he is currently focusing on the restoration process. Mazon, of the conservative Popular Party, is also being criticised for what people perceive as the slow and chaotic response to the floods.

The local volunteers were the first responders to the flooding and it took days for the officials to mobilise the thousands of police reinforcements and soldiers that the regional government asked central authorities to send. In September 2023, members of Compromis, a leftwing alliance in the Valencian regional parliament presented a proposal to tackle the issue of flooding in the region.

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However, the proposal was voted down by the Mazon-led government. Meanwhile, Eva Saldana of Greenpeace Spain suggested that oil and gas companies foot the bill for this natural disaster, The Spanish politician argued that those industries have known about the looming climate crisis for more than six decades.

With inputs from agencies.
Rafael Grossi last visited Iran in May, when he called for concrete measures to help bolster cooperation on Irans nuclear programme at a news conference in Isfahan province, home to the Natanz uranium enrichment plant read more

The United Nations atomic watchdog chief Rafael Grossi will visit Iran in days for talks with senior officials, Iranian state media reported on Sunday.The director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency will arrive in Iran on Wednesday  at the official invitation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Official meetings with Grossi in Iran will take place on Thursday, the agency added.

Grossi last visited Iran in May, when he called for concrete measures to help bolster cooperation on Irans nuclear programme at a news conference in Isfahan province, home to the Natanz uranium enrichment plant.

His visit this month will come after Donald Trumps victory in the US presidential election.

During his first term in office, Trump unilaterally withdrew Washington from a pivotal nuclear deal that aimed at curbing Irans nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief.

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Efforts mediated by the European Union have failed to bring Washington back on board and to get Tehran to again comply with the terms of the accord.

Iran has since rolled back its commitments to caps on nuclear activities under the deal, and tensions have repeatedly flared between Tehran and the IAEA over its compliance.

Irans President Masoud Pezeshkian, who took office in July, has favoured reviving that agreement and called for ending his countrys isolation.

On Tuesday, Trump told reporters he was not looking to do damage to Iran but noted that Iran cant have a nuclear weapon.

Iran has always denied having ambitions to develop a nuclear weapon, insisting its activities are entirely peaceful.

On Saturday, Iranian Vice President Mohammad Javad Zarif urged Trump to reassess his maximum pressure policy which has seen the US impose punishing sanctions on Tehran.

He blamed that policy for leading to the surge in enrichment levels to reach 60 per cent from 3.5 per cent.
Thousands of people from both the East and the West coasts took to the streets to express their frustration over Trumps win in the November 5 polls against US Vice President Kamala Harris read more

Multiple protests erupted in different parts of the United States after the landslide victory of President-elect Donald Trump. On Saturday, thousands of people from both the East and the West coasts took to the streets to express their frustration over Trumps win in the November 5 polls against US Vice President Kamala Harris.

The demonstrations were held in major cities, including New York City and Seattle. Protesters emphasised that Trumps re-election poses a major threat to reproductive rights. Trump also sparked anger after he pledged to carry out a mass deportation program at the start of his upcoming presidency in 2025.

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In NYC, the demonstration held on Saturday focused on workers rights and immigrant justice. Demonstrators from several advocacy groups gathered outside the Trump International Hotel and Tower on 5th Avenue. The protesters held up signs that read: We protect us and Mr President, how long must women wait for liberty? Others held signs that read: We wont back down while chanting: Here we are and were not leaving!

Blue states lament Trumps win

In Washington DC, participants from Womens March staged a demonstration outside the Heritage Foundation, the rightwing think tank behind Project 2025. The protesters expressed concerns over the threat to womens reproductive rights. Some of the demonstrators were seen holding signs that read: Well-behaved women dont make history and You are never alone. Demonstrators also chanted: We believe that we will win! and held other signs that read: Wheres my liberty when I have no choice?

A crowd of demonstrators also gathered outside Seattles Space Needle on Saturday. March and rally to protest Trump and the two-party war machine, posters for the protests said. Build the peoples movement and fight war, repression and genocide, the added. While some protesters wore raincoats others wore keffiyehs in solidarity with Palestinians amid Israels deadly war on Gaza. Any president that has come to power has also let workers down," another protester said, The Guardian reported.

On Friday, demonstrations were also held outside city hall in Portland, Oregon, where people carried signs that read: Fight fascism and Turn fear into fight.

Were here because weve been fighting for years for health, housing and education. And whether it was Trump, or [Joe] Biden before this, we have not been getting it and we are wanting to push to actually get that realized, Cody Urban, a chair for the US chapter of the International League of Peoples Struggle, told KGW.

Similar demonstrations were held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where people gathered in Point Start Park to protest Trumps election victory. Many carried signs that read My body, my choice and We are not going back.

We are afraid of whats coming, but we are not going to back down, Steve Capri, an organizer with Socialist Alternative, told WPXI TV. Trump is an attack on all of us so we need to unite, we need to get organized, join movements, study and learn together," she furthered.

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With inputs from agencies.
US Vice President Kamala Harriss devastating loss against President-elect Donald Trump was fueled by resentment and feelings of betrayal the Latinos and Muslim/Arab voters received from the Democratic Party. Heres why read more

US Vice President Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris waves at supporters at the end of her concession speech at Howard University in Washington, DC, on November 6, 2024. Donald Trump won a sweeping victory on November 6, 2024 in the US presidential election, defeating Kamala Harris to complete an astonishing political comeback that sent shock waves around the world. Source: AFP.

On Tuesday, November 5, the Democrats received a major setback after the partys presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris lost the highly anticipated US presidential election to the Republican Partys pick Donald Trump. The 78-year-old president-elect created history after he became the first US President in over a century to come back to the White House after losing his re-election bid the first time.

While pollsters and election forecasters were predicting the race to be close, some of them even giving Harris an edge, Trump managed to clinch a landslide victory, winning all the 7 swing states. This meant that the business-mogul-turned-politician managed to infiltrate the blue wall of the Democrats.

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The setback was so severe that the Republicans also managed to flip the Senate in their favour and are expected to retain their majority in the US House of Representatives. While some Democrats blamed US President Joe Biden for the loss, with former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi saying the POTUSs delayed exit from the race cost the Democrats the election, the party forgot one of the major factors that contributed to their loss.

Two groups played a key role in changing the tide of the polls because they felt neglected by the party they sought refuge in the past. They were the Latinos and Arab / Muslim voters. While for the Latinos the economy and immigration became the top issues, Muslim and Arab voters were miffed with the Biden administrations tackling of the Israel-Hamas war.

Heres how Democrats took the Latinos and Muslim/Arab voters for granted.

Why did Latinos swing dramatically towards Trump

How Harris and Trump performed among the Latino voters

One of the biggest stories of the 2024 presidential race was the fact that Latino voters swung towards Trump by a staggering 25 percentage points, compared to what the figures were four years ago.

According to the data released by NBC News, Trump won the support of 43 per cent of Latino voters across the United States, while 53 per cent voted for Harris. While on the surface it shows that the majority of Latinos voted for Harris, things become interesting when we compare the recent figures to the outcome of the 2020 US presidential election.

In 2020, Trump won only 32 per cent of votes to Joe Bidens 65 per cent among the community. Not only this, the 2024 race became one of the GOPs strongest performances among Latinos in a presidential race since George W. Bush carried 44 per cent in 2004.

It is pertinent to note that Latinos account for 12 per cent of the electorate and Trumps performance in this section of voters helped to improve his margins across a host of battleground states, from Pennsylvania to Arizona, which complicated Harris path. Trumps major gains were fueled by a massive shift among Latino men, who backed him over Harris by 10 points.

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Donald Trump speaks at a roundtable with Latino business leaders, on October 22 in Doral, Florida. AFP

What was the reason behind the shift?

Shortly after Harris formally conceded defeat to Trump, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders issued a statement in which he mentioned how the Democratic Party abandoned the working class, especially the Latino voters. 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, Sanders wrote in his post on X, formally known as Twitter.

First, it was the white working class, and now it is Latino and Black workers as well. While the Democratic leadership defends the status quo, the American people are angry and want change. And theyre right, he added. The economy was one of the main issues for Latino voters.

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

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Latino support for the Democratic Party has been declining since 2012. In that election, 71 per cent of Hispanic voters backed former President Barack Obama, 66 per cent voted for Hillary Clinton and 65 per cent voted for Joe Biden. Just like the rest of the country, the Latino population are struggling with the high cost of living, housing and food.

The population felt betrayed and neglected by the Biden administration (whose Harris is a part of). Before the November 5 elections, multiple polls predicted that the vast majority of Latino voters were confident that Trump would handle economic issues better than Harris. While the Hispanic poverty rate has declined in recent years, Latino communities remain among the poorest in the nation.

Nothings changed in terms of what the Latino electorate wants, Matt Tuerk, the first Latino mayor of Allentown, Pennsylvania, one of the key states Harris lost to Trump, told Politico. They still want opportunity. What theyre saying with their vote, if the exit polls are to be believed, is they dont believe that the plans that were offered by Vice President Harris would give them that opportunity," he added.

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When it comes to immigration the top concern of the Latino community still stands at establishing legal pathways to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants. However, Harris kept focusing on the importance of border security. What made Latinos more disenchanted by the VP was when she declined to denounce Trumps proposed plan to expel 11 million undocumented immigrants. Hence, for them, it became a matter of choosing the best from the worst.

How the Gaza War became a key issue for Muslim/Arab voters

How Harris and Trump performed among the Muslim / Arab community

The Muslim electorate in the US is estimated to comprise over one million voters who form a substantial voting bloc in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. Trump managed to win in all three states. In the state of Michigan, Harris received at least 22,000 fewer votes than Biden did four years ago.

Meanwhile, Trump made small gains  about 9,000 votes  across the area with an Arab majority, suggesting Harriss loss there is more attributable to Arab Americans either not voting or casting ballots for third-party candidates. In this case, Jill Stein was the third-party candidate who gained significant support from Muslim/Arab voters.

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Stein, leader of the Green Party, who prioritised ending Israels war on Gaza and its occupation of the West Bank, secured just over 44,000 votes in Michigan and over 600,000 nationally. However, neither result was enough to prevent Harris from losing nationally or in key swing states. So what was the reason behind the VPs poor performance?

Combination of photos of former President Donald Trump greeting local Muslim leaders onstage at a campaign rally in Novi, Michigan, (R), US Vice President Kamala Harris (L). AP

Support from Cheneys and overall neglect

In late October, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) released a poll which showed that 42 per cent of Muslim voters favoured third-party candidate Stein while 41 per cent favoured Harris. What should have been concerning for Democrats is the fact that 98 per cent of Muslims polled in the same survey said that they disapprove of how Biden had handled the war in Gaza.

While initially, Harris put forward a strong stance, calling for an immediate ceasefire and telling Israels PM Benjamin Netanyahu that the US wont be silent, her stance on the matter soon started to fade.

Supporters of the Palestinian cause also felt betrayed when none of the pro-Palestinian politicians were invited to speak at the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC). In the midst of this, with just three days left to the upcoming US presidential elections, Michigan congresswoman Rashida Tlaib declined to endorse the vice president. Dont underestimate the power you all have, Tlaib told a get-out-the-vote United Auto Workers rallygoers at that time.

Democrats also gave a platform to Republican lawmaker Liz Cheney and Former Vice President Dick Cheney. However, this did not sit well with the Arab and Muslim voters. Dick Cheney who served under the Bush administration was an early proponent of invading Iraq. He went on to allege that Saddam Husseins regime possessed weapons of mass destruction program in the country, which eventually turned out to be untrue.

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris walks with former Congresswoman Liz Cheney at a campaign rally at Ripon College on October 3, 2024, in Ripon, Wisconsin. (Photo: AP)

Cheneys policy eventually caused immense human suffering and with them endorsing Harris and Democrats inviting them to speak at rallies, Muslims and Arabs in the US felt betrayed. While all this was happening the Trump-Vance campaign slammed the Cheney family and pushed an anti-war rhetoric.

Why would Muslims support Lying Kamala Harris when she embraces Muslim hating and very dumb person, Liz Cheney, asked Trump. Her father brought years of war and death to the Middle East. He killed many Arabs, many, many Arabs and Muslims, he added to rapturous approval.

Rola Makki (center), an outreach chair for the Michigan GOP, attends an election night watch party in Novi, Michigan. X

While Democrats continue to play the blame game, the crux of the matter remains that the party took the Latinos, blacks and Muslims for granted, thinking that they would invariably vote for Harris over Trump. Harris continued to stand on the same Biden policies which already did not sit well with both the communities. As the party has lost dominance in the White House, Senate and the House, it is time for them to introspect, exactly what went wrong in the 2024 presidential elections.

With inputs from agencies.
When Donald Trump takes oath in January, he will move into the worlds most famous address, the White House. It serves as the residence and the office of POTUS. From the ground floor corridor rooms, once used as service areas, to the state floor rooms that have hosted countless dignitaries and leaders, the White House remains a lasting symbol of American heritage read more

The White House and its surrounding grounds serve as both the residence of the President of the United States and the First Family and as a living museum of American history.

Notably, every US President since John Adams has occupied the White House, with its history reaching far beyond the construction of its walls. The site was chosen in 1791 by the first US President, George Washington.

In 1814, British forces set fire to the White House during the War of 1812 in retaliation for American actions in the Canadas. The burning affected much of Washington, DC, at that time.

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From the Ground Floor Corridor rooms, originally service areas, to the State Floor rooms that have hosted countless dignitaries and leaders, the White House continues to be both a family home and a symbol of American history.

Today, it draws over 1.5 million visitors annually. In 1995, due to terrorism concerns, the section of Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House was closed to vehicles, becoming a popular pedestrian and skating area.

Throughout its history, the White House has been referred to as the Presidents Palace, the Presidents House, and the Executive Mansion. In 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt officially named it the White House.

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to move into the White House in January as the 47th US President, heres a look at some fascinating facts about this historic landmark:
Former US Speaker of the House slammed the countrys Supreme Court, calling it an embarrassment to our founder. Pelosis remarks came while she was expressing institutional concerns that emerged after the courts ruling in the presidential immunity case read more

Former US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi slammed the US Supreme Court, calling it an embarrassment to our founders. The sharp rebuke from the veteran Democratic politician came while she was commenting on the apex courts handling of presidential immunity.

During an interview with The New York Times, Pelosi said the ruling will emerge as a major obstacle in ensuring justice. The Supreme Court has been an embarrassment to our founders, just to have immunity for any president, whoever it might be, and to do so and take forever to do it so that justice could not be addressed one way or another, she said on Friday.

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Pelosi was referring to the courts ruling on July 1, 2024, where a 6-3 majority established that former US presidents have presumptive immunity for official acts during their tenure and absolute immunity for certain core functions. The ruling came while former president and now the new President-elect Donald Trump was navigating through a plethora of cases hurled against him.

Pelosi highlights the institutional concerns

While acknowledging her differences with the Republican presidential winner, Pelosi emphasised that top court rulings also come with institutional concerns. My thoughts about Donald Trump are well known. Im not an admirer of his lack of patriotism and the rest, but Im not here to go into that, she said.

It is pertinent to note that the ruling impacts multiple criminal cases against Trump. Before the 2024 election results, Trump was facing federal indictment on four counts related to alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results leading up to the January 6, 2021, US Capitol attack.

The business-mogul-turned-politician pleaded guilty in the case and characterized Special Counsel Jack Smiths prosecution as politically motivated. Trump is also involved in another federal case which brought 40 charges concerning classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. After the case was dismissed by Aileen Cannon, prosecutors filed an appeal over the matter.

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Pelosi blames Biden for election loss

In the same interview, the former speaker of the House said that US President Joe Bidens delayed exit from the 2024 US presidential election race cost the Democrats dearly.

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.

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.

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With inputs from agencies.
As President-elect Donald Trump and his team build his new team, he made it clear that his ex-White House officials Nikki Haley and Mike Pompeo will not be invited to join him again read more

President-elect Donald Trump made it clear that former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and ex-US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will not be part of his new government. AFP / AP

Days after winning the 2024 US presidential elections, President-elect Donald Trump said that he will not ask former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and ex-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to be part of his administration again. The business-mogul-turned politician confirmed the news on Saturday on his social media platform Truth Social.

Trump made it clear that both Haley and Pompeo will not be invited to re-enter the White House in January 2025. Haley who served as the US ambassador to UN under the first Trump administration, ripped Trump when she was contesting against him for the GOP nomination. Meanwhile, Pompeo was accused by several Trump supporters for not backing the former president strongly during the 2024 electoral race.

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I will not be inviting former Ambassador Nikki Haley, or former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to join the Trump Administration, which is currently in formation, Trump wrote in the post. I very much enjoyed and appreciated working with them previously, and would like to thank them for their service to our Country. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! he added.

Trump prepares his team behind closed doors

Soon after winning the elections against Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump and his team have been working behind closed doors at Mar-a-Lago to staff the 47th presidents administration. Given how some of his erstwhile allies betrayed him the last time, Trumps team will now consider loyalty as a major factor.

Earlier this week, Trump named Susie Wiles to be his White Houses chief of staff. Wiles, who was the campaign manager in Trumps 2024 bid to the White House, supported him during his 2016 and 2020 campaigns as well.

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," he added. The 67-year-old is touted as one of the most respectable operatives in Republican politics.

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The 78-year-old Republican firebrand is now surrounded by new allies who could fill his cabinet, staff his White House and take up other key roles across government. Names of Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy Jr are also popping up after Trump confirmed that they will be part of his team.
The delivery of the interceptors for the Patriot missile defence system and the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, or NASAMS, should meet Ukraines air defence needs for the rest of this year, WSJ reported, citing an unnamed U.S. official read more

A resident stands inside of his house destroyed by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa, Ukraine. Reuters

The United States will ship more than 500 interceptor missiles to Ukraine in the weeks ahead, speeding up Washingtons military aid delivery to the war-ravaged country, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.

Citing an unnamed Pentagon official, the WSJ reported that before the U.S. presidential election, in which former Republican President Donald Trump defeated his Democratic rival Vice President Kamala Harris, the U.S. administration had been aiming to deliver the remainder of its aid to Ukraine by April.

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The delivery of the interceptors for the Patriot missile defence system and the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, or NASAMS, should meet Ukraines air defence needs for the rest of this year, the newspaper reported, citing an unnamed U.S. official.

Reuters could not independently verify the Wall Street Journal report.

The office of Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian defence ministry, the Pentagon and the U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Zelenskyy has been pleading for months for more weaponry and for NATO allies to help Ukraine to strike deep into Russia with long-range Western missiles.

The 2-1/2-year-old Russian war in Ukraine has triggered the biggest confrontation between Russia and the West since the depths of the Cold War, and Russian officials say the war is now entering its most dangerous phase.

On Friday, President Joe Bidens administration said it would allow U.S. defence contractors to work in Ukraine to maintain and repair Pentagon-provided weaponry, in a significant policy shift that aims to aid Kyivs fight against Russia.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 10. The Azerbaijani Army launched a counter-offensive operation, later called the "Iron Fist", on September 27, 2020, in response to the large-scale provocation of the Armenian armed forces along the frontline.

The 44-day second Karabakh war ended with the liberation of Azerbaijans territories from nearly 30-year Armenian occupation and the restoration of territorial integrity.

On November 10, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev addressed the nation.

Trend presents the address.

Address of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev:

- Dear fellow countrymen. It is a historic day for our country today. An end is being put to the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict today. I think that the trilateral statement that has just been signed will put a full stop in resolving the issue. The statement has been signed by the President of Azerbaijan, President of Russia and Prime Minister of Armenia. I would like to familiarize you with the text of the statement:

Statement by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia and President of the Russian Federation

We, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan I. H. Aliyev, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia N. V. Pashinyan and President of the Russian Federation V. V. Putin, declare the following:

1. A complete ceasefire and a cessation of all hostilities in the zone of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict shall be introduced at 00:00 hours Moscow time on 10 November 2020. The Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia, hereinafter referred to as the Parties, shall stop at their current positions.

2. Aghdam district shall be returned to the Republic of Azerbaijan before 20 November 2020.

3. Along the contact line in Nagorno-Karabakh and along the Lachin corridor, a peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation shall be deployed in the amount of 1,960 military personnel with small arms, 90 armored personnel carriers, 380 units of automobile and special equipment.

4. The peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation shall be deployed in parallel with the withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces. The peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation shall be deployed for a period of five years with automatic extension by further five-year periods if none of the Parties declares six months before the expiration of the period of its intention to terminate the application of this provision.

5. In order to increase the effectiveness of control over the implementation of the agreements by the Parties to the conflict, a peacekeeping center shall be deployed to exercise control over the ceasefire.

6. The Republic of Armenia shall return Kalbajar district to the Republic of Azerbaijan before 15 November 2020 and Lachin district before 1 December 2020, while retaining the Lachin corridor (5 km wide), which shall provide a connection of Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia and shall not affect the city of Shusha.

By agreement of the Parties, a plan for the construction of a new route along the Lachin corridor shall be determined in the next three years, providing communication between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia, with subsequent redeployment of the Russian peacekeeping contingent to protect this route. The Republic of Azerbaijan shall guarantee the safety of citizens, vehicles and goods traveling along the Lachin corridor in both directions.

7. Internally displaced persons and refugees shall return to the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent districts under the control of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

8. The exchange of prisoners of war and other detainees and bodies of the dead shall be carried out.

9. All economic and transport links in the region shall be restored. The Republic of Armenia guarantees the safety of transport links between the western regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic in order to organize unhindered movement of citizens, vehicles and goods in both directions. Control over transport shall be exercised by the bodies of the Border Guard Service of the Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia.

By agreement of the Parties, the construction of new transport communications linking the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic with the western regions of Azerbaijan shall be provided.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia

President of the Russian Federation.

X X X

Dear fellow countrymen, dear sisters and brothers. This statement has historic significance. I must say that this statement has been signed in a videoconference format. At the first stage, the heads of the three states were supposed to sign the statement in this videoconference format. However, at the very last moment, the Armenian prime minister refused.

This is somewhat understandable because this statement is actually tantamount to Armenian military capitulation. Therefore, this statement was signed by the President of Russia and myself in a videoconference format. This statement has been prepared in Russian. I have put my signature here, this document was submitted to the Russian Ambassador after the signing and the heads of state and government of Russia and Armenia will sign this document afterwards.

I want to say again that this action of Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan is understandable. However, I think that everyone should be held accountable for what they do. Everyone must have some respect for themselves even in the most difficult and critical situations for themselves and for their country. Pashinyan will sign it anyway. We have forced him to do that. But he will sign it in a closed place, in a locked-up room, far from the cameras, in a cowardly and treacherous manner. He is not signing it of his own free will. He is signing it under pressure from the iron fist!

This statement is our glorious victory. I am glad to be sharing this good news with the people of Azerbaijan today. I think that one of the reasons why this statement has been signed is our brilliant victory, our historic victory, the liberation of Shusha from occupation. Shusha is the crown of Karabakh! The liberation of Shusha has great political and strategic significance, as well as great moral significance. We have returned to Shusha, we will live in Shusha, people will live in all other lands liberated from occupation. People will return to those lands, live there, our people's 30-year period of waiting will come to an end.

I think that the reason for this statement being signed was yet another glorious military victory on 9 November  National Flag Day. Because on 9 November, the Azerbaijani Army liberated 72 settlements from the occupiers. By liberating Shusha, by liberating 72 settlements on 9 November, by liberating about 300 settlements since 27 September, we broke the back of the Armenian army. Pashinyan was forced to sign the statement  in a very pathetic and miserable state. I have signed this statement with great pride and joy because this statement puts an end to the long-standing occupation. This statement allows us the opportunity to return our other occupied regions  Aghdam, Lachin, Kalbajar  without bloodshed. There is a very short deadline, these districts will be returned to us by the end of this month. This is great happiness.

I take this opportunity to congratulate the residents of Aghdam, Lachin and Kalbajar districts, all the people of Azerbaijan on this occasion. Every time an occupied district or city was liberated, I congratulated the residents of those cities and districts. I can imagine what it means for them. Some, perhaps many, have lost hope because the issue had not been resolved for many years. Over the past 17 years, I have been in numerous meetings with the IDPs, attended ceremonies to present them with new homes, and I saw that their hopes were diminishing with every passing year. I saw it. I saw it with a sore heart. I saw that some of them had already lost hope. Yes, they expressed their gratitude, of course, we have created good conditions for them and resolved their problems.

As you know, the work done for the IDPs in Azerbaijan is not done in any other country. There are IDPs in many countries around the world, but the situation of our IDPs is incomparably better than in other countries. But their main desire has been to return to their native lands, and they asked me, Mr. President, please return us there. Every time I met with them, I saw a strong resolve, invincibility, loyalty to the state, but at the same time, I saw grief and longing in their eyes. This is over, my fellow compatriots, may your eyes be clear now, you are going back, we are going back, Azerbaijan is going back! Azerbaijan is restoring its territorial integrity. Could there be a greater happiness?

The IDPs are well aware that we will do our best to help them return to their ancestral lands. We will rebuild these liberated lands. The whole world can see now what the hated enemy has done to these lands. All our buildings have been destroyed, all our historical sites have been destroyed, our museums have been looted, our nature has been severely damaged, our mosques have been destroyed and desecrated. In the half-destroyed mosques in the liberated lands, the savage enemy kept pigs to insult us and hurt our pride. But we took revenge on them with a vengeance. We have avenged the victims of Khojaly, we have avenged our martyrs.

While announcing the liberation of Shusha to my people on 8 November, I said that I bow to the memory of our martyrs. The martyrs of the First and Second Karabakh Wars will forever live in our hearts. May God have mercy on all our martyrs. As a result of their heroism and self-sacrifice, we will return to our lands. May God heal all our wounded soldiers, may they recover soon and return to normal life, and we will do our best for their recovery.

Even our seriously wounded soldiers and officers who are in the most difficult condition should know that we will do our best to bring him back to normality. We all owe this victory to them. They liberated our land from the occupiers piece by piece, they raised our flag in the occupied and liberated lands, they hoisted our flag there. This is a victory for all of us, for all the people of Azerbaijan. The people of Azerbaijan have once again shown what a great nation, what a patriotic nation, what a people with an iron will we are. Thirty years of suffering, 30 years of despair, 30 years did not break our people, did not affect our resolve in a negative way. On the contrary, we have become even more united, even stronger, we said enough is enough, we will not tolerate this occupation any longer. We said that we would drive the enemy out of our lands! We are not interested in any negotiations.

You know very well that over the past year I did not talk about negotiations at all. I did not want to deceive my people, I have never deceived and I will not deceive it. The Azerbaijani people know this. When I said before the war that I knew what to do and when, I am sure that the vast majority of our people understood what I meant and patiently waited for this day, believed in me as President and Commander-in-Chief, believed and waited, and this day has arrived. Enough, this occupation shall end! How much longer will our cities remain under occupation? How much longer will the hated enemy pollute our nature, walk, eat, drink, dance and insult us in our lands? We said that we would show the enemy its place, drive the enemy out of our lands, and we drove them away!

Historians will tell what happened on 27 September. I think many people know how it all started. The patience of the Azerbaijani people had already run out, and I was telling the Armenian prime minister in recent meetings that he should not play with fire, he should not abuse the patience of the Azerbaijani people. You dont know the people of Azerbaijan well enough, you will find out what we are but it will be too late. Come round, get out of these lands, these lands do not belong to you. But what did they do?

In order to conduct illegal settlement there, they brought Armenians from abroad to Shusha in a demonstrative manner, in gross violation of international law, international conventions, including the Geneva Conventions, in order to insult us. It was in Shusha that the leader of the gang who is now looking for a hole to hide, the leader of the junta was sworn-in and the prime minister of Armenia attended. Wasn't that intended to annoy us? Did they think that no-one would hold them to account for that? We did, we put them to their knees, they are on their knees now!

There is hardly anyone he didnt call over the past 40 days, begging for help and humiliating himself. We have humiliated him and we were absolutely right. When he danced drunk on Jidir Duzu in the holy city of Shusha, he should have thought that this day would come, he would receive his punishment, hide like a mouse, take this document and sign it crying. We showed him his place, we taught him a lesson. We chased them out of our lands like dogs. I said that we would chase them, that we would chase them like dogs, and we chased them, we chased them like dogs. He is now signing this document out of fear, knowing that we will come to Aghdam, Kalbajar and Lachin. No-one can stop us. Everyone sees our strength, everyone understands what our iron fist is like. That is why we have driven them out and are perfectly right in doing that.

We have destroyed almost all of their equipment. We have passed the fortifications they had built for 30 years, our soldiers have passed them like lions. They have crushed the enemy, and were perfectly right to do that because they are on their own land. We abide by international law. We respect international law. We did not take revenge on civilians, we will never take revenge on civilians. In fact, this is why there are very few civilian casualties on the enemy side. What did they do? They could not confront us on the battlefield, fled and then fired on civilians with ballistic missiles. This is a war crime. They will be held accountable for this war crime.

To hit the city of Ganja with ballistic missiles from Armenia is a disgrace, a despicable act, a crime. It is a war crime to shoot Barda with cluster munitions. I said earlier that the city of Tartar is similar to the city of Stalingrad, which was destroyed during World War II. Every day, hundreds of shells landed there. Even though it is not a big city, not a single one left. But the Armenians fled.

Their invincible army was destroyed, desertion began, the head of the junta in Nagorno-Karabakh ordered that whoever ran away would be held accountable. Did any of us run away? It didn't happen! Not a single person! This is what the people of Azerbaijan are! Civilians lost their homes, their property, their loved ones, but kept saying, Long live the Motherland. Go ahead, go forward! The letters to me say, Commander-in-Chief, go forward! We support you, go forward, don't stop, and so I did, I did not stop.

I gave about 30 interviews during this war. I have probably never given so many interviews in my entire life. Some were wondering why Ilham Aliyev does not give interviews. I thought that I had sufficient opportunities to express my position and often expressed my views on all matters. All my activities are transparent and all my meetings are reported on to the public. I didn't think it necessary. But when it was necessary, I gave about 30 interviews and said in those interviews that we respect international law, we defend international law, we defend justice, and we are implementing UN Security Council resolutions.

I said that all our steps were based on the norms and principles of international law, were based on morality, and all our steps were taken in this direction. We took our revenge on the enemy, we took it on the occupier. We have not dealt with and will never deal with civilians. There is no major destruction in the cities where the enemy lives and hides because we did not open fire on civilian facilities. That is the difference between us.

I said after the war started that many, almost all politicians involved in this issue were saying that there was no military solution to this conflict. What was I saying? I said there was! I was criticized. People were asking what Ilham Aliyev was saying. They were saying that there is no military solution. I said if there is not, then solve it peacefully. You have these opportunities in your hands. You are a superpower, you have a great reputation, you have great opportunities. What is Armenia compared to you? Cant you influence it? Or don't you want to put pressure on it? No, they said, it is impossible to wage war and the issue must be resolved peacefully. OK, a peaceful solution may be sought for one year, for two years, but for 30 years? How much longer will you try to fool us?

However, we have proved that there is a military solution. And I said what I wanted. I said to Pashinyan, make a statement, make a commitment, provide a timetable, provide a schedule. I have been saying this since the first day of the war. Everyone can see it. In my interviews and in my addresses to the nation, I said openly  provide a timetable, provide a schedule, get out, leave, and I will stop. They were asking us from here and there to stop. But why didnt you tell them to stop when they occupied our lands? Why didn't anyone say to Armenia, which has been occupying our land for 30 years, get out of there! What is this? Well, we are now relying on our own strength to liberate these lands by giving martyrs and shedding blood. Why are you telling us to stop and not telling them to get out? No-one says that. They tell us to stop.

I said I would not stop. No-one can stop me. I said I demand from you, Pashinyan, you personally, not your foreign minister or anyone else  you must make a personal commitment, you must provide a date by which you will get out of our lands. There is that commitment in this statement. We forced him, we compelled him, we made him assume this commitment by beating him up for all his evil deeds, for keeping those pigs in our mosques. He who keeps pigs in our mosques is a pig himself. Now there is an obligation in this document. He will get out of the rest of the occupied lands by 1 December.

Therefore, there is a military option. But as I said, I want this military stage to stop so that we could move on to the political stage. What happened? Exactly what I was saying. That I was saying is coming true today. The military phase is over and we are moving on to the political phase. We have signed a document that favors our interests the most. Pashinyan has signed it. There was no other option. In essence, this is a confession of defeat. This is a military capitulation.

In principle, I could ask him to come and sit there, down below, and sign it there. But I am no such person. Why humiliate anyone? He has already humiliated himself. He put himself in this disgraceful situation. He should have thought of today when he put his stomach forward and danced in a drunken state in Jidir Duzu. This is it. No-one can joke with us. No-one can play with the patience of the Azerbaijani people. No-one can insult us. If you do, you will learn a lesson. And we have taught him a lesson.

Therefore, the issue has already been resolved  of course, if Armenia adheres to the ceasefire. I have already given all my orders. I have given my orders to command centers and we will stop. We respect our own signature. The other side must also stop. Because if it doesn't stop, we won't stop either.

International observers know who violated the ceasefire. Who violated it the first time by bombing Ganja with a ballistic missile, who violated the ceasefire the second time less than five minutes after it was declared, and the third time by hitting Barda with cluster missiles. If they breaks it again, I think they will regret it even more. Therefore, we were able to achieve what we wanted. We were able to force the enemy. I actually gave them an ultimatum. I said  you must leave, if you don't, I will go to the end. Until the end! On 8 November, I said in the Alley of Martyrs that I would go to the end and no force could stop me.

We won this victory on the battlefield. About 300 settlements, including Fuzuli, Jabrayil, Zangilan, Gubadli, Shusha, Hadrut, Sugovushan and other settlements were liberated on the battlefield.

These victories forced the enemy to return Aghdam, Lachin and Kalbajar districts to us by political means. But it would be wrong to look for any good intentions of the Armenian side here. They have no idea what good intentions are. They he was simply forced. Because he knew that if he did not sign this document, we would get these lands ourselves. Everyone knew that. I said that I do not want to shed blood. We must stop the war, so get out of our lands! And this is exactly what happened.

I would like to mention one more issue. I have just acquainted my dear people with the text of the document. A new control mechanism is being applied here. The fifth paragraph of the statement reads: In order to increase the effectiveness of control over the implementation of the agreements reached by the Parties to the conflict, a peacekeeping center shall be deployed. I can say that Russian and Turkish servicemen will work in this center. Thus, Turkey will officially play a role in the future settlement of the conflict and monitoring the ceasefire.

In my remarks at the signing ceremony in the videoconference format, I praised the efforts of both the President of Turkey, my dear brother Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin. Because they made truly great efforts during these 44-45 days to resolve the issue peacefully. At the same time, I am very glad that these two leaders have already played a positive role in ending the conflict. I think that it also largely determines the format of future cooperation in the region. Because if we look at the history of relations between Turkey and Russia today, I think they are at the highest level. Both countries are friendly and neighboring countries for us. So I think that this format of cooperation can be even more diverse in the future.

Another important issue I would like to emphasize is that a link is being established between the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and the rest of Azerbaijan. The opening of all communications and roads also shows that a new transport and communication infrastructure can and should be created. We have, of course, been very supportive. I can say that this paragraph was included in this statement at my insistence. It has no bearing to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict but I am glad that my requirement was accepted.

Thus, a historic step was taken to connect the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic with Azerbaijan, with the main part of Azerbaijan by land. The hated enemy besieged Nakhchivan in the early 1990s and shortly before. All communication lines were cut off. At that time, energy resources were transferred there from the main part of Azerbaijan. As a matter of fact, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic was in a very difficult situation. At the same time, there were attacks from the territory of Armenia. I have said many times that it was thanks to the courage and activities of great leader Heydar Aliyev that Nakhchivan was not occupied. Armenian vandals did have such plans.

Therefore, I would like to emphasize this and congratulate the people of Nakhchivan on this occasion. I must say that the people of Nakhchivan, as indeed residents from all other regions, took an active part in the second Karabakh war. Now the war is over, some issues that have not been disclosed will be revealed, and everyone will know that the people of Nakhchivan, along with servicemen from all other regions, have shown great heroism, selflessness, and became martyrs for the liberation of our lands.

I would like to touch upon one more issue. These days we saw the unity of the Azerbaijani people. Our army received support from all our regions. People in all our regions lived these days with great excitement, watched news from the front on TV, radio, on the Internet every day, rejoiced at our successes. We saw this in all our regions. We were further convinced of how wonderful our country and our people are. Representatives of all nationalities and all religious confessions living in our country showed courage fighting the enemy and restored the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. This is our great asset, a great value.

I have said this many times. Armenia is deprived of such happiness because it is a mono-ethnic state, no-one lives there except for the Armenians. In Eurasia, in our region, there is no other country like this because no-one can live there. They are expelled, subjected to ethnic cleansing like the Azerbaijanis, or representatives of another nationalities cannot live there. They are being squeezed out, they are being squeezed out, they are being squeezed out. But our advantage lies precisely in this. A multinational and multi-confessional Azerbaijan has asserted itself in this war, representatives of all peoples have displayed true unity and heroism. I want to say again that this war clarified many issues yet again.

I would like to mention one more issue. You probably noticed that this statement contains not a single word about the status of Nagorno-Karabakh! Where are the demands of the Armenian side that Nagorno-Karabakh should be granted independence? When I offered them autonomy, they did not agree, they said no, it is an independent state. For many years, they have been living as an independent state and must gain independence from Azerbaijan. Not a word,

Pashinyan! What happened? What is it, Pashinyan? This will probably remain the talk of the town for many years. What happened, Pashinyan? You were going to pave a road to Jabrayil. You danced. But where is the status? The status went to hell, it failed, it was scattered to smithereens, it is not and will not be there. As long as I am President, there will be no status. Therefore, this document is of great importance. I am sure that the Azerbaijani people, having shown great attention to this document, will read it in detail, with great attention, and they will see how great a political victory we have won.

Our military victory plays an exceptional role in achieving this political victory. Of course, the work carried out in our country in recent years, the excellent atmosphere that has developed, the unity of the people and the government, the achievement of a positive level of political relations, our international authority, our activities in the international arena  all this and, of course, the army building have made our victory possible.

These days, I also noticed the following. Even people with different political views, those who are critical of our work and often express unfounded criticism, showed a model of high consciousness during this period. I have always said that there are and should be different views on the political plane, this is normal. There must be opposition, this is also normal. We, as in any democratic country, of course, have all these freedoms. Only one thing should not be there  it is impossible to be in opposition to the state, to the statehood. You can't live with the thought the worse the government, the state, the better for me.

I can say: these days, I saw that we can all unite in national issues. This is also very important for our future because we all want Azerbaijan to develop and become an even more powerful country. We have demonstrated our strength on the battlefield, on the political plane, in any format. We showed our independence. The day will come, and some issues will probably be revealed that could not be revealed during the war.

Perhaps I can also clarify some issues. Then everyone will see what ordeals we had to overcome, how much pressure we came under. We can say that they routinely told us to stop, stop, stop! But we went forward because I felt the support of the people, I saw their confidence in me. Nothing could stop me because I knew we were right. We are restoring our territorial integrity, returning our lands.

This war showed the whole world how great the Azerbaijani people are  the unconquered people, the people with iron resolve, the victorious people, our victorious army! We are proud of our people, our army! I am sure that all citizens of Azerbaijan believe that these days and minutes are the happiest in their lives. I am also happy to convey good news and these messages to the Azerbaijani people. I am happy to have signed this historic document. I am happy that we are returning to our homeland, to our native Karabakh, Shusha, which is the crown of Karabakh, and we will always live in these lands! From now on, no-one can move us from these lands!

The expression Karabakh is Azerbaijan, and exclamation mark has already become a symbol of our victory. I said it a year ago. I am proud that my statement has already become a national slogan. Today we can say with great pride that Fuzuli is ours, Jabrayil is ours, Zangilan is ours, Gubadli is ours, Aghdam is ours, Lachin is ours, Kalbajar is ours, Shusha is ours, Karabakh is ours, Karabakh is Azerbaijan! Glory to the Azerbaijani people! Long live Azerbaijan!
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 10. It has been four years since Armenia, suffering heavy losses due to the counter-offensive of the Azerbaijani army, was compelled to sign an act of surrender on November 10.

This date holds significant importance for Azerbaijan, marking the victory in the 44-day Patriotic War. While the streets of Baku were filled with joy and celebrations, Armenia faced a contrasting reaction with public outrage, leading to a storming of the parliament building.

Though the statement was trilateral, it was signed live by President of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, the location where Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed the document remains unknown, fueling frustration among Armenians who couldn't locate him on that day.

In his address to the nation on November 10, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev remarked on the event:

"Everyone must respect themselves, even in the most challenging and critical situations. Respect themselves and their country. Pashinyan will sign it one way or another. We have forced him to do that. But he will sign it in a confined place, in a locked-up room, far from the cameras, in a cowardly and treacherous manner. He is not signing it of his own free will. He is signing it under pressure by the iron fist!"

Regardless of the circumstances surrounding its signing, the night of November 10 became a moment of shame for Armenia, as it formally acknowledged its defeat. Up until that point, Armenian officials had made empty statements about victory but soon realized they had no choice but to admit their helplessness.

The chaos on the streets of Yerevan was a direct result of misleading actions by Armenian authorities, who falsely assured the public of "successful attacks." In reality, their military faced devastating losses. That night, Ararat Mirzoyan, now Armenia's Foreign Minister, became a target of an angry mob and was beaten in Yerevan.

Armenia's act of surrender was a political continuation of Azerbaijan's decisive victory on the battlefield, led by President Ilham Aliyev. The November 10 declaration, signed by President Aliyev, dictated Azerbaijan's terms to Armenia, leading to the peaceful handover of strategic regions like Kalbajar, Lachin, and Aghdam without a single shot fired.

This political triumph by the Azerbaijani President struck a severe blow to Armenian separatism and terrorism, leaving an indelible mark on Armenia's history. The aggressive actions of Armenia towards Azerbaijan were met with a resolute response, and historical justice was restored as Azerbaijan dismantled many of Armenia's self-created myths.

Armenians saw their narratives of an "invincible army" and "immortal spirit" shattered. By signing the act of surrender, Armenia admitted its inability to counter the new realities established by Azerbaijan in the region.

Throughout the war, President repeatedly stated that the fighting would cease if Armenia provided a withdrawal date. Armenia's leadership, however, refused, leading to catastrophic consequences for its army. As President noted, Azerbaijan compelled Armenia to sign the act of surrender.

The valor of Azerbaijani soldiers in battles across Jabrayil, Fuzuli, Zangilan, Gubadli, and Shusha left the Armenian leadership with no option but to face reality. The Azerbaijani army restored justice and permanently rid its lands of enemies, eradicating Armenian separatism in Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur, securing peace and stability.

The firm political will of President Ilham Aliyev forced the opponent to surrender, accept defeat, and officially document their helplessness.

The unity of the Azerbaijani people under the leadership of President Aliyev and the formidable "iron fist" ensured the eternal freedom of Eastern Zangazur and Karabakh.

This victory is a significant milestone in Azerbaijan's glorious history, remembered as a moment when the fight for justice concluded in triumph, and the enemy's shame was revealed to the world.
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024.
Dennis received bachelor's degrees in communication and political science with a TAG degree in Spanish from The University of Akron in Ohio. He grew up in Ohio with two sisters and two brothers, one being his fraternal twin. He and his wife have two dogs: Bacio, and Cal. Dennis currently covers natural resource and environmental issues for The Daily Sentinel
Russo-Ukraine War - 09 November 2024 - Day 990

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that The Defense Forces are directing efforts to disrupt the execution of Russian invaders' offensive plans and exhaust their combat potential.

Since the beginning of the day, there have been 153 combat clashes, Russian forces launched one rocket (one rocket), 56 aviation strikes (77 CAB) and 675 kamikaze drone strikes, carried out more than 3,900 shelling positions of Ukrainian troops.

In the Kharkiv direction, Russian terrorists twice unsuccessfully stormed the positions of Ukrainian units in the Vovchansk district.

For today, the Russian \zagarbniks have lost 65 soldiers killed and wounded in this direction, also Ukrainian soldiers have destroyed a combat armored vehicle, an artillery system, 20 BPLAs, eight automobile units and three special equipment units; significantly damaged three artsystems, seven automobile units and one special equipment unit.

Eight times Russian forces attacked Ukrainian fortifications in the kupans komu direction near kucevki, kruglyakivki and lozovoye. At this time, there are five battles.

The Russian attack is currently being repelled by Ukrainian warriors near Grekivka in the Lyman direction. Fourteen assault actions of the enemy during the day were stopped near Grekivka, Nevsky, Torsky and Bilogorivka.

In the Sivers komu direction, Ukrainian units repelled the attack near Verkhnyokamiansky.

In the Kramators komu direction, two attempts of the Russian zagarbnikiv to advance near the White Mountain and Stupocok ended in failure.

In the Toretsky direction, the Russian occupiers for today nine times stormed in the area of Toretsky, Diliivki, scherbinivki and nelipivki. Continuing combat in four locations - the Russian enemy is pressing, trying to advance in the area of Toretsk.

Intensely attacks the Russian opponent of Ukrainian defenders in the Pokrovsky direction. Throughout the day, in total, carried out 36 assault and offensive actions. The largest activity of Russian occupiers is kept in the areas of Promen, Lisivka and Grigorivka. Three clashes are still going on.

According to preliminary calculations, today Ukrainian warriors eliminated 180 in this direction and wounded 210 Russian invaders. Three tanks, ten combat armored cars, 19 units of car equipment and four mortars were destroyed. There are also nine units of vehicle equipment and one artillery system.

It's also hot in the Kurakhiv direction, at this time of the day there are 40 combat clashes. Russian forces tried to advance in the areas of Illinka, Novoselidivka, Novodmitrivka, Maksimilyanivka, Dalnyo, Katerynivka and Antonivka. The battle is still on.

In the Vremivs ,komu direction Ukrainian soldiers repelled five attacks of enemy units in the areas of Epiphany, Trudovoye and Maksimivka.

In the Orihivsky direction, units of Ukrainian troops repelled one Russian attack in the direction of Novoandriivka.

In the pridniprovsk direction, three Russian assaults have been unsuccessful.

In Kur ini Ukrainian fighters hold defense, repelling four enemy attacks; in total, for today, the Russian enemy has made 18 attempts to attack Ukrainian units.

In other directions, there have been no significant changes in the environment.





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Russo-Ukraine War - 10 November 2024 - Day 991

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Defense Forces are directing efforts to disrupt the execution of Russian invaders' offensive plans and exhaust their combat potential.

Since the beginning of the day, there have been 154 combat clashes, Russian forces carried out 48 aviation strikes (85 CABs in particular) and 643 kamikaze drone strikes, carried out 3632 shelling positions of Ukrainian troops.

In the Kharkiv direction there is one battle near vovchansk. Five Russian attacks have already been repelled by Ukrainian defenders in the districts of Staritsa and Vovchansk. Russian forces used aviation and launched three air strikes, dropping 4 CABs in the areas of settlements of Kharkiv, Vilch and Vilkhuvatka.

Russian forces made three attacks on Ukrainian fortifications in the Kupyans komu direction. At this time, all of them in the areas of Kindrashivka, Zagrizovy and Green Grove have already been cut off.

In the Lyman direction, Russian troops five times a day stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the areas of settlements of Tern, Torske and Serebryanka. All attacks of the enemy have been stopped.

The defenders of the Ukrainian land are holding back the pressure of the Russian enemy on the Siversky direction, currently ongoing one attack of the enemy in the area of the settlement of Verkhnyokamianske.

In the Kramators komu direction, three attempts of zagarbnikiv to advance near stupocok and time line ended in failure. Russian forces caused airstrikes in the areas of Chasovogo Yar and Slovianska.

In the Toretsky direction, the Russian occupiers for today 14 times stormed in the areas of Toretsk and Sherbinivka. The Russian aviation was actively active there, as well as nearby Sherbinivka. Continuing combat in six locations.

Intensely attacks the opponent of Ukrainian defenders in the Pokrovsky direction. During the day, in total, 35 assault and offensive actions were carried out. The largest activity of Russian occupiers is kept in the areas of Mirolyubivka, Pramya, Grigorivka, Selidovoye, Fox, Dry Yar and Petrivka. Nine clashes in the direction are still ongoing. Russian forces used aviation means of impact on the areas of the settlements Lisivka, Kotlyne, Suha Balka, Oleksandropil.

According to preliminary calculations, today Ukrainian warriors eliminated 145 and wounded 204 occupiers. Destroyed two units of automotive equipment, two control points of BPLA, a buggy and an ATV. Two units of automotive equipment, one howitzer and an ATV were also damaged.

In the Kurakhiv direction at this time of the day, there are 46 boezitknen . Attacks of the Russian enemy were repelled by Ukrainian soldiers near the settlements of Illinka, Vozdvizhenko, Novoselidivka, Novodmitrivka, Sontsivka, Maksimilyanivka, Antonivka, Dalnye and Katerynivka. The four attacks are still going. The occupiers dropped cabs in the areas of the settlements of Kurakhove, Romanivka and Dachne.

In the vremivs komu direction, Russian forces 13 times tried to break through to Trudovogo, Konstantinopol 13s kogo, Uspenivka and Makarivka, but in the way of this became Ukrainian courageous defenders. Eight attacks have already been repelled. At the same time, the Russian adversary actively used aviation means of impact on the areas of settlements of Andriyivka, Velika Novosilka, Novodarivka and Green Field.

In the Orihivs komu direction, Russian forces twice tried to break through Ukrainian defense in the areas of novoandrivka and small tokmacka, at the same time caused an air strike on temirivka.

In the Pridniprovsky direction there is an operational situation without significant changes. Russian forces carried out seven unsuccessful storms.

In other directions, there have been no significant changes in the environment.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.

In Kharkov region, units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted losses on formations of the AFU 22nd Mechanised Brigade and foreign mercenaries near Bochkovo, Malye Prokhody, Borshchevaya, and Kazachaya Loknya (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 50 troops, two motor vehicles, and three 122-mm D-30 howitzers.

Units of the Zapad Group of Forces improved the tactical situation and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the 14th, 60th, 63rd, 116th mechanised brigades of the AFU, 241st Territorial Defence Brigade, 1st National Guard Brigade, and International Legion near Kupyansk, Zagryzovo, Boguslavka, Glushkovka, Podoly, Petropavlovka (Kharkov region), and Terny (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 490 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three pickup trucks, one U.S.-made 155-mm M198 howitzer, one U.S.-made 105-mm M119 gun, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, and one Anklav-N electronic warfare station. Three field ammunition depots were destroyed.

Units of the Yug Group of Forces continued advancing to the depth of the enemy's defences and inflicted losses on formations of the 24th, 33rd, 54th mechanised brigades, 46th Airmobile Brigade of the AFU, and 35th Marine Brigade near Nikolayevka, Konstantinovka, Zaliznyanskoye, Novomarkovo, Kurakhovo, Dalneye, and Seversk (Donetsk People's Republic). One counter-attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 77th Airmobile Brigade was repelled.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 640 troops, one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, one Kozak armoured fighting vehicle, four motor vehicles, one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled system, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, three U.S.-made 105-mm M119 guns, and three ammunition depots.

Units of the Tsentr Group of Forces liberated Volchenka (Donetsk People's Republic) and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the 53rd, 100th mechanised brigades, 152nd Jaeger Brigade of the AFU, 38th Marine Brigade, 14th and 15th national guard brigades near Mirolyubovka, Novotroitskoye, Novoselidovka, Krasnoarmeysk, Dzerzhinsk, Shcherbinovka, Shevchenko, and Dimitrov (Donetsk People's Republic).

Ten counter-attacks launched by formations of the 151st Mechanised Brigade, 68th Jaeger Brigade, 49th and 425th assault battalions of the AFU, 35th Marine Brigade, and Lyut Assault Brigade of the National Police of Ukraine were repelled.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 460 troops, one tank, one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, three motor vehicles, one UR-67 mine disposal system, one 152-mm D-20 gun, one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, three 122-mm D-30 howitzers, and one 100-mm Rapira anti-tank gun.

One UAV workshop was destroyed.

Units of the Vostok Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front line and inflicted losses on formations of the 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade, 33rd Mechanised Brigade, and 128th Mountain Assault Brigade of the AFU near Razdolnoye, Zelenoye Pole (Donetsk People's Republic), and Temirovka (Zaporozhye region).

Four counter-attacks launched by assault detachments of the 23rd Mechanised Brigade, 169th AFU Ground Forces Training Centre, and 113rd Territorial Defence Brigade were repelled.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 105 troops, one Kozak armoured fighting vehicle, five motor vehicles, one U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS launcher, and two Polish-made Krab 155-mm self-propelled artillery systems.

Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the 31st, 110th mechanised brigades, 141st Infantry Brigade of the AFU, 124th and 126th territorial defence brigades near Pyatikhatki, Antonovka, Olgovka, Dneprovskoye (Kherson region), and Novoandreyevka (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 50 troops, two motor vehicles, one 155-mm Bogdana self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, and one U.S.-made 155-mm Paladin self-propelled artillery system. One ammunition depot was wiped out.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces delivered strikes at infrastructure of military airfields, depots, workshops, and launch sites of UAVs, power objects ensuring operation of the Ukrainian defence industry enterprises, as well as engaged manpower clusters and military hardware of the enemy in 127 areas.

Air defence units shot down three French-made Hammer guided aerial bombs, one U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectile, and 36 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 648 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 35,512 unmanned aerial vehicles, 585 anti-aircraft missile systems, 19,159 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,487 MLRS combat vehicles, 17,568 field artillery guns and mortars, and 28,135 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. Units of the Sever Group of Forces continued offensive actions and inflicted losses on formations of the 21st, 22nd, 41st, 115th mechanised brigades, 17th Tank Brigade, 82nd, 95th air assault brigades, 36th Marine Brigade, 112th and 129th territorial defence brigades of the AFU near Daryino, Leonidovo, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Novoivanovka, and Plyokhovo.

Units of the Sever Group of Forces repelled 11 counter-attacks of the enemy towards Daryino and Novaya Sorochina as well as thwarted AFU attacks in the direction of Zeleny Shlyakh and Novoivanovka. The AFU losses amounted to up to 90 troops killed and wounded, three tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles, four armoured fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles. Three AFU servicemen surrendered.

Army Aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower clusters and hardware of the 21st, 22nd, 47th, 115th mechanised brigades, 17th Tank Brigade, 82nd, 95th air assault brigades, 36th Marine Brigade, 112th, 117th, 118th, 129th territorial defence brigades of the AFU, and 17th National Guard Brigade near Bogdanovka, Guyevo, Daryino, Zeleny Shlyakh, Kolmakov, Kruglenkoye, Kurilovka, Lebedevka, Leonidovo, Martynovka, Makhovka, Mikhaylovka, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Novaya Sorochina, Novoivanovka, Plyokhovo, Sverdlikovo, Staraya Sorochina, and Cherkasskoye Porechnoye.

Operational-Tactical Aviation and Missile Troops delivered strikes at concentration areas in Sumy region and reserves of the 22nd, 41st mechanised brigades, 95th Air Assault Brigade, 103rd, 129th territorial defence brigades of the AFU, and 1st National Guard Brigade near Basovka, Belovody, Vodolagi, Zhuravka, and Pavlovka.

Over the past 24 hours, the AFU losses amounted to more than 290 troops, five tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles, seven armoured fighting vehicles, three mortars, one electronic warfare station, and 10 motor vehicles. Three AFU servicemen surrendered.

Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the AFU losses amounted to more than 31,090 troops, 194 tanks, 126 infantry fighting vehicles, 107 armoured personnel carriers, 1,102 armoured fighting vehicles, 843 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, 62 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, Nov. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces an investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of PACS Group, Inc. (NYSE: PACS) resulting from allegations that PACS Group may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.

So What: If you purchased PACS Group 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=30617 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.

What is this about: On November 4, 2024, Hindenburg Research issued a report entitled PACS Group: How To Become A Billionaire In The Skilled Nursing Industry By Systematically Scamming Taxpayers. The report stated [d]espite operating in a highly competitive and highly regulated industry, PACS claims to have discovered a winning turnaround formula for transforming poorly performing [skilled nursing facilities] into cash spigots, and the 5-month investigation, including interviews with 18 former employees, competitors, and an analysis of 900+ detailed facility-level cost reports, revealed that PACS turnaround strategy largely boils down to systematically scamming taxpayer-funded healthcare programs.

On this news, PACS Groups stock fell 27.7% on November 4, 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 firms 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.

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New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 9, 2024  Yu Shang Food, Inc, a Spartanburg, SC, establishment, is recalling approximately 4,589 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry products out of an abundance of caution. These products may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, according to the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).







The ready-to-eat meat and poultry items were produced from October 21 to October 27, 2024. These products have used by dates ranging from 21-AUG-2025 through 27-AUG-2025. View full product list. View labels.



The products subject to recall bear establishment number P-46684 or EST. M46684 inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide and available for purchase online.



The problem was discovered after FSIS performed routine testing and follow-up activities of finished product produced by Yu Shang Food, Inc. on October 21, 2024, that confirmed the product was positive for Listeria monocytogenes.







Consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.







Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.







FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers refrigerators/freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.







FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.







Media and consumers with questions regarding the recall can send an email to yushangchicken@gmail.com or contact Ling Li, Yu Shang Food, Inc. Plant Manager, at 408-857-0901.







Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.




BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 10. The call by French Senator Yannick Jadot to boycott COP29 in Baku over unsubstantiated claims of the so-called "ethnic cleansing" against Armenia reeks of hypocrisy and political opportunism.

This so-called "environmentalist" in a recent article by Ouest-France, a daily French newspaper, is shamefully allowing biased narratives - spun by Armenian interests and loyally echoed by pro-Armenian French politicians - to undermine global efforts on one of humanitys most critical issues: climate change.

Lets be clear - this narrative of "ethnic cleansing" is a falsehood, continuously propagated by Armenian lobbyists to vilify Azerbaijan and garner misplaced sympathy from foreign governments. Its no secret that Armenian propaganda has deeply infiltrated French political circles, warping perceptions and fueling a vendetta against Azerbaijan based on unfounded accusations. Jadots suggestion that France sit out of COP29 is a slap in the face to every nation working tirelessly to address the climate crisis.

This raises a question: why are some French politicians, such as Jadot, more consumed with defending Armenian separatist agendas than addressing the worlds escalating climate disaster? France, like every country, is witnessing the severe impacts of climate change - from deadly heatwaves to forest fires - and yet, Jadot and his like-minded colleagues choose to prioritize their partisan agenda over pressing global concerns. This political grandstanding does nothing for the climate and sends a disturbing message that fabricated regional narratives can distract from real solutions.

Frances place is at COP29, contributing to discussions that affect the entire planet, not making excuses based on propaganda-fueled grievances. The UNs selection of Baku as the host city reflects Azerbaijans leadership in addressing climate and energy issues - especially its efforts in renewable energy and sustainable development. Frances leaders should be focused on joining Azerbaijan in this crucial work, rather than promoting unfounded smear campaigns.

Climate action cant wait, nor can it be held hostage by biased political interests. If France truly cares about the future of the planet, it should engage fully in COP29, placing the real climate crisis over regional grudges and divisive rhetoric.
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Degree Field Percent of graduates working in STEM Number of STEM workers Margin of Error Computers, mathematics, and statistics 49.2 964,090 17,734 Engineering 49.5 1,652,305 21,613 Physical and related sciences 26.4 341,275 8,301 Biological, agricultural, and environmental sciences 14.7 404,570 9,440 Psychology 9.5 188,990 6,791 Social sciences 7.2 228,995 7,314 Multidisciplinary studies 8.2 22,445 2,402 Other Science- and engineering-related 6.0 235,985 6,976 Business (non-STEM) 6.5 591,560 12,974 Education (non-STEM) 1.8 81,330 4,785 Arts, humanities, and other (non-STEM) 5.0 459,870 11,566

Occupation Estimated workers Managers, all other 692,000 Physicians 594,200 Postsecondary teachers 522,100 Lawyers 442,900 Elementary and middle school teachers 425,100 Chief executives 220,400 Social workers 218,700 Management analysts 214,300 Counselors 204,100 Accountants and auditors 194,000

Policymakers have focused much attention in recent years on increasing the number of workers with training in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.While this group makes up a relatively small share of the nations workforce, many policy analysts view them as a key component to improving the economy. In 2005 a coalition of groups issued a study stating U.S. higher education institutions needed to double the number of STEM graduates. Business leaders also frequently cite a shortage of STEM grads. Last year a letter signed by CEOs called on President Barack Obama and Congress to grant additional visas for high-skilled immigrants to help fill job openings.But a Census Bureau report published earlier this month indicates something different. The analysis of American Community Survey data found that a surprising 74 percent of STEM graduates did not have STEM jobs. The findings, widely reported in the media (see here and here ), gave credence to claims that there's a surplus of U.S. workers with STEM training.To understand why the estimate was so high, let's take a look at how the Census computed the figures.For one, the federal government's definition for STEM encompasses a few degree fields that some might not consider STEM. The table below shows a detailed breakdown of percentages for various employed graduates working in STEM occupations. (All fields, with the exception of the last three listed, are considered STEM degrees in the Census survey. The Census Bureau reported 12.4 percent of employed workers with bachelors degrees in all disciplines held STEM jobs.)Figures are for employed civilians age 25 to 64. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey.Many are quick to point out that those with psychology or social science degrees, considered STEM degrees in the Census survey, dont typically intend to work in the field, as reflected in their lower percentages. The debate over how to define STEM workers has served as a major point of contention for years. Some even argue theres no reason to apply any STEM label at all.Another explanation for the large share of workers employed outside of STEM is that the estimate doesnt include what the Census Bureau considers STEM-related occupations. This large segment of the workforce, which includes health care, comprises roughly the same number of jobs as STEM employment. While these workers dont hold traditional STEM positions, their jobs often require similar skills.Its also important to note that the Census data reflects not just recent grads, but all employed workers age 25 to 64. Many of those surveyed earned STEM degrees decades ago, opting to change fields at a later point in their careers. For some, the decision may have been unrelated to any difficulties in finding a job in the field.For all these reasons, the reported figures shouldnt be interpreted as a sign that a majority of STEM grads can't find jobs in their degree fields.For another take on the issue, consider a longitudinal analysis by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) that tracked employment outcomes of students who completed bachelors degrees during the 2007-2008 academic year. One year after graduation, NCES asked employed graduates whether they considered their current job related to their undergraduate major.As shown, the results suggest a much different outlook for STEM graduate employment than what some concluded from the Census report. A mere 18.8 percent of STEM grads felt their job wasnt related to their major, compared to 27.5 percent for all bachelors degree recipients. In fact, STEM grads were more likely to land jobs in their degree fields than all other graduates with the exception of education and health care  two very specialized fields.Bonnie Dunbar, director of the University of Houston STEM Center, said she continues to see a STEM labor shortage, attributable in part to poor math course offerings by inner-city high schools. Many students, she said, dont think they need math classes. Others dont become interested in STEM occupations until later in their academic careers, when theyre far behind on needed coursework.When companies get engineers from India and China, its because we dont have a local supply, Dunbar said.Of all college graduates, only law degree recipients reported higher median earnings than those with a bachelors degree in engineering, according to Census estimates . Similarly, STEM grads are also employed at higher rates than their peers.Still, a portion of them do end up working in occupations outside of STEM. The NCES study found that nearly 19 percent of STEM graduates held management, support or administrative assistance positions in the business sector. Heres another table showing Census estimates for the top occupations among science and engineering graduates who work outside of STEM:Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011 American Community Survey.While the Census and NCES studies only examined bachelor's degree recipients, it's also important to consider that many STEM and STEM-related jobs dont require four-year or advanced degrees. Consider the construction and manufacturing industries, for instance. In fact, the Brookings Institution estimates about half of STEM jobs are available to workers without bachelor's degrees.Of the larger metro areas, STEM jobs account for the highest share of total employment in San Jose and Washington, D.C. STEM jobs not requiring four-year degrees are most prevalent in places like Baton Rouge and Birmingham, according to the Brookings analysis
Gabby Otchere-Darko counters McDans claims on governments private sector policies

GraphicOnline Business News Nov - 10 - 2024 , 10:32

A prominent member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has responded to comments made by the Executive Chairman of the McDan Group, Daniel McKorley alias McDan on the perceived lack of support for Ghanas private sector from government policies.

Speaking at the Ghana CEO Presidential Gala Dinner on November 7, 2024, Dr McKorley expressed frustration over the challenges local businesses face, attributing these difficulties to government policies that he claims do little to foster a supportive environment.

"Government policies have really not helped the private sector. That is where we are sitting right now, and we have to be frank about it," Dr McKorley remarked.

Reflecting on his own experience, the businessman, whose McDan Group operates one of Africa's largest salt concessions in Ada, explained the level of resilience required to run a business in Ghana. If you want to do business in Ghana, then you have to be prepared. Being a Ghanaian doing business in Ghana, you have to be brave, he stated.

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However, Gabby Otchere-Darko expressed surprise at Dr McKorleys criticisms, pointing to the substantial government support Mr. McKorley had received.

Highlighting the successful commercialisation of the Ada salt project, Gabby noted that the current government enabled McDan Group to acquire and develop the concession, a feat that had eluded past administrations.

I am perplexed! This is from an entrepreneur who enjoyed the full support of govt to own the largest salt concession in Africa, he wrote on X, adding that the project could produce an estimated $2 billion in salt revenue annually.

Dr McKorley argued that Ghanas business climate often fails to empower local companies, suggesting that this undermines national development opportunities. Many times, it looks like we dont support our own. I have tasted it, I have slept with it, and Im living with itits quite dangerous and difficult, he said.

He further claimed that, if supported, his businesses alone could generate up to $3.2 billion annually for the government. He urged policymakers to see local businesses as valuable partners and foster conditions that encourage growth, entrepreneurship, and job creation, similar to approaches in other nations.
A marauding breach in defence of the constitution

James Kwabena Bomfeh Jnr., Ph.D Opinion Nov - 10 - 2024 , 16:21 5 minutes read

The Speaker's Oath in the Second Schedule of the 1992 Constitution reads: I....... do in the name of the Almighty God swear that, I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Republic of Ghana as by law established; that, I will uphold the integrity of the Republic of Ghana; that I will faithfully and conscientiously discharge my duties as Speaker of Parliament; and that I will uphold, protect, and defend the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana; and that I will do right to all manner of persons in accordance with the Constitution of Ghana and the laws and conventions of Parliament without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.

How faithful, Mr. A.S.K. BAGBIN, have you been to this oath of office?

First of the Articles in the 1992 Constitution, Article 1(2), makes it clear that there is Supremacy of the Constitution as against any organ or authority in the Republic of Ghana. Therefore, no one can do as s/he pleases in any position of public trust as Mr. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin is misconducting himself, the Office of Speaker and Parliament of the Republic of Ghana.

The Speaker of the House of Parliament has a number of duties which could be summarised as:

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presiding in Parliament at all sittings and in his absence a deputy shall preside; overseeing the administrative functions of Parliament; and carrying out diplomatic and/or ceremonial duties.



In presiding over the House of Parliament, the Speakers procedural role is to:



- apply the procedural rules of Parliament, consistent with the Constitution, 1992 in a way that is fair for all Members of Parliament and political parties;

- maintain order in the House; and defend the rights and privileges of Members, including their freedom of speech.

Contrary to these clearly spelt duties and responsibilities, the present Speaker, Mr. ASK Bagbin has been on a frolic to grandstand and ride a high horse that only he can dismount or be forced off by the Supreme Court, or Members of Parliament who have tolerated him to our peril.

Ghanas Parliament, is subject to the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana. This known fact notwithstanding, Rt. Hon. Speaker Bagbin has carried himself in a manner unbecoming of the office and usurping powers not prescribed or ascribed to the office he questionably occupies.

In his most recent public statement by Mr. Bagbin, he raises serious concerns about how our government should work and he gives reason why any citizen should be worried:

He is President of Parliament. This is a very misconceived and misinformed opinion of the position of the Speaker of Parliament. There is no such thing and it can never be. He needs a revision of the delusional position he purports to hold. Representing Public Interest. On the contrary, he is misrepresenting Public Authority and Interest by actually giving Parliament powers beyond what our Constitution allows. This is nothing short of raping the Constitution, 1992 and harming our system of government. While the Speaker frequently mentions the Constitution, he only focuses on parts that he purports to support his position which upon a careful read exposes his mischief or ignorance or both. That Parliament's activities go beyond review is untenable and unconstitutional. Threatening Language. From January 7, 2021 at his rather partisan inaugural speech, the way the Speaker speaks about the courts and the executive has been threatening. He claims the two are working together against Parliament, creating needless tension in Ghana. Usurping the powers of the Courts. The Speaker treats everyday parliamentary decisions the same way as addressing fundamental constitutional matters. Only the courts have the power to address legal questions of law. He is surreptitiously arrogating to himself the powers reserved for the courts in Articles 33 and 130 of the 1992 Constitution. Although Mr. ASK Bagbin says he wants to protect our system of government, his posture suggests changes that could upset the careful balance among Parliament, the Judiciary, and the Executive branches. This balance is essential for our government to work properly.

In the present challenge of confusion and misconduct by the Minority group in Parliament, no other person is responsible for it than the Speaker of Parliament. Contrary to Articles 97 (1)(g), 99, 112 (5) & (6), contentious Speaker Bagbin claimed he was giving information to Parliament on some purported vacancies in the august House when he fully knew, or ought to have known that it was an exercise in excess of his powers and that, it was going to be of no effect.

In so doing, and without the option of replacement, Mr. Bagbin was reducing the Parliament of 275 Members to 271. He was pushing to, single handedly, and without recourse to the law, limit a House inaugurated with 275 members to close with 271 members. It is not about whether a constituency is represented or not, but the number of seats in Parliament. Can it be reduced?



The Bagbin schemes remind me of Reverend Dr. Denis MPassous 1985 mind arresting book titled; Murder in the Interest of the Church. In this book, Dr. MPassou told a story which highlights the problem of deliberate evil. The protagonist, Rev. Chuma, created a circumstance which necessitated saving his reputation and that of the church by any means, fair or foul.



Any reader is led to find how far Mr. Chumas clever intrigues and manoeuvres could take him; killing under the guise of protecting, where it is decreed: Thou Shall NOT Kill. Unlike Chuma, Bagbin is embarking on his schemes for himself ONLY, thus, maiming the 1992 Constitution, claiming to defend same. He doesnt care about what happens to anyone. After all, he knows he has little time to live protected by the very Constitution he is defying.



Mr. ASK Bagbin is engaged in the trifling legal gymnastics he appears to be enjoying because he knows his days are numbered and he seeks to; ...steal and kill and destroy... (John 10:10). Surely, the days of this abominable 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic shall cease to exist after the night of January 6, 2025 with its questionable Speaker. Every dying animal struggles.



Perhaps, the Rt. Hon. Speaker has NOT yet fully appreciated the weight of the burden he wilfully and gleefully imposed upon himself when he took that solemn oath, the controversies surrounding his purported election notwithstanding. Those who experience grace must live as beneficiaries of grace manifesting gracefulness, graciousness and gratitude, not the opposite.



May God grant us life to see the outcome of our actions in the making or unmaking of Ghana. God bless our homeland Ghana, and make our nation great and strong even with a Bagbin.

The writer, James Kwabena Bomfeh Jnr. is a Freelancer Nationalist Politician & Activist of Constitutional Law
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 10. Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), has arrived in Azerbaijan to attend the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), Trend reports.

Cormann was welcomed at Heydar Aliyev International Airport by Mammad Ahmadzadeh, head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department, along with other officials.
At the right hand of God, the Speaker - Occasional Kwatriot Kwesi Yankah writes

Kwesi Yankah Opinion Nov - 10 - 2024 , 06:06 4 minutes read

Haba! Parliament has disturbed my sleep today having decided again to go on break, or adjourn at the poor tax payers expense.



The reason is embarrassing: there appears to be confusion as to who sitteth at the right hand of God, the Speaker.

Indeed we have sunk so low to have taken a decision that whichever party holds vigil, rushes to parliament at dawn, and occupies seats at the right hand of the Speaker shall automatically be called Majority.

It becomes a simple matter of first come In that case, the left hand of God the Speaker belongs to late comers, the Minority, whose seating is automatically a custodial sentence.

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This must have originated from the Apostles Creed, where a resurrected Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, from there he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

That verse in the Apostles Creed has upset me from infancy, since being lefthanded I kept wondering whether I was born on the wrong side of God the Father.

Yet Ogyakromians have been obsessed with seating positions from time immemorial. In our teen years, a passengers first choice of seat on a commercial vehicle, especially the wooden mummy truck, was often beside the driver, often called one-man front.

That was often your first class. Most of the time though the front seat was reserved for drivers concubines who being world travelers, had pre-boarding privileges.

But it was also accepted that those occupying the front seat would arrive home ahead of all other passengers.

Same was the case at the chiefs palace, where it was thought a litigant who was the first to report a matter, was automatically declared winner. In my wide village experience, the truth was to the contrary; and that complainants who rushed to the palace with longer strides, ended up in handcuffs at sundown.

The village court had elders who were guided by laid down customary to pronounce a verdict, and had no special passion for early birds.

I hope legislators who kept vigil and rushed to occupy the Speakers right side at cock crow are with me here.

Whoever invented the terms Majority and Minority did not anticipate the situation in Ghanas 8th parliament, where the parliamentary status of a party could change at short notice because of near equal numbers.

A single persons hospitalization or delay at the airport, could easily flip a Majority side to Minority, and vice versa. In our peculiar case where the Majority has permanent seating on the Speakers right side, it only means seating positions could change whenever an honorable legislator crosses the Chinese carpet in Ghanas Parliament.

The situation is made worse by the date December 7, which is only tomorrow.

With elections pending in a few weeks followed by a new parliament, we ignore the reality that a newly earned title Majority Leader may soon expire, or last only 24 hours.

The new Majority boss may celebrate his new title only to realize that December 7 has flipped his group back to minority.

Thus a voter buys an item at China Mall only to realize he has bought an expired Majority Leader, on whom caution has been written: Expired: should be heated to certain temperatures before consuming.

But short-term titles are highly cherished in Ghana. The new title Chief Whip may be a welcome development even if it is about to expire; also because a church elder may have prophesied that the said individual will be Majority Chief Whip before he dies. The temporary tag may therefore be in fulfillment of a prophesy.

One Speaker of Parliament in the early part of Ghanas 4th Republic, set a record after he was sworn in as acting President in the absence of the President and his Vice who were both away. As it happened, the presidential jet landed in Accra within a day of the swearing in.

The acting President was thus put on record as serving the shortest presidential term in Ghanas history. But that was still great for his biography, particularly if he should accept a one-way invitation to join his Maker. In Ghanas present situation, a souvenir picture labelled 24-Hour Majority Leader is all you need for a well-attended funeral.

Mr Speaker, lets go back for old-fashioned titles other than the dysfunctional Majority/Minority labels. How about Party in Government, Party in Opposition? In which case one can table a motion in parliament even while squatting behind the Speaker.

Indeed let it not be said one day that the 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic led by Rt Honorable Alban Bagbin was inaugurated 2021 with fisticuffs over voting, and is winding up 2024 in fisticuffs over Majority seating. As it is now, our hallowed Parliament stands the risk of being perceived as battle grounds for men of muscle, and the Speakers weakened garvel attracting the label of a glorified hammer.

kyankah@ashesi.edu.gh
BoG suspends Taptap Send's remittance termination partnership

Enoch Darfah Frimpong Nov - 10 - 2024 , 15:51 2 minutes read

Money transfers to Ghana from abroad through Taptap Send has been temporarily disabled due to a suspension of the remittance termination partnership of Taptap Send by the Bank of Ghana (BoG).

This means anybody trying to send money through Taptap Send will not be able to do so in the next one month.

The Bank of Ghana on November 1, 2024 announced that it has suspended the remittance termination partnership of Taptap Send for one month.

The Bank of Ghana said Taptap Send's partnerships with all EPSPs and commercial banks in Ghana had been suspended for one-month effective November 8, 2024.

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This is due to the operation of a cedi remittance wallet by Taptap Send, which is in violation of section 3(1) of the Foreign Exchange Act, 2006 (Act 723) and paragraph 7(b), 7(d), 7(e) of the Updated Guidelines for Inward Remittance Services for Payment Service Providers.

The BoG explained that:

"Foreign Exchange Act 3(1) states "a person shall not engage in the business of dealing in foreign exchange without a licence issued under this Act".

"Paragraph 7(b) of the Updated Guidelines for Inward Remittance Services for Payment Service Providers clearly instructs partner banks to

"Credit the local settlement account of the DEMI or EPSPS with the Ghana Cedi equivalent of inward remittances payable to beneficiaries within twenty-four (24) hours".

"Finally, paragraph 7(d) and (e) of the Updated Guidelines for Inward Remittance Services for Payment Service Providers clearty stipulates that the settlement bank shall not honour any request other than for payment to beneficiaries and report any violation or suspected violation to the Bank of Ghana" and "ensure that all AML/CFT requirements are satisfied for all settlement accounts regarding inflows and outflows".

It said the BoG will not hesitate to severely sanction any institution should any further breaches come to its notice.

Taptap Send has since put a notice on its App stating: Transfers to Ghana are temporarily disabled due to a directive from the Bank of Ghana. We're sorry for the inconvenience, and appreciate your patience as we work to restore the service you know and love.

We're temporarily unable to send transfers to Ghana, but we're working to restore service as soon as possible, it said.

Writer's email: enoch.frimpong@graphic.com.gh

Follow @enochfrimpong Follow @Graphicgh
First Lady meets traditional priests, priestesses, warlords

Rebecca Quaicoe Duho Nov - 10 - 2024 , 15:24 2 minutes read

The First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, has hosted traditional priests, priestesses, and warlords of the Ga state to thank them for their support towards the successful rule of her husband, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over the past seven years.

She asked them to consider all the important and critical policies and social interventions introduced in the country by the NPP, which were changing and improving the lives of the citizenry and vote massively for the New Patriotic Party's presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and all NPP parliamentary candidates in the December polls.

Mrs Akufo-Addo also used the occasion to introduce Alma Naa Djama Adade-Prempeh, wife of the running-mate of the NPP vice presidential candidate, Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh, who is also a native of the Ga State, to the traditional priests and priestesses and asked them for their prayer and support for her as the incoming wife of the Vice President.

Mrs Akufo-Addo enumerated many projects that she herself had undertaken through her foundation, the Rebecca Foundation, during the almost eight-year term of her husband, President Akufo-Addo, to improve the lot of women and children.

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She mentioned among other things the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), the first to be built at the hospital after over 100 years of the existence of the facility, as well as the over 50-bed capacity of the Sunshine Hostel at the hospital to serve as accommodation for parents and guardians of children with Cancers, as their wards receive treatment.

She said 20 libraries have so far been built across the country by her foundation as well as many creches built around market centres to cater for children of the traders and market women, among other projects.

Fulfilled promises

According to the First Lady, President Akufo-Addo had fulfilled many of his promises to Ghanaians, and mentioned particularly the free senior high school programme, which had made it possible for all BECE candidates to freely access secondary education.

There are also the construction of fishing habours, and many others, which the Ga people have also benefitted from.

She said so far, in spite of the challenges Ghana, like many countries, went through due to the Russian-Ukraine war and COVID-19 pandemic, the country is moving smoothly and needed to be left in good hands, like that of Dr Bawumia and Dr Opoku Prempeh to continue the good works of the NPP.

"Dr. Bawumia is the best bet for Ghana. We shouldn't let Dr Bawumia slip our hands," she told the gathering.

She promised to continue with her NGO work after she left the office as the first lady.

Mrs Prempeh, on her part, assured that when the NPP wins the elections, she would step in as the second lady and continue the good works that Mrs Akufo-Addo was doing for the Ga state and for all Ghanaians.

Appeal

Mrs Elizabeth Naa Kwatsoe Tawiah Sackey, Chief Executive Officer of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, and Samuel James Nii Adjei Tawiah, Municipal Chief Executive of Korle Klottey Municipality, also addressed the gathering and appealed to them to go through the elections peacefully, adding that they should all vote for Dr Bawumia and the NPP parliamentary candidates to bring more development to the country.

Writer's email-rebecca.quaicoe-duho@graphic.com.gh
Ghana meets Malian security 'capos' over regional security cooperation [VIDEO]

Graphic.com.gh Nov - 10 - 2024 , 07:23 3 minutes read

As part of efforts in enhancing regional security cooperation, senior officials of Ghanas security and intelligence agencies, led by the Minister of National Security, Albert Kan-Dapaah, the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Bismarck Kwasi Onwona and other senior military officers on Friday held strategic discussions with Malis Minister for National Security and Civil Protection, General Aly Mohammedine and other Senior Security Officials of the Malian government at Bamako in Mali.

The high-level meeting, which followed similar engagements with Burkina Faso, Cote dIvoire, and Togo, underscores Ghana's ongoing leadership in championing collaborative efforts against terrorism and insecurity in the West African sub-region.

During the Friday [Nov 8, 2024] meeting, Mr Kan-Dapaah emphasised the pressing need for security experts to lead the fight against terrorism, underscoring that the complexities of terrorism in Africaparticularly in the Saheldemand nuanced approaches beyond political interests.

Ghana meets Malian security 'capos' over regional security cooperation [VIDEO] https://t.co/zgzk3ChxvR pic.twitter.com/pBAEoH7MNR Advertisement November 10, 2024

He highlighted that unlike the United States or Europe, where terrorism often seeks symbolic or ideological impact, terrorism in Africa poses an immediate territorial threat, aiming to establish influence across swathes of land and affecting countless communities.

Mr Kan-Dapaah pointed out that Malis extensive experience in counter terrorism operations makes it a crucial partner for any effective regional response. "Without Malis cooperation, combating terrorism within West Africa would be nearly impossible," he noted.

Acknowledging the high stakes, he warned that without prompt and coordinated action, the terrorist threat could become unmanageable within two years, threatening the stability and safety of the entire sub-region.

The meeting also reflected on broader regional challenges to security cooperation, particularly in light of recent developments within ECOWAS.

The establishment of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and the exit of its member states from ECOWAS signalled growing tensions in the sub-region, posing significant challenges to security partnerships.

In response, Mr Kan-Dapaah called for renewed bilateral agreements rooted in trust and cooperation, proposing a re-evaluation of relationships within the sub-region to ensure effective collaboration.

Mali's Minister for National Security, General Mohammedine, praised Mr Kan-Dapaah for his extensive experience and objective approach to addressing regional security.

He affirmed that security is a foundational development pillar and reiterated Malis commitment to tackling terrorism as a borderless threat, underscoring the importance of solidarity among African nations.

General Mohammedine expressed optimism that public support for security initiatives could strengthen the influence of Malis army and enhance collaborative security efforts with regional allies, including Ghana.

The Ghana-Mali security collaboration discussions are part of Ghanas ongoing efforts to consolidate a regional front against terrorism, a mission Ghana has led since 2017 with the establishment of the Accra Initiative.

By spearheading this initiative, Ghana has persistently promoted cooperative security solutions, bringing together West African nations to address transnational threats.

Amid recent political tensions and realignments within ECOWAS, Ghana continues to demonstrate its commitment to regional stability and solidarity, positioning itself as a critical partner in tackling terrorism and fortifying West African security.

This latest engagement with Mali reaffirms Ghanas enduring leadership role and the nations readiness to support its neighbours, advancing collaborative efforts to safeguard the stability and resilience of the West African sub-region.
Next article: Aboboyaa rider jailed six months for killing two-year-old in road accident

Ghana National Fire Service to begin next phase of 2024 recruitment on Nov 11

GraphicOnline Nov - 10 - 2024 , 13:51 1 minute read

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has announced that the next stage of its 2024 recruitment exercise will commence on Monday, November 11, 2024, at 9am at the Fire Academy and Training School in Jamestown, Accra.

In a public notice, the GNFS stated that successful applicants would proceed through Body Selection, Documentation, and Medical Examinations.

The Body Selection phase involves evaluating candidates physical suitability for fire service work, while Documentation includes verification of birth and academic certificates.

Candidates who pass these stages will undergo medical examinations, the cost of which they are required to bear.

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The GNFS cautioned unsuccessful applicants and the public against paying anyone claiming to guarantee recruitment, reminding them that no payments are required to secure a place.

The recruitment process, which began with a public announcement in August, aims to fill various roles within the service.
NMC welcomes launch of Ghana Fact-Checking Coalition ahead of elections

GraphicOnline Nov - 10 - 2024 , 17:58 1 minute read

The National Media Commission (NMC) has welcomed the formation of the Ghana Fact-Checking Coalition, an initiative aimed at combating misinformation and disinformation in the lead-up to the 2024 elections.

The coalition, launched on Friday, 8 November 2024, is a collaborative effort by civil society organisations including the Media Foundation for West Africa, Dubawa, and FactSpace West Africa.

In a statement issued by NMC Executive Secretary George Sarpong, the Commission commended the coalition as a "ground-breaking" and "crucial intervention" in safeguarding Ghanas information landscape during a critical electoral period.

The statement noted that the influx of disinformation, from both domestic and foreign sources, has raised concerns about the stability and integrity of the nations democratic process.

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"By leveraging their collective experience, expertise, credibility, and resources, the coalition has enhanced Ghanas capacity to address these threats," the statement read. It further emphasised that the coalition's mission is to counter misinformation and Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) to promote peace and democratic consolidation.

The NMC has pledged its support to the coalitions efforts and announced plans to provide access to the Ghana Media Watch App, a high-tech tool designed for monitoring disinformation.

The app is set to launch on Thursday, 14 November 2024, and is expected to serve as a resource for the coalitions work in mitigating the spread of false information.

As the 2024 elections approach, the NMC has encouraged all stakeholders working toward peaceful elections to engage with the Ghana Fact-Checking Coalition to bolster national efforts in preserving the integrity of information shared in Ghana.
Saboba: Education halted in Kucha Electoral Area due to river overflow

Simon Unyan Nov - 10 - 2024 , 07:26 3 minutes read

The overflow of the River Oti has brought education in the Kucha Electoral Area of the Saboba District of the Northern Region to a standstill, forcing fisherfolk to convert an abandoned school building into a workshop for mending nets.

For three months, students from eight communitiesKucha, Butuin Upper, Butuin Lower, Moagbar, Kunjib, Kacheen, Kibonboni, and Lomokhave had no access to teachers, disrupting their education and leaving many to either accompany their parents to farms or wander the community aimlessly.

The absence of outboard motors, which could provide teachers with a safe means to cross the river from the district capital, Saboba, has only worsened the situation. Community members recall a tragic incident three years ago, when a canoe capsized, resulting in the deaths of nine students. This tragedy has left lasting scars on the community and has led to calls for life jackets and safer modes of transportation.

Batuu Barnabas, a Form Two student, told Graphic Online that the prolonged absence of teachers has severely impacted students. He shared how many of his peers are turning to farming or other unproductive activities rather than attending school, as they feel teachers won't be there to teach them even if they show up.

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As we speak, its been three months without teachers, and were supposed to write our end-of-term examsand even the B.E.C.E.but were falling behind. When we fail the exams, who will take responsibilityour teachers or the government? We are appealing to the government, the Saboba District Assembly, our parliamentary candidates, and other Ghanaians to support our area with an outboard motor to make transportation safer and reduce the dangers of crossing the river in small dugout canoes, he urged.

Fisherman Njorfuni Silas explained that he and his brothers have temporarily converted the school into a workshop for mending their fishing nets. Since the flooding started, there have been no school activities here. Today is Friday, and our brothers and sisters should be in class. But no teachers have come since August, so we decided to use the school grounds to mend our nets and prepare to go fishing, he said.

Adam Gmalaye Njabidam, Assemblyman for Kucha Electoral Area, expressed frustration over the annual disruption of education in the area, a situation he believes the district authorities have neglected. Despite repeated appeals, no lasting solution has been found. If we had engine boats, they could be stationed at key points, allowing safe access across the river at any time, he said. Njabidam also called for the construction of teachers' quarters in communities with schools, so teachers can reside there rather than cross the river daily without life jackets.

The District Chief Executive (DCE) of Saboba, George Bingrini Kitinkawan, acknowledged the challenges facing residents of Kucha, especially given recent natural disasters and infrastructure gaps, though he stated that the current education disruption had not come to his attention. Kitinkawan expressed concerns over the lack of safe transportation for river crossings, particularly during rainy seasons, and announced plans to procure an outboard motor and life jackets to prevent fatalities and improve access to essential services.

Educational disruptions hadnt yet reached my attention. However, severe flooding has made travel hazardous, with many teachers hesitant to cross the river daily. Ill consult the Education Director to verify if school activities have indeed been halted, he said.

The DCE also emphasized plans to construct teacher housing within Kucha communities to reduce the need for daily river crossings. "We aim to include funding for teachers' housing in our 2025 annual budget, enabling teachers to live near schools and improving educational access," he added.
Saboba: 'Overseas' communities risk crossing River Oti

Simon Unyan Nov - 10 - 2024 , 05:48 2 minutes read

Residents of the Kucha Electoral Area in the Saboba District of the Northern Region, are suffering preventable losses due to a lack of safe transportation across the swollen River Oti.

Flooding has left those in the overseas part of the district cut off from essential services, including emergency healthcare in the district capital, Saboba.

With no outboard motor available, residents are forced to make dangerous river crossings, often relying on unstable dugout canoes in desperation. These delays in transporting patients have led to deteriorating health conditions and, tragically, several fatalities.

Pregnant women are particularly affected, unable to access urgent care when complications arise. The areas only health facility, which serves eight communities, is severely under-resourced, staffed by a single nurse without essential supplies, electricity, or a midwife. Many women live in constant fear, questioning how they can safely grow their families under such precarious circumstances.

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Maborte Afua, a mother of six, described the hardships faced by women, especially pregnant women, in accessing medical care. She recounted how two pregnant women lost their lives this year due to a lack of accessible healthcare. Some women, she explained, are choosing not to conceive, fearing they wont be able to get the care they need in an emergency. How can we keep having children when theres no safe way to get to the hospital if something goes wrong? Afua asked. Her concerns have led to daily arguments with her husband, further straining their marriage.

Community Youth Leader Moses Kidiwan warned that no ballot boxes would be allowed in the community for the December 7 elections unless the transportation issues were resolved. Are we not part of Saboba? Do they see us as Togolese? We vote we pay taxeswhy is our well-being, not a priority? he questioned, urging parliamentary candidates and the District Chief Executive to take immediate action.

Assemblyman Adam Gmalaye Njibadam echoed residents' frustrations, noting that the crisis has led to broken homes and social tension. Many women, fearful of crossing the river themselves, expect their husbands to undertake the risky trips to Saboba for essentials, putting further strain on marriages.

The District Chief Executive of Saboba George Bingrini Kitinkawan acknowledged the residents' concerns, especially following recent natural disasters and infrastructure challenges. Mr. Kitinkawan announced that the assembly plans to procure an outboard motor and life jackets to enable safer crossings, aiming to prevent more fatalities and ensure access to essential services.

Until action is taken, residents of Kucha and surrounding communities remain isolated and at risk, with the lives and well-being of their families hanging in the balance.
Afigya Kwabre East: With God all things are possible - Bawumia to Catholic congregation

GraphicOnline Politics Nov - 10 - 2024 , 19:58 2 minutes read

The Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential Candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has expressed his unwavering belief in Gods power, emphasising that with God, all things are possible.

Speaking to a Catholic congregation in Atimatim, Afigya Kwabre East Constituency, on Sunday, Dr. Bawumia reflected on his faith-driven journey to the presidency, underscoring his campaign slogan, It is Possible, as a testament to his reliance on divine guidance.

Addressing the congregation, Dr. Bawumia said, Unless God builds the house, you labour in vain, quoting Psalm 127.

In a unique moment of unity, Dr. Bawumias visit saw both Christians and Muslims gathered under one roof. Imams, Zongo Chiefs, members of the Clergy, and traditional leaders of the Afigya Kwabre East Constituency joined the Catholic service, exemplifying the religious tolerance and harmony that Ghana is celebrated for.

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Dr. Bawumia lauded the gathering as a symbol of Ghanas religious tolerance, commending the presence of Muslim leaders in the Catholic Chapel. It is so beautiful to see Imams here in this Chapel. This reflects our mutual understanding and respect for each other. You will hardly see this anywhere in the world, but this is happening here in Ghana, he said.

Urging all Ghanaians to continue living in harmony, Dr. Bawumia noted that interfaith respect is a foundation for peace in Ghana. Let us continue to live in harmony and continue to respect one another, he advised.
Next article: Put partisan agenda aside and use alternative dispute resolution for Parliamentary standoff - Prof Agyeman-Duah

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Free SHS introduced to bridge gap and accelerate Ghanas development  Bawumia

GraphicOnline Politics Nov - 10 - 2024 , 09:23 2 minutes read

Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential Candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has highlighted the importance of the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy in reducing inequality and advancing Ghanas development.

Introduced in 2017 by the Akufo-Addo administration, the Free SHS policy has provided access to secondary education, benefiting millions to date.

Speaking in Asante Akyem Central Constituency during his campaign tour in the Ashanti Region, Dr Bawumia explained that the NPP government implemented Free SHS for two main reasons: to enable the poor and needy to access secondary education and to raise Ghanas literacy rate, which he emphasised is crucial for national development.

When you look around the world, the countries that have progressed are those with high education levels. Nations with higher rates of education tend to advance more quickly in development, Dr Bawumia told stakeholders in the Constituency.

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Economics and other studies have shown that for a country to develop quickly, education levels must also increase. But in Ghana, many children from poor backgrounds could not afford secondary education. While the children of the wealthy could attend, many children of the poor were left behind, he continued.

This inequality was hindering our countrys progress, as there were far more children from disadvantaged backgrounds than those who could afford secondary education. Thats why we pledged to introduce Free SHS if elected, to give every child, regardless of their background, the opportunity for secondary education.

Dr Bawumia recalled the opposition the policy initially faced from former President John Mahama, who at the time dismissed the proposal as unrealistic.

When we announced plans to introduce Free SHS, former President Mahama opposed it and said it was not feasible. He even went as far as to call it a 419 scam, Dr Bawumia noted.

The Vice President underscored that despite initial resistance, the NPPs commitment to Free SHS has had a transformative impact on education access and the nations overall development trajectory.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 10. Starting from 11th November, the COP29 Daily Show, a collaborative partnership between COP29 and Hi Impact will be broadcast live from Baku, Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

The COP29 Daily Show will be a highly watchable, energetic and intelligent 30-minute summary of the days action at the most significant event of the year - COP29 to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan on 11-22 November. The innovative format will welcome guests ranging from world leaders to scientists, community voices and industry pioneers.

All twelve episodes of the COP29 Daily show will be available for free to millions of viewers from around the world, through syndication with 47 TV stations, including the national broadcasters on four continents. Episodes will be uploaded daily to COP29s official YouTube and social media channels for later playback.

The first of its kind, the Daily Show, is being produced in partnership with Hi Impact, a globally renowned communications agency and broadcast specialists. The show is delivered as part of COP29 commitment to improving global inclusion: it will allow international audiences unable to attend in person, to connect with the event in a way like never before.

The programme will be filmed in a purpose-built studio located in the Green Zone and will be hosted by Rosanna Lockwood, a journalist and international presenter with extensive experience in the field of news and interview programs broadcast on leading TV channels in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. She was the host of the shows like "Prime Time with Rosanna Lockwood" and "News UK" in London.

The Daily Show couch is set to welcome an array of diverse voices, each prominent in the Climate Change discussion. The programme will also feature YouTube climate creators as guest reporters, taking the reach of the programme to young audiences who do not engage in traditional media. The tone and style of the show has been specifically designed to enable audiences from all walks of life to connect with the topic of Climate Change. The idea of the show is to break down barriers and to make the climate change discussion more relatable and accessible to a wider range of viewers.

The programme is available for broadcast at no cost to media organisations. Companies interested in broadcasting the show can apply through the e-mail address [email protected].
Put partisan agenda aside and use alternative dispute resolution for Parliamentary standoff - Prof Agyeman-Duah

Mohammed Ali Politics Nov - 10 - 2024 , 05:39 2 minutes read

Professor Baffour Agyeman-Duah, a political scientist and Senior Fellow at the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has urged Ghanaian leaders to put national unity ahead of party interests.

He advocated for the use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) to help reduce the growing tension between parliament and the judiciary, which he says could endanger the countrys democratic stability.

He made this comment when he appeared as a panellist on Joy FMs newsfile programme on Saturday, November 9, 2024.

Prof. Agyeman-Duah explained that the current standoff, marked by accusations of interference and a lack of consultation between government branches, risks eroding public trust in democratic institutions.

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With elections approaching, he stressed that leaders should set aside rigid legal positions and partisan agenda in favour of a collaborative approach that serves the nation.

This situation calls for alternative dispute resolution, he stated. Sticking strictly to legal battles will only deepen divisions. Leaders need to prioritise the countrys welfare and find a workable solution.

This unprecedented clash between parliament and the judiciary, with both sides claiming interference, is a new and concerning development. Prof. Agyeman-Duah also pointed out that the executive branchs silence, apart from limited involvement by the Attorney-General has done little to ease the crisis.

Every side shares responsibility here, he added. We need to see genuine consultation and cooperative action to maintain democratic stability. These issues are not just legaltheyre also deeply political and need careful, collaborative solutions.

Prof. Agyeman-Duah warned that if left unresolved, this political impasse could harm Ghanas democratic progress. He also referenced recent international findings, such as the Mo Ibrahim Index, which showed a drop in Ghanas scores for judicial impartiality and rule of law.
Next article: Have you searched these 6 words on your computer? You may be at risk

Dogecoin: Ghanaian Pastor urges congregation to invest in meme cryptocurrency

Kweku Zurek Technology Nov - 10 - 2024 , 15:26 2 minutes read

A Ghanaian pastor has encouraged his congregation to invest in the cryptocurrency Dogecoin (DOGE), despite the Bank of Ghanas (BoG) cautious stance on digital assets.

During a service on November 1, 2024, Prophet Bernard ElBernard Nelson-Eshun, Lead Pastor of Spiritlife Revival Ministries - The Oracles' Place, advised worshippers to invest at least $200 in Dogecoin and hold the investment for the next four years.

"If you're a crypto fan, there is a coin called Dogecoin," Nelson-Eshun told his congregation. "Go and look for that coin. At least buy $200 worth of Dogecoin and leave it for just four years," he said, describing this as an opportunity for long-term gain.

Dogecoin has gained traction in recent days, driven by market enthusiasm following the recent US election. The cryptocurrency, which started as a meme, climbed nearly 20 percent to $0.247, reaching levels last seen in November 2021. Bitcoin, meanwhile, briefly approached a new all-time high of $79,993, surpassing previous records.

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Despite Prophet Nelson-Eshuns endorsement of Dogecoin, Ghanaian authorities have taken a cautious approach toward cryptocurrencies.

The Ministry of Finance has reiterated its prohibition on the use of cryptocurrencies for financial transactions, reminding financial institutions that crypto trading remains off-limits until a regulatory framework is established.

Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, recently emphasised in Parliament that Ghana remains open to exploring blockchain technology but remains cautious about the risks of unregulated digital currencies.

"While the government remains open to exploring associated technologies, such as blockchain and distributed innovations, within a controlled framework, we are currently in the process of developing comprehensive guidelines," stated Dr. Amin Adam.

"Until such a framework is established, we reiterate our directive as conveyed through various notices, including the one issued on March 9, 2022. This directive explicitly prohibits all institutions licensed by the Bank of Ghana from facilitating cryptocurrency transactions through their platforms or agent outlets."

In August this year, the Bank of Ghana (BoG) issued draft regulations aimed at bringing the countrys cryptocurrency market under formal oversight.

These proposed rules call for registration requirements, anti-money laundering (AML) compliance, and stronger internal controls for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs). The draft guidelines are expected to lay the groundwork for consumer protection and economic stability in Ghanas evolving digital asset landscape.

The central banks draft regulations also coincide with its efforts to develop a central bank digital currency, the eCedi, first announced in 2021 as part of Ghanas push towards digital finance innovation.

Authorities caution that cryptocurrencies are highly volatile and can experience sharp price fluctuations, urging investors to be aware of the risks involved.
Have you searched these 6 words on your computer? You may be at risk

GraphicOnline Technology Nov - 10 - 2024 , 11:05 2 minutes read

Cybersecurity firm SOPHOS has issued an urgent alert for computer users following reports of a cyber attack linked to a seemingly innocent Google search.

Individuals who search for Are Bengal cats legal in Australia? may risk exposing their personal information to hackers through fraudulent links that appear high in Googles search results.

SOPHOS detailed how victims are often lured into clicking malicious links disguised as legitimate search results. In this instance, the search term involving Bengal cats and Australian legality has been identified as a vector for the attack, leaving users vulnerable to data theft.

Victims are often enticed into clicking on malicious adware or links disguised as legitimate marketing, or in this case, a legitimate Google search, the cybersecurity company stated.

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The firm explained that individuals searching with Australia in their query are at the highest risk, as the threat is geographically focused. Once users click on the deceptive search result, they may have sensitive information, including bank details, stolen by malware known as Gootloader. Additionally, the program can even lock victims out of their own devices.

SOPHOS believes that the narrow focus of the search term may be precisely what makes this hacking attempt particularly dangerous. Hackers use a method known as SEO poisoning, where search engine results are manipulated to position compromised websites near the top of the page. According to the Daily Mail, this method allows cyber criminals to covertly direct unsuspecting users to malicious sites.

The cybersecurity firm is urging anyone who believes they may have clicked on the misleading links to immediately change their passwords.
A couple of weeks ago, the Samsung Galaxy S24+ was down to 800 for a 12/256GB model, now that same unit will cost you 50 less. You can also pick up a 512GB phone, but that is a 100 upgrade. The S24+ has a 6.7" QHD+ LTPO display, an Exynos 2400 chipset and a 4,900mAh battery with 45W/15W charging, plus a 50+10+12MP camera.

The Google Pixel 9 is around the same price, 794 for a 12/256GB unit. The Tensor G4 is well behind the Exynos in terms of performance and the vanilla Pixel doesnt have an LTPO display, let alone a QHD+ one. The cameras feature a better 48MP ultra wide (vs. 12MP), but no telephoto, leaving only the 50MP main (1/1.31 sensor vs. 1/1.56) to do the zooming in, while the Galaxy has a 3x 10MP camera. The 4,700mAh battery is impressive, given the phones smaller stature, the 27W/15W charging is not.

Amazon has the new Samsung Galaxy A16 5G at its MSRP, 200. There is a bundle with a free Galaxy SmartTag 2  this bumps the price up, but also unlocks a 40 discount at checkout. With that, the final price is 182, 18 less than just the phone and you get a free tag out of it. The A16 5G is a solid entry-level device with a 5G modem, a 6.7 FHD+ 90Hz OLED display, a 50+5MP camera and 5,000mAh battery with 25W charging. Note that Samsung is offering 6 years of software support for this model, which is better than some flagships.

The CMF Phone 1 will only get 2 OS updates and lacks an ultra wide camera (not even a 5MP module like on the A16), but you do get a 6.67 FHD+ 120Hz OLED display that has more than double the peak brightness (and a punch hole camera instead of a notch). The Dimensity 7300 handily beats the Exynos 1330. The replaceable back is a fun option if you like to customize the look of your phone. Not bad for a phone that costs as much as the A16 5G.

Xiaomi unveiled the 15-series phones, but no Ultra yet. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is currently under 1,000, which doesnt happen often. Sure, its a year old, but can still give the Xiaomi 14 Pro a run for its money. It has a larger 50MP sensor in the main (1 vs. 1/1.31), a 50MP 75mm telephoto in addition to the 50MP 120mm periscope (the 15 Pro has just the periscope) and the same 50MP ultra wide.

The Motorola Razr 50 is a relatively affordable entry into the flip foldable market, especially now that it is 25% off. You get a roomy 3.6 display and a 6.9 LTPO 120Hz inner display. The phone is rated IPX8 for water resistance and comes with a decently-sized 4,200mAh battery with both 30W wired and 15W wireless charging. The cameras arent great with a 50MP main (1/1.95) and 13MP ultra wide, but they rarely are on a flip foldable.

For 150 more, you can have the Razr 50 Ultra instead, with more RAM and storage to boot (12/512GB vs. 8/256GB). This buys you a better chipset, Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 vs. Dimensity 7300X, a 50MP 2x portrait camera instead of a 13MP ultra wide and a larger 4 cover display. The battery is a bit smaller at 4,000mAh, but has faster 45W wired charging.

We will wrap things up with the Microsoft Surface Pro  this is the 11th edition and is powered by the Snapdragon X Elite chipset. It promises up to 14 hours of video playback on a single charge and you will get to watch your movies on the 13 120Hz OLED display (2,880 x 1,920px, 3:2). There are 2W stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos too. You get two USB-C v4.0 ports with support for 65W charging and DisplayPort 1.4a. There are optional keyboard covers too, if you plan on editing text with this tablet.

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The Pixel Buds Pro 2 are the latest flagship wireless earbuds from Google and the second generation model of the 2022 Pixel Buds Pro. This latest version makes rather big claims of being the most comfortable earbuds while also being able to cancel twice as much noise as the Pixel Buds Pro thanks to the new Google Tensor A1 chip inside each earbud. Priced at $229 MSRP, Google is once again competing with the heavy weights of the industry. Lets see how they stack up.

Design

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 earbuds have been redesigned compared to the previous generation model. Gone are the bulbous tubers that felt like shoving grapes in your ears and have now been replaced by significantly smaller buds that feel more like tiny ear plugs. Google says the new earbuds have been designed with 45 million data points from different ears and are the most comfortable earbuds.

On the outside, the new earbuds have the same circular disc-shaped design that has been a signature element for all previous Pixel Buds models. However, on the inside, the earbuds are considerably smaller. So small, in fact, that they now feature integrated wing tips that help secure the earbuds in your ears as there isnt much mass to fill up the cavity.

The earbuds can be worn one of two ways; you can either insert them as is, at which point the earbuds are basically floating inside your ears with very little contact. This obviously makes them susceptible to fall out so the other way is to twist them in. This enables the fin to dig into your ears and lock them in place.

The earbuds have a two-tone color design. The chosen color of the earbuds is only found on the outer disc as the insides are just matte black plastic. As with the previous model, the black inner plastic visibly shows greasy smudges no matter how clean your ears are and demand constant cleaning.

The outer surface of the earbuds is touch-sensitive and supports multiple gestures. These are easy enough to activate once you manage to figure out where exactly the earbuds are on the side of your face, as their small size makes them easy to miss. Google says it uses IR proximity sensor to detect when the earbuds are worn but I couldnt locate where this sensor was located. I did find a spot where the earbuds responded to physical touch with skin for play/pause detection but thats not exactly how IR works so I'm not sure whats going on there.

Google cleverly detects touch input from both the outer touch surface and the inside sensors to detect when you have finished inserting the earbuds in your ears. Its only when you fully remove your hands from the earbuds does the ANC kick in and the playback begins. This also means you can never accidentally trigger touch gestures while inserting the earbuds in your ears, something that plagues so many other earbuds on the market.

Moving on to the case, there isnt a lot to talk about here. The exterior design is nearly identical and had it not been for the speaker port on the bottom it would have been impossible to differentiate between our Buds Pro 2 and Buds Pro cases. The speaker is there to play sounds while pairing or charging and can also be made to beep if misplaced. The case still has the same excellent eggshell texture that does tend to stain overtime.

One really nice improvement with the Pixel Buds Pro 2 is how the earbuds are positioned within the case. With the Pixel Buds Pro, the earbuds were a bit annoying to pluck out since they sat nearly flush with the case. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 stick out a fair bit and provide room to pull them out with ease.

Having said that, there is a downside to the tiny size of the earbuds, and that is that they are a pain to handle. Even as someone whos not usually clumsy, I dropped the earbuds countless times because of how little surface area there is to grab onto once you pull them out of the case or your ears. You have to take extreme amounts of care handling these as they are just unbelievably easy to drop and avoid handling them over things like grates or gaps between train or elevator doors.

In terms of build quality, both the earbuds and the case feel reasonably premium and well-made. The earbuds are IP54 compliant and the case is IPX4. Outside of extreme abuse (perhaps by dropping them constantly), both the earbuds and the case should last everyday use.

Finally, I know this is a nitpick but having four color options and then placing those colors only on one small part of the product feels a bit silly. Sure, its the part others see the most but its rarely what you get to see yourself. Other products have their colors extend over to the case but not only has the case design on the Pixel Buds Pro 2 not changed, its also still just white.

Comfort

Comfort is a big selling point for the Pixel Buds Pro 2 and Google seems to have gone through a lot of effort to ensure it is good. I wont say much about the whole most comfortable earbuds claim; Im sure even Google realizes it overcooked that one a bit as its impossible to ascertain if something is the most comfortable when you consider the sheer number of earbuds on the market, not to mention the different ear types.

I will say that the Pixel Buds Pro 2 were reasonably comfortable in my use. The locking mechanism puts a tiny bit of strain on your ears than if you just let them be but I didnt like how insecure they felt without locking in so I opted to lock them in every time. I think the previous generation earbuds were a bit more comfortable overall and I also tend to find earbuds with stalks nicer to wear (and handle). But all things considered, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are quite good in this regard.

Software and features

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 work with the Pixel Buds app, which comes pre-installed on Pixel devices and can be downloaded separately on other Android phones. There is no iOS version, which somehow feels pettier than Apple restricting its earbuds to only its phones.

The Pixel Buds app has been around for some time now and still manages to feel weirdly janky, especially in the way it loads things. The app detects the paired earbuds and only loads features that are specific to them but the way it does this isnt very fluid and you can sometimes catch it loading some things slower than others. The screen also scrolls up randomly when you tap certain items in the menus and the EQ screen tells you to create a custom EQ every single time you go into the EQ screen. Some items also didnt respond to taps at times no matter how often the app was restarted.



Pixel Buds app

Through the app, you can adjust things like ANC modes, touch gestures, EQ, spatial audio, multipoint pairing, and more.

The ANC options are rather simple toggles between ANC on, ANC off, and transparency modes. There are no sliders or presets to select the ANC or transparency mode strengths like on some other competing brands.



Touch controls

The EQ offers several usable presets along with a custom five band custom mode. However, the EQ uses nomenclatures like Upper Treble and Low Bass instead of just using the frequency values like everyone else, which makes adjusting a specific frequency band difficult. The Volume EQ option from previous models is here and automatically boosts bass frequencies when you listen at lower volume levels to compensate.

Theres also a Hearing Wellness section, which provides useful information on your current listening levels. It also tells you if your accumulated listening volume is within recommended exposure level or if you have been listening at high volumes for too long. The app will also give you a notification if your recommended exposure limit is exceeded.



Sound settings

The Spatial Audio feature is also back with head tracking using on-board sensors on the earbuds. The implementation of this feature is still quite poor because Google likes to pretend Dolby Atmos doesnt exist despite being in almost every major smartphone these days. Googles spatial audio feature is only implemented in video apps, that too very few at the time of writing (Google TV, Max, Netflix, Disney Plus). This means you cannot use it in apps like Apple Music or Tidal nor can you use it with your own video files. The spatial audio also works only with Pixel devices, which further limits its use.

You can also update the firmware through the app. This is somewhat annoying as unlike in other such apps, the Pixel Buds app doesnt just let you check if an update is available. It will let you know, at its leisure, if such a thing does, in fact, exist. If it does then it will decide, at its leisure, when to transfer the update to the earbuds. The firmware for Pixel Buds devices is applied to the earbuds as well as the case. While the phone transfers the update to the earbuds, the earbuds decide, at their leisure, when to transfer the update to the case. This entire process is frustrating to witness and tends to take ages to complete.



Hearing Wellness

Now onto more serious complaints. My major complaint with the previous generation Pixel Buds Pro was the litany of software issues that plagued the device at the time of testing. Unfortunately, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 also has its fair share to report. The ANC in the left earbud did not work correctly. When engaged, it would actually slip in some noise from the outside, noise you would not hear if ANC was disabled. This wasnt some tip or fit issue as flipping the earbud to the other ear presented with the same issue.

When paired with a Windows PC, there was a popping noise that played every now and then while playing audio. There were also instances where the earbuds were clearly paired and connected with the test smartphone but despite that the phone was playing audio through its loudspeaker instead of the earbuds. At one point the single tap gesture on the left earbud stopped working but the other gestures worked fine.



Spatial Audio and other options

Throughout these issues, the earbuds were factory reset several times to no avail. They were and remain at the time of writing on the latest firmware version, which is 2.117. Looking at the Pixel Buds subreddit, Im clearly not the only one having issues with these earbuds, with other users complaining about even more things. Im sure Google will fix some of these issues over time as it did with the Pixel Buds Pro but launching a new flagship pair of earbuds with such basic issues every time is unbecoming for a software company of Googles size and experience.

Hardware

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 use 11mm dynamic drivers that are quite possibly the same ones used on the Pixel Buds Pro, although Google does claim to have a new high frequency chamber for smooth treble.

Powering everything is a new custom Tensor A1 chip that has dedicated lanes for ANC and audio processing. Google claims the chip is 90 times faster than the speed of sound so it should be able to keep up with the demands of the ANC algorithm, which the company claims results in 2x better noise cancellation over the previous Pixel Buds Pro.

Despite all that, the company is still somewhat stuck in the stone age regarding its choice of audio codecs. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 support SBC, AAC, and Opus. Out of these, Opus is only used for spatial audio content, so youre mostly stuck with AAC for all your regular audio needs. This isnt necessarily an indictment of AAC, which is a fine codec despite its age and simplicity but you can certainly do better than that in 2024 for the asking price.

Performance

Audio quality

The original Pixel Buds Pro had decent if unexciting audio quality. Compared to everything else about it, the sound felt like somewhat of an afterthought and really was nothing to write home about. Thankfully, thats not the case with the Pixel Buds Pro 2.

With the tuning of the Pixel Buds Pro 2, Google has chosen to go in a very different direction from the Pixel Buds Pro or indeed what would generally be considered mainstream. While the Pixel Buds Pro had a somewhat typical bassy low-end and warmer overall sound, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are much leaner and cleaner sounding.

Lets start with the bass. The Pixel Buds Pro had a very thumpy low-end response, which was really what the entire tuning was centered around. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 come in with a much tighter and leaner overall bass response. The bass shelf now sits much lower and while it is still elevated over what one might consider reference, it has a much more precise and lighter quality to it. You still get punchy attack and slam from drums and the warmth from cellos and bass guitars but it doesnt dominate the overall sound.

Much like on the Pixel Buds Pro, the lower mid-range on the Pixel Buds Pro 2 is pulled back slightly in the mix, making some of the vocals a bit harder to hear over the rest of the mix. However, the overall mid-range clarity on the Pixel Buds Pro 2 is much greater in comparison, which means everything still comes across quite well.

What the Pixel Buds Pro 2 lack is the timbre of the Pixel Buds Pro. The original model have a smoother, mellower tone to the vocals and instruments whereas the Pixel Buds Pro 2 tends to sound quite nasal and metallic in the upper mid-range. Its not something one would immediately pick up on but going back and forth between the two models its quite apparent. Toning down the frequencies between 1-2kHz should help a bit but youre going to need something better than the 5-band EQ in the app.

The treble response is greatly improved on the Pixel Buds Pro 2; the current version of the Pixel Buds Pro sounds quite soft and muted in the treble range, which the Pixel Buds Pro 2 fixes. The downside of this is that on some tracks the Pixel Buds Pro 2 treble response can be quite sharp and sibilant. Still, those instances were rare in my testing and overall I much prefer the treble response on the newer model.

Overall, I consider the tuning on the Pixel Buds Pro 2 to be a big improvement over their predecessors and great overall. Instead of a one-dimensional bass-forward sound, the new model presents a balanced, cleared, and brighter sound. The sound is also much more detailed and doesnt sound quite as soft and fuzzy as before.

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 also have decent imaging and soundstaging. The sharper, higher resolution sound has much more distinct object placement in the mix and there is greater sense of space around the listener. Even without gimmicky spatial audio features, the sound is wider and more three-dimensional.

Speaking of spatial audio, it was quite poor in my usage, much as it was on the Pixel Buds Pro. For whatever reason, the spatial audio mix is quite soft with a low-resolution, indistinct sound. The dynamic range is also poor and everything sounds roughly the same volume in the mix. The bass is bloated and mostly what you hear in action sequences with the dialog being no clearer than in standard stereo. Its just a top to bottom failure when you consider its limited uses and the addition of extra hardware for the pointless head tracking feature.

One thing to note is that there is a significant difference in sound between the ANC modes. While there is no real audible difference when you switch between ANC on and transparency mode, switching to the ANC off makes the sound considerably more stuffy with a diffused upper mid-range and treble response and heightened bass response. Moreover, the sound also gets more boxed-in and two-dimensional, and almost sounds monophonic in comparison. Usually, there is some difference between ANC on and off modes but its rarely this big. Why the difference exists in the first place is not clear since Google claims the ANC and audio signal take different paths within the chipset. There is zero reason for the ANC to have such an impact on the audio processing and I have to assume this is a bug that someone forgot to test.

Microphone

The microphone performance on the Pixel Buds Pro 2 was a mixed bag. Compared to the Pixel Buds Pro, the new model has clearer sounding vocals. Having said that, the previous model had a more natural and less artificially enhanced voice even if it is a bit quieter.

However, when there is loud background noise, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 just falls apart. It can get rid of the background noise if you arent speaking but the moment you speak, you hear your voice along with the source of the noise in the background simultaneously. Its like it completely gives up on doing any noise reduction when it detects the person speaking and hopes the other party will hear you over the noise. In comparison, the Pixel Buds Pro actually did a decent job of cutting out background noise even while you are speaking.

Just for the sake of reference, I tried the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 again under the same conditions and the difference in background noise reduction on the OnePlus is night and day better than either of the two Google models despite not having a fancy chipset onboard and being half the price.

Noise cancellation

Noise cancellation performance on the Pixel Buds Pro 2 is very good. Compared to the previous generation model, the new model has better attenuation in the mid and high frequencies while both are similarly good at low frequencies. I cant quite confirm the 2x noise reduction claim but it is objectively better in everyday use. The ANC on the Pixel Buds Pro 2 also doesnt seem to adjust its effectiveness as much or at all compared to some other models based on ambient noise levels so you dont get some of that fluctuations that you might get elsewhere.

The transparency mode is also good quality. Like Apple, Google aims for a more natural sound over being artificially boosted, which makes it ideal to be just left on while walking around as it doesnt distract too much from what youre listening to.

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 have a conversation detection feature, which will detect the wearer speaking and enable transparency mode while turning down any audio being played. It worked well enough and was also smart enough to only activate while I was speaking and not for others around me. It deactivates itself if you stop speaking for a while so you sort of need to keep speaking.

The ANC on the Pixel Buds Pro 2 doesnt seem to react to wind much; in a heavy wind simulation test (a.k.a. desk fan) the Pixel Buds Pro 2 ANC did not drop out as it usually does in other models, which meant the buffeting noise was quite apparent. Interestingly enough, the earbuds will tone down the transparency mode in heavy wind to avoid the buffeting but not in the noise cancellation mode. I decided to check the first gen model and it too exhibited similar behavior.

Compared to something like the OnePlus Buds Pro 3, which also has very good ANC, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are a bit better overall. But whats impressive about the ANC on the Pixel Buds Pro 2 is how quick it is. The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 take a couple of seconds to activate their ANC and then another second or so to slowly adjust to the ambient noise. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 ANC kicks in instantly and is also quick to switch modes. Its clear the A1 chip is pulling its weight and makes the overall experience snappier.

However, when it comes to ANC tech, its clear Apple is currently light years ahead of the competition. Not only do the AirPods Pro 2 have outstanding ANC, the transparency mode is so good now it can rival medical-grade hearing aids. Apple has also expanded a lot in this space, positioning the AirPods Pro 2 as a health and fitness product. Unfortunately for Google, its not quite there yet and while the A1 allows the company to potentially expand the Pixel Buds Pro 2 functionality through software updates like Apple has on the AirPods Pro 2, the current product feels much more basic compared to Apples offering.

Latency

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 have okay latency performance. On the smartphone, there is no noticeable latency in video playback as video players can automatically adjust to mask that. Some games had slightly more noticeable latency than others but they were generally playable.

However, if you play something in the browser, for example, then you will get significantly more lag. This also applies to things like tapping sounds for the keyboard, which have an annoyingly long delay to them.

When paired with a Windows PC, the audio latency was quite decent. Usually, earbuds with poor latency performance get exposed when paired to a PC as the tricks they can employ on phones to mask the delay dont work on the PC. However, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 latency was fine for watching videos and even for casual gaming.

Connectivity

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 have decent connectivity performance. I didnt come across any disconnections or large audio dropouts when paired with a phone. However, there were occasional popping sounds when paired to a PC. This didnt happen every time so it was hard to tell what was causing it.

Battery Life

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 have a claimed battery life of 8 hours of continuous playback with ANC enabled and 12 hours with ANC disabled. Google also claims 1.5 hours of playback with ANC disabled after a 5-minute charge.

It wasnt possible to do our usual battery life test with ANC enabled as the earbuds require contact with skin to enable ANC or it gets shut down completely. As such, testing was only done with ANC disabled.

In this mode, I got almost exactly 12 hours of playback on a full charge. After a 5-minute charge, I got almost two hours of playback, which is a bit over what Google claims.

Assuming the ANC figure continues this trend of matching claimed numbers, the battery life on the Pixel Buds Pro 2 is very impressive. These numbers are higher than what most of the competition is capable of and only Sony is able to match Google in this regard.

As with the previous generation model, the case supports both wired as well as wireless charging.

Conclusion

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 are priced at $229 but had already dropped to $179 at the time of writing. They are available in four colors, Porcelain, Hazel, Peony, and the Wintergreen pictured here.

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 are a notable improvement over their predecessor. The new model is more comfortable, has much better audio quality, and better active noise cancellation. The battery life is similar, which means its still great and better than most of the competition.

Where the earbuds disappoint is in the quality of the microphone audio, which is quite poor in noisy environments. The small earbud design also makes them difficult to handle and easy to drop. The audio quality with ANC disabled is quite a bit worse and the janky Pixel Buds app is not available on iOS. The spatial audio feature is also abysmal in both implementation and quality.

But like with the first generation model, the main issue with the Pixel Buds Pro 2 is the myriad software issues. Three months from launch, the earbuds still feel like they are in a pre-release state running on beta firmware. Google has a track record of fixing these issues over time but it also has a track record of having them in the first place. None of the other earbuds I test are anywhere even close to having as many issues as Google products do at launch and most of them are from smaller brands selling cheaper products.

That aside, I do still quite like the Pixel Buds Pro 2. The comfort is good and the sound quality is one of the best on the market. I do hope the company gets its act together and not just fixes the current issues but also makes sure they dont happen in the first place as otherwise these earbuds really are worth buying if you can get them at the current discounted price.
Weekly poll: the OnePlus 13 will be available near you soon, will you buy one? Comments
Hundreds of people affected in some way by cancer gathered for the annual American Cancer Societys Relay for Life held Saturday at the University of Guam Calvo Field House.

It was a festive, celebratory atmosphere as businesses, families and government agencies showed unified support for those afflicted, whether in remembrance or support.

It is the societys largest event of the year, and it goes a long way into reaching the ACS goal of raising $250,000.

What has long been an outdoor event, rain or shine, it didnt take much for organizers to opt for a roof.

Everybody wanted to do indoors one more year, and Im glad that I did, said Ed Lee, development director for the ACS Guam chapter. Its turned out great, we have a lot of teams, a lot of new teams, and its all about participation. I mean, look at the smiles.

The Guam Relay for Life, which has been held annually for more than 30 years, even drew the attention of a man who oversees about 1,200 relays nationwide, plus relays in 34 other countries.

I think that the sense of community is very strong. I think that island community, that island culture, is present in this relay, said Bryan Sherwood, the national director of Relay for Life for the ACS. Youve got employers, families and even the government. And Ive never been at an event where the governor and lieutenant governor are in our presence as well. Thats definitely something unique about Guams event.

The relay started at 3 p.m. and participants set up camp complete with pop-up tents, activities and food tables as if they were outdoors.

It kicked off with a survivors lap, reserved for those who are alive to tell about their cancer battles.

Those who have shouldered the difficult task of caring for cancer patients were also recognized for the first time in the caregivers lap that followed.

After a quick Zumba session to warm up, each organization followed a couple of colorful unicorns to start the relay. Groups walked around the arenas floor and they waved and cheered to everybody and nobody.

Some groups were quiet as they carried banners and posters of loved ones that lost their lives to cancer, and survivors were surrounded by friends and family as they walked their laps, their triumphs tempered by the knowledge that they are among the lucky few.

Relay for Life event chairman Joe Rios said theres still time this year to raise more money in hopes of hitting their $250,000 goal. They currently stand at over $150,000 raised so far this year.

This Relay for Life event is not only for our survivors and our caregivers, its also to spread awareness, said Rios. So when you or your family member or loved one hears for the first time that you have cancer, American Cancer Society is here to help you fight against cancer.

Lee said family support absolutely makes a difference in battling cancer.

Mental health is just as important as physical health, said Lee. Patients who come here and actually see survivors have proof that it can be done.
The government of Guam bought for $2.3 million the historic chancery property in Agana Heights, which the Archdiocese of Agana had been trying to sell as part of its bankruptcy exit linked to the settlement of nearly 300 Guam clergy sex abuse claims.

Its where the late Pope John Paul II, who later became a saint, stayed overnight in 1981, among other things.

Krystal Paco-San Agustin, the governors director of communications, confirmed the purchase on Sunday, saying GovGuam used $2.3 million in approved U.S. Treasury capital projects funds to buy the chancery property.

The sale is currently in the closing process, she said.

GovGuam, according to Paco-San Agustin, will use the property to provide services to individuals with disabilities, as well as for community outreach.

Theres a six-month transition period under the purchase agreement, giving the archdiocese ample time to move into a new chancery.

During this period, they will continue to assume all operational costs, Paco-San Agustin said, referring to utilities and other expenses associated with occupying the property.

The chancery property on San Ramon Hill, with a sweeping view of Hagatna and the bay, has been the home of archbishops for several decades.

It holds an immense spiritual, cultural and historic significance not only to the Catholic Church but to Guam as a whole, the archdiocese said, because of Saint John Paul the Greats unprecedented visit to the property some 43 years ago.

The pope visited Guam from Feb. 22 to 23, 1981.

Bittersweet

David Sablan, president of the grassroots Concerned Catholics of Guam, which helped bring to the forefront clergy sex abuses on Guam, on Sunday said the purchase is somewhat bittersweet.

Were (CCOG) pleased that the proceeds will go to the Trust Fund for the victims and their families affected by clergy sex abuse. But its also sad that the seat of our Church on Guam and Micronesia had to be sold, Sablan told the Pacific Daily News.

GovGuams purchase comes about a year after Phoenix Foundation and its donors tried to buy -- but did not raise the full $2.3 million -- to successfully purchase the property.

The foundation came up short of about $250,000 to complete the purchase on the eve of the Oct. 17, 2023 bankruptcy court deadline. The foundation has since started returning the donations.

There was a group before GovGuam who was going to buy the Chancery property and then donate it back to the Church. This would have been great. Unfortunately, they could not raise enough funds to finalize the sale before the deadline. This would have been preferable, Sablan said. But if this Chancery property can help the disabled citizens of our island, which is the intent of the Government of Guam, then this is an honorable option for the use of our Chancery.

The Phoenix Foundations members included former Gov. Eddie Calvo, former adjutant general of the Guam National Guard Benny Paulino, and realtor Chris Felix.

The chancery property sale is part of the court-approved deal to settle the clergy sex abuse claims and get the archdiocese out of bankruptcy.

Phoenix Foundations goal in buying the prime property on San Ramon Hill, according to its members, is to preserve the chancery complexs historic and religious significance, and allow the archdiocese to continue its use for the Catholic Church.

A majority of the Guam population is Catholic.

The chancery property is among the archdioceses prime properties for sale, under order from the bankruptcy court.

Proceeds of the sale were supposed to cover some of the churchs bankruptcy costs, help pay for some of the archdiocese offices relocation to the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica in Hagatna, and help settle the claims of about 280 survivors of Guam clergy sexual assaults that happened as far back as the 1950s.

More than 80 archdiocese properties, including those near or adjacent to Catholic parishes and schools, are up for sale to help settle the abuse survivors claims.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 10. Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will visit Azerbaijan for COP29, German Ambassador in Baku Ralf Horlemann said, Trend reports.

According to the ambassador, Special Envoy for international climate action of the German Foreign Office Jennifer Morgan will also join the country's delegation.

"As Germanys Chief Negotiator, State Secretary Morgan will beat COP29 both weeks to address the climate crisis. Foreign Minister Baerbock and other high-ranking members of the German Government will join COP29 in the coming 2 weeks," he wrote on his page on X.




Haiti - FLASH : Dissolution of the RAM Group





Saturday, November 9, 2024, Richard Auguste Morse, the leader of the legendary root music group RAM, which marked several generations with its unique blend of traditional Haitian music and Rara and which profoundly influenced the Haitian music scene with memorable albums and historic concerts, announced, on the group's X account, that he was officially leaving the group he founded in the 1990s and guided alongside Lunise for years and also announced the dissolution of RAM.



An announcement that took everyone by surprise because the group, despite periods of turbulence, seemed to still be a solid institution in the Haitian musical landscape.



RAM, was one of the pillars of the Haitian musical revival, merging traditional music and modern influences. RAM has brought rara into the spotlight and contributed to the revitalization of popular songs and traditional instruments: Defile (2008), Ya Sezi (2009), and Yon Bel Ayiti (2012) among others



Announcement of the end of the RAM Group:

"Bonjou tout moun. M ap ekri nou pou di nou ke m ap kite djaz RAM. RAM pa egziste anko  (Hello everyone. I am writing to announce that I am leaving the RAM group. RAM no longer exists.)



"Merci a Lunise ki se pi gwo talan mizikal peyi a janm konnen" (Thanks to Lunise who is the greatest musical talent the country has ever known)



'Pa bliye fos peyi dAyiti se chante tradisyonel yo ak tanbou yo ak Rara/ se pa ni batri ni nouvo mizik yo' (Remember that Haiti's strength is the traditional songs, the drums and rara / it's not the drums or the new music.)



"Richard Auguste Morse

Ayibobo"



The end of RAM is very sad news and leaves a considerable void in the Haitian music sector... Morse did not specify the reasons for this sudden dissolution...



S/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Security : Panama plans to send a security contingent to Haiti





The Foreign Ministers gathered at the VII Meeting of the Alliance for Development in Democracy (ADD), held at the Bolivar Palace (Panama), addressed the situation in Haiti, which is facing a wave of major insecurity and political crisis.



"We talked about the responsibility that Panama has, within the framework of the UN, to send forces linked to maintaining security in Haiti," said Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martinez-Acha, stressing that the Central American country plans to provide a security contingent to support Haiti.



When the time comes, the population will be informed of the manner and quantity of security equipment and men that will be sent to Haiti, Martinez-Acha said, adding "This is a commitment that we have as a member of the Security Council (as of January 1st, non-permanent member) and another example that Panama is a reliable partner and that the community must recognize it," he added.



For his part, Dominican Chancellor Roberto Alvarez, deplored that until now, Haiti has not received the necessary financial support so that all the forces that were promised can be deployed in Haiti "The situation is complex due to logistics and financing. In any case, the Haitian people need support so that they can live in Peace, and so that the region can also have that Peace and security that, in terms of migration, does not currently exist."



In addition to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs Martinez-Acha and Roberto Alvarez, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs Arnoldo Andre Tinoco (Costa Rica) and Gabriela Sommerfeld, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility of Ecuador, participated in this VII Meeting.



The four ministers signed a joint statement in which they expressed their support for the Transitional Presidential Council and Prime Minister Garry Conille, as well as for the Multinational Mission for Security Support in Haiti (MMSS), led by Kenya and which requires greater financial support from the international community.



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Elections : Important forum on the challenges and conditions for the success of the referendum and electoral process





On Saturday, November 9, 2024, the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT) launched at the Montana Hotel, the Forum to support the electoral process on the theme "Challenges and conditions for the success of the referendum and electoral process".



The purpose of the exchange day was to continue the exercise of identifying electoral challenges and to provide a space for discussion on issues that will facilitate solutions to these challenges.



This Forum took place in the presence of Leslie Voltaire, President Pro tempore of the CPT, the Councilor-President, Pastor Frisnel Joseph, Prime Minister Garry Conille, members of the ministerial cabinet, members of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), representatives of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to Haiti, members of Civil Society, representatives of international partners and actors who signed the April 3rd agreement.



In his opening speech, Prime Minister Conille recalled the importance of harmony between political actors and all other sectors of national life to achieve a successful referendum and electoral process and transfer power on February 7, 2026 to elected officials, in accordance with the Agreement of April 3rd, 2024.



"This Day of exchanges on the challenges and conditions for the success of the referendum and electoral process comes at the right time in the path of the deadlines set for the transition for these two projects. Despite the doubt. We have no choice, the Haitian people expect us to fight and win this battle in their name" confirming the availability of almost half of the funding and resources necessary to succeed in the referendum and electoral process, ensuring that all support will be given to the CEP and the Steering Committee of the National Conference on Constitutional Reform, to achieve the desired objectives.



"The political process is essential to get us out of the impasse we are in. We absolutely must provide this country not only with a new government on February 7, 2026, but also with practical instruments that will allow this government to carry out its work," explained Conille, highlighting the projects already carried out as part of the implementation of the process, including the Steering Committee. the establishment of the Provisional Electoral Council-CEP, the assurance of the establishment of financing for certain important stages of the National Conference, the official launch of which is scheduled for Tuesday, November 12, 2024.



"These projects send clear signals to politicians : despite the crisis, we are moving towards the elections. We are committed to doing so. And we are going to do so. Politicians are invited to participate actively and constructively in the process of dialogue on the Constitution and to prepare to mobilize and raise awareness among the population in order to go to the elections and arrive, once and for all, to break with decades of practices that have led us to the abyss where we are today."



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





The possible revocation of the PM illegal ?

The alleged decision of the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT) to revoke the PM would be illegal, says Me Bernard Gousse reacting to the resolution recording the revocation of Garry Conille. In addition, relying on Article 2 of the decree creating the CPT, he claims that the signature of the three Councilors involved in the BNC scandal is invalid.



3 students kidnapped

On Friday, November 8, 2024, 3 students and their driver were kidnapped by armed individuals in the commune of Petion-ville.



Cities without electricity for 2 years

For 2 years, almost all provincial cities have experienced a blackout. Several power plants have been shut down due to engine failure (and parts to repair them) or fuel shortages. In Jeremie, residents have not had electricity since 2021. A large part of the metropolitan area is also plunged into a blackout due to bandit attacks on the Varreux power plant and the EdH substation in Carrefour-feuilles. The Minister of Public Works (representing Fanmi Lavalas) to which EdH belongs, as well as Leslie Voltaire, President pro tempore of the Transition Council, have taken no measures to meet the needs of the population.



Mass deportation : Trump says he will keep his promises

In an exclusive interview with NBC News, President Donald Trump said that strengthening the American border will be one of the priorities of his administration once in office. Trump has made it clear that he must keep his campaign promise to launch a major and historic deportation operation.



BNC : The judge in charge of investigating the 3 advisers lacks resources

According to the National Human Rights Defense Network, Judge Benjamin Felisme, in charge of investigating the case of the 3 presidential advisers accused in the investigations of the Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC) of abuse of office, payment of bribes and passive corruption in the case of the National Credit Bank (BNC) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43336-haiti-flash-the-ulcc-in-the-bnc-case-requests-criminal-actions-against-3-transitional-advisors-report.html , does not have sufficient resources to do his job.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















On the advice of the intelligence services, Canada's government orders the closure of TikTok Technology Canada, Inc., a subsidiary of the Chinese Bytedance Group. Such orders are possible if foreign direct investment could violate the national security of the monarchy. Like the EU, Canada also banned Tiktok from civil servants' cell phones last year. However, private use of the video app remains possible in Canada.

Anzeige

The closure of the Tiktok offices in Toronto and Vancouver will not change this. "The government is not blocking Canadians' access to the Tiktok app or the ability to provide content," emphasizes Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne from the Liberal minority government, "It is a personal decision to use an app or platform for a social network." This is not a recommendation. The minister referred to advice from the IT security department of the CSE (Communications Sercutiy Establishment), which is intended to help citizens better assess the potential risks of communication programs.

The decision to wind down the subsidiary is based on a "multi-level investigation (from a) national security perspective", says the Minister: "The Government is taking action to address the specific national security risks associated with Bytedance's operations in Canada through the establishment of TikTok Technology Canada. This decision is based on information and evidence gathered during the investigation and the advice of Canadian intelligence agencies and other government partners."

Tiktok fights in court

Tiktok announced in a short statement that it will take legal action against the order. The company does not address the government's concerns. Instead, it points out that the closure of the Canadian offices would cost "hundreds of well-paid jobs". Exactly how many employees Tiktok has in Canada is not publicly known. The company has around 80 job vacancies online, but not every advertisement is necessarily a job vacancy.

Canada's government did not have to wait long for criticism from third parties either. Canadian video producers are seeing their skins swim away. In some countries, including Germany and the USA, Tiktok gives particularly successful video suppliers with at least 10,000 followers a share of the advertising revenue. This offer does not exist in Canada, and now it is even less likely that Tiktok will pay out any money there in the foreseeable future.

Anzeige

"There may well be good reasons to ban the app if its risk to security and privacy is different than other platforms," says Canadian law professor Michael Geist,"But banning the company instead of the app makes matters worse because the risks posed by the app remain, but the ability to hold the company accountable is weakened."

The employees of Tiktok's Canadian subsidiary "are concerned with the safety of Canadian users and children, supporting Canadian producers, liaising with Canadian authorities, countering foreign interference and ideologically motivated violent extremism in Canada," adds Nova Scotia privacy lawyer David Fraser. He therefore considers the official closure order to be "remarkably stupid".

Inadequate data protection

The closure order could make sense if its aim is not to combat threats emanating from the app, but threats emanating from the branch. The Canadian intelligence services may have come to the conclusion that Tiktok employs too many people in Canada who are classified as suspicious or that the branch serves as a cover for undesirable activities or money flows.

However, if the government is concerned about the app, a strict data protection law would be much more helpful. Discussions about privacy and national security concerns should "remind us that most social media apps are unacceptably invasive-by-design, treat users as raw material for personal data surveillance, and fail at transparency in data sharing," Ronald Deibert, head of the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto, noted last year, "so we urgently need comprehensive privacy legislation."

Read also Facebook's data transfer to Cambridge Analytica was wrong in Canada after all

Although an attempt to do so has been tabled in parliament, the government has linked it to its ideas for regulating artificial intelligence, which is slowing down data protection. New elections are now looming, as the minority government is on shaky ground.

(ds)
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.
A BOAT brokerage and charter business in Henley is under new ownership.

Gillian Nahum, who founded Henley Sales and Charter, decided to step away after 32 years.

She has sold the company, which has offices in Station Road and a boatyard in Beale Park, to Heather Dennett, the event secretary for the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships.

Ms Nahum, 67, decided to find new owners for the business because she didnt have the energy required to keep it growing.

She said: I had been looking for the right people for a while. Its something that I have nurtured for so long, its like a child and you want it to live on and grow.

I just recognised that I am not able to make it grow anymore and I got to the point where I have got to let it go and let somebody else take it on. It wouldnt have been wise to hold on and doggedly carry on when you havent quite got the energy that you had before.

Ms Nahum, who lives in St Andrews Road with her husband Steve Hoile, was adamant she wanted the business to be taken over by a woman because there arent enough women in the marine sector.

She said: I think Heather will be a brilliant person to take over from me, shes got quite a lot of experience with the Dunkirk Little Ships and she is really active within that association.

The River Thames is an amazing place  it has such heritage and businesses like this one keep it going, keep people enthusiastic about it and get people involved in things like the Traditional Boat Festival, which is an event Ive always absolutely loved as an exhibitor.

Ms Nahum, who is originally from Manchester, first came to Henley in 1987 when her boss asked her to take his boat to Henley so he could use it when he visited for the royal regatta.

She said: The boat is still in Henley now all these years later. We came through Hambleden Lock and it was the first day of the regatta when we arrived. I was looking around and I had never seen anything like it. There were all these boats and blokes dressed in their school blazer with a cap on. As a Mancunian, I was really able to appreciate it from an outsiders perspective, I had never seen anything like it.

Ms Nahum had joined the boating industry when she was a young mother with two small girls. She had been living in Geneva and worked as a linguist. She moved back to the UK to have her family and at a party she overheard a conversation about somebody starting their own boat business.

Having got their number and shown a willingness to learn sales and marketing she was taken on. Another company then saw her at a boat show and offered her a job and she appeared on Tomorrows World because she had got involved in electric boating.

After then getting involved in classic boats, which she thought were absolutely beautiful she started Henley Sales and Charter in 1992 and has enjoyed the variety of work, being able to travel due to exporting boats, and meeting creative people.

One of her proudest moments was being made a Freeman of the City of London and became a member of the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights.

She said: The Shipwrights are one of the oldest companies in London from the 1300s. It gives me access to wonderful dinners and beautiful places but it also enables me to help lots of young people, particularly young women, get into the industry.

Through the business, she has been involved in several films, and provided boats for The Boys in the Boat, directed by Hollywood actor George Clooney, who lives in Sonning, which was filmed partially on the River Thames in Henley.

She said: It was fun meeting George Clooney. We were involved in the film in a big way. We gathered a lot of period boats for the filming so it would have the right look.

Ms Nahum rented six Thirties-style boats to the production company. These included two American Chris-Craft boats, two British river launches, a Swedish fast-commuter launch and gentlemens saloon launch.

She is staying on as a consultant while running her two other businesses, Pure Boating, a summer boat rental business, and Henley Houseboat Co, which rents out a houseboat in Henley.

Mrs Dennett, an interior designer, has been involved in wooden boats since she was a child. For the last 20 years she has run Dennetts Boat Builders in Chertsey with her husband Stephen, who inherited the 65-year-old boat repair yard from his father, who founded it.

She said: My parents bought a Dunkirk Little Ship when I was a baby. Even as a young child the story behind Dunkirk captured me and really shaped the rest of my life.

She was in a really bad state of repair when I inherited her. I took her to Dennetts and had her restored. The long and short of it is, he took all my money and asked me out on a date. That was about 20 years ago and now we have kids, dogs, and we run the business together.

Im an interior designer by trade, so I do a lot of the interior transformations of traditional boats, as I know boats so well. Being on the committee of the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships, wooden boats are in my blood.

Mrs Dennett will be taking on the brokerage side of the business, while her husband will continue boatbuilding and repairs which will be expanded to also operate out of the boatyard at Beale Park.

She said: Ive known Gillian for a very long time through Stephen and I suppose there was just a synergy between what we already do and Gillians business. They complemented each other very well.

When we were approached by Gillian it was very flattering because she has built up an amazing business and an amazing brand. The fact that she felt that it could be trusted to me is a great honour.

Were going to work side by side and she is going to mentor me because Ive never done boat sales before. Ive done lots of design work on them and restoration so this side is very new to me but, with Gillians help, hopefully I can keep her good name going.

Mr and Mrs Dennett, who live in Chertsey, and have three children, Noah, 13, Elliot, 11, and Isaac, eight, hope to pass on their love of vintage crafts to the next generation.

Mrs Dennett said: My husband is second generation and then weve got a third generation of boat builders that are coming up through the ranks. My middle son, Elliot, takes every opportunity when hes not at school to be with his father, doing the techniques that he learned from his father.

Its great to see him coming through and having that natural talent and love for traditional boats. The fact that hes got that from his parents is lovely and hopefully it will continue through him for the next generation.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, November 11. The trade turnover between Turkmenistan and Turkiye from January through August 2024 reached $1.5 billion, Turkish Ambassador Ahmet Demirok said, Trend reports via the official Turkmen media.

"The momentum achieved in our relations with Turkmenistan is reflected in our trade and economic cooperation. The volume of bilateral trade reached grew by 16 percent in the first eight months of this year compared to the same period in 2023," the ambassador pointed out.

Demirok also expressed optimism about the near future achievement of the shared goal of raising trade turnover to $5 billion.

To note, the total trade volume between the countries in 2023 was $2.6 billion.

Furthermore, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimukhamedov sent congratulations to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the people of Turkiye on the occasion of Republic Day, celebrated on October 29. In his message, President Berdimukhamedov emphasized that strengthening multilateral relations with Turkiye is a priority of Turkmenistan's foreign policy. He highlighted the rich experience of Turkmen-Turkish relations and expressed readiness to develop bilateral cooperation based on trust.


Sunday November 10, 2024

Kismayo (HOL)  Jubbaland Regional State administration suspended cooperation with the federal government, citing federal non-compliance with Somalia's constitution and disrespecting Jubbaland's autonomy.



In a statement released Sunday by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Jubbaland, the administration criticized the federal government for obstructing Jubbaland's electoral process and hindering anti-al-Shabaab operations within the region.





The move follows Jubbaland's formation of a seven-member independent electoral committee, appointed by President Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe to oversee the region's election preparations. On Sunday, the Jubbaland State Parliament formally approved the committee's establishment.The federal Ministry of Internal Affairs swiftly condemned Jubbaland's electoral committee, labeling it illegal and threatening Somalia's democratic integrity. The ministry called on Jubbaland to adhere to the National Consultative Council (NCC) agreements, which mandate Somalia's unified, universal suffrage electoral framework.Despite federal disapproval, the Himilo Qaran political party, led by former Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, has publicly supported Jubbaland's decision, backing President Madobe's electoral committee as a step toward preserving regional autonomy.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 10. COP29 President-Designate Mukhtar Babayev and COP29 Youth Climate Champion Leyla Hasanova attended the closing ceremony of the 19th United Nations Climate Change Conference of Youth (COY19), Trend reports.

At the event, members of the COP29 Presidency Team emphasized the importance of active youth engagement in the COP process. Held in Baku, Azerbaijan from November 7-9, 2024, COY19 convened 400 young delegates to amplify youth voices in the fight against climate change. Endorsed by the COP29 Presidency and co-organized by YOUNGOthe official children and youth constituency of the UNFCCCand the Non-Aligned Movement Youth Organization (NAMYO), COY19 served as a key platform to empower youth in climate action.

During the closing ceremony, the Global Youth Statement, which consolidates global youth perspectives on climate action, was officially handed to the COP29 Presidency.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 10. A high-level roundtable on Green Digital Action will be held on November 16 as part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP29), Trend reports.

The discussion will cover critical topics, including:

integrating digital innovation into climate strategies;

enhancing climate monitoring and adaptation through digital tools;

addressing the environmental impacts of digitalisation;

showcasing successful sustainability initiatives;

setting the stage for future collaborations to align digital transformation with global climate goals.

To note, the roundtable will be organized during the Science, Technology and Innovation/Digitalization Day.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 10. Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church, has expressed his hope that the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will play a key role in "protecting our common home", Trend reports.

The Pope shared these sentiments during his traditional Angelus prayer.

Highlighting the significance of the COP29 summit in Baku, the pontiff stated, "I hope that the climate change conference, which begins tomorrow in Baku, will provide effective support in safeguarding our common home."

It is anticipated that Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin will visit Azerbaijan to participate in COP29.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, November 10. Uzbekistan's foreign trade turnover with Turkmenistan grew to $867.8 million from January through September 2024.

The data obtained by Trend from the Uzbek Statistics Agency shows that this is a 4.5 percent increase compared to the same period last year ($830.3 million from January through September 2023).

Turkmenistan ranked among the top 10 trading partners of Uzbekistan in terms of trade turnover over the period.

Uzbekistan's exports to Turkmenistan totaled $27.4 million in the first nine months of 2024, which is 48.3 percent less than last year ($129.4 million from January through September 2023).

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan's imports from Turkmenistan reached $780.6 million. This indicator rose by 11.3 percent compared to the same period last year ($700.9 million from January through September 2023).

To note, Uzbekistan's foreign trade turnover amounted to $48.2 billion in the period from January through September 2024. This indicator grew by 7.7 percent year-on-year ($44.7 billion from January through September 2023).
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 10. On November 11-13, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will pay working visits to Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Azerbaijan to participate in international summits, Trend reports.

At the invitation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques - King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the head of Uzbekistan will take part in an extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit on November 11 dedicated to the escalation of the situation in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, as well as the development of measures for the earliest possible settlement of the Middle East conflict.

On November 12-13, at the invitation of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the leader of Uzbekistan will participate in the events of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29).

It is envisaged that the President of Uzbekistan will deliver reports at these summits, as well as hold a number of meetings with heads of foreign states and heads of international organizations.
Armin Strom founder Serge Michel shares his passions beyond watchmaking, from fine wine and world travel to performance cars and alternative rock music

In this edition of Downtime, we sit down with Serge Michel, entrepreneur and visionary founder of the modern-day incarnation of independent watch brand Armin Strom.

Over the past two decades, alongside his childhood friend, co-founder and master watchmaker Claude Greisler, Serge has transformed the Bienne-based outfit from a niche specialist in skeletonisation to a fully integrated manufacture.

Serge Michel and Claude Greisler  Armin Strom

Today, Armin Strom is celebrated for timepieces that stand out for their contemporary design and in-house developed movements featuring a high level of fine finishing and performance-enhancing mechanisms like the brands acclaimed resonance technology.

Outside the world of watchmaking, Serges interests are as multifaceted as his brands creations. In this interview, he hints at a few personal passions  some expected, others surprising  that keep him inspired and grounded when hes off the clock.

Hi Serge. So, tell us: What is your favourite book?

The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I read this book many years ago and it left a deep impression on me. I recently read it again and was captivated by it once again.

Your favourite movie?

The Big Lebowski. Its just a cool, easy-to-watch movie with a great performance by Jeff Bridges. There arent many movies I can watch more than once, but this is one of them.

The Big Lebowksi  Gramercy Pictures PolyGram Filmed Entertainment

Your favourite album?

Siamese Dream by The Smashing Pumpkins. I was a teenager when this album was released, and I still love it!

Your favourite food?

Im very open and diverse when it comes to food. Lately, Ive been really enjoying Peruvian cuisine with all its spices.

Your favourite drink?

I must confess that Im a big lover and collector of red wine, mainly focusing on Bordeaux, Burgundy, Piemonte and Tuscany.

Red wine  Theme Photos / Unsplash

Your favourite holiday destination?

Travel, travel, travel! I dont have a single favourite destination  I think its wonderful to see the world with all its cultural, architectural and natural differences.

Your favourite podcast?

The Wine Investment Podcast by Jerome Huber and Remo Di Marco. Its VERY interesting!

Your favourite piece of clothing or sartorial accessory?

A very old T-shirt of the band The Smashing Pumpkins. Its so worn that I cant wear it in public anymore! I also really love DITA sunglasses.

Your favourite activity that you do in your free time?

Spending time with family, especially with our two daughters and their passion for horses and equestrian activities. When I find the time, I also take care of my own horse  a Mustang Shelby GT350!

Whats one item (not a watch) that you cant live without? Or that you cant go anywhere without?

My smart phone, I suppose

What is on your bucket list (an activity, accomplishment or destination that you hope to do or visit before you exit this world)?

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. It must be beautiful  and hopefully doable for a moderately sporty guy like me!

Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania  Crispin Jones / Unsplash

Who is someone who has inspired you in your life and/or career. How did they inspire you?

Most likely my dad. He started his own business from scratch with a clear vision, never straying from his path. I learned so much from him.

Name a famous person or historical figure, dead or alive, that you would like to have lunch with. Why?

Carroll Shelby. He followed his dream and passion for speed and race cars. For me, its not only about the success he achieved, but about the journey he took to get there.

Carroll Shelby  Shelby

What was the first watch you remember owning? What was special about it?

I was hooked on Swatch collections and was an early member of the Swatch Collectors Club in the 90s. I remember going to collectors meet-ups and auctions in Switzerland with my dad. My first mechanical watch was a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso, a gift from my parents. I still have this piece  and many of my old Swatch watches too.

And finally, a wrist check: What watch are you currently wearing? And what do you like about it?

The Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance Manufacture Edition Green. Resonance as a complication is perfect for Armin Strom  it showcases our innovative skills and offers a great visual spectacle on the dial side. Personally, I love the special green colour of the dial.

The Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance Manufacture Edition Green  Armin Strom

For more information about Serges brand, please visit the Armin Strom website.
British Princess Kate Middleton attended a royal ceremonial event with other family members for the first time since the news of her chemotherapy completion. The Princess of Wales attended the Royal British Legion Remembrance Festival and looked happy and energetic.

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She smiled a lot and shone while talking to people at the Albert Hall in London, People writes. She was accompanied by Prince William throughout the ceremony, and the cameras captured the moment when he gently supported his wife by the waist.

This is a significant public appearance for the princess, as it is her first time attending a major event with the royal family since she announced on September 9 that she had completed chemotherapy. Moreover, the last time Middleton went out was a month ago, due to further cancer treatment.

Kate Middleton wore a navy blue dress that emphasized her waist and reached her knees. She wore a red poppy flower on her lapel, which is traditional for the Remembrance Day. To expose her neck and emphasize her "freshness", the princess made a voluminous styling and combed her hair to the right side. Evening makeup also added brightness to her look.

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On the ring finger of her left hand was a sapphire engagement ring that once belonged to Princess Diana, the mother of Prince William. For the past few months, Kate Middleton has hardly worn it, which also led fans to speculate about the royal couple's divorce.

In addition to Princess Kate and Prince William, the Festival of Remembrance was attended by King Charles, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, Princess Anne, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Lawrence, Prince Richard and his wife Birgitta, and Prince Edward. But Queen Camilla did not attend the event. She canceled her work events due to a serious health problem. The Queen is currently recovering from a chest infection. However, she is serious and does not plan to stay on sick leave for a long time.

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"Following medical advice to ensure a full recovery from her seasonal chest infection and to protect others from any potential risk, Her Majesty will not be attending the commemorative events taking place this weekend. 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," Buckingham Palace said yesterday.

As a reminder, Kate Middleton has almost completely disappeared from the public space since Christmas. Kensington Palace said that Her Highness was to undergo abdominal surgery, so she had to take time off work. However, on March 22, the Princess of Wales went online and officially announced that she had been diagnosed with cancer. She also said that she was to undergo preventive cancer treatment, but did not name the specific type of cancer.

Since then, the Princess of Wales has not made any more public appearances, which has worried royal fans and provoked rumors about her health and well-being. Already in June, she reported that she hoped to partially return to her duties outside the house during the summer.

Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote that the last time the princess appeared in public was in October. She and her husband visited the city of Southport to support the citizens after the tragic attack by a minor with a knife on children from a summer club.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
There are many ways to identify a killer: DNA analysis, psychological profile, and crime scene examination., but now experts have added handwriting to the list. Graphologists have been carefully studying the handwriting of well-known serial killers to identify personality traits.

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During the analysis, scientists found common features in all criminals. This data can help law enforcement agencies when dealing with suspects, writes DailyMail.

Although graphology is a controversial field, some experts believe that if a person's handwriting has certain unique features, it is a clear sign that the person has a serial killer's mentality.

According to graphologist Anna Koren, these features include unusual word spacing, broken and fake letters, unusual punctuation, printed letters, and inconsistent letter size.

Many of the handwriting samples of the world's most notorious serial killers, such as Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, and Jeffrey Dahmer, share some of these stylistic traits.

Graphology offers a way to look into the mind of a killer and help experts understand their sinister psychology, scientists say.

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Ted Bundy

Ted Bundy is known to have brutally assaulted and murdered 20 confirmed women (confessing to a total of 30 murders) between 1974 and 1978.

Biographer Ann Rule described Bundy as a "sadistic sociopath who took pleasure from another human's pain and the control he had over his victims, to the point of death and even after."

Ann said that evidence of Bundy's sadistic sociopathy can be found in his handwriting. In her analysis, she pointed to the underlined lowercase area - or the area in front of the baseline into which the tails of lowercase letters extend. Bundy's writing also included large, dramatic loops in the lower case.

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While an emphasis on the upper area is more common in serial killer handwriting, exaggerated features like these loops can also be a sign of what Koren called a "schizoid" personality, which 80 percent of the killers she has analyzed possess.

John Wayne Gacy

John Wayne Gacy, also known as the "The Killer Clown," tortured, assaulted, and murdered at least 33 young men and boys between 1972 and 1978. Twenty-six of his victims' bodies were found in the basement of his home near Chicago, three were buried on his property, and four were found in the Des Plaines River.

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According to an analysis by The Handwriting Analysts Group, this killer's handwriting showed heavy pastocity - or a large amount of extra ink flowing onto the page. According to the experts, this could indicate a strong need to satisfy desires or a penchant for "wanton sexuality and cruel violence."

The letterforms of the lower zone - especially the loops that extend to the left, combined with high pastorality - are indicative of an "explosive temper with perverse sadistic tendencies," the analysis says.

Jeffrey Dahmer

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Jeffrey Dahmer, also known as the Milwaukee Cannibal, murdered and dismembered 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991. Many of his later murders involved necrophilia, cannibalism, and the preservation of body parts.

According to Anna Koren, his handwriting contained "most schizoid characteristics". Some of the most notable features are the right-hand slant, wide spaces between words and letters, broken letters, and the use of printed letters.

Son of Sam



David Berkowitz, known as "Son of Sam," terrorized New York City from 1976 to 1977. During this time, he shot 17 people with a .44-caliber revolver, killing six and wounding 11.

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Anna Koren pointed out to "an abundant amount of strange letters and covering strokes." The fact that letters begin and end in unusual ways may indicate a schizoid personality.

According to a graphologist, this killer's handwriting was "slow and tense," which is also a sign of a schizoid personality.

The Zodiac Killer

The Zodiac Killer was never caught. Therefore, his real name remains unknown. This maniac killed five and injured two of his victims. Although Zodiac himself claimed to have taken the lives of 37 people, this has not been confirmed, experts say.

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Zodiac committed his crimes from 1968 to 1969, but he continued to send letters to the police until 1974. These letters became important evidence in the case, as the criminal's handwriting was carefully analyzed.

According to graphologist Anna Koren, the handwriting of this mysterious killer had most of the features characteristic of a schizoid personality. Zodiac used a printed font, wrote with a slight slant and left large spaces between words. He also created a unique code to leave cryptic messages in his letters.

Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
France has a unique flavor and is famous for its incredibly beautiful small towns. To experience the true atmosphere of the country, it is worth moving a little further from Paris. Idyllic villages with medieval buildings and impressive cathedrals seem to transport you to another era.

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Despite this, France is famous for its hospitality and a very developed and high-quality service sector. So there will definitely be no problems finding accommodation or a place to eat. The network talked about Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, one of the most beautiful villages in the world with less than 700 people.

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is a tiny village about two hours' drive from Nice and Marseille in southern France in the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur region.

The municipality is located at a distance of about 640 km southeast of Paris, 95 km northeast of Marseille, 28 km south of Dinh-le-Bains.

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Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is described by tourism experts as one of the most beautiful villages in the world, tucked away among the mountains.

The settlement, built on a limestone cliff, has been a center of trade in ceramics, especially faience, for centuries, and a natural spring flowing from the cliff creates a waterfall that provided the population with clean drinking water.

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is located at the western entrance to the Gorges du Verdon.

At dusk, as the sun hits the southern cliff on a clear day, a diffused pink light glows throughout the village.

Above the town, a gold-painted star hangs on a 225-meter-long chain suspended between two rocks. According to legend, its origin is associated with the tenth-century Provencal poet Frederic Mistral. The original star and chain have been replaced several times since then. The current star is about 50 years old.

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Another legend says that during the Crusades, the knight Boson de Blacas was captured by the Saracens. He vowed to hang a star over his village if he could return.

Despite its small size, the village has many notable buildings. Among them:

Archaeological Museum, founded in 1930;

The parish church of Notre Dame, a historical monument;

Church of the Ascension of the Virgin Mary;

Chapel of Notre Dame de Beauvoir;

Chapel of the Clastres (XIII-XIV centuries);

Ruins of the monastery of St. Martin d'Urbe.

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is a quiet place where time seems to have frozen. Traveling in Provence, you should definitely visit one of the most beautiful settlements in the world.

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Gilmore Girls series by Amy Sherman-Palladino has survived 7 seasons and 4 special episodes, leaving a huge mark in the hearts of fans thanks to witty dialogues and well-developed relationships between the characters. And for those who miss this atmosphere, Netflix streaming has something to offer.

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The platform's blog has a selection of 9 TV series and feature films that you can watch right now. All of them tell about female friendship, school years, romance, and warm relationships between characters.

Ginny & Georgia

The characters in the series describe each other as looking like Gilmore Girls, but with bigger busts. And while the parallels between the two shows are quite striking, Ginny & Georgia offers its own special, engaging blend of intrigue and black humor that gives the classic (and perhaps not so healthy) mother-daughter relationship a 2020s twist. Two seasons are available on Netflix and two more are on the way.

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Virgin River

When Mel Monroe arrives in the town of Virgin River, California, she wants a fresh start. The nurse and midwife from Los Angeles is dealing with a personal tragedy and wants to rebuild her life in a new place where no one knows her. It turns out that staying anonymous is not so easy when you are a new person in a city where everyone knows everyone. Gloomy Virgin River has all the charm of the small town of Stars Hollow, but it also has a criminal nature. You'll also want to trade Luke's coffee for Jack's whiskey, the charming local bar owner played by Martin Henderson. And you'll also want to plunge into his romance with the main character.

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My Life with the Walter Boys

This coming-of-age story follows 15-year-old Jackie Howard, who is forced to leave her life in Manhattan behind after losing her family in a horrific accident. Jackie moves across the country to live with her mother's best friend, Katherine Walter. The women met in college, but now Katherine lives in the small town of Silver Falls, Colorado. Just like Rory, Jackie has a big goal - she's a straight-A student and determined to get into Princeton. Over time, the heroine learns that life in a small town has its charms, and in fact, she shares a roof with two of them. We are talking about Katherine's sons, the smart Alex and the troubled teenager Cole.

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Sweet Magnolias

If you like magical towns, this series is for you. The show focuses on three best friends who call themselves the Sweet Magnolias: Maddie is a recently divorced mother of three, Helen is an ambitious lawyer, and Dana Sue is an outstanding chef. The friends support each other as they build their personal lives, relationships, and careers in Serenity, South Carolina. Plus, they join forces professionally to open a spa, just like best friends Lorelai and Sookie St. James, who start a business together by opening the Dragonfly Inn in Gilmore Girls.

Maid

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If Gilmore Girls was an eccentric comedy about family relationships, Maid explores their dramatic side. Based on Stephanie Land's touching memoir Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive, this mini-series explores the economic realities of single mothers and the difficult paths of such women who do everything they can to give love to their daughters. The series stars real-life mother and daughter Margaret Qualley and Andie MacDowell.

The Chair



Some of the most entertaining stories in Gilmore Girls can be seen in seasons 4-7, when the show focused on Rory's student life at Yale. The 2021 miniseries The Chair is another witty look at academic life. Sandra Oh plays the main character here. She embodies an English professor who has just been appointed head of the department. However, her career is jeopardized by her unhelpful boyfriend. It is both a sweet portrait and a brutal analysis of campus life. The role of David Duchovny, who plays an insanely hypertrophied version of himself, is a particular highlight of the series.

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Always Be My Maybe

Chemistry between characters is probably the most important ingredient in any romantic comedy. You can't fake it, and Randall Park and Ali Wong deliver it perfectly in the movie Always Be My Maybe. Wong and Park (who also co-wrote the screenplay with Michael Golamco) play two childhood friends who reunite after years of separation. Have they changed enough to see each other as potential romantic partners? The clarification of the relationship between the characters is well embellished by the appearance of Keanu Reeves as Keanu Reeves.

Never Have I Ever

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The creators Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher have written not just another show about growing up in high school. It is based on Kaling's own teenage years. The series tells the story of a high school student, Davy, who, along with her friends, is trying to successfully graduate from high school and maybe even have sex. It explores aspects of growing up without shying away from teenage sexuality, sexual identity, and dealing with grief.

Set It Up



One of the most striking features of Gilmore Girls was the relationship between the main characters and their fiances. The show draws heavily on the legacy of romantic comedies, from the Howard Hawks films of the 1950s to the peak of the genre in the 1990s. The 2018 film Set It Up is a glorious throwback to that golden age. Directed by Claire Scanlon, it tells the story of two very attractive assistants, Harper (Zoe Deutch) and Charlie (Glen Powell), who are trying to set up a date for their workaholic bosses (Lucy Liu and Taye Diggs). The screenplay by Katie Silberman (Booksmart, Don't Worry Darling) is full of jokes and chemistry and will delight fans of the rom-com genre.

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The Russian Federation complained about the largest attack by Ukrainian drones on the morning of November 10. According to Kremlin propagandists, dozens of kamikaze attack drones were flying toward Moscow.

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The Russian Defense Ministry said that 70 drones were allegedly destroyed over six regions. This was reported by Russian Telegram channels.

The Russians said that the drone attack on Moscow on the morning of November 10 was the largest since the beginning of the war against Ukraine. The previous massive strike took place on September 10, when 20 drones were shot down in the Moscow region, and 144 drones were shot down over Russia in total.

The Russian Defense Ministry said that between 7:00 and 10:00 a.m., 70 Ukrainian drones were allegedly destroyed over six regions. The terrorist agency reported that 34 UAVs were destroyed over the Moscow region, 14 - over Bryansk, 7 - over Orel and Kaluga, 6 - over Kursk, 2 - over Tula.

It is worth noting that due to the massive attack, restrictions were imposed on the arrival and departure of aircraft at Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky airports. Rosaviatsia reported that 36 flights diverted to alternate airfields during the morning restrictions on Moscow airports.

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The propagandists also claimed that drones had almost shot down a plane flying over Moscow. According to the legend, it was an Airbus A320 flying from Bukhara in Uzbekistan to Sheremetyevo.

"The landing was supposed to take place at 9:37. At the last moment, the pilot noticed that three drones were interrupting the course and almost collided with one of the UAVs. The plane landed in Sheremetyevo, after which the other 8 planes were redirected to an alternate airfield," the propagandists said.

As a reminder, on the night of November 10, several regions of the Russian Federation were attacked by kamikaze drones. Powerful explosions occurred in the Bryansk region on the territory of a military unit. The capital of the terrorist country, Moscow, was also attacked by UAVs.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, the Ukrainian Defense Forces hit another legitimate target in Russia on the night of November 10. This time, it was the 1060th logistics center of the Russian army in the Bryansk region that was targeted.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
Choosing a car that will last for a long time is important for those who want to maximize their investment in a vehicle. Among the models on the market, there are certain brands that are particularly reliable and durable.

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A recent study from iSeeCars.com identified several brands whose cars have the highest percentage of owners who have kept their cars for more than 15 years. The study covered more than 929,000 cars, which made it possible to identify the most reliable cars for long-term operation, GOBankingRates reports.

Toyota cars took the first place in the rating in terms of durability. The high reliability and durability of these cars have made them a popular choice for those who value stability. Toyota has become a leader due to the durability of its models, such as the Camry and Highlander, which owners often do not want to sell even after many years of use.

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The second position was taken by the Honda brand, also known for its reliability. Some models, such as the Honda Accord and CR-V, have a reputation for lasting for several decades. Honda owners often mention not only the longevity of their cars, but also the low repair costs, which makes them a very profitable choice in the long run.

The third place was taken by the luxury brand Lexus. Lexus models are known for their reliability and high level of comfort, and owners appreciate these cars for their long-term operation without significant problems. Lexus LX and RX are among the most popular among those seeking durability and quality in the premium segment.

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Mazda is also on the list of reliable cars that are often owned for more than 15 years. Vehicles from this brand, such as the Mazda3 and CX-5, combine style and reliability, making them popular with owners who plan on long-term use.

Hyundai and Subaru, despite being somewhat less popular than the leaders, are also known for their reliability. Hyundai has won loyalty with models like the Elantra and Santa Fe, which can last for decades with proper care. Subaru, known for its SUVs such as the Forester and Outback, attracts those who value strength and reliability.

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Timur Ilgaz - Image Credit Rotana Hotels

In his new role, Ilgaz will oversee the operations of Rotana's properties in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, with a focus on commercial growth and enhancing operational excellence, while continuing in his current role as Cluster General Manager for Arjaan Dubai Media City, Centro Barsha, and Damac Hills 2 Hotel  Edge by Rotana. Ilgaz's promotion comes as a strategic move aligned with Rotana's ambitious growth plans in these principal markets.

Eddy Tannous, Chief Operation Officer of Rotana, expressed his enthusiasm for Ilgaz's appointment, stating, "I am excited to promote Timur Ilgaz to this important role within our leadership team. Timur's extensive experience in hotel management, coupled with his proven ability to foster business growth and create outstanding guest experiences, make him the ideal candidate to lead our expansion in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. His leadership will be pivotal as we continue to strengthen our operation in these important markets."

With over 38 years of hospitality experience, including 26 years in leadership positions at properties in Turkey, Canada, the Czech Republic, and Kazakhstan, Ilgaz brings an unparalleled level of expertise and insight to his new role. Since joining Rotana in 2007, he has managed six properties for the group and played an instrumental role in the pre-opening and operation of the flagship Amwaj Rotana in JBR, Dubai. He holds a Business Administration degree from Anatolian University, Turkey.

Commenting on his promotion, Ilgaz said, "I am honoured to take on this new role and to continue to build on Rotana's legacy of excellence. Dubai and the Northern Emirates are dynamic markets, and I look forward to working closely with our teams to ensure that Rotana's properties continue to thrive and set new standards for hospitality. Together, we will drive innovation, delivering exceptional moments of Treasured Time for our guests."

Rotana currently operates 82 hotels across the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Turkiye, with a robust pipeline of new projects in the MENAT region and the international market, including Pakistan and the United Kingdom.
W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project, Embrace Boston Partnership

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.  The W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project and Embrace Boston have announced a partnership to recognize Black leaders, promote Black tourism, and support educational and business opportunities for African Americans in the region.

Embrace Boston, a nonprofit dedicated to dismantling structural racism through arts, culture, community engagement, and research and policy, previously led the creation of "The Embrace" monument honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King on the Boston Common.

"Few visitors to the Berkshires know that Du Boisa scholar and founder of the NAACPwas born, raised, and educated in Great Barrington," said Ari Zorn, co-chair of The W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project. "Even fewer know we have a Black history trail recognizing African Americans who helped end slavery, fought in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, and contributed to the Harlem Renaissance. It's time more people learned about their contributions."

In support of the Du Bois project, Embrace Boston has received a $150,000 Destination Development grant from the Massachusetts Department of Travel and Tourism. These funds will accelerate the completion of the Du Bois monument, a life-size bronze figure that will be located in front of the historic Mason Library on Great Barrington's main street. The unveiling is planned for spring 2025.

"We are delighted to partner with Embrace Boston, an organization that has made significant strides in advancing economic and social justice across the state," Zorn added. "Through this collaboration, we aim to further highlight the contributions of Black leaders who shaped our history and continue to inspire future generations."

As the country and Massachusetts prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, this partnership will offer a unique perspective by honoring Black Americans.

The W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project was launched in May 2022 by a volunteer group of local citizens with the goal of recognizing Du Bois' scholarly achievements in the fight for racial equality.
Dorothy McGurn and paraprofessional Bryan Jefferson of Herberg Middle School hold a postcard that took 63 years to arrive from Paris. PreviousNext

63-Year-Old Postcard Sparks Intrigue at Herberg School

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Did you or someone you know send a postcard from Paris to South Junior High in 1961?

The front office at Herberg Middle School is looking to solve a more than 60-year-old mystery after a treasure from the past arrived at its doorstep. A recent mail delivery included a handwritten postcard dated June 1, 1961, that appears to be from Sue Smart.

While the transcription is up for interpretation, it appears to read:

Dear Mr. Guidi,

We are now in the Montmartre outside of Paris. I had my profile sketched in charcoal. We have seen quite a few interesting pictures both here and at Le Louvre. The weather has been nice except for Switzerland where it snowed!

Sue Smart

The address line appears as "Mr. R. Guidi, c/o South Jr. High, Pittsfield, Mass, U.S.A." Theodore Herberg Middle School formerly served Grades 7-9 as South Junior High School.

On the front is an image of Place de la Concorde, a public square located between the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre Museum.

Dorothy McGurn, a clerk in the school office, said the Postal Service worker delivered it with an equal amount of confusion, as it just appeared in his delivery box that morning. It was speculated that it could have slid into a crevice for over a half-century and been discovered when a piece of machinery or old stock was moved.

"We'll never know where it came from, unfortunately, why it was lost for so long," she said.

McGurn assumes that it was addressed to a teacher and from either a staff member or a student, explaining that before the social media it was common for people to send a postcard when they went on vacation.

This would be a big deal to the receiver at the time, she said, as they were getting something that was flown in from another country.

"The postcard is a little reminder of how we used to communicate and what was important," she said.

There are no employees left at the school from this time so the name was not familiar. A little research turned up a possible lead: Raymond Guidi, an art teacher at the school until 1963, when he began working at Dalton Junior High and later Wahconah Regional High School.

For now, the postcard is framed in the office but if the sender or relatives of either party came forward, the school would happily turn it over.

"My assumption is she was a teacher maybe at the time or a student and she went on vacation and promised Mr., I'm not sure of his name, a postcard from where she went and she sent it and he never got it," McGurn said.

"So if we could get it back to him, that'd be great. If the family came and wanted this, we would give either family the postcard but for now, we're going to keep it here, we're going to frame it up, and we're going to keep it available for folks to check it out."

Paraprofessional Bryan Jefferson looked at the handwriting and observed that it appeared to be written by a left-handed person.

This small piece of history will be shown to the after-school program, which McGurn works for, accompanied by a lesson on communication methods of the past.
Dalton Residents Eliminate Bittersweet at the Dalton CRA

DALTON, Mass.  Those passing by the house at Mill + Main, formally known as the Kittredge House, in Dalton may have noticed the rim of woods surrounding the property have undergone a facelift.

Two concerned Dalton residents, Tom Irwin and Robert Collins set out to make a change. Through over 40 hours of effort, they cleared 5 large trailers of bittersweet and grapevine vines and roots, fallen trees and branches and cut down many small trees damaged by the vines.

"The Oriental Bittersweet was really taking over the area in front of our Mill + Main building," said Eric Payson, director of facilities for the CRA. "While it started as a barrier, mixing in with other planted vegetation for our events help on the lawn, it quickly got out of hand and started strangling some nice hardwoods."

Bittersweet, which birds spread unknowingly, strangles trees, and also grows over and smothers ground level bushes and plants. According to forester and environmental and landscaping consultant Robert Collins, oriental bittersweet has grown to such a problem that the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Wildlife Management has adopted a policy of applying herbicide to bittersweet growing in their wildlife management areas.

Collins and Irwin also chipped a large pile of cut trees and brush as well as discarded branches.

"We are very grateful to be in a community where volunteers, such as Tom and Robert, are willing to roll up their sleeves and help out," said CRA Executive Director Alison Peters.

Many areas in Dalton, including backyards, need the same attention to avoid this invasive plant killing trees. Irwin and Colins urge residents to look carefully at their trees for a vine wrapped often in a corkscrew fashion around branches or a mat of vines growing over a bush that has clusters of orange and red berries in the Fall. To remove them pull the roots as well.
Disabled Veterans Can Benefit from HERO Act at RMV

Boston  Ahead of Veterans Day 2024, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) and Executive Office of Veterans Services are reminding veterans they are eligible to receive fee waivers for various transactions at the RMV due to the most comprehensive piece of veterans' legislation in Massachusetts history which was signed into law by Governor Healey in August 2024.

The HERO Act, (An Act Honoring, Empowering, and Recognizing our Servicemembers and Veterans), includes over 30 provisions positively impacting veterans, including specific transactions veterans may conduct at the RMV.

"The expansion of the HERO Act enables us to show additional gratitude toward veterans who served and sacrificed for our country," said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. "While these benefits are just a small token, we hope all qualifying individuals will make full use of them in their dealings with the Registry. On behalf of all our MassDOT employees, we say thank you' to veterans for your service."?

Every motor vehicle registered in Massachusetts is subject to the annual excise tax, unless exempted. Under the HERO Act expansion, all Massachusetts residents who qualify as a disabled veteran are now eligible to receive the excise tax exemption. To qualify, they must present a letter from the U.S. Veterans Affairs Office to the city or town where their vehicle is garaged.

In addition, disabled veterans are no longer required to pay a vehicle registration fee for any vehicle registered in their name. Previously, this benefit could only be applied to one vehicle registered in their name. Also, all of these veterans are no longer required to pay a transaction fee for a passenger driver's license or for a passenger driver's license renewal.

A disabled veteran is determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to either have a combined service-connected disability rating of 100 percent or be individually unemployable due to their service-connected disability.

The legislation signed into law by Governor Healey in August 2024 increases benefits, modernizes services and promotes inclusivity for veterans in Massachusetts. In addition to provisions impacting veterans who drive, the legislation expands access to behavioral health treatment, supports businesses that hire veterans, updates the definition of a veteran, expands the Veterans Equality Review Board's scope, and codifies medical and dental benefits.

RMV information for military service members, veterans, and their families can be found at mass.gov/military-and-veteran- rmv-information.
On November 10, Orthodox believers honor the memory of the holy apostles Erastus, Olympus, Rodion, and those with them. Name days are celebrated by Orest, Kostyantyn, Heorhiy, Andriy, Dmytro, Yustyn ta Stefan.

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The world celebrates International Tongue Twister Day, World Science Day, Sesame Street Day, International Accounting Day, and World Youth Day (an unofficial holiday). And in Ukraine, November 10 is the Day of the Viticulturist and Winemaker. OBOZ.UA tells about the holidays and significant events of this day.

What holidays are celebrated on November 10

November 10, according to the New Julian calendar, is the day of remembrance of the Seventy Apostles: Erastus, Olympus, Rodion, Sosipatra, Quartus, and Tertius. Erastus was a disciple of the Apostle Paul and served as the city economist in Corinth. Later, Erastus began traveling with his teacher, preaching the new faith. In Jerusalem, Erastus left the civil service and began to live at the city church. According to legend, Rodion was not only a disciple of the Apostle Paul, but also a distant relative of his. Rodion served as bishop in the city of Patras during the reign of Emperor Nero. Rodion suffered for his faith and was martyred along with the Apostles Peter and Paul.

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On the second Sunday of November, the Day of the Viticulturist and Winemaker is celebrated. The holiday was established in support of the initiative of the workers of the viticulture and winemaking industry of Ukraine by a presidential decree of September 22, 2020.

November 10 is unofficially celebrated as Youth Day. It was on this day that the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) was founded at the World Youth Conference in London, held on October 29-November 10, 1945.

World Science Day is celebrated annually on November 10. The holiday was established in 2001 under the auspices of UNESCO. It should be reminded that the National Science Day in Ukraine is celebrated on the third Saturday of May, and February 11 is the International Women in Science Day.

Also, countries around the world celebrate on November 10:

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World Keratoconus Day (keratoconus of the eyes is a complex disease);

Grandmother's Day in Argentina;

Birthday of the US Marine Corps;

Ataturk Memorial Day in Turkey;

Area code day;

International Hedgehog Day;

International Day of Embroiderers;

National Vanilla Cupcake Day in the United States.

Notable historical events on November 10

1663 - The Baturyn Articles were signed.

1764 - Catherine II abolished the Hetmanate, transferring all power in the Hetmanate to Petro Rumyantsev.

1926 - The Ukrainian Scientific Institute is opened in Berlin.

1928 - Taras Shevchenko House Museum is opened in Kyiv.

1970 - The Luna 17 space station is launched, landing on the moon a week later and delivering the first Soviet self-propelled device, Lunokhod 1.

1992 - Russian troops enter Ingushetia.

1993 - All paramilitary non-governmental organizations are banned in Ukraine.

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1994 - Iraq recognized the independence of Kuwait.

2004 - Firefox 1.0 is released.

2009 - the first hydroelectric unit of the Dniester PSP was launched (it supplied the first current to the United Energy System of Ukraine).

2022 - the 131st separate reconnaissance battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine liberated the town of Snihurivka from Russian occupants.

Who was born on November 10

1483 - Martin Luther, Christian theologian, church reformer.

1728 - Oliver Goldsmith, famous Irish English-language essayist, poet, prose writer, playwright.

1759 - Friedrich Schiller, German poet and playwright ( 1805).

1759 - Hryhorii Rozumovsky, Ukrainian geologist, mineralogist, biologist.

1925 - Oleksandr Bolekhivskyi, Ukrainian poet, publicist, and physician.

1903 - Terentiy Masenko, Ukrainian poet and lyricist.

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1928 - Ennio Morricone, Italian composer.

2000 - Mackenzie Foy, American actress.

Died on this day:

1838 - Ivan Kotliarevsky, Ukrainian writer, playwright, founder of the new Ukrainian literature.

1873 - Mykhailo Maksymovych, Ukrainian historian, philologist, ethnographer, botanist, poet, first rector of Kyiv University.

1891 - Arthur Rimbaud, French symbolist poet and lyricist.

1893 - Leonid Hlibov, Ukrainian fabulist.

1937 - Lev Shubnikov, Ukrainian physicist in the field of low temperature physics, discovered, in collaboration with Wander de Haas, the oscillations of magnetoresistance at low temperatures.

1938 - Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the first president of Turkey.

1982 - Leonid Brezhnev, Soviet statesman and party leader, Chairman of the Presidium of the USSR Supreme Soviet in 1960-1964 and 1977-1982

2001 - Ken Kesey, American writer.

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Saturday 9 November 2024, 21:14 - Last updated: 14 January, 19:55

 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

This article is automatically translated

Black dress, a poppy pin, and a dazzling smile. Kate Middleton appeared like this at the Royal Albert Hall for the Festival of Remembrance, in her first public appearance after months of cancer treatment. The Princess of Wales was radiant alongside Prince William at the lavish Kensington venue to celebrate the British military. The anticipated return Princess Catherine has thus taken a significant step in her recovery from cancer by attending her first major royal event today since completing chemotherapy. Kate smiled and applauded next to her husband, Prince William, at the commemorative concert of the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The musical event is one of the most important dates on the royal calendar, along with tomorrow's more solemn ceremony at the Cenotaph war memorial, both in honor of Britain's fallen soldiers. Kate and William were joined in the royal box by King Charles III, who is still undergoing treatment for his cancer diagnosis. Buckingham Palace announced in February that Charles, 75, had been diagnosed with an undisclosed cancer and would retire from public life to undergo treatment. The following month, Kate, 42, revealed that she had also been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy. Cancer treatments 'I have finished chemotherapy,' Kate announced last September, expressing her desire to return to her public role after the cancer treatments, diagnosed at the end of February, also anticipated in recent days by reassuring words from her husband William, who was in South Africa with the Earthshot Prize: 'Catherine is doing very well, she has been formidable this year,' the heir to the throne said on the eve of the awards ceremony for projects in favor of the planet. And just in the last few hours, William has spoken again about his wife, not hiding how difficult this year has been for him and his family. Camilla's absence Queen Camilla, wife of King Charles III, who suffers from a lung infection, will not participate in the military commemorations scheduled in London today and tomorrow. Buckingham Palace announced this. 'Following the advice of doctors and in order to ensure a complete recovery' of the person concerned, 'protecting others,' Camilla, 77, will not attend the weekend's commemorative events, a palace spokesperson specified in a statement.
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A children's book written by British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has been withdrawn from sale after it was criticised for causing offense to First Nation Australians.

The Guardian newspaper reported Saturday (9 November) that the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation had condemned Billy And The Epic Escape, which was published earlier this year.

The group criticised one of the subplots of 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.

In a statement, Oliver, 49, said he was devastated to have caused offence and apologised wholeheartedly.

It was never my intention to misinterpret this deeply painful issue, he said. "Together with my publishers we have decided to withdraw the book from sale.

First Nation campaigners were particularly aghast that neither Oliver nor his publishers, Penguin Random House, had consulted with them before the novel was published.

It is clear that our publishing standards fell short on this occasion, and we must learn from that and take decisive action, the publisher said. "With that in mind, we have agreed with our author, Jamie Oliver, that we will be withdrawing the book from sale.

Jamie Oliver pictured last October ( Getty Images for BFI )

Oliver, who is in Australia promoting his latest recipe book, is among a long list of celebrities to have put their names to children's books, a trend that has been criticised by many children's authors, who say they are being crowded of their market.

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.

Oliver, who rose to fame in 1999 with his book and television show The Naked Chef, has long campaigned on childrens food and nutrition and caused a furore in 2005 when he hit out at the nutritional of some school dinners in the U.K.
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Milton is the worst sort of poison, declared the poet Ezra Pound in 1912. If you are not immediately sure who Milton is, or even what Pound means, then you are not alone: even Jenny Marx, wife of Karl, joked to her husband several decades previously, in 1875, that more Englishmen ate pork pies than read Paradise Lost, the shattering epic poem written by John Milton in 1667.

This magnificent opus, which tells the story of creation and of Satans dastardly revenge plan to destroy it, used to be recited by schoolchildren; now, one tends only to become acquainted with it during the course of an English literature degree. How far this canonical piece, which has at its centre the Christian foundational tale of Adam and Eves fall from grace, has itself fallen. Yet if any work of Western literature can claim to have exerted the greatest influence, aside from the Bible, on successive generations of politicians, philosophers, writers and radicals, Paradise Lost is that work.

The history of Paradise Losts readership through the centuries, argues the academic Orlando Reade in an admirably lucid new book, What in Me Is Dark, is one of revolution, subversion, emancipation, and frequently disruptive interpretation. Some have regarded Satan and his diabolical emissaries as exemplars of white imperialism. Others have found in Satan, as he wages war against an omnipotent Christian God, the ultimate freedom fighter.

Yet more have seen, in his eventual incarnation as a tyrant, a sort of Julius Caesar-style warning against the false hopes of revolution. The poems iconoclastic wrestling with ideas of divine authority takes on new shapes depending on the reader: Thomas Jefferson read Paradise Lost as a hymn to individual freedom; Jordan Peterson sees in it an allegory of Americas culture wars  although Reade views this particular response with amusing scepticism. In 2013, at the height of the Arab spring, Kuwait banned the book altogether.

To understand the subversive, almost infinitely capacious history of this knottily intimidating biblical poem, dictated by a 63-year-old blind man over the course of several months and regarded ever since as a totemic cornerstone of establishment literary culture, one needs to go back to the beginning. Milton may personify the pale, male and stale hegemony of the English poetic tradition, but the story of his poem is one of new ways of thinking, of new societies being forged, of old orders being overturned  and it begins at the moment of Englands own revolution, with the overthrow of Charles I in 1649.

For 11 years England was a republic, yet the country was also violently divided between the royalists and those who believed the monarchy had become synonymous with tyranny. Milton was firmly on the latter side; he was also a startling progressive, who, in his job working for the Council of State, permitted the first translation of the Quran and petitioned for the right of women to divorce their husbands (his own first wife Mary had abandoned him, although they were later reunited).

Paradise Lost, argues Reade, is written in the volatile light of these radical struggles. And while it presents its central question concerning the nature of free will as a theological one, Reade points out that its most enduring legacy has always been political.

The devil has all the best tunes in Paradise Lost, and throughout history, the oppressed have often regarded Satan as a seductive avatar of their own struggles. (Malcolm X, who came across the work in a prison cell in Massachusetts in 1948 and immediately appropriated it into his activist thinking, took the opposite position: he read the poem as an endorsement of the Nation of Islam origin myth, which purports that Earths earliest inhabitants, some 76 trillion years ago, were Black.)

open image in gallery Enduring: Reade explores the poems significant political legacy ( Getty Images )

Yet Milton also imbued his masterpiece with a stranger, wilder, dark majesty that spoke not just to political movements but to individuals, particularly fellow writers. The Romantic poets saw in Miltons febrile epic prose an intimation of the same wordless sublime they themselves restlessly sought.

Wordsworth in particular, who read Paradise Lost with his sister, Dorothy, argued that poets needed to throw off the artificial, abstract concerns of 18th-century poetry and recapture something deeper and more essential within the human spirit. (An initially passionate supporter of the French Revolution, Wordsworth became increasingly disillusioned with the revolutionary cause and found in Satan, as he mutates from agitator to dictator, a poetic simulacrum of Napoleon.)

A century or so later, Pound and TS Eliot were also reckoning with Miltons legacy, but from an opposing perspective, regarding Milton as both outmoded and hopelessly antithetical to the modern sensibility. And nearly a century on from that, Reade finds himself teaching Paradise Lost as part of a literature class in a state prison in Newark. He concludes his book, in what is surely one of the greatest affirmations of Miltons legacy, by noting that his students insisted on seeing the poem not as a work of literature but as something that might help to explain why we had ended up where we were.

Milton may have shaped his poems rebellious ideas about freedom around the unquestioned primacy of a Christian God, but as Reade points out, Paradise Lost today speaks to an era in which one has the capacity to define the meaning of freedom for oneself.

Poets, Shelley famously declared, are the unacknowledged legislators of the world. As that world wakes up to a moment in which the political order has been turned, yet again, entirely on its head, this neglected, restless, shapeshifting masterwork may well prove itself, once more, to be a poem for our times.

What in Me Is Dark by Orlando Reade (Jonathan Cape, 22) is published on 14 November
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Its rare that a film ever truly deserves to be called perfect.

While the term is bandied around a lot in the world of cinema, how many films actually manage to last two hours without a single questionable beat? Not too many.

Even great films sometimes have a scene that fails to ring completely true, or a sub-plot that lets your attention drift a little.

From Star Wars: A New Hope to Martin Scorseses The Irishman, there are plenty of stellar films that could have almost been derailed by one bum note.

See below for The Independents list of 11 bad scenes that came close to jeopardising otherwise brilliant movies.

You can also click here to read The Independents list of 23 secretly fantastic performances in otherwise bad films.

10 Cloverfield Lane

For the vast majority of its runtime, 10 Cloverfield Lane is a taut, compelling psychological thriller, starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead as a young woman trapped in an underground bunker with John Goodman and John Gallagher Jr. While shes told that the world above has been decimated by an alien attack, we never know if Goodmans sinister bunker-dweller is telling the truth. Until the ending, that is, when the film suddenly morphs into a full-blown disaster movie. Its a good watch nonetheless, but one that is nearly derailed by the needlessly literal ending.

open image in gallery Mary Elizabeth Winstead in 10 Cloverfield Lane' ( Paramount Pictures )

American Sniper

OK, the problems with American Sniper go deeper than just one duff scene. But for all its questionable politics, Clint Eastwoods hit 2014 war drama was a slick, well-made film  with one shockingly amateurish moment. The scene, in which Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller talk while holding a transparently, unmistakably fake baby, was ridiculed and memed widely when the film was released.

Django Unchained

Django Unchained is a film with some truly remarkable performances. Theres Christoph Waltzs bounty hunter-dentist (a role which won him a second Oscar), Leonardo DiCaprios loathsome Calvin Candy, and, at the centre of it all, a seldom-better Jamie Foxx. But theres one clear black sheep among the cast: Quentin Tarantino himself, who plays an Australian slavetrader. The director is awful  so awful, in fact, that if he were on screen for more than his brief appearance, the whole movie would have been thrown into jeopardy.

Jurassic Park III

While it was obviously never going to be a patch on the original, Jurassic Park III was a thoroughly enjoyable dinosaur romp that puts all three Jurassic World movies to shame. Except, do you remember the scene with the talking velociraptor? It turned out to be a dream sequence, of course, but the brief moment of dino-loquaciousness was so goofy you couldnt help but be taken out of the experience.

open image in gallery Tea Leoni and William H Macy in Jurassic Park III' ( Universal )

Kingsman: The Secret Service

There was something about Kingsman that really struck a chord with viewers; its bombastic, farfetched spin on the spy genre seemed to evoke a bygone era of James Bond. The film throughout leaned heavily into comedy, but the very final scene  which features a crude joke about anal sex  left many with a sour taste in their mouths.

Licorice Pizza

The latest film from There Will Be Blood maestro Paul Thomas Anderson proved rather divisive; to some, it was a work of pure genius, to others an uncomfortable endorsement of an inappropriate relationship. There was one thing pretty much everyone agreed on, however. A scene featuring John Michael Higgins as a white restauranteur speaking in a grotesquely caricatured Japanese accent to his wife  intended as a lighthearted anti-racist satire  landed like a lead balloon, and put some viewers off the film entirely.

open image in gallery Alana Haim in Licorice Pizza' ( Universal )

Let the Right One In

Scandinavian coming-of-age horror Let the Right One In featured some pretty impressive visual effects in many of its scenes  with one glaring exception. A sequence in which Virginia (Ika Nord) is attacked by a room full of cats is rendered with such wobbly CGI that the whole thing comes across as an absurd, tacky comedy. Thankfully, it doesnt detract from the rest of the film, which endures as an eerie delight.

Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

The Return of the King was an undeniably great epic, filled with memorable set pieces and moments of real fantasy awe. The last half hour, however? Im not so sure. The films schmaltzy epilogue was five times too long and dramatically inert  the scene with Frodo lying in bed, greeting his comrades one by one, is enough to have even the most loyal Tolkien-head checking their wristwatch.

Star Wars

The 1997 Special Edition re-release of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, quickly became infamous among the franchises long-term fans thanks to one scene in particular. With just one small editing change, George Lucas made it so Han Solo (Harrison Ford) no longer shot the scurrilous alien Greedo before he could shoot him first. In that moment, a supposedly key piece of character-building was lost. The controversial scene would kick off an argument that raged among Star Wars fans for decades.

open image in gallery Greedo and Han Solo prepare to shoot one another in Star Wars: A New Hope ( Disney/Lucasfilm )

The Dark Knight Rises

Christopher Nolans follow-up to the widely adored superhero thriller The Dark Knight was markedly less well-recieved than its predecessor, and for good reason. But for the majority of its runtime, The Dark Knight is still a compelling, spectacle-fuelled romp. The character of Talia al Ghul (Marion Cotillard), however, sadly never quite came together, and her limp, head-rolling death scene provoked more laughs than gasps.

The Irishman

Martin Scorseses 2018 gangster elegy was a slow-burn masterpiece, reuniting the director with Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, and marking his first collaboration with Al Pacino. The actors were digitally de-aged for much of the film, to portray their characters at various stages of their life. It worked, more or less  but one scene, in which an ostensibly youthful De Niro beats up the man who pushed his daughter, was too much for the digital effects to bear. Theres no disguising the fact that De Niro moves, and fights, like a man in his mid-70s. In a film filled with great, affecting moments, this one was awkward to watch.

This article was originally published in October 2022
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Anna Kendrick has revealed that she was terrified while working with George Clooney on the set of their 2009 drama Up in the Air, until he told her that he was insecure.

Both actors received Oscar nominations for their performances in the film, but shared major doubts about their abilities while shooting.

To other people he is kind of capital-G George, and he works really hard to make you forget that and feel comfortable, Kendrick said on an episode of the podcast Whos Talking to Chris? .

The very first shot that he and I did together was my first shot in the movie. We were standing on this people mover, and were kind of waiting and the camera is pretty far away and he said, God, do you get nervous? On the first day, I get so nervous. Do you get insecure? I get really insecure.

Kendirck shared that Clooney struggled with what appeared to be impostor syndrome as he wondered if the filmmakers had made a mistake in hiring him.

And I was like, Yes, I do, George, I do. I totally get nervous. I totally get insecure, she continued. And he was doing this whole thing about, like, I worry. Like, did they even hire the right guy?

Years later Kendrick felt that perhaps the Oceans Twelve and Wolfs star had exaggerated his feelings a little in a bid to make her feel more comfortable.

It wasnt for years that suddenly that memory popped into my brain, and I thought, No, no he does not get nervous. He does not get insecure or worry that theyve hired the wrong guy, she continued.

Kendrick was terrified working with Clooney ( Getty )

Maybe thats something he dealt with earlier in his career, but it was such a gift for him to say that because it felt like, Oh, okay, I can bring my anxiety into the moment and someone is going to hold space for that and be cool with that. It really, really set me at ease. And was a complete fiction.

It comes as Kendrick continues her press tour for the Netflix film Woman of the Hour. The actor revealed she had donated the entire proceeds from the making of the film to charity, after feeling gross about profiting from the story.

Woman of the Hour is streaming on Netflix now.
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Susan Sarandon has spoken about the fallout from her remarks at a pro-Palestine rally last November, stating that she has been blacklisted by mainstream Hollywood studios.

The actor and life-long activist, 78, appeared at a protest in New York, demonstrating against Israels ongoing invasion of Palestine.

At the protest, Sarandon said that a lot of people were afraid of being Jewish at this time, and are getting a taste of what it feels like to be a Muslim in this country, so often subjected to violence.

She subsequently apologised for the comment, saying that the phrasing was a terrible mistake, and that she had intended to express concern over antisemitic attacks.

This phrasing was a terrible mistake, as it implies that until recently Jews have been strangers to persecution, when the opposite is true, she said at the time. As we all know, from centuries of oppression and genocide in Europe to the Tree of Life shooting in Pittsburgh, PA, Jews have long been familiar with discrimination and religious violence which continues to this day.

I deeply regret diminishing this reality and hurting people with this comment. It was my intent to show solidarity to the struggle against bigotry of all kinds, and I am sorry I failed to do so.

In a new interview with The Times, Sarandon said that the controversy led to the departure of her agent, and she is no longer able to star in mainstream studio films.

Susan Suarandon photographed in June ( Getty Images )

I was dropped by my agency, my projects were pulled, she said. Ive been used as an example of what not to do if you want to continue to work.

There are so many people out of work right now [since] November of last year who have lost their jobs as custodians, as writers, as painters, as people working in the cafeteria, substitute teachers who have been fired because they tweeted something, or liked a tweet, or asked for a ceasefire, Sarandon continued.

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Asked if she would be offered any large-scale film roles again, Sarandon replied: I dont know. [Not] anything in Hollywood.

In the time since the controversy, Sarandon has continued to advocate for an end to the violence in Palestine.

More than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel began its campaign last October, following an attack on Israel by Hamas that claimed the lives of 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage.

This week, the UN human rights office (OHCHR) stated that nearly 70 per cent of all confirmed Palestinian deaths in Gaza were women and children.

The organisation accused Israel of failing to comply with the fundamental principles of humanitarian law.

Over the last year, a drastic rise in antisemitism has also been recorded within the UK and US.
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A new body horror film thats been causing walkouts in cinemas across the world, due to its extreme gore, is now available to watch in the safety of your own home.

Those in attendance of screenings of the film have been sharing their experience of sitting through the two-hour plus title while audience members around them decided enough was enough.

The film in question is The Substance, which is directed by Coralie Fargeat and was named one of the best titles at this years Cannes Film Festival by The Independent, who predicted its thrills would receive a love it or hate it response upon release.

If youve been worried about watching the film in public, you can now watch it in your own living room now the film has been added to Mubi.

Starring Demi Moore, who will soon be seen in forthcoming Paramount+ series Landman, the film follows an ageing Hollywood star who takes a black market drug to create a younger version of herself, played by Margaret Qualley

Its enticing plot has lured in cinemagoers who clearly werent prepared for how extreme things get; The Independent previously called The Substance a body horror that goes places even body horror aficionados will be shocked by.

After seeing the film, a cinemagoer wrote: My review of The Substance is that people walked out of our screening and as far as Im concerned we dont have enough movies where that might happen, with another stating: Some people walked out of the screening of The Substance we were at last night. One of the most violent films I've ever seen.

One person added: Ive seen thousands of films and its very hard to shock me, but this gloriously demented movie was cray-cray on 11. The Substance is not for the faint of heart (during my viewing, several people walked out mid film), but is an instant cult classic. Youve been warned.

Others who made it through were left shaken by what theyd just witnessed, with an X/Twitter user writing: After The Substance ended the entire theatre was dead silent and motionless as the credits rolled and then someone was just like is everyone OK? And everyone in unison said no.

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Highlighting the divisive nature of the film was this post reading: The Substance is the only time Ive ever been in a cinema and everybody clapped at the end. Two people walked out 20 minutes in. Three more walked out later.

The Substance is causing mass cinema walkouts ( Mubi )

Its a shame that people are walking out, though, as they will certainly be missing out: the final 30 minutes feature some of the most outrageous, bold scenes shown in cinema for years  and at Cannes they played immensely well with a packed audience.

The films word-of-mouth turned the film into a bankable hit. Having cost just $17m (13m), the film. which was bought for $12m (9m) ahead of its Cannes premiere, has amassed $46.3m (35.7m).

However, for those who want to watch the film with a crowd (its recommended),The Substance is still in cinemas .
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Stars from across the globe hit the red carpet for this years European Music Awards (EMAs) in Manchester, as Rita Ora played host for the evening.

Taylor Swift had the most nominations for the evening with seven, including best artist, best video, and biggest fans.

However, closely behind her were Sabrina Carpenter, Ariana Grande, Charli XCX, and Billie Eilish, who all have five nominations each.

Shawn Mendes, Raye, Pet Shop Boys, Benson Boone, and Teddy Swims are all set to perform during the show - and its expected therell also be a tribute to Liam Payne.

Central Cee, Charli XCX, Chase & Status, Dua Lipa, Hozier, and Raye will all be battling it out in a dedicated awards category for the best act from the UK and Ireland.

The EMAs will be available to watch in the UK on MTV and Pluto TV from 21:00 GMT on Sunday and on Channel 5 from 22:00 GMT.
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The end is nigh for the Duttons. Yellowstone has become a culture-dominating, ratings smash hit since it first arrived on our screens back in June 2018, but now the final season is almost here.

The first half of the fifth and final season of the Taylor Sheridan-produced show about ranchers in Montana aired in November 2022, with the premiere episode bringing in a staggering 12.1 million viewers.

We already know that Dutton family patriarch, John Dutton III, played by Kevin Costner, wont be present in the new episodes. But that doesnt necessarily mean he wont have an impact on proceedings. Heres everything you need to know about Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2:

When does the new season of Yellowstone come out?

Paramount have confirmed that the second part of Season 5 will premiere for viewers in the United States on Sunday, November 10 at 8pm ET/PT.

For international viewers, the show will premiere on Paramount+ in Canada on November 10 before arriving in the UK on November 11.

open image in gallery Cole Hauser and Kelly Reilly in Yellowstone ( Paramount )

Air dates for Latin America, Brazil and France have not yet been announced.

How can you watch Yellowstone when it airs?

In the United States, the episodes will initially be broadcast on the Paramount network at 8pm ET/PT.

CBS will then rebroadcast it at 10pm ET/PT.

New episodes will be available to stream on Peacock after theyve aired on Paramount.

They will not be available on Paramount+ in the US, although this is the home of spin-off shows such as 1883 and 1923.

International viewers will be able to access new episodes through Paramount+.

How many episodes are left?

There are six episodes in the second part of Season 5, meaning that the series finale will air on Sunday, December 15.

open image in gallery Kevin Costner in Yellowstone ( Paramount )

Why wont Kevin Costner be in the final episodes of Yellowstone?

In February this year, Yellowstone was left shaken by reports that behind-the-scenes drama between Sheridan and Costner had led to the actors departure.

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However, it wasnt until June that Costner ruled out ever returning to Yellowstone, telling fans he couldnt continue with the show.

In a video post shared to his Instagram, which he captioned, An update for you guys. Ill see you at the movies, the actor, who had just released his own Western saga, Horizon, at the Cannes Film Festival, explained his decision.

I want to reach out and let you know that after this long year and a half of working on Horizon and doing all the things thats required, and thinking about Yellowstone, that beloved series that I love, that I know you love, I just realised that Im not going to be able to continue Season 5B or into the future, he said.

It was something that really changed me. I loved it. And I know you loved it. And I just wanted to let you know that I wont be returning and I love the relationship weve been able to develop and Ill see you at the movies.

Whats next for Yellowstone?

While Yellowstone will be coming to an end, Sheridan isnt done with Montana. He recently announced that Michelle Pfeiffer is set to lead the forthcoming Yellowstone sequel series, The Madison. The new series will follow a family of New Yorkers who relocate to the Madison River valley in central Montana. It is set to deal with themes of grief and human connection.

A release date for The Madison has not yet been announced.
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Yellowstone director Christina Voros has shed light on how the show plans to come to an end, despite its star Kevin Costners unexpected, premature exit earlier this year.

Ahead of the hit Westerns long-awaited return this month, Voros addressed how Costners character, John Dutton, remains an essential component to the shows final episodes.

John Dutton is still central, she told The Hollywood Reporter. His presence is integral. I think to say any more than that would potentially compromise all the work that went into redacting the scripts!

But I think the reason people are wondering, Is he, isnt he? Where is he, where is he not? is because he is the patriarch and his presence is an essential component to the story.

Costner, who led Yellowstone as the Montana landowner and Dutton family patriarch for four seasons, announced he was departing the hit series in June.

I just realized that Im not going to be able to continue Season 5b or into the future, he said in an Instagram video. It was something that really changed me. I loved it, and I know you loved it. I just wanted to let you know that I wont be returning.

John Dutton is still central, Yellowstone director Christina Voros said of Kevin Costners character ( Paramount )

Early reports suggested that his exit was due to a falling out with the shows creator, Taylor Sheridan, over scheduling conflicts allegedly caused by the actors desire to shoot his Western passion project, Horizon  An American Saga.

However, Costner later disputed these claims, saying that had been prepared and ready to shoot whenever he was required, but the production kept getting pushed back.

I did it for five years, and I wanted to work more than once a year, he said on a June episode of the Today Show. We lost an entire year at one point, and I thought, that cant happen again.

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He added that he would love to go back to Yellowstone, albeit under the right circumstances.

Yellowstone returns with the second part of its fifth and final season on November 10 on Paramount+ at 8pm ET/PT.

While the series is coming to an end, Sheridan isnt done expanding the world of Yellowstone. In fact, he recently announced that Michelle Pfeiffer is set to lead the forthcoming Yellowstone sequel series The Madison.

The new series will follow a family of New Yorkers who relocate to the Madison River valley in central Montana. It is set to deal with themes of grief and human connection.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has called on Europe not to support Ukraine in its war against Russia. According to him, after Donald Trump wins the presidential election, the United States will pay more attention to protecting its own interests.

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The Prime Minister also expects that after the war is over, Europe will cooperate with Russian markets. Fico said this in the Saturday Dialogues program on Slovak radio.

Fico said that Trump's victory in the presidential election means that the United States will pay more attention to protecting its own companies. According to him, Trump prefers tariffs and customs to wars, which he has already demonstrated when withdrawing troops from Afghanistan.

In addition, the Slovakian prime minister added that Trump's victory should bring a certain result in ending the war. At the same time, he said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is allegedly afraid of the end of the war.

"Now let's assume that something like this is happening. Europe everywhere says that Russia should lose, and we support Ukraine. Is Europe ready to bear all the costs of the war in Ukraine? Europe cannot admit that this reasoning is wrong," he said. Fico emphasized that the US could significantly reduce its support for Ukraine as early as next year.

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Fico noted that if the US turns away from the war and Europe continues to support Ukraine, it will be a "big mistake." The Prime Minister said that European countries "must move towards peace and stop the killing".

"Slovakia has the right to maintain sovereign relations with all four world parties. What will happen when the war is over? Everyone will return to the Russian market. So why shouldn't we have standardized relations with Russia as well," the prime minister said.

As a reminder, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban unexpectedly admitted that only Ukrainians should decide whether to continue the war or enter into peace talks with Russia. He said that Hungary was ready to help in a "neighborly" way.

Earlier, former advisor to US President-elect Donald Trump, Brian Lanza, said that the new administration would focus on achieving peace in Ukraine, rather than on giving Kyiv the opportunity to return the territories occupied by Russia. The US priority is to "stop the killing".

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
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China has published new details of its claims to a contested shoal in the South China Sea in the latest clash over maritime territory with the Philippines.

Officials from the Chinese foreign ministry shared new coordinates for what it considers to be the countrys baseline, a term used in defining a countrys territorial waters that normally matches its coastline.

Beijing set its baseline around the Scarborough shoal, however, claiming that the contested atoll should be the starting point for considering much of the entire South China Sea as Chinese territorial waters or its exclusive economic zone.

A statement by the Chinese foreign ministry said delimiting the Scarborough shoal was a natural step by the Chinese government to lawfully strengthen marine management and is consistent with international law and common practices.

The move from Beijing came a day after the Philippines signed two laws defining the countrys maritime zones and right to resources, including in the South China Sea, with codifying claims that overlap significantly with Chinas.

Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr signed the two laws  the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act  in a nationally televised ceremony attended by top military and national security officials. The new law stipulates jail terms and stiff fines for violators of these zones.

Beijing said in its statement on Sunday that the first of the two laws signed by Marcos violates Chinas sovereignty over most of the South China Sea.

China firmly opposes it and will continue to do everything necessary in accordance with law to firmly defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, the foreign ministry said.

China disputes control of the South China Sea, which includes some of the worlds busiest shipping routes, with several Southeast Asian nations including the Philippines and Vietnam.

On Friday, the Chinese foreign ministry summoned the Philippines ambassador to China to mark their stern protest to the proposed laws, which it called an attempt to solidify the illegal ruling of the South China Sea arbitration case through domestic legislation.

That statement refers to a 2016 ruling by an international court of arbitration, which found that most of Chinas claims in the South China Sea were invalid. Beijing has rejected the ruling.

"We strongly condemn and firmly oppose this situation. Chinas territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea are firmly based on historical and legal grounds, Chinese foreign affairs ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said.

Both China and the Philippines claim Scarborough shoal and other outcrops in the South China Sea. China seized the shoal, which lies west of the main Philippine island of Luzon, in 2012 and has since restricted access to Filipino fishermen.

Tensions between the Chinese and Philippine coastguards and naval forces have surged at an alarming rate since last year, sparking fears that the US and other regional powers may get drawn into a major conflict over the disputed waters in the South China Sea.
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Sir Keir Starmer will snub the Taliban as a group of officials from the brutal Afghan regime flock to the UN climate summit in in Azerbaijans capital Baku.

The prime minister will not meet with the group at the Cop29 conference, which started on Monday, in what will be its first appearance at the forum since its forceful takeover of Afghanistan.

Asked what Sir Keir thought of the militant group attending the talks, and whether he had any plans to come face to face with delegates, a Number 10 spokeswoman said: No plans to meet with them.

I think attendance is a matter for the organisers, but more broadly the summit I think is bringing together 96 different delegations from across the world and the objective is obviously to strengthen global climate action and engagement on that issue.

It is obviously vital that we approach the talks and the event with that common purpose (at the) forefront of our mind.

The Taliban-controlled foreign ministrys spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi said officials from the countrys National Environmental Protection Agency have arrived in Azerbaijan to attend the Cop29 conference. The Talibans leaders have controlled the environmental agency for more than three years now, after they took power in Kabul in August 2021.

The groups government is not formally recognised by the UN and the international community owing to its restrictions on the basic rights of citizens, particularly women, who are banned from education and the workplace. The UN has stopped the Taliban from taking control of Afghanistans seat at the General Assembly and continues to back the appointed representatives from the previous Ashraf Ghani administration to represent the country on the global stage.

Azerbaijan has invited the Afghan environment agency officials to Cop29 as observers, allowing the former insurgent group to potentially participate in periphery discussion and potentially hold bilateral meetings, according to a diplomatic source.

But the Taliban will not be allowed to take part in the proceedings of full member states as the Taliban is not recognised within the UN system as Afghanistans legitimate leaders, instead as de facto authorities, the source said.

So far the UN has only invited the Taliban to talks specifically on Afghanistans future in Doha. China and Russia have expressed willingness to foster ties with the de facto administration and have invited its ministers to attend forums in China and central Asia in the past two years.

Afghanistan has been badly affected by a succession of climate emergencies, including flash floods, torrential rains and droughts, in the past year.

Flash floods have killed hundreds this year, sweeping away villages and people in remote parts of Afghanistan. The war-ravaged country is heavily dependent on agriculture, but successive floods and droughts have wiped away fields and produce.

International isolation has compounded the countrys economic struggles, making its population one of the poorest on the planet.

Afghanistan is one of the countries that is really left behind on the needs that it has. It is a double price that they are paying, said Habib Mayar, deputy general secretary of the g7+, an intergovernmental organisation of countries affected by conflict.

There is lack of attention, lack of connection with the international community, and then there are increasing humanitarian needs.
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The United Nations Cop29 climate summit kicks off in Azerbaijans capital city on Monday. Here are some key things to keep in mind during the annual two-week UN convention on climate change, the biggest event of the year to address the climate crisis.

US climate leaders will be there  but not the top ones

While President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris wont be at this years conference, Biden administration officials from 20 departments and agencies will travel to Baku.

John Podesta, the Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy, will lead the delegation.

Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will be there, as well as Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, NOAA Administrator Dr. Rick Spinrad, and White House National Climate Advisor and Assistant to the President Ali Zaidi.

open image in gallery The venue of the United Nations climate change conference in Baku, Azerbaijan. The two-week conference starts next week. ( REUTERS/Aziz Karimov )

Many world leaders have dropped out

King Charles III, a longtime activist on environmental issues, will not be attending Cop this year after giving one of the keynote addresses to Cop28.

Charles is not the only high profile figure who will be missed in Baku  Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva wont be attending, despite the fact that his country will be the next hosts when Cop30 heads to Belem. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinas President Xi Jinping, South Africas Cyril Ramaphosa, and Australias Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also appear to be skipping.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wont be in attendance either, and from Europe French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Russian President Vladimir Putin are all reported to be staying away.

Papua New Guineas Prime Minister James Marape said in August his country would not attend Cop29 as a protest against big nations for a lack of quick support to victims of climate change. Island nations are extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including sea level rise.

Notably, an Israeli delegation will be there.

This is the first year above the 1.5-degree Celsius target

This was a record-breaking year again on planet Earth, and is expected to be the hottest on record. In addition, climate scientists now believe 2024 will be the first year with temperatures more than 1.5 degrees (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) Celsius above pre-industrial levels. This worrying milestone will likely be a major topic at Cop29.

Humanitys torching the planet and paying the price, United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres warned.

Nearly a decade ago, countries that joined the Paris Climate Agreement committed to pursue efforts to limit the global average surface temperature increase to 1.5 degrees. At Cops 26, 27, and 28 countries emphasised that the impacts of climate change would be much lower at a temperature increase of 1.5 degrees.

While breaches dont mean the world has failed to achieve this temperature goal, they are early signs of getting perilously close to exceeding the long-term limit.

open image in gallery Global climate activists project messages for climate action onto the Azerbaijan Embassy in London. This will likely be the first year with temperatures more than 1.5 degrees (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) Celsius above pre-industrial levels. ( (Lee Mills/AP Images for Green New Deal Rising) )

Slashing fossil fuel emissions remains the way to limit warming

Cutting emissions of greenhouse gases that warm Earths atmosphere remains the way to limit warming. At Cop28, governments agreed to transition away from fossil fuels. But without major action to back up those words, the outlook seems bleak for the coming years. Carbon dioxide and methane accumulation in the atmosphere is at the highest level ever recorded.

The US is one of the worlds top emitters, and a second term under Trump will likely set the world back even further. The former president is funded by the fossil fuel industry and has pledged to drill, baby, drill, during his next four years in office. Hes also called climate change a hoax and previously pulled out of the Paris Climate Agreement.

Azerbaijan has its own goals

This is the third time a major fossil fuel-producing country has hosted the UN climate summit, and the second in two years. It was hosted by the United Arab Emirates in Dubai last year.

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev has announced plans to increase gas production, saying earlier this year that the countrys fossil fuel reserves were a gift of the gods.

We largely are investing in increasing our gas production because Europe needs more gas from new sources, he said in April. Our oil and gas will be needed for many more years, including European markets.

This week, the campaign group Global Witness posted a video of the conferences chief executive allegedly agreeing to discuss fossil fuel deals at the summit itself.
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National representatives are gathering in Azerbaijan for the start of crucial UN climate negotiations this week, although the summit has been hit by a number of setbacks before it even starts.

As Cop29 opens in Baku on Monday, negotiators will begin the daunting task of securing a global commitment to provide vital funding for climate action.

The stakes were already high for this years summit, as finance is one of the most contentious issues in the annual climate negotiations. Rich countries have long been at odds with developing nations over the amount of funding needed, what it should be expected to cover  and who should be paying it.

Adding to the challenges facing this years summit are concerns about the host nation, with an undercover report alleging that the official overseeing the talks wanted to use the event to discuss fossil fuel deals. Plus, the re-election of Donald Trump as US president has cast an inevitable doubt over the role America will play in tackling the climate crisis.

Every year the climate summit produces a treaty agreed by all countries, and this years will focus on the finance needed to transition to clean energy and prepare citizens for a hotter world.

Other than money, the summit will discuss progress on the worlds transition away from using fossil fuels, something countries agreed to at last years summit. Despite a relatively strong deal at Cop28, however, fossil fuel investments and emissions have continued to grow.

The summit will also see the establishment of new frameworks for international carbon markets, which allow countries to offset emissions by investing in green projects around the world.

Experts say this years summit is crucial because finance will form the basis for all future targets countries will be setting.

open image in gallery Piled-up cars are pictured in Paiporta, south of Valencia, in the aftermath of deadly floods ( AFP/Getty )

You cant have more ambition without finance, and if you dont have finance, you will not commit to more ambition, says Ani Dasgupta, chief of the World Resources Institute (WRI), a global research organisation.

Rich nations, who are responsible for the lions share of planet-heating emissions, are supposed to provide more money for climate action around the world. This commitment was a central part of the Paris Agreement, in which countries vowed to try and limit global warming to well below 2C, and ideally, 1.5C, to prevent the most severe impacts of the climate crisis.

Yet the planet is in noticeably worse shape than even just 12 months ago, scientists say. Extreme weather disasters have intensified in every corner of the world, from floods in Spain to hurricanes devastating the Caribbean and the US and record wildfires. This year is now set to be the hottest on record, beating 2023.

Theres no shortage of reminders about the urgency needed from these climate talks, but finance has long been one of the thorniest issues for negotiators to tackle. Countries are divided on nearly every aspect: how much money is needed, who should contribute, which types of funding should be included, what specific areas it should support, and over what timeframe.

The previous target of a $100bn fund was filled for the first time in 2022, two years later than intended. In the meantime, the cost of climate disasters has been going up.

A successful climate finance goal must secure public finance at scale, said Mariana Paoli, global advocacy lead at Christian Aid. Were not talking billions any more. The new goal must be in the trillions, addressing everything from mitigation and adaptation to loss and damage.

Experts had expected the US and EU to make a joint push at these talks for China and rich Gulf states to start paying into UN climate funds. As the biggest historic polluter and the worlds wealthiest nation, the US has often been looked to to lead by example in Cop summits, but the return to the White House of a known climate denier in Donald Trump has dented hopes of that being the case in Baku.

The US president-elect has infamously described the climate crisis as a hoax and, when pressed on his views in interviews, tends to digress into talking about wanting clean water and clean air for Americans to drink and breathe. Mr Trumps previous administration saw the US withdraw from the Paris Agreement and reverse environmental protections.

open image in gallery Donald Trump has infamously described the climate crisis as a hoax ( AP )

Activists, negotiators and scientists reacted in horror on Wednesday and Thursday as the US election results were announced. Its terrible, said one climate activist who has been part of UN negotiations for decades. Its like a punch in the gut, said another.

Neither president Joe Biden nor vice-president Kamala Harris is travelling to attend the summit, although John Podesta, the senior adviser to the president for international climate policy, will lead a large American delegation.

There is a mix of concern and determination for what the summit can achieve without a strong US presence in the coming four years.

Elisabetta Cornago, a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, said the presumed US absence will demotivate developing countries from taking seriously the climate ambitions of the West.

But not all are willing to let the US dictate the path forward. The Paris Agreement was designed to survive political shifts, says Fernanda Carvalho from WWF International. The climate crisis doesnt wait for politics. The stakes at Cop29 are too high to wait for any one nation.

Cop29 needs to recognise that the train is moving, whether Trump wants to jump on board or not, said Romain Ioualalen from Oil Change International. The energy transition is inevitable.

With what has happened to the US, there will be more pressure on other wealthy nations to step up  prime minister Sir Keir Starmer will be attending the talks, although longtime environmentalist King Charles III will not, and there is a general expectation that the number of world leaders present for the first days of the summit will not match the roll call from Cop28.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has decided to not attend the summit, the European Commission said on Tuesday, because she will be focusing on her institutional duties as the commission is in a transition phase. Frances Emmanuel Macron will also be missing from the leaders summit. German chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose government has collapsed, has also cancelled plans to attend.

open image in gallery World leaders walk down Al Wasl Avenue during last years Cop28 at Expo City Dubai ( Cop28/Getty )

Canadas Justin Trudeau and South Africas Cyril Ramaphosa will also be sitting it out this year. Brazils president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, whose country will be the next host of the climate summit in 2025, cancelled his plans to attend due to a head injury.

In the absence of so many other key leaders, politicians and activists are urging Sir Keir to lead by example. Theres never been a more critical time for the UK to take up the mantle of global climate leadership, says Rosie Downes, head of campaigns at Friends of the Earth.

The Greens, in a statement, welcomed Sir Keirs decision to attend the summit and asked to restore the UKs reputation on the world stage as a leader on cutting emissions.

Normally, the host nation would be expected to drive the summits attendants towards as ambitious a deal as possible, but confidence in Azerbaijans role has been shattered this week after an expose from Global Witness showed one of the officials associated with the climate summit promoting investment in the countrys fossil fuel sector.

In a recording, Elnur Soltanov, the Cop29 chief executive and Azerbaijans deputy minister of energy, was allegedly heard discussing investment opportunities in Azerbaijans state-owned oil and gas company with an individual posing as a potential investor, and seemed open to holding talks about such deals on the sidelines of Cop itself.

It is the second year in a row that such reports have emerged before the start of the summit. Last year, leaked documents revealed that host nation the UAEs Cop28 team planned to discuss oil and gas deals with over a dozen visiting countries.

This is the third year in a row when the climate summit is taking place in a country whose economy is dominated by fossil fuel production, and Azerbaijans role as host was already under question. Azerbaijan president Ilham Aliyev recently announced plans to increase gas production, saying earlier this year that the countrys fossil fuel reserves were a gift of the gods.

Earlier this week, Hikmet Hajiyev, foreign affairs adviser to the president of Azerbaijan, wrote in an op-ed for EuroNews that the country is not ashamed of its role in the [oil] industry.

open image in gallery Members of Greenpeace at the Cop28 UN Climate Summit ( AP )

Azerbaijan, whose share of global emissions stands at 0.01 per cent, is not ashamed of its role in the industry, he wrote before the recording was leaked, adding that oil has funded the nations growth. Nations should be judged not on their inheritance but by the direction theyre heading, he said.

Analysts say it is likely that the presidencys role in setting the direction for talks will be limited.

The reality is that countries broadly are very determined to have an outcome at this Cop, and I don't think that whether it's Azerbaijani or UAE president is as consequential as maybe it would be at some Cops, because countries do understand the stakes in these negotiations, said David Nemecek of E3G, an independent climate change think tank.
Donald Trumps election has sparked fears of a global trade war after his campaign pledge to impose levies of 10 to 20 per cent on all goods imported from US trading partners, and up to 60 per cent and 100 per cent for China and Mexico.

Mr Trumps first term in office saw him clash with China which had growth impacts across the worlds more advanced economies. But this time around, there is the possibility of a renewed global trade war on an even bigger scale following increasingly protectionist rhetoric on the campaign trail.

How could tariffs impact the UK?

As well as being the worlds largest economy, the US is the UKs largest export market for goods and services. If the president-elect were to impose 10 per cent tariffs on all goods imported from the UK, its very likely this would negatively impact economic growth.

open image in gallery Donald Trump pledged to impose levies of 10-20 per cent on all imported goods ( AP )

New analysis from the University of Sussexs Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy calculated Britain could face a 22bn hit to its exports if a blanket 20 per cent tariff was imposed on all imports into the US, with UK exports to the world falling by more than 2.6 per cent.

Goldman Sachs has already downgraded its forecast for the UKs economic growth next year from 1.6 per cent to 1.4 per cent in light of Mr Trumps election victory, while EU officials are anticipating a reduction in exports to the US of 125bn.

But it is not a done deal  there is still a possibility the UK could dodge tariffs.

Peggy Grande, a former political appointee in the last Trump administration, claimed the president-elect will target the European Union more significantly than Britain.

She told The Independent that Donald Trump is likely to give a preferential trade deal to the UK, saying he wants to see a successful Brexit.

Meanwhile, New Jersey governor Phil Murphy  a Democrat who said he has a good relationship with the president-elect  said his gut feeling is that Mr Trump will not impose tariffs on goods from allies like the UK.

But if Im China, Im fastening my seatbelt right now, he told Sky News.

open image in gallery Will a free trade agreement be on offer from Mr Trump? ( AP )

However, former UK ambassador to Washington Kim Darroch said he thinks Mr Trumps remarks on tariffs are the exact opposite of a mere threat, saying he is very likely to put the protectionist measures in place.

One option to avoid the crippling levies would be for the UK to strike a free trade deal with the US, something the UK has been pining after for years  but that in itself is likely to bring tough choices for the government.

What would a trade deal mean for the UK?

A free trade deal with the US is likely to come at the expense of UK agriculture, as one outcome of the deal could be that US producers flood the UK market with cheap food  undercutting UK farmers.

Writing in The Observer, Mr Darroch said he thinks a free trade agreement will be on offer from Mr Trump, but warned the primary US demand would be unrestricted access to the UK market for the low-cost products of the US agricultural sector, hormone-treated beef and chlorine-washed chicken included.

So the stark choice would be: side with the EU or sacrifice our agriculture, he warned.

On Sunday, Treasury minister Darren Jones said Whitehall officials will be considering lots of different scenarios amid growing concerns about the possible impact of tariffs.

A government source said officials would continue to take advice to ensure that Britain was in the best possible position, despite Mr Trumps suggestions.
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Israeli strikes killed dozens of people on Sunday in Lebanon and the northern Gaza Strip, where the military has been waging a major offensive for more than a month that aid groups say has further worsened the humanitarian crisis in the besieged enclave.

An Israeli airstrike killed at least 23 people in the village of Aalmat, north of Beirut and far from the areas in southern and eastern Lebanon where the militant Hezbollah group has a major presence. Lebanon's Health Ministry said a further six people were wounded. There was no immediate Israeli comment.

In northern Gaza, an Israeli strike on a home sheltering displaced people in the urban refugee camp of Jabaliya killed at least 17 people, according to the director of a nearby hospital that received the bodies.

Dr. Fadel Naim, director of the Al-Ahly Hospital in Gaza City, said the dead include nine women, and that the toll was likely to rise as rescue efforts continue.

The Israeli military said it targeted a site where militants were operating in Jabaliya, without providing evidence. It said the details of the strike are under review.

A separate strike on Sunday hit a house in Gaza City, killing Wael al-Khour, a minister in the Hamas-run government, as well as his wife and three children, according to the Civil Defense, a first responders organization that operates under the government.

Offensive in northern Gaza raises fears of famine

Israeli forces have encircled and largely isolated Jabaliya and the nearby towns of Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun for the past month, allowing in only a trickle of humanitarian aid. Hundreds of people have been killed since the offensive began on Oct. 6, and tens of thousands of people have fled to nearby Gaza City.

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 for an ultimatum the Biden administration gave Israel to raise the level of humanitarian assistance allowed into Gaza or risk possible restrictions on U.S. military funding.

The northern third of Gaza, including Gaza City, was the first target of Israel's ground invasion and has suffered the heaviest destruction of the 13-month-old war, which was triggered by Hamas' attack into southern Israel. As in other areas of Gaza, Israel has sent forces back in after repeated operations, saying Hamas has regrouped.

The military says it only targets militants, whom it accuses of hiding among civilians in homes and shelters. Israeli strikes often kill women and children.

On Sunday, the Israeli military released what it said was video footage of Hamas abusing detainees. The soundless footage, dated from 2018 to 2020, appears to show detainees with hoods over their heads chained up in stress positions. In some of the clips, men beat or poke them with batons.

It was not possible to independently verify the videos, which the military said it had recovered during operations in Gaza.

Rights groups have long accused the Hamas-run government in Gaza and the Western-backed Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank of abusing detainees and violently quashing dissent. Israel has been accused of similar abuses, especially since the start of the war. Israeli prison authorities say they follow relevant laws and investigate any allegations of wrongdoing.

Israel strikes deeper and deeper into Lebanon

Hezbollah began firing rockets, drones and missiles into Israel after war broke out in Gaza in solidarity with the Palestinians and its fellow Iran-backed militant group Hamas.

Israel retaliated, and a series of escalations over several months led to all-out war in September, when Israel carried out a wave of heavy strikes and killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, as well as most of his top commanders.

Since then, Israel has struck areas deeper and deeper inside Lebanon, while Hezbollah has expanded its rocket fire from northern to central Israel. The fighting has killed over 3,000 people in Lebanon, according to the Health Ministry, and more than 70 people in Israel.

In videos purporting to show the aftermath of Sunday's strike in Aalmat, some 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Beirut, people were seen pulling the body of a little girl out of the rubble. The house had been flattened, and several cars nearby were also damaged.

The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants blew holes in the border fence and stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. They killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, about a third of whom are believed to be dead.

Israel's offensive has killed over 43,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities who do not distinguish between civilians and militants in their count but say over half the fatalities were women and children.

Israeli bombardment and ground invasions have left vast areas of Gaza in ruins and displaced around 90% of the population of 2.3 million people, often multiple times. Hundreds of thousands of people are living in crowded tent camps with few if any public services and no idea of when they might return to their homes or rebuild.

Cease-fire talks mediated by the United States, Qatar and Egypt have repeatedly stalled since the start of the year, as have parallel efforts by the U.S. and others to halt the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

Qatar, which has served as a key mediator with Hamas, said over the weekend that it had suspended its efforts and would only resume them when the parties show their willingness and seriousness to end the brutal war and the ongoing suffering of civilians.

___

Magdy reported from Cairo and Chehayeb from Beirut. Associated Press writer Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel contributed.

___

Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
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The team building The Independent and Refuges first new home for domestic abuse survivors has taken readers behind the scenes to look at how the sanctuary is being built.

Thanks to readers generous donations to our Brick by Brick campaign, now in excess of 500,000, construction is well underway on a house for people fleeing the horror of domestic abuse.

Plans to build a second safe home are now also in motion after our campaign  backed by an array of high-profile supporters including the Queen, Sir Keir Starmer and Dame Helen Mirren  far surpassed its initial 300,000 target.

Be a brick, buy a brick and donate here or text BRICK to 70560 to donate 15

open image in gallery The build of the first refuge is well underway  this is what it looks like ( The Independent )

Speaking as the first new home starts to take shape, group director of house builders Persimmon Anthony Vigor said the company was really pleased and proud to be constructing the refuge for the cause.

We recognise the importance of home to people, and building homes in communities, and so given the need for homes like the one that were building here as part of Brick by Brick, we thought that this feels like exactly the type of brilliant initiative that we should support as well, he said.

He said the actual construction of the house will take around six months, adding: You obviously want to make sure youre building a high-quality home, and we have tens of workers who work on any home at any one time.

[It involves] lots of skilled trade from the start  from the slab right through to handing the keys over. We organise the construction from top to bottom, we even in some places produce our own bricks and tiles, and manufacture our own timber frame as well.

open image in gallery Take a look behind the scenes at how the sanctuary is being built ( The Independent )

open image in gallery Persimmon group director Anthony Vigor said the company was really pleased and proud to be building the refuge ( The Independent )

He added: People should get behind this because its such a great campaign. Government support really only starts once people are in a home, and therefore there is a real need for more homes.

The companys philanthropic arm, the Persimmon Charitable Foundation, recently donated 25,000 towards the appeal as well as leading the projects construction.

Noting that colleagues across the business have been really touched by the campaigns aims, Mr Vigor said the homes eventual completion will be a real moment of pride for us all.

The campaign has helped to launch a national conversation about domestic abuse, with high-profile figures such as Victoria Derbyshire, Rylan Clark, Cherie Blair and Olivia Colman all backing its aims.

An average of one woman is killed by a partner or ex-partner every five days in England and Wales, with Refuge receiving a call for assistance every two minutes.

The house will have the latest security measures including a fire-proof letter box, CCTV, and enhanced locking features on windows and doors. It will be linked to the local police force to ensure officers can get there quickly in the rare instance a womans abuser discovers where she is living.

Standing among the foundations and rising walls of the new sanctuary, Refuge chair Hetti Barkworth-Nanton previously described its construction as quite simply life-changing.

To know that this is happening and know that people are really behind it and giving us the support is just incredible, she added. It is like the phoenix coming out of the ground, and it typifies what our survivors do to reach out for help. We will continue to build hope, we will never give up.

Please donate now to the Brick by Brick campaign, launched by The Independent and charity Refuge, to help raise another 300,000 to build a second safe space for women where they can escape domestic abuse, rebuild their lives and make a new future. Text BRICK to 70560 to donate 15.
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A family with four young children have been living, sleeping and cooking in one small room for over a year  costing them 1,436 a month  in a damning example of Londons overcrowding crisis.

Rania Issa and Roshdi Basheer Ali have been living with their children, aged 13, 12, nine and two, in the cramped room in Brent for a year and eight months.

Rania said the conditions are making her eldest and youngest sons sick, one with a dry skin condition and the other with asthma. The propertys landlord has described the situation as ridiculous, and the council, which has offered the family temporary accommodation outside the borough, said it was an example of the tragic reality of the housing emergency in the capital.

When The Independent went to visit the family, the front door to the building  which is made up of six flats  could be forced open and the communal stairs were dirty, with paint peeling off the wall.

open image in gallery Roshdi Basheer Ali and Rania Issa pictured with their three youngest children ( Roshdi Basheer Ali )

Rania said the children are only able to play on the small landing at the top of the stairs, which was also being used to dry and store clothes. A shared wardrobe on the landing is full of clothes that they cannot store inside their tiny flat.

With the help of translation from a friend, Rania said: My youngest child has asthma and my eldest child has a skin condition, with dry skin. There are lots of bugs and there is no space for us to live.

When I cook on the hob it gets very hot and steam comes up and my children are always coughing. We have put bags over the smoke alarm so that we can cook. The hob also gets very hot and it is dangerous for the children because they can reach up and touch it. The room becomes hell, it gets very hot. But we dont want to open the window because it opens wide and the children could fall out.

I am fed up. I need help, she added. The Sudanese family are paying the rent through their housing benefit. The parents also receive universal credit as Roshdi is too unwell to work.

open image in gallery The family are sharing three beds, which take up most of the space in their one-room flat ( The Independent )

Roshdi said: I am always worrying for my family. My children have nowhere to play. We tried to get help from the local civil centre and the council but we were very badly neglected. I came to the UK first  I have been here for five years. And then my wife and child came after me.

When they use the bathroom, water also leaks into the flat below them, Rania explained. The small bathroom has just a shower, a toilet and a hand basin but no bath, so the family are using the sink to wash their youngest child.

open image in gallery Roshdis two sons, Zainuabdin and Mohammed, share one bed ( Roshdi Ali )

A spokesperson for the landlord, London Estate Management, said: The flat is not built for that many people. Weve been in touch with the council. The whole situation is ridiculous. I cant believe that this is happening in this country. Weve been trying to get help with finding the family suitable accommodation but the council has not come back to us at all.

They said that any issues of disrepair would be looked at but the main concern is that there are too many people. They added: The tenants say that theyve tried to get help from the council countless times but theyve not been answered.

open image in gallery From left: Zainuabdin, Alaa, Jara, Rania and Mohammed on a day out in London ( Roshdi Ali )

Brent Council said they had offered the family temporary accommodation outside the borough to alleviate the situation but they have not accepted. The family are also on the housing waiting list.

The family dont speak English, their children are in school, and they are being helped by other locals, neighbour and friend Nassir Yahya explained.

Cllr Muhammed Butt, the leader of Brent Council, said: Sadly, Rania Issa and Roshdi Basheer Alis situation is the tragic reality of the housing emergency that our city is facing.

It breaks my heart to say it, but Brent is one of the worst affected areas in the UK by the housing crisis  with 34,000 people on the councils housing register, just like Rania and Roshdi.

open image in gallery The small landing at the top of the stairs where the children play and clothes are stored ( The Independent )

He added that the supply of new-build homes cannot keep up with demand, explaining: This means that most people in housing need will have little other choice but to work with the council to find a home in a more affordable location in the private rented sector.

We have made an offer of temporary accommodation to relieve the pressure of overcrowding, and we will continue to work with the family and other residents to help source and secure decent homes.

open image in gallery The flat becomes very hot and smoky when the family use the kitchenette to cook ( The Independent )

A spokesperson for the London Renters Union said: This is a life and death issue  the Covid death rate in Church End was the highest in the country for this reason, with Somali and Sudanese families particularly impacted.

Education, sleep, and health and wellbeing are all impacted for the kids growing up in these homes, and yet councils and developers continue to prioritise smaller homes that are more profitable. We desperately need mandatory targets that reflect local need.
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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.

Though she has made a small number of appearances this year, the weekend marks the first time she has carried out two consecutive days of public official engagements since the start of the year.

Here is a full timeline of Kates health journey in 2024 so far:

open image in gallery The Princess of Wales recently announced she had completed her course of chemotherapy ( PA Wire )

16 January, Tuesday

The Princesss tough year began in January when she was secretly admitted to The London Clinic for abdominal surgery.

Kensington Palace revealed the princess had planned abdominal surgery and estimated that she would spend the next 10 to 14 days in hospital.

It was said she would be stepping back from her duties until Easter to recover. The Prince of Wales also stepped back from his work to support his wife and young children.

The princess was said to be doing well in the immediate aftermath of the operation. Specifics about the nature of the operation were, and remain, private.

open image in gallery William drives away from The London Clinic where Kate was staying ( PA Archive )

29 January, Monday

The princess was discharged.

5 February, Monday

Prince William returned to duty.

Buckingham Palace announced King Charles had been diagnosed with cancer. The Palace clarified that while undisclosed in its form, the monarch does not have prostate cancer, although the disease was found during his prostate procedure.

The king stepped back from his public-facing duties as he began his treatment.

7 February, Wednesday

The Prince of Wales thanked well-wishers for their support amid the familys health troubles. At this point, it was believed that the Princess of Wales was merely recovering from her abdominal surgery.

4 March, Monday

The princess was photographed by paparazzi for the first time since her operation. She was being driven near Windsor Castle by her mother, Carole Middleton.

A day later, a claim that the princess would undertake the Colonels Review ahead of the Trooping the Colour in June was removed from the armys website.

10 March, Sunday

Kensington Palace shared a picture of the princess with her three children to celebrate Mothers Day. It was 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 was removed by major photo agencies after it emerged that it had 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 apologised for the confusion caused by the photograph, and described 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 was published by The Sun.

19 March, Tuesday

A breach report was 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 released a video of the princess announcing she had been diagnosed with cancer. She asked the public for privacy as she began 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 Kensington Palace released a video of the princess announcing she had been diagnosed with cancer ( Independent TV )

18 April, Thursday

Prince William returned to work again after a brief Easter break, which he spent with his family. His engagements included 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 provided a welcome update on his wifes health and said she is doing well.

13 June, Friday

Kate announced her return to public life at Trooping the Colour and said in a statement that while she was progressing, she was not out of the woods yet.

open image in gallery Kate made her first public appearance after announcing her diagnosis at Trooping the Colour ( PA Wire )

15 June, Saturday

The Princess of Wales made a welcome return to public life at Trooping the Colour, appearing with her family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

14 July, Saturday

Kate made a second public appearance at Wimbledon and received a standing ovation as she presented the Mens Final trophy to Carlos Alcaraz.

open image in gallery The Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte pictured in the royal box at Wimbledon ( PA Wire )

11 August, Sunday

The Prince and Princess of Wales appeared in a joint video to congratulate Team GB on their performance at the Paris Olympics.

25 August, Sunday

The royal family, including the princess, began their summer break at the Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It was believed to be the furthest Kate has travelled since her cancer diagnosis.

8 September, Sunday

It was reported the princess could make her next public appearance on Remembrance Sunday and host her annual Christmas carol concert.

9 September, Monday

Kensington Palace released a video of the Wales family reflecting on the past nine months, and the princess revealed 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.

open image in gallery Kensington Palace released a video of the Wales family reflecting on the past nine months ( PA Wire )

17 September, Tuesday

The princess returned to work at Windsor Castle, turning her focus to her Early Years work.

The Court Circular read: The Princess of Wales, Joint Patron, the Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales, this afternoon held an Early Years Meeting at Windsor 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 marked 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.

open image in gallery The princess made a surprise visit with William to meet the bereaved families of the Southport stabbing victims ( AP )

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.

open image in gallery Kate appeared emotional as she listened intently during the remembrance ceremony ( Aaron Chown/PA Wire )

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.
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Watch as King Charles III welcomes the Emir of Qatar to Buckingham Palace as Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani begins a two-day state visit to the UK on Tuesday, 3 December.

Charles welcomed the leader and the first of his three wives, Sheikha Jawaher, during an extravagant ceremony staged in Whitehall.

Queen Camilla was absent; On Monday, she pulled out of the official open-air greeting on Horse Guards Parade and a carriage ride back to the palace due to lingering effects of a recent viral chest infection.

The Prince and Princess of Wales took part in the ceremony on Horse Guards Parade, one of the few official appearances by Kate during a year in which she has been successfully treated for cancer.

Camilla will later join the royal party for a private lunch with the Emir and his wife.

She will also take part in all but one of the elements of the evening state banquet at Buckingham Palace, staged in honour of the Emir.
The Russian terrorist army continues to attract foreign mercenaries to its ranks. Militants from Cuba and Africa were spotted in the temporarily occupied Crimea.

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The invaders are training mercenaries at the Kozachy training ground in Sevastopol. This was reported on Telegram by the military movement of Ukrainian and Crimean Tatars "Atesh".

In the course of reconnaissance, agents found out that the Russian military is training mercenaries from African countries and Cuba at the Kozachy training ground in the Gagarin district of Sevastopol. The training ground belongs to the 810th Marine Brigade.

According to Atesh, military trucks periodically arrive in the area of the training ground, delivering people with an appearance atypical of local residents. It is also noted that from time to time, the training grounds are used for shooting for teenagers from the "Yunarmiya". Thus, Russian terrorists are using children as human shields, trying to protect their military and mercenaries from attacks by the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

ADVERTISIMENT

"Our agents continue to closely monitor such incidents and are ready to provide all the necessary information to bring the occupiers to justice," Atesh said.

As a reminder, citizens of the terrorist country of Russia complain that conscripts are forced to sign contracts with the Russian Armed Forces. After that, conscripts are sent to war against Ukraine.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, Russia continues to recruit prisoners serving their sentences in Russian prisons and colonies for the war against Ukraine. Not only Russian citizens, but also people from Central Asia and other foreigners are being taken to the front.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
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An emotional Princess of Wales completed a milestone in her return to royal duties on Sunday, as she joined other members of the royal family at the Cenotaph.

The appearance marks the first time Kate has carried out commitments on two consecutive days since she was diagnosed with cancer at the beginning of the year.

Kate looked on at the Remembrance Sunday service as the King, who is still undergoing treatment for his own cancer diagnosis, led the nation in a two-minute silence to honour fallen servicemen and women.

Dressed in black, as is the tradition, Kate wore a netted hat with her hair in a twisted chignon and a military-style coat featuring black epaulettes, which was embellished at the neck with a black velvet bow.

open image in gallery Kate looks on at the Remembrance Sunday service as the King leads the nation in a two-minute silence to honour fallen servicemen and women ( Aaron Chown/PA )

On the princesss coat were three red poppies, often rumoured to be in honour of her great-grandmothers three brothers, who all lost their lives in the First World War.

As the Queen was forced to stay at home after falling sick with a chest infection, Kate was instead joined by Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, as they oversaw the ceremony on the Foreign Office balcony.

Charles went on to lay the first wreath to honour the war dead at the Cenotaph, with William and Anne following suit.

open image in gallery Charles lays the first wreath at the Cenotaph to honour the war dead ( Aaron Chown/PA )

They were joined by prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, who stepped forward to pay tribute to the fallen on behalf of the government with his floral tribute, followed by the Conservative Partys new leader Kemi Badenoch, and other party leaders, senior members of the cabinet, military chiefs of staff and high commissioners.

Standing close to the Cenotaph were eight former prime ministers: Sir John Major, Sir Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Lord Cameron, Baroness May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak.

As the ceremony drew to a close, Sophie was photographed putting her hand gently on Kates back as the pair left the balcony.

open image in gallery Kate is joined by Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, as they oversee the ceremony on the Foreign Office balcony ( Stefan Rousseau/PA )

The appearance came hours after Kate joined Charles and the Prince of Wales at the Royal British Legions Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday evening.

From the royal box, the group watched attentively as current serving personnel paid tribute to those who lost their lives in Afghanistan and, towards the end of the evening, joined in the singing of a hymn.

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.

open image in gallery Princess Kate, Prince William, King Charles and Princess Anne attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday ( Getty )

This weekend marks a step up for Kate, 42, who 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 husband, William, spoke candidly last week of how 2024 has been brutal and probably the hardest year in my life.

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 to speak to emergency workers who helped at the scene after the devastating knife attack.

In a heartfelt video released in September, Kate announced she had finally finished her cancer treatment but was focusing on staying cancer-free.
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The Princess of Wales has taken a significant step in her gradual return to public royal duties by attending the Festival of Remembrance.

Joined by the Prince of Wales and King Charles, her presence at the Royal British Legion event comes after William spoke candidly of how 2024 has been brutal and probably the hardest year in my life.

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.

Meanwhile, Charles received applause as he took his seat next to the Princess Royal at Saturdays event, which honours sacrifices made by the British and Commonwealth armed forces.

From the royal box, the group watched attentively as current serving personnel paid tribute to those who lost their lives in Afghanistan and, towards the end of the evening, joined in the singing of a hymn.

open image in gallery Princess Kate, Prince William, King Charles and Princess Anne attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall ( Getty Images )

Charles, William and Kate all stood to take part in the rendition of Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer, with the royal emblem laid over the rail in front of the box.

On Sunday, Kate, who revealed eight months ago she had an undisclosed form of cancer, will attend the national commemoration at the Cenotaph.

It will be the first time she has carried out two consecutive days of public official engagements since the start of the year.

Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace confirmed Camilla would not attend the event, nor the Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph on Sunday, after falling ill with a chest infection.

It is understood there is no deterioration 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.
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An elderly man has died after his car plunged into a river in Dartmouth, Devon, on Sunday morning, police said.

The man, in his 80s, plunged into the River Dart at around 8.40am and was pronounced dead at the scene after divers rushed to save him.

His death is not believed to be suspicious and a file is being prepared for the coroner. After being closed and cordoned off, the embankment was reopened on Sunday evening.

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesperson said: Police were notified at around 8.40am this morning, Sunday 10 November, to reports that a car had plunged into the water on the South Embankment in Dartmouth.

Emergency services were swiftly deployed to the scene, including police divers who entered the water. Sadly, a man in his 80s, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle was extracted from the car and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The death is not believed to be suspicious, and a file will now be prepared for the coroner. The embankment area was closed, and cordons were put in place for much of the day. These have since been lifted. Police would like to thank the public for their support during the incident.
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A possible trade war with the US will not be as bad as feared, a former political appointee in the last Trump administration has said  claiming the president-elect will target the European Union more significantly than Britain as he wants to see a successful Brexit.

Peggy Grande, who was a political appointee for Donald Trump, told The Independent he is likely to give a preferential trade deal to the UK and she thinks tariffs will more greatly affect the EU than the UK.

It comes amid fears of a global trade war, after the Republican politician pledged to impose levies of 10 per cent on all goods imports from US trading partners, and up to 60 per cent and 100 per cent for China and Mexico.

But Ms Grande, who also worked as Ronald Reagans executive assistant after he left the White House, said Mr Trump believes in the special relationship, adding: I anticipate that if tariffs are involved, they will more greatly affect the EU than the UK.

Donald Trump has a great fondness for the UK and wanted to see a fully implemented successful Brexit and wants to help with that still by giving a preferential trade deal to the UK.

open image in gallery Rachel Reeves could be on a collision course with the president-elect ( PA Wire )

Go back to the US-UK free trade agreement he was working on during his first term  I anticipate he will pick that up right where he left off and lean into it again, especially in alignment with tariffs on China.

The more our countries can unite to put pressure on China, the more it will benefit us both from a trade perspective. It will require both sides, though. Trump is committed. Will the UK be as well? That remains to be seen.

But former British ambassador to the US Kim Darroch said he expects Mr Trump to follow through on his threat, possibly putting Rachel Reeves on a collision course with the president-elect.

The chancellor, preparing to push back against the possibility of tariffs, is expected to use a keynote speech this week to promote free and open trade between nations as a cornerstone of UK economic policy.

She is expected to use her first Mansion House speech to set out a post-Budget plan to go for growth, as well as make the case that global business connections have supported economies around the world in times of crisis. She will call for continued partnerships with Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the US.

Mr Darroch said he thinks there will be a stark choice for Britain, between siding with the EU or sacrificing our agriculture.

open image in gallery President-elect Donald Trump has spoken previously about increasing rates on goods imported into the US from around the world ( AP )

Writing about Mr Trumps remarks on free trade in The Observer, Mr Darroch said: On tariffs, I expect the exact opposite of a mere threat.

I think Trump will impose tariffs on all US imports immediately and say, If you want them lifted, offer me something to rebalance trade.

The EU will almost certainly retaliate and the UK will face a difficult decision. Do we match EU retaliatory tariffs? Or do we seek a bilateral deal, like a free trade agreement?

I think an FTA would be on offer from Trump as in 2017: but the top US demand, as was the case then, would be unrestricted access to the UK market for the low-cost products of the US agricultural sector, hormone-treated beef and chlorine-washed chicken included. So the stark choice would be: side with the EU or sacrifice our agriculture.

There is already growing fury from farmers in the UK over the governments decision to extend inheritance tax to cover agricultural properties.

But the governor of New Jersey state Phil Murphy suggested his gut is telling him the president-elect would not pursue tariffs against allies like the UK.

Asked about the issue, the Democrat said: Do I believe it? Im not sure. I think if you and I were sitting and speaking about the Peoples Republic of China, Id believe it.

On Sunday, Treasury minister Darren Jones said Whitehall officials will be considering lots of different scenarios, amid growing concerns about the possible impact of tariffs.

Mr Jones said Mr Trump recognises the important relationship between the UK and America, adding: The position of the government is that we support free trade and we support the trading relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom.

A government source confirmed that officials would continue to take advice to ensure that Britain was in the best possible position.

We look forward to working closely with President Trumps team to strengthen UK-US trading relations to support businesses on both sides of the Atlantic, the source said.
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The prime minister is being urged to bolster the UKs relationship with the European Union following Donald Trumps re-election, as a senior EU official argues there is a big opportunity for closer ties.

Sandro Gozi, the new chair of the European delegation to the EU-UK Parliamentary Assembly, told The Independent the bloc is looking to put academic cooperation, a youth free-movement deal and conversations about artificial intelligence on the table.

Mr Gozis intervention comes as politicians in the UK say the result of the US election should be a wake-up call for Sir Keir Starmer after Mr Trump swept to victory last week.

Mr Gozi said the issue of security and defence in Europe is even more compelling since the Republican politicians re-election, amid growing concerns over the president-elects commitment to Nato and fears of a global trade war.

open image in gallery Sandro Gozi, the new chair of the Delegation to EU-UK Parliamentary Assembly, said there is a clear common interest in working together ( AFP/Getty )

He added: We know that we have a clear common interest in working together more and better on our security. I hope the election of Mr Trump will boost the cooperation between the UK on the security and military dimension.

Mr Trump has been vocal in his criticisms of Nato, accusing European members of relying on US funding and warning his administration would only come to the aid of its allies if they contribute financially.

I dont see why we have a technology dialogue with the US and with India but we dont have a dialogue with UK, Mr Gozi said. These could be new areas of cooperation in the common interest.

There have been renewed calls for closer ties with the EU coming from within the UK since the US election, with former Conservative deputy leader Michael Heseltine telling The Independent: The quicker we restore our position at the heart of Europe the better  from our point of view, from Europes point of view and from the worlds point of view.

While he acknowledged that the US has done a great deal to preserve the stability of the western world, Lord Heseltine - who is also president of pro-EU campaign group the European Movement - warned: We must always remember that there is an element of American politics called America First, which is having a significant exposure at the moment.

America First was a term coined by President Woodrow Wilson in his 1916 campaign which pledged to keep America neutral in World War I.

open image in gallery Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has been warned the result of the US election should be a wake-up call ( PA Wire )

Referencing the policy, he said: It is unreasonable for Europe to automatically rely on America, however benign their support has been over the last three-quarters of a century.

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesperson Calum Miller told The Independent the result of the US election should be a wake-up call for the UK.

It is imperative that we strengthen trade and defence links with our European allies. Now more than ever, it is vital that we repair our broken relationship with the EU, the MP for Bicester and Woodstock added.

Meanwhile, Wera Hobhouse, Lib Dem MP for Bath said she hopes the government will come clean on its promise to renew meaningful cooperation with the EU.

Mike Galsworthy, chair of the European Movement, said Mr Trumps election makes international waters on trade and security much more choppy, adding: That means the UK is better off closer to the large harbour of the EU.

But Mr Gozi said the desire for closer ties since the election is not one-sided, saying the EU also sees the current situation as a big opportunity to kick off a new partnership.

We also think that there is an interest in strengthening our relationship with the UK, he said.

Pointing to the EU-UK summit, announced by Sir Keir earlier this year as part of a broader reset of relations with the bloc, Mr Gozi said: It is a meeting that can act as a booster to our relationship.

In October, the prime minister met with EU Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen, where the two leaders agreed to strengthen the relationship between the UK and the EU.

They also held talks at a meeting of the European Political Community last week.

open image in gallery Donald Trump was elected president of the United States earlier this week ( AP )

There is growing concern about a possible trade war with the US, after the Trump campaign pledged to impose levies of 10 per cent on all goods imported from US trading partners, and up to 60 per cent and 100 per cent for China and Mexico.

Kim Darroch, a former UK ambassador to Washington, said there would be a stark choice for Britain between siding with the EU or sacrificing our agriculture.

Writing in The Observer, Mr Darroch said: On tariffs, I expect the exact opposite of a mere threat.

The EU will almost certainly retaliate and the UK will face a difficult decision. Do we match EU retaliatory tariffs? Or do we seek a bilateral deal, like a free trade agreement?

But shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel claimed president-elect Mr Trump is "very sympathetic" to the UK.

Speaking to Sky News, she added: He has familial ties with this country. My party had a very strong working relationship with him previously.

I want us to grow that, strengthen that, and demonstrate that the West is not vacating the pitch when it comes to security issues, economic issues, but importantly... the defence of our freedoms."

A government spokesperson said: This government is resetting its relations with the EU by strengthening cooperation in areas such as the economy, energy, security and resilience. We will hold regular UK-EU summits, beginning in the first half of next year, to review that progress.

The Minister for European Union relations is meeting regularly with his EU counterpart and the prime minister also attended the European Political Community summit last week where he met the president of the European Commission and fellow European leaders to discuss the greatest challenges facing our collective security  including organised immigration crime.
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The UK must ramp up its efforts to produce renewable energy and take action on climate change, Ed Miliband has said in the wake of Donald Trumps re-election as president of the United States.

It comes ahead of an increasingly uncertain global summit on the climate crisis, which has been rocked by cancellations and overshadowed by the election of a climate-sceptic president.

Speaking on the eve of Cop29, the energy secretary said the government is committed to accelerating climate action in what is an increasingly uncertain world.

open image in gallery Energy security and net zero secretary Ed Miliband leaves No 10 following a cabinet meeting ( PA Wire )

The only way to keep the British people secure today is by making Britain a clean-energy superpower, and the only way we protect future generations is by working with other countries to deliver climate action, Mr Miliband told The Observer.

This government is committed to accelerating climate action precisely because it is by doing this that we protect our country, with energy security, lower bills, and good jobs.

Mr Trump has repeatedly claimed climate change is a hoax, as well as threatening to once again withdraw the US from the Paris climate agreement  something he did in his previous term as president.

Scientists have warned the president-elects policies pose a major threat to the planet. Bill Hare, a senior scientist at Climate Analytics, said his election would likely damage efforts to keep the world from warming by more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.

The election of a climate denier to the US presidency is extremely dangerous for the world, he warned.

Tomer Shalit, co-founder of ClimateView, a global leader in climate action technology, said Mr Trumps re-election will shift the dynamic on the world stage, arguing that a failure to lead the way on climate action could negatively impact US influence.

During the previous Trump term, the decrease in federal initiatives meant that a lot of cities and regions stepped up in ambition. The same thing will likely happen this time, meaning that states and cities in America will play a bigger role on the international stage when it comes to moving fast on climate action, he told The Independent.

open image in gallery Donald Trumps re-election could shift the dynamic on the world stage, according to Tomer Shalit ( AP )

The world is a very different place to what it was eight years ago. The move away from fossil fuels and towards renewables has too much momentum to be stopped. A nuclear plants worth of solar panels is being built every day, global investment in clean technology is running at double the size of coal, oil and gas.

The question is no longer will it happen? but instead, how fast?. And the winners of tomorrow will be those who move the fastest. Countries that decrease speed or stall the transition will become less relevant on the global stage.

Meanwhile, Laurence Tubiana, chief executive of the European Climate Foundation and a key architect of the Paris Agreement, said while the US election result is a setback for global climate action, the Paris Agreement has proven resilient and is stronger than any single countrys policies.

There is powerful economic momentum behind the global transition, which the US has led and gained from, but now risks forfeiting, she added, urging Europe to lead the way.

The devastating toll of recent hurricanes was a grim reminder that all Americans are affected by worsening climate change.

Despite the warnings, this years climate summit has been rocked by cancellations from major world leaders.

EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will stay at home, while German chancellor Olaf Scholz has cancelled his visit following the break-up of his governing coalition.

French president Emmanuel Macron will also stay away from the summit, occupied by a domestic political crisis.

The stark ideological differences between Mr Trump and Sir Keir Starmer have sparked concern about how the government will build bridges with the Republican politicians administration.

Former Labour minister Peter Mandelson has been widely tipped as a potential replacement for current ambassador to Washington Karen Pierce, who took the job in 2020, with ministers shooting down offers from Trump ally Nigel Farage to help mend fences with the US administration.

Asked about Mr Farages offer to be an unofficial ambassador to the US, chief treasury secretary Darren Jones told Sky News: I think thats probably unlikely. He might want to focus his efforts on the constituency of Clacton.
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For more than two decades, there has been little movement in the case of a missingNew Mexico woman who vanished from her hometown  but a recent search has attracted long-awaited attention and sparked new tips, including one that investigators say is pretty good.

Melissa Montoya was 42 years old when she went missing on March 9, 2001, after a night out in Dulce, New Mexico, on the Jicarilla Apache Nation Reservation.

Two months later, her then-boyfriend was found dead at their Colorado home. A short time after that, the house burned to the ground.

Melissas mysterious disappearance was reported to local authorities, who questioned the boyfriend, who was later considered a suspect, and conducted an initial search of the property. But with no leads, the case quickly went cold.

On November 3, 2024, nearly 24 years after Melissa went missing, officials from several local agencies along with three cadaver dogs returned to the same property in Archuleta County, Colorado.

An all-day search of the 50-acre property in Colorado ended in defeat when officials came up with nothing, leaving Melissas loved ones devastated and left with more questions.

But what happened the next day has given them fresh hope. New tips have trickled in, including one that was called into police after the person spotted a Dateline NBC article about the search on social media.

It appears to be significant, Darlene Gomez, a friend and cousin of Melissas, told The Independent a few days later. And I know that the police are looking into the tip.

open image in gallery Melissa Montoya was 42 years old when she went missing on March 9, 2001 after a night out in Dulce, New Mexico, on the Jicarilla Apache Nation Reservation ( Supplied )

Law enforcement officials confirmed the tip to The Independent and said it appears to be from a woman who says she heard from her significant other about an off-putting encounter he had with the suspect on the night Melissa went missing.

Investigators told The Independent that because of new locations mentioned in the tipsters account, several agencies are involved and are working to corroborate her claims and possibly reach out to individuals who may have information about that night.

Gomez, who was in law school when Melissa disappeared, is now an attorney and has been advocating for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) cases for more than 20 years. She continues to push for answers in her friends case and has become the liaison between the family and law enforcement.

Nobody wanted to talk about it, Gomez said. One of my biggest concerns now is could I have done more in the beginning.

I believe that as I became powerful in my own voice, growing into my own voice as a woman and as a woman of color, I was able to kind of press the issue forward, she said.

She told The Independent that she hopes the renewed attention on the case will generate tips that could result in potential leads, and ultimately mean finding Melissa.

For over 20 years there were no ground searches, no missing person posters, no calls for action. What happened to Melissa was a mystery and Gomez is still afraid that the case might never be solved.

This morning I started crying, she said, her voice cracking. Because I dont know if Im ever going to find her.

The disappearance of Melissa Montoya

In March 2001, Melissa lived with her boyfriend in Colorado just across the border from her hometown of Dulce, New Mexico, on the Jicarilla Apache Nation Reservation.

According to Gomez, there was a history of domestic abuse in the relationship and Melissa was desperate to get out.

In the days leading up to her disappearance, she had told family members that if something ever happened to her, it would be at the hands of her partner.

She was definitely afraid to leave him, Gomez said, adding that there was nowhere for her to go. At that time, there were not any domestic violence shelters in the area, no resources that would protect Melissa.

No one reached out to help her, Gomez added. She was trapped and she knew she was trapped.

So Melissa stayed with her boyfriend.

open image in gallery Melissa Montoya went missing in 2001. Her friend Darlene Gomez who has been advocating for MMIW cases for years has never stopped looking for her ( Darlene Gomez )

On March 9, 2001, Melissa went to a St Patricks Day party at the Jicarilla Apache House of Spirits, also known as The Zoo, that was once located on reservation before it closed.

After she left the bar that night, she was never seen or heard from again.

A dead suspect

About a month after Melissa was officially reported missing that May, her boyfriend was found dead at his home.

Jicarilla Apache Nation Police Criminal Investigator Chris Rafferty told The Independent that the mans death was ruled a suicide at the time. A short time later, the house on the Colorado property burned down, adding another twist to the mystery.

Investigator Rafferty explained that the boyfriend, who was not named, was considered to be a suspect in Melissas disappearance and that he was even questioned at the time.

He says they werent together at the bar, but we had a lot of witnesses that said they were, Rafferty told Dateline in an earlier interview about the boyfriend. But its the boyfriend who was the one that she left with the night that she went missing, he said.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs, which is also involved in the investigation, reportedly did its own interviews around town, but nothing came from them.

Rafferty explained that the biggest issue that they are dealing with is incomplete police reports from 20 years ago, along with a lack of evidence and a dead suspect.

Were basically starting from scratch, he said.

Another factor in the complicated case is the many law enforcement agencies who have a hand in the investigation.

The Jicarilla Apache Nation Police Department is the lead investigating agency while the investigation into the boyfriends death was handled by the Archuleta County Sheriffs Office in Colorado. The search on Sunday was also launched by the sheriffs office.

A new lead

In May 2024, Gomez received an email that she believes got the ball rolling in Melissas case after more than 20 years.

I got an email from a woman who was looking for her missing loved one from California and came across the NamUs record showing that human remains belonging to a Native American female between the ages of 30 years old and 60 years old were found in Dulce, New Mexico, Gomez explained.

She had then cross-referenced it to women who were missing from the area and found out the only woman that matched that description was Melissa Montoya.

Gomez immediately alerted the Jicarilla Apache Nation Police Department and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The bones had been discovered back in 2020 near where Melissa went missing and were kept in a police room, but had not been tested.

So Gomez pushed for the evidence to be tested.

They were tested, Investigator Rafferty told Dateline in a July interview, referring to when they were first discovered in 2020. Initially, they came back as a  as a female.

At first, I really thought those bones were hers, Gomez told The Independent. So for six weeks, I didnt sleep, I didnt eat.

So when Gomez received the letter, it reinvigorated the investigation  and they tested the bones again. Unfortunately, it turned out that the remains belonged to a male.

But hope would come again several months later.

I really feel like if it was not for the woman who sent me the email from California, I mean, that is what got the ball rolling, Gomez told The Independent.

She explained that the investigator was not even aware that Melissa went missing from Dulce, simply because there was not a system to track missing and murdered individuals.

A hopeful search

On November 3, 2024, officials from multiple law enforcement agencies descended on the Colorado property in Archuleta County hoping to find a clue as to Melissas whereabouts.

Jicarilla Apache Chief of Police Joseph Schake told Dateline that the search came about following a review of the departments open cold cases.

They called in the Archuleta County Sheriffs Office, since the property falls within its jurisdiction.

Sheriff Mike Le Roux noted that they were able to cover a huge area of the property in perfect search conditions. Three dogs were brought in to assist in the search, but none of them registered a positive identification for anything.

open image in gallery An all-day search of the Colorado property ended in defeat when officials came up with nothing, leaving Melissas loved ones devastated ( Darlene Gomez )

Le Roux pointed out that a long period of time had passed and that his understanding is that the canines have the ability to detect human remains in excess of 20 years.

Gomez told The Independent that she got a rundown of what happened during the search from the sheriff. She said one of the major issues that could impede the search or future searches was that the fire destroyed the main structure. And over the years, many new structures had gone up, hindering access to certain places where they might find evidence or even a body.

Despite not finding anything in the search, Gomez told The Independent that she is glad they were able to do it.

Im so very grateful that the property owners allowed us to have that search, she said, adding that while the search was being carried out, she and other loved ones, and MMIW supporters rallied in town with bright signs that featured Melissas face.

Over the years, there has been little to no media coverage of Melissas case.

No one had seen an article about it. Nothing printed in the local newspaper, nothing came out on the news, nothing on the radio, she said, adding that her case could have already been solved if her story had been told.

So potentially theres 24 years of witnesses who have not been interviewed, 24 years of witnesses  and someone must know something.

open image in gallery Sheriff Mike Le Roux and Melissas cousins were present for the search on Sunday ( Provided by Darlene Gomez )

No additional searches are planned at the time, but investigators said that, as new tips come in, they will investigate each one.

For me, Im extremely grateful that the police department is actively working this case, Gomez said. It gives me hope.

Almost 24 years later, its finally happening for us

Darlene Gomez has advocated for the MMIW since she went to law school, about the same time Melissa went missing, but its her disappearance that has always been the driving force behind what she does for others.

She has taken on dozens of MMIW cases pro bono, and provides general counsel for Medicine Wheel Ride  a non-profit that creates awareness and fundraises for issues affecting Indigenous people.

I am very blessed, she said. I got to live a wonderful life. But then I think of Melissa and think she didnt get to leave for college, she didnt get to travel the world, she didnt get the chance to go buy makeup at Sephora or go to nice restaurants  instead she got poverty and domestic abuse.

Gomez takes the anger and sadness of her grief and the loss of Melissas life and uses it to help others who may have once been in Melissas shoes. Many of the cases she represents are featured on her TikTok Page.

All of the odds and all of the cycles I had to break to be an attorney and to be able to advocate missing and murdered indigenous relatives, I really think God put me in this place to be an attorney and I feel like this is my calling, she said. I try to help other families find their missing because I know what its like to have someone whos gone.

open image in gallery Darlene Gomez and other supporters rally for awareness of MMIW cases ( Provided by Darlene Gomez )

But now, it may be her turn for some hope in Melissas case.

I think this also gives other families hope, because almost 24 years later, this is finally happening for us, she said.

I pray every day to please help me find her, Gomez said. I just worry that if I cant find her, her spirit will wander all over, and then she will not be able to rest.

Gomez said her main goal is to bring Melissa home to the reservation, to be buried with her parents next to the river.

Just knowing that she is at peace  thats what I want for her, she said. I cant bear to think that her bones are just laying out there and no one has given her a proper prayer or shown her any love. We need her home.

Anyone with information about Melissas disappearance is asked to call the Jicarilla Apache Nation Police Department at 575-759-3222 or reach out to them on their Facebook page.
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More than half of the43 monkeys that recently escaped from a biomedical research lab in South Carolina have been safely captured, officials said.

As of Sunday night, 25 of the primates are back home at the Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center lab, CEO Greg Westergaard confirmed.

All are in good health, Westergaard said in a statement to WCSC. Others remain close by in trees.

Yemassee Police Department announced on Saturday night that a young female rhesus macaque monkey had been safely captured and brought back to the lab.

She is well and having a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, Westergaard said in a statement obtained by ABC News.

Twenty-four more monkeys were captured shortly after and now 18 remain.

The monkeys escaped from the lab on Thursday after a caretaker failed to secure a door. Alpha Genesis is a company that provides pathogen-free primates for biomedical research worldwide.

open image in gallery A view of the cages in the research facility where forty-three rhesus macaque monkeys escaped from in Yemassee, South Carolina, United States on November 8 ( Anadolu via Getty Images )

The company said the monkeys that have escaped do not pose a threat to the public because they have never been tested on and are too young to carry disease. However, Alpha Genesis asked that the public be aware of other potential escaped monkeys that have escaped and not interact with them.

They have specifically asked people not to fly drones in the vicinity where they escaped to prevent the primates from being spooked.

Currently, a group of primates are residing along the facilitys fence line and have continued to engage with other primates inside the facility.

Alpha Genesis said they are actively deploying traps baited with food in the hopes of capturing the other monkeys.

Rhesus macaque primates have been used for nonhuman testing for centuries because they share 93 percent of DNA with humans. They have been crucial in developing lifesaving vaccines like those for Covid-19.

open image in gallery Rhesus monkeys are commonly used in nonhuman primate biomedical testing ( AFP via Getty Images )

For those who support using nonhuman primates for medical research, maintaining a supply of monkeys is essential for biomedical development.

Alpha Genesis provides the primates by using their facilities as a breeding ground to raise the animals for research purposes.

This is not the first time the primates have escaped from the facility. In 2016, more than two dozen primates escaped but were later captured, according to the Post and Courier.
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A New York parks employee died battling one of a number of wildfires in New Jersey and New York amid dry conditions that have prompted air quality warnings in both states, authorities said Sunday.

The worker died when a tree fell on him Saturday afternoon as he battled a major brush fire along the New York-New Jersey border, according to reports from the Eastern Dutchess County Fire and Rescue and the New York state forestry services.

Rip brother your shift is over job well done, the New York State forestry services post said.

New York State Police said they were investigating the death amid the fire in Sterling Forest located in Greenwood Lake and identified the victim as Dariel Vasquez, an 18-year-old state Parks and Recreation aide employed by the New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Department.

The fires in New York and New Jersey come as firefighters are also battling a wildfire in California.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Forest Fire Service reported the sprawling blaze had spread to 3.9 square miles (about 10 square kilometers) near the border in Passaic Countys West Milford and Orange County, New York. Officials said Sunday the blaze, dubbed the Jennings Creek wildfire, was now threatening 14 Greenwood Lake structures as well as two New Jersey homes and eight buildings in that state's Long Pond Ironworks Historic District.

Health advisories were issued for parts of New York, including New York City, and northeastern New Jersey due to unhealthy air quality due to smoke from the fires. People were urged to limit strenuous outdoor physical activity if possible; those especially sensitive included the very young and very old and people with ailments such as asthma and heart disease.

open image in gallery Wildfire impacts Greenwood Lake as several forests burn Sunday morning in New York state ( Anadolu via Getty Images )

New Jersey officials, meanwhile, reported 75 percent containment of a 175-acre (70-hectare) fire in the Pompton Lakes area of Passaic County that was threatening 55 homes, although no evacuations had been ordered.

Progress was also reported on fires in the Bethany Run area on the border of Burlington and Camden counties in Evesham and Voorhees townships; a blaze along the Palisades Interstate Parkway in Englewood Cliffs in Bergen County; and the Pheasant Run wildfire in the Glassboro wildlife protection area of Gloucester County.

Prosecutors in Ocean County on late Saturday afternoon announced arson and firearms charges in connection with a 350-acre (142-hectare) Jackson Township fire that started Wednesday. They said it was sparked by magnesium shards from a shotgun round on the berm of a shooting range. Officials said firing that kind of incendiary or tracer ammunition was barred in the state. The majority of the blaze has been contained, officials reported Friday.

In Massachusetts, one wildfire among several fueled by powerful wind gusts and dry leaves burned more than 200 acres in the Lynn Woods Reservation, a municipal park that comprises about 3.4 square miles (8.8 square kilometers) in the city 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of Boston.

open image in gallery Fire breaks out in Prospect Park, New York ( via REUTERS )

This is a dry spell we have not seen during this time of year in many years, the Lynn Fire Department said in a statement on social media as firefighters continued to battle the blaze, blaming its intensely on low humidity as well as winds and dry leaves on the ground.

It was one of many brush fires that cropped up across the region. In Foxborough, fire crews said that containing a wildfire at the F. Gilbert Hills State Forest would be a a multi-day event.

Wind gusts topped 40 mph (64 kph) on Saturday, and less-powerful gusts continued Sunday.

Firefighters and forest agencies warned against outdoor burning.

The drier-than-normal weather is expected to continue, and virtually all of New England is categorized as being in drought or being abnormally dry. Most of the region was expected to see some light rain Sunday night, but there are no large rainfall events in the forecast, said National Weather Service meteorologist Jerry Combs.

Firefighters in California were also battling a scattering of blazes over the weekend, including one north of Los Angeles that had burned more than 100 structures.

Evacuation orders were downgraded to warnings for residents in several areas of Ventura County, where the Mountain Fire held at around 32 square miles (about 83 square kilometers) and was 26 percent contained, authorities said.
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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.

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.

open image in gallery Asylum seekers arrive at the Roosevelt Hotel on Friday, May 19, 2023, in New York ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

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.

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.

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.
The terrorist country does not stop attacking Ukraine. On Saturday, November 9, late in the evening, Russians dropped guided bombs on Kharkiv.

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This was reported by RMA head Oleh Syniehubov and the mayor of the city Ihor Terekhov. It is noted that the area near a high-rise building in the Sloboda district of the city was hit. There is destruction. There are no known casualties.

"Sounds of explosions were heard in Kharkiv. Be careful - there may be more bombs on the way. We have information about a hit to the Sloboda district. The premises of a multi-storey building were targeted. The blast wave smashed some windows. There is no information about the victims at the moment," Terekhov wrote on Telegram.

Oleh Syniehubov also added that specialized services have already arrived at the scene, and information about the destruction is being clarified. So far, broken windows in the high-rise building have been recorded.

"One guided bomb also fell near one of the hypermarkets," the official added.
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Bernie Sanders has doubled down on his scathing remarks about the Democratic party having abandoned working-class voters, despite criticism from longtime friend and allyNancy Pelosi.

The veteran Vermont senator reiterated that the US working class is angry but rejected the idea that the issue this election cycle had been with party messaging.

In a statement after Donald Trump sailed to victory over Kamala Harris, Sanders wrote 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.

Speaking to The New York Times, former House speaker and Democratic powerhouse Nancy Pelosi then slammed his remarks, saying she did not agree or respect them.

Sanders was asked about his comments  and Pelosis reaction to them  on the Sunday politics shows, where he said he absolutely stood by what he had said.

Speaking to MSNBCs Meet The Press about Pelosis remarks, he said: Nancy is a friend of mine, and weve worked together on many issues, but here is the reality, I have to say to Nancy, in the Senate, in the last two years, we have not even brought forth legislation to raise the minimum wage to a living wage, despite the fact that some 20 million people in this country are working for less than $15 an hour.

open image in gallery Bernie Sanders appeared on Meet the Press on Sunday where he doubled down on his remarks ( Meet The Press )

Bottom line, if youre an average working person out there, do you really think that the Democratic party is going to the mat and fighting for you? I think the overwhelming answer is no. And that is what its got to change.

In a separate interview on CNNs State of the Union, Sanders said that President Joe Biden had kept his word to working class people but that, as a whole, the demographic is angry, and they have a reason to be angry.

Sanders highlighted the current economic reality in the US, stating that 60 percent of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck and 25 percent of elderly people are getting by on $15,000 or less per year.

What Donald Trump did is he provided an explanation, he said, also rejecting the claim that messaging and communication with the working class had been the problem for the Democrats.

open image in gallery Sanderss remarks drew heavy criticism from former House speaker Nancy Pelosi ( AP )

Its not messaging Its a fundamental understanding of saying, look, the Biden administration has done a lot of good things, period. We should all be proud of that, but it has to be put in the broad context of the reality of the American economy today, he said.

Sanderss remarks come as the upper echelons of the Democratic party become further embroiled in a blame game following the Harris campaigns crushing defeat.

A gamut of reasons have since been offered for the cause. Some Democrats think swapping Biden for Harris was the mistake. Others have blamed Biden himself, saying he took far too long to drop out.

Progressives, like Sanders, have pointed to the Biden administrations stance on Israel and the Harris campaigns attempts to appeal to moderates and anti-Trump Republicans.
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Several elected Democrats sounded off on their partys failure to present a coherent economic message to voters on Sunday as the post-mortem begins for the left in the wake of Kamala Harriss stunning defeat.

Though their warning is already meeting some resistance, Democrats including Chris Murphy, Ro Khanna and Bernie Sanders offered stern critiques of their partys accelerated losses with working-class voters of all races, especially men, as well as other constituencies once considered core parts of the Obama coalition, like Latino voters.

Khanna and Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats in the Senate and twice ran for president with the backing of a political movement that included some of those very same constituencies, were on the Sunday news show circuit this weekend.

Bottom line, if youre an average working person out there, do you really think that the Democratic party is going to the mat and fighting for you? I think the overwhelming answer is no. And that is what its got to change, Sanders said on Sunday, adding: Its not messaging Its a fundamental understanding of saying, look, the Biden administration has done a lot of good things, period. We should all be proud of that, but it has to be put in the broad context of the reality of the American economy today.

Khanna, a California congressman representing the tech hub of Silicon Valley, tweeted on Saturday that his party failed to present a compelling economic vision for the working class.

In an interview with CBSs Face the Nation, the congressman expanded on his thoughts about the election. He blamed his party as a whole for becoming too insular: too willing to cancel people for opposing points of view, and more specifically this cycle unwilling to listen to a base of voters, mostly younger people, who were disgusted with the Biden-Harris administrations position on Gaza.

open image in gallery Bernie Sanders laid out his reasoning for accusing the Democrats of abandoning working-class voters in a pair of twin interviews on Sunday ( Meet The Press )

I think she would have certainly won Michigan if there was more of a reckoning of the failures of the Biden administrations policies in the region, Khanna told Margaret Brennan. Beyond Michigan, this really was a concern for a lot of young people and a lot of progressives [around the country].

Their concerns were shared by Murphy, another Senate Democrat. He laid out his diagnosis for the partys defeat in a Twitter thread on Sunday with one distinct remedy: abandon neoliberalism.

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) says Kamala Harris "certainly would have won Michigan if there was more of a reckoning with the failures of policy on Gaza," and that he was hearing this from people on the ground.



"Beyond Michigan, this really was a concern for a lot of young people and a pic.twitter.com/yCYupEht4e  Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) November 10, 2024

The left has never fully grappled with the wreckage of fifty years of neoliberalism, which has left legions of Americans adrift as local places are hollowed out, rapacious profit seeking cannibalizes the common good, and unchecked new technology separates and isolates us, wrote Murphy, who represents the northeastern blue bastion of Connecticut.

The problems, he continued, were obvious: stagnant economic mobility for many Americans and an erosion of social life.

But he went on to argue that the only way to shake up that dynamic was with real solutions that challenged the rich donors who support Democrats  wealthy interests who he said Democrats lacked the stomach to really challenge.

[W]hen progressives like Bernie aggressively go after the elites that hold people down, they are shunned as dangerous populists, wrote Murphy. We cannot be afraid of fights - especially with the economic elites who have profited off neoliberalism...Those are hard things for the left. A firm break with neoliberalism. Listen to poor and rural people, men in crisis. Don't decide for them. Pick fights. Embrace populism. Build a big tent. Be less judgmental. But we are beyond small fixes.

open image in gallery Senator Chris Murphy emerged as a lead negotiator for his party in the Senate earlier this year, and is now delivering criticism of party leaders after a stunning defeat to Donald Trump ( AFP via Getty Images )

It was as clear of a rebuke of the Democratic Partys leadership as any remotely mainstream figures have made since the 2016 primary, a traumatizing battle which left scars in the party that never healed and made many wary of a intra-party fight for the nomination this year. But its one that comes as Kamala Harris, having run a campaign that delighted #NeverTrump conservative pundits, failed to turn out voters who previously voted for Sanders, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden and Barack Obama. She is now $20m in debt and sitting in the losers column while Republicans appear poised to control both chambers of Congress and the presidency.

And while Harris and Bidens assorted spheres of influence in the Democratic Party have turned their fire against each other, its become clear that something went terribly wrong for the party. A stunning revelation was dropped by former Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau, host of Pod Save America, on his show Friday: Favreau told listeners that internal Biden campaign polling in the summer of 2024 showed the incumbent president losing re-election to his opponent by a truly stagggering margin. Donald Trump, in the Biden campaigns own internal poll, was supposedly set to win 400 of the 538 Electoral College votes.

For comparison: Donald Trump swept all seven of a group of swing states thought to be in play this cycle: Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, North Carolian, Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Even with Harris failing to win a single one, Trump was 88 electoral votes behind where the Biden campaigns internal polling supposedly said that hypothetical matchup would have turned out.

DNC chair Jaime Harrison has already announced that he will not seek another term as his partys leader early next year. With Harris and Biden gone, the partys leadership is hollowed out; Chuck Schumer, the incoming Senate minority leader, is now set to be the most prominent Democrat in leadership nationwide, followed by House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries. Neither has a significant national following of any kind.
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President-elect Donald Trump announced that two members of his first Cabinet would not be given a role this time around.

Nikki Haley, former UN ambassador, and Mike Pompeo, former Secretary of State, will not be offered positions in Trumps administration as his transition to the White House is underway, he declared in a Saturday evening Truth Social post.

I will not be inviting former Ambassador Nikki Haley, or former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to join the Trump Administration, which is currently in formation, the former president wrote. I very much enjoyed and appreciated working with them previously, and would like to thank them for their service to our Country. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

Haley launched her own presidential bid for the 2024 cycle. She was the last GOP contender challenging Trump when she dropped out of the race in March. Despite some animosity between the pair on the campaign trail  including when Trump labeled her bird brain  the former South Carolina governor eventually endorsed Trump for president at the Republican National Convention.

In contrast to Haley, Pompeo has largely remained out of the spotlight since leaving his tenure in the first Trump administration.

He backed Trump at a speech at the Republican National Convention. He told the crowd that the Trump administration put America first every single day.

Nikki Haley and Mike Pompeo at the US Department of State in Washington DC on June 19 2018. Neither will be returning to Donald Trumps cabinet ( AFP via Getty Images )

Trump didnt offer any additional insight into his decision-making, but the former presidents post came one day after his former adviser Roger Stone urged Trump against tapping Pompeo again, writing that the former president cant trust his former secretary of state.

Now that Trump is back on top, it becomes far more difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff, Stone wrote on his website on Friday.

Several neocons have positioned themselves to get highly influential roles within the second Trump administration, and this sinister fifth column has the potential to be more harmful to Trumps America First agenda than his leftist opinion within the Democrat Party, he continued. Only Haley and Pompeo made his list.

Regarding Haley, he called her a political chameleon who has changed with the times in ways that are incredibly self-serving.

Regarding Pompeo, Stone took issue with him for criticizing Trumps refusal to hand over classified documents  a move that resulted in a federal criminal case against the former president  and claimed Pompeo was creating distance and flirting with a potential presidential run of his own.

Its unclear if Trump had discussed his decision with Stone before making the Truth Social announcement. The Independent has reached out to the Trump campaign for comment.

As of Saturday evening, the former president had announced just one Cabinet member. He tapped Susie Wiles, his campaign manager, to serve as chief of staff, making her the first woman with the title.
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President-elect Donald Trump reportedly advised Russian President Vladimir Putin not to escalate the war in Ukraine in a phone call the day after the presidential election, a new report says.

As one of his first orders of unofficial business as the president-elect, Trump spoke with Putin on Thursday in a telephone conversation that he took from his home in Florida, sources familiar with the matter told The Washington Post.

He allegedly asked the Russian president not to escalate his war and reminded him of the U.S.s military presence in Europe.

It was one of several calls Trump took with other leaders from around the world in the hours after he won the 2024 presidential election. He also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Trumps team declined to comment on the specifics of the call.

President Trump won a historic election decisively and leaders from around the world know America will return to prominence on the world stage. That is why leaders have begun the process of developing stronger relationships with the 45th and 47th President because he represents global peace and stability, Steven Cheung, Trump communications director, said in a statement to The Independent,

open image in gallery Trump and Putin, pictured in 2018, have always had a more friendly relationship than other U.S. presidents have had with Russia ( AP )

The Kremlin on Monday denied reports of the call and said Putin had no concrete plans yet to speak to Trump.

"This is completely untrue. This is pure fiction, it's just false information," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "There was no conversation."

"This is the most obvious example of the quality of the information that is being published now, sometimes even in fairly reputable publications," Peskov said.

Asked if Putin had plans for any contacts with Trump, Peskov said: "There are no concrete plans yet."

On the campaign trail, Trump touted his relationship with and admiration for Putin, widely seen in the West as a dictator. He also claimed that had he been president rather than Joe Biden, Russia would have never invaded Ukraine.

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine at the beginning of 2022 under Putins direction. The U.S. and its allies have been sending aid to Ukraine since then to assist it in defeating Russia  something that has earned the ire of some Republicans who do not think the U.S. should be involved.

Trump has promised voters he would end the RussiaUkraine war if re-elected. Now he has to make good on that promise.

As part of the effort, the president-elect reportedly discussed the resolution of Ukraines war with Putin and expressed interest in follow-up conversations.

It is unclear how Trump plans to end the war in Ukraine. Some Republicans, and former Trump administration officials, have expressed concern that Trump will negotiate a deal with Putin that could cede Ukrainian land to Russia rather than stand up to the Russian president.

open image in gallery Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of a missile attack in Kharkiv on October 31. The country has faced devastation from Russias attacks ( AFP via Getty Images )

Last year, Trump told Fox News that he would approach Zelensky to tell him No more, you gotta make a deal in order to broker peace between the two countries.

But foreign affairs experts have warned that giving Putin a deal will bolster his power and undermine the U.S. and its European allies.

Admiral Rob Bauer, the chairman of NATOs Military Committee, said at the European defense summit that allowing Russia to win will inspire other autocratic states to push the envelope.

If you allow a nation like Russia to win, to come out of this as the victor, then what does it mean for other autocratic states in the world where the U.S. has also interests? Bauer said.

Trump has not unveiled any official plan, or deal, to end the RussiaUkraine war.
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Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has teased a possible role in Donald Trumps future cabinet, saying that he has a couple great options before him.

The biotech CEO appeared on ABCs This Week on Sunday where he was asked by Jonathan Karl whether he will be part of a second Trump administration, one which the Trump transition team is thought to be crafting around political appointees who value loyalty to Trump above all else.

Ramaswamy was evasive about what exact role he might play but confirmed he was having high-impact discussions about his path forward.

There's a couple great options on the table, Ramaswamy said, as Karl mentioned both the soon-to-be-vacant Senate seat in Ohio, currently occupied by Vice President-elect JD Vance, as well as the position of Homeland Security director.

I want to have the biggest possible impact on this country, he added.

The two options hinted at by Karl are largely thought to be the two prizes Ramaswamy is most likely to seek. He remained largely deferential to Trump during his presidential run, and had been clearly angling for an alliance with the former president since the Iowa caucus results in January made it clear the former president was going to bulldoze his way to the nomination.

Ramaswamy, in his own campaign, concentrated resources on Iowa in a bid to make a surprise early showing, one that would generate a snowballing of support. It never materialized.

Former presidential contender Vivek Ramaswamy was evasive about his future plans on ABCs This Week ( The Independent )

As director of the Department of Homeland Security, Ramaswamy would be in charge of carrying out and crafting the specifics of Trumps immigration policy. The former president pledged over the summer to launch Americas first mass deportation program of the modern era, with the intent of removing one million immigrants living in the US illegally if re-elected.

In Ohio, meanwhile, Ramaswamy has possibly a more direct route at building his own political star. His home state has trended increasingly red in recent election cycles, in large part due to Democrats at the DNC and elsewhere in Washington writing off the state as a lost cause in presidential races. The party has now also lost two Senate races in Ohio in as many election cycles.

With Vances election to the vice presidency, his seat in Ohio will become vacant in January and the states Republican governor will fill it with an appointment. A special election will then be called in 2026 to determine who will finish out Vances term.

As a senator, Ramaswamy could carve out his own political brand in the Senate free of the burden presented by the prospect of becoming the face of Trumps immigration and border control policies  among other duties  for the next however-many years. But it would, in return, require Ramaswamy to rebuild his fundraising apparatus to the point where he could defeat a Democratic candidate in 2026, though its questionable how competitive that race would even be.

One of the Republican Partys few truly young national figures, Ramaswamy is set up better than most to build his brand over the next four years.

Having never truly emerged as a rival to the president-elect in a way that Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis did during the primary, Ramaswamy could very well end up in the spotlight before long.
 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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Former Fox News host and Trump ally Tucker Carlson claimed Senate Republicans are staging a coup against Donald Trump as three Senators vie to replace Mitch McConnell.

Republicans reclaimed control of the Senate on Tuesday night, leaving the door open for someone to replace McConnell, the chambers longest-serving party leader, who plans to step down at years end.

At least three Republicans are vying for the top spot  John Cornyn of Texas, Rick Scott of Florida, and John Thune of South Dakota who serves as the Senate minority whip  NBC News reported, and Carlson took issue with two of them.

What the hell is going on in the US Senate? Carlson posted on X on Saturday afternoon. After Trump won, Mitch McConnell engineers a coup against his agenda by calling early leadership elections in the Senate. Two of the three candidates hate Trump and what he ran on.

The former Fox host took particular issue with Cornyn, whom he summarized as an angry liberal whose politics are indistinguishable from Liz Cheneys. Cheney is a former Republican Congresswoman from Wyoming turned Trump critic; she campaigned for Kamala Harris. A Punchbowl News reporter described this comparison as completely off base.

open image in gallery Tucker Carlson speaks ahead of a live interview with Donald Trump in Glendale, Arizona, on October 31, 2024. The former Fox host backed Florida Senator Rick Scotts bid for Senate Majority Leader ( AFP via Getty Images )

The election will take place on Wednesday, November 13. It will determine whether or not the new administration succeeds, Carlson wrote. Rick Scott of Florida is the only candidate who agrees with Donald Trump. Call your senator and demand a public endorsement of Rick Scott. Dont let McConnell get away with it again.

Earlier on Saturday, Scott outlined that he was running for the leadership position to upend the status quo & make sure President Trumps agenda gets done.

Senators Ron Johnson, Rand Paul and Bill Hagerty also announced Saturday that they would back the Florida Senator in the race.

open image in gallery Senator Rick Scott got Carlsons backing for Senate Majority Leader ( Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Back in February, after McConnell announced he would be stepping down at the end of the year, Donald Trump Jr also labeled Thune and Cornyn as RINOs, or Republicans in name only.

The president-elects son wrote: Both of them also voted to send billions more to Ukraine. MAGA must do everything in our power to stop either of these two RINOs from ever becoming Senate Leader!

Trump also previously slammed Cornyn after he successfully negotiated bipartisan gun safety legislation, claiming the Texas Senator facilitated the first step in the movement to TAKE YOUR GUNS AWAY.

open image in gallery Senator John Cornyn is also vying to become the next Senate Majority Leader ( AP )

On Friday, the National Association for Gun Rights also issued a statement against Cornyn: The arch traitor John Cornyn is being floated as the next Senate Majority Leader. This absolutely cannot be allowed to happen.

All of the momentum we have gained for gun rights could hit a wall if the man who spearheaded the largest gun control bill in decades is in charge, the group said.

Although he faced a barrage of criticism from his own party for backing this bill, he stood by his work, telling the Texas Tribune in 2022: This was fundamentally important to the country at a time when things are so polarized and people are so intolerant of others that have different points of view.

Missouri Senator Josh Hawley backed Cornyn, telling Fox News in a statement: I know he will work closely and effectively with President Trump to deliver on the promise of our new majority. Im delighted to give him my support.

open image in gallery Senator John Thune said it was his preference that Trump stay out of the internal leadership race ( Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Heritage Action, the sister organization of the Heritage Foundation which is responsible for Project 2025, provided scorecards for Senators ranked by how conservative theyve voted. Senator Scott scored 92 per cent, compared to Senator Thune with 37 per cent and Senator Thune with 35 per cent.

Meanwhile, the South Dakota Senator told CNBC on Thursday that while he understood that Trump could exert a considerable amount of influence on the Senate leadership race, my preference would be, and I think its probably in his best interest, to stay out of that. He continued: These Senate secret ballot elections are probably best left to senators, and hes got to work with all of us when its all said and done.

Thune received the support of Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin, according to Punchbowl News.

Trump has yet to publicly endorse any of the three contenders.

While sources told Axios that Trump privately brushed off Scotts bid as not serious, a Trump spokesperson refuted that claim, telling the outlet that the former president hasnt weighed in on the leadership race and anyone who says differently is wrong.
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Russian daily losses on the front line in Ukraine are the highest they have been since Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion nearly three years ago, the UK army chief has claimed.

Sir Tony Radakin told the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme that Russian forces were suffering 1,500 casualties a day and were nearing the 700,000 mark for the total killed and wounded since February 2022. He described the cost of the war on the Russian people as extraordinary.

[This is] the enormous pain and suffering that the Russian nation is having to bear because of Putins ambition, said Sir Tony.

open image in gallery Sir Tony Radakin said there was no doubt that Russia is making tactical, territorial gains and that is putting pressure on Ukraine ( PA Wire )

Previous Western estimates over the past few months have put Russias daily toll of dead and wounded at around 1,200, which at the time was also the highest rate of losses of the war.

Sir Tony did not say how UK officials had calculated the Russian casualty figures, but such losses tend to occur when one side is on the offensive.

He added there was no doubt that Russia is making tactical, territorial gains and that is putting pressure on Ukraine, though he added that the losses were only tiny increments of land.

Since capturing the eastern Ukrainian city of Adviivka, in the Donetsk region, in February this year, Russian forces have taken more than 300 square miles of territory in that area, advancing towards the city of Pokrovsk, a linchpin of the regions defence.

Though their attack towards the heavily fortified Pokrovsk has now stalled, Russian troops have pushed along multiple points to its south, capturing the strategically valuable towns of Selydove and Vuhledar last month. The city of Kurakhove, between Selydove and Vulhedar, and less than 20 miles from Pokrovsk, is now under threat of being captured as well.

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Further north, in the Russian region of Kursk, which borders Ukraine, Moscow has amassed roughly 50,000 troops, including North Korean soldiers, to retake the area seized by Kyivs soldiers in August and held ever since, according to Ukrainian and US officials who spoke to the New York Times.

While Ukrainian forces have fought off previous Russian attacks in Kursk, albeit losing bits of the region in the process, there are concerns that the size of the imminent counteroffensive, expected in the next few days, could prove more difficult to stop.

Most concerningly for Ukraine, the officials suggested Russia had not had to divert any of its advancing forces in Donetsk to make up the 50,000, meaning that Moscow can continue to push along multiple fronts.

When Ukraine crossed the border into Kursk in August, by comparison, it had to redeploy some of its troops defending Donetsk  a manoeuvre that led to accusations that the region was being abandoned.

As fears that US president-elect Donald Trump could force Ukraine to cede territory to Russia in order to end the war  a pledge that he has not made explicitly but has been discussed by several people affiliated with him, including his vice-president-elect JD Vance  Sir Tony insisted that Kyivs Western partners must stand with them for as long as it takes.

open image in gallery At least one person was injured as Russian drones struck residential areas in Ukraines southern port of Odesa ( AFP via Getty Images )

On Sunday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov praised Mr Trump for talking about peace  not about confrontation.

The signals are positive. Trump, during his election campaign, said that he perceives everything through deals, that he can make deals that will lead everyone toward peace, Mr Peskov told reporters at a briefing.

He does not talk about a desire to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, and this favourably distinguishes him from the current [US] administration.

Analysts have been quick to point out, however, that the Kremlins allusions to the need for peace  and thereby the potential benefit of Mr Trump returning to the White House  ignore the fact that Moscow is the one perpetrating a war against Ukraine.

open image in gallery Rescuers clean debris in the courtyard of a house following a drone attack in the village of Stanovoye, in the Moscow region ( AFP via Getty Images )

On Saturday night, Russia launched a record 145 drones at Ukrainian territory, according to Ukraines air force, 62 of which were shot down.

A further 67 were lost, the air force said  a likely reference to electronic jamming that caused the drones to veer off course.

At least one person was injured as Russian drones struck residential areas in Ukraines southern port of Odesa, local governor Oleh Kiper reported. Images showed homes and a local shop destroyed on Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, Russias defence ministry said a total of 70 drones were shot down overnight in Russian territory, including 34 over Moscows outskirts, marking the largest attack on the region to date. Russias aviation authority said flights were briefly grounded at major international airports including Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo.

A woman in her fifties suffered burns to her face, neck and hands after drones sparked a blaze in her village southeast of Moscow, local governor Andrei Vorobyov reported.

No one was hurt in Moscow itself, according to mayor Sergei Sobyanin, although Russian channels on the messaging app Telegram carried eyewitness reports of drone debris setting fire to suburban homes.
The head of the UK Ministry of Defense, John Healey, said that the bravery of Ukrainians fighting the Russian aggressor inspired his son to join the army. The young man enlisted in the British Armed Forces reserve.

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The official told about this in a comment to The Telegraph. In a conversation with journalists, he said that the whole world is living without security today, and each country must respond to challenges.

"This is a terrible time for a defense minister. The war in Ukraine has brought Russia and NATO closer to conflict than ever before. The Middle East is on the verge of a regional conflagration. And the U.S. intelligence community estimates that the best window of opportunity for China to invade Taiwan will open in 2027. In other words, if World War III does come, it will most likely come during his lifetime," the publication writes.

The head of the British Ministry of Defense himself says that this is not his statement at all, but the world is undoubtedly "in an era of insecurity." According to Healey, today shows, as it did during the First and Second World Wars and now in Ukraine, that the armed forces of any country are only as strong as "the industry and society behind them."

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"It's difficult for me as a defense minister because I know that if we face conflict, it will be my decision to send British troops into situations that put them at risk. That is the duty of the office, but now it is also personal," he said.

Healey explained that his son Alex, who is in his thirties, is now an infantryman in the Army Reserve, and that his decision was influenced by the war in Ukraine.

"I haven't talked about it before. But it was actually Ukraine. When Russian troops invaded the country in February 2022, we were having lunch together the next day, and he said to me: "Dad, if I were Ukrainian, I would join the army today." And shortly after that, he came up to me and my mother and said, "I want to join the army. I want to be a reservist.' That's what he did," the British official explained.

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Jackie Healey, who works as a manager in her husband's ministerial office, expressed confidence that their son is driven by a desire to defend his country.

"It's a bit old-fashioned, but he will talk about the king and the country. It's a recognition that there is something important about our country and what we stand for that he wants to help protect. I don't think you can talk to anyone in uniform, reservist or full-time, who won't tell you that service is at the heart of their motivation and commitment," she says.

Alex's father, John Healey, did not serve. He studied social and political sciences at Christ's College, Cambridge, and before entering politics, he worked for charities, advocating for people with disabilities.

"I can better understand the feelings of the families of those who... I hope it doesn't happen, but if necessary, as a defense minister, I will have to send them to participate in conflicts where they may be in danger," the British defense minister said.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, earlier John Healey promised that Britain would work with its allies to support Ukraine, as he wants the Victory Plan presented by the President to be successfully implemented. The UK Defense Secretary emphasized that it is a critical moment in the war, so it is important to "strengthen and accelerate support for Kyiv."

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
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Thousands of Spaniards have taken to the streets of Valencia calling for the citys leader to step down after devastating floods killed hundreds of citizens.

Protestors carrying signs reading You killed us! marched towards Valencias city hall where they were met with riot police and beaten back with batons.

At least 219 people were killed after flash floods ripped through the eastern Spanish city, leaving people trapped in homes, vehicles and businesses.

The Valencian president, Carlos Mazon, is now under huge pressure to resign after his government failed to issue flood alerts until hours after they started on 29 October.

Many demonstrators held up homemade signs reading: You killed us! while others chanted loudly Mazon resign!

open image in gallery People hold a banner that reads 'Murderers' as Spaniards call for Valencias president to resign ( EPA )

The crowds, which gathered in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento in Valencias city centre, also waved banners stating: Where were you then when I needed you so much? and Your incompetence costs lives.

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 mobilise the thousands of police reinforcements and soldiers that the regional government asked central authorities to send in.

Mr Mazon defended his handling of the crisis and said 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 7:30am as the disaster loomed.

open image in gallery A protester is detained during a demonstration against Valencias government on Saturday ( REUTERS )

Some communities were flooded by 6pm. It took until after 8pm for Mr Mazons government to send out alerts to mobile phones.

Last week, Mr Mazon was pelted with mud by angry locals during a visit to the flood-stricken town of Paiporta.

Mr Mazon was accompanied by Spains 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.

Police had 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.
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A pre-dawn Israeli airstrike has killed at least 17 people and wounded others who were sheltering in a house in northern Gaza on Sunday, Palestinian medics said.

Dozens of people had been sheltering in the Alloush family home in Jabalia, an urban refugee camp, when a direct hit from an airstrike resulted in the complete destruction of the building, according to the Palestianian news agency Wafa.

Death tolls for the attack varied on Sunday, with local hospital officials telling the Associated Press the figure of 17 included nine women. Wafa reported a death toll of 32, inclduing 13 children. Officials from the Gaza health ministry have not issued a death toll.

The total number of wounded was not immediately clear but residents said the building was housing at least 30 people when it was hit.

Preliminary visuals on social media showed dozens of bodies, including of several children, wrapped in blankets and laid on the ground at a hospital. The Independent has not independently verified these videos.

The Israeli military has yet to comment on the strike, but it says it only targets militants, whom it accuses of hiding among civilians in homes and shelters. Israeli strikes often kill women and children.

Gazas Civil Emergency Service says its operations to provide relief to displaced families have been halted for the past 19 days by an ongoing Israeli raid on two towns and a refugee camp in northern Gaza that started on 5 October.

Israel sent its forces inside Jabalia, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza enclave in what it described as an operation to prevent Hamas militants from regrouping there. It claims Israeli troops have killed hundreds of militants in the new offensive.

The strike on Sunday was similar to another Israeli airstrike on a house in the Sabra neighbourhood which killed a welfare ministry official, Wael Al-Khour, his wife and children, medics and relatives said.

War-torn Gaza is in the grip of an extremely grave and rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis and the worst conditions are in the north, according to an alert issued by four hunger experts.

There is a strong likelihood that famine is imminent in parts of northern Gaza, experts warned on Friday. The Famine Review Committee warned that famine thresholds may have already been crossed or else will be in the near future.

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.

Palestinian and United Nations officials say there are no safe areas in Gaza. They have also voiced concerns over severe shortages of food, fuel, and medical supplies in northern Gaza, and said there is a risk of famine there.

Israels military campaign in Gaza, aimed at eliminating the militant group Hamas, has killed more than 43,000 Palestinians since it began a year ago, according to Gazas health ministry, and has laid waste to the enclave.

The war began after a Hamas-led assault on 7 October 2023 against southern Israeli communities, in which 1,200 people were killed and about 250 were taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies.
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The NatWest banking app stopped working for several hours on Sunday, as thousands of customers reported issues accessing the service.

Mobile banking users had been unable to access their accounts, while the UK banks social media channels told them there was no timescale for a resolution.

The service was down for around four hours, from 7.30am to 11am.

A NatWest spokesperson said: We are aware that some of our customers experienced difficulties accessing NatWest mobile banking this morning. The issue has been resolved and customers are now able to log in as normal. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

open image in gallery Reports of NatWest log-in failures have flooded tech help site Down Detector ( PA Archive )

Reports of log-in failures flooded the tech help site Down Detector from 8am, rising to more than 1,000 unhappy users.

The outage marks the second time this year that the mobile banking service went down. At the end of August, both Natwest and the Royal Bank of Scotlands services crashed for a few hours.

Customers took to social media to complain, expressing outrage at being unable to manage their bank accounts. One user said: Hi, NatWest app is down again. This is happening too frequently.

Another added: App not working Get it sorted pronto NatWest. Also if down and has been for around 40 minutes, why have you failed to update the website?

The bank responded with a back-up solution to unhappy customers: If you need urgent access to your account you can try logging in to online banking on the website or calling the telephone team using the number on the back of your card.

A recent service update from the bank advised customers that routine maintenance was due to take place between 2am and 6am on Sunday, meaning the mobile app may be unavailable for periods during these times.
California governor Gavin Newsom has taken a direct stand against President-elect Donald Trump in a new video message.

The governor said that while he respects the Trump administration and wants it to work, he is not naive.

In a video message, posted to X on Saturday (9 November), Mr Newsom said he will stand firm.

The California governor captioned his video: I revere this country. The institutions. The Presidency. I want our nation to succeed.

But Im not naive and we will stand firm.

Donald Trump has a playbook. They wrote it out for us. 922 pages. With 270 specific points he has publicly supported.

If our American values and freedoms are attacked, we will not stand idly by.
Treasury secretary Darren Jones has said Labour is unlikely to accept Nigel Farages offer of acting as an interlocutor between the UK and the US.

The Reform UK leader offered to help in the name of national interest as he has a close relationship with president-elect, Donald Trump, and insists he could strengthen ties between the countries.

My advice to Mr Farage would be he might want to concentrate his efforts on the constituents in Clacton that elected him into office, as opposed to spending his time in the United States, Mr Jones commented, during a Sky News interview.
Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch have joined members of the Royal Family and military personnel, as well as a number of former prime ministers, to mark Remembrance Sunday.

Rishi Sunak, Tony Blair, Liz Truss, and Boris Johnson were among those joining them, however, only the two current party leaders laid poppy wreaths.

The King and Prince William also paid tribute in their military uniforms, while the Princess of Wales emotionally watched on from a balcony.

A two minutes silence was held at 11:00 GMT to remember those lost in service.
Chief of defence staff, Sir Tony Radakin, has admitted he can confidently say Britain would be ready to fight a full-scale war if it needed to.

Appearing on Sky News with Trevor Phillips, he was quizzed on the lessons we could learn from seeing wars in the likes of Ukraine and the Middle East.

Our service men and women will always be ready to serve their nation, he said.

The reassurance is that we do that alongside our allies... but were also being honest in saying we need to be even stronger in the future.
The Rockefeller Centers iconic Christmas tree has landed in New York in time for the festive season to get underway.

The 74-foot Norway spruce was driven 144 miles from Massachusetts, and required a crane to get it into position in the Plaza.

It takes over 50,000 bulbs to light the tree, which has become a staple tourist attraction for visitors to the city at Christmas.

However, theres still plenty of time for preparation, as its not expected to be switched on until 4 December.
The move by the High Court to freeze the impact of Dublin Airports passenger cap is not enough for Ryanair to pull the trigger on its ambitious Irish growth plans, the airline has said.

But the airline has plans to put 16 new aircraft into the airport  creating 800 Irish jobs  if ongoing moves to get rid of the airports growth restriction are successful.

The 32-million-a-year cap on passengers using Dublin Airport was a condition of the 2007 planning permission for the airports then new terminal.

That cap is set to be breached this year, and the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) had decided to limit passenger numbers at the airport to 25.2 million between late March and October next.

Last week, in the first real sign of a breakthrough that could lead to the removal of the controversial limit, the High Court agreed to put on hold any potential impacts of the cap.

Ryanair group chief executive Michael O'Leary. Photo: PA

The High Courts stay ruling prevents the IAA from imposing slot restrictions on Dublins summer 2025 traffic until the EU courts have ruled on the matter  but it doesnt remove the 2007 traffic cap, said a Ryanair spokesperson.

While this ruling will prevent the loss of over one million passengers travelling to/from Dublin Airport next summer, the cap remains in place and is preventing additional growth at the airport, she said.

Ryanair wants to invest and grow in Ireland and has already submitted an ambitious growth proposal to Government  that would grow Irish traffic to 30 million passengers per annum by 2030, see Ryanair base 16 new Boeing 737 aircraft here and create 800 jobs in Ireland  which has been ignored, she said.

The cap remains in place and is preventing additional growth at the airport

We look forward to working with a new transport minister to urgently prioritise growing traffic, tourism and jobs at Dublin Airport.

Ryanair, Aer Lingus and a group of American carriers have pursued legal challenges to the cap, and group chief executive Michael OLeary has said that the airline is willing to pursue the case to the European Court.
The election of Donald Trump as US president will put huge pressure on our next government to choose between America and the EU when it comes to corporate tax.
It was 2021 when Mexican reporter and documentary filmmaker Diego Enrique Osorno suddenly found himself in the middle of a somewhat peculiar situation. On the one hand, the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) had invited him to participate in a voyage across the Atlantic on an old boat a way of spreading its message against crony capitalism. On the other hand, Ismael El Mayo Zambada an old boss of the Sinaloa Cartel contacted him to have a face-to-face chat. In the decades of his criminal career, he had only spoken to a journalist once before: Julio Scherer Garcia, who founded the famous magazine Proceso.

Each proposal was extraordinary. But together, they formed a horizon that transcended the dreamlike.

The meeting with Zambada would take place that same year, in the mountains of northern Mexico. It would last for three hours in total, between afternoon and night, in a house similar to the one Scherer described 14 years earlier (or perhaps the same one).

The two men spoke while seated in Zambadas rocking chairs. The criminal boss speaking in his disciplined tone placed grilled meat, vegetables, beans and tortillas on the table. Without revealing too much, the last historical leader of the Sinaloa Cartel said a few key important things:

We are engaged in a business that America needs. Thats what we do, he shrugged. Dont think that our life is good, he added later. We struggle, like everyone else. You have to work hard to maintain your business and your family.

That conversation as well as the preparations to embark on La Montana, the Zapatista ship  are two of the three pillars that prop up the first part of Osornos book, which was adapted into the 2023 film The Mountain. The conversation with the drug lord appears in small chapters under the heading Norte (North)). The section titled Sur (South) covers the travel preparations and his awakening to the ideology of Zapatismo. And the third pillar  Centro (Center)  is a disorganized essay on the violence that has gripped Mexico for almost 20 years. It flows down from the Rio Bravo to the Suchiate River, from Ciudad Juarez to Tapachula. Theres also a dialogue with the writer Sergio Gonzalez Rodriguez, a pioneer in the coverage of violence and its consequences.

The small chapters that document the interview with Zambada pepper the first 100 pages. In 2021, the boss was still free a situation that changed this past summer. In July, the authorities arrested him in the United States. He was the victim of a ruse set up by the son of his old business partner  Joaquin El Chapo Guzman  who is currently serving a life sentence in an American prison. Zambada is now jailed in New York, just like his son and his brother before him, along with many other members of his criminal organization. Some have cooperated with the authorities, while others have refused. It remains to be seen what the boss will do. His absence from the Sinaloa Cartel, however, has sparked a war thats already approaching two months and has left hundreds of victims in its wake.

A member of the Mexican army in Culiacan on October 22. Jose Betanzos Zarate (Cuartoscuro)

When Scherer sat down with the criminal leader 14 years ago, the printed interview  accompanied by a photo of the boss and the reporter  shook the country. In both cases, it was Zambada who made contact with the journalists. He managed to entice them to the hills of the so-called golden triangle  between Sinaloa, Durango and Chihuahua  to speak with them. Speaking of wars and revolutions, Osorno now writes, the conversation [with Zambada] drifts toward the war-peace dichotomy. And then, he quotes the boss himself, who states: There have always been wars.

They said the same thing about [Pancho] Villa, that he was a terrorist now, the United States is going to call us terrorists. And, with that justification, theyre going to want to plant a bomb on us, Zambada notes. Statements made by Donald Trump  who, in his first term, spoke about his intentions to designate Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations  come to mind.

Osorno intervenes. Whatre you [all about]? The reply is firm: We do a business that the United States needs. Were against those who betray [each other] and kill children.

Osornos depiction of Zambada reminds us of Scherers: the drug lord expresses a love of the mountains and life in the countryside, as well his pain from not being able to see his son, Vicente, who was arrested and extradited more than 15 years ago. He speaks very little about his son.

The author illuminates the depth of Zambadas mediating character. I was the government, the criminal leader reveals. It turns out that the capo  the son of a peasant  was once the commissioner of some communal property.

The fixation on Zambadas negotiating virtues makes for interesting discussion. On the one hand, you read about the United States and the broad-brush competition of its security agencies to capture criminal leaders, without considering the consequences. On the other hand, theres criticism of the current Mexican government and a good part of its followers  and the political left in general. Zambada laments the irresponsible blows that have been dealt against his organization.

Peace is not [declared]  peace is made, Zambada affirms. Peace arises from loyalty. What irony. Three years after that conversation, his words frame the reality of the state of Sinaloa, as well as the day-to-day battle waged by the people who support him, in their war against the group that backs the sons of El Chapo.

Whats the drug trafficking business like? Osorno asks.

There are many people who keep their word, his interlocutor answers, but there are also many betrayals. Osorno then questions how drug-trafficking  and the violence in general  can be ended. Zambada concludes: Drug-trafficking isnt ending. [And] violence isnt our business.

The drug lord also mentions various presidents, as well as acts of corruption and violence. He has strong words for Genaro Garcia Luna  the security czar of former President Felipe Calderon (2006-2012)  who has been sentenced to more than 38 years in prison in the US for drug-trafficking and organized crime. He used to help the Sinaloa Cartel in their business.

Zambada tells Osorno that he never gave money to Garcia Luna. [But] I dont know if my brother did, he shrugs. During the trial against the security official, Jesus El Rey Zambada declared that he gave him millions of dollars in bribes.

When the conversation touches on Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador  who was the president of Mexico when the meeting took place  he says: All my respect to the gentleman. I admire the persistence hes had for so many years to seek what he wanted and achieve it. Hes also someone who knows the history of Mexico well and its clear that he truly loves the country.

Zambada says that his cartel doesnt sell fentanyl and that it doesnt manage drugstores. He even claims that the Sinaloa Cartel has supported the construction or management of rehabilitation centers in Mexico. The capo also expresses his concern about clean water and the management of lithium deposits in northern Mexico.

The conversation seems to be the beginning of something more. Just like with Scherer, Osorno and Zambada were supposed to meet again, to have a longer interview. In both cases, however, it never happened. Beyond logistical issues, during the same summer that Osorno boarded the Zapatista ship, El Mayo Zambada was arrested. It seems unlikely that a second meeting between the two men will happen now.

After the first part, the book meanders through other channels, like a river that splits apart on its way to the sea. Still, the book deserves a broad reading: its a kind of literary artifact, created by an author who has spent more than 20 years covering violence in Mexico. Osorno has looked at everything from repression against the teachers movement in Oaxaca in 2006, to the terrible deaths of 49 children in a fire at a daycare center in Sonora in 2009, to the northern fronts of the war on drugs launched by former President Calderon. The implications of the latter are still emerging from the rivers of blood in the dying body of the nation.
Technology

Payslip said it had grown by 60pc in the year, helping it increase its global team by 20pc. Photo: Getty

Payslip, the Co Mayo-based payroll technology company, has raised 1.5m in a funding round as it looks to enhance its artificial intelligence offering.

The investment for the Westport-headquartered company, founded by entrepreneur Fidelma McGuirk in 2016, was a follow-on round from previous backers, including Irish-based venture capital firms Frontline Ventures and Tribal.VC.

Payslip has also recently appointed new members to its board. These include David Clarke, the former chief technology officer at HR technology company Workday, and Barry Dowling, co-founder of global payments company Transfermate.

Payslip CEO Fidelma McGuirk. Photo: Jason Clarke

The new directors were appointed as Frontline VC switched out its boardroom representative, Will Prendergast. Former Facebook Ireland MD Sonia Flynn also stood down from the board as her term had ended.

Payslip CEO McGuirk said the appointments reflected the maturity of its deployment across clients and the continued growth of our proposition end-to-end from HR to payments for our customers.

She added that the 1.5m funding for Payslip was dedicated to enhance our Workday Platinum Innovation Partnership.

Company has also appointed new members to its board

The funding would also help to improve its AI technology, with a plan to deliver market-unique business insights from Payslips standardised global payroll data to our customers.

Payslip also said it had grown by 60pc in the year, helping it increase its global team by 20pc.

In February, the Business Post reported that Payslip had secured a partnership with professional services giant Deloitte.

The report said the company expected its annual recurring revenue to reach 15m over the next 18 months.
Brian McFadden and Keith Duffy are set to achieve a milestone that eluded them during their time with Westlife and Boyzone, performing in the United States.

Despite their bands' dominance in the '90s and '00s, amassing over 21 UK number-one singles and embarking on global tours, neither group performed live in the US.

While both released music stateside with moderate success, they didn't replicate their international acclaim.

Now, as Boyzlife, McFadden (44) and Duffy (50) plan to change that with a worldwide tour in 2025.

Speaking to The Standard, Duffy explained: For both of us, America is a huge excitement for us because its the one place that even though both bands released records there and we did okay, we had some hit singles and the albums sold well, obviously it wasnt as big as it was everywhere else in the world.

Agreeing, McFadden said: We never got to do proper shows there, we never got to do concerts because by the time it got around to us doing America at that stage, certainly in Westlifes case, we were already doing arenas all over the world and at that stage because America was only just beginning, we would have had to go back to doing smaller venues so I think at that stage it just didnt make any sense to take it there.

As the years went by America kind of fell by the wayside and we forgot about it so I think for both of us this is a huge exciteme nt to be landing in America and to be playing shows like New York, Chicago, Boston and LA, all of these major cities.

Its going to be brilliant and its crazy that it has taken over 30 years for us to play concerts there but its definitely the part that Im intrigued and excited about.

Their tour will also see them take in 14 dates across the UK, which will run January through until March, including a show at the London Indigo at the O2 on February 8.

They will perform a mixture of Boyzone and Westlifes classic tracks, plus, their own original material, such as recent single I Would.

Neither believed that they would be in this position as Boyzlife had originally been envisioned as a one-off autobiographical tour to share stories from their time in the bands and perform a couple of the songs.

I think about Keith and I sitting in Dublin and having a conversation about doing the show, we said wed do it and agreed to do one tour and itd probably only be four weeks, McFadden said.

"Its just gas to think that eight years later, that four weeks has turned into eight years, its funny.

While theres no chance of other Westlife or Boyzone members joining them, Duffy says his old bandmates have certainly shown the support.

Shane Lynch especially, he has come along to quite a few of our gigs and he will jump on stage for the encore and sing a few of the songs with us and have some fun on stage, he said.

"No negatives. Everyone else has been very supportive.

McFadden added: I think now that everybody kind of understands that Boyzlife isnt just Keith and I singing the old Boyzone and Westlife songs, were actually an act now that write and perform our own songs.

"Were on our third album now with new music and it started off with us just performing the old stuff but its down to us making new music which were really excited about.

Boyzlifes Irish tour starts in January 2025 with gigs in Galway, Belfast, Cork and Dublin.
The cost of living is forcing people to delay looking after their health, with a third of the public (34pc) putting off GP or hospital visits because they could not afford to go.

A new study by the Irish Cancer Society also highlighted how a similar number of people (37pc) said pressure on the health system meant they have not addressed recent medical issues, demonstrating a lack of public confidence in health care services.

The survey of 1,000 people showed many feel they face barriers to early detection of cancers and think the Government should do more to invest in cancer care.

Irish Cancer Society chief executive Averil Power said costs and poor access to healthcare heighten the risk of missed or late cancer diagnoses. This means worse outcomes for patients.

Almost a quarter of those (23pc) surveyed put off going to a GP over the previous three months because they could not afford to go. Some of these people also put off going to hospital for treatment.

In total, 17pc said financial reasons stopped them visiting private and public hospitals.

Of those affected by cancer, 83pc said they have prioritised food shopping over costs associated with visiting a GP or hospital. Three-quarters (75pc) have prioritised utilities.

Were calling for the next government to cut hospital car parking charges and provide automatic medical cards to cancer patients

Another 39pc said household fuel, petrol or diesel were costs they had to put first.

Its shocking that people are left with no choice but to prioritise heating and eating above paying for medical appointments, Ms Power said.

For many of us, getting the healthcare we need when we need it is simply out of reach.

The survey, carried out by Core Research between August 16 and September 3, found more than half of those who put off an appointment were still experiencing related symptoms when they were surveyed.

Ms Power said it is vital that the next government boosts funding for the National Cancer Strategy to deliver improvements and support better patient outcomes.

We hear day in day out from people who struggle to get an appointment for much-needed cancer surgery or treatment because there arent enough staff to treat them, she added.

And from others who fear spending months on a waiting list, so theyve simply opted to pay privately or go abroad for treatment. While patients are left waiting, cancer is not so patient.

The research also showed health and healthcare will be a significant factor in the voting intentions of 77pc of people in the upcoming election.

Ms Power said there are a number of ways a new government could support those trying to access healthcare.

The Irish Cancer Society hears new stories every day from people who struggle to get to the hospital door, because they have no means of transport or cannot afford to put fuel in their car or pay for parking.

Were calling for the next government to cut hospital car parking charges and provide automatic medical cards to cancer patients, she added.
A convicted killer has been denied parole over the 2011 murder of Meath musician Gavin OConnor (22) in an unprovoked attack.

The Sunday Independent can reveal that killer Conor McClelland, who was handed a life sentence in 2014, has been denied release by the Parole Board following extensive hearings that began over 18 months ago.
Irishman held over murder of US nurse in Budapest claims he accidentally killed her during sex

The suspect is believed to have placed the body in a wardrobe before then putting it into a suitcase

The Irishman in police custody

Patrick O'Connell Sun 10 Nov 2024 at 11:34

An Irishman arrested over the murder of a US nurse in Budapest is understood to have claimed he accidentally killed her during sex before later placing her body in a suitcase.
Its a case of truth being stranger than science fiction in a new RTE series forecasting a robot-filled life in Ireland by 2050.

The vision rolled out in Futureville Ireland would not be out of place in a Star Wars film. Pet robots, virtual shopping mirrors, and chips embedded in the brain to halt disease are expected to be commonplace in Ireland in another 26 years.

Using Athlone as a test-case metropolis for 250,000 residents, leading scientists give the midlands town a virtual remodel in the programme to show how innovations from the Irish research community could transform urban life within another quarter of a century.

The series predicts virtual mirrors will replace changing rooms on the high street, while cobots  robotic co-workers  will take on monotonous and arduous chores as well as dangerous tasks.

A cobot is a robot that works alongside human beings, Gerry Lacey, professor of robotics at Maynooth University, said. He predicted human-machine systems would become a key part of our daily lives.

Were starting to see robots entering the real world. Were also seeing robots acting as pets and companions for the elderly, he added.

So right now robots are acting to help doctors do surgery. Those operations will be impossible without a robot, but these are all early stages.

People do get scared because in their minds they have these sort of Terminator-style robots.

We have an awful lot of work to do even to make them as clever as a cat

But he said robots are an awful lot dumber than people imagine.

They are really, really stupid. Simple tasks like boiling an egg is still beyond what robots can do in terms of that sequence of actions, Prof Lacey added.

We have an awful lot of work to do to be able to get them to be as clever as a cat right now.

I think robots are going to increasingly take over those jobs that we just dont really want to do, or are just too dangerous for people to be doing.

So I can see that its going to grow over time and eventually well see that were starting to rely on robots to do certain parts of the jobs that we need done.

Meanwhile, a seemingly magic mirror will take all the dressing-room hassle out of shopping in the future.

In the series, Paula Kilgarriff, lecturer in fashion technology at TU Dublin, showcases a mirror that will show shoppers what they would look like wearing an item of clothing without them having to try it on first.

There is already one of the mirrors operating in New York, and another in London. It is hoped it will be in Irish stores in the next three to five years.

Customers come to the store, click on the kiosk, interact with different types of products, see what it looks the fit looks like, the style, and make a decision before they buy, she said.

On the retail side, we have access to what our customers want in real-time and we can develop products in real-time, on demand, which will help us minimise waste in fashion.

These interfaces can be implanted into the brain to control external robotic devices

But the most important change could be technology inside our heads, with scientists looking at the benefits of placing microchips in the brain.

Manus Biggs, associate professor in biomedical engineering at the University of Galway, predicts neural implants could become a key part of our treatment of brain disorders in the future.

We can expect to see really exciting changes in healthcare. Were on the cusp of a revolution in treatments for neuro disorders through electric medicines, he said.

These advances could one day transform the lives of people with quadriplegia as it could allow them to use their brain signals to operate machines to help them to walk.

These brain-machine interfaces can be implanted into regions of the brain to control external robotic devices, he said.

So these devices could be, for example, robotic limbs that can be controlled via intentions in the brain.

In the series, a collaboration with RTE and Research Ireland for National Science Week, he said the implants could also help detect different types of neurological conditions.

There are ongoing clinical trials looking at the effectiveness of electrical stimulation technologies, implantable electrical stimulation technologies for the treatment of neurological diseases and disorders, in particular, Alzheimers disease, and dementia associated with Alzheimers disease, the academic said.

The scope for improvements in these technologies and for advancements is significant. You can expect these technologies to be clinically available within 20 to 30 years.

Futureville is broadcast on RTE One from Tuesday
The Taoiseach has distanced his party from a jibe against teachers by Ryanair boss Michael OLeary as he spoke at a campaign event in support of a Fine Gael minister.

Mr OLeary spoke at a campaign launch event in Mullingar for Enterprise Minister Peter Burke when he made the dig at teachers in the Dail.

Mr OLeary based part of his endorsement on Mr Burkes background in the private sector, as he criticised TDs who were teachers in the past.

The Dail is full of teachers  nothing wrong with teachers, I love teachers  but I wouldnt generally employ a lot of teachers to go out and get things done, Mr OLeary said, drawing laughter from the assembled audience.

Video of the remarks began circulating online sparking anger in many quarters.

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The Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO), which represents primary teachers, said in a statement: Teachers are the backbone of our country, shaping futures, inspiring minds, and driving the success of our society. The recent remarks by the CEO of Ryanair at Minister Burkes General Election campaign launch are both outrageous and deeply insulting to the dedication and hard work of Irelands teachers.

Speaking on the election campaign trail in Galway city on Sunday afternoon, Taoiseach Simon Harris said he disagreed with Mr O'Leary's remarks and said he should "stick to running Ryanair".

"Teachers are really the backbone of Irish society, of our communities, and I'm not sure there's many people who'd last five minutes standing at the front of a class," Mr Harris said.

Mr OLeary is a very successful businessman, the Taoiseach said, and it's important someone of his standing thinks Mr Burke is doing a good job in his role as Minister for Enterprise.

"But I also think this - the Dail needs diversity, the Dail needs a mix of people. It's worth pointing out that actually Enda Kenny and Michael Noonan, two of the people who helped this country out of the economic mess my party inherited, were teachers by profession, he said.

Flanked by Junior Minister and Galway West TD Hildegarde Naughton, herself a former teacher, Mr Harris noted his party is running a number of teachers in this general election.

"Michael O'Leary does a very good job running Ryanair, he's a very successful businessman, he obviously supports Peter Burke in Mullingar, but teachers play a really, really important role in this country, he said.

"When it comes to teachers, I think Michael should stick to running Ryanair and let the teachers keep doing the brilliant job they do in this country," he added.

Both Opposition and Government parties were also heavily critical of both Mr OLeary and Fine Gael.

Teachers get the job done every day in the classroom for our children, and I think it is completely inappropriate that they were jeered and demeaned in the way that they were at a Fine Gael event, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said at a Save Moore Street event in Dublin on Sunday afternoon.

Its hard enough to get teachers into our classrooms at this time, so I really think that Simon Harris, as the leader of Fine Gael, needs to come out and clarify this matter.

To be jeered and demeaned in this way is unacceptable and angers teachers greatly at a time when so many area leaving Ireland and going to pursue their careers elsewhere.

SF TD Louise OReilly wrote on social media in response to the video circulating: Jesus wept. This is what Peter Burke and Fine Gael think of teachers. Listen to them all laughing.

Responding to the comments on RTE radio on Sunday, Mr Burke said: Those comments, absolutely, I dont agree with, while also praising the success and vision of Mr OLeary as a businessman.

Among the current or former teachers in the Cabinet are Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and Education Minister Norma Foley.

Green Party leader Roderic OGorman also criticised the remark.

"Ill never forget the help, support and encouragement of amazing teachers in my primary and secondary school. Billionaires punching down do not speak for the vast majority of Irish people, he said on social media.

Fianna Fail candidate for Dublin Bay South Jim O'Callaghan said: "As the son of a primary school teacher, I can tell him he's absolutely incorrect - teachers are very effective at getting things done."

In an apparent reference to Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach Simon Harris, Mr O'Callaghan added: "We need people from different backgrounds in Dail Eireann, teachers, all walks of life - it can't be the case that everyone just decides at 19 years of age that 'I'm going to be a politician' and stay in politics for the rest of their lives."

Fianna Fail Minister of State James Browne said Mr OLearys comments were offensive, while Soc Dems education spokesperson Gary Gannon said the derisory remarks were a stark revelation about where Fine Gaels loyalties lie.

The Social Democrats TD said: Siding with big business, while eroding public services and showing disdain for public servants, is a core part of their ethos. Michael OLeary just said the quiet part out loud.

At the event on Saturday, Mr OLeary endorsed Mr Burke as a candidate, adding that it was important to elect a government that gets s**t done.

Mr OLeary endorsed Mr Burke in the Longford-Westmeath constituency, adding that he would give his second preference to Fianna Fail candidate Robert Troy.

Speaking at Mr Burkes campaign launch in Mullingar, the airline boss took aim at Sinn Fein and continued a long-running feud with the Green Party.

Michael OLeary has endorsed Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke (Brian Lawless/PA)

Mr OLeary, who grew up and lives in Mullingar, said the November 29 vote will be one of the most seismic elections within the next three decades because of the expected population boom.

He added: So it is vital this time that we elect a government that delivers.

We need a government that delivers for enterprise, that creates jobs. We need a government that delivers infrastructure that fixes the problems we face today, and above all, its vital that we elect a government that gets s**t done.

Because frankly Im fed up with the left-wing politicians telling us that if they tax us more and spend more, all will be well.

Mr OLeary urged the crowd to also support Fianna Fail candidates but urged them not to vote for the Green Party or Sinn Fein.

I would also urge everybody to give your number two to somebody in Fianna Fail as well.

Its important, I think, in this election that Fine Gael and Fianna Fail supporters transfer to each other.

Ryanair has repeatedly criticised the Green ministers for transport and tourism, Eamon Ryan and Catherine Martin, over what the airline sees as a lack of action on the Dublin Airport passenger cap.

What is most important in this election is we weed out the Greens. Weve learned after five minutes, that the Greens are just weeds, Mr OLeary said.

They poison enterprise. Theyve destroyed transport.

He added: Please dont vote for Sinn Fein. I would ignore Sinn Fein. If you cant run your own party you havent much chance of running a government or a country either.

Mr OLeary said recent controversies over the cost of the 336,000 bike shed at Leinster House and the 1.4 million security hut at Government Buildings shows that tax and spend is not the way forward.

He added: I can think of nobody here, certainly in the current government, who demonstrates more action, more energy, who works harder, and I think, is true to his principles, than Peter Burke.

Thats why Im pleased and proud to be here this evening to help Peter launch his re-election campaign.

Mr OLeary based part of his endorsement on Mr Burkes background in the private sector, as he criticised TDs who were teachers in the past.

The Dail is full of teachers  nothing wrong with teachers, I love teachers  but I wouldnt generally employ a lot of teachers to go out and get things done.
Witty and warm, Kathleen Watkins was world class in her own right  Gay Byrnes late wife remembered

She was on RTEs first TV broadcast and later became a childrens author with her Pigin tales

Kathleen Watkins had harp at RTE in case of broadcasting glitches. Photo: Steve Humphreys

Liam Collins Sun 10 Nov 2024 at 03:30

Gay is a bit dry, but Kathleen is great fun, Charlie Haughey once told me, summing up the most famous media couple of the era. Living in relatively proximity in Co Dublin, Haughey and his wife Maureen, in Kinsealy, and Gay Byrne and wife Kathleen Watkins in nearby Howth, they often found themselves in each others company on social occasions.
His body collapsed under the tree trunk. The crash foreshadowed doom: Francisco Araujo Maciel, 45, thought he was dying. He didnt see it coming and he doesnt remember exactly how it happened. On the morning of April 24, a large piece of the tree he was sawing tore at his collarbone as it fell on him. This set off an ordeal lasting more than seven hours, stretching from the heart of the forest to the nearest hospital in the remote southern Brazilian state of Amazonas.

Men working alongside him found his body slumped on the ground, unconscious. They removed the trunk from his chest and placed Araujo on a mattress in the back of a small, makeshift tractor. His broken bones creaked as the group drove through the dense jungle to take him to a nearby river, where they would put him on a boat bound for the town of Manicore. Shortly before they arrived, federal labor inspectors found them. When we saw him, we thought he had a punctured lung. I thought he wouldnt survive, recalls Magno Riga, one of the inspectors. I cant imagine how much he suffered. He was very lucky to survive.

The inspectors had traveled from the national capital of Brasilia to rescue 50 people from slave labor in the jungle. Araujo  along with the other men  had been lured by recruiters to work in what became one of the largest illegal deforestation operations in the region this year, which has destroyed nearly 1,300 hectares of Amazonian forest between January and April. Nothing the men were promised materialized: they ended up being subjected to conditions comparable to modern slavery.

These people were put under the worst working conditions by criminal groups that are dedicated to exploiting the regions wealth. [These criminals] exploit many people from vulnerable communities, says Riga, who coordinated the rescue operation after a complaint was made by local authorities. The workers  who hailed from various cities in the northern states of Amazonas and Rondonia  were on-site for almost three months. They slept under canvas tents, worked long hours without protective equipment and  lacking access to drinking water  had to cook, bathe and drink red water from a small stream, which was polluted by the deforestation process.

The men also went into debt to buy the chainsaws they used to cut down the trees, for which they were charged 3,000 reais (about $500), which was deducted from their wages, without prior consent. The same thing happened with their food rations.

The rescue tractor that Francisco Araujo was carried on, in the municipality of Maricore. MTE

We suffered humiliation. They treated us badly, laments Francisco Araujo Maciel, who underwent surgery in a hospital in Porto Velho. He has since returned to his home in Humaita, where he lives with his sister and close to his children, who are five and eight-years-old. While he was recovering in the hospital, Riga visited him on a couple of occasions. To this day, the inspector supports him so that he can regain his dignity and his rights. This is a fundamental part of the work done by Riga and his team.

Araujo obtained special unemployment insurance for three months, due to having been subjected to slave labor. However, hes now unable to work in the field of forestry because of the disability caused by the accident. Hes trying to get a disability certificate. But, as he doesnt have a signed employment contract, he finds it difficult to receive state benefits. I can no longer work. And I dont know how Im going to rebuild my life, because I have no education. I dont know how to read, I dont know how to write. I only know how to do manual labor, he laments.

Work thats comparable to slavery is a reality in many regions of Brazil. Although the exact numbers surrounding modern slavery are difficult to measure, the authorities rely on reports of labor abuse: in 2023, there were 3,422 reports filed, or 61% more than in 2022. This is the highest recorded number since the creation of a specific hotline for this purpose in 2011. According to data from the Ministry of Labor and Employment in the largest South American country, in 2023, 3,190 workers were rescued from such circumstances  the highest number since 2009, when 3,765 people were rescued.

Brazil has been actively fighting against this problem since the 1990s. In 1994, the Organization of American States (OAS) filed a petition against Brazil for human rights violations in the case of Jose Pereira, a worker who was shot after trying to flee a farm in the state of Para, where he and a colleague  who was killed  were being held as slaves. In response, a year later, the South American country created the Special Mobile Inspection Group (GEFM) at the Ministry of Labor and Employment. And, in 2003, it created the National Commission for the Eradication of Slave Labor, which puts out the so-called dirty list of companies and individuals convicted of slave labor practices. The penal code was also updated, to toughen sentences for this type of crime.

Magno Riga  who has been working in the field of labor rights for 12 years  is one of the officials who coordinates the GEFM. This team works throughout the country via field operations, intervening in places where there are suspicions of violations of the penal code for slave labor. The group has faced death threats, direct attacks and even restrictions on their movement. But none of this has stopped them. Over the last three decades, the organization has rescued more than 60,000 people. Their cases range from domestic slave labor in southern Brazil and mistreatment on soy plantations in Goias, to the exploitation of people in gold mines in the Amazon and the trafficking of vulnerable migrants  from countries such as Bolivia  to illicit garment factories in Sao Paulo.

Magno Riga and his team, in the region of Altamira. MTE

One of GEFMs recent focuses is expanding its presence in the western Amazon, where reports of slave labor are rare. This problem is exacerbated in areas where the Brazilian state has the most difficulty accessing populations. In such regions, its difficult to inspect and punish the owners of illegal mining and deforestation sites, who  in addition to profiting from the trafficking of wood and minerals  tend to illegally sell deforested land to cattle ranchers.

Many of these criminals act indirectly, through various intermediaries. This makes it difficult to punish the main offenders, even more so in regions that are difficult to access, says Commissioner Adriano Sombra, head of a special team from the Brazilian Federal Police that combats crimes against the environment in the state of Amazonas. The only alternative to protect these communities is to completely stop illegal activities. But the territory is very large. This remains a challenge.

The lives of many workers like Araujo are deeply marked by the history of exploitation of the Amazon rainforest. In the first-half of the last century, the Brazilian government encouraged population migration to the deep Amazon. The intention was to develop the region  which was already inhabited by Indigenous communities  by exploiting its riches.

Large highways such as the Trans-Amazonian were created by destroying part of the forest to connect the region with the rest of Brazil. Mining, cattle ranching and logging were the economic roots of many of the new cities. Built without much planning, some of these cities condemned their inhabitants to poverty. Deforestation drove away animals and reduced the production of fruits such as acai, while illegal mining polluted the waterways and killed the fish. Therefore, most of the jobs available in these lands are the same ones that destroy them.

I had to work to support myself, to buy food and things for the house, thats why I worked illegally, says Araujo, who warns that nature takes its toll on your body. If you destroy it, sooner or later, it will charge you for what it has endured.

The rescue of Francisco Araujo, in Maricore. MTE

In many deforestation sites  such as the one that Rigas team raided at the end of April  satellite dishes (from companies such as billionaire Elon Musks Starlink) are even being used to quickly call for reinforcements and warn of inspection operations, delaying the authorities efforts. In law enforcement operations in the south of the state of Amazonas, its increasingly common for the leaders of illicit activities to disappear before the arrival of inspectors.

Riga believes that the value of his work is in the lives it changes. The real challenge is to bring about a significant shift that will take these people out of the vulnerability that leads them into slavery. Brazil is perhaps the most unequal country. This is a construction of centuries based, above all, on the [institution of] slavery that formed the country and its population, he explains. As long as were a country of enslaved people and enslavers, it will be necessary for us to strive to change this reality.

Translated by Avik Jain Chatlani

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When they are not being actively hated and denounced as bigots, Donald Trump voters are condescended to, or at best treated as curious anthropological specimens who academics must do their best to try and understand  the way they might a lost tribe, or maybe supporters of one of our own rural Independents.
Gina London: The US vote felt personal and fills me with dread

I voted for Harriss vision of inclusion and freedom, but this did not resonate with most Americans

Kamala Harris at a campaign rally on Monday before she was defeated in the US election. Photo: AP

Gina London Sun 10 Nov 2024 at 03:30

As I sat with the other commentators during RTEs special US elections coverage, I felt a knot in my stomach. It was after 3am and things werent going the way Id hoped when I voted by mail ballot last month. Georgia and North Carolina were being projected for Donald Trump. Each of the three blue wall states  Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania  needed to swing Kamala Harriss way for her to have a chance. And nobody saw that happening.
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.
NEW Ross Historical Society will have its next lecture on Thursday, November 21 at 8 p.m. in the Dunbrody Visitors Expo Centre on the Quay.

The lecture will focus on the title, Castleboro, A Lost Legacy where a discussion will be held around the story of the big house in rural Ireland, as it still invokes contrasting emotions to this day, particularly in our older generations.

There are those families who were reared and endowed with employment by the big house and those who didnt get a look in. In general, the local inhabitants were in awe of the goings on in and around the stately mansions which dotted the landscape, which were carefully built remotely on land away from public view.

The lecture will be presented by historian Damian Cullen as he explores the development of the estate. Mr Cullen will date his information back to a time when the Carew family first arrived in 1668, and will also include significant details over the years, with a focus on the time of the burning of Castleboro in 1923.

The aftermath of the fire and the impact that it has left on the estate since will also be included in the lecture.
Patricia Sweeney from Harristown, Tadhg and Aoife Sweeney from Rosbercon at the Camross ICA coffee morning in aid of Childhood Cancer Ireland. Photo: Mary Browne

Bintu Sebastian, Mary Kelly and Ciji Raj from Wilkingstown at the Camross ICA coffee morning in aid of Childhood Cancer Ireland. Photo: Mary Browne

Catherine, Paul and Alice Codd from Taghmon and Breda Whelan from Adamstown at the Camross ICA coffee morning in aid of Childhood Cancer Ireland. Photo: Mary Browne

May Buttimer, Catherine Seery and Nuala Carroll from Taghmon at the Camross ICA coffee morning in aid of Childhood Cancer Ireland. Photo: Mary Browne

A very pleasant event took place in Camross Hall on last month, when Camross ICA Guild hosted a coffee morning in aid of the Childhood Cancer Ireland (CCI) charity.

A member of the Irish Countrywomans Association explained why they chose to support the charity: This wonderful organisation offers advocacy, awareness and support, to any family going through the trauma of childhood cancer.

With lots of tempting treats on offer, served up by Guild members, the many who attended on the day enjoyed a break from the mundane of everyday life, whilst supporting this very worthy cause, the spokesperson added.

A special thanks was given to the committee of Camross Hall for the use of the beautiful hall for a worthy occasion and a substantial cheque from the funds raised at the coffee morning event will be presented to CCI at a later date.
After a hair-raising trip to NYC Fashion Week, our beauty expert is turning her attention to the often-overlooked scalp

Have you noticed how hair care products now incorporate skincare ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, niacin and vitamin C? Serums for our scalp are something we never knew we needed  but the scalp is an extension of your face after all, so its important to take care of scalp health in order to achieve healthy hair.

While I was in NYC for Fashion Week, I was having a goo around Goop, Gwynnies beauty emporium, and was full of pride seeing Irish hair care brand Act+Acre, front and centre in the hair care aisle. I also spotted it in beauty mecca Sephora, so when a mutual friend, Colm Corrigan, invited me to meet the founder of the award-winning brand, I was in there like swimwear! Helen Reavey had just come from the Cos show where her team and Colm had done the hair.

Helen told me how she has always been passionate about clean haircare that works, and decided to create Act+Acre. The brand focuses on plant-based products that avoid the traditional heat-based production, which can lessen the potency of nutrients in seed oils. If thinning strands are taking their toll on your confidence, Id recommend trying Act+Acre 3% Stem Cell Peptide Scalp Treatment (122, zolobeauty.com). A pro-ageing, peptide-rich daily scalp treatment, it supports hair health from the root, for fuller and thicker-looking hair in just 12 weeks.

Act+Acres Cold Processed Microbiome Cooling Scalp Serum (70, zolobeauty.com)

Another product that I find myself reaching for daily is Act+Acres Cold Processed Microbiome Cooling Scalp Serum (70, zolobeauty.com), which supports the delicate scalp microbiome. I think I have menopause hair, so this lightweight daily leave-on serum offers instant cooling relief to dry-scalp itch and it strengthens the scalps natural ability to fend off irritation, itching and sensitive scalp conditions.

Another Irish female-owned brand making waves  Im full of puns this week  is Sea+Solu created by Sinead Asple. Its Moisture Melt Hair Mask (33.95, seaplussolu.com) is highly concentrated and provides long-lasting hydration while strengthening and repairing dry or damaged hair. There are also four boosters  Moisture, Anti-Frizz, Volume and Strength (20)  that can accompany the mask to put back into your hair what its craving.

For dry and damaged hair, the Seoulista Beauty Glossy Locks Hair Mask (12, seoulistabeauty.com) helps to protect and soothe both your scalp and hair from root to tip. Designed for dry and damaged hair, it has a concentrated fusion of antioxidants and hydrating hyaluronic acid to leave your hair feeling and looking softer and silkier.

It also has a drip-free formulation and leaves your hair healthier and more manageable with a glossy shine. Its a great one for travelling, I find.

And did I mention that its also a female founder  Una McGurk  we have to thank for this hair-raiser.

Hair we go now!

Maybelline New York Makeup Color Sensational Shaping Clear Lip Liner, 7.49, boots.ie

Trick

A question I get asked a lot in my DMs is how to prevent lipstick feathering or bleeding, a challenge with mature skin due to tiny lines forming around the mouth area. To prevent lipstick from creeping, use a clear lip liner and slightly extend over your natural lip line. Try Maybellines fine-tipped New York Makeup Color Sensational Shaping Clear Lip Liner (7.49, boots.ie).

M&S Beauty Advent Calendar 60 when you spend 40 on clothing, home and beauty, marksandspencer.com/ie

Treat

Im all about the amazing value to be had with Advent calendars and this years M&S offering is filled with beauty treats worth over 375! It contains 25 beauty gems, including 11 full-sized products and 14 travel-sized minis. As an added bonus, it comes in a velvet vanity case.

M&S Beauty Advent Calendar 60 when you spend 40 on clothing, home and beauty, marksandspencer.com/ie/

Seabody Elevate Treatment 160, sheenfallslodge.ie

Treatment

The Seabody Elevate combo treatment at the gorgeous Easanna Wellness & Spa at Sheen Falls Lodge includes a back massage and facial that will have you floating out the door! The facial provides the skin with a booster concentration of marine bio-actives from Seabody. It is followed by a back, neck and shoulder massage that will ease tension and induce relaxation.

160, sheenfallslodge.ie
Rumours of a romance between the pair started swirling back in August when the couple enjoyed a holiday together

Una pictured with Ryan Tubridy, Laura Whitmore, Michael Flatley and Niamh O'Brien at the awards

Una and Aidan at The Irish Post Awards in London

Una Healy has stepped out with new boyfriend Aidan Coleman at their first public appearance together

Saturdays star Una and retired Irish jockey Aidan attended The Irish Post Awards at The Grosvenor House Hotel in London on Thursday night

Clad in an all-beaded grey gown, Una appeared alongside Aidan in a black tux and velvet suit jacket.

The couple were pictured together arm-in-arm at the event that attracted a range of Irish stars to the awards ceremony including Michael Flatley, Ryan Tubridy and Laura Whitmore.

Rumours of a romance between the pair started swirling back in August when the couple enjoyed a holiday together.

Then, in September, they were spotted attending a wedding together in Thurles. Later that month they were pictured out with friends in Dublin.

Aidan, who has more than 1,200 wins under his belt was considered one of the top riders in the industry before he suffered a bad fall that shattered his tibia which meant he could never ride professionally again.

Announcing his retirement on live TV, Coleman said: "The prognosis early was quite bleak about returning to ride.

Una pictured with Ryan Tubridy, Laura Whitmore, Michael Flatley and Niamh O'Brien at the awards

"Around September I was kidding myself that I could get back from this, then around Christmas I had another operation and the progress has really plateaued.

"I can do the gym, but I can't run or jump. I can't ride a horse really.

"A lot of people would say I couldn't anyway, so what's the difference, but every time I've tried to ride a horse since Christmas it's not gone well."

And then I grew it back. I thought, hang on a second and I convinced her it was going to be okay.

Una was previously married to Ben Foden from 2012 before getting divorced six years later.

The former couple share two children: Aoife Belle (12) and Tadhg (9).

Former England rugby player Ben is also dad to four-year-old Farrah and baby Olympia, whom he shares with his second wife Jackie Belanoff Smith.

Una recently opened up about she felt embarrassed after she split from her ex-husband.

Speaking to former Love Island star Faye Winter and Vogue Williams on the Boots Taboo Talk podcast back in February, the Tipperary woman said that her entire life was turned upside down when she ended things amid rumours that Ben was unfaithful.

When you find that person that you decide to stay with, to marry, and to live with... When that ends, thats when your whole life is turned upside down because you build a life with that person, she explained.

Its different than just (saying), I miss you so much. Its figuring out where you're going to start with rebuilding your life. Its a big, long process when kids are involved.

We shared banks accounts, we shared a house, we shared so much stuff. Its just a headache.

When we split up and everything needed to be done with the house, I arranged all the removals... I got no help whatsoever with any of that. I just think theyre (exes) so lazy; they just know its going to be done. Thats why you have to be strong, because who (else) is going to do it?

Una admitted that that shed had a bit of fun on Raya straight after the breakup, but ultimately gave up as dating was too time-consuming for her.

And while her split from Ben was extremely difficult, shes over the moon for him and his new family.

Im truly happy for him that hes happy and has found love again and has started a whole new family because hes the father of my children, so I always want to wish him happiness.

The kids have great holiday time with their dad - they spend Christmas and summers with him. And in fairness, hes so good when hes with them.
Its a stylist soiree and youre all invited! The Art of Styling: Irish Design in Focus hosted by multi-disciplinary creative, Zeda, presents everything you need to understand about working as a stylist, the obstacles and challenges, and what exactly is it that they do

As a fashion stylist myself, Im all too aware of how the job can be misunderstood and under-appreciated. Some people look at you as a glorified shopper, or as the least important element of a photoshoot team (in fact, it takes a village to pull these shoots together and photographers, hair stylists, make-up artists and fashion stylists all play an equally vital role).

Zeda's past work as a stylist

In reality, stylists act as location scouts, directors and dressers. We liaise between publications and talent. We dip our toes into set design and prop making when needed. And, on top of all of that, we carry an un-godly amount of clothing around the country!

We cover so many bases, agrees stylist and creative Zeda. And were glorified steamers! she adds with a laugh about the hand-held ironing tool thats an essential part of every stylists kit.

The Dublin-based stylists CV includes work for Stellar magazine and musician Erica Cody, as well as covering Copenhagen fashion week for RTE.

Everyone always tells me I love styling but its so hard to get into as a job  and its the truth, she says. Then some people dont fully understand the job. So, I came up with the idea of a stylist soiree.

The inaugural event, entitled The Art of Styling: Irish Design in Focus, will take place on November 13 as part of the Design & Crafts Council of Irelands Irish Design Week. Held in Belvedere house  a Georgian townhouse in Dublin 1  it will be hosted by Zeda.

Tech Powered Luxury podcaster Ashley McDonall

Speakers will also include Tech Powered Luxury podcaster Ashley McDonnell, and stylists Aisling Farinella and Anne OShea. I want to discuss how to get into styling and the obstacles that come with the job, Zeda says.

This way its informative for people who dont have knowledge on styling, but also for stylists who are currently working  you can never know everything. I also want to look to the future of where we think the job will go.

Colin Horgan Designs

The free  but ticketed event is open to members of the public and will also include a showcase of Irish design. Styled by Eoin Gavin, it will feature pieces by Aoife McNamara, Colin Horgan, Emerald & Wax and more.

Aoife McNamara wearing her own designs

Its the perfect match, a lot of Irish stylists have given Irish designers their start by putting their clothing in publications, says Zeda, who adds that more will be announced in the lead up to the event.

My aim is to make it informative and fun. Once we learn  we party!

To book, see dcci.ie
The site of a bomb explosion at a railway station in Quetta, southwestern Pakistan, yesterday, Photo: AP

The death toll from a bombing at a railway station in the city of Quetta in troubled south-western Pakistan has risen to at least 26, officials said.
For decades, it was believed that adding or removing methyl or acetyl groups from histones played a crucial role in determining when and where genes are activated

Every second, as we breathe, sleep, eat and go about our lives, millions of biochemical reactions are happening in our cells. Among the hurly burly of chemical exchanges are ones that attach small carbon molecules onto (or remove them from) proteins, fats, DNA and more. Adding or taking away these small molecules is essential for many reactions that enable cells to survive, grow and divide.

Perhaps the most interesting and well-studied target of these additions and subtractions lies within the bustling nucleus, where various enzymes attach or remove two small molecules  methyl groups and acetyl groups  onto histones, the protein spools around which our DNA is wrapped.

For decades, adding or removing methyl or acetyl groups to histones was thought to be key to when and where genes are turned on.

But accumulating evidence shows that this is only part of the story. Although putting methyl and acetyl groups on histones is closely linked with activity of nearby genes in some places in the genome, in many other regions it has no impact at all. This suggests that regulating gene activity is not the only function of these histone decorations  perhaps not even the main one.

The histone proteins of complex cells are named H2A, H2B, H3 and H4. They are assembled into groups of eight, around which a length of DNA is wrapped. This structure, called a nucleosome, repeats along the length of a chromosome. Histones have long tails onto which metabolites like acetyl and methyl groups can be added by enzymes.

In fact, emerging research suggests that these modifications to histones have key roles in the cells biochemical processes  its metabolism  functioning as a way for the cell to deal with small carbon molecules that are produced during biochemical reactions.

Researchers propose that for acetyl groups (made of two carbons, three hydrogens and one oxygen), the histones serve as a kind of bank or repository that the cell can draw on when it needs more acetyls for chemical reactions.

And for methyl groups (one carbon atom and three hydrogens), they suggest that the histones serve as sinks, where methyls can be put so they dont gum up chemical reactions. Without this sink, many molecules that need to lose a methyl group to proceed to the next step in a biochemical pathway stall out, causing problems for the cell.

Histones were once viewed as mere structural scaffolding for genes: something that could keep dense folds of DNA strands in order. Then they were seen as involved in gene control  either facilitating or blocking the unfolding of DNA that enables it to be copied. Now, if the new research pans out, they will also prove to be deeply intertwined with the metabolic workings of the cell.

And this, scientists say, may help to reveal how and why histones evolved in the first place.

Cells need places to deposit methyl groups  a methyl sink  so that metabolism does not gum up. In this diagram, a chemical called SAM donates a methyl group to a methyl sink, allowing the biochemical pathway for making the amino acid cysteine to proceed. If SAM is prevented from donating its methyl group, the pathway slows to a trickle and the result is a cysteine deficiency in the cell. Researchers propose that histones act as these important sinks.

Signaling times of plenty

More than a decade ago, UT Southwestern biochemist Benjamin Tu was growing yeast cells in his lab when he saw something interesting: The activity of more than a thousand genes was oscillating in step with how much oxygen the cells were consuming. Gene activity and metabolic activity were changing in a coordinated way.

Tu also saw that when genes involved in cell growth were at their peak activity, this coincided with high numbers of acetyl groups stuck on their histones. And when the genes went silent in the next phase of the cell cycle, the acetyl groups went away. That was very exciting, Tu says.

It was exciting because acetyl groups are produced by the mitochondrion  the cells power-generating organelle. Acetyl groups are used by the cell to make molecules like fatty acids that are used for energy or to build cell membranes. What seemed to be happening was that acetyls were serving as a signal from the mitochondrion to the cell nucleus that these were times of abundance, with lots of available energy and chemical building blocks. By sticking onto the histones, they were ramping up activity of genes involved in cell growth. It makes sense, after all, to grow and divide during times of plenty.

Tu also saw signs that the acetyls on histones could also act as a bank  a source of energy for the cell to draw on when times became leaner. When cells were starved, he observed, the amount of an important chemical called acetyl-CoA  which is central in energy generation  decreased in the cell. To make energy, the cells consumed acetyl groups that had detached from the histones. The acetyl groups that remained were rearranged so that they would activate genes to produce more acetyl-CoA.

This illustration depicts a model for the movement of acetyl groups during different cell conditions. When energy is abundant and mitochondria are running at full speed, acetyl groups are plentiful and become attached to histone tails on genes that promote growth. When food becomes scarce, the cell consumes these acetyl groups for energy. The remaining acetyl groups are redistributed to activate genes involved in increasing amounts of acetyl CoA in the cell.

Other work by Tus group suggests that histones may play an even more central role in metabolic pathways, this time involving methyl groups. Again in yeast, the scientists studied a chemical that carries methyl groups around  its name is SAM for short. When SAM gives up a methyl group, it turns into a chemical that is needed to make the amino acid cysteine. But when the cell doesnt have a place to give up its methyl groups to, too little cysteine gets made, affecting the cells ability to grow. Histones serve as these methyl group receivers.

Keeping metabolism humming

More evidence for a metabolic role of histones comes from a 2023 study in which University of Oxford biochemist Peter Sarkies and his colleague Marcos Francisco Perez examined a whole host of different enzymes that all add methyl groups to histones.

Each enzyme puts methyl groups on at a unique place on the histone  a floppy part called the histone tail. Depending on where the methyls are added, the effect can be associated with activated gene activity, suppressed gene activity or no change at all. Sarkies reasoned that, if one is simply trying to get methyl groups out of the way so that metabolism can proceed, what matters is the sum activity of all of these enzymes  not any individual enzyme or a particular effect on a nearby gene.

This is exactly what his team saw when they examined a number of cancer cell lines. Each cell line had raised or lowered the activity of different combinations of those methylating enzymes, so they could deposit methyl groups on histones to tuck them out of the way and keep metabolism proceeding apace.

The scientists also found that many of the methylating enzymes were under the influence of a gene called Rb known for its role in suppressing cancer (it is often mutated in cancer cells). This suggested to Sarkies that Rb plays a central role in increasing or decreasing the rate at which methyl groups are deposited on histones and thus regulating biochemical pathways and growth.

What we discovered is that the cell uses histone methylation not just to regulate genes, but to regulate metabolism, Sarkies says.

Yet more possibilities

Researchers have also recently learned that histones can sometimes involve themselves in other aspects of cell biochemistry. In a study published in 2017, chromatin biologist Marcus Buschbecks team at the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute in Barcelona showed that a type of histone called macroH2A1.1 can help to preserve a chemical called NAD+, which is essential in many biochemical reactions. This leaves more NAD+ around for the power-generating mitochondria to use.

And University of California, Los Angeles, biochemist Siavash Kurdistanis team showed in 2020 that histones function as enzymes that convert oxidized copper ions (Cu2+) to reduced copper ions (Cu1+). Reduced copper ions are the form required by the mitochondria to produce energy. These ions would have been hard to come by at the dawn of the evolution of complex, eukaryotic cells, like our own, because copper was oxidized as levels of oxygen rose in the atmosphere.

As they uncover this histone-metabolism link, researchers are also speculating on how the relationship emerged to begin with.

They note that in microbes called archaea  from which eukaryotic cells are thought to have evolved  there is a great variety of histones. But very few of these have the floppy tails that our own histones have, onto which the methyl and acetyl marks are placed. So scientists are interested in understanding how histones may have functioned in our archaeal ancestors.

They float a variety of possibilities. Kurdistani suggests that the early role of archaeal histones could have been to produce those precious reduced copper ions. Chromatin biologist Tobias Warnecke of Imperial College in London, who studies the evolution of histones in archaea, suggests that archaeal histones could help to keep DNA from breaking apart in the extreme environments such as high heat that archaea live in. Histones might also have protected the archaeal DNA from viruses seeking to insert themselves into it, Warnecke adds.

Later on, after the ancestor of todays eukaryotes appeared some 1.5 billion years ago, the histones evolved longer tails that were chemically modified in a variety of ways, including by acetyl and methyl groups. Its possible, Tu says, that such modifications arose to manage the metabolites produced by the mitochondria in those early eukaryotes. Some chemicals produced in the mitochondria are highly reactive and could spontaneously stick to  and damage  important molecules like DNA. Maybe the cell evolved enzymes to remove these small carbon molecules from places where they would be harmful and stick them instead in places like histone tails where they would cause no harm.

Later on, the cell could have become dependent on these modifications of histones for their metabolic regulation.

And later still? The story of the evolution of histones appears to be one of repurposing. If cells first stumbled into a way to regulate their metabolism with histones, Sarkies says, a similar process could have led to using them to control genes. For histones, he suggests, metabolic regulation is more fundamental than gene regulation.

This article originally appeared in Knowable Magazine, a non-profit publication dedicated to making scientific knowledge accessible to everyone.

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Qatar pulls out of talks until Israel and Hamas are willing, after US pressure to expel Palestinian group

First aid in weeks arrives in northern Gaza as WHO chief again raises spectre of famine

A woman at the site of an Israeli strike on tents housing displaced people in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip. Photo: Reuters

Wafaa Shurfa and Samy Magdy Sun 10 Nov 2024 at 03:30







Qatar has suspended its key mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel, the Gulf nation has announced.
First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Denis Manturov to visit India. Photo courtesy: Official Website

Moscow/IBNS: First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Denis Manturov will make a working visit to India on Monday.

As part of the visit, he will take part in the plenary session of the Russian-Indian Business Forum in Mumbai.

The event is aimed at expanding cooperation ties between entrepreneurs of the two countries, an official statement said.

The forum will include thematic sessions on current areas of interaction, including industrial cooperation, transport and logistics, finance, digital technologies, and interregional ties.

It is organized by the Business Council for Cooperation with India and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

On Tuesday, Denis Manturov and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will jointly hold the 25th Session of the Intergovernmental Russian-Indian Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation in New Delhi.

As part of his visit, Manturov has several bilateral meetings planned.


PM Keir Starmer hosts Diwali party. Photo Courtesy: Insight UK X page

A large number of British Hindus expressed their displeasure after meat and alcohol were allegedly served at the Diwali party hosted by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10, Downing Street.

Several top politicians and British Hindu leaders attended the event.

According to a post on X published by Insight UK: "This year's Diwali celebration at 10 Downing Street, hosted by PM Keir Starmer has sparked significant backlash after reports surfaced that alcohol and meat were served at the event. Without wanting to be named Hindu guests have reportedly expressed their shock and dismay at being served meat and alcohol during a religious celebration."

'The complete lack of sensitivity and simple consultation, at any level, is of great concern. If accidental, it's still disappointing. @SeemaMalhotra1 ?

If deliberate @UKLabour and @10DowningStreet team have again sent a message to the British Hindu community'. @Keir_Starmer may https://t.co/GxCcXrfYr7 pic.twitter.com/czzDQfv5jq  Pt Satish K Sharma MBCS FRSA FRAS (@thebritishhindu) November 10, 2024

The Insight UK is a social movement of British Hindus and Indians

During former PM Rishi Sunak's Diwali event last year, meat and alcohol were not on the menu.

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This year's Diwali celebration at 10 Downing Street, hosted by PM Keir Starmer has sparked significant backlash after reports surfaced pic.twitter.com/13IB1WRJlE  INSIGHT UK (@INSIGHTUK2) November 8, 2024

Satish K Sharma, a prominent British Hindu pandit, said the food served during the event left him disappointed.

He said no meat and alcohol had been served during Diwali celebrations on Downing Street for the past 14 years.

"I am disappointed and quite shocked that this year's celebration seemed to be an inebriated meat-induced stupor-dominated event. It's a tragedy that the prime minister's advisers would have been so careless and negligent," he said in a video post.

10 Downing Street did not comment on the issue so far.
Victim Lallu Chaubey was held captive since Thursday for Rs 3 lakh ransom. (Photo courtesy: Pixabay)

Jhansi (UP): A 50-year-old man was rescued, and three people, including a woman, were arrested for allegedly setting up a honeytrap and kidnapping him for ransom, media reports said.

The man, Lallu Chaubey from Uttar Pradeshs Lalitpur, had been held captive in Jhansi since Thursday, with his captors demanding Rs 3 lakh for his release, NDTV reported, citing police on Saturday.

The investigation began after Chaubeys son filed a complaint, reporting his fathers kidnapping and receiving a ransom call.

According to the police, Rs 1 lakh of the amount demanded had already been paid.

Multiple police teams were deployed to track down the man, with a constable posing as Chaubey's son to deliver the ransom.

One of the suspects led the officer to the location where Chaubey was being held.

Several police teams then swiftly moved in and rescued Chaubey and arrested the three suspectsKiran (35), Akhilesh Ahirwar (30), and Satish Singh Bundela (27).
Union Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled BJP's Sankalp Patra in Mumbai today. (Photo Courtesy: Video grab)

Mumbai: The BJPs manifesto for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections includes an increase in monthly financial aid for women under the Ladki Bahin Yojana, plans to establish Maharashtra as an Artificial Intelligence (AI) hub, and measures to regulate prices of essential goods.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled the BJP's poll manifesto or Sankalp Patra, in Mumbai today, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, state BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule, and Union Minister Piyush Goyal.

Maharashtra heads to the polls on November 20, with the Mahayuti ruling coalition of the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP (Ajit Pawar) aiming to retain power in what is anticipated to be a closely contested election.

"Maharashtra has been leading the country in every field for many ages. Once upon a time, when there was a need, the Bhakti movement also started from Maharashtra, the movement for freedom from slavery was also started by Shivaji Maharaj from here, the social revolution also started from here and the reflection of the aspirations of the people of Maharashtra is seen in our Sankalp Patra," he was quoted as saying by NDTV.

At the manifesto launch, Home Minister Amit Shah stated that the Mahayuti government has focused on uplifting the dignity of farmers, the poor, and women, with the manifesto reflecting Maharashtras aspirations.

Shah criticized the Opposition alliance, Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which includes Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (Sharad Pawar), accusing them of unfulfilled promises.

"Even Congress leaders acknowledge they should think carefully before making promises because they often fail to deliver, as seen in states like Himachal, Telangana, and Karnataka. The people trust the Mahayuti's commitments," he said.

The BJP's manifesto promises to increase the monthly support under the Ladki Bahin Yojana from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100, enhance loan waivers for farmers, ensure food security, and improve housing if re-elected.

It also proposes raising the old-age pension to Rs 2,100 per month and stabilizing essential commodity prices.

Other key pledges include creating 25 lakh new jobs, offering a Rs 10,000 stipend for 10 lakh students, developing roads in over 45,000 villages, and reducing power bills by 30% with renewable energy initiatives.

Under the Vision Maharashtra @2028 initiative, to be outlined within 100 days of forming the government, the BJP aims to grow Maharashtras economy to $1 trillion, building on its 2022-23 GSDP of $435 billion.

The manifesto also highlights plans to make Maharashtra a fintech and AI hub, positioning cities like Nagpur, Pune, and Nashik as aerospace centers.

For women, the BJP pledged to help 50 lakh women become Lakhpati Didis by 2027.

It also promises AI training in government schools, a skills census, financial aid for disadvantaged students, health insurance for all, and support for entrepreneurs.

The manifesto further includes a proposed law against forced conversions and pledges to use technology to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts.
Arrested ArshDalla was a close aide of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Photo Courtesy: 7ru7h X page

Canadian Police have arrested Khalistan terrorist Arshdeep Singh, also known as Arsh Dalla, media reports said.

Dalla has been arrested in connection with a recent shootout in Canada last month, sources told India Today TV.

Sources from Indian security agencies have confirmed to the news channel that receiving information about Dalla's arrest, which occurred after his suspected involvement in an armed confrontation on October 27 or 28 in Milton town.

According to reports, Dalla was living in Canada with his wife.

Also Read: Brampton Hindu Temple attack: Canadian Police arrest Khalistani protest organiser Inderjeet Gosal

He is wanted in India for various criminal activities.

Media reports quoting sources said Dalla was a close aide of late Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Dalla is a wanted person on the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) terrorist list.

Dalla's arrest came at a time when Khalistan members recently beat up Hindu devotees in front of a temple in Brampton.
Naib Subedar Rakesh Kumar from 2 Para (Special Forces) was martyred during encounter with terrorists in Jammu Kashmir's Kishtwar. (Photo courtesy: x.com/Whiteknight_IA)

Srinagar: A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Army was martyred, and three other commandos were injured during an encounter with terrorists in a remote forest in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district.

The Armys White Knight Corps said Naib Subedar Rakesh Kumar from 2 Para (Special Forces) was killed, and three commandos were injured in the gunfight on Sunday, November 10, in Kishtwars Bhart Ridge area.

"GOC (General Officer Commanding) White Knight Corps and all ranks salute the supreme sacrifice of braveheart, Nb Sub Rakesh Kumar of 2 Para (SF). Sub Rakesh was part of a joint CI (counter-insurgency) operation launched in general area of Bhart Ridge Kishtwar. We stand with bereaved family in this hour of grief {sic}," the Army's White Knight Corps stated.

#GOC #WhiteknightCorps and all ranks salute the supreme sacrifice of #Braveheart, Nb Sub Rakesh Kumar of 2 Para (SF). Sub Rakesh was part of a joint #CT operation launched in general area of # Bhart Ridge #Kishtwar on 09 Nov 2024.



We stand with bereaved family in this hour of pic.twitter.com/x9Zw0EnLRX  White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) November 10, 2024

The encounter began when joint search teams of the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police intercepted two terrorists in the forest, near the site where the bodies of Village Defence Group (VDG) members Nazir Ahmad and Kuldeep Kumar were found with gunshot wounds.

Following the killing and abduction of the VDG members, a large search operation had been ongoing in the forests of Kuntwara and Keshwan in Kishtwar.

#Kishtwar



On 10 Nov 24, based on specific intelligence input regarding presence of terrorists, a joint Operation was launched by #Security forces in general area #Bhart Ridge #Kishtwar. This is the same group which had abducted and killed 02 innocent villagers (village  White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) November 10, 2024

During the exchange, four Army para commandos sustained injuries, and Naib Subedar Rakesh Kumar succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

At the time of this report, an extensive search operation continued in the area to pinpoint and neutralize the terrorists.

In a separate encounter on Friday, November 8, two terrorists were killed in Baramulla during an anti-terror combing operation conducted on the basis of intelligence inputs.
Veteran Tamil actor Delhi Ganesh dies at 80. Photo courtesy: R Madhavan X

Veteran Tamil actor Delhi Ganesh died on Saturday night after suffering from health complications. He was 80.

Confirming the news, his family released a statement, saying: "We deeply regret to inform you that our father Mr Delhi Ganesh has passed away on 9th November at around 11 PM."

His mortal remains have been kept in Chennai's Ramapuram and his final rites are scheduled to take place on Monday.

Condoling his death, actor Ranganathan Madhavan posted on X: "A phenomenal actor and an amazing soul departs for the heavens to entertain them. You will be so sorely missed, sir.. Rest in peace for eternity. #DelhiGanesh."

A phenomenal actor and an amazing soul departs for the heavens to entertain them. You will be so sorely missed, sir.. Rest in peace for eternity. #DelhiGanesh  pic.twitter.com/mC4aqGQ2NA  Ranganathan Madhavan (@ActorMadhavan) November 10, 2024

With a career spanning over four decades, Delhi Ganesh acted in over 400 films, becoming one of Tamil cinema's most beloved actors.

Before films, he was a member of the Delhi-based theatre troupe, Dakshina Bharata Nataka Sabha. Ganesh served in the Indian Air Force from 1964 to 1974 before quitting it to act in films. He was given the stage name Delhi Ganesh by K. Balachander.

He was debuted with the film Pattina Pravesam (1976).

Ganesh played the hero in the 1981 film Engamma Maharani. His most popular roles were as a supporting actor or a comedian, but he also played villains in films like Apoorva Sagodharargal (1989).

He was best known for his recurring collaborations with Kamal Haasan including Nayakan (1987), Apoorva Sagodharagal (1989), Michael Madana Kama Rajan (1990), Avvai Shanmugi (1996) and Thenali (2001).

He won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize for his performance in Pasi (1979). He also received various state awards, such as Kalaimamani (1994) from then-Chrin Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.

His other notable films included Sindhu Bhairavi (1985), Sri Raghavendrar (1985), Chatriyan (1990), Iruvar (1997), Aahaa..! (1997), Priyamaanavale (2000), Saamy (2003) and Kaavalan (2011).

Delhi Ganesh also appeared in TV serials and short films.
Alice Schwarzer, who has been among the most famous and influential German feminists since the 1970s, is seated at a cafe in the Berlin neighborhood of Wilmerdorf. After more than an hour of conversation, she offers a wry smile: Before you sits a cancelled person! Schwarzer (Wuppertal, 81 years old) says that in Germany, they have stopped inviting her to talk shows. Her opinions on the war in Ukraine are no longer well-received, even though, she says, they are those of the majority. Many people who previously admired her are puzzled by these views, as well as her thoughts on immigration and trans rights.

Schwarzer, founder, editor and director of the magazine Emma, has had a first-row seat for a half-century of feminist struggle. Her Simone de Beauvoir Today: Conversations, 1972-1982 (Chatto and Windus, 1984), a book of interviews she conducted with the French philosopher, explain as much about Schwarzer as they do Beauvoir. At this point, criticism matters little to her  a point that becomes clear in this interview.

Question. What would Simone de Beauvoir think about the situation in which women find themselves today?

Answer. She would be horrified by the complete victory of capitalism and the unimaginable extent to which women are commodified. The internet and globalization were unthinkable to her. Today we are faced with some problems having multiplied hundredfold. There have also been some advances.

Q. The progress has been enormous.

A. Yes. Women are governmental leaders, theyre going to space. A portion of fathers care for their children. But there has been a step backward as well that has to do, in part, with globalization and capitalism. We are in a phase of profound changes to the relationship between the sexes, and that is always dangerous. We can also see it in the magnitude of the visible rise of violence in relationships. Many things are being perverted in the name of progress.

Q. For example?

A. Transsexuality. There have been a few thousands of people in Germany who were so uncomfortable with their body that they would have done anything to escape it. They had to and have to be assisted in this, and were able to change their gender identity. Ive been speaking out against this since 1983. But on November 1, 2024, a law will take effect in Germany that they already have in Spain, the so-called law of self-determination. They present it as something progressive. Pure mockery.

Q. Why?

A. Sex and gender  biological sex and gender roles  are getting confused. They suggest to anyone who feels uncomfortable with their gender role that they change their sex. Now, any person over the age of 14 can register that they are actually of the opposite sex with the government, and one year later, can change their mind and change back. Tens of thousands of people have already signed up for this, 80% of them girls. They have gender trouble [the title of a book by U.S. theorist Judith Butler]. Its understandable. They dont want to be anorexic creatures dressed in pink. They want to have so-called masculine freedoms. But they could deal with this by merely taking up these freedoms. Its the feminist utopia: to be a free person, independent of ones irreversible biological sex. But instead of that, these young people are destroying their bodies and their physiques with hormones, getting their breasts removed and sometimes even mutilating their genitals, removing their desire via surgery. Only the pharmaceutical industry and unscrupulous doctors benefit from that, to the tune of billions of dollars.

Q. Isnt it an advancement that one can self-determine, decide for themselves?

A. But you cant really change your sex. XX chromosomes continue to be XX and XY continue to be XY. This is about pure ideology: the madness of believing that anything is possible that comes from a capitalist society that suggests anything can be bought. Self-determination is a beautiful word, but it has been completely perverted. I am absolutely certain that Simone de Beauvoir would be with me, 100%. Its written in The Second Sex, on the last page: she wants a world of brotherhood between the sexes, beyond biological difference. Biological difference is an irreversible fact. Transsexuality is cultural appropriation.

Q. You have been criticized for calling immigrants from Muslim countries a threat to Western women, especially after the hundreds of aggressions that were reported as having taken place over New Years Eve 2015 in Cologne.

A. That is a fact, not an opinion. These migrants, who have walked hundreds of miles with their feet, still have to travel those miles with their heads, as Kamel Daoud wrote in the book I edited about Cologne in 2015. These are young men who, understandably, fled economic hardship in the hopes of being able to lead a better life. They come from cultures and countries where women lack legal rights, and violence against women and children is the norm. Like here, 100 years ago. They come and they feel frustrated, they have it harder than they thought. And they see that the women they despise, who are supposed to be beneath them, dare to go out at night. They dont like that in their countries either. Just think of Tahrir Square in Cairo, how women were brutally assaulted, even those who wore veils.

Q. Isnt it dangerous to generalize?

A. What do you mean, generalize? I believe that at its heart, this has to do with pure contempt for foreigners. That love for foreigners that Germans, in particular, profess  that you cant criticize immigrants for having different customs, different cultures  is nothing more than the flip side of despising foreigners. Because this means that that the immigrant will be the other forever, the one you cant expect anything of. Thats the state of things: your daughter cant go to the club, your wife has to wear a scarf on her head. But I take the entire world in equal seriousness, I apply the same standards to immigrants as to men who were born here.

Q. And they see you as a Putin sympathizer due to your opinion on the war in Ukraine.

A. Putin sympathizer? If there is a conflict or a war in which 1,000 people are dying every day, you have to understand your adversary, their motives, and what theyre looking to achieve, dont you? And both sides have to arrive at a compromise.

Q. Putin started it.

A. Yes of course. But now war is here. And Ukraine is the first victim, it has been destroyed. Military leaders on both sides are in agreement that the war can only end through negotiations, not military action. Why not now?

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On Sunday morning, folks in Chennai learned that well-known actor Delhi Ganesh had died at home on Saturday night at the age of 80. He was not only a well-known actor, but also admired by his colleagues in the Tamil cinema business. The actor last appeared in Kamal Haasan's Indian 2, which was released a few months ago. His funeral will be place on Monday, November 11.

Tributes pour in for Delhi Ganesh

Celebrities from Tamil cinema, politicians, and fans have expressed their condolences on social media following his unexpected death.

Tamil star Karthi wrote, Saddened by the demise of Delhi Ganesh, sir. His iconic roles in numerous films and his ability to bring to life, unforgettable characters on screen will forever be etched in the history of Tamil cinema. You will be deeply missed, sir.

On Sunday morning, Karthi and his father, renowned actor Sivakumar, paid their condolences at Delhi Ganesh's residence.

Saddened by the demise of Delhi Ganesh sir. His iconic roles in numerous films and his ability to bring to life, unforgettable characters on screen will forever be etched in the history of Tamil cinema. You will be deeply missed sir.  Karthi (@Karthi_Offl) November 10, 2024

Actor Sriman was among the first to post, saying, Versatile actor, Respected Delhi Ganesh sir. May your soul rest in peace. Physically we will miss you. But your performance your screen presence will be alive for ever. Miss you sir.

Versatile actor Respected

Delhi Ganesh sir 

May your soul rest in peace

Physically we will miss you

But your performance your screen presence will be alive for ever

Miss you sir pic.twitter.com/69wpyK4MOq  actor sriman (@ActorSriman) November 10, 2024

Meanwhile, Shubh Mangal Saadan director RS Prasanna wrote, Heartbreaking to even think the LEGEND is no more. Delhi Ganesh Sir - one of the most encouraging, humble, supportive, positive and unbelievably talented thespians of humor and drama. Kalayana Samayal Saadham would not exist without your generosity Sir. Om Shanti. Love You Sir.

Dear DELHI GANESH MY SINCERE PRAYERS FOR YOUR GOOD SOUL TO ATTAIN SATHGADHI. OHM SHANTHI. YOU WILL BE LIVING IN THIS DIGITAL MEDIA. OHM SHANTHI  pic.twitter.com/Dr8g6ftRgB  S.VE.SHEKHER (@SVESHEKHER) November 10, 2024

Here's what some other people from the industry wrote

My most favourite actor my roll model Miss U #DelhiGanesh sir #RIPDelhiGanesh pic.twitter.com/Rtoc5UA1Tl  Kaali Venkat (@kaaliactor) November 10, 2024

Also read: Delhi Ganesh passes away: Internet remembers iconic scenes, calls him 'best character artist'

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending.
Sri Lankan Airlines' campaign presenting the "Ramayana Trail," a tour through historic locales associated with the Ramayana story, has won hearts on the internet. The five-minute commercial depicts a grandma reading the story of the Hindu epic to her grandson from a children's book. The grandson inquires about the island where Ravan took Sita after kidnapping her. The grandmother then informs him about the kingdom of Ravan in modern-day Sri Lanka.

What does the viral ad depict?

Relive the epic of The Ramayana Trail



Embark on a journey through Sri Lankas legendary landscapes with SriLankan Holidays, offering a fully customized experience tailored just for you. Every step of your adventure is designed to bring out the grandeur and glory in the ancient pic.twitter.com/jctUhc4JKn  SriLankan Airlines (@flysrilankan) November 8, 2024

"Every place in the Ramayana is real. Today, we know Lanka as Sri Lanka," she explains, as the movie shows images of Ravan's Cave near Ella town, where Sita is thought to have stayed before being taken to the Ashoka Vatika inside the demon king's palace.

The film also shows the Seetha Amman Temple, also known as the Ashok Vatika Sita Temple, which is maintained by Indian Tamils in Sri Lanka.

The film also mentioned the bridge built by Rama's army to reach Lanka, specifically the Ram Setu bridge that connects Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu to the shore of Sri Lanka. "Is the bridge still standing," the grandson inquires. "Yes, you can still see it today," the grandmother responds.

The two also discuss a portion of the mountain that dropped from Hanuman's hands when he transported it from the Himalayas to deliver Sanjeevani herb to save Lakshman.

How did people on the internet react?

Many people believe that Rumassala Hill is one of those fell shards since the therapeutic flora on the hill are unique to the area. The advertisement impressed X users, who commended Sri Lankan Airlines' initiative to promote spiritual tourism through the Ramayana myth. Here's what some people wrote.

Im thrilled to see the revival of the Ramayana tourism project in Sri Lanka! As one of the early contributors to this initiative back in 2008, After 16 years, its heartening to witness its resurgence.  #RamayanaTrails #SriLankaTourism #CulturalConnect  Brian Joseph (@BrianWJoseph) November 9, 2024

I was planning a trip to Tokyo with friends next year.



But this advertisement made me to change my plans to Sri Lanka now.



Didn't know, that Sri Lankans have conserved those historical places till date.



Very well made advertisement.



Thank you.



Jai Shri Ram.  Anshul Kumar (@AnshulK33288086) November 10, 2024

Congratulations to the @flysrilankan family for this inspiring and wonderful video..  SHUBHAM RAJPUT  (@skrajput5502) November 10, 2024

This is awesome, I will prefer to choose SriLankan Airlines over others  Kalesh (@Kaa1i) November 10, 2024

Great work by Srilankan Airlines  Prashanth (@prasblr24) November 10, 2024

Also read: Katchatheevu: Why The Tiny Island India Gave Away To Sri Lanka Is Important? EXPLAINED

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending.
In the most recent episode of The Great Indian Kapil Sharma Show, Kapil Sharma presented a star-studded panel that included business luminaries Narayana Murthy, Sudha Murty, Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal, and his wife Grecia Munoz. Known for his wit and witty quips, Kapil didn't miss the opportunity to delight and taunt his esteemed visitors.

What did Deepinder Goyal say about meeting his wife?

Kapil began the interview by asking Deepinder how he met his wife, Grecia Munoz, who is originally from Mexico. Deepinder smiled nostalgically and said, "I was unmarried for a long time. My buddies would set me up on dates and always tell me not to settle down. When Grecia initially arrived in Delhi, a buddy called and told me, 'There's a girl here you should meet.

When I agreed, he remarked, 'Make sure to meet her; you'll end up marrying her.' It was his foresight. He had always warned me not to become serious, but this time he remarked, "You must marry if you find a girl like her." I was intrigued to meet her, but then...

Which Indian dish Grecia likes the best?

Credit: Flickr

When Kapil asked Grecia if she liked Punjabi food, the conversation became more animated. Grecia's eyes widened as she said, "I love Indian food because of its variety." Archana Puran Singh, Kapil's co-host, leaned forward and inquired about Grecia's favourite meal, to which she replied, "Chole Bhature."

As the conversation progressed, Deepinder shared a funny detail regarding Zomato's innovative notifications. "Sometimes, my romantic messages to Gia serve as inspiration for the app's notifications," The event ended with hearty laughs and a deeper look into the Goyals' personal lives, which left the audience happy.

Also read: 'What type of extortion is this, Deepinder Goyal?' Internet reacts as Zomato hikes platform fee for festive season

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs, also known as P. Diddy or Puff Daddy, has pushed a 'far more robust' bail package after three failed attempts. The music mogul's desperate attempts to secure bail so far have been met with disappointments, with Judge Subramanian denying Combs' request for a gag order against his victims and their lawyers, ruling the demand unprecedented' and unwarranted. Claiming that the rapper does not pose a threat to society, Diddy's legal team has now proposed a new bail package as he seeks to be freed from jail ahead of his impending trial next year. The 55-year-old is currently lodged in New York's Metropolitan Detention Centre, where he's been held for eight weeks on criminal sex trafficking charges.

Federal judge rejects Diddy's gag order request in sex trafficking case

On Friday, the federal judge rejected a gag order in Diddy's sexual trafficking case. Judge Subramanian said that what Diddy was seeking an 'incredibly broad' and would have 'sweeping First Amendment implications.' "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. A gag order  is an extreme remedy to be issued only as a last resort, the judge wrote.

What's Diddy's new bail proposal?

Following the major blow, Diddy's legal team claimed lawyers behind the civil cases had made 'shockingly prejudicial and false allegations' about Combs, adding their client has a constitutional right to a fair trial, free from the influence of prejudicial statements in the press.

His team has now proposed a revised bail package to secure his release from jail. The new $50 million bail package, backed by his Florida mansion which was raided by the FBI, includes home detention with round-the-clock security monitoring and severe restrictions on Combs' contact with individuals, limiting interactions to only his legal counsel, per ABC News. The latest comes after the judge previously cited concerns that Combs poses a danger to the community and may obstruct justice or intimidate witnesses.

MDC-Brooklyn lacks adequate resources: Rapper's legal team

Combs' lawyers have also argued that the Brooklyn federal jail where he is currently being held lacks adequate resources for him to review the extensive video and photographic evidence crucial to building his defence. The MDC-Brooklyn has a long history of problems. In late October, a number of electronic devices, drugs and associated paraphernalia, and homemade weapons were found during a sweep.

Sean Combs faces serious allegations of sex trafficking and abuse, with a trial set for May 2025. Despite multiple lawsuits and countless allegations, the rapper and his legal team have vehemently denied the chagres.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
The world's most popular YouTubers, James Stephand Donaldson (aka MrBeast) and Logan Paul, arrived in India early on Sunday morning. A video of MrBeast enjoying a warm reception from the paparazzi at Mumbai Airport is currently circulating on the Internet. Logan, on the other hand, was seen in the city.

MrBeast and Logan Paul land in India

The now-viral video was shared by Viral Bhayani, an Instagram account dedicated to celebrity sightings, and depicts MrBeast wearing a black hoodie, shorts, and white shoes. While conversing with a couple of them, the YouTuber expressed his excitement to be in India.

Another video shows Logan Paul and his team out for a walk in Bandra. Paul was photographed exiting his automobile while wearing a white T-shirt, beige jeans, and sneakers. He grinned for the camera.

Why are the biggest American YouTubers coming to India?

For the uninformed, MrBeast recently announced his journey to India on social media. In a video, he stated that he will be in India on November 10th, along with IShowSpeed, JJ 'KSI', and Logan Paul, to debut "Feastable" and "Prime" in the country. In the same video, renowned YouTuber CarryMinati makes the same announcement in Hindi.

According to Mid-Day news, MrBeast would offer his chocolate brand, Feastable, to India, which he founded in 2022. Logan Paul and KSI are launching "Prime," a hydration brand.

They will also collaborate with Ajey Nagar, alias CarryMinati, for an event in Mumbai. MrBeast swept the Internet by storm in October when he partnered with 14 of India's greatest content creators, including CarryMinati, on a comedy series called Mr Beast Parody ft Indian Creators.

Also read: MrBeast stuns fans by reaching the peak of the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, watch

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending.
The Obidient Movement, a group supporting Labour Partys presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is confident about his victory in the 2027 presidential election.

Tanko Yunusa, National Coordinator of the movement, expressed this optimism during a good governance symposium in Onitsha, Anambra State on Saturday, citing Obis impressive track record.

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Yunusa emphasized that the movement will push for electoral reform, ensure adequate representation at polling units, and advocate for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman to be appointed by the masses, not the President.

He believes Obis potential for victory is heightened by President Bola Ahmed Tinubus perceived failures across Nigerias regions.

READ ALSO: Remi Tinubu Debunks Claims Of Organising National Prayer, Says Its Misleading

Prof. Pat Utomi, the symposiums keynote speaker, stressed that since traditional avenues have failed tlo produce effective leadership, a grassroots movement like Obidient Movement is necessary to drive change. Utomi noted, this movement is about sacrifice, and together we can make Nigeria a new one.

The symposium aimed to reposition the Obidient Movement for greater impact, with Labour Party gubernatorial aspirants Valentine Ozigbo, John Nwosu, and Ikenna Azomcine emphasizing the need for change in Anambra State.

As Nigeria looks toward the 2027 elections, the Obidient Movements strategy and determination may significantly influence the countrys political landscape.
Bobrisky, a popular Nigerian internet personality and cross-dresser, has recently shared some exciting news with his fans on Instagram.

He mentioned that he has been gaining a lot of followers from Hollywood, expressing gratitude to these celebrities for recognizing his unique style.

Taking to his Instagram story section on Saturday he wrote, Have been seeing a lot of Hollywood stars adding me up here lately, thank you so much for adding up d most stylish girl in Nigeria Instagram.

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Hollywood is the heart of the American film industry, located in Los Angeles, California.

READ MORE: No Actor In Nigeria Can Buy Range Rover, Mansion From Acting Fees Alone  Bimbo Manuel

Its known for its major film studios and is home to many famous actors and directors.

He also informed his fans that he would be taking a break from social media for a while but reassured them not to worry, as he plans to return soon with more fun and interesting content.

Im on break for now, Im coming back on ur timeline soon, he added.

SEE POST:
The military regime in Burkina Faso is considering reinstating the death penalty, a government source revealed to AFP on Saturday.

This move comes six years after the West African country abolished capital punishment in 2018.

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The latest execution in Burkina Faso occurred in 1988, according to Amnesty International.

A government source stated that reintroducing capital punishment to the penal code is being considered and will be proposed to the Transitional Legislative Assembly (ALT) for adoption.

However, no date has been set for this proposal.

Justice Minister Rodrigue Bayala confirmed on Friday that the issue of the death penalty is being discussed and will be implemented in the draft criminal code.

READ ALSO: Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso Remain Our Members, No Exit Notification  ECOWAS

This development follows a bill passed in July that included plans to ban homosexuality.

The move has sparked concerns amidst a regional trend of increasing use of the death penalty.

Amnesty International reported in October that recorded executions in Africa have more than tripled, with a 66% increase in death sentences.

Despite this trend, progress has been made in abolishing the death penalty in some African countries.

Twenty-four countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have abolished the death penalty for all crimes, while two others, the rights group said, have abolished it for ordinary crimes only.

Additionally, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Gambia are taking steps towards abolition, with bills and constitutional amendments underway.
Outgoing Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has advised incoming Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo to prioritize security above politics, emphasizing that neglecting security will lead to problems.

Obaseki shared these words of wisdom during a security meeting with state security agency heads in Benin.

My advice to the incoming administration is to take security seriously and never prioritize politics over security because there will be problems as citizens need to demand a secure environment, Obaseki stated.

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He attributed his administrations success in improving security to collaboration with security agencies, noting that together, they changed the narrative about security in the state.

READ ALSO: I Wasnt Invited  Obaseki Faults APCs Lawless Inauguration Plans For Okpebholo

Obaseki highlighted his administrations achievements, saying, In the last eight years, my administration has prioritized security and invested hugely in the states security architecture, transforming the state into one of Nigerias safest states to live in and do business.

He also credited the secure environment for the states domestic growth and attractiveness to investors.

The outgoing governor expressed gratitude to security agencies for their cooperation, which has made the state safe for all.

Obasekis administration leveraged technology to enhance security, documenting incidents, reviewing them, and responding effectively.

In a call to action, Obaseki emphasized the need for collective participation in nation-building, stating, No one can fix Nigeria but us.
Edo State Governor-Elect, Monday Okpebholo, has accused the Godwin Obaseki administration for allegedly frustrating the peaceful transition of power ahead of his swearing-in on Tuesday.

Okpebholos statement is coming following some claims by Obaseki on Friday, that hes yet to get the invite for the swearing-in ceremony of Okpebholo, scheduled for Tuesday.

Obaseki alleged that the All Progressives Congress, were planning the inauguration without consulting or involving the state in the preparations.

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Okpebholo in reaction, slammed the outgoing government, saying that its utterance is reckless.

According to him, such statement should not be coming from a man who has yet to place a call to congratulate his successor long after the election has ended.

This was disclosed in a statement by his media aide, Godspower Inegbe, on Sunday.

READ MORE: Alleged Fraud: EFCC Plans To Arrest Me Next Week, But Im Not Afraid  Gov Obaseki

He said: Again, Obaseki also claimed that Senator Okpebholo did not invite him to the inauguration slated for next Tuesday.

This is laughable, absurd, and questionable. Since Okpebholo was declared the winner, Obaseki has employed every means to frustrate a peaceful transfer of power.

As a sitting governor, Obaseki should tell Edo people and Nigerians if he has ever invited the governor-elect to Government House for a meeting or a tour as a responsible man.

Has Obaseki called Senator Okpebholo to congratulate him since he won the election?

We urge Edo people to disregard Obasekis reckless statements and support the incoming administration of Senator Okpebholo to remedy the many wrongs of this government.
The 17 Brigade Commander of the Nigerian Army in Katsina State, Brigadier General Babatunde Omopariola, has urged violent extremists and bandits, terrorizing the peace of the state to end their activities.

He also noted that there will be severe punishment for anyone found culpable of any incriminating offence, if they refuse to surrender to the military.

Omopariola led this out when he handed over nine rescued victims of kidnapping to officials of the Katsina State Government in a brief ceremony held at the Brigade Headquarters, Katsina.

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Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the State Governor on Victims of Banditry and IDPs, Saidu Danja, commended all those who participated in the rescue mission.

He said: These are some of the successes you have been recording as a result of your synergy.

READ MORE: Bandit Attacks Foiled In Katsina, Two Vigilantes Killed

His Excellency the Governor, has been receiving cooperation from all angles of the security agencies and will give you all the necessary support and cooperation to achieve your desired result.

Meanwhile, one of the rescued victims, identified as Inusa Salisu, said that he spent 90 days in the hands of the bandits after they captured him while working on his farmland located five kilometres away from Sabuwa LGA of the state.

He said: The bandits, seven in their numbers, riding on five motorcycles, chased me and my grownup son.

Within the 90 days period of our stay, we were eating animal feeds.

They killed five people in my presence including my 20-year-old son. I didnt touch water talk less of taking a bath within the period.
A new terrorist group, Lakurawa, has killed at least 15 people in an attack on Mera village in Kebbis Augie LGA.

Nafiu Abubakar, spokesperson for the Kebbi state police command, told TheCable over the phone on Saturday that the attack took place at 2 p.m. Friday.

The terrorists attacked the village around 2 p.m. on Friday.

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Abubakar said, adding that a significant number of cows were also rustled during the assault.

He said Bello Sanni, Kebbi state police commissioner, has mobilised a team of officers to the area in an attempt to apprehend the perpetrators.

Investigations are still ongoing and the findings will be made public, he added.

On Saturday, the 15 victims were buried in a burial attended by several notable personalities, including Kebbi states deputy governor, Abubakar Tafida; Argungus Emir, Samaila Mera; and the states police commissioner.

The Lakurawa gang is believed to operate in numerous locations of northern Nigeria, including several local government areas in Sokoto state.

READ MORE: Bandit Attacks Foiled In Katsina, Two Vigilantes Killed

According to Ahmed Rufai, spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, the armed gang operates in five LGAs in Sokoto: Gudu, Tangaza, Binji, Illela, and one other.

He said the group was highly armed with sophisticated weapons.

On the same day, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) in Abuja released a statement naming nine suspected members of the organisation as wanted.

According to Edward Buba, director of defence media operations, the Lakurawa group has began infiltrating northern Sokoto and Kebbi from neighbouring Niger Republic and Mali.

He claimed that Nigerian and Niger Republic military collaboration was hampered by the recent coup in Niger Republic.


Edo States outgoing Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has been snubbed for his successors inauguration, sparking a war of words between the two camps.

Crusoe Osagie, Obasekis Special Adviser on Media Projects, on Sunday again slammed governor-elect Monday Okpebholos administration for excluding the outgoing governor from the inauguration plans.

Osagie alleged that Okpebholos team aims to orchestrate a heist of government assets and pin it on Obaseki.

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He posited that Okpebholo and his aides shouid focus on organising their alleged exhorbitant N5 billion inauguration ceremony and leave Governor Godwin Obaseki out of their petty politics.

We have maintained decorum in the handing over process and the incoming government is having non of it because they also intended to stage a heist of government assets with the intention to point fingers at the outgoing government.

READ ALSO: Rivers Crisis Orchestrated By God  Gov Fubara

It is quite telling that we are back to the era where unconscionable spending sprees, jamborees and parties are the preoccupation of the government in Edo state, Osagie stated.

He expressed concern over the incoming governments alleged N5 billion commitments to vendors for the inauguration, saying, It would indeed be a very sad day for Edo people who have hitherto witnessed prudent and judicious use of public funds to drive economic development in the state, to have their resources frittered in this manner.

We are not surprised. In fact, we would only have been perplexed if they didnt go this route in attempting to malign the government.

Okpebholo is set to take office on Tuesday, succeeding Obaseki as Edo States Governor.
Pedro Netos strike cancelled out Gabriel Martinellis opener as Arsenal were held to a dramatic 1-1 draw at Chelsea on Sunday.

The Gunners are now winless in four Premier League games as their bid for a first title since 2004 is at risk of unravelling.

Enzo Marescas side were boosted in the London Derby as Cole Palmer was declared fit to start against Mikel Artetas side.

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His strike from 25 yards was brilliantly tipped over by David Raya.

The home side were creating the better chances, as Noni Madueke glanced a header wide at the far post before Malo Gusto missed the best opportunity of the half.

READ MORE: Salahs Strike Helps Defiant Liverpool Rescue Point Against Arsenal

Netos cross picked out the full-back but only placed his header over the crossbar from inside the penalty area.

Arsenal, who had Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice back in the starting XI, grew into the half and Martinellis shot was kept out by Robert Sanchez, before the Gunners thought they had the lead.

Chelsea switched off as Rices quick free-kick released Kai Havertz into the penalty area and the former Chelsea forward finished into the bottom corner.

However, Arsenals celebrations were cut short after a VAR check correctly ruled the goal out for offside against the Gunners striker.

Both sides pushed for a winner and the best chance fell to Arsenal.

Odegaards pass released Saliba into an advanced position and the defenders cut back picked out Trossard inside the six-yard box.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that both Chelsea and Arsenal are now nine points behind the leagues leaders, Liverpool, who defeated Aston Villa 2-0 on Saturday.

Earlier today, Manchester United also secured three points against Leicester City.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have dismantled two major cross-border drug trafficking syndicates in different parts of the country.

It was gathered that the development is coming, following months of intelligence gathering and painstaking surveillance by its officers.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that six leaders of the cartels were also apprehended in Adamawa, Anambra, and Lagos states, as well as Cameroon.

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NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

Femi noted that the group had been under the agencys surveillance for several months as they were major suppliers of drugs to terrorist groups operating in Nigeria and Cameroon.

READ MORE: NDLEA Seizes N4.4bn Worth Of Cocaine Hidden In Ethiopian Airlines Plane

He said: After months of intelligence gathering and painstaking surveillance, operatives of the NDLEA have dismantled two major cross-border drug trafficking syndicates, with cocaine and opioids worth billions of naira recovered. Six leaders of the cartels were arrested in different parts of the country.

The syndicates, which include Nigerians based in Mubi, Adamawa State; Onitsha, Anambra State; and Lagos State, as well as Cameroonians, came under the NDLEAs radar after they were suspected of being major suppliers of drugs to terrorist groups operating in Nigeria and Cameroon.

Leaders of the syndicates so far arrested include Ibrahim Bawuro, Najib Ibrahim, Ibrahim Umar, Nelson Anayo, Ezeh Martin, and Adejumo Ishola.

Intelligence gathered revealed that some psychoactive substances, including tramadol, were often sourced by Ibrahim Bawuro and Ibrahim Najib from a notorious drug dealer in Onitsha, Nelson Udechukwu Anayo, and were then packed and concealed in vehicles at the premises of Ezeh Amaechi Martin, an associate of Udechukwu.

The duo of Ibrahim Bawuro and Ibrahim Najib would transport the drugs from Onitsha to Yola and subsequently to other parts of the North and Cameroon in specially constructed false compartments of vehicles, which travelled from the East to the North at night.
The rulling All Progressives Congress has told opposition parties in Nigeria that they should not give themselves hope following the victory of former United States of America president, Donald Trump at the countrys recent presidential election.

Trump, 78, had defeated Vice President, Kamala Harris at the polls to became the 47th president and the oldest person ever to be elected into the White House.

Reacting to the development on Thursday, National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifo, described the US election, as a true test of democracy.

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He added that Independent National Electoral Commission has a lot to learn from the just concluded poll.

Ifoh said that it was interesting to see how the American voting public ignored the incumbency factor, which is still a big deal in Africa, and specifically Nigerias election system.

Reacting to LPs claim, the National Publicity Director of the APC, Bala Ibrahim, during an interview with PUNCH on Saturday, warned opposition parties not to get carried away with the outcome of the U.S. election.

READ MORE: US Election: Yul Edochie Hails Trumps Victory, Says Hes Epitome Of Grace

Ibrahim said that the electoral process between the two countries are different, adding that by the time Nigerians begin to harvest the reward of the economic reforms by President Bola Tinubu, they would applaud and urge him to continue.

He said: With the way and manner this administration of APC is working assiduously, bringing in new reforms and changes that are painful initially, we will reap the gains and fruits in the long run.

We expect to start seeing the fruits of these reforms right around the time of the election.

That should be around 2026 and 2027. It is at that time people will start clapping for the party and the president.

It will be almost impossible for someone to come from the outside, particularly an outsider that has failed the country before; an outsider that cannot contain its own crisis, to think of defeating the incumbent. It will be very difficult.

The APC and the president are very much aware of this expectation and shenanigans of the opposition, but it is not to say that the party and the president are sleeping. No, they are strategising ahead.

So, when we get to the bridge, we will see who has the strongest stride to cross it. And I assure you, the APC will not be found wanting. It will not be caught napping.
Famous artist Peter Okoye, often known as Mr. P, has provided proof to refute his other half, Rudeboys ownership claim of his most recent song, Winning.

It should be noted that Rudeboy accused 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.

In a fresh development, Peter Okoye has responded to Rudeboys ownership claim of the song.

On his Instagram page on Saturday, he detailed his meeting with the songs producer, Vampire, describing the creative process and events that led to the release.

According to Peter, he discovered Vampire on social media, who is based in Ghana, and financed his travel tickets to Nigeria for a music collaboration, claiming to have composed five songs, including Winning, before the producer arrived in Nigeria.

To back up his claim, Mr. P provided an audio recording of a chat with Vampire, in which the producer confirmed his narrative of the tracks evolution.

READ MORE: Producer Clarifies Role In Paul Okoyes Song Theft Allegation Against Twin Brother Peter

The statement emphasises Mr. Ps commitment to uniqueness and honesty in his music, refuting suggestions that Winning was stolen from Rudeboys forthcoming album.

He wrote, If you have followed my journey as a solo artiste and even before, you will notice that I give people their due credit where necessary as I am a firm believer in team work; I know my strengths, where I need assistance or guidance I am not afraid to ask or work with those who are strong in the areas I am not; this includes the process of creating music, executing concepts and ideas etc.

I will always give people their due credit for their contributions to my projects. Sometime in June 2022, I stumbled upon a producer based in Ghana named Vampire, and had my team and I also personally reached out to him via DM, that I liked his work and was interested in working with him. Before getting him to Lagos, I presented the idea of this producer to my twin brother and our team, getting their buy in before I got him flight tickets and flew him to Lagos. It was when he got into Lagos I asked if he would be open to working on P-SQUAREs next album project, that the 5 songs I had penned down from my end to be presented to our A&R team for the album project these were: JAIYE, WINNING, FIND SOMEBODY, LEGENDARY, and ATTENTION, based on tracks he had produced. We started with my own 5 songs that needed to be submitted for PSQUAREs album, which he produced for me:

The idea for WINNING came from one of his beats that I discovered. I came up with the idea of changing the chord progression from the original version to what it is today with my own producer Goldswarm who is the co-producer of the song WINNING. I had also engaged a songwriter known as CALYPSO who wrote and composed the song WINNING and sent it to me on the beats through a voice note. And we started working on the song. Mind you, he worked on some other songs that were to make the album as well, so my brother was aware of his input to the production as we were all in the studio during this period. Then when my twin brother heard the song WINNING, which we had already created the hook/chorus for, he then wanted to start creating a verse. Our agreed-on process for each song presented by us was: arrange the song, leave a verse for the other person, then we both harmonise the chorus and refrain bits together.

He wasnt supposed to until Calypso and I finished it as part of my own song submission to the LEGENDARY ALBUM. After that, we finished and shared verses among ourselves. I do not wish to get into details of why the album didnt see the light of day till date but it takes a different level of psychosis for one to steal what is theirs already; as since the release of this song, I have been labeled and called all sorts online and they have even gone as far as asking for the song to be taken down on various platforms, to what end? It was never part of his 5, now 6 (according to him) songs for submission, yet when he felt I was not interested in making music because I chose my sanity over the constant berating and drama that seemed to come up over creative direction in the group.

If it were his song, why do I have all the music data including initial conversations and picture/video evidence on the above-mentioned titles/songs? Which of his songs do I have its data in my possession in that case? All because he was hoping for me to quit music. Even when I learnt that he had removed my vocals on songs we did together, suggesting that he sing the entire songs including the ones that he planned to present for the album without my input (a very absurd idea as we both make up the duo not just the one), but we both perform them on stage, I begun to have a rethink of the entire situation. Let me leave this here. Maybe because I was not posting anything music related on my social media page for over 4 months. He believes I have lost interest in music.

I took a breather to get my mind and head in the right space and when that was done, my epiphany was WINNING!

My prayer is that we all win, I want it for us all, I am in a good place mentally and creatively now, allow me enjoy and celebrate my wins big and small. I celebrate you and yours too! Enough of the negativity! All I want to do is release my music, conduct my business and live my life in peacenot every time drama. Love and Light Lets keep #winning

Just As I said in my open letter three months ago, Allow me to do my music in peace. Now that I have a new singles out, please allow me to enjoy my new single WINNING in peace. Enough of the negativity!

WINNING is out on all music platforms; continue streaming and dont get distracted. Love yall, peace WINNING IS OUT AND AVAILABLE ON ALL MUSIC PLATFORM. Click link here https://mrp.ffm.to/winning-attention

Lets continue WINNING Together

Link in my bio 

Watch him speak below

https://www.instagram.com/p/DCKg-yZOUlU/?igsh=a2t0M3c5aXMzdTU5
Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has said that God allowed the crisis in Rivers State to free it from what he described as political siege.

Fubara led this out while speaking at the thanksgiving service to celebrate the appointment of His Royal Majesty, Eze Chike Worlu Wodo, as the Chairman of Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council.

He added that the current challenge is to allow God perfect his purpose in granting the state economic growth.

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READ MORE: Fubara Deserves Our Sympathy  Dele Momodu Says Amidst Wikes Controversy

It was gathered that the service was held at the Shepards Hill Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God at Mgbuoba Community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area on Sunday.

Fubara said: I also believe that what you are calling trouble is not trouble to me. I see it as Gods purpose for a new direction for our State

He has taken us higher, right from the first day, which is why, rather than getting weak, we are getting stronger and bolder everyday.

We want to finish our work, and our story will be those who led with the fear of God. We might not be perfect in everything, but in the end, there should be a reason why the angels should not allow our bodies to be taken by the devil.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that Governor Fubara has been in a loggerhead with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

The face-off, which has led to creation of factions within the state assembly.
Former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola appeal to youths to remain in Nigeria and contribute to its growth and development.

Speaking to those seeking greener pastures abroad, he emphasized that true leaders dont abandon their country, even in difficult times.

Fashola made this call during the 8th and 9th combined convocation ceremonies of Elizade University in Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, on Saturday.

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He used the examples of successful Nigerians who have remained in the country despite past hardships, asking rhetorically, Why did Mrs. Folorunso Alakija stay? Why didnt Chief Tunde Afolabi, who has made significant contributions to Nigeria, leave? Why are they still here?

READ ALSO: Workers Deserve Reasonable Minimum Wage Adjustments  Fashola

He pointed out that individuals like Chief Ade-Ojo, founder of Elizade University, had faced difficult times in their youth but chose to stay and invest in the nation.

If Chief Ade-Ojo had left Nigeria, Elizade University wouldnt exist today, Fashola noted.

Michael Ade-Ojo, the founder of Elizade University, also expressed his pride in the institutions role in developing world-class graduates and contributing to the nations education system.

Fasholas message is particularly relevant in todays economic climate, where many Nigerian youths are seeking opportunities abroad.
Alfie Pollitt's All-Star Trio with Robert Kenyatta provided entertainment at the grand opening of The Yard in Philadelphia on Saturday. Read more

Pianist Alfie Pollitt was just 19 when he sat in on a set with John Coltrane at Philadelphias Peps Musical Bar at Broad and South Streets around 1962.

On Saturday, roughly 62 years later, Pollitt, now 81, joined in a set playing jazz at The Yard on John Coltrane Street.

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He was very humble, Pollitt said of Coltrane, a world-renowned jazz saxophonist. He was always consuming music, always exploring. Pollitts group played Coltranes songs: My Favorite Things, Naima, and The Promise.

The Yard is located at 1515-1517 N. 33rd St., on what had been a vacant lot, just a couple doors away from the John Coltrane House at 1511 N. 33rd St.

People from Strawberry Mansion and beyond said they loved the look and promise of The Yard, which is a project of the Strawberry Mansion Community Development Corp.

This is great. Its beautiful, said Willie Newson, 74, and the block caption of the 3000 block of Dauphin Street.

This place was abandoned for years, he said. He saw The Yard as a place where longtime residents could get to know new people who were moving into the area as it undergoes gentrification.

Maybe its a place where people can come together, get to know each other and build unity, Newson said.

Legal battles resolved

While The Yard was being celebrated as a place for community gatherings, there were reminders that the recent legal battles over ownership of Coltranes house left lingering feelings.

Coltrane moved with his family  his mother, his aunt, and his cousin  into what is now known as 1511 N. 33rd St., in 1952. He lived there until 1958, when he moved to New York.

But Coltranes mother and Cousin Mary Alexander continued to live in the house across from Fairmount Park.

Aminta Early-Gadson, whose father, Norman Gadson, bought the Coltrane House from Alexander in 2004, said she was thrilled to see The Yard active at last.

This is something weve been working on for five years, Gadson said. I think I shed some happy tears.

Originally, Gadson said, she and the Strawberry Mansion CDC had a partnership to develop the Coltrane House into a museum and they wanted a backyard space that was to have stretched all the way from 1515-1517 to the Coltrane House at 1511 N. 33rd.

But a lawsuit initiated by Coltranes sons, Ravi and Oran Coltrane, was settled in March, transferring ownership of the Coltrane House to the sons.

The lawsuit claimed that Alexander never had the legal right to sell the house to Gadson.

However, Aminta Gadson said there are still plans for a Cultural Arts Center at 1515 N. 33rd St., the rowhouse that is adjacent to The Yard space, where young people can take music and art lessons.

A time for music

But the legal battles were mostly forgotten on Saturday as the music played on.

Arthur Allen Edens came from Northeast Philadelphia to listen to the music. He said he is a longtime jazz fan and had gotten an invitation from drummer Brother Kenyatta, who also performed on Saturday. The Lovett Hines Legacy Ensemble featured young musicians. Most of them were in their teens, but one tenor saxophonist was only 11 years old.

Steve Horton traveled from Germantown to the opening. He said he has worked in community development for years and wanted to support the work of the Strawberry Mansion CDC.

Its exciting and theres a lot of energy about this, Horton said.

Lillie Rogers, who lives in Strawberry Mansion, also took in the activities for children including a book lending area, and art on the walkway that promotes learning, such as helping the organization called Tiny WPA build small picnic tables.

Its almost like a family reunion vibe, said Rogers. I hope this is just the beginning and there will be many more good things happening here.

This story was updated to remove a reference to a music education program that Lovett Hines is no longer affiliated with. He is now teaching as director of the Lovett Hines Legacy Ensemble.
As hundreds of acres continue to burn, a man is in custody and accused of starting the fire near Six Flags Great Adventure, one of several drought-related wildfires in New Jersey.

Richard Shashaty, 37, of Brick Township, is charged with arson and firearms violations after allegedly firing prohibited Dragons Breath shards linked to what authorities are calling the Shotgun Fire in Jackson Township.

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On Wednesday, Jackson Township first responders were called to the Central Jersey Rifle Range for a fire that would devour about 350 acres in less than a week, officials said.

The fire was caused by magnesium shards of a Dragons Breath 12-gauge shotgun round igniting available combustibles on the berm of the shooting range. The firing of this type of incendiary or tracer ammunition is prohibited in the State of New Jersey, law enforcement and forest fire officials said in a statement.

The fire is presumed to have started in the southwest corner of the rifle range, according to the statement by the Ocean County Prosecutors Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, New Jersey Forest Fire Service, and the New Jersey State Fire Marshals Office. It resulted in 15 structures being evacuated and the closure of Stump Tavern Road.

On Saturday, Shashaty turned himself in at the Jackson Township Police Department headquarters, accompanied by his attorney, officials said. He was transferred to the Ocean County Jail, where he awaits a detention hearing.

The Shotgun Fire is just one of multiple wildfires across New Jersey. Heavy smoke from fires in South Jersey, including the Pheasant Run fire in Gloucester County and the Bethany Run Wildfire in Burlington and Camden Counties, prompted Philadelphias Office of Emergency Management to issue a warning Sunday morning to use precaution if outdoors and close doors and windows.

In Camden County, Commissioner Jonathan Young issued a statement early Sunday afternoon saying some residents may have woken up to the smell of smoke and seen small flickers of ash from the fires burning throughout South Jersey. He said the 360-acre Bethany Run fire on the Voorhees and Evesham border was contained over the weekend, but that other fires throughout the state, including one in West Milford, Passaic County, involving 2,500 acres, might continue to carry the smell and ash our way but stressed that Camden County is not under any threat.

In Pennsylvanias Berks County, Sunday marked the third day in a row that firefighters battled the Neversink Mountain fire near Reading. That fire forced some evacuations through Saturday morning and resulted in a non-fire-related injury to a firefighter.

Through these fires, rain has been the missing hero. Close to 88% of the contiguous United States is considered abnormally dry by the interagency U.S. Drought Monitor.

Rain in the forecast for Sunday evening would end Philadelphias record six-week dry run, but dont expect it to last. The dryness is expected to resume soon after.

Staff writer Anthony R. Wood contributed to this article.
Theres a new luxury ingredient on fine dining menus across the city: seaweed. Specifically, a dried seaweed from Korea, called gamtae, which costs $16 per pack of seven sheets  or about half as much as Perigord truffles by weight.

During tomato season, chef Randy Rucker of River Twice and the newly opened Little Water layers gamtae into a sandwich with thick slices of local tomatoes smeared with a smoky mayo and pressed between two slices of bread from Mighty Bread Co., all topped with golden Ossetra caviar. At Jose Garces Amada, with locations in Old City and Radnor, strands of gamtae are sprinkled across Galician-style grilled octopus nestled on a cloud of potato espuma.

Gamtae tastes like the most savory version of the ocean mixed with fresh cut, bitter grass. The aroma is reminiscent of the sea and mushrooms. Nich Bazik, Provenance

Gamtae looks like tinsel, if tinsel occurred in nature. It tastes like a marriage of matcha and nori, anointed by truffles, and it has become the darling seaweed of chefs. It can deepen the natural umami of tomatoes or add an oceanic otherness to pasta dough; in powdered form, it thickens sauces and as a garnish, it bestows dishes with an enticingly spiky crown.

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Its especially popular with the Michelin  or Michelin-aspiring  set. In just the last month, Ive had it dusted onto kanpachi, a variety of yellowtail, at the new tasting menu establishment Provenance in Society Hill; perched on a tiny pastry crust filled with bluefin tuna tartare and smoked onion fudge at Omo by Jont in Orlando, Fla.; and decorating a savory seaweed donut with a square of unagi at Washingtons Reverie.

At Provenance, where chef Nich Bazik melds French technique with Korean ingredients introduced to him through his in-laws, he uses gamtae in many forms  seasoned with sesame oil, in powdered form, and simply dried  to make bouillons, cure loins of kanpachi, finish dishes, and even seasoning other seaweeds. Gamtae tastes like the most savory version of the ocean mixed with fresh-cut, bitter grass. The aroma is reminiscent of the sea and mushrooms, Bazik said. I might make a foie ganache and roll it in gamtae and serve it with white truffle.

Ecklonia cava is gamtaes scientific name; its known as noro kajime in Japanese. Wildly temperamental, it grows only in the mudflats of Wando, and the Jeolla provinces of South Korea, and in some parts of Japan. It cannot be farmed, and must be harvested by hand without disturbing its roots, so it will regenerate.

The name partially comes from the fact that when you harvest it you need to spin and roll it carefully, like wrapping it around because the strands are so thin, said Jennifer Jiyun Yoo, the co-founder of Gotham Grove, which sells high-end Korean pantry ingredients. Tae means something like green, moss, or weed, and gamda  gam means to wrap.

Gamtae has long been a delicacy in Korean cuisine. My grandmother will soak the dried gamtae until soft, strain and squeeze, roughly chop, then toss it with anchovy fish sauce, rice vinegar, a pinch of sugar, and gochugaru, then a generous amount of chopped white onions and garnish with a round of sesame oil and sesame seeds, said Seung Hee Lee, author of Everyday Korean and founder of Korean Fusion , a platform for Korean recipes.

Yoo, who brings a variety of esoteric seaweeds from Koreas small family-owned-and-operated producers to the U.S., began importing gamtae from Korean seaweed producer Badasoop in 2019. I was a big fan of their seaweeds, she said.

Partnering with luxury ingredient distributor Regalis, Yoo has encouraged chefs without any ties to Korea to use the countrys culinary ingredients. My philosophy and hope is that folks would see gamtae as just a food ingredient, like how soy sauce and sriracha has become. I want to break down the barrier that its a specialty ingredient, she said.

One of the chefs Yoo turned on to gamtae is Chris Cipollone of Brooklyns Francie, who says that it has a similar taste profile to truffle. Its like an oceanic white truffle  so isnt it better to double up the truffle flavor?

Gamtaes more recent availability has also been a boon to Korean chefs stateside. I moved to the U.S. in 2008 and gamtae was nowhere to be found, said Lee. The toasted sheet kind with salt is perfect with white rice and some banchan.

Lee has consumed gamtae her entire life, and loves it in its simplest form, straight out of the bag. Cooking with dried gamtae is a bit more challenging because if you dont soak it long enough, it could feel like you are eating a hair weave.

But gamtae easily enhances the simplest ingredients. You can purchase it from Gotham Grove or KimC Market. Where youd you might use truffle powder, or a flavored salt, try out powdered gamtae. Sprinkle its strands onto eggs, or like Rucker, try it in a tomato sandwich.

The world is your gamtae.
KYODO NEWS - Nov 10, 2024 - 12:00 | All, Japan

A team of researchers, including from Japan, will begin a clinical study later this month to study whether transmitting vibration to the skin through a facial mask device can improve one's mental health.

Researchers from Nagoya University and London Trusted Therapy, an education and research company aim to eventually establish a drug-free, noninvasive approach to mental health care.

Their joint clinical study at a medical institution in London will involve around 30 people suffering from such conditions as ADHD, PTSD and depression.

The participants will wear the plastic facial equipment twice a day for 10 to 20 minutes each time and record any changes in their symptoms and sleep quality.

Inaudible low-frequency sounds from natural environments, such as forest and beach, as well as classical music, will be transmitted to the brain as vibrations in the study.

The researchers also plan to use the facial equipment in Ukraine next year on 15 to 20 civilians and soldiers with symptoms like PTSD due to the war with Russia.

"I would like to explore the possibility of (health) care that poses minimal burden on patients in a conflict area where rendering medical support is difficult," said Yasuhiro Suzuki, an associate professor at Nagoya University.

Research jointly conducted by Nagoya University and Akita University found that 35 elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia showed improved cognitive functions, such as memory, after a month of treatment with low-frequency sounds combined with micro-vibrations.

Another experiment, using mice, also showed enhanced metabolism, muscle strength and cognitive functions.
A billboard for Kamala Harris on North Fifth Street at West Oxford. Any Democratic rebuild effort should begin in Philadelphia, writes the Editorial Board. The city is the key to winning Pennsylvania, which is the key to winning the White House. Read more

The red wave that powered Donald Trump back to the White House, flipped the Senate, and propelled many down-ballot Republican races has prompted Democrats to form a circular firing squad.

Democrats were quick to point fingers at President Joe Biden. Some said he should have stepped aside sooner to allow a traditional primary to play out. Others said Biden should have stayed in the race instead of bowing to pressure from big donors like actor George Clooney and other elites.

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Others picked apart Vice President Kamala Harris truncated campaign. Some argued she should have picked a running mate from a blue wall state like Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania or Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan instead of progressive Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota.

Some said Harris should have distanced herself sooner from Biden because voters wanted change. Still others questioned why she campaigned with former conservative Rep. Liz Cheney instead of playing more to the progressive base.

The blame game is easy. But Democrats must figure out where to go from here.

Trump is not an aberration. He has dominated the political stage for nearly a decade  even while out of power. Democrats lost to him twice and barely beat him a third time, thanks largely to his deadly mismanagement of the pandemic.

 READ MORE: A tumultuous election ends, and voters choose Trumps grim vision of discord and retribution | Editorial

Trump, 78, won again on Tuesday despite a criminal conviction, a sexual abuse finding, a financial fraud judgment, three other criminal indictments, and fueling a deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Any one of those blots would have ended the political career of others. But Trump managed to grow his voter base of white males, adding mostly Black and Latino men, despite a lifetime of racism and a plan to deport immigrants.

Clearly, Democrats have work to do to figure out why they keep losing to such a contemptible character.

Ground zero of any rebuilding effort should begin in Philadelphia. The city is the key to winning Pennsylvania. And winning the commonwealth is the key to winning the White House.

Yet, voter turnout in Philadelphia keeps declining, despite Democrats having a registration advantage of 7-1. Harris got fewer votes in the city than Biden got in 2020, and than Hillary Clinton got in 2016.

Philadelphia is also ground zero for party infighting. Bob Brady, the citys longtime Democratic boss, blamed the Harris campaign, claiming it didnt show any respect and failed to provide enough street money to pay committee members to get out the vote.

I never talked to the lady, and shes the candidate, Brady said in his Archie Bunker way.

The Harris campaign responded by releasing a photo of Brady standing next to Harris. Brendan McPhillips, senior adviser to the Harris campaign in Pennsylvania, blamed Brady.

The vice presidents 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, McPhillips said.

Both camps may share some blame. Indeed, the turnout issues extended across Pennsylvania and the country.

However, Philadelphia needs new blood, and it cant come soon enough. Brady, 79, has been the party boss since 1986. Turnout keeps declining as the party is calcified and bereft of innovative ideas to grow registration and turnout.

Beyond the field operations, Democrats need to rethink how to win back voters, especially working-class whites and Latinos.

Democrats must do more to address kitchen-table and quality-of-life issues, which Republicans effectively exploited. The high cost of living  including taxes and housing  in many blue states is forcing people to move to red states like Florida and Texas. The population shift is expected to give those states additional electoral votes and political power after the 2030 Census.

 READ MORE: The Trump Threat: The risk posed by a second Donald Trump presidency | Editorial Series

At the same time, the factionalism between progressives and moderates needs to be put aside for the greater good. The same goes for the generational divide exposed by the war in Gaza.

While Democrats have long said that they stood for fairness, justice, and equality, some party faithful and independents are turned off by the focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion and gender issues, which the GOP has effectively politicized by labeling it all as woke.

Democrats must find a balance between inclusionary efforts without alienating key constituents. And better explain to voters how issues like systemic racism undermine democracy.

Democrats must also take a page from Republican strategist Karl Rove and focus on growing state legislatures across the country. Republican control at the state level enabled the party to gerrymander congressional districts and restrict access to voting.

Of course, independently drawn maps and open primaries are the best option, but until the rules are changed, Democrats need to better compete.

Many voters are understandably despondent and distressed by another four years of Trump. But the best way forward is to fix the problems to help attract and motivate more voters.

As the late Sen. Ted Kennedy said during his stirring concession speech after failing to secure the Democratic nomination for president in 1980, [T]he work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.
President-elect Donald Trump points to supporters as he leaves the stage after an election night party in West Palm Beach, Florida, early Wednesday morning. Read more

During his campaign, President-elect Donald Trump told Americans what to expect after he reenters the Oval Office in January.

Its a broad agenda of economic, social, and personal priorities that he has proclaimed in rallies, interviews, and Truth Social posts. Trump will now try to wield what he has called an unprecedented and powerful mandate handed to him by voters to help him reach his goals.

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From Trumps long list, here are five promises he has pledged to keep.

1. Round up and deport undocumented immigrants

By far the most controversial of Trumps ideas is to coordinate government agencies to help him locate and deport Americas estimated 11 million undocumented people  3% of the U.S. population.

Trump will be ready to institute the largest deportation operation in American history, Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.

To implement the plan, Trump said, he will rely on the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which allows the president to detain or deport citizens of an enemy nation during wartime.

People would have to be detained before being exiled, Trump allies have said, which has set aggrieved immigrants rights activists in fighting stance.

But not everyone is upset.

Forbes reported that stocks of private U.S. prisons that would be used to house soon-to-be-deported people rose last week after Trumps win.

2. Replace civil service employees with Trump partisans

In what could be the most radical reconfiguration of the U.S. government in 140 years, according to the Los Angeles Times, the incoming Trump administration may soon be poised to replace civil servants with Trump allies.

Of 2 million civilians working in the federal government, the Hill reported, many are rogue bureaucrats, in Trumps parlance, dangerous members of the so-called deep state who plotted against him during his first administration.

Trumps plan is to replace those federal workers with people who would comply with his thinking and conservative agenda.

Such efforts have been attempted in the past.

The spoils system, as it was called, was ended by Congress in the late 19th century because the political cronies who sat at desks previously occupied by more knowledgeable workers were found to be incompetent.

3. Make sure tax cuts are retained

The tax cuts implemented in 2017 during Trumps first term in office are set to expire in 2025. Trump has said he wont let that happen.

During the campaign, Trump talked a good deal about retaining the cuts and finding even more. He promised to eliminate taxes on tips, Social Security benefits, and overtime pay. He also mentioned ending the federal income tax altogether.

Trump spoke last month with a New York City barber who told of being saddled with a $15,000 electric bill. That proved to be a utility company error, but it inspired Trump to say, We have income taxes, and we have people that are dying. Theyre paying tax, and they dont have the money to pay the tax.

The earlier Trump tax cuts overwhelmingly benefited the nations highest earners, according to the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center.

If the laws provisions are made permanent, households making at least around $450,000  roughly the top 5%  would be the biggest winners, according to CNN. They would see their after-tax income increase by 3.2%.

4. Impose tariffs  huge tariffs

Tariffs are the greatest thing ever invented, Trump said during a Michigan campaign swing in September.

He said these taxes that are placed on goods that cross national borders have inordinate powers to decrease the federal debt, lower food prices, get more factory jobs going, and even allow the government to subsidize childcare.

Tariffs, Trump concluded, can even promote world peace.

While campaigning for president, Trump said he would impose a 60% tariff on products from China, Americas leading foreign supplier, and other tariffs as high as 20% on all U.S. imports.

Retailers and economists say tariffs will hurt U.S. consumers.

You will pay for Trumps tariffs, a CNN headline from Wednesday reads.

Philip Daniele, CEO of AutoZone, made a tariffs-related promise of his own during an earnings call in September: If we get tariffs, we will pass those costs back to the consumer.

5. Punish his enemies

Its not certain what Trump will do as the 47th president to those who have opposed and spoken out against him.

But what is known is what he has said should be done.

Vice President Kamala Harris should be impeached and prosecuted, Trump said at a rally last month.

I will appoint a real special prosecutor to go after the most corrupt president in the history of the United States of America, Joe Biden, and the entire Biden crime family, Trump said last year.

On his Truth Social platform, he has on multiple occasions vowed to seek retribution and called longtime critic Rep. Adam Schiff (D., Calif.) the enemy from within, more dangerous than any foreign adversary.

During an interview with TV personality Dr. Phil in June, Trump said: Well, revenge does take time. I will say that. And sometimes revenge can be justified.

Since 2022 when he began preparing for the presidential campaign, NPR reported, Trump has issued more than 100 threats to investigate, prosecute, imprison, or otherwise punish his perceived opponents.

Trump famously said last year that if elected, he would be a dictator for that day only, so he can close the border and drill, drill, drill, presumably for oil.

After that, he continued, Im not a dictator.
A New Jersey Forest Fire Service warden sprays water as he works an edge of the forest fire in the Glassboro Wildlife Management Area in Gloucester County on Friday. Read more

The Democratic and Republican presidential nominees already had made 39 campaign stops in Pennsylvania. The Phillies were a week away from a disappointing postseason, and the Eagles were prepping for what would be a mortifying defeat in Tampa Bay.

And in what at the time appeared to have all the significance of the Flyers exhibition game that day, on Sept. 28 it rained in Philly. Not much, and it was over by noon, and officially 0.11 inches had landed in the official rain gauge at Philadelphia International Airport.

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No rain worth measuring has fallen in the six weeks since, but the people who forecast for a living are all but promising the streak will end Sunday.

Were pretty darn certain, said Amanda Lee, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Mount Holly. The weather service has stopped short of issuing a rain watch, but she noted that the prospect of a quarter- to half-inch of rain has elicited a certain outsize excitement among the meteorologists.

While no measurable rain has fallen at PHL since Sept. 28, it hasnt rained more than a quarter-inch since Sept. 7.

Assuming they happen, the rains are more or less the prosaic leftovers of a storm system that has heaped 2 and 3 feet of snow on the Rockies, said John Feerick, senior meteorologist with AccuWeather Inc.

But this wont be a drought-busting rain by any means, he said.

For weeks now, the Northeast has been shielded by rain-repelling descending currents of high pressure that has shut off the Gulf of Mexico moisture pipeline. The high will back off enough to allow rains to develop, probably after sunset, he said, and continue into the morning hours.

Then the dry spell looks to resume, as dryness has a way of begetting dryness. When in drought, forecast drought, he said.

The forecast rains come after a week in which the United States appeared to embrace an unprecedented unity  at least in terms of dryness. Close to 88% of the contiguous United States was deemed at least abnormally dry by the interagency U.S. Drought Monitor on Thursday.

That was record coverage since the Drought Monitor began keeping score in 2000. That map is likely to undergo change next Thursday, given the storm in the West.

The dry conditions have been somewhat ameliorated by the fact that they are occurring at a time when the foliage and the trees are losing their thirst and people are using less water, but the aridity and winds have set off a rash of brushfires.

Still, drought watches are in effect throughout the region, and all of New Jersey, and brushfires have kept firefighters more than busy.
Cop29 officially opens on Monday in Baku, Azerbaijan, and the conference is scheduled to end on November 22, although it is likely to run later. World leaders  about 100 have said they will turn up  are expected in the first three days, and after that the crunch negotiations will be carried on by their representatives, mostly environment ministers or other high-ranking officials.

The crucial question for the summit is climate finance. Developing countries want assurances that trillions will flow to them in the next decade to help them cut greenhouse gas emissions in line with the rapidly receding hope of limiting global heating to 1.5C above preindustrial levels, and to enable them to cope with the increasingly evident extreme weather that rising temperatures are driving.

Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijani president

The president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. File picture: Azerbaijani presidential press office via AP

The autocratic president of Azerbaijan since 2003, Ilham Aliyev has used Azerbaijans oil wealth to gain international influence for his small country, as well as to enrich his own family.

Transparency International rates Azerbaijan as one of the worlds most corrupt regimes, with a poor record on human rights. Freedom of expression is limited, the media are shackled, and campaigners have raised concerns over a number of prisoners held since the conflict with Armenia. Aliyev is likely to shrug off such criticism and focus instead on his plans to generate and export renewable energy and attempts to clean up the Caspian Sea.

Mukhtar Babayev, Cop29 president-designate

The president-designate of Cop29 is Azerbaijans minister for ecology and natural resources. Like his predecessor, Sultan Al Jaber, who presided over last years Cop28 in Dubai, Babayev has a background in the oil industry. He is well regarded among developing and developed countries, at the talks, though he was little known before Azerbaijans surprise decision to take on the hosting of Cop29.

Choosing the host nation was a troubled process, only resolved at the last moment during Cop28.

Sultan Al Jaber, Cop28 president

Last year's Cop28 president Sultan al-Jaber. Picture: Altaf Qadri/AP

At last years Cop28 summit in Dubai, nations made a historic agreement to transition away from fossil fuels. It was a weaker commitment than the full-blooded phase-out of fossil fuels that many countries and activists wanted, but  astonishingly  it represented the first time three decades of talks have produced a commitment to tackle the root cause of the climate crisis.

The promise was largely the work of Cop28 president, UAE minister Sultan Al Jaber. A charismatic figure who is also chief of the UAEs national oil company, Adnoc, Al Jaber dominated the Dubai conference and helped bring Saudi Arabia to the table.

Marina Silva, Brazil environment minister

Brazil's environment minister Marina Silva. Picture: Andre Penner/AP

There were high hopes that Cop29 would be galvanised by the presence of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, whose outspoken espousal of a billionaire tax has endeared him to activists and vulnerable countries. But he is unlikely to make it, so his place is most likely to be taken by environment and climate minister, Marina Silva.

Brazil occupies a key position at Cop29 as the prospective president of Cop30. Next year, at Belem in the Amazon, countries must arrive with fresh national plans  known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs)  enforcing more stringent cuts to greenhouse gas emissions than they have yet promised. These must be in line with the globally accepted aim of limiting temperature rises to 1.5C above preindustrial levels.

Brazil, as the third member of the troika, will want to use Cop29 to chivvy laggard governments to present their NDCs as early as possible.

Antonio Guterres, UN secretary general

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Picture: Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone/AP

The UN secretary general is probably the most outspoken senior figure on the world stage on the climate crisis. He has talked of humanity committing collective suicide and has targeted fossil fuel companies who have humanity by the throat. Amid rapidly rising temperatures, he memorably warned that we are understating the seriousness of the crisis: The era of global warming has ended; the era of global boiling has arrived. Guterres will champion developing nations at Cop29, encouraging and berating rich countries into providing more climate finance. He is likely to be equally outspoken to leaders of countries with high emissions and inadequate reduction plans and, most of all, to the fossil fuel executives who are expected to turn up in large numbers as many multinational oil and gas companies, including BP and Shell, have strong interests in Azerbaijan.

Simon Stiell, UNFCCC executive secretary

United Nations climate chief Simon Stiell. File picture: Kamran Jebreili/AP

Climate-related disaster struck close to home this year for the UNs climate chief. Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change  the treaty under which this conference of the parties (Cop) is held  is from the island of Carriacou, in Grenada. It was hit by Hurricane Beryl in July.

Stiell spoke movingly from the site of his grandmothers house, utterly destroyed in the disaster. What Im seeing on my home island, Carriacou, must not become humanitys new normal, he said. If governments everywhere dont step up, eight billion people will be facing this blunt force trauma head-on, on a continuous basis. We need climate action back at the top of political agendas.

Stiells job at Cop29 will be to work closely with the Azerbaijani presidency, acting as an honest broker to all 198 parties, guiding an agreement through the complexities of the UNFCCC process.

Mia Mottley, prime minister of Barbados

The prime minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, meeting Irish President Michael D Higgins during UN summit in New York in September. File picture: Maxwells

The prime minister of Barbados, under whom the country removed the British crown as head of state to become a fully fledged republic, has been an electrifying presence at recent Cops, and her mission to force the restructuring of international financial institutions has already borne fruit, with the new World Bank president, Ajay Banga, promising to take a more active role in climate finance.

Mottley wants to go much further and secure the flow of trillions of dollars of investment each year to the developing world, to transform the global economy and provide protection for those most at risk of climate disaster.

Ajay Banga, World Bank president

World Bank president Ajay Banga. File picture: Seth Wenig/AP

With climate finance top of the Cop29 agenda, the World Bank president Ajay Banga is in pole position to make a difference. But will he order the sweeping reforms to the banks practices that developing countries say are needed?

The Americans

Joe Biden is not expected to attend Cop29, nor will his successor Donald Trump. During his last presidency, Trump withdrew the US from the Paris agreement, and he is likely to do so again. However, the delegation for the US at Cop29 will be from the Biden White House, as Trump will not take office until January. The lame duck delegation can still participate in the negotiations, and though they will not be able to bind the US government to clear future financial commitments, they are unlikely to stand in the way of agreement by other countries, meaning that the core decisions expected to made at Cop29 on finance can still go ahead.

Wopke Hoekstra, EU climate commissioner

EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra. Picture: Frederick Florin/AFP/Getty

The EU delegation to Cop29 will be rather a skeleton staff this year. Hoekstra, who served as climate commissioner in the last iteration of the commission and keeps the job for this one, is a confirmed participant, leading the EU negotiations for the second week of the talks. He faces a big challenge  the EU is the biggest provider of climate finance around the world, but a rightward slant to the new parliament and among some member state governments may cut down on the blocs freedom to manoeuvre at the talks.

Strongmen surprises in store?

Vladimir Putin visited Azerbaijan in August for meetings with Aliyev, to underscore the resumption of a relationship that has been tested in the last three years, after the Cop host took over the supply of gas to the EU as the bloc tried to cut its dependence on Russia after the invasion of Ukraine. Azerbaijan also has its own links to Ukraine.

Narendra Modi, prime minister of India, received a warm personal invitation to the talks. Modi has skipped recent Cops and is viewed as unlikely to attend this one, but there is still an outside chance that Aliyevs urging might tempt him.

Other strongmen of the world have also been mooted as potential visitors, but few are likely to be among the 100 world leaders coming.

Syrias Bashar al-Assad was invited to Cop28 in Dubai, but did not attend.

Nicolas Maduro, who fraudulently claimed re-election in Venezuela, may wish to try to legitimise his presidency by coming to enjoy the company of his fellow oil producers.
Fuel thefts of 40,000 a year have driven one Limerick petrol station owner to breaking point, with repeated drive-offs threatening his business.

Shane Gleeson, who owns Inver Petrol Stations at Hurlers Cross in Castletroys Dublin Road and Punches Cross, Limerick, said thieves are stealing up to 130 of petrol or diesel at a time  with annual 20k loss each for his two outlets.

Mr Gleeson believes the drive-offs are being carried out by organised criminals, with tactics such as counterfeit registration plates, masking tape and shaving foam used to evade detection.

"We have people coming in now who have false plates. This is a regular occurrence so its impossible for gardai to chase up those responsible. Some people have covered their plates with shaving foam. Your staff should spot this when youre releasing the pump, but this can be hard when things are really busy.

Christmas, he said, marks the peak season for drive-offs.

"People are coming back from England and the north in very big jeeps. They are filling the vehicle with 130 worth of fuel without any attempt to hide their faces. Many are not local or just dont care.

In some cases the vehicles they are driving are rented. Ive seen plates for a tractor on a jeep. There are so many fake number plates that Im convinced someone must be supplying them online. They clearly have very easy access to them.

Mr Gleeson said some are regular offenders and he wants to see a greater crackdown on fuel thefts.

They are getting fine upon fine, which is no punishment at all because they dont ever pay them."

He pointed to Australia where a "payback" system is in place, where the courts automatically deduct the price of a fine from social welfare payments.

"This has been trialled in Australia and we know it had a dramatic impact. It reduced the instance of this in Australia considerably. We have seen the proof in other countries so I dont see why it shouldnt work here.

Staff intimidation also happens frequently.

Mr Gleeson believes the drive-offs are being carried out by organised criminals, with tactics such as counterfeit registration plates, masking tape and shaving foam used to evade detection. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

I have had people come in for hot chicken rolls after stealing fuel. On those occasions I have thrown them out. Thats all I can do. However, this doesnt stop them trying to intimidate you."

While some retailers have installed pre-pay fuel pumps, these are not an option Mr Gleeson wishes to explore.

It is very hard if you go down that road. Not everybody has a card or is confident in using one. We like to maintain the human touch. Its better for the shop as well if people come in because they generally tend to buy something else."

A spokesperson for the Irish Petrol Retailers Association said fuel theft is a major issue across the entire country and one which has increased over the past 2.5 years as oil prices rise.

They also said "There are many variations of fuel theft. There is the criminal cohort who simply chance their arm and those who genuinely forget to pay. A straw poll of the IPRA membership would suggest that the average loss per station is approx. 2,500 per annum. Noone is a winner with fuel theft which ends up costing consumers more as station owners need to recoup their losses somehow. It is also a huge waste of Garda time.

The spokesperson added: "What we at the IPRA believe is really needed is third party access to the driver database to chase and deter perpetrators. We would like to explore the option of the IPRA (or another other third party) being empowered to reduce criminal activity on fuel service stations and coordinating civil action in respect of non-payment for transactions by motorists. It would reduce the demand on Garda to chase payments and allow them to allocate valuable resources and time on other more pressing issues."
These shoes are made for canvassing and thats just what theyll do. And getting a covid booster while out on the hustings can put a pep in your step.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin managed to canvass three Cork constituencies on Saturday, including a bit of minding his own seat with a couple of appearances in Cork South Central.

But the bulk of his flying the Fianna Fail flag was spent in Cork East, canvassing firstly with outgoing party TD James OConnor and then county councillor Deirdre OBrien.

When he arrived to meet Mr OConnor in Carrigtwohill, the first thing he did was to change shoes.

Out of the boot came a pair of tried and tested and recently rehabilitated black ones.

These canvassing shoes, he explained, were very comfortable and well-run in. The Tanaiste has two pairs of them, recently upgraded by cobblers.

They will probably need further servicing after polling day.

Canvassing, he estimates, will mean 7am starts and possibly 10pm or 11pm finishes.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin receives a booster shot for covid from pharmacist Maura O'Donnell during a visit to Carrigtwohill Pharmacy in Co Cork. Picture: David Creedon

There was a pre-booked pit stop at Carrigtwohill Pharmacy for a covid booster.

The previous night he was at the Aviva Stadium for the Ireland v New Zealand match.

Theres a new variant out there you know. I must have shaken a thousand hands there, he said.

Thousands more are likely to be shaken by November 29, so a covid booster seemed prudent.

Also, it could be 'a shot in the arm' publicity-wise as photographers clamoured to get a snap of the needle going in.

Moments earlier he'd encountered Olivia Barry, a nurse, who unfortunately knows all too much about covid.

She explained in a very unconfrontational manner that she got covid at work in December 2020 and as the weeks went on she developed long covid.

Olivia hasnt been able to work as a result of it since August 2021.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin speaks with nurse Olivia Barry in Carrigtwohill; she explained how she got covid at work in December 2020 and went on to develop long covid and hasnt been able to work as a result of it since August 2021. Picture: David Creedon

Were the forgotten people, she told Mr Martin. There are no real facilities for treating it, the clinics are not fit for purpose.

Customers at the neighbouring Guilders and Spratts bar gave the Tanaiste a big cheer when he came in.

Next, he had the fortune of meeting second cousin Margaret Walsh-OBrien from Lisgoold.

But it got a bit more serious when he encountered lorry driver John OCallaghan.

He was into asking some awkward questions  such as why increase social welfare when theres full employment and thus discourage some from getting out of bed and finding a job?

That was followed by why is the government allowing insurance companies to charge excessive motor premiums and finally why are new houses so small you couldnt swing a cat in them?

After a small chat Mr O'Callaghan had the last word: "You're codding the people."

Lorry driver John O'Callaghan was asking Micheal Martin some awkward questions in Carrigtwohill. Picture: David Creedon

The Tanaiste is a tad older than 27-year-old James OConnor, who was the youngest member of the Dail when elected in 2020. Yet it was the younger man who was having difficulty keeping up with the pace his boss was setting.

A quick lunch followed for Mr Martin and his entourage at the Elm Tree in Glounthaune and then it was supposed to be onto the village of Rathcormac to canvas with Ms OBrien.

However, suddenly there was a change of plan. His handlers said they were bypassing it and doing a canvass in Fermoy instead.

Why the change? Could it have anything to do with the fact that Rathcormac is the home of councillor William OLeary, whos also running for the Dail, but as an independent?

Mr OLeary famously quit Fianna Fail before the last local elections claiming the party had become so disconnected from its grassroots that it had lost its support.

The comment didnt seem to do him any damage and he topped the poll in the local Fermoy municipal district  the same one Ms OBrien represents.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin meets his second cousin Margaret Walsh O'Brien while out canvassing in Carrigtwohill. Picture: David Creedon

Large O'Leary posters were plastered all over Rathcormac, which might not have made a great backdrop for a canvassing Fianna Fail leader.

His team denied this was the reason for the sudden change maintaining they wanted to get their boss to an area where hed press the flesh with more people.

He arrived at Riordans SuperValu in Fermoy to be greeted by Ms OBrien and a number of her supporters who were wearing special green jackets with her name emblazoned on them.

Her Fianna Fail pedigree is in no doubt, being the daughter of long serving TD and junior minister Ned OKeeffe. He turned up on the canvass as well.

Canvassers were told in a polite yet firm manner by a supermarket manager that while welcome they werent allowed to distribute election literature inside. He stressed that rule goes for all political parties.

More pressing the flesh ensued inside, with the Tanaiste's first handshaker being Mike Mohally, who pointed out they went to the same school, Colaiste Chriost Ri in Cork.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin and election candidate Cllr Deirdre O'Brien meet Breada Hannon, Ned O'Keffee, Eileen Carey, and Cllr Fran O'Flynn while out canvassing in Fermoy, Co. Cork. Picture: David Creedon

Hes older than me, but I remember him coming back to the school on visits when he was a young TD. Im not normally a Fianna Fail voter but I have good time for him, added Mike.

Better news came next with Claire Higgins-Duggan. My father was in the local (FF) cumann for years. Its (the party) in my blood. My father would turn in his grave if I voted anything else, she said.

Eimear Coleman, a teacher at Glanworth National School, also shook hands with Mr Martin and wished him the best of luck.

She admitted shes a traditional Fianna Fail voter.

It was a long day out for the Tanaiste and there will be many more like it until polling day.

Prior to his East Cork sojourn, he did a shop opening in Douglas Village Shopping Centre and a trip to the nearby farmers market.

Later in the evening he went to Castlewest Shopping Centre, Ballincollig, to do a canvass with party candidate Sandra Murphy-Kelleher who is hoping to pick up a seat in Cork North Central.
The government must take a compassionate but common sense approach to asylum seekers  with those who have jobs, but are housed in State-serviced accommodation, paying something reasonable towards their keep, according to Taoiseach Simon Harris.

He maintained these payments would be means-tested and fair".

In Cork at the beginning of a general election campaign bus tour across the country on Sunday, Mr Harris said that the number of deportations of unsuccessful asylum applicants has risen this year, and he foresees there will be further increases in the coming years.

He then turned his attention to US president-elect Donald Trump and the possibility his tenure in the White House might have a negative impact on Ireland and its EU partners.

Mr Harris said the spectre of Trump carrying out his election promises of increasing US tariffs for imports present a possibility of turmoil for the EU.

He said we will need to see how Trump translates his policies into action, but maintained that the EU and the US need each other, and a summit should be scheduled shortly between the two sides to ensure cooperation.

The Taoiseach said that if there are negatives from Trump rule, this again emphasises the reason why Fine Gael set aside money in a rainy day fund to provide against impacts to the Irish economy.

Meanwhile, Mr Harris rejected claims by Tanaiste Micheal Martin that gym memberships will be more costly in the future with a proposed rise in Vat for that sector from 9% to 11%.

Fine Gael leader Simon Harris meeting members of the public while canvassing in Limerick ahead of the general election on November 29. Picture: Fergal Phillips/PA

He said that this will be offset by the fact we have also said we're introducing a tax credit for gym membership worth 50".

Let's say your gym memberships of 500 goes up to 509, if that changes. But it will come down by the 50 tax credit. So, gym membership costs will fall under the Fine Gael plan, he said.

Mr Harris added that FG plans to cut PRSI employer contributions for companies with less than 50 workers will also aid gyms viability, with similar proposed cuts by his party designed to also help the hospitality sector.

The Taoiseach said that while he wouldnt be setting a target, publicly, for the number of seats his party should win, he wants it to make gains and become the largest in the next Dail.

He said transfers "will be vital", especially in gaining the last over the line TDs in several constituencies.

The people are sovereign, and we must fight for every vote, must knock on every door, look people in the whites of their eyes and ask for their trust and their vote. And then when the people make their decision, you then have those conversations about government formation, he said.

A lot of his partys candidates are first timers, and many are young, which he thinks this will bode Fine Gael well.

Simon Harris canvassing with Senator John Cummins in Waterford on Saturday. Picture: Fergal Phillips/PA

We're going to work right up until 10pm on November 29. And I hope that when the ballot boxes open, we can gain seats, because I want to be in a position to lead the next government, but I can take nothing for granted, he added.

Mr Harris said that, depending on the outcome of the election, he is willing to engage with all parties if a coalition is needed, apart from Sinn Fein.

He hosted a rally of Fine Gael Cork election candidates and party faithful at the Clayton Silver Springs Hotel convention centre on Sunday morning.

It was attended by more than 100 people before he departed for further canvassing in Limerick, Galway, Athlone, and Wicklow.
As the country prepares to head to the polls, will the TikTok Taoiseach retain his title or do followers actually follow through in real life?

Over the past decade, the fight for votes has taken place online just as much as on the doorsteps but even in the four years since the last general election the social media landscape has changed drastically.

With the average Irish person spending between one-and-a-half to two hours per day on social media, to underestimate its power on politics would be at your own peril.

In 2020, TikTok was still in its infancy, Elon Musk had not yet taken over Twitter, Facebook was still holding its own among millennials, and Instagram was leading the way in video content.

Today, TikTok has over two million monthly users in Ireland, thousands of people have fled Twitter, now X, in favour of newer, similar sites such as Threads, Bluesky, or Mastodon, and Facebook's demographic is increasing in age while the number of accounts declines.

Heading into this short and sweet election campaign, the spokespeople for the main parties are not looking to reinvent the wheel when it comes to their online campaigns.

Conversations in the lead-up to the Dail being dissolved revealed conservative plans for this campaign.

While there is a consensus among the various campaigns that social media is just one element of campaigning, its value  and the importance of hitting the right notes  is clear as those who have unlocked a recipe for social media success try to keep the special ingredient a family secret.

Consistency is crucial to capturing the public's attention online

In truth, there are a whole host of ways to capture the public's attention online but the real trick is consistency, consistency, consistency.

Coming into an election period, a greater emphasis will naturally be put on social media but the clever parties are using social media as a means of constantly 'canvassing' without actually having to pound the pavement.

Ministers and TDs spend a good portion of their time working in Dublin, away from their constituents, but they can engage both directly and indirectly via social media no matter where they are.

The covid lockdowns pushed many politicians to take more active roles online as it was the simplest way to reach the widest audience.

This is when Simon Harris, then the health minister, found his groove on social media filming daily videos to keep the Irish public abreast of the latest developments.

They were unpolished, off-the-cuff videos usually of Mr Harris at a desk  leaning just a little too close to the camera  and speaking directly to the viewer.

It was in these short videos that first glimmer of the TikTok Taoiseach could be seen as it placed him front and centre and, importantly, on the screens of a younger generation of soon-to-be voters.

Simon Harris was by some distance the most popular Irish politician on TikTok as reported in the 'Irish Examiner' in 2022.

The approach gives viewers  aka voters  the feeling that even while running the country, while travelling, while signing off on the budget in the late hours of the night, no matter what, they are his top priority.

So simple but so effective. Of course, you have some who take a very different approach. Take for example, Michael Healy Rae.

A man who has always been able to capture the public's imagination, and usually some headlines along the way, Mr Healy Rae took to social media like a duck to water.

Video is an area where he excels as is evident by the fact that he has a larger following on TikTok than Micheal Martin, Mary Lou McDonald, and Roderic O'Gorman combined.

Mr Healy Rae's page is a mix of interview clips, Dail clips, skits, pieces to camera, and videos of him at home with family or out and about in Kerry.

It is not quite what you would call consistent but it is all Michael Healy Rae and that is precisely what makes it work. Social media has always been about the cult of personality.

The Kerry TD downplays his own role in the success of his social media claiming it is thanks to help from his son and a professional.

However, the simple fact that he seems to be up for anything when it comes to making content counts for a lot and this is something all the party social media teams are keenly aware of.

Michael Healy-Rae has a larger following on TikTok than Micheal Martin, Mary Lou McDonald, and Roderic O'Gorman combined. File picture: Dan Linehan

In fact, some of the best ideas come from politicians themselves, said one person. A good idea will only take you so far, it is the execution and timing that is key.

Richard Bruton showing off his beach bod on a boat to explain jobseeker's allowance changes or Brian Leddin's recent tongue-in-cheek love letter to Limerick Junction, ideas like these do not work without the politician's buy-in.

It has to be remembered that candidates need to avoid falling into the trap of trying to 'get down with the kids'.

This is something that most parties have flagged as they don't want candidates to be viewed as pulling stunts all the time.

Overall, candidates are learning a lot as they go, picking up tips and tricks and in 2024, many are digital natives so most parties are not keeping a tight rein on them when it comes to their individual profiles.

In their own instance, candidates will know their audience and constituents best so they can use the feedback they receive to tailor their content to maximise engagement from their voters.

For those feeling shaky on their feet, there is always someone available to lend a guiding hand or to bounce ideas off.

Getting the candidates to feel authentic and genuine is really one of the key goals of having a social media presence so there is a resistance to micromanaging them.

Where there is a particular campaign around a specific message, there is still a collaborative discussion where people, including the politicians, will offer their insights and input but this is where things are the most structured.

Depending on the message, there are discussions around what tone and approach is best suited and then talk turns to the content itself which is as a team.

Party posts do better when they feature one or two people so usually the candidate who is the spokesperson for the particular topic will be the one involved but when they want to highlight something especially important they will generally call in the party leader.

The final piece of the puzzle is when the ideal time to post is and this is where the social media teams will turn to their analytics.

Social media can be a great equaliser

Importantly, social media can be something of a great equaliser between larger, well-financed parties and their smaller counterparts.

It can be a low-cost way for parties and candidates to draw attention and awareness that they may not receive from traditional media.

One of the easiest ways to achieve this is something that opposition parties have learned to utilise well, using short soundbites, usually clipped from Dail footage, where they lambast the coalition parties for their perceived shortcomings in tackling the topic du jour.

Keen observers will be able to spot the moments in the Dail chamber  from both sides of the house  that have been scripted for their short, sharp, and oh-so-shareable soundbites.

Overall, Ireland's main political parties are still searching for the social media sweet spot as the dynamic nature of the medium means the sands are constantly shifting.

But they have mostly found a rhythm despite the waves of change over the last four years.

So long as they continue to pick up some passengers along the way, they are happy to stay course.

Online campaigns pervasive in a 'year of elections'

2024 is 'the year of elections' with at least 50 nations going to the polls over these 12 months so Irish politicians don't need to look far to find examples of how to run a good online campaign.

Leaving it until the 11th hour  or month as it were  to hold an election means there are a whole host of real time blueprints mapping out the dos and don'ts for social media while attempting to woo voters.

There is simply no way to speak about election campaigns and social media in 2024 without going directly to Kamala Harris.

Apprehensions that US president Joe Biden had left it too late to step away and allow Ms Harris to become the Democratic nominee were eased within hours.

With just over three months to mount a presidential campaign against Donald Trump, who announced his bid for a second term two years ago, Ms Harris needed to hit the ground sprinting. And that it just what she did.

Ms Harris' TikTok account gained two million followers in the first 24 hours of being named the presidential nominee.

The Gen Z-led mobilisation team were around 175-strong and were ready to kick off the presidential hopeful's campaign as soon as the starter pistol was fired.

Kamala Harris' TikTok account gained two million followers in the first 24 hours of being named the presidential nominee. Picture: John Locher/ AP

Harris' platforms immediately jumped on the biggest trends of the moment  'brat summer' which stems from the latest album by Charli XCX and 'femininomenon' a female empowerment anthem from Chappell Roan  which proved extremely successful.

Videos of a slew of celebrities endorsing Ms Harris were shared and an old clip of her quoting her mother  "you think you just fell out of a coconut tree?"  was resurrected which capitalised on her inherent meme-ability.

These days social media trends come and go in the blink of an eye and often by the time a politician or party becomes aware of it, the internet has already moved on to the next.

Posting late is viewed as being worse than not posting at all. It gives off a vibe of being out of touch with the younger demographic along with a touch of desperation.

Whether the posts are joining in a trend or not, each post on each platform has a direct message to get across to the viewer. There are no posts just for the sake of posting.

Trending posts, as the campaign says are published "with a wink and a nod", do not undercut the seriousness of what is at stake in the election.

On the opposite side of Ireland, we have seen the Liberal Democrats take a different approach as it sought viral fame at any cost.

However, it must be acknowledged that Lib Dems garnered many headlines during the UK general election. They also returned a record number of seats.

Britain's Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey acted the clown for photo ops and viral videos to get votes in the UK general election this year. File picture: Andrew Matthews/ PA

Many will not agree with the party's approach which saw leader Ed Davey acting the clown for photo ops and viral videos viewing it as undermining his position as a figure of authority.

Along the six-week campaign trail, Mr Davey went bungee jumping from a crane, paddleboarding, taking Zumba, wheelbarrow racing, careening down a hill in Wales on a bike, and even launched his manifesto at Thorpe Park where he did an interview while riding the teacups.

A risky tactic, people were divided on whether it offered a breath of fresh air to see a politician not taking himself too seriously or showed that he did not take his position, his constituents or the issues at hand seriously.

Having come under scrutiny in the wake of the Horizon scandal that emerged earlier this year as he was postal affairs minister from 2010 to 2012, some feel his campaign antics were a distraction to deflect questions being raised about his role in the controversy.

More than 700 subpostmasters were prosecuted by the UK post office and handed criminal convictions after the Horizon IT system made it appear as though money was missing at their branches.

If that was the plan then, to a great extent, it was successful but in sidestepping serious issues, Mr Davey also distracted from the issues the Lib Dems wanted to talk about.

Mr Davey shared an emotional post about caring for his terminally ill mother and his disabled son.

This very personal video when shared on social media did not pick up the same traction as many of the "funnier" videos of pratfalls and gimmicks.

At the end of the day, the Lib Dems returned more seats than anyone had predicted  including themselves  but would it be wise to follow this blueprint in the next election? Probably not.

Social media arguably offers parties the largest platform for campaigning, reaching hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life.

When used correctly, it offers the opportunity to showcase all that a party has to offer and while there is room for levity, making that your hallmark will not build trust among the electorate that when things get real, the party can take off the clown makeup long enough to tackle the tough issues.
An Israeli air strike on the northern Gaza Strip has killed at least 17 people, according to local hospital officials.

Dr Fadel Naim, director of the Al-Ahly Hospital in Gaza City, said nine women are among the dead.
KYODO NEWS - Nov 10, 2024 - 19:44 | All, Japan

The head of a Japanese minor opposition party viewed as having extremist views apologized on Sunday for referencing a hypothetical storyline in which women have their uteruses removed after 30 as a way to deal with the country's falling birthrate.

In his YouTube channel program streamed Friday themed on declining birthrate, Naoki Hyakuta, novelist and leader of the Conservative Party of Japan, said there is a hypothetical idea, which he personally does not support, of women "having their uteruses removed when they are over 30."

"Women would not be allowed to go to universities from 18," and "a law would not allow single women over 25 to ever get married," he also said then.

In a speech in Nagoya on Sunday, Hyakuta described those remarks as too bitter and said, "I will retract them and apologize as there were people who found them unpleasant."

He also apologized for them on his X social platform the same day, saying they were "undeniably something extremely harsh" even as he had stressed during the program that the ideas were "science-fiction" and "something that should not happen."

When Kaori Arimoto, a senior member of his party joining him on the YouTube program, suggested his remarks were inappropriate, even if framed as a science-fiction storyline, Hyakuta responded, "I was explaining about the time limitation (faced by women in giving birth) in a plain way."

The Conservative Party of Japan, founded by Hyakuta in 2023, won three seats in the House of Representatives election on Oct. 27 and satisfied the condition to become a national political party by securing more than 2 percent of the votes cast across all 11 proportional representation blocks.

Hyakuta has previously stirred controversy, such as by claiming that the 1937 Nanjing Massacre by Japanese troops in China never happened and characterizing U.S. forces' air raids on Japan during World War II as "genocide."

Related coverage:

Land minister Tetsuo Saito takes helm of Japan coalition partner Komeito

Ishiba's LDP, smaller DPP debate econ steps, PM eyes minority gov't

FOCUS: Trump win to dampen Japan PM's ambitions for U.S. troop pact change
Israeli strikes have killed dozens of people in Lebanon and the northern Gaza Strip, where the military has been waging a major offensive for more than a month which aid groups say has further worsened a humanitarian crisis.

An air strike killed at least 23 people in the Lebanese village of Aalmat, north of Beirut and far from the areas in the south and east of the country where the militant Hezbollah group has a major presence.

Lebanons health ministry said a further six people were injured. There was no immediate Israeli comment.

In northern Gaza, an Israeli strike on a home sheltering displaced people in the urban refugee camp of Jabaliya killed at least 17 people, according to the director of a nearby hospital that received the bodies.

People check a damaged car at the site of the air strike on Aalmat, Lebanon (Hassan Ammar/AP)

Dr Fadel Naim, of the Al-Ahly Hospital in Gaza City, said nine women were among the dead and the death toll is likely to rise as rescue efforts continue.

The Israeli military said it targeted a site where militants were operating in Jabaliya, without providing evidence. It said the details of the strike are under review.

A separate strike on Sunday hit a house in Gaza City, killing Wael al-Khour, a minister in the Hamas-run government, as well as his wife and three children, according to local officials.

Israeli forces have encircled and largely isolated Jabaliya and the nearby towns of Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun for the past month, allowing in only a trickle of humanitarian aid.

Hundreds of people have been killed since the offensive began on October 6, and tens of thousands of people have fled to nearby Gaza City.

Palestinian citizens of Israel protest against Israels military operations in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, in Umm Al-Fahm, Israel (Mahmoud Illean/AP)

On Friday, experts from a panel that monitors food security in Gaza said famine is imminent in the north of the territory or may already be happening.

The northern third of Gaza, including Gaza City, was the first target of Israels ground invasion and has suffered the heaviest destruction of the 13-month war, which was triggered by Hamass attack into southern Israel. As in other areas of Gaza, Israel has sent forces back in after repeated operations, saying Hamas has regrouped.

The military says it only targets militants, whom it accuses of hiding among civilians in homes and shelters. Israeli strikes often kill women and children.

Israels offensive has killed more than 43,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities who do not distinguish between civilians and militants in their count but say over half the fatalities were women and children.

Ceasefire talks mediated by the United States, Qatar and Egypt have repeatedly stalled since the start of the year.

Qatar, which has served as a key mediator with Hamas, said over the weekend that it had suspended its efforts and would only resume them when the parties show their willingness and seriousness to end the brutal war and the ongoing suffering of civilians.
KYODO NEWS - Nov 10, 2024 - 19:31 | Sports, All

New ozeki Onosato survived a minor scare as he made a winning start to the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament against No. 1 maegashira Hiradoumi on Sunday.

The September tournament winner's introduction earned a loud cheer at Fukuoka Kokusai Center, although it was Hiradoumi who made noise with his explosive start against the crowd favorite.

Onosato could not secure a grip as he was driven back by his fast-moving opponent, but the ozeki kept his foot planted inside the straw bales as he thrust Hiradoumi down at the edge.

The latest injury withdrawal of sole yokozuna Terunofuji has left the spotlight at the 15-day tournament firmly on the 24-year-old Onosato, whose promotion to ozeki after just nine tournaments is the fastest on record since the beginning of the Showa era in 1926.

Ozeki Hoshoryu snapped a streak of opening-day losses dating back to March as he forced out No. 1 maegashira Oho. The Mongolian grappler is aiming for an improved performance after eking out an 8-7 winning record in September.

Still looking for his maiden Emperor's Cup, ozeki Kotozakura dug deep as he thrust down current komusubi and former ozeki Shodai after being taken to the edge.

No. 2 maegashira Wakatakakage logged an impressive victory against sekiwake Kirishima, maneuvering the former ozeki to the edge and forcing him out.

Takerufuji, champion of this year's March tournament as a makuuchi division debutant, was victorious upon his return to the top flight as a No. 16 maegashira with a slap down of 17th-ranked maegashira Asakoryu.

In other action from the bottom half of the draw, Ukrainian No. 16 maegashira Shishi won his maiden makuuchi bout by forcing out No. 15 maegashira Tokihayate.

Related coverage:

Sumo: Ukrainian wrestler Aonishiki fights for his "Japanese family"

Sumo: Yokozuna Terunofuji withdraws from Kyushu tourney

Sumo: Tickets sell out for all 90 match days for 1st time in 28 years
The troubled aviation behemoth Boeing is poised to face another challenge next week as it enters a civil trial concerning the Ethiopian Airlines crash from March 2019, which resulted in the loss of 157 lives.

This trial is set to take place in federal court in Chicago. Initially, there were six plaintiffs involved, but all but one have reached settlements, according to a source close to the legal proceedings who spoke to AFP this week.

Unless a settlement is reached, this trial will mark Boeings first civil court appearance regarding the MAX crashes.

A settlement, which must be approved by the court, remains a possibility even after the trial proceedings begin.

The plaintiffs include family members of Manisha Nukavarapu, an Indian-born medical student specializing in endocrinology at East Tennessee State University, who was in her second year of studies.

Ms. Nukavarapu boarded a 737 MAX flight on March 10, 2019, in Addis Ababa, intending to travel to Nairobi to visit her sister, who had just given birth, according to legal documents.

Tragically, the aircraft, delivered in November 2018, crashed only six minutes after takeoff, resulting in the deaths of everyone on board.

More trials are anticipated

The Ethiopian Airlines tragedy resulted in the death of 157 individuals.

Relatives of 155 of the victims were deposed by the court between April 2019 and March 2021 in wrongful death lawsuits citing negligence, according to legal filings.

As of today, there are 30 cases still pending on behalf of 29 deceased individuals, a third legal source informed AFP on October 22.

The cases have been organized into groups, with the next trial slated for April 2025, unless all lawsuits are settled beforehand.

Boeing has publicly accepted responsibility for the MAX crashes in both public statements and civil litigation, acknowledging that the design of the MCAS contributed to these incidents, stated an attorney for Boeing during an October 11 court hearing.

The MCAS, a flight stabilization system, malfunctioned in both the Ethiopian Airlines crash and the October 2018 Lion Air crash in Indonesia, which claimed 189 lives.

The MAX aircraft began commercial operations in May 2017, but the entire fleet was grounded for 20 months following the Ethiopian Airlines crash.

Boeing claims that over 90% of the cases resulting from these crashes have been resolved. However, the company has not revealed the total financial impact of these litigations.

Boeing has compensated crash victims families and their attorneys with billions of dollars in relation to civil litigation, a Boeing attorney said during the October 11 hearing, which took place in Texas and is part of a Department of Justice criminal case involving the MAX.

Numerous plaintiffs have also been deposed in civil litigations related to the Lion Air disaster, with 46 represented by the Seattle law firm Herrmann.

The Texas litigation is related to a new deferred prosecution agreement with the DOJ after the department determined that Boeing violated a $2.5 billion (932 million) criminal settlement from January 2021 concerning fraud charges linked to MAX certification.

In July, Boeing agreed to plead guilty to fraud as part of this latest deferred prosecution agreement, though it awaits federal judge approval.
The civil defense agency in Gaza has reported that 30 individuals, including 13 children, were killed due to Israeli airstrikes on two residential homes in the northern region of the Palestinian territory.

The initial strike occurred early today in Jabalia, northern Gaza, claiming the lives of at least 25 people, encompassing 13 children, and injuring over 30, according to the civil defense.

Since October 6, the Israeli military has launched relentless air and ground campaigns in northern Gaza, particularly targeting Jabalia, claiming their objective is to prevent Hamas militants from reestablishing their positions in the area.

A separate strike in the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City resulted in the deaths of five individuals, with more casualties still unaccounted for, as reported by the civil defense.

In response to inquiries from AFP, the Israeli military stated that it was looking into the reports regarding the strikes.

Latest updates on Middle Eastern developments

The conflict in Gaza ignited following Hamass attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which led to 1,206 fatalities, predominantly among civilians, based on an AFP count of Israeli official statistics.

Israels retaliatory actions have resulted in the deaths of 43,552 people in Gaza, the majority of whom are civilians, according to data from the health ministry in the Hamas-controlled territory, which the United Nations regards as credible.

On Friday, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) condemned the civilian death toll during Israels military operations in Gaza, noting that women and children represent nearly 70 percent of the verified deaths.

Civilians in Gaza have suffered the most from the assaults, particularly following the initial complete siege imposed by Israeli forces, the OHCHR emphasized.

The actions of Israeli forces have led to unprecedented levels of fatalities, injuries, starvation, illness, and disease.

Israels mission to the UN in Geneva firmly rejected the OHCHRs report, describing it as a categorical manifestation of the organizations fixation on vilifying Israel.

In early November, leaders of UN agencies described the situation in northern Gaza as under siege, asserting that they were denied basic aid and life-saving supplies.

On October 15, the United States, Israels principal military ally, warned that it might withhold a portion of its considerable military assistance unless there were improvements in the delivery of aid to the Gaza Strip within 30 days.

As that deadline approaches, conditions have shown little sign of improvement, with a UN-supported assessment on Saturday indicating that famine is looming in northern Gaza.

The volume of aid shipments permitted into the Gaza Strip has now declined to its lowest since October 2023, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report.

The Famine Review Committee issued a warning about an imminent and substantial likelihood of famine occurring, due to the rapidly worsening conditions in the Gaza Strip. Israels military has questioned the reliability of this report.
Lebanons health ministry reported that an Israeli airstrike resulted in the deaths of 20 individuals, including three children, in the village of Almat, situated north of Beiruts capital.

The village of Almat, which has a Shia Muslim majority, is located in a predominantly Christian area. It lies outside of Hezbollahs conventional strongholds in southern Beirut and southern and eastern Lebanon, regions that have faced significant Israeli bombardment since late September amid ongoing conflict with the Iran-supported group.

The strike by the Israeli enemy on Almat in the Jbeil district has led to the deaths of 20 individuals, including three children, and injured six, according to an updated report, stated the health ministry.

The ministry also confirmed that Israeli airstrikes resulted in the deaths of three rescuers affiliated with Hezbollah in the southern region.

Enemy aircraft targeted a house in the Al-Laqees neighborhood of the city, as reported by the state-run National News Agency. The NNA indicated that Israel carried out a series of airstrikes on southern and eastern villages and positions during the overnight hours and into Sunday morning.

On the previous day, Israeli strikes led to the deaths of 20 people in eastern Lebanon and 13 in the southern region, as per figures released by the health ministry. Israel has escalated its air operations, primarily focusing on Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon since September 23, and a week later deployed ground troops.

The rise in hostilities followed almost a year of low-intensity, cross-border skirmishes initiated by Hezbollah in support of its allied group Hamas, after the Palestinian Islamist groups attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which sparked the Gaza war.

According to Lebanons health ministry, over 3,130 individuals have lost their lives in Lebanon as a result of the cross-border violence that began, with most fatalities occurring since September 23.
BAGHDAD, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- A Turkish drone attack has killed three militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), including a senior official, in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, the regional Counter-Terrorism Service said Sunday in a statement.

According to the statement, a Turkish drone attacked a vehicle of PKK fighters in a village in the Chamanke area in northern Duhok province.

A Kurdish security source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that a PKK military official was killed in the Turkish airstrike.

Turkish forces frequently carry out cross-border operations targeting PKK militants in northern Iraq, with a particular focus on the Qandil Mountains, a stronghold of the group.

The PKK, designated as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has rebelled against the Turkish government for more than three decades. 
Saudi Chief of Staff for Armed Forces to Engage in Discussions in Iran

The chief of staff of Saudi Arabias armed forces, Fayyad al-Ruwaili, is set to visit Tehran for discussions with his Iranian counterpart regarding defense cooperation, as reported by the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff through state media.

This visit comes on the heels of Donald Trumps election victory, as he prepares to begin his second term as US President in January, during which he has vowed to promote peace in the Middle East.

During his initial term, Mr. Trump facilitated normalization agreements between Arab nations and Israel, Irans primary regional adversary, an initiative known as the Abraham Accords.

While Saudi Arabia has yet to formalize relations with Israel, sources familiar with the talks informed Reuters that Mr. Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has engaged in discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman regarding potential ties over the past few years.

Additionally, state media reported that Bagheri had a phone conversation with Saudi Arabias Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud last year to review regional developments and enhance defense collaboration between the two nations.

In March 2023, Tehran and Riyadh reached an agreement, with Chinas mediation, to restore diplomatic relations following seven years of tension that jeopardized stability and security in the Gulf and fueled conflicts across the Middle East, from Yemen to Syria.
This weeks meeting in Budapest starkly highlighted the unease spreading across Europe as Donald Trump secured victory in the US.The timing and setting were significant.

The host, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, uniquely among EU leaders, has embraced Trumps controversial political style. He reveled in the attention, proclaiming Trumps victory a victory for world peace and asserting that it would shift Europes stance on Ukraine.

Orbans satisfaction was amplified by the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholzs coalition in Germany, while France finds itself in its own dysfunction, with President Macron struggling to present European leadership.

Nevertheless, there was a pressing need to manage the narrative before Trump assumes office.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban claimed Trumps victory as a victory for world peace.

The narrative being pushed is that a robust transatlantic relationshipboth economically and in terms of securityis beneficial for the US president-elect, especially regarding Ukraine.

Both European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte indicated they had previously worked well with Trump, with Rutte praising him for successfully urging NATO members to increase defense spending beyond the 2% of GDP benchmark (largely driven by Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine).

Despite the diplomatic optimism, genuine concerns linger over what Trump 2.0 might entail.

The Republican has proposed 10% tariffs on European exports and threatened to withdraw support from Ukraine.

Furthermore, he might consider lifting sanctions against the Kremlin and stepping away from NATO, potentially leaving Ukraine defenseless against Russias aerial assaults and advancing troops.

It is not an ideal time for the EU to face tariffs, especially with the risk of repercussions for trade with China (if Trump imposes 60% tariffs on China, it could trigger a surge of Chinese exports into Europe) or a potential Russian takeover of Ukraine (leading to a substantial influx of Ukrainian refugees into Europe).

Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the importance of a transatlantic partnership.

The EU institutions are also undergoing transformation.

Von der Leyen is concluding her initial mandate, and the soon-to-be commissioners are still awaiting the European Parliaments approval.

Goldman Sachs has already revised its Eurozone growth forecast for 2025 down from 1.1% to 0.8%, based solely on limited tariffs, not the 10% Trump could impose.

Before the US elections, the EU was grappling with stagnant growth and a lack of competitiveness.

Thus, we find ourselves in a transitional period filled with apprehension.

The concept of Europe standing united, yet alone, floated through the press conferences in Budapest.

Weve demonstrated that Europe can take responsibility by standing together, Von der Leyen remarked.

By uniting, we overcame the economic fallout of the pandemic. We have shown resilience in the severe energy crisis triggered by Russias war in Ukraine.

Before departing to dissolve the Dail, Taoiseach Simon Harris stressed that Europes strategic autonomy is now paramount:

Controlling what we can manage here in Europe is essential. No other region of the world is obligated to sustain us, the Taoiseach added.

A crucial aspect of what Europe seeks to control is ensuring Ukraine does not succumb to Russian domination.

However, Orban cautioned that Trumps win implies Europe may not support Ukraine as it has in the past.

The Americans will withdraw from this war, he stated to Hungarian state radio.

The war in Ukraine will be central in EU-US discussions.

No one, not least Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky, misunderstands what Orbans and the Russian leaders version of peace entails.

Ukrainian leader Zelensky told reporters in Budapest that talks of a ceasefire were dangerous and irresponsible, offering no assurances for Ukraines security.

Whats next? he inquired, referencing the North Korean troops assisting Russia in targeting civilians on European soil.

Should Europe seek favor from [North Korean leader] Kim Jong Un, hoping he too will leave Europe in peace?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remarked that ceasefire talks were dangerous and irresponsible.

Europe faces a critical moment, having to compensate for the potential withdrawal of US military support for Ukraine amid rising right-wing sympathies for Russia (Orban included) and a precarious economic landscape.

Nonetheless, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo contested the belief that Europe is powerless without a US defense shield.

More than half of the military support for Ukraine is already being provided by European nations, so the notion that Ukraine can only defend itself with American assistance is inaccurate, he stated.

Whether we need to increase support or maintain a collective effort will need to be determined. We have two months to prepare.

Even if Trumps more extreme campaign promises do not come to fruition and if this serves as a wake-up call for Europe to bolster defense capabilities, as envisioned by leaders like Polands Donald Tusk, the sober conclusion is that the EU will face challenges.

The prospect of a quicker US pivot away from Europe in terms of security is daunting, even for those who welcome greater European strategic autonomy, notes Ian Lesser, distinguished fellow at the German Marshall Fund.

However, this objective remains predominantly aspirational. Europes capacity to offset shifts in the American defense posture and credibility is unlikely to materialize for many years.

Donald Trump has long expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

With Russia continuing to gain ground in Ukraine, discussions regarding Kyiv softening its maximalist war goals of expelling all Russian troops are emerging, even outside of Trump-related circles.

[Washington] should still define victory as Kyiv remaining sovereign and independent, free to join any alliances and associations it desires, asserts Richard N. Haass, former US envoy to Northern Ireland and a prominent figure in American foreign policy, in Foreign Affairs.

However, it should abandon the notion that, to succeed, Kyiv needs to reclaim all its territory. As the United States and its allies continue arming Ukraine, they must take the uncomfortable step of encouraging Kyiv to engage in negotiations with the Kremlinand provide a clear framework on how to do so.

Read more: Key takeaways from the US presidential election Why Ireland should be concerned about Trump 2.0

This indicates that Trump might have the opportunity to push Ukraine into making significant compromises.

The US president-elect seems to harbor a particular disdain for Ukraine, viewing the countrys war effort as a burden on US finances and military resources, believing Europeans should handleand pay forthe issue themselves.

Trump has consistently praised Putin and has previously suggested he could broker a deal with the Russian leader to end the war within 24 hours.

His Vice-President-elect JD Vance has also made his indifference towards Ukraines future clear.

Despite this, various factionssome hawkish regarding Ukraine, others more traditionalwill vie for Trumps attention.

European leaders were quick to congratulate Trump on his decisive election victory earlier this week.

The Wall Street Journal recently reported on three members of Trumps team proposing a transactional approach to ending the conflict.

One suggestion involved freezing the conflict along current lines (with Russia still controlling 20% of Ukrainian territory), with Ukraine committing not to join NATO for at least 20 years in exchange for continued US military support.

A 1,300km demilitarized zone would be monitored by European troops.

We are not sending American men and women to maintain peace in Ukraine, a Trump aide stated, adding:

We are not financing it. The Poles, Germans, British, and French should manage it.

In contrast, Trumps former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a potential candidate for Defense Secretary, suggested in June that Trump would not abandon Ukraine.

Pompeo advocated for tighter sanctions against Russia, increasing American arms production, strengthening NATO, creating a $500 billion (467 billion) lend-lease program for Ukraine, and lifting restrictions on the types of weapons the besieged nation could acquire and utilize.

Distinguished Russian historian Stephen Kotkin offers a more cautious perspective:

It may turn out to be worse for Ukraine, but it may also be better. Making predictions is extremely challenging because Trump is unpredictable, even to himself.

However, he illustrates that Ukraine cannot engage in negotiations unless Vladimir Putin has a suitable incentive to do so.

The main issue is that the political pressure on the Putin regime has been insufficient, Kotkin adds.

Overall, Europes options appear limited.

Italys far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni could be a key liaison for the European side.

Europeans will likely assert themselves in Washington to become the presidents primary European ally, potentially at the expense of fellow Europeans, observes Celia Belin, senior policy fellow with the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR).

They might engage in transactional bargainingpurchasing US weapons in exchange for security guarantees or supporting US policy towards China, hoping the US will reciprocate on Russiaand simply hope for the best.

Despite this, Belin emphasizes that a transactional relationship is inherently short-term.

Instead, Europe needs to establish a strong, coherent strategy on how to engage with the United States under Trump, for both its economic sustainability and security needs.

However, creating such a cohesive approach is notoriously challenging for the EU.

France has a historical hesitation towards overly close ties while advocating for member states to acquire European (i.e., French) arms rather than American ones.

Additionally, Trump boasts a growing network of populist or far-right allies in Europe, whether in government or opposition, which could undermine a united approach supporting Ukraine.

Read more stories from around Europe.

The US president-elect, for his part, could very well extend his endorsement to European far-right parties, such as the AfD in Germany, which is gearing up for elections next year.

This positions Italys Giorgia Meloni, a right-leaning prime minister aligned with the MAGA community yet a strong supporter of Ukraine, as a critical liaison for the European perspective.

If we are discussing the possibility of peace today, she told reporters in Budapest, it is because Ukraine has shown tremendous courage and the West has assisted. Well see how the situation unfolds in the upcoming weeks. As long as there is war, Italy will stand with Ukraine.

The weeks leading to the establishment of the Trump administration will be crucial, particularly concerning developments on the battlefield in Ukraine. With Trump having garnered the backing of a majority of Americans, his actions stemming from that mandate will significantly affect Europeans.
( Middle East Monitor )  The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the Israeli occupation forces storming a church in the Sanctuary of the Eleona in occupied Jerusalem on Thursday and arresting two security guards employed by the French Consulate General in Jerusalem.

The two guards were tasked with securing the area ahead of a scheduled visit by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot. This move reflects Israels insistence on continuing its actions that violate the historical and legal status quo in occupied Jerusalem, stressing that Israel has no sovereignty over it.

The official spokesperson for the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sufyan Qudah, stressed in a statement the Kingdoms absolute rejection of all Israeli measures aimed at changing the identity and character of East Jerusalem, including the Old City, and changing the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites.

He also reiterated the Kingdoms support for France and its position against the attacks of the Israeli occupation forces.

Via Middle East Monitor
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  The United Nations is again warning of imminent famine in northern Gaza. A panel of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification committee (IPC) released an alarming report on Thursday. The IPC panel said that urgent steps must be taken by concerned countries to avert mass starvation within days not weeks.

Although U.S. television news has firmly swept Gaza under the rug, the campaign against its civilians of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is ongoing. On Saturday morning, an Israeli airstrike on a house in Jabalia killed 32 Palestinians, bring the death toll to 44 just in the early morning alone.

Some 70% of those killed by Israeli forces in Gaza have been women and children, according to UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR). Counting confirmed deaths, the US said that Israeli forces killed eighty percent in residential buildings. CNN reports that OHCHR announced that it had found a consistent pattern of high numbers of babies and young children, women, older persons, and families killed together in residential buildings.

Regarding the famine, the head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, posted on X:

Deeply alarming  @theIPCinfo warns there is a strong likelihood that famine in northern #Gaza is imminent. We call for an immediate scale-up and safe access for humanitarian aid  primarily food and medicines for severe malnutrition  within days not weeks. https://t.co/YZtdPs4RXk  Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) November 8, 2024

The IPC panel report classified the entire Gaza Strip in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) acute food insecurity.

Phase 4 is defined as follows: At least 20 percent of households in an area are experiencing Phase 4 or worse outcomes, and acute malnutrition rates are expected to be between 15 and 30 percent.

The panel report added, One hundred and thirty-three thousand people were classified as facing catastrophic food insecurity. That is the entire population of Pasadena, California.

Catastrophic food insecurity is defined as Even when using all of their coping strategies, people have almost no food and cannot support their basic needs. Starvation, death and destitution are apparent.

They say that a risk of famine exists for all of Gaza for the next five months, and the odds would rise with heavy fighting.



Famine, Digital, Midjourney / Clip2Comic, 2024.

The IPC panel observed, On 6 October 2024, Israel designated all of the northern Gaza Strip as a combat zone and ordered the entire civilian population to evacuate.

The panel cautions that the availability of food in the Gaza Strip must be understood in the context of a collapsed food system. The report says that aid shipments into Gaza were lower in October, 2024, than at any time since the conflict began over a year ago. The panel says that the World Food Program is reporting that the average daily number of trucks entering Gaza dropped to just 58, the lowest since November 2023. Before the war, as many as 500 aid trucks entered Gaza daily  a necessity, since the Israeli government had blockaded the Strip.

And this low number of food shipments is being recorded at a time when severe food insecurity, escalating malnutrition, and the looming threat of famine were already evident in the northern governorates. The threat is especially potent in places where there is armed combat.
Committee on Academic Freedom | Middle East Studies Association | 

Valerie Smith

President

Swarthmore College

president@swarthmore.edu

Dear President Smith and colleagues:

We write on behalf of the Middle East Studies Association of North America (MESA) and its Committee on Academic Freedom to express our concern about the flawed disciplinary proceedings involving a number of its students that Swarthmore College is currently conducting. We regard these proceedings, along with some of the colleges policies and recent actions, as posing a threat to the ability of its students and faculty to exercise their academic freedom and freedom of speech and assembly, thereby calling into question Swarthmores avowed commitment to upholding these rights.

MESA was founded in 1966 to promote scholarship and teaching on the Middle East and North Africa. The preeminent organization in the field, the Association publishes the prestigious International Journal of Middle East Studies and has nearly 2,800 members worldwide. MESA is committed to ensuring academic freedom and freedom of expression both within the region and in connection with the study of the region in North America and outside of North America.

In May 2024, 25 students at Swarthmore College who had engaged in activism in support of Palestinian rights and opposition to Israeli and US policies toward the Palestinians during the 2023-2024 academic year were formally issued letters outlining charges against them; they are currently undergoing disciplinary proceedings. These letters alleged various violations of student conduct policies outlined in the Swarthmore Student Handbook , which differentiates between minor and major forms of misconduct. The character, conduct and context of these disciplinary proceedings raise serious concerns about due process and selective enforcement.

We find it distressing that Swarthmore chose to outsource, to a private law firm, the investigation of the alleged violations, the authoring of charge letters and the determination of what evidence accused students are allowed to access, with no clear or consistent standard across cases. This decision creates a significant risk that the personnel involved will lack adequate knowledge of Swarthmore Colleges policies and practices, and that they will not be respectful of due process or of students right to freedom of expression and to privacy. For example, we note that, in the case of at least one student, the initial charge letter included the following alleged violations of the Student Handbook: assault, harassment based on a protected class, and hate crime. The hate crime charge was subsequently dropped because there is in fact no such category of misconduct specified in the Handbook. These issues call into question the fairness of the disciplinary proceedings and are likely to result in deviations from Swarthmores established disciplinary procedures.

Swarthmore has also denied accused students requests to have legal representation at disciplinary proceedings, though this is accepted practice at many other colleges and universities. The college has, in addition, allowed the attorney from the external law firm who conducted the investigation and authored the charge letters to participate in the hearings, ostensibly as a witness, which we regard as a gross violation of due process. To make matters worse, reports indicate that Swarthmore has actively encouraged students to initiate criminal or civil proceedings against anyone they believe has committed acts of harassment or assault, if the college has found them guilty of a disciplinary infraction.

The disciplinary proceedings against these 25 students also appear to exemplify selective enforcement. Many of the actions that are being framed as violations of college policy are in fact regular features of the tradition of student activism that Swarthmore College claims to celebrate. We note that students who engaged in protest activity related to sexual harassment and assault, climate change and Black Lives Matter have faced far fewer charges in both number and severity, despite deploying more or less identical methods of protest. At the same time, most of the alleged minor misconduct charges against the 25 students involve posting fliers, putting up posters and chalking political messages in undesignated areas. Yet Swarthmore students have been doing the same things regarding other issues for years and continue to do so today, without facing investigation or disciplinary action. This disparity suggests that what is at issue is not the time, place and manner of the actions in which the 25 students are alleged to have engaged but the political perspective they were expressing.

Such content-based discrimination also seems to have informed the Swarthmore administrations interactions with faculty members on several occasions. We note that last spring the colleges Board of Management invited several faculty members to a discussion, ostensibly about pedagogy. During the meeting board members questioned individual faculty members about their decision to sign a petition supporting the rights of students critical of Israeli and US policies to hold an encampment. We also note that over the past summer the Swarthmore Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT) sent emails to several faculty members warning them that their decision to follow a satirical Instagram account made some students feel unwelcome in their classrooms. These actions threaten the academic freedom and free speech rights of faculty and are likely to have a chilling effect on their ability to express and share their views on matters of public concern.

This countrys institutions of higher education should be places in which all members of the campus community can express their views and seek knowledge freely. In these fraught times college and university leaders have a heightened responsibility to protect the freedom of speech and academic freedom of all members of the campus community. This is all the more important now, when violence is raging in the Middle East, our own government is so deeply involved in what is happening, and various individuals and organizations with a political agenda are seeking to vilify and silence students with whom they disagree.

We therefore call on Swarthmore College to ensure that the investigation and adjudication of disciplinary charges against these 25 students be conducted in a fair and transparent manner, in full conformity with the right to due process. We also call on Swarthmore College to refrain from selective and disproportionate disciplinary measures against students, faculty and staff who are exercising their right to freedom of speech and assembly, and their academic freedom, including by expressing their support for Palestinian rights and for changes in Israel, US and college policies. More broadly, Swarthmore must refrain from adopting any policy, or taking any measure, which is likely to exert a further chilling effect on teaching, learning and freedom of expression on campus. Finally, we urge Swarthmore College to publicly and forcefully reaffirm its commitment to protecting the free speech rights and academic freedom, as well as the safety and well-being, of all members of the campus community.

We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Asl U. Bali

MESA President

Professor, Yale Law School

Laurie Brand

Chair, Committee on Academic Freedom

Professor Emerita, University of Southern California
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 10, 2024) - Pelangio Exploration Inc. (TSXV: PX) (OTC Pink: PGXPF) ("Pelangio" or the "Company) is pleased to announce that the company will attend the upcoming 2024 Precious Metals Summit in Zurich, taking place from November 14th to November 15, 2024. This exclusive event gathers top-tier investors, analysts, and executives from the precious metals sector.

As Pelangio explores the potential for near-term production at its flagship Manfo gold project in Ghana, the Zurich Summit provides an excellent opportunity to present these developments, along with insights into the ongoing update of the Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE), expected by December 2024. Pelangio's engagement in the event aligns with its strategy of building relationships within the investment community and exploring opportunities to expand its shareholder base.

"We are excited to connect with investors at the Zurich Precious Metals Summit," said Ingrid Hibbard, President and CEO of Pelangio Exploration Inc. "With the potential for near-term production at Manfo and the anticipated updated MRE, this is an exciting time for us to share our progress and strategic direction with stakeholders interested in the precious metals sector."

Pelangio invites all interested parties to connect during the event. For more information or to schedule a meeting, please contact us at the details provided below.

About Pelangio Exploration Inc.

Pelangio Exploration Inc. is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company focused on advancing its portfolio of gold projects in West Africa and Canada. The company's strategy is centered on acquiring and developing highly prospective projects with the potential for significant returns. Pelangio holds a 100% interest in several properties located on the prolific Sefwi and Ashanti Gold Belts in Ghana and continues to advance its exploration efforts in one of the world's most productive gold regions.

For additional information, please visit our website at www.pelangio.com, or contact:

Ingrid Hibbard, President and CEO

Tel: 905-336-3828 / Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements herein may contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements or information appear in a number of places and can be identified by the use of words 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 statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information include statements regarding the Company's strategy of acquiring large land packages in areas of sizeable gold mineralization, and the Company's ability to complete the planned exploration programs. Regarding forward-looking statements and information contained herein, we have made many assumptions, including about the state of the equity markets. Such forward-looking statements and information are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement or information. Such risks include the changes in equity markets, share price volatility, volatility of global and local economic climate, gold price volatility, political developments in Ghana, and Canada, increases in costs, exchange rate fluctuations, speculative nature of gold exploration, including the risk that favourable exploration results may not be obtained, the option may not be exercised, near-term production may not be viable, delays due to COVID-19 or other safety protocols, and other risks involved in the gold exploration industry. See the Company's annual and quarterly financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statement and information. There can be no assurance that a forward-looking statement or information referenced herein will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Also, many of the factors are beyond the control of the Company. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward- looking statements or information. We undertake no obligation to reissue or update any forward-looking statements or information except as required by law. All forward-looking statements and information herein are qualified by this cautionary statement. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

THIS NEWS RELEASE IS INTENDED FOR DISTRIBUTION IN CANADA ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES
A holographic screen that floats in mid-air and allows interaction! Join our correspondent at the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) as she discovers the exciting, real-world applications of this technology that was once only seen in science fiction!





Produced by Xinhua Global Service




Sunday, November 10, 2024 - Kileleshwa Ward MCA Robert Alai has criticized envious Kenyans who are hoping for former Prime Minister Raila Odingas failure in his bid for the African Union Chairperson position.

Some Kenyans, particularly from the Mt. Kenya region, are hoping for the former premier to lose the AUC seat, instead backing Djibouti's candidate, Mohamoud Ali Youssouf.

But speaking on Saturday, Alai said even if Baba loses the seat, it will only strengthen his bond with President William Ruto, who has spent millions of taxpayers money campaigning for him.

Those who want Baba Raila Odinga to fail in getting the AUC seat need to be worried more.

"They hope that if Baba doesnt get the seat, they will fight with William Ruto.

"Let me tell you a secret, Baba not getting the AUC will bring him even closer to Ruto.

"Stop having these imaginations, Alai said.

The Nairobi Member of County Assemblys remarks come amid public uproar, especially on social media over the opposition and government working together.

Many accuse the former Prime Minister of betraying Gen Z and benefiting from their protests.

The working relations began after the Gen Z protests that somehow brought the country to a standstill.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Sunday, November 10, 2024 - President William Ruto surprised everyone by announcing that he wont attend this years Climate Summit, known as COP29, despite being a climate change advocate.

Instead, Ruto has opted to send Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Environment, Climate, and Forestry Aden Duale to represent him at the global summit slated for next week in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Sources from the State House confirmed the new development, as Ruto was initially meant to attend the United Nations conference.

Rutos intended sojourn to Azerbaijan would have been the third trip out of the country in a week after prior trips to South Sudan and Ethiopia.

Since September 2024, Ruto has made eight trips outside the country. His frequent travels have drawn mixed reactions back home with many Kenyans expressing frustration over the Presidents focus on international matters while pressing domestic concerns remain unresolved.

Ruto was set to deliver an address in the first part of the high-level segment during the World Leaders Climate Action Summit (WLCAS) that is set to run from Tuesday, November 12, to Wednesday, November 13. CS Duale now looks set to deliver the president's address on his behalf.

The COP29 summit is set to run from Monday, November 11 to Friday, November 22 2024 with the theme being Investing in a livable planet for all.

The main agenda is finance as the UN reiterates the continuous need to invest significant sums of money to drastically reduce greenhouse emissions and protect lives and livelihoods from the worsening impacts of climate change.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Sunday, November 10, 2024 - KANU National Chairman Gideon Moi was pictured at AIC Milimani Church in Nakuru where he attended a Sunday service after being away from the public limelight for quite some time.

The former Baringo Senator seems to have lost a lot of weight, leaving Kenyans on social media questioning whether his health is at stake.

See the photos.





The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Sunday, November 10, 2024  President William Ruto's Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) which is run by the Social Health Authority (SHA) has received yet another blow.

This is after Church leaders also rejected it, saying it is not working for patients who are meant to benefit from it.

This follows the sufferings patients continue to undergo under SHIF.

Church leaders, led by the Nation Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) Chairman Bishop Alphonso Kanga, rejected the SHA rollout, challenging the government to prioritize Kenyans over soliciting more money.

Their concerns about the new health insurance fund have been raised by cases of Kenyans being forced to pay out of their pockets despite paying for the insurance for services that were previously fully covered under the previous health insurance fund, the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

NCCK, which precedes medical facilities run by faith-based organizations delivered its prognosis a month after the SHA rollout.

The church leaders have challenged the government to go back to NHIF as they review SHA and ensure it's completely working before it fully takes over.

According to the leaders, SHA and SHIF were hurriedly rolled out, and this was evident by the numerous complaints made by Kenyans.

"It does not make sense to us that Kenyans are now paying more money but are getting fewer benefits, we are moving from okay to worse," Bishop Kanga revealed.

Nyeri Diosis Archbishop Antony Muheria also reiterated NCCK sentiments, saying that what is happening in SHIF contradicts every aspect of upholding human rights.

"With the shift from NHIF to SHIF, we don't seem to have had that thought of the sick, people who die because they can't get services that's our main concern, Muheria stated.

However, Rutos government has dismissed calls for a review of the SHIF, insisting that the system works.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Sunday, November 10, 2024 - Prince William has described this year as the "hardest year" of his life.

The Prince of Wales spoke to reporters at the end of his visit to South Africa. He talked about how he has coped after both his wife and his father were diagnosed with cancer.

"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," he said after being asked how his year has been after a difficult year for the Royal Family.

Buckingham Palace revealed the King had cancer in February 2024 and would begin treatment. Just six weeks later it was announced the Princess of Wales was undergoing chemotherapy after a cancer diagnosis.

The King has since returned to public duties and Catherine has finished chemotherapy treatment.

Prince William said: "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 brutal."
JINAN, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- One day, Confucius ascended Mount Tai, only to find that the world had already perished countless times. Yet, in the end, after all the hardships, he did encounter a future China. This is a narrative contained in the renowned short story "It Dwarfs All Peaks Under My Feet," crafted by Jia Liyuan, an associate professor at Tsinghua University, who writes under the pseudonym Feidao.

In this story, Jia seeks to express that within the cyclical nature of history, even in times of war and chaos like the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods (770-221 BC), people are also in pursuit of "Tao," or "truth."

Mount Tai, located in Confucius' home province of Shandong in the east of China, is a listed UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site and a symbolic emblem of Chinese civilization. Over the past 2,000 years, emperors have regarded the act of offering sacrifices at Mount Tai as the highest honor of their lifetimes. This place is also where Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism intersect and blend.

From Nov. 8 to 10, Taishan College of Science and Technology held a science fiction carnival at the foot of this mountain, attracting hundreds of science fiction writers from home and abroad.

The Fishing Fortress Science Fiction Awards (FFSFA) were given to outstanding writers, translators, publishers, teachers, artists, media professionals and others, in recognition of their contributions to promoting the influence of science fiction.

The best novel award went to Tianrui Shuofu's "We Live in Nanjing," which tells the story of a group of ordinary Chinese who use modern technology to save the future Earth.

Award winners made their way to Dai Temple at Mount Tai, a sacred site where ancients once paid homage to the divine. From there, they ascended to the mountain's peak, engaging in a dialogue on the fusion of traditional Chinese culture with cutting-edge science and technology. They explored strategies to address the pressing issues confronting modern humanity, such as environmental degradation, runaway technology and the scourges of hunger and war.

Following China's hosting of the World Science Fiction Convention last October, the Mount Tai event took the country's sci-fi craze to a new height.

Over 100 sci-fi writing contests were held nationwide last year, offering prizes totaling more than 44 million yuan (about 6.2 million U.S. dollars), which were supported by either the government or enterprises. The annual output value of China's sci-fi industry, which includes publishing, games and movies, exceeded 110 billion yuan in 2023.

Jia said that the surge in popularity of science fiction in China is truly remarkable. This year commemorates the 120th anniversary of the inception of Chinese science fiction. When esteemed author Lu Xun and his contemporaries introduced the genre to China at the turn of the previous century, they aspired for it to broaden the intellectual horizons of the populace and to ignite new aspirations.

Like many fields, this genre had traditionally been monopolized by the West, however, it is now becoming a vibrant "soft power" and being exported from China to the rest of the world.

"The Three-Body Problem" has sold tens of millions of copies worldwide and has been adapted into a Netflix television series -- with its fans including Barack Obama and Mark Zuckerberg.

Yang Ping, a key organizer of the event at Mount Tai, stated that the burgeoning popularity of science fiction in China is a reflection of the nation's economic and technological advancements. Yang himself is a sci-fi writer known for covering subjects such as cyberpunk and Mars exploration.

China is constantly promoting the development of artificial intelligence, implementing lunar and Martian exploration programs, and has vowed to realize the strategic goal of building a strong country in science and technology by 2035. These efforts have stimulated the imagination of writers, Yang said.

Liu Cixin's novels have erected a towering peak, and Chinese science fiction writers must continue to climb higher, he added.

Unlike government-sponsored events such as the China Science Fiction Convention, the FFSFA was set up by a private enterprise, China New Business School Group, which is committed to investing in education. At present, the group operates three private universities featuring a total of more than 100,000 students. Taishan College of Science and Technology is one of these universities.

"I aspire to cultivate the holistic youth of the new era, who will not only acquire knowledge and skills but also evolve into well-rounded individuals capable of envisioning, uncovering and crafting the novelties of our world," said Peng Hongbin, chairman of the group. This vision encapsulates his philosophy of "perfect education," and within this framework, science fiction holds a distinctive position in stimulating the aforementioned capabilities.

Peng has established a "Science Fiction Academy" to encourage students to read and write sci-fi stories and even make sci-fi films. When he founded and staged the first FFSFA in 2023, he decided to move the sci-fi awards venue to Mount Tai the following year, and use the ladder of science and imagination to "ascend to the sky."

Zhang Fan, founder of the Science Fiction Academy, said sci-fi is an art about tomorrow. Through this genre, writers and artists are not only able to express their free imagination concerning unknown worlds, but can also bravely face various possible future scenarios and uncertainties.

Professor Wu Yan from the Southern University of Science and Technology, a winner at the FFSFA, said that science fiction offers young people a glimpse into the future. "In this era, those who can envision the future hold the advantage. As China ascends on the global stage, the Chinese people possess both the right and the capability to shape the future narrative," Wu noted. 




Sunday, November 10, 2024 - Outspoken activist Kasmuel McOure has officially left the Gen Z movement to join former Prime Minister Raila Odingas Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

Kasmuel was received into the party by ODM chairperson, Gladys Wanga, who said the Orange party is ready to receive the firebrand activist.

Speaking at the event, Kasmuel called the ODM party the largest pro-people movement that believes in a fair and democratic Kenya.

"If youre willing to join a substantive political movement for a fair, democratic Kenya where everyone can live with dignity, consider.

"The ODM party is the largest pro-people party in East and Central Africa!" Kasmuel said.

Kasmuel, among youth leaders hosted by ODM Party chairperson Gladys Wanga, vowed to lead the mass registration of new members.

While thanking Wanga for hosting youths, Kasmuel called on young Kenyans to join the political party.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Sunday, November 10, 2024 - A Canada based African lawyer, Tomilola, has revealed her husband's reaction after doctors told her she may never bear children.

Tomi gave birth to a baby girl a few months ago after conceiving through IVF.

In a post on Instagram on Thursday, Tomi revealed that she was devastated by the news but was willing to let go of her husband because he has always wanted to be a dad.





However, her husband said he would rather die childless with her than have children with another woman.

In one of my least graceful moments, I told my husband that he could go find someone else. I told him I wouldn't be mad if he left me because I knew how much he wanted to be a dad, she wrote.

"I didn't want to lose him, but I also didn't want to hold him back





He took my hands, looked me in my eyes and said, I 'll rather die childless with you, than have children with someone else."

He showed me with words and actions, that my infertility was his infertility.




Sunday, November 10, 2024 - Laikipia County Senator John Kinyua has issued a public apology to President William Ruto, acknowledging regret over his earlier vote against the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Speaking during the 20th-anniversary celebrations of Ol Pejeta Conservancy on Saturday, Kinyua suggested that after introspection, he understood the justification behind Gachagua's impeachment.

Your excellency, you know sometimes people do things and lose their way. I would like to say that to slip is not to fall, Kinyua remarked.

In his speech, Kinyua expressed gratitude to President Ruto for his frequent visits to the Mt. Kenya region and commended his efforts in supporting conservation and launching projects that benefit the community.

He further highlighted a pressing issue affecting local residents: the increasing encroachment of wild animals into villages, which has stirred fear among residents.

"Your Excellency, our brothers from Matanya are troubled by monkeys. Please help us.

"Others are facing issues with elephants, which I believe come from the ADC farm, Kinyua said, urging the government to transfer the land to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) for better management.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Sunday, November 10, 2024 - Americas number one podcast host, Joe Rogan has urged US President-elect Donald Trump to refrain from attacking his critics and political foes and focus on unity during his second term in the White House.

Hes got to unite people. Hes got to not attack the left, not attack everybody. Let them all talk their st, but unite, Rogan said of Trump, 78, on the latest episode of his very popular podcast The Joe Rogan Experience with comedian and Libertarian Dave Smith released Thursday, November 7.

Now its time to unite everybody.

Rogan, who endorsed the incoming 47th president the night before Election Day, said that Trump had the right message during his first White House term, but called him the wrong messenger causing people to overlook his successful policies.

Its Donald Trump as the messenger was so polarizing that people lost whats really going on just based on who this guy is, the 57-year-old podcaster said.

Just like Tony Hinchcliffe is an insult comic, Donald Trumps entire career is Youre fired! Youre a loser. Rosie ODonnells a loser. Like thats his whole shtick.

The UFC commentator sat down with Trump for a nearly three-hour interview last month that has racked up 47 million YouTube views as of late Thursday. The interview was part of the Trump campaigns initiative to attract young white male voters who make up the majority of Rogans fanbase.

Rogan nonchalantly endorsed the 45th president for a second term in a tweet promoting his episode with tech billionaire and fellow Trump supporter Elon Musk on Monday night.

If it wasnt for him, wed be fked, Rogan wrote of Musk. He makes what I think is the most compelling case for Trump youll hear, and I agree with him every step of the way.

For the record, yes, thats an endorsement of Trump, he added.

Rogan in 2022 said he was not a Trump supporter in any way, shape or form, but gave the Republican his support less than 24 hours before Election Day.

In his interview with Musk, the podcaster said, [The Democrats] have done such a job of painting Trump as a monster, you know, theyve taken the worst things that hes ever said and [amplified them] and hes not a perfect person, Rogan said. But guess what? No ones perfect. They dont exist.




Sunday, November 10, 2024 - Local media reports that a senior county official from Western Kenya was this week nabbed at the airport with stacks of undeclared cash he could barely explain.

When he realized the anti-corruption team was hot on his heels, he quickly called the real owner of the loot, begging for his rescue.

Some officials at the airport suggested he part with a 40 percent tip but it turns out the boss,a Nairobi bigwig, wasnt about to lose a shilling.

A high power intervened, prompting the officials at the airport to let the official stroll out with every coin intact.

Read.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.






Sunday, November 10, 2024 - A 46-year--old pastor, Sydney Sithole, who is accused of r3ping a 16-year-old congregant member was denied bail by the Sabie Magistrate Court in Mpumalanga, South Africa on Thursday.

This is after the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) successfully opposed his release on bail for the incident which allegedly happened in his place of residence at Sabie in October 2024.

The court felt that the accused failed to prove the exceptional circumstances permitting his release on bail.

It also found that his release on bail might cause public disorder, might interfere with the witnesses and might even evade trial.

When handing down the judgement the court remarked that the accused took advantage of his victim as he was entrusted as a spiritual father by his congregation.

The accused was arrested last month following the allegations that the victim went to his place of residence to be prayed for as she had a wound on her leg.

When she arrived at the accused's place of residence, the accused welcomed her, kissed her and pushed her to his bedroom before r3ping her.

The incident came to light after the victim told her friends at school who also shared the same experience with the victim and the matter was reported to the police.

During his arrest, a firearm and ammunition were found in his place. He is facing charges of rape, possession of a firearm and ammunition.

"Going forward the NPA together with the police will work together to ensure that the outstanding investigation is getting finalised and transfer the matter to the trial court," said Monica Nyuswa, NPA Regional Spokesperson in Mpumalanga.






Sunday, November 10, 2024 - A pastor from Praise and Worship Centre Assembly in Zimbabwe, Lebraity Makuni, has been arrested for allegedly staging an armed robbery to cover up his own misdeeds.

Makuni, 28, reported to police that he had been robbed of $7,500 and various valuables at his home in Chitungwiza. However, investigations revealed that the pastor fabricated the incident to hide a financial scheme gone wrong.

According to authorities, Pastor Makuni had accepted $3,000 and a Techno cellphone from a congregant, promising to supply maize for their poultry business. When he failed to deliver, he allegedly staged the robbery to avoid accountability.

Harare provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, confirmed Makuni's arrest for providing false information to the police. Makuni was released on $100 bail with a condition to report to Chitungwiza CID weekly. He is expected to appear in court again next week.




Sunday, November 10, 2024  President William Rutos Economic Advisor David Ndii has defended his comparison of Kenya to Bangladesh following an uproar from Kenyans.

In a statement, Ndii explained why he had stated that Kenya was economically competing with the likes of Vietnam and Bangladesh.

According to Ndii, Kenya and Bangladesh wanted to grow their economies in the 90s based on their exports.

At the time, Ndii indicated that Kenya had a better Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita.

However, down the line, Bangladesh overtook Kenya given the revenue that the Asian country earns from its exports.

"In 1990, when I was a rookie economist at the World Bank, Kenya, and Bangladesh embarked on export-led growth. Both were exporting 2 billion US dollars. Our GDP pc (PPP$) was 70 per cent higher," he stated.

"Today Bangladesh exports 60 billion USD while Kenya exports 13 Billion USD. Bangladesh's GDP per capita is 40% higher. We are not competing, weve been leapfrogged by Bangladesh."

Ndii had elicited debate on X when he claimed that Kenya was competing with Bangladesh.

In response to the remarks, some online users wondered why the focus was shifting from Singapore, which Ruto is so obsessed with, to Bangladesh.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Sunday, November 10, 2024 - President William Ruto took the earliest chance to call U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump amid restlessness in the country over the extent of influence wielded by the U.S. Ambassador to Kenya, Meg Whitman.

Taking to his official X account, Ruto revealed that the two had a candid conversation where he briefed the U.S. President-Elect on several mutual interest areas.

His conversation with Trump comes just a day after he had a conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who challenged him to tighten security in Kenya and fight against the rising cases of abductions.

According to Ruto, the two discussed issues related to trade, investment, and development. Ruto also seized the opportunity to congratulate Trump on his victory officially.

"I have had a telephone conversation with US President-Elect Donald Trump. We discussed areas of mutual interest that are of benefit to the citizens of our two countries, including trade and investment, security, and good governance," President Ruto revealed.

Ruto also informed Trump of Kenya's peace Mission to Haiti, expressing hope that the two nations will continue to collaborate on the mission together.

"I briefed President Trump on the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti and possible areas of cooperation with the US government on this important conflict resolution initiative," Ruto continued.

Trump won the election after securing enough electoral votes to complete a stunning return to the White House after four years out of power, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat.

The call reinforced the longstanding ties between Kenya and the U.S., with the leaders affirming their commitment to bolstering economic and security collaborations, particularly as Kenya seeks to expand trade and attract more American investment.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Sunday, November 10, 2024 - British supermodel Georgina Cooper has tragically died at the age of 46 on a Greek island just months after she married.

The mother-of-one was with her new husband Nigel on Kos when she fell ill. She was initially taken to the island's main hospital but her condition was so serious doctors arranged for an air ambulance to fly her to Crete which has better facilities.

Staff rushed her to intensive care where she stayed for five days before passing away and her body was flown back to England last week.

Her former agent, Dean Goodman told MailOnline today, Nov. 8: "She loved Greece and told me that she was going back with her new husband - but she has tragically died there a fortnight ago.

"Georgina had been unwell during Covid and had developed some health problems and had been in and out of hospital. But she had plans for the future. She had just married and was looking forward to her life. Everybody is devastated. She was a genuine superstar."

Georgina was spotted by a modelling agency at the age of 13 and her first major breakthrough came when she appeared in a Bon Jovi music-video when she was 15.

She then became one of the faces of the 1990s and was dubbed London's "original gap toothed girl". She worked for the biggest names in the world of fashion and appeared on the cover of US Vogue and The Face.

Georgina quit the catwalk to focus on raising her son Sonny. She most recently worked in hospitality in Kent.

Georgina had walked down the aisle near her home in Maidstone, Kent, with the reception in the local pub in early June 2024.





The couple then honeymooned in Kos, sharing a set of happy pictures from their wedding on the island's Facebook community site.

But she had returned to the Greek island at the end of October, but has "tragically d!ed" there after suffering with health problems during the pandemic, Dean Goodman said.

Tributes have poured in from fellow catwalk stars including Jade Parfitt, Erin O'Connor, Jodie Kidd and Helena Christensen, who called her a "ray of light" whose "achievements in the industry were huge".

Friend and fellow model Jade Parfitt told MailOnline: Her friends and family are absolutely devastated, Georgina was a ray of light, a very popular model who was riotous fun, always laughing and being naughty in all the best ways. We all wanted to hang out with George backstage. Her achievements in the industry were huge.
LONDON, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Lord Mayor's Show, one of the oldest civic parades in the United Kingdom (UK), took to the streets in London on Saturday.

The parade, featuring military bands, university groups, and community organizations, started at Mansion House, the official residence of the Lord Mayor. It wound through the City of London before concluding at the Royal Courts of Justice.

Alistair King, the 696th Lord Mayor of London, waved to crowds from his golden carriage along the route.

Chinese performers in the parade made a memorable impression on the audiences through a unique blend of modern technology and traditional culture. Two robotic dogs marching alongside the performers from the Zhejiang UK Association (ZJUKA) drew particular attention. Engaging with children and greeting onlookers, the robots led the way for the team of performers, who showcased traditional Chinese performances, including chopstick dance and waist drum dance.

"This year marks the sixth time ZJUKA has joined this grand parade," said Qian Linglong, a ZJUKA member. "I feel very excited to share Chinese culture with people from all over the world, and it fills me with pride."

This year's Lord Mayor's Show saw around 7,000 participants and over 200 horses. With a history spanning more than 800 years, the event is a cherished cultural tradition in London. 




Sunday, November 10, 2024 - A child is reported to have tragically lost her life after being neglected by rogue nurses at Longisa Hospital in Bomet.

Reports indicate that the nurses asked the childs parents to pay Ksh 5,000 to fuel the hospitals ambulance for a referral.

However, they couldnt raise the money immediately.

The nurses were just laughing and engaging in conversations as the ailing child was fighting for her life in the ward.

They shamelessly watched as the child breathed her last.

The video has caused an uproar on social media, with most people urging the government to take disciplinary action against the medical workers.









Watch the video here Link>>

The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Sunday, November 10, 2024 - A close ally of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has poked holes in claims by former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka that he is ready to oust President William Ruto from power during the 2027 presidential election.

Kalonzo has positioned himself to feel the void left by Raila Odinga, who quit the opposition undertakings to focus on his bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship.

The former second in command has been claiming that he has what it takes to send President William Ruto to Sugoi in 2027

However, speaking on Saturday, Saboti Member of Parliament Caleb Amisi dismissed Kalonzo Musyokas claims, saying he doesnt have what it takes to oust Ruto from power.

"Let us not lie to ourselves; It is true that President William Ruto is not liked by Kenyans, but can those led by Kalonzo unseat Ruto?

"If Kalonzo wants to be president, then he must be aggressive, decisive, and daring to take on Ruto and take over the leadership of the country.

"We want to see Kalonzo getting jailed, fighting for the people.

"Walking at funerals cannot guarantee you anything. People want leaders who can sacrifice on their behalf," Amisi said.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
The civil trial in which Conor McGregor is accused of rape, general election campaigning, and a potential Dail bit from Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch are among the stories that feature on Sunday's front pages.

Fine Gael has vowed to use the 14 billion Apple tax windfall for the help to buy scheme, The Sunday Times reports. The McGregor trial also features on the front page.

Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are targeting a government coalition with the Labour Party, as their relationship with the Green Party has broken down, the Sunday Independent reports.

The Business Post leads with a poll which has found Fine Gael is still the country's most popular part as the general election campaign kicks off. The poll also found voters trust Fine Gael on the economy, while they trust Sinn Fein on housing.

Our front page today. Pick up a copy in stores or subscribe at https://t.co/LyVcHkmcMa for these stories plus:  Red C Poll: How you rank each party  Trinny Woodalls Diary  Matt Cooper: Musks election role was most cynical exercise of media power pic.twitter.com/lSqYwslaLe  Business Post (@businessposthq) November 10, 2024

Crime boss Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch has confirmed to the Sunday World that he intends to run in the general election.

The Irish Sun on Sunday leads with a story on State money spent on blocked toilets.

Irish Sun on Sunday front page. pic.twitter.com/dBItEeZvZY  The Irish Sun (@IrishSunOnline) November 10, 2024

The Irish Mail on Sunday leads with a Fine Gael election pledge to means test migrants.

Politics and royal issues jostle for centre stage on the front pages of Sundays UK newspapers.

The fallout from the UK budget continues to feature heavily with The Sunday Telegraph focusing on the threat of blockades at ports and supermarkets by farmers angry at rises in inheritance tax.

The Times also focuses on supermarkets, saying Tesco is facing a 1 billion rise in the companys national insurance bill.

UK chancellor Rachel Reeves features on the front of The Observer, which says she will use a speech to promote free trade, in contrast to tariffs planned by US president-elect Donald Trump.

The Independent also concentrates on politics with ministers accused of scaremongering over a refusal to revisit prisoners serving indefinite jail sentences.

Pictures of the Princess of Wales feature on several titles as she appeared at the Festival of Remembrance as she returns to public duties after cancer treatment, The Sun on Sunday declared she is back on duty.

The Sunday Express says Kate is ready to accompany her husband on royal duties and overseas tours in the new year.

Royal matters also occupy the Mail On Sunday, which says Britain's Prince Andrew is facing calls to reveal who has financed him to remain at Royal Lodge in Windsor.

And the Daily Star Sunday says the country is facing a festive crisis with a shortage of fat, bearded men in red suits to play Father Christmas.

The New York Times leads with stories on foreign leaders rushing to make relationships with US president-elect Donald Trump, and the Democratic Party trying to make sense of their comprehensive election loss.
Tourism Ireland, together with around 75 tourism businesses from across Ireland  including Smithwicks Experience Kilkenny  is mounting a significant presence at World Travel Market (WTM) in London this week.

WTM is the largest B2B event in the global travel and tourism calendar and heralds the beginning of Irelands promotional drive overseas for 2025.

Around 3,000 commercial meetings will be conducted on the Ireland stand, delivering overseas tourism business for Ireland worth millions of euro. The tourism businesses from Ireland  from diverse hotels, whiskey distillery experiences and activity providers, to visitor attractions and hidden gems of heritage  will engage in meetings with British and international tour operators to negotiate and exchange vital contracts for 2025 and beyond, and ultimately to bring valuable tourists to Ireland.

Alice Mansergh, Chief Executive of Tourism Ireland, said: Our presence at World Travel Market is extremely important to kick-start our promotional drive overseas for the year ahead. We are delighted to have around 75 tourism companies from across Ireland joining us at this years WTM, with an estimated 3,000 commercial meetings with international tour operators set to take place. We facilitate connections between the worlds leading tour operators and local tourism businesses across Ireland, helping to connect overseas visitors with fantastic experiences. We are targeting visitors who do more, see more, enjoy more  and therefore spend more  during their time in Ireland, to help tourism businesses across our island thrive.

"Our scenery is a major draw for overseas visitors, so the Ireland stand at this years World Travel Market include a spectacular installation featuring flora and other materials related to Ireland and consists entirely of Irish planting (gorse, heathers etc). The installation is designed by Worm, a floral design studio in East London which is owned by two Irish women."

Tourism Irelands message at WTM is that Ireland has so much to offer across regions and seasons. The organisations aim is to generate demand and target international visitors who do more, see more, enjoy more  and spend more  during their time in Ireland, to help tourism businesses thrive.
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People visit the booth of Caterpillar, a full-time attender of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), during the 7th CIIE in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 9, 2024. Running from Nov. 5 to 10, the 7th CIIE has attracted 3,496 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions. Among all participants, 186 enterprises and institutions have achieved full attendance across all seven editions of the expo, while many others are new faces exhibiting for the first time. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

Visitors experience smart devices equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon chips at the booth of Qualcomm, a full-time attender of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), during the 7th CIIE in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 9, 2024. Running from Nov. 5 to 10, the 7th CIIE has attracted 3,496 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions. Among all participants, 186 enterprises and institutions have achieved full attendance across all seven editions of the expo, while many others are new faces exhibiting for the first time. (Photo by Chang Nengjia/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Nov. 9, 2024 shows the booth of Amore Pacific, a full-time attender of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), during the 7th CIIE in east China's Shanghai. Running from Nov. 5 to 10, the 7th CIIE has attracted 3,496 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions. Among all participants, 186 enterprises and institutions have achieved full attendance across all seven editions of the expo, while many others are new faces exhibiting for the first time. (Xinhua/Liu Qian)

A visitor learns about smart electric hybrid technology at the booth of Toyota, a full-time attender of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), during the 7th CIIE in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 8, 2024. Running from Nov. 5 to 10, the 7th CIIE has attracted 3,496 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions. Among all participants, 186 enterprises and institutions have achieved full attendance across all seven editions of the expo, while many others are new faces exhibiting for the first time. (Photo by Chen Haoming/Xinhua)

A staff member introduces business to visitors at the booth of Swire Group, a first-time exhibitor of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), during the 7th CIIE in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 9, 2024. Running from Nov. 5 to 10, the 7th CIIE has attracted 3,496 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions. Among all participants, 186 enterprises and institutions have achieved full attendance across all seven editions of the expo, while many others are new faces exhibiting for the first time. (Xinhua/Liu Ying)

This photo taken on Nov. 8, 2024 shows the booth of Johnson Controls, a full-time attender of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), during the 7th CIIE in east China's Shanghai. Running from Nov. 5 to 10, the 7th CIIE has attracted 3,496 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions. Among all participants, 186 enterprises and institutions have achieved full attendance across all seven editions of the expo, while many others are new faces exhibiting for the first time. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

This photo taken on Nov. 8, 2024 shows the booth of DANONE, a full-time attender of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), during the 7th CIIE in east China's Shanghai. Running from Nov. 5 to 10, the 7th CIIE has attracted 3,496 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions. Among all participants, 186 enterprises and institutions have achieved full attendance across all seven editions of the expo, while many others are new faces exhibiting for the first time. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong)

An exhibitor promotes products via livestreaming at the booth of SoleusAir, a first-time exhibitor of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), during the 7th CIIE in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 9, 2024. Running from Nov. 5 to 10, the 7th CIIE has attracted 3,496 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions. Among all participants, 186 enterprises and institutions have achieved full attendance across all seven editions of the expo, while many others are new faces exhibiting for the first time. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi)

People visit the booth of Fonterra, a full-time attender of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), during the 7th CIIE in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 8, 2024. Running from Nov. 5 to 10, the 7th CIIE has attracted 3,496 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions. Among all participants, 186 enterprises and institutions have achieved full attendance across all seven editions of the expo, while many others are new faces exhibiting for the first time. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong)

This photo taken on Nov. 8, 2024 shows the booth of Standard Chartered, a full-time attender of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), during the 7th CIIE in east China's Shanghai. Running from Nov. 5 to 10, the 7th CIIE has attracted 3,496 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions. Among all participants, 186 enterprises and institutions have achieved full attendance across all seven editions of the expo, while many others are new faces exhibiting for the first time. (Photo by Chen Haoming/Xinhua)

A visitor poses for photos at the booth of LEGO Group, a full-time attender of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), during the 7th CIIE in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 9, 2024. Running from Nov. 5 to 10, the 7th CIIE has attracted 3,496 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions. Among all participants, 186 enterprises and institutions have achieved full attendance across all seven editions of the expo, while many others are new faces exhibiting for the first time. (Photo by Chen Haoming/Xinhua)

Visitors try perfume at the booth of L'Oreal, a full-time attender of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), during the 7th CIIE in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 9, 2024. Running from Nov. 5 to 10, the 7th CIIE has attracted 3,496 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions. Among all participants, 186 enterprises and institutions have achieved full attendance across all seven editions of the expo, while many others are new faces exhibiting for the first time. (Photo by Chen Haoming/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Nov. 9, 2024 shows the booth of Lululemon, a first-time exhibitor of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), during the 7th CIIE in east China's Shanghai. Running from Nov. 5 to 10, the 7th CIIE has attracted 3,496 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions. Among all participants, 186 enterprises and institutions have achieved full attendance across all seven editions of the expo, while many others are new faces exhibiting for the first time. (Photo by Chen Haoming/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Nov. 9, 2024 shows the booth of Schneider Electric, a full-time attender of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), during the 7th CIIE in east China's Shanghai. Running from Nov. 5 to 10, the 7th CIIE has attracted 3,496 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions. Among all participants, 186 enterprises and institutions have achieved full attendance across all seven editions of the expo, while many others are new faces exhibiting for the first time. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang)

This photo taken on Nov. 8, 2024 shows a bartending robot at the booth of Siemens, a full-time attender of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), during the 7th CIIE in east China's Shanghai. Running from Nov. 5 to 10, the 7th CIIE has attracted 3,496 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions. Among all participants, 186 enterprises and institutions have achieved full attendance across all seven editions of the expo, while many others are new faces exhibiting for the first time. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

People visit the booth of Zeiss, a full-time attender of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), during the 7th CIIE in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 9, 2024. Running from Nov. 5 to 10, the 7th CIIE has attracted 3,496 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions. Among all participants, 186 enterprises and institutions have achieved full attendance across all seven editions of the expo, while many others are new faces exhibiting for the first time. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

This photo taken on Nov. 8, 2024 shows the booth of Sanofi, a full-time attender of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), during the 7th CIIE in east China's Shanghai. Running from Nov. 5 to 10, the 7th CIIE has attracted 3,496 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions. Among all participants, 186 enterprises and institutions have achieved full attendance across all seven editions of the expo, while many others are new faces exhibiting for the first time. (Xinhua/Liu Ying)

People learn about automotive electrification solutions at the booth of Aptiv, a first-time exhibitor of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), during the 7th CIIE in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 8, 2024 shows. Running from Nov. 5 to 10, the 7th CIIE has attracted 3,496 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions. Among all participants, 186 enterprises and institutions have achieved full attendance across all seven editions of the expo, while many others are new faces exhibiting for the first time. (Photo by Chen Haoming/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Nov. 9, 2024 shows the booth of Nippon Paint, a first-time exhibitor of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), during the 7th CIIE in east China's Shanghai. Running from Nov. 5 to 10, the 7th CIIE has attracted 3,496 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions. Among all participants, 186 enterprises and institutions have achieved full attendance across all seven editions of the expo, while many others are new faces exhibiting for the first time. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang)

Visitors look at painting art exhibits at the International Modern and Contemporary Art exhibition area of the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 9, 2024. This is the first international art exchange program to introduce overseas artworks based on the fine art exhibitions in the previous two years. Running from Nov. 5 to 10, the 7th CIIE has attracted 3,496 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions. Among all participants, 186 enterprises and institutions have achieved full attendance across all seven editions of the expo, while many others are new faces exhibiting for the first time. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)
Members of the 18th Regiment of Foot Royal Irish Regiment (& South Irish Horse) Association travelled to Herlies, France to mark the 110th Anniversary of the Battle of Le Pilly at the end of October.

Le Pilly is where the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment suffered the devastating losses between the October 19 and 20, 1914 and over the following few days, which saw 180 men pay the ultimate sacrifice and almost 400 men taken as prisoners of war.

The Royal Irish Regiment was the local regiment closely linked with Kilkenny with recruiting based locally in Kilkenny Barracks.

The group was met at the Royal Irish Regiment Memorial in Herlies by Yvon Papeghin with the support of Cath Cat and Dominique Bascour and a large number of people from the community of Herlies, for whom the Battle of Le Pilly, holds a special resonance.



Attendees said it was especially lovely to see the children attend holding the regimental colours of the 2nd Battalion, as well as a special coincidental meeting with the great grand-daughter of Pte William Foat, who had travelled from Liverpool to Herlies following some family research to see the place where William was killed.

A small ceremony that was held involved a brief description by Larry Scallan of some of the details from research carried out on soldiers involved in Le Pilly. Association chairperson Kay Neagle gave a short address.

Our first visit to Herlies was in 2018 for the unveiling of this fine memorial, which is dedicated not only to the Royal Irish Regiment but to all who died in war. Since then we have been back on several occasions to walk this sacred ground, she said.

We now consider the people of Herlies to be our dearest friends, my heartfelt thanks must of course go to Yvon, Catherine, Dominique and everyone involved in the local history group, who continue to remember the men of the Royal Irish Regiment who fell in battle here in October 1914, these men lie a long way from home but never far from our thoughts.

My dearest wish is that one day in the future the missing will be found and given the burial they do richly deserve , until that day we will keep their memory alive. There is now a field in France that will be forever Ireland Thank you.

Wreaths were laid on behalf of the Association, the Association of Disbanded Irish Regiments, local representatives from Herlies, representative of the Kilkenny Great War Memorial Committee and by representatives representing the descendants of soldiers who fought in Le Pilly.

It was a lovely afternoon with some refreshments and conversations and forging of more friendships and connections before a return to a section of the battlefield and invite from the owners of the former Station House to look at some of the visible bullet damage to the house from the exchange of gunfire in October 1914.

Earlier in the morning the group travelled to some of the local cemeteries where the graves of a number of Royal Irish Regiment soldiers lie, as well as Le Touret Memorial where the names of over 160 soldiers are recorded whom have no known grave.
In July 2021 Australian Labor Leader Anthony Albanese promised todeliver the same legislated tax relief to more than 9 million Australians as the Morrison Government.

Then in February 2024, Australian Labor reneged on their promise and abandoned Stage III of the legislated tax relief.

In June 2024 UK Labour shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves promised no significant tax increases and in October 2024 announced 40 billion pounds of new taxes  the second largest increase in history.

Is this a pattern? Labour Parties promise one thing on tax, and then once they are in, break that promise.

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Gao Yunlong, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and chairperson of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, addresses a China-Indonesia business forum in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 10, 2024. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

BEIJING, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Gao Yunlong, chairperson of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, attended a China-Indonesia business forum in Beijing on Sunday.

China is ready to work with Indonesia to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, and push for new achievements in bilateral trade and investment cooperation, Gao said.

China and Indonesia should set an example of win-win cooperation among developing countries, said Gao, also vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Addressing the event, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto welcomed Chinese enterprises to invest in Indonesia, adding that he looked forward to closer bilateral cooperation to achieve common prosperity and development. 

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto addresses a China-Indonesia business forum in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 10, 2024. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)
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MEXICO CITY, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 people were killed when several gunmen stormed a bar and opened fire in central Mexico on Saturday night, according to local security officials. 
KABUL, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- A total of 325 Afghan refugees have been deported to Afghanistan from Turkiye over the past two days, according to a statement from Afghanistan's Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation on Sunday.

Both documented and undocumented Afghan migrants arrived at Kabul airport on Friday and Saturday, the ministry reported, adding that it is actively working to create job opportunities for returnees.

The statement noted that all Afghan refugees deported from Turkiye have been referred to the United Nations migration agency, the International Organization for Migration, for support and assistance.

According to official data released in August, approximately 1.8 million Afghan refugees have returned to Afghanistan from countries including Pakistan and Iran over the past year.

The Afghan caretaker government has repeatedly urged Afghan refugees to return and help rebuild their war-torn homeland. 
By Lee Kyung-min

Foreign investors participation in Koreas capital market remains widely challenged, constrained by inconsistent meeting logistics, minimal English interpretation and incomplete or limited company disclosures  a recipe for persistent disadvantages in making informed voting decisions, a global nonprofit corporate governance advocacy said Sunday.

Key barriers include the countrys 14-day notice period, compressed voting windows and the overwhelming clustering of annual general shareholder meetings in late March, according to Stephanie Lin, research head for Korea and Singapore at the Asian Corporate Governance Association (ACGA).

Further exacerbating the status quo are Koreas stalled reform efforts, including optional electronic voting and a revision of dividend record dates.

Also impeding the processes is a lack of transparency in director remuneration and detailed voting results.

Founded in 1999, ACGA is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to working with investors, companies and regulators in the implementation of effective corporate governance practices throughout Asia.

It is funded by a network of sponsors and member companies, including leading pension and investment funds, financial institutions, listed companies, accounting firms and educational institutions. It is incorporated under the laws of Hong Kong and is managed by a secretariat based there.

Key issues remain persistent, despite almost two decades of advocacy for reform, Lin said in the report.

Procedural hurdles, including power of attorney requirements, language barriers and coordination among various agencies in different time zones, further complicate the process for foreign shareholders. This is what Lin says makes effective participation a logistical challenge.

In Lins view, regulatory changes and stakeholder engagement are essential reforms.

It will require participation of key bodies such as the Ministry of Justice, the Korea Exchange (KRX) and the Financial Services Commission (FSC), and active collaboration with stakeholders like the Korea Securities Depository (KSD), local custodians, and proxy advisory firms. These are crucial to driving improvement, she said.

The recommendation followed frustration experienced by a 2024 ACGA delegation of members to Seoul in March.

Planning for the meetings was complicated by Korea's 14-day notice rule, with many shareholder meeting dates still unconfirmed as of early March, making scheduling difficult, Lin said.

Delegation members also faced inconsistent communication about meeting logistics, with their participation hindered further by limited English translation services.

While some companies addressed these issues once investor interest became evident, the overall experience highlighted the slow pace of reform in Korea, she said.

In a 2006 report on proxy voting practices, the nonprofit organization ranked Korea eighth out of 10 Asian markets.

Korea scored particularly low for the clustered shareholder meetings and the publication of vote results, and for meeting notice periods and time allowed to vote.

Korea also ranked poorly for the low availability of voting information and translated materials. The experience of the March 2024 delegation suggests little progress has been made since," it said.
By Jun Ji-hye

Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) Gov. Lee Bok-hyun will visit Vietnam, Hong Kong and Indonesia this week to meet with top financial officials there and share insights on supervisory practices and cooperation.

The head of the countrys financial watchdog will also ask for attention and support for the entry of Korean financial institutions.

According to the FSS, Sunday, Lee will meet with high-level officials from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Securities and Futures Commission on Thursday and from the Indonesian Financial Services Authority on Friday, after meeting those from the State Bank of Vietnam on Monday,

On Wednesday, Lee will attend an overseas investor relations (IR) conference in Hong Kong.

The event, dubbed Invest K-Finance: Hong Kong IR 2024, is jointly organized by the FSS and the city governments of Seoul and Busan, as well as financial institutions.

Lee will outline efforts and objectives for the advancement of the countrys capital market and express a strong commitment to driving policy initiatives in his opening speech.

During the event, the FSS plans to analyze the reasons behind the undervaluation of the Korean stock market and provide a detailed explanation of policy initiatives that the government has been pursuing to address this issue.

The Korea Exchange will share the progress and future plans of the Corporate Value-up Program, launched in February to boost the value of local businesses and eliminate the so-called Korea discount.

The governments of Seoul and Busan will actively promote financial hubs in their cities, aiming to attract investors and encourage entry into the Korean market.

A delegation of representatives from four financial institutions  Hana Financial Group, Shinhan Financial Group, Korea Investment & Securities and Korean Reinsurance Company (Korean Re)  will also join the investor relations event in Hong Kong.

During his visits to Vietnam and Indonesia, the governor plans to hold meetings with local branch heads of Korean financial institutions.

He plans to listen to feedback on each country's regulations and supervisory practices that may hinder the expansion of Korean businesses and explore ways to provide support.
By Park Jin-hai

Han Kang, the first Korean and the first Asian woman to win the Nobel Prize in literature, is set to create another historic moment in Korean literature, as she will be heralded at the upcoming award ceremony with a special Korean introduction.

The 53-year-old Korean author has clinched the distinguished literary honor this year with her series of provocative tales that deftly explore the depths of human violence and its impact on identity. The Swedish Academy, the prize-giving body, commended her lyrical mastery that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.

Han will receive the Nobel Prize in literature in Stockholm this December, elevating the status of Korean literature.

Park Ok-kyoung, a translator of Han's works into Swedish, said, "I've been asked to translate the final part of the award presentation speech in Korean." This signals that the award ceremony will follow the tradition of inviting laureates to the stage with a final phrase in their native language.

In past ceremonies, the Swedish Academy has greeted French author Annie Ernaux in French, Austrian author Peter Handke in German and Japanese British author Kazuo Ishiguro in English. This tradition will continue when Han will be invited to the stage.

The author will also deliver her lecture in Korean, further adding to the event's significance. Laureates deliver separate lectures, apart from the award ceremony, to share their views on literature and life, which are published, inspiring many.

Han's lecture will be delivered in Korean on Dec. 7 and will also be available with English and Swedish translations. Park and her husband, Anders Karlsson, senior lecturer in Korean studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, will work on its Swedish translation.

The two have also previously translated Han's works like "I Do Not Bid Farewell" and "The White Book" into Swedish.

"Thinking back to the early days of translation, most publishing houses were lukewarm about publishing Korean works, but now that Korean literature has firmly established itself in world literature to the point of winning the Nobel Prize, we are deeply moved," the two said, expressing deep emotion at seeing the growth of Korean literature.

"We are happy to be able to share this important moment in the journey of the Nobel Prize. It is already moving to think of the moment when the Nobel Prize laureate's lecture will be delivered in Korean at the academy and when the award ceremony will include a greeting to the author in Korean," they added, expressing their joy in being involved in this significant moment.

Han is a beloved writer among Swedish readers, and with the publication of the Swedish translation, a total of four of her books have been released in Sweden, including "The White Book," "The Vegetarian" and "Human Acts."
North Korea was identified as the source of 331 cases of GPS disruptions reported this month, the science ministry said Sunday, noting that no major issues or damage occurred.

The Ministry of Science and ICT said it had "consistently detected radio interference originating from the Kaepung and Haeju areas of North Korea." Radio interference involves transmitting jamming signals within the GPS frequency band, disrupting the use of GPS signals.

During the first 10 days of November, 331 interference cases were recorded, with 279 targeting airplanes and 52 affecting ships. No damage was reported as a result of the disruptions.

The ministry said it has been operating a continuous monitoring system in coordination with the land and maritime ministries to ensure the safety of air and sea travel and will continue working together to maintain a high level of readiness. (Yonhap)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed off on a landmark defense pact with North Korea, a deal that comes amid reports that Pyongyang has despatched thousands of troops to fight against Ukraine.

Putin struck the deal during a visit to North Korea in June, but it had to pass through Russia's parliament and signed by the Kremlin leader to come into force.

The Kremlin published the signed law ratifying the treaty on its website on Saturday evening.

The agreement formalizes months of deepening security cooperation between the two nations, which were Communist allies throughout the Cold War.

North Korea has become one of the most vocal and important backers of Russia's full-scale offensive on Ukraine.

The deal obligates both states to provide military assistance "without delay" in the case of an attack on the other.

It also commits them to cooperate internationally to oppose Western sanctions and coordinate positions at the United Nations.

Putin hailed it in June as a "breakthrough document."

Citing intelligence reports, South Korea, Ukraine and the West say North Korea has deployed around 10,000 troops to Russia to fight against Ukraine.

When asked publicly about the deployment last month, Putin did not deny it, instead deflecting the question to criticize the West's support of Ukraine. (AFP)
The ruling People Power Party (PPP) said Sunday it will launch a consultative body with the government and doctors' groups this week to resolve a prolonged walkout by trainee doctors, calling for the main opposition party's participation.

Thousands of trainee doctors have left their workplaces in the form of a mass resignation since February in protest of the government's decision to raise the medical school quota by around 2,000 annually for the next five years or so, causing major disruptions to the national health care service.

In an effort to seek a breakthrough, the ruling party will launch the entity Monday, which will involve Prime Minister Han Duck-soo; Sung Tae-yoon, the presidential chief of staff for policy; Education Minister Lee Ju-ho; and Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong, as well as party lawmakers.

Although the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) had initially agreed on the move, it has stayed lukewarm, citing the lack of participation by trainee doctors.

From the medical community, one group of medical school deans and another group representing medical researchers will join the body, but the group for junior doctors and the Korea Medical Association, Korea's largest group of doctors, have boycotted the initiative.

"We will send a request to the DPK for its participation. The new body is meant to discuss all issues without any preconditions," PPP lawmaker Kim Sang-hoon said.

The medical community has demanded that the government revise the hike in the medical school quota from scratch, but the government has refused to adjust the 2025 quota and instead said it would revisit the quota hike plan for 2026 and beyond. (Yonhap)
Yoon orders stern deterrence against NK, based on strong S. Korea-US alliance

By Kwak Yeon-soo

President Yoon Suk Yeol has called for maintaining stern deterrence against North Korea based on the strong South Korea-U.S. alliance, while ordering the launch of economic consultative bodies to prepare for uncertainties brought on by Donald Trump's return to the White House, the presidential office said Sunday.

His remarks came during an emergency economic and security meeting held to discuss the possible impact of U.S. President-elect Donald Trumps second term. Trump achieved a landslide victory with 312 electoral votes over Vice President Kamala Harris 226 votes in the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

The meeting, involving senior presidential aides and ministers, focused on examining any potential policy changes of the U.S. and taking proactive measures to brace for policy shifts, according to the office.

Yoon predicted that the incoming U.S. administration, which will take office in January, will have far-reaching consequences for global markets, economy and security.

Detailed preparation is essential as Trumps policies could affect our economy and security. We must maintain strong deterrence against North Korea based on the iron-clad South Korea-U.S. alliance and be prepared to lead in promoting peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region, Yoon said, noting that major structural changes in security could arise.

Asked about these possible structural changes in security, a senior presidential official explained that the North Korea issue is a top priority of South Korea, but the Trump administration might pay more attention to its relations with NATO, allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region and the Ukraine war.

There are issues of nuclear cooperation, global supply chains, trade, export, investment and economic security. They could not only affect bilateral relations but also regional security. We will study their short- and long-term impact on South Korea and hold necessary follow-up meetings depending on how the situation develops, the official said.

The president also ordered the launch of finance, trade and industry consultative bodies to brace for the potential impacts as Trumps protectionist policies could strain global markets and trigger a trade war.

International markets have already begun responding based on anticipated policy changes even before Trumps inauguration, so the government should monitor the markets closely and make thorough preparations, Yoon said.

Yoon said South Korea's shipbuilding and petrochemical sectors are likely to benefit from the second Trump term. During a phone conversation with Yoon on Thursday, Trump said the U.S. seeks to work with South Korea in the shipbuilding industry, particularly in naval shipbuilding, exports, repairs and maintenance.

Semiconductors and cars have been South Koreas most important sources of income. But the shipbuilding industry is expanding rapidly, and if the new U.S. administration adopts a more flexible policy on fossil fuels, our slightly stagnant petrochemical industry may see a return to normal, Yoon said.

Strengthening cooperation in advanced industries, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology and quantum technology, is very important. I hope the two countries continue to develop our collaborative ties in these fields.

Yoon said he and Trump agreed to have their first in-person meeting soon.

Earlier in the day, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) held a press conference to discuss what the second Trump administration could mean for the Korean Peninsula.

President-elect Trumps foreign policy is likely to focus on U.S. national interest rather than universal values  bringing manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. and boosting American industry, said Rep. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the DPK.

Since South Korea has already secured deterrence against North Korea, resuming dialogue or negotiations is important. However, the Yoon administration has been pursuing a strong versus strong confrontation strategy.

On the possibility of the Trump administration pressuring Seoul to increase its share of defense costs, Lee said, If we have to increase defense cost-sharing, I think it is reasonable to reduce U.S. arms imports. That could be a good compromise.
Police said Sunday they have identified over 4,700 minors involved in online gambling activities over the past year.

The National Police Agency said 4,715 individuals under the age of 19 were discovered during a special crackdown on illegal online gambling conducted from September 2023 to October this year. No arrests of minors have been made.

The figure accounts for 47.2 percent of all age groups involved in the crackdown. Initially, police focused on targeting illegal gambling operators and habitual or high-stakes gamblers, but the scope of the campaign was expanded last year due to the growing problem of juvenile gambling.

As a result, the number of underage gamblers identified surged by an astounding 2,784 percent from just 162 cases reported during the previous year.

Seventeen-year-olds made up the largest group, with 1,763 people, followed by 16-year-olds (1,241) and 15-year-olds (560).

The most popular form of gambling among these teens was online casino games, accounting for 82.6 percent of overall cases. The total amount wagered reached 3.7 billion won ($2.64 million), with an average bet of 780,000 won per person.

Of the 4,715 underage violators, 1,733 were referred to professional counseling services, according to the police.

The agency said the special crackdown will be extended for another year, as illegal gambling among youth shows no signs of declining. (Yonhap)
GAZA, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- At least 44 Palestinians were killed in two Israeli airstrikes in the northern Gaza Strip, Palestinian sources said Sunday.

Palestinian security sources said an Israeli aircraft bombed and completely destroyed a house housing displaced people in the Jabalia area.

Palestinian medical sources told Xinhua that 36 Palestinians, including 13 children, were killed and dozens of others wounded in the airstrike.

In another attack on Gaza City, an Israeli airstrike killed Wael al-Khor, director of social development in Gaza City, and seven other members of his family, including his wife and children, according to Palestinian medics.

In a statement on Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that its troops continue operational activities in Jabalia and that over the past day, its troops killed dozens of militants and dismantled many infrastructure sites, as well as a weapons storage facility, in the area.

The troops also continue operational activities in the town of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, have killed dozens of "terrorists" in cooperation with the Air Force, and located weaponry and a tunnel shaft in the area, the IDF said.

Also on Sunday, the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, said in a statement that its members targeted a group of 15 Israeli soldiers with an anti-personnel bomb and killed them from zero distance with weapons and hand grenades west of the Al-Shimaa area, north of Beit Lahia.

In a separate statement, the Qassam Brigades said its fighters targeted two Israeli armored personnel carriers with a "Yassin 105" missile and a bulldozer with shells in the Jabalia refugee camp.

The Israeli army has not commented on the alleged attacks by Hamas yet.

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 taken hostage.

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks in Gaza has risen to 43,603, Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Sunday. 
A fire broke at a POSCO factory in the southeastern city of Pohang early Sunday, leaving one worker injured, fire authorities said.

The fire started with multiple explosions at the steel company's third Finex furnace of the plant, located about 270 kilometers southeast of Seoul, at around 4:20 a.m. The blaze was initially contained by around 6:30 a.m. and completely extinguished at around 9:20 a.m.

Witnesses reported hearing explosions that felt like an earthquake, and some said they felt the ground tremble.

Fire authorities initiated an emergency response at around 4:50 a.m., deploying 43 fire trucks and about 120 firefighters. The 50-meter-high facility made firefighting efforts challenging, according to the authorities.

One POSCO worker inside the plant suffered burn injuries, while seven others evacuated safely. Authorities are currently investigating the case of the fire and assessing the extent of the damage.

The third Finex furnace, where the fire occurred, was completed in 2014. It is said to be capable of producing around 2 million tons of molten iron annually, accounting for approximately 10 percent of the total production at POSCO's Pohang plant.

The company said its production would not be disrupted by Sunday's fire, as it also operates a larger steel plant in Gwangyang, about 290 kilometers south of Seoul.

While the extent of the damage has yet to be determined, industry experts estimated it would take at least a week before normal operations at the Pohang plant can resume. (Yonhap)
The Korean government said Sunday it will donate $3 million over the next three years to support climate change initiatives in Central Asian countries.

The finance ministry said the agreement for the donation to the Climate and Sustainability Project Preparatory Fund was signed Friday during ministerial-level meetings held in Kazakhstan under the CAREC program of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The program is a partnership of 11 countries and development partners focused on fostering regional development and cooperation.

Korea is a founding member of ADB's newly established fund, and its contribution will be the largest among the fund's founding members, according to the ministry.

The fund will be utilized for building infrastructure, promoting energy projects and supporting agriculture, fisheries and regional supply chain stabilization.

The ministry said the fund is expected to help strengthen communication and partnerships between Korea and Central Asian countries, with hopes that Seoul's contribution will lead to various projects aimed at combating climate change. (Yonhap)
Excessive digital use could stifle literacy, creativity: expert

By Jung Da-hyun

Concerns grow that artificial intelligence (AI)-powered digital textbooks could further increase digital dependency among teenagers, according to teachers, parents and experts, Sunday, as the Ministry of Education plans to roll out new textbooks in schools starting next semester.

While the initiative aims to modernize education, there are warnings that AI in classrooms may be premature, with concerns that it could worsen existing inequalities among students.

The education ministry will complete the verification and revision of AI-powered digital textbooks by Nov. 29, with a final approved version to be distributed to schools next month. Each school will then review the materials and choose one digital textbook per subject to be used in classes.

Starting next March, teachers will be required to use both paper textbooks and AI digital versions. The digital textbooks will be introduced for English, mathematics and information technology classes for third and fourth grade in elementary school, as well as first-year students in middle and high school.

The new digital textbooks aim to support personalized learning, adjusting content to each students level and pace. Teachers will also have access to data-driven insights, allowing for more customized education plans.

The ministry envisions this approach to shift away from a uniform class structure, in which all students move at the same pace, and instead allow for more various teaching methods.

By leveraging AI, the textbooks are expected to offer detailed analyses of student progress, empowering teachers to redesign courses based on individual learning needs.

However, despite the upcoming launch of AI digital textbooks, teachers question whether theyll be fully prepared to teach with a system so different from traditional methods  especially with only a few months of training.

A high school English teacher in Seoul surnamed Jung expressed concerns about the readiness to implement the AI digital textbooks next year following her training experience.

"It felt like everyone was just exploring, clicking on things without knowing what they were," Jung said.

She noted that even the instructor referred to the system as a beta version, advising teachers to familiarize themselves with it but not to expect full proficiency immediately.

"I think it's positive to provide real-time assistance to students through personalized learning, but if students use tablets too much, it could harm their eyes," she said.

"I also think it may be difficult for them to adapt to this new system, especially since tests are still taken on paper."

Parents are also expressing resistance to the idea of officially introducing digital devices in classrooms, especially as a law to ban smartphones in schools is being considered.

Read More Bill proposed to ban phones in schools as policy idea gains traction

The education ministry explained that AI digital textbook terminals will be programmed to block harmful media. However, it may be challenging to fully prevent students from accessing the internet.

In addition, concerns over digital over-immersion and the digital divide continue to grow.

Park Joo-ho, a professor at Hanyang University's Department of Education, warned that excessive digital use could hinder literacy and creativity in teenagers.

"Theres a difference between accessing books or information on a computer and viewing it on a digital screen," he explained.

"On a computer, you only see the information at hand, which prevents deeper thinking beyond the provided content."

Park also raised concerns about the widening digital gap, particularly among students from different socioeconomic backgrounds.

"The digital divide already exists due to socioeconomic status, and as digital tools become more prevalent, the gap will only grow between students who are proficient with technology and those who are not," he said.

"AI can currently only diagnose students' problem-solving skills, but its premature to integrate such technology into the classroom fully."
President loses policy momentum as approval ratings hit lowest

By Lee Hyo-jin

President Yoon Suk Yeol reached the halfway point of his five-year term, Sunday, but there is little to celebrate. His midterm report card is marked by an approval rating below 20 percent, making Yoon one of Koreas least popular leaders at this stage of a presidency.

Analysts attribute Yoon's plummeting ratings to policy missteps, poor communication with the public and ongoing controversies involving his wife Kim Keon Hee. These factors have become major hurdles for the president in his attempts to carry out his reform agenda.

The conservative president took office in May 2022 with an initial approval rating of around 53 percent. However, a Gallup Korea poll released Friday shows his rating has plummeted to 17 percent  the lowest in his term so far.

Yoon's current approval rating is significantly lower than those of his predecessors at the same point in their terms. Former progressive President Moon Jae-in held a 45 percent rating in November 2019, while conservative President Park Geun-hye's approval rating stood at 34 percent in August 2015, according to Gallup Korea, which has conducted weekly evaluations of presidential job performance since 2012.

The deepening public dissatisfaction with Yoon is seen in large-scale rallies in central Seoul, where liberal civic groups and left-leaning political coalitions have called for his resignation.

The latest protest, held Saturday afternoon, was led by members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), the countrys largest labor union. According to organizers, the rally drew nearly 100,000 participants, including university professors, students and members of the public.

Later that evening, a coalition of five opposition parties, including the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), gathered near Seoul Station to denounce Yoon's handling of state affairs. Other participating parties  the minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Party (RKP), the Jinbo Party, the Social Democratic Party and the Basic Income Party  called for Yoon's impeachment.

Political commentator Park Sang-byung viewed that Yoons dismal approval ratings have led to a lack of political momentum to drive his key promises in reforming labor, education, health care and pensions.

"It is highly rare, if not unprecedented, for a president to be this unpopular at the halfway mark of their term. With this trend, its unlikely he will achieve all four reforms in the remaining years," Park told The Korea Times.

Among others, controversies surrounding first lady Kim Keon Hee continue to haunt the president. Public discontent about Kim has been considered a major factor dragging down Yoon's approval rating.

The first lady has been facing a slew of allegations, including her acceptance of luxury gifts, alleged involvement in stock manipulation and suspected interference in government affairs. Last month, prosecutors cleared her of charges in a luxury handbag scandal and also her alleged involvement in stock manipulation.

Recently, the presidential couple has been accused of meddling in the ruling People Power Partys candidate selection for the 2022 parliamentary by-elections. These accusations emerged after the release of a recorded phone conversation between Yoon and political broker Myung Tae-kyun, in which Yoon, then president-elect, appeared to exert influence on the party's candidate selection process. It is illegal for civil servants, including the president, to interfere in elections.

In a rare press conference on Thursday, Yoon acknowledged public concerns over his wifes controversies and issued his first public apology since taking office. However, he denied that Kim played any official role in state affairs, explaining that she has been giving him personal advice as a spouse.

The president also pledged that Kim would limit her public appearances to essential events. The following day, the presidential office confirmed she would not accompany him on an upcoming overseas trip.

But skipping one overseas trip is not enough to dispel the public's negative sentiment about Kim, commentator Park said, describing the controversies surrounding her as a black hole that could undermine her husband's leadership.

With investigations surrounding Myung Tae-kyun now underway, these issues will likely continue to resurface, and the president's opponents will continue using this as a source of attack, Park said. "The president might eventually have to accept requests for a special counsel to investigate his wife before it expands to include himself."

Political commentator Rhee Jong-hoon pointed to blunders in personnel appointments as a key reason behind Yoon's unpopularity.

"The president needs to first overhaul the presidential staff, particularly those with personal ties to the first lady. If the president makes fair appointments by selecting capable individuals and shows a willingness to change his governing style, his ratings could recover," Rhee said.
President Yoon Suk Yeol on Sunday called for the launch of finance, trade and industry consultative bodies to brace for the potential impacts of former U.S. President Donald Trump's return to the presidency.

Yoon made the call during an economic and security meeting with ministers and senior aides to discuss preparations before Trump assumes office in late January.

"International markets have already begun responding based on anticipated policy directions even before the new U.S. administration takes office, so the government should monitor the markets closely and ensure thorough preparations," Yoon said.

He emphasized the new U.S. administration's shift in policies could bring significant changes to the global economy and security landscape.

"Consequently, this will directly impact our economy and security, so thorough preparations are essential," he added.

Yoon anticipated positive momentum for the shipbuilding and petrochemical sectors under Trump's energy policies and highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation in advanced industries, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology and quantum technology.

During a phone conversation with Yoon on Thursday, Trump expressed the U.S.' interest in working with South Korea in the shipbuilding industry, particularly in naval shipbuilding, exports and maintenance.

"In defense, based on our robust South Korea-U.S. alliance, we must maintain a strong deterrent against North Korea and be prepared to lead in promoting genuine peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region," Yoon said, noting significant structural changes in security could arise.

A second Donald Trump administration is expected to bring shifts and unpredictability to the U.S.-South Korea alliance, potentially increasing pressure on Seoul to take on a larger share of the burden as a U.S. ally.

Another key focus will be how Trump might address North Korea's denuclearization, especially amid growing skepticism about Washington's commitment to this goal, as well as his approach to Russia's war in Ukraine, where North Korean troops have been sent to support Moscow.

Yoon said he and Trump agreed to meet at an early date during the phone call to engage in further discussions. (Yonhap)
The ruling People Power Party (PPP) said Sunday it will propose a semiconductor bill aimed at providing incentives to chipmakers from the investment stage.

The party plans to officially unveil the proposal Monday, with the goal of reaching a bipartisan agreement by Nov. 28 and passing the bill, Rep. Kim Sang-hoon, chair of the party's policy committee, said.

According to Kim, the core of the bill is to offer incentives to companies as soon as their investments are confirmed.

"Giving subsidies upfront at the investment decision stage will serve as a strong incentive for companies, like in the United States," he said, adding, "We will seek to establish a legal basis for similar support in Korea."

The bill will also propose measures to enhance labor flexibility, particularly concerning the current 52-hour workweek at large companies.

"If labor and management agree, we will include provisions for exemptions from the 52-hour workweek," Kim said, acknowledging feedback from high-tech companies that the law needs greater flexibility to support better research and development.

PPP officials have said the party plans to accelerate legislation processes to better support Korean companies, especially in light of the increased volatility in global trade following the U.S. presidential election. (Yonhap)
Mutual efforts needed to keep Korea-US alliance strong

Former U.S. President Donald Trumps victory in the Nov. 5 presidential election has stoked fears about the future of the South Korea-U.S. alliance, rather than raising hopes for it.

Such a troubled reaction to the U.S. election outcome is not a South Korea-specific phenomenon. Other U.S. allies in Asia and Europe are also wary of the U.S. elections possible fallout on their economies and foreign policies.

Trumps policy slogan, America First, is a source of their concern. When he takes office in January, he is highly likely to push around his country's allies  not to mention China, which the Trump campaign identified as the greatest threat to the U.S.  to contribute more, if not sacrifice themselves, to help the U.S. maximize its interests.

Putting America first at the expense of allies sacrifice is neither sustainable nor workable. The South Korea-U.S. alliance will remain strong only when the two sides seek joint gains.

Fortunately, Seoul and Washington need each other more than ever. The two sides need to fulfill their commitments to the alliance to bring the desired results.

The U.S. president-elect will certainly add pressure on Seoul to pay more for the U.S. troops stationed in the country. The survival of the South Korea-U.S. defense-cost sharing deal, concluded in October to increase South Koreas contribution by 8.3 percent to $1.47 billion in the first year, remains uncertain. During the campaign rally, Trump called for a hike nearly nine times higher, suggesting $10 billion as an appropriate amount to keep U.S. forces in South Korea.

To realize "America First," Trump will also add pressure on South Korea to carry more of the burden to keep the Indo-Pacific region safe, given that burden-sharing is a central part of his defense strategy. A nightmare situation will unfold if the U.S. refuses to defend Taiwan were its sovereignty to be challenged by China. If this happens, Seoul will be asked to choose between Washington and Beijing. Even during peacetime, Seoul could face pressure to clarify its stance on Taiwan as Trump hinted at cutting U.S. defense costs for Taiwan.

According to Project 2025, a controversial plan drafted by the Heritage Foundation to overhaul the U.S. government to promote a conservative agenda, the U.S. will make China's subordination of Taiwan or other U.S. allies in Asia more difficult, but should do this at a level of cost and risk that Americans are willing to bear. Trump distanced himself from Project 2025, but his campaign pledges that were summarized in Agenda 47 share a lot with the plan.

The Yoon Suk Yeol government should chart a post-U.S. election strategy based on flexible thinking and wisdom.

Yoon needs to sit down with his aides in the presidential office as well as Cabinet ministers to navigate all possible options that can help Seoul adjust to the forthcoming Trump administration smoothly.

Among others, the Yoon government must explore in which areas the two sides can cooperate to produce mutually beneficial outcomes. Certainly, there are areas with much room for bilateral cooperation with the U.S. to create a win-win situation. Shipbuilding and maritime defense for instance show strong potential. The fall of the shipbuilding industry has emerged as a grave security threat to the U.S. as China steps up its maritime ambitions. China his risen to the worlds top shipbuilding and shipping nation, having 230 times more shipbuilding capacity than the U.S. The U.S. is looking to South Korea as a partner to help rebuild its shipbuilding industry. U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toros trips to South Korea and Japan in February and March came against this backdrop.

The alliance works when all involved sides understand they need each other. But it will fail when either side tries to take advantage of the others for its own sake.

Trump 2.0 should be an era where Seoul and Washington rediscover their counterparts and strive to seek mutual gains. Trumps America First should be implemented in a manner that can also benefit South Korea.
Firm eyes global expansion with new manufacturing plants

By Ko Dong-hwan

KT&G reported "triple growth" in on-demand product volume, overseas sales and earnings in the third quarter, positioning itself to become a top-tier global tobacco company.

The achievements come as the company has been making efforts to expand manufacturing capacity and introduce company-in-company (CIC) overseas to enhance production and management abroad. Alongside its latest quarterly report, the company has also announced a plan to increase dividend sharing with shareholders.

KT&G reported a 10.1-percent increase in cigarette production for overseas markets in the third quarter compared to the previous quarter. Additionally, overseas sales jumped by 30.5 percent, and operating profits soared by 167.2 percent during the same period.

During the July-to-September period, it exported 106 million cigarettes, marking a 6.6-percent year-on-year growth. Its overseas subsidiary in Indonesia produced 5.7 billion cigarettes, a 17.2-percent year-on-year increase.

The company's overseas sales set records for the second straight quarter, and it expects its earnings from cigarettes and next-generation electronic products this year to surge by about 50 percent from the previous year.

The robust growth came as KT&G is building a new manufacturing plant in Surabaya, the capital of Indonesia's East Java Province. With construction progressing on a 190,000 square-meter site, the factory will start operating in 2026, with an annual production capacity of 21 billion cigarettes. Together with the existing plant in Indonesia, the company's manufacturing capacity in the country will increase to 35 billion cigarettes per year, the largest capacity from any of its overseas bases.

Another new manufacturing plant is under construction in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on a 200,000 square-meter site, with the compeletion scheduled for next year.

In January 2023, KT&G introduced a subsidiary in Kazakhstan in charge of manufacturing and sales, completing a value chain across production, marketing and sales. The subsidiary is part of the company's ongoing measures to launch CICs in the 132 countries it currently exports to and dispatch vice president-level officials to these subsidiaries for local management.

KT&G President Bang Kyung-man has confirmed that the company's productive expansion overseas has led to rapid market growth.

"It's our top mission to rise as a global top-tier tobacco manufacturer," Bang said. "The company's soaring value will haul values of its shareholders as well, completing the true value-up."

With its return-on-equity goal set at 15 percent by 2027, KT&G has announced it will return dividends worth 3.7 trillion won ($2.7 billion) until 2027, an extension from its previous goal to return 2.8 trillion by 2026. The company also plans to buy back 1.35 million shares worth 150 billion won by the end of this year. The company said its share repurchase rate from 2023 will reach 20 percent by 2027.
Retail giants may connect Korean biz community with incoming US govt

By Park Jae-hyuk

The reelection of former U.S. President Donald Trump has shed new light on Lotte and Shinsegae, as their chairmen's personal connections with the president-elect and his family members position them to serve as a bridge between the Korean business community and the incoming U.S. administration, amid growing uncertainties surrounding Trumps trade policies.

In 2019, Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin became the first Korean conglomerate chief to meet then-U.S. President Trump at the White House.

The invitation was made as Lotte Chemical finished the construction of an ethylene plant in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Trump also sent a congratulatory message to Shin when Lotte held a ceremony to celebrate the completed construction.

Great to welcome Chairman Shin from Lotte Group to the WH, Trump wrote on social media at that time. They just invested $3.1 billion into Louisiana  biggest investment in U.S. EVER from a South Korean company, & thousands more jobs for Americans.

Referring to South Korea by its official name, the Republic of Korea, he added: Great partners like ROK know the U.S. economy is running stronger than ever!

Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin uploaded photos of him standing next to Donald Trump Jr. in January, adding that they had sat next to each other 10 years ago during an event hosted by a media outlet.

The U.S. president-elects oldest son also mentioned Chungs name in August, when he visited Seoul to attend the Build Up Korea 2024 conference, hosted by young conservatives in Korea.

YJ to all of the sponsors of the Build Up Korea, thank you for having the courage, Trump Jr. said.

Trump Jr. is known as the person who recommended JD Vance as his fathers running mate.

Under the incoming administration, the son is expected to play a bigger role than his sister, Ivanka, who served as a senior adviser in her fathers previous administration from 2017 to 2021.

In January, Chung also uploaded a photo of him standing next to Jared Kushner, Ivankas husband, who also worked as a senior adviser to his father-in-law and the director of the Office of American Innovation during Trump's previous term.

I met with a famous person, who is very tall, Chung wrote on his social media.

Both Shin and Chung were also among the Korean business tycoons who attended a meeting with Trump in Korea in June 2019. The chairmen of Samsung, Hyundai Motor, SK, Hanwha, GS, CJ and Doosan participated in the meeting as well.
Supreme Court to review key property claims

By Lee Min-hyung

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won will be able to breathe a sigh of relief after the Supreme Courts decision to review a lower courts order requiring him to pay an astronomical amount of money to his estranged wife, Roh Soh-yeong, in their property division settlement, experts and industry officials said Sunday.

On Friday, the top court opted not to dismiss a hearing on the case apparently due to lingering controversies, after an appellate court acknowledged what SK described as a critical error in assessing Rohs contribution to the growth of the group.

The Seoul High Court had upheld its earlier ruling that Chey should pay her 1.38 trillion won ($986 million) in property division. The figure is the largest-ever divorce settlement here and a 20-fold increase from 66.5 billion won in the first trial.

Legal experts and officials from major conglomerates said the case seems to have been brought back to square one after the Supreme Courts decision.

The highest court will focus on verifying how much Roh has contributed to the growth of the conglomerate over the past decades, said Choi June-sun, professor emeritus at Sungkyunkwan University Law School.

But the professor said it will be time-consuming for the Supreme Court to make a ruling, due to the unprecedented scale of the case, which is often referred to as a once-in-a-century divorce settlement.

The case is also unique in that Roh is a daughter of late former President Roh Tae-woo. The lower court ruled that the former president helped protect late former SK Group Chairman Chey Jong-hyun, the father of the incumbent group leader, so the incumbent chairman could grow his business successfully and smoothly.

The Supreme Court will have to set a new standard before making a final judgment, as there are no similar cases for reference, the professor said.

The latest decision by the Supreme Court, in itself, is in favor of Chey, as the lower courts ruling was feared to jeopardize his governance structure. Earlier, Chey had no choice but to sell his shares in SK Inc. to pay for the record amount of the divorce settlement. SK Inc. is the groups holding company, so Chey was at risk of losing management control of the company if the top court upheld the second trial's ruling.

Officials from the industry said the case will be reviewed from scratch, as the Supreme Court leaves open the possibility of adjusting the amount of the divorce settlement following the recent decision.

The SK chief gained time to appeal the lower courts ruling and reduced corporate management uncertainties to some extent, as the Supreme Court sent a gesture of reviewing the earlier ruling, an official from a conglomerate said.

Another key point in the dispute is the lower courts ruling that the group achieved solid growth powered by an illicit slush fund worth 30 billion won amassed during the 1988-93 Roh administration.

However, SK Group strongly denied the argument, saying the ruling undermines SKs history of growth.
ZAGREB, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on Saturday condemned Friday's assaults against foreign workers in Split, the country's second-largest city.

"I condemn attacks against foreign workers," Plenkovic said at a news conference, adding that foreign workers offset the shortage of local workers in the labor market.

Plenkovic made the statement after four young men were arrested for physically assaulting a foreign delivery worker in Split, with investigations underway for the offense of bodily harm with potential links to hate crime.

Additionally, there were three more incidents involving attacks on foreign delivery workers in Split on Friday night. In one case, a delivery worker from Nepal got seriously injured, and the perpetrators fled the scene.

Croatia will adopt the Foreigners' Act to regulate the employment of foreigners and to enable them to have "a decent and fair pay and help them have their dignity concerning their accommodation and functioning in a completely different culture and society," Plenkovic said.

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. 
Ukraine attacked Moscow on Sunday with at least 34 drones, the biggest drone strike on the Russian capital since the start of the war in 2022, forcing flights to be diverted from three of the city's major airports and injuring at least one person.

Russian air defenses destroyed another 36 drones over other regions of Western Russia in three hours on Sunday, the defense ministry said.

"An attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack using airplane-type drones on the territory of the Russian Federation was thwarted," the ministry said.

Russia's federal air transport agency said the airports of Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo and Zhukovsky diverted at least 36 flights, but then resumed operations. One person was reported injured in the Moscow region.

Moscow and its surrounding region, with a population of at least 21 million people, is one of the biggest metropolitan areas in Europe, alongside Istanbul.

For its part, Russia launched a record 145 drones overnight, Ukraine said. Kyiv said its air defenses downed 62 of those. Ukraine also said it attacked an arsenal in the Bryansk region of Russia, which reported 14 drones had been downed in the region.

Unverified video posted on Russian Telegram channels showed drones buzzing across the skyline.

The two-and-a-half-year-old war in Ukraine is entering what some officials say could be its final act after Moscow's forces advanced at the fastest pace since the early days of the war and Donald Trump was elected 47th president of the United States.

Trump, who takes office in January, said during campaigning that he could bring peace in Ukraine within 24 hours, but has given few details on how he would seek to do this.

When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Trump to congratulate him on his presidential election victory, Tesla CEO and Trump supporter Elon Musk joined the call, according to media reports. Musk owns SpaceX, which provides Starlink satellite communication services that are vital for Ukraine's defense effort.

Moscow 'umbrellas'

Kyiv, itself the target of repeated mass drone strikes from Russian forces, has tried to strike back against its vastly larger eastern neighbor with repeated drone strikes against oil refineries, airfields and even the Russian strategic early-warning radar stations.

While the 1,000-kilometer front has largely resembled grinding World War I trench and artillery warfare for much of the war, one of the biggest innovations of the conflict has been drone warfare.

Moscow and Kyiv have both sought to buy and develop new drones, deploy them in innovative ways, and seek new ways to destroy them  from using farmers' shotguns to advanced electronic jamming systems.

Moscow has developed a series of electronic "umbrellas" over Moscow, with additional advanced internal layers over strategic buildings, and a complex web of air defenses which shoot down the drones before they reach the Kremlin at the heart of the Russian capital.

Both sides have turned cheap commercial drones into deadly weapons while ramping up their own production. Soldiers on both sides have reported the visceral fear of drones  and both sides have used macabre video footage of fatal drone strikes in their propaganda.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has sought to insulate Moscow from the grinding rigors of the war, has called Ukrainian drone attacks that target civilian infrastructure such as nuclear power plants "terrorism" and has vowed a response.

Moscow, by far Russia's richest city, has boomed during the war, buoyed by the biggest defense spending splurge since the Cold War.

There was no sign of panic on Moscow's boulevards. Muscovites walked their dogs while the bells of the onion-domed Russian Orthodox churches rang out across the capital. (Reuters)
China and Indonesia signed deals worth $10 billion at the Indonesia-China Business Forum in Beijing on Sunday, spanning sectors including food, new energy, technology, and biotechnology, Chinese state media reported.

The forum followed a meeting on Saturday between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who is in China through Nov. 10, the first country he has visited since taking office last month.

Prabowo, who won Indonesia's presidential election in February, also chose China as the first country to visit as president-elect, underscoring Jakarta's commitment to strengthening its strategic ties with Beijing.

In a joint statement issued after the leaders' meeting, the two countries agreed to enhance collaboration in sectors such as new energy vehicles, lithium batteries, photovoltaics, and the digital economy.

They also pledged to strengthen the global energy transition partnership and jointly ensure the security of global mineral supply and industrial chains, the statement said.

On Sunday, Chinese battery materials producer GEM signed a deal with PT Vale Indonesia to build a high-pressure acid leaching plant in Central Sulawesi, partly to secure nickel resources, a Shenzhen filing showed. Prabowo witnessed the signing.

The nickel industry in Indonesia, the world's largest producer of the metal, is dominated by Chinese companies, including Tsingshan Holding Group and Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt.

In the tech sector, Indonesian tech firm GoTo Gojek Tokopedia signed agreements with China's Tencent and Alibaba to develop cloud infrastructure and digital talent in Indonesia, Reuters reported earlier.

The two countries will introduce visa measures, including multi-entry long-term visas, and encourage more direct flights and destinations based on demand, the joint statement showed.

Other cooperation agreements signed during Prabowo's visit include collaborations in housing and the export of fresh coconuts from Indonesia to China. (Reuters)
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An aerial drone photo taken on Nov. 9, 2024 shows wildfire around Jennings Creek, stretching across Passaic County of New Jersey and Orange County of New York, the United States. Wildfires in the northeastern United States have continued to spread, reaching New York City's suburban areas days ago and worsening air quality across the city and nearby regions over the weekend. (Xinhua)

NEW YORK, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Wildfires in the northeastern United States have continued to spread, reaching New York City's suburban areas days ago and worsening air quality across the city and nearby regions over the weekend.

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service reported Saturday morning that it had contained 40 percent of a 39-acre wildfire along the Palisades Interstate Parkway in New Jersey. The affected area lies on the western banks of the Hudson River, close to Manhattan and only about 13 kilometers north of Central Park.

The forest fire service said in a post that its crews remain on the scene with fire engines and ground support. Meanwhile, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued an air quality alert until 11 p.m. Saturday for New York City, Rockland and Westchester, citing increased particulate matter from wildfires in northern New Jersey. A brown haze was visible over New York City's skyline, with smoke lingering in the air.

Additionally, firefighters are contending with a large wildfire near Jennings Creek, which spans Passaic County, New Jersey, and Orange County, New York. The forest fire service also reported that this fire, covering 2,000 acres, threatened 10 structures and remained uncontained.

Fire crews are working to manage approximately 15 active wildfires across Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Connecticut as of Saturday, according to the Fire, Weather and Avalanche Center, which provides public updates. Multiple road closures have been enforced, including a section of Interstate 287 near Pompton Lake in Passaic County.

The U.S. National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for much of Connecticut, southern New York State and northeastern New Jersey, highlighting critical fire weather.

The wildfires have killed a firefighter, injured six others and forced the evacuation of six homes in Jackson Township, New Jersey. Connecticut and New Jersey have seen a rise in wildfire activity due to unusually dry conditions. 

Wildfire around Jennings Creek lights up the darkness in Hewitt, New Jersey, the United States, on Nov. 9, 2024. Wildfires in the northeastern United States have continued to spread, reaching New York City's suburban areas days ago and worsening air quality across the city and nearby regions over the weekend. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

Wildfire brings smog over George Washington Bridge in Manhattan, New York, the United States, on Nov. 9, 2024. Wildfires in the northeastern United States have continued to spread, reaching New York City's suburban areas days ago and worsening air quality across the city and nearby regions over the weekend. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

An aerial drone photo taken on Nov. 9, 2024 shows wildfire around Jennings Creek, stretching across Passaic County of New Jersey and Orange County of New York, the United States. Wildfires in the northeastern United States have continued to spread, reaching New York City's suburban areas days ago and worsening air quality across the city and nearby regions over the weekend. (Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo taken on Nov. 9, 2024 shows wildfire around Jennings Creek, stretching across Passaic County of New Jersey and Orange County of New York, the United States. Wildfires in the northeastern United States have continued to spread, reaching New York City's suburban areas days ago and worsening air quality across the city and nearby regions over the weekend. (Xinhua)

Wildfire around Jennings Creek lights up the darkness in Hewitt, New Jersey, the United States, on Nov. 9, 2024. Wildfires in the northeastern United States have continued to spread, reaching New York City's suburban areas days ago and worsening air quality across the city and nearby regions over the weekend. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)
A UKRAINIAN driver who caused a head-on crash in which a woman was seriously injured told gardai that he was not used to driving on the left side of the road.

The collision on the N80 route near Mountmellick was outlined at Portlaoise District Court last Thursday. Amet Dzhanayev, whose address was given as Prince of Wales Hotel, Athlone, was convicted of dangerous driving at Nyra, Mountmellick on 30 January 2024.

The other driver, a middle-aged woman, gave evidence that she saw a blue car coming against her as she drove off a slip road, on the way from Mountmellick to Tullamore.

The car went straight across the road in front of her and crashed into the passenger side of her car, in a head-on collision.

Emergency services were called and she was taken to Tullamore hospital. She had three surgical procedures on her neck and was out of work for five months.

Her car was a write-off and she was still awaiting a surgical procedure on her back.

The defendant was not injured in the crash.

Garda Burke testified that the womans car was facing in the opposite direction to which she was travelling when he attended the accident scene on the N80 at 8.45am. Both drivers passed roadside breath tests.

The garda said he took a statement from Mr Dzhanayev at the Athlone hotel on 10 March last, with a Ukrainian interpreter provided by gardai.

In the statement, the 38-year-old said he was driving a friends car and was not familiar with the road. He was not used to driving on the left in Ireland, as drivers use the right lane in Ukraine.

Just before the crash, he was approaching a right-hand junction and would usually have right of way at such a junction in Ukraine.

He said in the statement: This time, I forgot that I was driving on the left and had to give way to oncoming traffic.

The court heard that the defendant was not in court because he had to return to Ukraine due to a family emergency.

He had motor insurance and the crash was dealt with by the insurers.

Imposing a 1,000 fine and four-year disqualification for dangerous driving, Judge Andrew Cody criticised Mr Dzhanayev for not attending the court hearing and giving an apology to the injured woman.

The judge said: You cant just skip back to Ukraine and not make any effort to apologise to the injured party or turn up in court.
Actor Ram Charan on Saturday attended the teaser launch event of Game Changer barefoot in Lucknow. He was spotted wearing an all-black ethnic outfit - kurta, pyjama and stole. Game Changer Teaser: Ram Charan Dons Different Avatars in S Shankars Political Action Drama Co-Starring Kiara Advani (Watch Video).

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.

Ram Charan Spotted Barefoot As He Departs for Game Changer Teaser Launch in Lucknow

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pallav Paliwal (@pallav_paliwal)

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. Game Changer: Ram Charan Becomes First Superstar To Host Teaser Event in Lucknow for Upcoming Film.

The film, which was announced in 2021, has generated considerable buzz given its gripping narrative and star-studded cast.
The makers of Prashanth Neel's upcoming sequel, Salaar: Part 2Shouryaanga Parvam, starring Telugu star Prabhas, shared a video on their official social media handles on Friday (November 8) announcing the commencement of the shoot. The movie will be bankrolled by Vijay Kiragandur under the banner Hombale Films. Now, in a surprising turn of events, Korean superstar Ma Dong-seok, also known as Don Lee, sparked a social media frenzy after he re-shared the poster of Salaar 2 featuring Prabhas. Taking to his Instagram stories, the Train to Busan star reshared the poster of Salaar 2 and gave it a thumbs-up. Is the actor hinting at his casting, or was he simply sharing the poster as a fan? Salaar Part 2  Shouryaanga Parvam Shoot Begins: Makers Share Update From Prabhas and Prashanth Neels Upcoming Sequel (Watch Video).

Korean Star Don Lee Re-Shares Prabhas' Salaar 2 Poster on Insta

(Photo Credits: @donlee/ Instagram)

(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter (X), Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
Kathy Watson outside her home in Lake City, Fla. The former business owner, who relies on the Affordable Care Act for health coverage, voted for Trump believing he wouldnt really repeal the healthcare law.

Kathy Watson was anxious about her health coverage even before she woke up gasping for breath last month and drove herself to the emergency room with a flare-up in her heart condition.

After struggling for years without insurance, the 55-year-old former small-business owner  who has battled diabetes, high blood pressure and two cancers  credits Obamacare with saving her life.

Watson also voted for Donald Trump, believing the businessman would bring change. She dismissed his campaign pledges to scrap the Affordable Care Act as bluster.

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Now, as she watches the new president push to kill the law that provided her with a critical lifeline, Watson finds herself among many Trump supporters who must reconcile their votes with worries about the future of their healthcare.

Watson, a proud, salty woman who was uninsurable a few years ago, isnt ready to renounce Trump. But shes increasingly frustrated by his vague promises to replace Obamacare with something better.

Ive been through enough, Watson said recently, sitting on the patio outside her mobile home, down a sandy road in a rural corner of northern Florida. I dont want to go back.

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As one of millions of Americans who depend on the healthcare laws protections, Watson embodies the political challenge Republicans face as they scramble to fulfill their pledge to repeal Obamacare without harming people like Watson, who helped fuel Trumps unexpected victory.

Her story is also a cautionary tale for GOP leaders, whose promise to cut healthcare costs by scaling back insurance rules threatens to reopen the gaps that once left nearly 50 million Americans without coverage.

Watson knows those gaps better than anyone.

Like some 150 million Americans, she for years had a health plan offered by an employer, in her case, a mobile home manufacturer where her husband worked.

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But in 2001, Watsons husband had to quit after he was injured. The law office where she worked as a paralegal, like many small businesses, didnt offer a health plan.

Thats when my nightmare began, she said.

For a while, the couple scraped together the money to keep his plan, an option known as COBRA coverage. After 18 months, the plan offered under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act expired.

Watson tried to buy a health plan on her own. But before Obamacare, insurers routinely screened out sick and potentially costly customers. Trump has voiced support for keeping that protection, but other Republican plans would allow insurers in some cases to charge sick patients more.

Watson had unusually high white blood cell counts and years earlier had part of her colon removed. Nobody was going to go near me with a 10-foot pole, she said.

Watson next tried to get a health plan by starting her own business. Insurers were sometimes willing to cover a group of employees, which are a better risk than a single person.

In 2003, Watson opened a debt-collection service for small companies. Business was good, she said, and she hired three employees. But she still couldnt convince an insurer to sell her a plan.

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By then, Watson and her husband were getting increasingly desperate. He still had high medical bills from his injury. Watson was feeling increasingly ill herself, with periodic fevers and swollen glands that made it hard to work.

A local doctor helped with basic medical care in exchange for her help collecting his bills.

But Watson couldnt afford more extensive medical tests to find out what was making her sick until 2009, when she was diagnosed with a non-Hodgkins lymphoma, a form of blood cancer.

We went through everything we had, Watson said, including selling off her retirement accounts and mortgaging their home. Friends helped her navigate hospitals where one noted that Watson often was treated like a second-class citizen because she lacked insurance. Watsons aging parents helped with many medical bills.

For a short time, Watson thought shed found relief when an insurance company agreed to provide coverage. But when she tried to use the plan, she discovered it didnt cover major medical costs, a trap many consumers fell into when insurers were subject to less oversight. Insurers now must cover a basic set of benefits, though GOP leaders are calling for such mandates to be scaled back.

Watson estimates she and her husband ultimately ran up more than $100,000 in medical debt.

Kathy is a smart person, but she sure didnt have the luck of the Irish, said Anne Lebrecht, Watsons 74-year-old mother.

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Passage of the Affordable Care Act finally offered some relief, thanks to a small temporary program created in 2011 for people like Watson who had been denied coverage.

She was able to get on a plan that ultimately cost $363 a month and is now cancer free.

I would have lost everything without that, Watson said.

Before Obamacare, many states ran similar programs, known as high-risk pools. Republicans are now exploring ways to reopen them.

But many of these state plans ended up being very expensive because they covered only sick patients. Many had to cap enrollment.

The Obamacare plan that helped Watson stopped enrolling people because of costs in early 2013.

By then, Watson was well enough to get a job at a company that trained customer support staff for DirecTV. It offered a health plan for $123.50 a month.

It was good coverage, Watson said.

She quit the job at the end of last year after hurting herself working in her yard. This time, thanks to Obamacare, there was no gap for her to fall into.

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After seeing a television ad by Florida Blue, the states largest insurer, Watson called the company, and in less than half an hour, she enrolled in an HMO plan, despite her long medical history.

The plan normally cost $664 a month. But because Obamacare offers subsidies to help low- and moderate-income Americans afford premiums and deductibles, Watson pays nothing.

I still cant believe I can get this coverage, she said.

Today, Watson is upbeat, despite dealing with two failing valves in her heart as well as chronic arthritis and diabetes. Shes taking classes to get a real estate license so she can go back to work and get off government-subsidized insurance.

But Watson is getting irritated by what she hears from the new president. Ill give it a little more time, she said. But Im not really sure about Trump anymore.

She said shes ready to go to Washington to tell lawmakers not to roll back Obamacare.

Walk a mile in my shoes, Watson said. I never thought Id have to go through all of this. I was working for an attorney. I was making good money.  Im not here to get something for nothing. I just want to be healthy, pay my bills and go about my life.

noam.levey@latimes.com

@noamlevey

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"I'm not surprised. China's footprint in the maritime industry speaks for itself. It's incredibly impressive," said an industry insider attending a maritime engineering equipment expo in China's Xiamen.




The long-delayed reopening of Route 611 in the Slate Belt hit another snag on Sunday, after traffic lights for a stretch of road north Portland stopped working five days after becoming operational.

The lights shut down around 11 a.m., going completely blank and causing long lines of traffic in both directions.
Much-needed rain is in the forecast as the Lehigh Valley deals with dire drought conditions and crews continue to monitor a wildfire that burned nearly 600 acres on Blue Mountain at Lehigh Gap.

However, precipitation will likely still not be near enough to end record-setting drought, meteorologists with the National Weather Services Mount Holly office stated in Sundays forecast discussion.

On Friday, the Blue Mountain blaze was contained after round-the-clock efforts by hundreds of firefighters from the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry, Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks and the Pennsylvania Game Commission, as well as local fire departments.

Bob Kurilla, a spokesman for the forestry bureau, told lehighvalleylive.com firefighters will continue to patrol the area through the weekend, mainly due to smoldering in places, until the region receives soaking rain.

Crews battled the fire since it began on the afternoon of Nov. 2. It started east of the gap and eroded into the Blue Mountains Kittatinny Ridge, near the Lehigh River in Lehigh Township. The team faced hurdles, given the extreme dry conditions and lack of rainfall.

Many areas in the regional havent had substantial precipitation since August, and no rain at all since late September. The dry spell  declared in half of Pennsylvanias 67 counties  has already led to a fire ban on State Game Lands.

The National Weather Service expects less than a tenth of an inch of rain Sunday, with a quarter- to a half-inch possible into Monday. While its welcomed, those totals wont be enough to solve the regions serious drought woes, forecasters say.

Sunday is expected to start out dry, with a high temperature in the upper 50s. A southwest wind is forecast of 5 to 10 mph. Later this afternoon and into the early evening, however, some showers should start pushing into eastern Pennsylvania, the weather service says.

The periods of rain are expected to begin after 5 p.m. Sunday as moisture associated with Tropical Storm Rafael sweeps through the region into Monday morning. Rainfall will then quickly overspread the region through Sunday evening and a warm front pushes through, meteorologists say.

This will occur as low pressure continues to advance north and eastward through the northern Great Lakes. This will be our first wetting rain since the end of September so it is much needed!, Sundays forecast discussion states.

Moderate rainfall may briefly fall at times toward the mid- to late-evening Sunday. Steadier rain is expected to start to taper off in the overnight hours as a warm front lifts north and east of the state, the weather service says.

Overnight lows are expect to remain quite mild Sunday night, generally in the low 50s, except some 40s over northwest Jersey and near the southern Pocono region. AccuWeather is making similar predictions, calling for a low temperature in the 50s Sunday evening and at least four hours of rainfall.

The Lehigh Valley remains in the weather systems warm sector and a cold front is not expected to arrive until close to sunrise Monday morning, the weather service says. This means there will continue to be at least some scattered showers overnight Sunday until the cold front sweeps through Monday morning.

Mondays high temperature in the Lehigh Valley is expected to hover near 65 degrees with sunny skies, the weather service says. AccuWeather predicts 68 degrees for the region. There will be a northwest wind of 10 to 15 mph, according to the weather service. The low temperature Monday evening is forecast around 42 degrees by the weather service and 46 degrees by AccuWeather.

A secondary cold front is then expected to follow for Tuesday before high pressure returns Wednesday, meteorologists say. Tuesdays forecast calls for more sun with a high near temperature of 53 degrees, with a northwest wind 10 to 15 mph and gusts as high as 25 mph. Temps will fall around 26 degrees Tuesday evening, both weather agencies predict.

The relief (of rainfall) may be short-lived though as very dry and breezy conditions are expected once again on Tuesday, forecasters stated in the discussion.

For Wednesday, the weather services forecast calls for a high temperature near 52 degrees, before falling in the evening to a low temperature of around 29 degrees. AccuWeather predicts a high of 51 degrees for Wednesday, followed by a low of 32 degrees by Wednesday evening.

The next chance for any rain comes Thursday. The forecast calls for partly sunny skies in some areas of the state with a high temperature near 52. degrees. The chance of precipitation is 30%, the weather service says.

AccuWeather predicts a higher probability of precipitation, calling for 75% and at least two hours of rainfall on Thursday.

Current radar:

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Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
Legend gets thrown around a bit too much nowadays but the word doesn't overstate the stature of a traditional Irish musician who will grace a Laois stage when his rambles into the county for a big Portlaoise concert.

Matt, over the years, has been a member of The Bothy Band, Planxty and The Chieftains. His three solo albums, as well as his trio recording with Tommy Peoples and Paul Brady in the late 70s, brought flute playing to a new level.

During his time with The Chieftains Matt share the stage with the maestro piper Paddy Moloney who, though a Dublin native, was fiercely proud of his Ballyfin roots in Laois where his parents hailed from.

Matt, John Carty on fiddle, together with Brian McGrath on piano, are undertaking a short Winter Rambles Tour around Ireland and will be appearing at the Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise in November. Together they will explore the rich and varied tapestry of the fiddle and flute tradition of north Connacht. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Kevin Conneff, Paddy Moloney and Matt Molloy of the Chieftains.

Born in London, but living in Boyle for over 25 years, John Carty has established himself among the elite of Irish traditional musicians. With three solo fiddle albums, two banjo albums, two group albums, and a sprinkling of recorded tenor guitar and flute music recordings under his belt, John Cartys musical prowess has grown to great heights. He is also a member of the bands At the Racket and Patrick Street. Most recently, John arranged and played all the traditional music elements in the film Brooklyn.

Both Matt and John are recipients of the prestigious TG4 Musician of the Year Award. They are delighted to be joined by much sought after pianist Brian McGrath. His subtle and imaginative playing is the perfect accompaniment to Matt and Johns unique duet. Brian has toured extensively, playing with all the biggest names in Irish traditional music, including Frankie Gavin, Noel Hill, John Carty, Matt Molloy, and Eleanor Shanley to name a few. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Pictured: Matt Molloy(flute) John Carty(fiddle) Brian McGrath(piano)

Their latest album Out of the Ashes was got its title from a saying by the great Johnny Watt Henry, who was a night owl who liked to keep musicians late into the night. If they made an attempt to leave, he would delay them by declaring: What hurry is on ye lads? Hold on and Ill rake up the griosach here and see if I cant pull another quare tune out of the ashes for ye .... to be bringing home with ye. So, this album is a salute to the great men and women of the past, like Johnny Henry, who nurtured the tradition against all the odds.

The show takes place on Friday, November 22 with doors opening at 7:30pm. Tickets are available on EventBrite at 15 for adults and 5 for children, as well as students of Laois School of Music. Early booking is strongly advised.

The Laois Music Centre houses both Laois School of Music and Music Generation Laois, and welcomes over 750 music students each week to take part in music classes, bands, orchestras, and ensembles. Open six days a week, with children as young as three, right up to adult learners, it proves, it is never too late to take up a musical instrument!
Laois independent General Election candidate Aisling Moran gathered with supporters on home turf in east Laois to officially launch her bid to win a Dail seat in the General Election.

A statement about the event pronounced the occasion in Christy Farrell's pub in Killeen as a gathering of the 'A Team'  as Cllr Moran's team says her campaign team has become known.

The pub was said to be packed with energy and enthusiasm and the message from a series of rousing speeches was that the former Fine Gael member is in the pole position to challenge for the third seat in Laois at the General Election on November 28.

The event, on November 9, was attended by family, friends, and fellow independent councillors who are backing Cllr Moran as an alternative independent voice for Laois in the Dail. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Cllr Moran said she didnt expect to be back on the campaign trail so soon after the local elections.

She said she was not on a solo run and is not protest candidate.

We are here to offer solutions, workable alternatives to the failed policies of government. The list of their failures is a long one. They are wasting your money hand over fist and yet they didnt want to take the billions in tax from Apple, and didnt know what to do with it, well they can start by building a bus shelter in Ballylinan, instead of that bicycle shed in Leinster House.

"They can start by recruiting more nurses and guards and by relieving the tax and cost of living burden on families and small businesses, many of which are going to the wall due to excessive rates, VAT and red tape. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

"They talk about their achievements in housing and health, well try telling that to mothers of autistic children, people with disabilities, elderly looking for home help, try getting a GP at the weekend or waiting for hours at Portlaoise hospital A&E which they had the neck to try and close, and where hard-pressed staff are run ragged, not only in the frontline but in the firing line as sick people wait for hours.

This must stop. There is a better way. This must change, and that change starts here tonight in Christy Farrells in Killeen, she said.

Independent Laois county councillors Ben Brennan, James Kelly, and Tommy Mulligan were there to endorse Cllr Moran who represents the Graigueculle Portarlington electoral area on Laois County Council.

Cllr Brennan called for people to vote for his municipal district colleague. He insisted as the IDA jobs kept passing through Laois and down the road to Carlow, Kilkenny and elsewhere.

Cllr Kelly said Cllr Moran's insistence on value for money and accountability to the taxpayer mattered as the budget overrun on projects like the Children's Hospital alone could have otherwise paid for thousands of houses or much-needed primary care health centres across the country.

Portlaoise-based Cllr Mulligan spoke of his longstanding admiration for Aisling Moran due to her honesty, integrity and as a person of principle.

General Election Director of Elections, Charlie OMeara, Cllr Moran's son, said he has known all his life just how kind, caring and committed his mother is to helping others, and he wants everyone else to see it now.

General Election Campaign Manager, Gavin Deering told the large attendance how Cllr Moran had always impressed him with her integrity, decency, and work rate.

"The A-Team is most definitely on the move and theyre not taking No for an answer," concluded the campaign launch statement.
A Laois fundraising volunteer Alice Culliton, known for her commitment to worldwide humanitarian causes, is stepping up once again for Christmas 2024 to help those in Gaza, Sudan, Lebanon, Africa and all peoples hit with conflict and hunger.

Having worked with Concern Worldwide in some of the worlds most challenging humanitarian situations for over 20 years, retired teacher Alice Culliton from Mountmellick has again felt compelled to take action.

Alice is set to undertake Concern's annual 24-hour fast again this year, on Election Day, Friday November 29 2024.

"The extreme poverty and the devastation of people's lives is more than ever and in need of Concern's work," Alice says.

"Please consider sponsoring me to help Concern Worldwide scale up its response to provide increased support to millions of people who are facing extreme hunger because of conflict and climate change.

"This strikes a chord with me as I worked for a time in Ethiopia about four decades ago. I worked in the feeding camp at Harbo from 1994 to 1995, so I know first-hand the hardship and devastating impact severe food insecurity can have for millions of people. I would really appreciate it if you can get behind me with a donation to help Concern continue this life saving work".

Alice Culliton with the CEO of Concern, David Regan.

Concern praised Alice for her dedication last year when she was again preparing to fast.

"With the ever-growing need for humanitarian work worldwide, Alices commitment serves as a beacon of hope, inspiring the community to come together in solidarity and make a tangible difference in the lives of those facing insurmountable challenges.

"Alices fundraising endeavours aim to provide essential support, including cash transfers, to empower families to weather the challenges posed by the relentless climate shocks. These transfers not only assist in managing the escalating food prices but also offer families the dignity of purchasing what they need most to sustain themselves and their children.

"Every contribution, no matter how small, holds the potential to transform lives and foster resilience in the face of unparalleled challenges," a Concern spokesperson said.

89.9c of every 1 goes directly towards Concern's goal of ending extreme poverty.

Support Alices fundraiser by donating online here.
Special schools in the Midlands have once again been excluded from a Government pilot programme to introduce therapists into special schools, leaving Laois and Offaly families bitterly disappointed.

Minister for Children Roderic OGorman, Minister for Education Norma Foley, Minister of State for Disabilities Anne Rabbitte, and Minister Hildegard Naughton, and senior HSE and NCSE officials announced an additional ten special schools to be included in the second phase of the pilot. The first phase of the pilot saw six schools in Cork and Dublin selected.

The ten schools announced today include: six schools in Dublin, two schools in Cork and two in Galway.

There are 130 special schools in Ireland, and of the 16 places available on the programme, eight are in Dublin, six are in Cork, and two schools are in Galway.

St. Francis Special School, Portlaoise, Kolbe Special School, Portlaoise and Offaly School for Special Education, Tullamore, have yet to be included within this programme.

Pictured: The opening of the new St Francis school building, June 16 2022.

It's very bleak," said founder of Therapists in Special Schools Alliance, Ms Orlaith Kerrigan.

"If we were just getting news that we weren't in the pilot. We hope the programme will be fully functional, as it hasn't been to date. We are happy for those who have been selected for the pilot, but it is very difficult to celebrate when other children are in as much need," she said.

"It is hard to accept that there are no schools in the Midlands included, yet two schools within Minister Naughton's constituency. We are lucky that we have received word that Kolbe will have a psychologist filling in the empty role from November, with a senior Occupational Therapist due to begin in the new year," Ms Kerrigan said.

"In the mean time we are trying to get agency staff to fill these positions, it's extremely disappointing that once again, no special school in the Midlands is included," she said.

"This would be transformative in the lives of the children of Kolbe. We have had Cllr Willie Aird and Minister Naughton visit the school, and we have received great support from local County Councillors, who have promised to raise questions on this matter at the upcoming Regional Health Forum," Ms Kerrigan finished.

Pictured: A public meeting to demand a new school for Kolbe held in March 2023. Photo: Leinster Express

Ms Kerrigan said that the Therapists in Special Schools Alliance have received significant help from Offaly Independent TD Carol Nolan, along with retiring Laois Fine Gael TD Charlie Flanagan.

I am sure this is a positive announcement for the selected schools in Dublin, Cork and Galway, but it is a bitter blow for our Special Schools, all of whom urgently need enhanced in-school therapy supports, said Deputy Nolan.

In its final days, the legacy of Government now amounts to an utter failure to properly resource and fund special school children and staff in Offaly and Laois, despite repeated assurances from Government party members and Senators that every effort would be made to ensure that this would happen.

I will continue to fight for Special Schools in Offaly and indeed in Laois and will not rest until they have all of the resources that are due to them, concluded Deputy Nolan.

The schools announced for the second phase of the pilot programme are:

Dublin

Cheeverstown House, Kilvare, Templeogue, Dublin 6

Saplings Special School, St Mary's Convent, Ballyroan Crescent, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16

ABACAS Kilnamanagh, C/O St Kevin's Special School, Treepark Road, Kilnamanagh, Dublin 24

Holy Family School for the Deaf, Navan Rd., Cabra, Dublin 7

St. Vincent's, Navan Road, Dublin 7.

St. Michael's House Special School, College St, Baldoyle, Dublin 13

Cork

East Cork Community Special School, Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork

St. Killians School, Mayfield, Co. Cork

Galway

Rosedale School, Woodlands Centre, Renmore, Galway

St. Teresa's Special School, 25, Moher, Ballinasloe, Galway.
by Xinhua writers Li Jinfeng, Ma Caoran, Li Zijian

LIMA, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- A think tank report on recent achievements of APEC and China's contributions to regional economic cooperation has received positive feedback from readers.

The report, titled Jointly Promoting High-Quality Development and Building an Asia-Pacific Community with a Shared Future, was released in Lima on Friday by Xinhua Institute, a think tank affiliated with the Xinhua News Agency.

Experts and scholars worldwide have praised the report for its in-depth analysis of APEC's achievements since its inception and China's ongoing contributions to fostering regional consensus and shared prosperity. They also underscored the importance of continued cooperation among Asia-Pacific economies to build a more open, dynamic, resilient, and peaceful community.

REGIONAL COOPERATION

"This report offers a comprehensive and detailed analysis of APEC's historical trajectory and the region's development achievements while also exploring the future potential of Asia-Pacific cooperation," said Martha Isabel Andres Roman, editor-in-chief of Cuba's Latin American News Agency. She also noted that APEC's role is particularly significant in the global context of growing protectionism and some countries' turn toward unilateralism.

The report noted that in 2023, APEC's 21 member economies contributed over 60 percent of the global GDP. Over the past 35 years, APEC has fueled rapid regional development, establishing the Asia-Pacific as a growth center for the global economy, a stabilizing force, and a hub of cooperation.

As the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting approaches in Lima, there is strong optimism that the Asia-Pacific region will continue to drive global economic growth. "Every process of integration brings mutual benefits," said former Peruvian Prime Minister Javier Velasquez. "Through cooperation, countries in the region are better positioned within the global economy."

Hans Hendrischke, a professor at the University of Sydney Business School, emphasized that APEC's role in fostering dialogue is increasingly crucial amid rising protectionism and calls for "decoupling" in certain parts of the world.

SHOWCASING CHINA'S CONTRIBUTION

The report also highlights how China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative complements APEC's efforts for regional economic cooperation. China has become the largest trading partner for more than 10 APEC economies, with trade between China and Latin America nearing 500 billion U.S. dollars annually.

As a leading economic player in the region, China has actively contributed to APEC initiatives, playing a pivotal role in promoting multilateralism and open regionalism. China's development approach has garnered broad recognition among APEC members.

Li Xiangyang, director of the National Institute of International Strategy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the rise in protectionism has made the future of globalization a central issue. APEC's commitment to open regionalism has shown remarkable vitality in the Asia-Pacific, the world's most dynamic region.

Liu Chenyang, director of the APEC Study Center at Nankai University, praised the report for vividly demonstrating China's role in APEC's journey toward building an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future, raising hopes for even greater collaboration.

"China is a global leader in the digital economy, and many APEC members can learn from its experience," said Jose Carlos Feliciano Nishikawa, deputy director of the Center for China and Asia-Pacific Studies at Peru's Universidad del Pacifico. He noted that the upcoming APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting will further strengthen cooperation, providing opportunities for other countries to benefit from China's growth.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

The report stresses that the future of Asia-Pacific cooperation will play a crucial role in shaping the region's development, improving people's well-being, and influencing the global economy. It calls on APEC members to uphold the spirit of cooperation, advance regional development, and contribute to building a community with a shared future for humanity.

Jing Ran, director of the School of International Trade at the University of International Business and Economics, emphasized that with sluggish global economy recovering and rising geopolitical uncertainties, APEC's principles of voluntarism, consensus-building and incremental progress are more relevant than ever. Its focus on collaboration in technology, digital economy, and climate change aligns with the common interests of people across the Asia-Pacific.

Peru's Minister of Agricultural Development and Irrigation, Angel Manuel Manero, highlighted that Peru, a leading producer of agricultural products like avocados, blueberries, and beef, benefits significantly from deeper integration within APEC.

The completion of major infrastructure projects, such as the Chancay Port, will enable Peru's products to reach China and other Asian markets more efficiently, further reinforcing the country's role in APEC's trade network, the minister said. 
Aoife Kane from Caragh, a former student of Pipers Hill College who recently graduated from Dublin City University with an MA in Journalism, was presented with the Veronica Guerin Washington Memorial Scholarship.

Pictured (L-R): Gay White, Trustee, DCU Educational Trust, Aoife Kane, Alex Cunningham, Professor Daire Keogh, President of DCU.

Credit: Kyran OBrien

Kildare student Aoife Kane was presented with a scholarship award by Dublin City University at a ceremony to celebrate memorial and endowed scholarships on Wednesday 6th November.

In total, 51 students received awards named in honour of individuals and organisations who have played a leading role in the life of Dublin City University and in wider Irish society.

Aoife Kane from Caragh, a former student of Pipers Hill College who recently graduated from Dublin City University with an MA in Journalism, was presented with the Veronica Guerin Washington Memorial Scholarship.

The scholarship was established by DCUs School of Communications and Mediahuis Ireland (formerly Independent News & Media) in memory of investigative journalist Veronica Guerin. The scholarship allows two DCU journalism students to complete their work experience placements in the United States with the Washington Bureau of Arizona State Universitys Cronkite School of Journalism.

Speaking at the event, Declan Raftery of DCU Educational Trust commented: Memorial and endowed scholarships make an enduring contribution to the Universitys mission to transform lives and societies. By creating opportunities for doctoral research that tackles some of the worlds most pressing challenges, and opening a door for talented students to excel, these scholarships are supporting more DCU students to make their mark on the world. We are proud to honour those who created these scholarships, and our friends and loved ones who are remembered through them.

The 51 scholarship recipients were selected based on different criteria, depending on the wishes of those who created the scholarship. These include undergraduate students supported by DCUs Access Programme, postgraduate students in the fields of cancer research, education, law and journalism, and students with outstanding sporting and academic achievements.
Leitrim County Council has received calls for a community-owned solar farm in North Leitrim, with Kiltyclogher as a potential site.

Cllr Eddie Mitchell introduced a motion at the November Council meeting, seeking support from members to promote the idea of a community-owned solar farm as a pilot project.

He suggested collaborating with a welcoming host community, aligning with the Councils vision for a sustainable local economy and contributing to renewable energy strategy targets.

In our renewable energy strategy, we have a target of 80 megawatts of renewable energy, Cllr Mitchell explained.

Leitrim is one of the poorest parts of Ireland, we should try to use community owned renewables to try to help communities to find money and save money for grants to try to develop their areas.

Cllr Mitchell proposed Kiltyclogher as a location for the solar farm.

The Council can see the work thats happening in Kiltyclogher where theyre trying to develop that village and try to keep that part of Leitrim alive.

What Id like to get is the support of the Council for that type of project in North Leitrim, he added.

Cllr Mitchells motion was supported widely by council members.

Id like to support the idea and I think the Council should be supporting community led projects, Cllr Warnock commented

Mr Vincent Dwyer informed Cllr Mitchell that if an interested group comes forward, the Council could bring them through the LEADER programme, which offers funding for green projects.

Cllr Mitchell was advised to reach out with details of any interested group so they can receive the necessary guidance and support.

A reply from the Head of Finance and Water Services explained the Leitrim County Council Climate Action Plan supports renewable electricity projects, including a community-owned solar park initiative.

In collaboration with the Mohill Development Association and Mohill Sustainable Energy Community, the Council received funding in 2021 to study the feasibility of this solar park. Since then, the Mohill Community Development Association has taken the lead on the project, working alongside the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, ESB, and the Council to advance it.

READ MORE: Fianna Fail adds Leitrim councillor to general election ticket in Sligo/Leitrim
AN AWARD-WINNING Tidy Towns group have asked politicians not to put up posters in their village, and to remove existing ones.

A local resident sent photos to Limerick Live this Sunday of posters of four candidates in Castleconnell - Michelle Hayes, Deputy Willie ODea, Cllr Elisa ODonovan and Dee Ryan. It is not known if there are more.

They said the village was a poster-free zone during the recent elections in June and asked what has changed.

Limerick Live contacted Castleconnell Tidy Towns, who, this month won their first ever national Tidy Towns silver medal in the 30 years that they have been entering the competition.

A spokesperson said during the council, mayoral and European elections in the summer they had politely requested political parties to not put posters in the inner village.

This was adhered to fully to our great delight as we were in the middle of the Tidy Towns adjudication process. For the General Election we had intended to make a similar request to the political parties.

However, we anticipated that no posters would go up until the Taoiseach had dissolved the Dail. This appears to have been a little naive on our behalf. At this moment, there are a lot of posters in the inner village, said the spokesperson for Castleconnell Tidy Towns.

READ MORE: Gum Litter Taskforce's 'Bin It!' Roadshow visits Limerick in largest-ever nationwide tour

They said they put up a Facebook post on Saturday requesting that the candidates for the election please remove the posters from the inter village.

We acknowledge that we have no authority to insist on a poster-free village.

"We wish everyone the very best of luck. We applaud people for putting their names forward, said the spokesperson.
SENATOR Paul Gavan has been added as a second Sinn Fein General Election candidate for Limerick City, it was announced this Sunday.

He will be running alongside sitting TD Maurice Quinlivan.

Mr Gavan, of Castleconnell, has spent almost nine years as an ICTU nominee to the Labour Panel of the Seanad.

A former union official with SIPTU, he is most associated with his successful campaign to pass a law establishing a legal right to tips for workers in the hospitality sector. Mr Gavan also worked closely with the Together for Safety campaign to establish Safe Access Zones in law to protect the privacy and dignity of women accessing healthcare.

A passionate advocate for workers rights, he has also been outspoken on issues of international justice as a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, especially the genocide against the Palestinian people. He is a staunch defender of Irish neutrality.

As a union official he played a key role in organising workers in early years education which led to the first Employment Regulation Order for the childcare sector.

Speaking after his selection was confirmed, Senator Gavan said: Its a great honour to be asked to run alongside Maurice Quinlivan. We are running on a progressive platform of real change to tackle the crises in housing and in University Hospital Limerick.

We will deliver record levels of housing and make renting affordable again. We will tackle the crisis in UHL by delivering the beds and staff that are needed and establish a second Emergency Department for the region.

Mr Gavan said the people of Limerick cannot afford another five years of this government.

Over the lifetime of this government rents have gone up by 10,000. Its no wonder seven out of ten people aged between 18 and 33 are living with their parents! We have also seen the crisis in UHL worsen each year with lives being lost and new record numbers of patients left to languish on trolleys.

READ MORE: Tidy Towns group asks politicians to remove posters from their award-winning Limerick village

Deputy Maurice Quinlivan gave a warm welcome to the addition of Mr Gavan to the ballot paper.

I am delighted to see my friend and comrade Paul added to the ticket. Sinn Fein are giving a clear choice to the people of our constituency.

"If you want to see alternative to the failed policies of Fianna Fail and their sister party Fine Gael then vote 1 and 2 for Sinn Fein."
KERRY Dairy Ireland has announced that it is transferring ownership of the historic red brick building in Charleville to St Josephs Foundation.

The foundation is renowned for providing a comprehensive range of services for people with intellectual disabilities in the north Cork and south Limerick areas. It was co-founded in the late 1960s by the late Dr Martin ODonnell, a GP in Charleville. It now provides services to over 1,300 children and 400 adults.

Kerry say they have been a supporter of St Josephs Foundation for decades, admiring the exceptional services and support they provide to the community.

Pat Murphy, CEO of Kerry Dairy Ireland, said: We are immensely pleased to see St Josephs Foundation, an organisation we hold in high regard, become the new custodians of the red brick building. Their dedication to enhancing the lives of individuals and families within our community is unparalleled, and we are confident that this new chapter will only amplify their remarkable work.

Kerry say the landmark building in Charleville has been part of Kerrys commitment to innovation and community development.

It was announced by Kerry in 2021 that a number of staff based there were being made redundant as Kerry Group expanded and centralised its shared services, such as finance, human resources and regulatory staff, in teams primarily located in Mexico and Malaysia.

The former Golden Vale headquarters has lain empty for over a year and a half. It was put up for sale at the end of 2023 with a guide price of 750,000.

READ MORE: Limerick agri-tech firm aims for All-Ireland win

Michael Hegarty, CEO of St Joseph's Foundation, thanked Kerry Dairy Ireland (a division of Kerry Group).

"We extend our sincere gratitude to Kerry Dairy Ireland for their vital support in securing the red brick building in Charleville for St Joseph's Foundation. This partnership, grounded in our mutual commitment to rural Ireland, ensures that our joint efforts will benefit Charleville and the wider region for decades to come.

This milestone in the history of the foundation allows us to advance a significant project that will enhance services for individuals with disabilities and their families, said Mr Hegarty.

After the global multinational Kerry Group acquired Golden Vale at the turn of the century, the red brick building became their business services centre.
A TD and councillor have called for traffic safety works at the Five Crossroads in Murroe to prevent further injuries and possible deaths.

Deputy Willie ODea and Cllr Martin Ryan made the request following a number of road traffic collisions and near misses, which have taken place in recent months.

One woman who sadly has first hand experience of this is Phyllis ORiordan, who resides in Murroe with husband Tim.

I had a shocking incident. My husband is in a wheelchair due to a spinal injury. We purchased a new van in March - a Peugeot Rifter - three months earlier. It was state-of-the-art, automatic and had been modified for a wheelchair ramp. It was a beautiful van, said Phyllis, who was coming home from the city on a Wednesday afternoon around 4pm.

Thankfully her husband wasnt in the van at the time as she says it would have been an even worse scenario.

I had the right of way coming out of town. The other car came from the Boher side. There are two stop signs and slow is written on the ground but the driver of the car came straight through. They rammed right into the drivers side and my beautiful new van was written off, recalled Phyllis.

READ MORE: BREAKING: Child and three adults hospitalised following Limerick collision

She was rushed to University Hospital Limerick and is full of praise for the staff.

I was met at the door - it was like an A&E on the TV. My son arrived straight away and within 15 minutes I had scans. I was discharged later on that night, said Phyllis.

Just a couple of weeks later, following the road traffic collision in June, she drove past another incident at the Five Crossroads. A motorist had hit a sign and ended up in a green area.

There have been an amount of accidents, said Phyllis. She said local people are very aware of the Five Crossroads and often it is those not familiar with Murroe that are involved in collisions.

No matter which side Im coming from I really slow down. You dont know where they are going to come out of, said Phyllis.

As somebody who is living in Murroe for 50 years, she thinks the only solution is a roundabout.

Deputy Willie O'Dea (pictured below with Cllr Martin Ryan) has called on Limerick City and County Council to urgently undertake traffic safety works at the Five Crossroads, Murroe, where numerous traffic accidents have occurred.

The Five Crossroads in Murroe is a notorious accident blackspot, where numerous accidents have occurred over the years. Local people in Murroe have been in touch with me expressing their grave concerns about this dangerous junction. Local residents are demanding that something is done to make these crossroads safer and prevent further injuries and possible deaths, said Deputy ODea

He said he has been working with Cllr Martin Ryan on the matter and has been onto Limerick City and County Council urging them to prioritise the implementation of traffic safety works at the Five Crossroads, Murroe.

We must ensure that this junction is made safe for all road users, said Deputy ODea, who first called for improvement works last August.
SHANGHAI, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- International scholars and specialists from various fields gathered in Shanghai on Thursday to share their insights on China's rise, calling for orderly multipolarization and inclusive economic globalization.

More than 140 Chinese and foreign guests at the China Economic and Social Forum had in-depth exchanges, particularly discussing how to view China's rise.

"Following China's admission to the World Trade Organization, many in the West believed that China would become not just like the West, but also an exploitable country. Instead, China has remained resolutely on a path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and with economic success," said Guppy Daryl James, former president of the Australia China Business Council.

He said that the Global South sees China as a model of economic development that stands in contrast to the hegemonic and exploitative relationships that have limited growth and entrenched poverty.

Harley Seyedin, chairman and president of the American Chamber of Commerce in South China, called China's economic rise "one of the most remarkable stories of the 21st century," saying much of that success can be contributed to its policy of opening up to the world, including engaging with the United States and other global economies.

Mark Logan, former member of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, delivered his speech in Chinese at the meeting. He said that China has made rapid progress on innovation, for example in the manufacturing of electric vehicles. The ongoing China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai and China's initiative to the Asian Development Bank show the country's commitment to shared prosperity.

The participants agreed that China's development path provides a model for other countries. China has also demonstrated its responsibility as a major country in the world to promote global public welfare. 
Ryanair boss Michael OLeary has endorsed a Fine Gael candidate in the general election, adding it was important to elect a government that gets shit done.

Mr OLeary endorsed Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke in the LongfordWestmeath constituency, adding that he would give his second preference to Fianna Fail candidate Robert Troy.

Speaking at Mr Burkes campaign launch in Mullingar, the airline boss took aim at Sinn Fein and continued a long-running feud with the Green Party.

Mr OLeary, who grew up and lives in Mullingar, said the November 29 vote will be one of the most seismic elections within the next three decades because of the expected population boom.

He added: So it is vital this time that we elect a government that delivers.

We need a government that delivers for enterprise, that creates jobs. We need a government that delivers infrastructure that fixes the problems we face today, and above all, its vital that we elect a government that gets shit done.

Because frankly Im fed up with the left-wing politicians telling us that if they tax us more and spend more, all will be well.

Mr OLeary urged the crowd to also support Fianna Fail candidates but urged them not to vote for the Green Party or Sinn Fein.

I would also urge everybody to give your number two to somebody in Fianna Fail as well.

Its important, I think, in this election that Fine Gael and Fianna Fail supporters transfer to each other.

Ryanair has repeatedly criticised the Green ministers for transport and tourism, Eamon Ryan and Catherine Martin, over what the airline sees as a lack of action on the Dublin Airport passenger cap.

What is most important in this election is we weed out the Greens. Weve learned after five minutes, that the Greens are just weeds, Mr OLeary said.

They poison enterprise. Theyve destroyed transport.

He added: Please dont vote for Sinn Fein. I would ignore Sinn Fein. If you cant run your own party you havent much chance of running a government or a country either.

Mr OLeary said recent controversies over the cost of the 336,000 euro bike shed at Leinster House and the 1.4 million euro security hut at Government Buildings shows that tax and spend is not the way forward.

He added: I can think of nobody here, certainly in the current government, who demonstrates more action, more energy, who works harder, and I think, is true to his principles, than Peter Burke.

Thats why Im pleased and proud to be here this evening to help Peter launch his re-election campaign.

Mr OLeary based part of his endorsement on Mr Burkes background in the private sector, as he criticised TDs who were teachers in the past.

The Dail is full of teachers  nothing wrong with teachers, I love teachers  but I wouldnt generally employ a lot of teachers to go out and get things done.
In a big relief for Ambuja Cements, the Delhi High Court (HC) has set aside a show cause notice and order demanding 218.87 crore stamp duty and 69 crore penalty from the company, according to an ANI report.

The order from the Collector of Stamps, Delhi directed Ambuja Cements (ACL) to pay stamp duty worth 218,87,81,917.28 and a penalty of 69 crore on a merger order dated November 14, 2011, it added.

Ambuja Challenged Order Representing the company, S&A Law Offices told the court that ACL was exempt from stamp duty charges under Sections 391-394 of the Companies Act (19), as its amalgamation order was protected by a 1937 notification.

In its statement, the HC also noted that the show cause notice issued by the Collector of Stamps was beyond the prescribed period of limitation and set aside the claim.

Ambuja Cements is a subsidiary of the Adani Group.

Also Read | Russian President Vladimir Putin enters into strategic partnership with N. Korea

Ambuja Cements Q2 Results Ambuja Cements declared their Q2 results on October 28, 2024, revealing a mixed performance in the financial metrics. The company's topline saw a modest increase of 1.24% year-over-year; however, the profit took a significant hit, decreasing by 42.5% compared to the same quarter last year.

When comparing the current quarter to the previous one, Ambuja reported a decline in revenue of 9.57% and a 29.45% drop in profit. This trend raises concerns among investors about the company's short-term financial health.

Operating income also suffered, down 50.36% quarter-over-quarter and 56.21% year-over-year. These figures indicate a challenging environment for the cement manufacturer, which could impact future growth prospects.

Earnings per share (EPS) for Q2 stood at 2.27, reflecting a decrease of 39.29% year-over-year. This decline in EPS could be a significant factor influencing investor sentiment moving forward.

The overall outlook for Ambuja Cements remains cautiously optimistic, as analysts see potential for recovery despite the recent downturn in profits.
POMPTON LAKES, N.J. (AP)  A New York parks employee died battling one of a number of wildfires in New Jersey and New York amid dry conditions that have prompted air quality warnings in both states, authorities said Sunday.

The Eastern Dutchess County Fire and Rescue said the New York state forestry service reported that the worker died when a tree fell on him Saturday afternoon as he battled a major brush fire along the New York-New Jersey border, officials said.

Rip brother your shift is over job well done, the post said.

New York State Police said they were investigating the death amid the fire in Sterling Forest located in Greenwood Lake and identified the victim as Dariel Vasquez, an 18-year-old Parks and Recreation aide employed by the New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Department.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Forest Fire Service reported the sprawling blaze had spread to more than 3 square miles (about 8 square kilometers) near the border in Passaic Countys West Milford and Orange County, New York. Dubbed the Jennings Creek wildfire, it was threatening two homes and eight buildings in the Long Pond Ironworks Historic District.

Health advisories were issued for parts of New York and northeastern New Jersey due to unhealthy air quality due to smoke from the fires. People were urged to limit strenuous outdoor physical activity if possible; those especially sensitive included the very young and very old and people with ailments such as asthma and heart disease.

New Jersey officials, meanwhile, reported 75 percent containment of a 175-acre (70-hectare) fire in the Pompton Lakes area of Passaic County that was threatening 55 homes, although no evacuations had been ordered.

Progress was also reported on fires in the Bethany Run area on the border of Burlington and Camden counties in Evesham and Voorhees townships; a blaze along the Palisades Interstate Parkway in Englewood Cliffs in Bergen County; and the Pheasant Run wildfire in the Glassboro wildlife protection area of Gloucester County.
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Germany in turmoil after coalition collapse

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Scholz under pressure to hold early election

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Prominent Green party members call for early confidence vote

By Tom Sims

FRANKFURT, Nov 10 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz came under increasing pressure on Sunday to bring forward a vote of confidence in parliament that would pave the way for snap elections following the collapse of his governing coalition.

Two leading members of the Green party, which is sharing power with Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD) in a minority government, told Bild newspaper that the confidence vote should be held in December, earlier than the chancellor's plans for January.

Europe's largest economy was thrown into disarray last week with the collapse of Scholz's three-way coalition and disagreements over how much money the government should spend to encourage growth and support Ukraine.

Greens Anton Hofreiter and Irene Mihalic are the most prominent voices so far from the two parties still in power to back an earlier vote. A confidence vote is a necessary precursor to an election.

Scholz has suggested holding a vote of confidence in his government on Jan. 15, with a snap election in March, but the conservative opposition led by Friedrich Merz wants an election in January.

"Olaf Scholz should call a vote of confidence in December so that everything can be clarified before Christmas and the New Year," Hofreiter told Bild.

Spokespeople for Scholz and the SPD did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Scholz was scheduled to speak in a nationally televised interview later on Sunday.

Scholz on Friday demanded a calm debate among Germany's squabbling factions on setting a date for a snap election to pull the country out of its political crisis.

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 an election.
TS Singh Deo, a Congress leader and former Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister, said on Sunday that Home Minister Amit Shah "doesn't know that we are one nation." He said while hitting out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders for raising slogans of "batenge toh katenge" during election rallies.

"It is very sad that a person who is the Home Minister of the country doesn't know that we are one nation, that we are all together. He seems to be so insecure for whatever reasons, that he feels that the country is in parts," TS Singh Deo said on Sunday.

He asked, "Where is this 'alag' and 'batenge toh katenge' [We will be killed if we are divided]'? They [BJP] want to do that. They want to have sections so that they have some vote share or some vote bank somewhere."

The Congress leader said that his party has always been all-inclusive. "We want to take everybody along  we have to reach farmers, industrialists...The Congress wants to work. They want to raise some emotive issue which will give them some edge," Singh said.

What did Amit Shah say? Speaking at the launch of the manifesto of Mahayuti in Maharashtra on Sunday, Amit Shah said the Congress tries to divide the nation by raising questions about caste.

Also Read | Maharashtra Elections: Mumbai employees to be granted paid leave on November 20

He said Adivasis and the OBCs are strong as section of society. "Their strength diminishes of they are divided into caste," Amit Shah said. Further hitting out at the Congress and the Maha Aghadi Vikas (MVA) alliance, Shah said, The entire nation knows under whose regime maximum riots were happened.

Few hours later, Amit Shah launched a scathing attack on the Opposition MVA while speaking at a rally in Maharashtra's Raver. He said the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi could stoop to any level for the sake of appeasement and vote bank politics.

Shah further alleged, An organization of Ulemas demanded 10% reservation for Muslims in Maharashtra from the Congress. Currently, 50% of reservations have already been allocated. To implement additional reservations for minorities, Congress will have to reduce the reservations for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and backward classes.

Reacting to Shah's comments, Deo Singh said, If development is appeasement, then sure, we would like to appease...
Ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections, Congress state president Nana Patole on Sunday suspended 16 rebel candidates of the party for a period of 6 years. The development comes just days before the Assembly elections in Maharashtra.

The leaders who have been suspended include Anandrao Gedam, Sonal Kove, Abhilasha Gavature, Premsagar Ganvir, Ajay Lanjewar, Vilas Patil, Hanskumar Pandey, Kamal Vyavhare, Mohanrao Dandekar, Mangal Bhujbal, Manoj Sinde, Vijay Khadse, Shabir Khan, Avinash Lad, Yajnavalkya jichkar and Rajendra Mulak.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday released the manifesto of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) for the state elections at a press conference in Mumbai where NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut were also present.

The manifesto promised free cervical cancer vaccines for girls aged 9 to 16 and and two optional leave days for women employees during menstruation.

The manifesto, titled 'Maharashtranama', also assured a caste-based census, establishment of a separate department for the empowerment of self-help groups, formation of a dedicated ministry for child welfare, and six cooking gas cylinders every year at 500 each to women.

The MVA pledged to establish a 'Nirbhay Maharashtra' policy and enforce the Shakti law to enhance safety for women and children. Additionally, it promised to provide 1 lakh to every girl upon reaching the age of 18. Also Read | BJPs Amit Shah unveils Sankalp Patra for Maharashtra Election; promises farm loan waivers, 2,100 monthly for women

Replying to questions on populist schemes announced by the MVA after criticising the ruling Mahayuti for the same, Kharge said, ''Give us government and we will give you the budget.''
Maharashtra Elections: Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) manifesto for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections in Mumbai, focusing on ambitious development goals and financial support for various demographics.

Maharashtra Elections: Key Promises in BJP's Sankalp Patra The BJPs 'Sankalp Patra' promises a comprehensive plan aimed at promoting growth and addressing citizens' needs, with a strong emphasis on rural development, employment generation, and financial assistance:

- Farm Loan Waivers: Pledges to alleviate the debt burden of farmers through loan waivers.

- Monthly Allowances for Women: Financial support of 2,100 per month for women.

- Pension Increase for Seniors: Enhancement of monthly pensions for senior citizens from 1,500 to 2,100.

- Anganwadi Worker Benefits: Salaries of 15,000 per month and insurance coverage for Anganwadi workers.

- Fertilizer GST Refunds: Farmers to receive GST refunds on fertilizers to ease their financial burden.

Vision for Maharashtras Future The BJP plans to implement 'Vision Maharashtra @2028' within 100 days of assuming power, targeting the state to become a $1 trillion economy. Key proposals include:

- Development of AI and Aerospace Hubs: Plans to develop Nagpur, Pune, and Nashik as centres for artificial intelligence and aerospace industries.

- Expansion of the Lakhpati Didi Scheme: The scheme, currently benefiting 11 lakh women, aims to reach 50 lakh women by 2027, promoting financial empowerment.

- Skill Census: A comprehensive assessment of job market demands and workforce skills to create employment opportunities.

- Interest-Free Industrial Loans: Zero-interest loans up to 25 lakh to encourage industrial growth and entrepreneurship.

Economic Stability and Market Measures Amit Shah highlighted the manifesto's commitment to economic stability and food security. Promises include measures for:

- Price Stabilisation: Market interventions to maintain stable prices for essential commodities.

- Bavantar Yojna: Compensation for farmers if their crops are sold below the Minimum Support Price (MSP), safeguarding agricultural profits.

Amit Shahs Remarks Amit Shah noted that the manifesto reflects the aspirations of the people of Maharashtra. He stated, BJPs Sankalp Patra manifesto for November 20 Maharashtra assembly polls reflects aspirations of people of the state. Maha Vikas Aghadi's schemes are formed in the greed of power; it is appeasement and an insult to ideologies.

He praised Maharashtra's historical significance, mentioning, Maharashtra has been the leading state in many areas across different eras... We talked farmers', poor's welfare, there are schemes proposed for women empowerment.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar reiterated the Mahayuti governments achievements, claiming significant GSDP growth under their leadership. Mungantiwar described the manifesto as "dedicated to the people of Maharashtra."

Maharashtra Election: Congress Manifesto The Congress has also outlined its key promises in its manifesto released on November 6. Highlights include:

- Financial Support for Women: 3,000 per month for women and free bus travel under the Mahalakshmi Yojana.

- Farmer Loan Waivers: Up to 3 lakh with a 50,000 incentive for regular repayment.

Also Read | Maharashtra Elections: Mumbai employees to be granted paid leave on November 20

- Caste-wise Census and Reservation Policies: Promises a caste census and the removal of the 50% reservation limit.

- Youth Support: Health insurance up to 25 lakh and a monthly assistance of up to 4,000 for unemployed youth.
With the Jharkhand Assembly Elections drawing near, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to host a 'historic' 3 km roadshow in Ranchi on Sunday, November 10. The 5-hour-long roadshow will cover four assembly constituencies  Ranchi, Hatia, Kanke and Khijri, and is expected to be attended by senior BJP leaders.

The roadshow will begin from Ratur Road in Ranchi at 4pm. Multiple cultural programs would take place, and around two lakh people are expected to show up, said Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth.

Assam CM and Jharkhand BJP co-in-charge, Himanta Biswa Sarma said the roadshow is expected to be a 'historic' one. PM Modi will hold a historic 3 km roadshow in Ranchi, where a large number of people are expected to show up. It will be a historic moment, Sarma told ANI.

PM Modi will likely hold another roadshow in Jharkhand's Godda on November 13.

Modi's latest rally scheduled for today comes after his rallies in Chaibasa and Garhwa, which were hosted on November 5  a day after Home Minister Amit Shah released the BJP's manifesto for Jharkhand assembly polls.

During his Chaibasa rally, PM Modi accused the Congress, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) of vote-bank politics and of jeopardizing the identity of Jharkhand.

Jharkhand Assembly Elections The 81-member Jharkhand Assembly will go to polls in two phases on November 13 and 20, the results for which would be declared on November 23.

This year, a total of 2.6 crore voters are eligible to cast their votes, including 1.31 crore male voters, 1.29 crore female voters, 11.84 lakh first-time voters, and 66.84 lakh young voters.
Wall Streets verdict is clear: A second Trump presidency is likely to deliver a blow to an export-dependent European Union that is struggling with sclerotic economic growth and ever-multiplying political crises. Whether it will finally spark some change is the question for patient investors.

Since Wednesday, the day after the election, the S&P 500 has gained 3.7%. Meanwhile, the Euro Stoxx 50 and the FTSE 100 are down. Among those to shed the most market value have been clean-energy firms such as Vestas, carmakers such as BMW, consumer-goods companies such as Nestle and Unilever and sellers of pharmaceuticals such as Roche. They all sell a lot to the U.S.

The U.S. is the top goods-export market for the European Union, and for Germany, with pharmaceuticals, machinery and vehicles topping the export list.

During the campaign, President-elect Donald Trump floated a 60% tariff on Chinese imports and a 10%-to-20% levy across the board. The think tank German Economic Institute estimates that such a measure could make the German economy between 1.2% and 1.4% smaller than it would have been by 2028.

The core of the European Unions export machine has been plunged into difficulties because of the end of cheap Russian energy, delays in joining the electric-vehicle revolution and an overreliance on selling to China.

Volkswagen last week announced the closing of at least three plants in Germany. According to FactSet, American customers make up 18% of its sales, about the same as the German market.

I want German car companies to become American car companies," Trump said last month while holding a rally in Savannah, Ga. If you dont make your product here, then you will have to pay a tariff, a very substantial tariff," he added.

On Wednesday, Oliver Zipse, chairman of German carmaker BMW, underscored that the company has a plant in Greer, S.C.

The most demanded vehicles in the United States, we produce there," he told analysts Wednesday in a conference call. So there is some natural cover against possible tariffs."

Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz have factories in Chattanooga, Tenn., and Vance, Ala., respectively. Manufacturers Airbus, Siemens and BASF also service the U.S. market from within, as do Nestle and Unilever.

Much depends on details. In early 2021, Airbuss assembly line in Mobile, Ala., was forced to pay tariffs for its shipments of fuselage, wing and tail components from France and Germany, as part of a World Trade Organization dispute. An agreement was quickly reached to suspend them.

Regardless, building up capacity to service all types of American-based demand would be hard. The Mobile plant makes A220 and A320 jets, but A330 and A350 wide-bodies are assembled in France. Volkswagen uses Chattanooga for the Atlas SUV, the Passat sedan and the electric ID.4, but the bestselling Tiguan and Jetta are built in Mexico. Roughly a quarter of U.S. imported cars originate there, and Trump has suggested that a 200% tariff could be slapped on them.

And when it comes to high-performance models, most EU firms still make them domestically and ship them over. Exports to the U.S. amounted to about 800,000 cars in 2023.

To be sure, EU leaders have struck a conciliatory tone with Trump this week, suggesting that a more amicable endgame such as the 2018 trade deal between the U.S., Canada and Mexico is possible.

Another risk is that China would send even more cheap goods to Europe if the U.S. ratchets up its trade war with Beijing. Yes, recent experience shows that China often just reroutes exports through third countriesand, as of recently, faces higher tariffs for electric vehicles in the EU anywaybut even small shifts could have big effects.

For a decade and a half, the 27-nation bloc has limped along, fostering just enough political change to avoid a painful breakup during the debt crisis of the 2010s and the 2020 pandemic, but never enough to truly invigorate its economy. Attempts by Frances Emmanuel Macron and Germanys Olaf Scholz to change course have ended in paralysis. Scholzs three-party government collapsed this week, after years that saw the coalitions pro-austerity member blocking efforts to spur domestic industry with public spending.

Yet the first Trump presidency did galvanize some early support for a cohesive industrial strategy in Europe. The long-term bull case for European equities is that Trump 2.0 will be a catalyst for further transformation. European Central Bank President Mario Draghi published a report in September urging less red tape, state aid to key sectors and, where appropriate, harsher tariffs, all of which has buy-in from officials in Brussels.

On a small scale, the impulse toward a European industrial policy is already playing out. European defense contractors such as BAE Systems, Rheinmetall and Thales have seen their shares jump on the expectation that less American military involvement in Europe will force governments there to rely on their own capabilities. By 2030, the EU wants members to direct 50% or more of their procurement budgets toward European contractors.

Elsewhere, substituting foreign markets for domestic consumers will prove much harder, though providing advantages to buyers of electric vehicles has proved extremely effective in Norway. They now outnumber cars that run on gasoline.

Caught between the U.S. and China, Europes economic strategy is soon to face its biggest challenge since the eurozone crisis. Investors are right to be wary.

Write to Jon Sindreu at jon.sindreu@wsj.com
Thousands of companies from across the world have gathered at the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, demonstrating their latest products and technologies while sharing their visions for investing in the future. #GLOBALink




















A billion years ago, as one tectonic plate ripped apart from another, two chambers of magma were sealed off beneath what would later become Greenland. As thousands of years passed, the magma cooled, each layer crystallising under rarefied conditions. Today the Ilimaussaq intrusion is a giant fold of rock beneath Gardar, in south-west Greenland. By a stroke of luck, it is home to 30 of the worlds most desired raw materials.

There are, in total, 50 critical minerals", according to a list maintained by the American government. At present, these are mostly supplied by China. Without them a modern economy and armed forces would be crippled. Therefore Greenlands supplies are of extraordinary importance. Add in deposits in the east, and the territory has known reserves of 43 of the 50 minerals. Molybdenum strengthens steel for offshore wind farms. Terbium is a component of magnets in tanks. Copper goes in everything from electrical wiring to chips for artificial intelligence.

Greenlands minerals have attracted firms backed by the likes of Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, and Americas Department of Defence. When he was president, Donald Trump suggested that America purchase the island. For the moment, it is part of Denmark. Its 56,000 people may be sitting on riches. On a per-person basis, they may even face historys greatest resource rush. Yet, so far north, with so few people, a boom is not guaranteed.

Things often go sour in resource-rich economies, a fate known as the resource curse". Greenland is a long way from the most extreme examples, such as countries ravaged by gem-trading warlords. It will, though, struggle to avoid the less violent version of the curse, in which sparse populations, flush with state handouts, fail to remain productive. In the Gulf, few people have reason to venture into the private sector. With oil revenues now set to decline, that is a problem for the regions policymakers.

Although extraction in Greenland is still at an early stage, things are accelerating. Firms are now drilling at 170 sites, up from 12 a decade ago. Such exploration is one of the oldest and riskiest forms of economic speculation; returns do not just rely on what is underground, but also on market prices holding up for long enough to get it out. KoBold Metals, financed by Bill Gates, Microsofts founder, and Mr Bezos, is using artificial intelligence to find sites to drill, and has spent $15m developing Disko Nuussuaq, a deposit of cobalt and copper. Other investors say they have spent over $100m and sent hundred-strong workforces to camp in sub-zero temperatures. One reports building a road on a glacier.

For Greenland to get rich off resources, it needs firms to open commercial mines. Lots of exploration comes to nothing, and so brings in little revenue for the government. It is exploitation that brings tax windfalls and foreign investment. But there is, at present, just one active mine. And this is where the problems begin.

Owing to handouts from Denmark, Greenland is well-off. GDP per person sits at $57,000, above the EU average. At the same time, the government wants independence, and thus to prove that it can stand alone, which will require mining. The difficulty is persuading locals to get involved: the labour market is ultra-tight, with just 0.2% of the workforce unemployed. We need Greenlanders cooking, doing the logistics," says an official at an industry party in Iceland. Where from?" shoots back an investor.

The Gulfs solution was to import vast amounts of foreign labour. Greenlands population is so small that even tiny amounts of immigration represent enormous demographic shifts, which worries policymakers. One government projection suggests that the population could double by 2030. Each mine will need roughly 300 experienced foreign miners, according to an official; a single project would increase the local population by 0.5%.

The government is effective, inspired by its desire for independence, but overstretched. There are just 16 staff in the planning ministry to oversee hundreds of licences and environmental reports. Wannabe investors have been left waiting for years. Greenland did not wrestle control of its underground resources from Denmark until 2009. As part of the deal, royalties from exploitation are offset by reductions in its handout, which limits the incentive to speed up extraction. Although proceeds could in time far exceed that benchmark, for the next couple of decades the government will, in effect, have to hand over whatever it makes.

Cold climate

On top of all this, Greenlands population is 88% Inuit, an indigenous group that is fiercely protective of the right to extract resources. Unfortunately, no domestic firm has the expertise or capital required. In other countries it is standard practice for governments to give miners tax breaks until their initial investment is recouped. But in 2021 Siumut, a party that had been in power for all but four years of the previous four decades, lost an election over such preferential treatment for a Chinese firm that owned a stake in a mine in Gardar. Lots of locals would prefer the government to court investors in fishing and tourism, which could turn a quicker profit.

The final stages of Saudi Arabias bonanza also worries policymakers. Only the arrival of foreign labour allowed the government to plunder resources. Few Saudis actually wanted to start companies; most preferred to take less taxing jobs in the civil service or to just get by on state handouts. The countrys productivity plummeted. Today hundreds of billions of dollars are being spent fixing these problems, courting foreign investment, supporting domestic entrepreneurs and pushing local firms to cut back on their employment of expats. It is far better to try to get the right jobs to Greenland now than reverse-engineer an economy [like that]," says an official. Exactly how policymakers plan to do this is not clear. In the meantime, investors are becoming impatient.

Clarification (November 9th): This article has been amended to note that a Chinese firm owns a stake in Kvanefjeld, which is run by an Australian company.
One of the more unusual experiences on offer in Azerbaijan is the opportunity to wallow in a bath of warm crude oil. The treatment, if you can call it that, is billed as having mystic healing properties, curing aches and pains and banishing skin problems.

Fossil fuels are key to this eastern Caucasian country, which shares borders with Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Iran. Azerbaijans economy is one of the most dependent on oil and gas, which make up nearly 60% of its income, according to the United Nations. Azerbaijans president, Ilham Aliyev, once referred to the countrys reserves as a gift from God" with the capital Baku itself sitting on an oil field.

All of which makes hosting the biggest climate conference in the world seriously strange. Welcome to COP29.

Global climate leaders will head to Baku for the U.N. Conference of the Parties, known as COPa two-week summit starting Monday, during which global leaders hash out methods to solve climate change. The event this year has been billed as the finance COP, with the focus on how to find the money for the transition away from fossil fuels and limit global warming.

The COP president, Mukhtar Babayev, is a veteran of the countrys state oil company SOCAR. But the summits organizers say Azerbaijans link to fossil fuels should not be a cause for concern.

Our approach and the starting point is that we are all together on this effort, were committed to contribute to global climate action and this was the rationale behind our pitch to host COP29," said Samir Bejanov, deputy lead negotiator for COP29.

We are [an] oil-and-gas producer, thats true," said Bejanov. Were not shying away from our history, but at the same time, if you look at what we are doing in terms of renewables, Azerbaijan has plans to invest billions in renewable projects."

Critics note that the country is looking to increase its exports of natural gas, including more shipments to Europe. Bejanov said Russias invasion of Ukraine and rising European demand justified added investment in the sector.

It isnt the first time a fossil-fuel-producing nation has hosted COP. Last years event took place in the United Arab Emirates, and next years is scheduled to be held in Brazil, the newest member of the oil-producing cartel, OPEC.

It is clear that Azerbaijans plans to keep increasing fossil-fuel production are not compatible with the commitment it has made to lead by example by submitting an NDC [Nationally Determined Contribution] aligned with the 1.5 degrees Celsius temperature limit, alongside its fellow COP Troika members U.A.E. and Brazil," said Shady Khalil, global policy senior strategist at Oil Change International clean-energy research and advocacy group.

Khalil added that Azerbaijan, Brazil and the U.A.E. are planning to increase oil-and-gas production by 32% by 2035. These arent the actions of credible climate leaders," Khalil added.

The conference comes after the U.N. Environment Programme warned that the Paris target of limiting global warming by 1.5 degrees Celsius this century would be dead within a few years" if only current policies to limit global warming remain in place. It added that temperatures would likely move 3.1 degrees higher at current spending levels by 2100.

The effects of climate change are already starting to become more pronounced globally. Flooding in Spain a week before the conference killed hundreds, while wildfires, droughts and storms are becoming more frequent.

One of the key discussions being addressed at the COP also will be NDCsthe outline of countries individual plans to address climate change and stay aligned with the 1.5 degrees target. The deadline for submission for those is in February, though the expectation is that some countries including Azerbaijan will submit their proposals during the summit.

Attendance this year is likely to be much lower than last year, with a number of companies choosing to send smaller delegations or completely skip the conference in part because of its location. More than 80,000 attended in Dubai, with less than half that figure expected in Baku, the U.N. said.

The U.S. delegation is expected to be led by John Podesta, senior adviser to President Biden for international climate policy. However, President-elect Donald Trump has said that he would pull the U.S. out of the Paris agreement, something he did during his first presidency, clouding much of U.S. climate policy going into the conference.

Most major banks including JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs are choosing not to send their senior executives, despite the summit being dedicated to energy-transition finance. However, the oil-and-gas industry is expected to be well represented. Exxon Mobils chief executive is expected to attend while British oil giant BP, which has been closely tied with Azerbaijans fortunes since the fall of the Soviet Union and has a major presence in the country, is also expected to show its backing for the host nation.

Meanwhile, many are expecting senior Russian officials and business leaders to attend, given Azerbaijans close links with Russia, including those who have been sanctioned by the U.S. and the European Union. Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Baku in the summer.

Human-rights groups say that Azerbaijan aims to boost its international standing and give legitimacy to the countrys government by hosting the summit. It hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012 and now has a regular spot on the Formula One calendar. The president has been in power in the notional democracy since 2003, preceded by his father whose name was given to Bakus main airport.

In the past year, more than a dozen journalists have been arrested in the country, according to human-rights charities. The European Parliament has denounced the countrys treatment of activists and opposition leaders.

In 2023, Azerbaijan launched an invasion of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which borders Armenia and is disputed between the two countries. It expelled some 100,000 ethnic Armenians from the region, and took dozens of prisoners during the process. BP has plans to build a solar project in the disputed region.

Azerbaijan is using COP to green wash its reputation internationally to continue to produce oil and gas for decades to come and act as a disrupter for international politics," said Patrick Galey, senior investigator at Global Witness.

Despite the very strong ties to fossil fuels and the human-rights concerns, the Azeris are eager to tout their countrys green credentials. It is aiming to have 30% of its power come from renewable sources by 2030, building out wind farms and solar parks.

We have plans to not only invest in renewables and clean technology within the country, we also have plans to export that in the near future and we have plans to export five gigawatts of clean electricity to the European market. So its not just Azerbaijan," said Bejanov, the COP29 deputy lead negotiator.

All countries have different starting points on the investment required to decarbonize the existing system, to build a renewable system of the future. And also ensure that the transition is just and it will differ according to the national circumstances," he added.

Write to Yusuf Khan at yusuf.khan@wsj.com

View Full Image Welcome to Baku, a City Built on Oil Hosting the Worlds Climate Conference
Ryu Seong-hyeon doesnt need to imagine what the thousands of North Korean soldiers deployed to the Russian front lines might now be thinking. Not long ago, he was one of them.

Ryu darted across the Korean Demilitarized Zone to freedom in 2019a rare soldier defection. He had a profile that mirrors many of the freshly dispatched troops today: young, underfed and blind to the outside world. Before he chose to flee, Ryu remembers moving bricks at construction sites and shivering outside as he stood guard. He ate mushy rice mixed with corn. Meat was a holiday treat.

Back then, if ordered to fight with the Russians, the now 28-year-old Ryu would have given a resolute answer: Thank you." His rationale: Wouldnt the meals be better at least?"

The North Korean fighters in Russia have been dismissed as mercenaries, cannon fodder and second-rate. But what gets overlooked, former North Korean soldiers and other military experts argue, is how ready to die many of these troops areand how eager they might be to escape grim conditions back home.

It is unlikely the roughly 10,000 North Korean troops in the Kursk region, where Russia is trying to repel a Ukrainian incursion, will turn the tide of the bruising 2-year war. But they provide Russian President Vladimir Putin with much-needed manpower and pose new threats on the deadlocked front lines. One of the biggest mysteries is the level of resolve these North Korean troops will bring to a battle far from home and for an unfamiliar cause.

Ukrainian officials said on Tuesday some North Korean soldiers had already engaged in combat on a small scale near the front lines. A day later, South Korea assessed the fresh arrivals had not yet engaged in full-fledged combat. The U.S. has said it expects North Koreans to begin fighting within days.

Nearly all of the troops sent to Russiawho include special-forces fighterswould have a similar set of motivations, the North Korean ex-soldiers say. They have been indoctrinated from a young age to sacrifice everything for the supreme leader. Children get urged in their school textbooks to prove their regime loyalty by volunteering to be the targets of hypothetical artillery strikes.

The troops deployment would be seen as the opportunity of a lifetime to bring back cash and glory to the Kim Jong Un regime. Those who die get valorized; those who survive come back heroes.

North Korean soldiers are convinced that they should do anything for Kim," Ryu said.

Without an inch of hesitation

Even North Koreas top troops lack modern equipment and resources, putting them at a disadvantage relative to special forces trained in the U.S., Europe or South Korea, said David Maxwell, a retired U.S. Army Special Forces colonel with extensive experience in Asia. Many of North Koreas soldiers, even special forces, spend the bulk of their time on agricultural or construction work, he added.

North Korean special-operation forces training produces highly disciplined soldiers with intense loyalty, often willing to undertake extreme risks with limited equipment," Maxwell said.

The Russians and Ukrainians have armed forces in the hundreds of thousands, with both sides facing attrition and struggles replenishing their ranks. Russia can recruit more than 30,000 fresh troops a month, though it often loses as many killed or wounded in Ukraine, according to Western estimates. Ukraine is suffering lower rates of casualties, though precise figures arent clear.

What makes North Koreas initial deployment a concern is its ability to send more. North Korea has one of the worlds largest standing armies, at roughly 1.2 million, with several million more in reserves, according to South Korean estimates. The Kim regime fields the worlds largest special-forces unit at around 200,000, military experts say.

Soldiers sent to Russia are expected to be paid a monthly wage of around $2,000, much of which will go to the regime, South Korean officials say. Still, that is a staggering sum where most of the country lives on monthly earnings of a few dollars.

For decades, North Korea has struggled to supply enough food for its people due to international isolation and economic mismanagement, exacerbated by natural disasters. Around 45% of North Koreas population of 26 million is undernourished, according to a World Food Program report. Even the military, which typically receives special privileges, experiences chronic food shortages.

The special forces hold a distinct spot atop the North Korean military pecking order. Theyre better fed than other units, with more intense training in infiltration, infrastructure destruction and assassination. State television has aired footage that highlights the vaudevillian aspects of their training: Troops break lightbulbs with their bare hands and shirtless fighters get clubbed with wooden sticks. Others bend metal rods.

In September, Kim oversaw special-forces scouting and raid drills featuring the countrys invincible revolutionary armed forces," as state media called them. Each North Korean combatant, the report claimed, was the equivalent of 100 enemy soldiers. Kims approval filled the troops, whose cheers roared like thunder, with boundless emotion, joy, great pride and self-esteem."

Lee Hyun-seung once served in North Koreas elite Storm Corps" special-forces unit before he fled roughly a decade ago. On top of the military drills, Lee, who is now 39, recalled attending daily ideological training sessions memorizing Kims commands and repeating their willingness to die for the supreme leadera practice that no doubt continues for those dispatched to Russia.

They may be sacrificed without making much impact in the war," Lee said. But they wouldnt dare cast doubt on the leaders orders to go to Russia."

A worthwhile risk

North Korea often rolls out flashy military hardware at garish parades, from new tanks to artillery rockets and drones. But that advanced gear is likely not integrated at the troop level. The country lacks the funds to properly supply its military with such high-price equipment.

The recent North Korean arrivals were taught around 100 basic military terms in Russianincluding fire" and in position"though they appeared to have struggled with communication, South Koreas spy agency told lawmakers late last month.

Given the focus on boosting Pyongyangs nuclear arsenal, the training or food situation for soldiers hasnt dramatically changed since Kim took power in December 2011, said Bang Jong-kwan, a former South Korean army major general. That limits their potential role in Russia to being foot soldiers, due to the language barrier and unfamiliarity with the terrain, he said.

They will experience high casualties because its highly unlikely that Russia provides advanced equipment or intel," Bang said.

Nonetheless, many North Korean soldiers would see the risks as worthwhile. Those who have heard of the North Korean pilots who flew in combat against U.S. aircraft during the Vietnam War know that an overseas deployment will elevate a soldiers status, said Sim Ju-il, who was a North Korean military officer for 30 years before escaping to South Korea in 1998.

The pilots who returned from Vietnam were greeted as heroes and promoted to senior officer ranks, the 74-year-old Sim recalled. Even the wives of the pilots who died on the battlefield were given elevated Workers Party status that grants them access to prestigious jobs.

It is that blind devotion to the Kim regime that Sim hopes to breakby going to the Ukrainian front lines. He said there are roughly 300 or so other former North Korean military members also willing to go. If deployed to the front lines, they hope to create psychological disturbance" by sending antiregime leaflets and creating broadcasts to persuade the North Korean soldiers to surrender or defect, he said.

I want them to know they have been lied to," Sim said. There is no need to die because of their loyalty."

Write to Dasl Yoon at dasl.yoon@wsj.com

View Full Image Why North Korean Soldiers Are Prepared to Die in Russia

View Full Image Why North Korean Soldiers Are Prepared to Die in Russia

View Full Image Why North Korean Soldiers Are Prepared to Die in Russia
When Mr Beast, the world's biggest YouTuber with 329 million subscribers, and American wrestler and influencer Logan Paul, who has 23.6 million YouTube subscribers, landed at Mumbai's Jio World Drive on Sunday to launch their brands, a large crowd greeted them. Soon, as the number of people swell and fans jostled to catch a glimpse of their favourite internet celebrities, the organizers were forced to shut the store and end the event earlier than planned.

Mr Beast, whose real name is James Stephen Donaldson aka Jimmy, launched his chocolate brand Feastables priced at 499 per 60 grams and 349 for 35 grams. Paul, in collaboration with two other creators, launched his energy drink brand Prime Hydration, which will sell at 399.

Notwithstanding the following the two have in India, analysts do not expect the two brands to bring any real competition as the country is a tough market to crack for even larger fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) makers. The products are costlier than rival Indian brands, and most local consumers usually do not regularly consume items available at such price points.

The Indian chocolate market is sizeable and can easily absorb a few new brands, so I don't think the launch would disturb the brands already operating in this segment, said Sachin Bobade, an analyst from Daulat Capital said. However, at this price point, in the premium category, dark chocolates are more preferred, and as Mr Beast's Feastables are milk chocolates, I am unsure how they will flare out in the consumer discretionary category.

To be sure, Feastables does an annual revenue of $100 million, Donaldson had told Fortune in February. It sold 1 million bars in the first 72 hours of its launch in the US in 2022.

Also read | Marico and Britannia cheer rural growth as FMCG cos pin hopes on monsoon

Mr Beast, in a collaboration video with Indias biggest YouTuber CarryMinati, had announced that if it crossed 10 million views, he would come to India. When the video went past 8.5 million views, Donaldson realized his massive popularity in the country and launched his brand in India, along with Pauls Prime.

The price points at which Feastables and Prime enter the Indian market are pretty high for average consumers, but we cannot discount the popularity of these YouTubers, said Mohsin Mansoori, the store manager of Freshpik at Jio World Drive, where the Youtubers launched the products. Even though they are expensive, we are anticipating the first lot to get sold very quickly."

The first batch contains 1,00,000 units, currently being imported into India by Globe Grocer Food Private Ltd.

But even Mansoori said sustaining the initial success of these creator-led brands can be an issue at this price point as they are one-time buy products, not affordable for average Indian consumers on a regular basis.

Logan Paul worked on the brand and its latest launches with two Darren Jason Watkins Jr., known as IShowSpeed, who has 33.1 million YouTube subscribers; and JJ Olatunji, known as KSI, who has 16.4 million subscribers.

All eight flavours of Prime, including the latest one launched in collaboration with Ishowspeed, will be sold at a lower price of 399. Previously, Prime was imported and sold at a markup price at Reliance Freshpik at 900 and at 600 in other local superstores. Still, its higher that other energy drink brands including Gatorade, Redbull and Sting available in the Indian market.

Also Prime Hydration, which once sold at $1500 per can, is available in clearance at 31 pence, according to a report by Fortune. In 2024s first quarter, U.K. sales for Prime fell 50% on-year, raking in 12.8 million British pounds compared with 26.8 million a year earlier, according to The Grocer, which cited data from retail and consumer platform NielsenIQ. X. In India, Prime looks to capture the buzz and excitement.

Also read | As raw material prices inch up, FMCG firms brace for margin pressure

Analysts covering the FMCG sector said both Feastables and Prime lack expertise in the Indian market.

Moreover, the best time to launch it would have been pre-Diwali, when most chocolates and sweets are sold during the gifting season. I feel they just missed that opportunity by a couple of weeks, Bobade of Daulat Capital said.

However, the multi-billion-dollar creator-led brands' launch in India serves as an inspiration for Indian influencers to start their own labels. The creator economy in India, expected by Ficci-EY to swell to 34 billion by 2026 from 19 billion in 2023, can see many creator-led startups coming up.

KSI and Logan Pauls Prime Hydration is a testament to the power of creator-led businesses showing that when they leverage their influence to build authentic brands, they resonate deeply with their audience and disrupt traditional markets, said Meet Gala, who handles creator acquisitions and co-founded SuperClan, an agency that helps influencers set up businesses.

At SuperClan, weve seen how creator-relevant products--such as stationery from Peach by Vishnu, travel-friendly cargos from Awra and signed photocards from in the AM--drive success, Gala said. Building their own brands not only boosts immediate popularity but also ensures long-term relevance. Leveraging relevance at its peak could redefine the Indian creator economy.
Indias infrastructure planning is set to get more extensive with the government preparing to include the militarys requirement to ensure civilian projects can also be made available to the armed forces if necessary.

The initiativeplanned under Prime Minister Gati Shakti, also known as the National Master Plan for Multi-modal Connectivitywill focus on building dual-use projects across all segments of infrastructure such as roads, ports, power and airports, two officials told Mint.

The planning of infrastructure along with the ministry of defence will become part of the process now, which means their requirements will be taken into account for every project," said a senior government official. Increasingly, more and more projects will be dual-use infrastructure."

The official, who did not want to be identified, added that India may see more civilian airports be built so they can also to be used for the military if needed.

Also read | How India's defence sector is going all guns blazing

India has seen partial success in building dual-use infrastructure in the roads sector, with a few expressways having stretches that can be used by the Air Force if needed. But India remains much behind its neighbours in building such dual-use infrastructure.

Pakistan has roads that can be used for landing fighter jets. And China is building military-ready infrastructure in other countries where it is funding and building infrastructurea plan it reportedly started planning in 2015, according to reports.

We will have a standard operating procedure for airports that are civil airports but can be used by the military when needed," said the official quoted above. Also, ports will be built in a mannerlike a deeper portto ensure navy can use them freely for its war ships, aircraft carriers, submarines when needed".

The roads and shipping, railways and commerce ministries did not immediately reply to emailed queries.

The China factor

In July 2023, AidData, a US-based international development research lab, identified eight ports outside China where Beijing was likely to establish naval bases in five years. Its report also mentioned that China was building projects worth an estimated $29.9 billion, funding the development or expansion of 78 ports in 46 countries.

China is also building dual-use villages alongside borders with India, according to the report.

Indias plan to develop dual-use infrastructure would account for the additional cost of construction through government budgetary support or an extended period of concession that would allow a developer to recover its investments incrementally.

The proposed identification and framework creation can drive sectoral development, enhancing the quality, reliability, and efficient utilization of our critical assets and infrastructure," said Shailesh Agarwal, partnerrisk consulting, EY India.

Also read | India's smaller towns to get a big lift: 29 new airports

Such an approach can indeed work at scale. But to ensure its efficacy, we must craft these policies with a balanced emphasis on security, flexibility, and agility. Continuous monitoring and iterative enhancements will be essential to sustain the effective dual-use of critical infrastructure," he added.

By pooling resources from both civil and defense sectors, India stands poised to develop world-class infrastructure and optimize resource utilizationmarking a transformative step forward for the nation."

Advantage: private developers

The governments capital expenditure budget of 11.11 trillion for 2024-25 is expected to be utilised for such infrastructure development.

India intends to build over 60,000 km of access-controlled highways with an investment of over 20 trillion in the next decade-and-half. It is also building two mega ports and transhipment hubs at Vadhavan in Maharashtra and Galatea Bay in Great Nicobar. Also, six major ports are proposed to be scaled up the status of mega ports.

Besides, the government has also proposed the development of large inland waterways and coastal shipping terminals.

Indian Railways also proposes to add capacity both for the movement of passengers and cargo. The Railways already has a system for building certain projects keeping in mind defence use.

Indian airports are also being planned in smaller towns and cities while existing infrastructure is being modernised. Several of the new projects would be developed for dual-use, said the government officials.

Also read | Why Indias monster highway building plan is in the slow lane

Mapping dual-use infrastructure to nationwide passenger and cargo movements will ensure optimal asset utilisation, enhance project viability, and deliver higher throughput with lesser capex. There are large privately owned assets in the port, rail, and road sectors that will benefit from enhanced traffic flows on existing systems with dual-use methodology," said Davinder Sandhu, co-founder and chairman, Primus Partners Project Pvt. Ltd, a business consultancy.

The government is also planning to selectively allow the private sector to leverage the Gati Shakti platform," he said. Since this system is central to dual-use planning, the advantage of coordinated asset development is an added plus for private developers."

Also read | India is charting course for maritime dominance with 12-point push
Bengaluru: Land acquisitions and joint development agreements (JDAs) are gaining momentum across the country's top economic centres, as developers aim to ride a booming property market in the world's fifth-largest economy.

The post-pandemic rebound in demand for residential properties, after a seven-year lull, has prompted developers to acquire land parcels. Well-funded developers are making outright land purchases, while those who follow an asset-light strategy are inking JDAs to enter new property markets and expand.

Outright land deals and JDAs are the two most prevalent routes through which developers create a project pipeline. In JDAs, a developer typically enters into a revenue or area-sharing deal with the seller or landowner.

Land transactions are largely dependent on the sales momentum in the sector. In 2023-24, residential sales jumped to 572,191 units in the top eight property markets compared to 467,298 units in FY23, according to Liases Foras, a research firm. This has propelled developers to do more land deals to launch projects. Around 126,095 units were sold in the April-June period this financial year in the top eight markets. In comparison, 81,845 units were sold in the corresponding quarter a year ago.

The top developers that had announced big business development plans for FY25 are going all out to close deals. On the land-buying front, Godrej Properties Ltd, which was the top-selling residential developer last year, has led with 10 land acquisitions so far in FY25, in Gurugram, Greater Noida, Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), Ahmedabad, and Indore.

Prestige Group has been actively closing land deals through outright deals, or entering JDAs. Most recently, it acquired 17.45 acres in Bengaluru's Whitefield area for 462 crore. The Bengaluru-based developer has acquired land worth over 5,000 crore in the last six quarters.

In the January-September period this year, land deal volumes surged 65% year-on-year to 1,700 acres, as per estimates by property advisory CBRE India. Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) led with 32% share in land deal activity.

Gurugram-based Signature Global plans to invest 1,500 crore to acquire land this year, as it looks to replenish its land bank and enter new markets such as Noida, founder and chairman Pradeep Aggarwal said.

The JDA route

Last week, a subisidary of Mahindra Lifespace Developers Ltd signed a JDA with warehousing and logistics firm GKW to develop the latter's 35-acre land parcel in suburban Mumbai's Bhandup.

JDAs constitute a lion's share in land deals across the country. In a city like Mumbai, where land is scarce and redevelopment projects are common, joint development is a logical choice. JDAs enhance IRRs (internal rate of returns) and minimize land-related risks," said Shobhit Agarwal, managing director and CEO, Anarock Capital.

Around 556 acres of JDAs were signed during the January-June period through collaborations between developers and landowners, according to property advisory JLL India.

Bengaluru-based Shriram Properties Ltd recently made its entry into the Pune market, through a JDA with a local developer for a 6-acre land parcel at Undri. The company has signed multiple such deals in the last couple of years to grow, while maintaining an asset-light approach.

We can grow fast while keeping the capital outlay low. The local developer partner can manage the approval process in a market that is new to us," said chairman and managing director M. Murali.

Land prices increased 20-30% over the last 2-3 years on account of higher demand, but seem to have stabilized now.

With the increase in prices, there are not many takers for expensive land parcels, Murali said.

However, many developers are combining outright buying and JDA for expansion.

For Ahmedabad-based Arvind SmartSpaces Ltd, a majority of its project portfolio has been expanded through JDAs. It has signed such deals in Ahmedabad and Bengaluru, and Surat, a new market for the company.

We have strong internal accruals, have a platform with HDFC Capital, and we are in the middle of a fundraise. So, outright land deals are also on our radar. Going forward, we look to source land through both outright (purchase) and JDAs. In FY25, we plan to do business development of 5,000 crore," said Kamal Singal, managing director and CEO, Arvind SmartSpaces.
Amid criticism over poor earnings by a delivery agent, Zomato has issued a clarification, denying claims made in a viral video in which a delivery boy said he earned only 300 on Diwali.

Meerut-based Zomato delivery agent Ritik Tomar had claimed that he worked for six hours on Diwali, delivered a total of eight orders and just 300 on Diwali day.

The video sparked a debate about the working conditions of delivery agents during festivals.

Zomato clarified that the said delivery boy worked for 6 hours on 30th October and he did not login on the day of Diwali.

In a post on social media platform x (formerly twitter), Zomato said: Recent articles around one of our delivery partners from Meerut earning 300 for working more than 6 hours on the day of Diwali were inaccurate and disturbing to us. Our delivery partners are at the heart of our service and we make sure we offer them with great earning opportunities to appreciate their hard-work and dedication, especially during festivals.

Here are the facts - The said delivery partner worked for 6hrs on 30th Oct (he did not login on the day of Diwali, as mentioned in the news articles). He delivered 10 orders and cumulatively earned 695. On the same day, a lot of delivery partners who devoted an average 10 hours in Meerut, cumulatively earned in the range of 1200 - 1300, the food delivery platform added.

Misreported figures and narratives can impact livelihood, motivation, and dignity of individuals working in these roles. We request everyone to avoid spreading misinformation, it also said.

Delivery agent's claims Tomar had shared a video on Instagram Reels, narrating he relentlessly worked on Diwali to delivered orders.
As the world warms, its getting harderand more expensiveto beat the heat. But architects, designers and homeowners are looking for ways to keep homes comfortable without air conditioning, or at least with less reliance on it.

For years, the idea of turning off the AC was unthinkable. Since home air conditioning became widespread in the U.S. in the 1960s, architects paid little heed to maximizing or minimizing a houses exposure to the sun or prevailing winds.

We could build the same house anywhere on Earth, taking the house completely out of context," says Graham Irwin, principal architect at California-based Essential Habitat Architecture.

His firm is one of many that design or renovate homes with todays focus on energy conservation in mindcreating so-called passive houses, which meet a series of energy-efficient standards to be more climate friendly. We normally see about an 80% reduction in energy use in the houses we work on," he says.

Throwing shade

One of the key features of a passive house is that it is heavily insulated and sealed up tight to keep warmth inside during the winter and cool air inside during the summer. Passive houses also incorporate passive cooling techniques, using architectural and natural methods to keep a house from heating up by blocking the sun and enhancing ventilation.

Take the home called the Midori Haus in Santa Cruz, Calif.a passive house that has no air conditioning. When Chie Kawahara and her husband decided to buy the rundown, nearly century-old bungalow in 2010, they had to undertake a major remodeling. They decided to make it as green as possible. Kawahara met Irwin of Essential Habitat at a passive-house conference and engaged him to help with the project.

They replaced the siding and blew massive amounts of insulation into the walls and under the roof to plug every gap. Old, leaky windows and doors gave way to modern ones, and a state-of-the-art ventilation system was installed to regulate the climate inside the house.

Although Santa Cruz has a relatively mild climate, summers are getting hotter, and the temperature can exceed 100 degrees at times. But, despite the lack of air conditioning, the temperature inside the house rarely exceeds 72 degrees, even during extreme temperature spikes.

Of course, not everyone can afford the kind of overhaul that was done to this house. But one element of the renovation, while still expensive, illustrates a simpler step that many homeowners could takeshading the windows.

In the Midori Haus, that involved adding two porches to the house with retractable awnings that can be pulled out to keep the sun from shining on the lower part of the house and into the windows beneath them. Covered porches were once far more widespread than they are today, especially in the hotter regions in the U.S.

But porches arent needed to shade a homes windows. Another tradition thats been completely lost in the U.S. is awnings and shutters" on windows throughout a house, says Stephen Atkinson, an architect in Palo Alto, Calif. It is such a common-sense thing to do: Protect all the glass surfaces from the sun because of the greenhouse effect"windows allowing sunlight in and trapping the heat it produces in the building.

Other traditional ways of shading are also making a comeback in home design. Recessed windows, a key feature of adobe houses in the Southwest and the Middle East, are being integrated in designs of some new passive houses. By setting the window back, the buildings facade casts shade onto the glass.

A more elaborate system of shading was designed by architect Lawrence Scarpa for the Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles, a mixed-use collection of lofts that integrate a variety of passive cooling features. The building has a double facade, with a shell of perforated anodized-aluminum panels that can be maneuvered to block out the sun or let more light in.

A cool breeze

Ventilation is also key. Atkinson, the Palo Alto architect, has tapped into his Louisiana heritage to design homes raised on stilts, a technique that not only prevents flooding but also allows cooling air to circulate beneath them. Corey Saft, professor of architecture and design at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, is working on a design that echoes the traditional Louisiana dogtrot house with its use of a covered breezeway running between two homes, providing shade and ventilation.

Fans can also help ventilate a home. Older buildings used to have whole-house fans under the roof that drew hot air out of the building while drawing in cooler air from outside through open windows. Most of those fans were sealed up when air conditioners became common, but they are starting to make a comeback. Architects are also building homes with higher ceilings and high vents or windows that can release hot air as it rises naturally.

Another cooling design element is a courtyard. With shade from trees and awnings, and the cooling impact of a fountain, a courtyard can become a source of cooler air that enters the home.

How a house is oriented also is important. In hot climates around the world, builders traditionally would take into account the direction of the sun, prevailing winds and any nearby bodies of water in positioning homes to minimize the warming effect of sunlight. If you orient a building properly, you can reduce the heat gain by 50%," Scarpa says.

Marco Petruzzi, chief executive of Dovetail Furniture, a wholesale home-furnishings company in the Los Angeles area, had a house designed and built by Scarpas firm, Brooks + Scarpa. The houses cooling features include solar panels that double as an overhanging roof for shade, and windows positioned high to release heat from the building.

There is no air conditioning in the living quarters downstairs, only in the bedrooms for those times when Petruzzi wants to close the windows to block out the noise of a nearby highway. When the windows are open, warm air escapes through them and is replaced by cool air drawn from downstairs by that airflow.

Scarpa says architects are increasingly looking toward the past to understand how homes were designed and built before air conditioning.

Many old houses were built well," he says. We cant solve everything with design, but can make it tolerable 90% of the year."

William Boston is a writer in Berlin. He can be reached at reports@wsj.com.
Bitcoin has surged to a record high of nearly $80,000 due to US President-elect Donald Trumps support of digital assets and the possibility of pro-crypto lawmakers in Congress.

The cryptocurrency soared 4.3 per cent to $79,771 on Sunday and reached nearly $79,000 at 2:05 pm in Singapore, according to a Bloomberg report. Smaller tokens such as Cardano and Dogecoin also climbed.

Donald Trump, during his election campaign, assured to put the US at the focus of the digital asset industry. This will include creating a Bitcoin stockpile and appointing related regulators.

On Tuesday, Trump secured a majority with a stronger margin than expected.

With the dust from Trumps victory still settling down, it was only a matter of time before a run-up of some sort occurred given the perception of Trump being pro-crypto, and thats what were seeing now, the report quoted Le Shi, Hong Kong managing director at market-making firm Auros.

In 2024, Bitcoin has increased by about 90 per cent, boosted by robust demand for US exchange-traded funds (ETF) and the key rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, the report added. This exceeds the returns from investments such as stocks and gold.

US exchange-traded funds On Thursday, the ETFs led by $35 billion iShares Bitcoin Trust of BlackRock Inc. recorded a daily net inflow of $1.4 billion, the report said. The iShares ETF trading volume rose to an all-time high a day earlier, reflecting on Trumps win and its impact on crypto.

Trumps support for crypto is in contrast to President Joe Bidens crackdown on digital assets. The digital asset industry is often claimed as a sector with fraud and misconduct by the Securities & Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler. In 2022, the Securities & Exchange Commission tightened the norms for digital assets mainly after the bankruptcy of Sam Bankman-Frieds fraudulent FTX exchange.

During the US election campaign, digital asset companies spent a lot of money promoting candidates who were favourable to the industry, the report stated.
Bitcoin surged to a new record high on Sunday, November 10, as traders bet that Donald Trump's return to the White House would benefit the cryptocurrency industry, reported the news agency AFP.

Also Read | Bitcoin soars near $80,000 as Donald Trump set to return to White House

The benchmark for all cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin, passed the $80,000 mark for the first time ever shortly after 12:00 pm (1200 GMT). The cryptocurrency has been on the rise since Trump's win last Tuesday as the President-elect over sentiments of the Trump administration easing digital currency regulations.

Bitcoin reached $75,000 on Wednesday, crossing its previous all-time high of $73,797.98 achieved back in March.

Trump & Crypto Donald Trump is seen as a pro-crypto candidate in his battle with Kamala Harris, the candidate for the Democratic party.

Trump referred to cryptocurrencies as a scam during his first presidency, but since then has changed his position and even launched his own platform for the unit, as per the agency report.

The Republican candidate has pledged to make the United States bitcoin and cryptocurrency capital of the world and to put Tesla founder and chief executive officer Elon Musk in charge of a wide-ranging audit of governmental waste, as per the report.

Trump announced in September that he, along with his sons and entrepreneurs, will launch a digital currency platform named World Liberty Financial. It has been losing sales launch earlier this month, with only a fraction of its tokens that went on the market finding a buyer, reported the agency.

Also Read | US congressional races where crypto is hoping for big payoffs

Cryptocurrencies have created headlines since their launch, from their extreme volatility to the collapse of several industry giants, foremost among them the FTX exchange platform.

Trump also became the first former president to use bitcoin in a purchase, as he bought burgers at a New York City restaurant, which was noted as a historic transaction.
BEIJING, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government delimited and announced the baselines of the territorial sea adjacent to Huangyan Dao, which is a natural step to lawfully strengthen marine management and is consistent with international law and common practices, a foreign ministry spokesperson said Sunday.

The spokesperson said that Huangyan Dao has always been China's territory. In accordance with international law, such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone, the Chinese government delimited and announced the baselines of the territorial sea adjacent to Huangyan Dao.

The so-called "Philippine Maritime Zones Act" aims to further solidify the illegal arbitral award on the South China Sea in the form of domestic legislation and illegally include 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 spokesperson added.

"This move severely violates China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea," the spokesperson said, adding that China firmly opposes it and will continue to do everything necessary in accordance with law to firmly defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. 
New Delhi: Experience taught me a few things. One is to listen to your gut, no matter how good something sounds on paper. The second is that youre generally better off sticking with what you know. And the third is that sometimes your best investments are the ones you dont make."

Donald Trump, The Art of the Deal

Some have called it the greatest political comeback of all time. Others labelled it as the worlds most extreme reality television show. Donald Trumps crushing victory in the US presidential elections has elicited a range of responses, from giddy delight to soul-crushing despair. But for global financial markets, the Trump trade only fuelled a furious rally, with Wall Street and other major stock indices vaulting to record highs in tandem with Bitcoin, while the US dollar strengthened, and bond yields jumped sharply in the immediate aftermath of the election results.

However, the risk-on sentiment petered out the very next session as the initial euphoria cooled off and markets began digesting what Trump 2.0 could mean for equities, treasuries and the global economy.

Dalal Street too witnessed a similar arcthe Nifty jumped 1.1% on 6 November but gave up all the gains the next day.

For a market as domestically driven as India, focusing on US elections seems an excessive exercise in futility. Watching the feverish discourse over MAGA (make America great again) and wokeism might be an endless source of dopamine hits, but are those issues really relevant to domestic investors?

The instinctive answer may be no, but as many veteran market watchers argue, the deeply interconnected nature of markets coupled with Trumps loose-cannon approach to policymaking means India cannot be immune to global upheavals, be it geopolitical or financial.

Not to mention the tectonic shifts underway in various sectors, which call for a more hands-on approach on the part of investors as Trumps second innings gets underway.

Acche din: IT edition

Trumps major economic policy promises in this election were a blanket increase in tariffs (with additional levies on Chinese imports), lower corporate and individual taxes, and tightening of immigration.

Theres often a wide gulf between campaign rhetoric and policy implementation. Even then, decoding Trumps policy statements is a job more suited to clairvoyants rather than macroeconomic forecasters.

Assessment of the impact of Trumps victory on Indian markets will be very premature at this stage. The markets are pre-empting at this point in time the probable policies to be adopted by the Trump administration based on the experience of his past tenure and the statements made during the election process," Ajit Banerjee, president and chief investment officer of Shriram Life Insurance, told Mint.

That said, some domestic sectors are expected to gain from Trumps stated policy stance.

The first is the Indian IT sector, which stands to benefit not only from higher US economic growth and the resultant increase in tech spending by American firms but also a stronger dollar.

The US dollar soared to a four-month high on 6 November, weighing on most emerging market currencies, including the Indian rupee. The rupee has hit a new lifetime low of 84.37 against the greenback, with many analysts projecting it breaching the 85-mark soon. A depreciating rupee is a tailwind for exporters like Indian IT firms, which earn a significant portion of their revenue in dollars.

With Trump back in power, corporations are expecting a lowering of the corporate tax rate. This would, in turn, boost discretionary spending by enterprises, which consequently may induce higher spending on IT projects," Banerjee said.

To recall, during Trumps first presidency, the Nifty IT index went up by 150%.

Indian IT firms are well-positioned to benefit from a potential rebound in US IT spending. Even recent Q2 results have indicated a positive trend in BFSI (banking financial services and insurance) spending in the US, which could be a strong growth driver for Indian IT companies," he added.

While the proposed tighter immigration norms may have an adverse impact on Indian IT majors to a certain extent, most of them have reduced their reliance on visas, offering them a significant degree of insulation from potential policy shifts.

Investors with a good memory (a rare breed, by the way) might remember that Trump, in his first term, increased restrictions on H-1B visas, leading to a huge spurt in denial rates, which impacted Indian IT services providers.

However, analysts maintain the situation is different today.

Two-thirds of IT services players US resources were on H-1B/L-1 visas in FY17, as per our estimate. The ratio of visa-dependent/local resources has now likely flipped. This is reflected in a 50-80% drop in H-1B approved visas for Infosys/TCS/Wipro over FY15-24. That insulates players to a large extent from any spike in denial rates," brokerage house JM Financial said in a recent report.

Similarly, while the new US government can enact a significant increase in wage obligation for H-1B visas, JM Financials analysis of select software roles indicates that average wages for H-1B resources today are around 25% above the prevailing wages.

Claims of H-1B employees displacing US workers due to lower wages are therefore difficult to ascertain," it added.

Not just that, Indian IT majors have stepped up hiring of locals in markets like the US, Mexico and Canada, as well as employed more sub-contractors (temporary staffers who are already based on-site with valid visas). In any case, Trumps ire is directed more towards illegal immigrants, whom he has threatened to deport.

Indian nationals received the highest number of work visas (H-1Bs) in the US, accounting for over 72% of the visas issued in FY23. The latest naturalization statistics (FY23) from the US show India ranks second after Mexico.

Sectoral winners-II

Trump has proposed a blanket increase in tariffs, but more so for imports from the US enemy number oneChina. This theme can benefit Indian exporters, but only up to an extent, as the mercurial president-elect has the propensity to indulge in frequent (and public) trade skirmishes with friends and foes alike.

It is worth noting that Trump had characterized India as a tariff king" and trade abuser" during his campaign and vowed to increase levies on Indian goods. That said, his personal equation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the prioritization of tightening the screws on China, can translate into a significant window of opportunity for Indian companies.

The US accounts for around 18% of Indias merchandise exports. The biggest export items include electronics, pearls and precious stones, pharmaceuticals, nuclear reactors, petroleum products, iron and steel, auto components and textiles.

Lowering the cost of medicines is on Trumps agenda, while the Biosecure Actwhich prohibits US federal agencies from procuring from biotechnology companies of concern" (i.e. Chinese firms)has bipartisan support.

Indian contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) stand to gain in this scenario, provided they strengthen their processes to ensure the safety and efficacy of their products.

Similarly, the acceleration of China+1 de-risking strategy can provide an impetus to Indian auto ancillary companies in terms of higher exports. The outgoing Biden administration has already implemented substantial hikes on Chinese auto imports, including a 100% tariff on electric vehicles (EVs), a 25% tariff on lithium-ion EV batteries and a 50% tariff on photovoltaic solar cells.

View Full Image A file photo of Joe Biden. (AFP)

However, protectionist policies by Trump might require Indian companies to invest in the US to localize supplies, which were otherwise exported from India," JM Financial said in a report dated 7 November. It added that commodities witnessed steep tariffs in Trumps previous tenure, effectively disrupting efficient price discovery. With regionalism and ring-fencing in commodities picking pace, metal prices could inch up under a Trump regime.

Higher tariffs on Chinese imports can also result in higher competitiveness of Indian chemicals exporters as well as solar PV cells manufacturers.

In 2022, President Joe Biden extended the tariffs on solar imports imposed by Trump in his first administration. Some manufacturers in Southeast Asian nations like Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia and Vietnam were also slapped with new duties as China was using their factories to dodge the US tariffs. That apart, a 50% tariff on semiconductors made in China will go into effect in 2025.

Export of Indian solar modules to the US grew from 600 crore in FY21 to 10,500 crore in FY24.

Expect higher collaboration with India on security issues in the Indo Pacific region this should benefit the defence sector.  Elara Capital

Another major sector which analysts have their eyes on is defence. Indias role as a counterweight to China has been a policy fulcrum for successive US administrations, be it Democrats or Republicans. Trumps fire-and-brimstone approach towards Beijing will only deepen this engagement, potentially leading to more deals in the defence sector.

Generally, expect higher collaboration with India on security issues in the Indo- Pacific region, which would propel greater partnership in defence engagements. This should benefit the defence sector," analysts at Elara Capital said in a note.

We expect high tech sectors such as AI, semiconductors and EMS (electronic manufacturing services) to continue to be in favour as diversification of supply chains remains aggressive amid rising investments in AI (recall Nvidia-Reliance collaboration)," they added.

On a macro level, Trumps vocal support for the American oil and gas sector can lead to a significant increase in production, which can keep global crude oil prices in check. This bodes well for both Indian refiners and the country, with Indias import dependence on crude oil rising to an all-time high of 87.7% in 2023-24.

Enter the dragon

As anyone with even a rudimentary exposure to Bollywood can attest, sometimes the biggest hurdle in a blossoming romance is the entry of a third party. Those tingling with excitement at the prospect of a flaming (financial market) affair between India and the US during Trump 2.0 should note the third party in this equationChina.

Foreign investors have piled into Chinese markets over the past few months as Beijing unveiled a raft of measures to support its faltering property market and stoke domestic demand.

Continuing with its stimulus measures, China on 8 November approved a humongous $1.7 trillion package aimed at bolstering cash-strapped local governments and shoring up consumer demand. The growing attractiveness of China has led to massive outflows from other emerging markets, including India.

Foreign investors pulled out a record 94,000 crore ($11.2 billion) from the Indian stock market in October, followed by around 20,000 crore ($2.3 billion) in November so far.

With Trumps corporate tax cuts and fiscal expansion measures expected to boost US growth, many analysts say emerging markets are even less likely to find favour with asset allocators, especially in light of likely worsening in global geopolitics and trade.

FPI (foreign portfolio investment) outflows from India may accelerate in the near term, given the dominance of passive inflows in FPI flows.... any large fiscal stimulus from China to offset the negatives of higher US tariffs on Chinese imports could be a further negative for FPI flows into India," Kotak Institutional Equities warned in a note.

That said, the rising heft of domestic institutional investors means Indian markets are no longer hostage to FPI mood swings.

We should also remember that Chinas exports to the US were to the tune of over $500 billion in 2023. In contrast, Chinas imports from the US stood at $165 billion or so. It is very clear where Trumps priorities would lie. Also, Donald Trump is pro-business; he wants reciprocity from his trading partners, be it China, India or any other country. In that sense, as long as we get our bilateral trade deals right, Indian exporters should not worry about extra tariffs on Indian goods," Kranthi Bathini, director of equity at WealthMills Securities, told Mint.

As long as we get our bilateral trade deals right, Indian exporters should not worry about extra tariffs on Indian goods.  Kranthi Bathini

Investors, therefore, should focus their energies on stock selection rather than get entangled in the American geopolitical checkerboard.

Sectors like IT, EMS, pharma and defence are likely to be clear beneficiaries, but some of these counters have already run up a lot, so stock selection is paramount from now on," Bathini said. In the defence pack, for example, the expected deal wins offer better revenue visibility, while the recent 30-40% correction in some frontline names like HAL and Mazagon Dock offer an attractive entry point. However, investors should temper their expectations. While defence is still an attractive long-term play, investors can expect mid-teens returns at these prices and not multi-bagger type performance of the recent past," he added.

This is a view that resonates with many market experts.

The tailwinds for Indian sectors from Trump 2.0 must be viewed in light of the gradually weakening domestic earnings cycle given moderating consumption and delayed government spending for capital-intensive sectors. Data for companies that have announced results so far shows that more than 50% of the companies have seen earnings miss in Q2FY25 vs 40% in Q1FY25," Elara Capital noted.

In other words, domestic problems largely require domestic solutions. Theres very little Trump, or any other occupant of the White House, can do in this scenario.
Buy or sell: After a week marked by significant global events, including the US presidential election and the Federal Reserve meeting, the Nifty Index wrapped up at 24,148.

Despite some volatility, the index remains trapped within a trading range of 23,800 to 24,800. The direction of the breakout, either above or below this zone, will likely set the tone for the next phase of the market, determining the path for both bulls and bears.

Weekly Trading Overview The week started with a gap-down opening on Monday, which saw the Nifty test critical support around the 23,800 mark. However, the index quickly rebounded, climbing back toward the resistance zone between 24,600 and 24,800. The surprise US presidential election result, with Mr. Trump being re-elected as the next US president, infused some strength into Indian indices. This global sentiment provided initial optimism, but profit booking soon kicked in, pulling the Nifty back to around 24,200 by the close of the week.

Despite several attempts to break through the immediate resistance levels of 24,60024,800, the market struggled to maintain upward momentum, resulting in increased profit-taking and a lack of sustained bullishness.

On the daily chart, the Nifty completed a Head and Shoulders pattern, which saw it hit a new low at 23,800. Given this pattern, the next key support level stands at 23,500. If the Nifty manages to sustain above this level, the resistance zone will shift to 24,80024,900 in the upcoming sessions.

Bank Nifty Performance The Bank Nifty index traded within a narrow range throughout the week, oscillating between 51,000 and 52,500. Despite this limited range, the Bank Nifty has managed to maintain its strength, holding well above the key 50,500 level. A breakout above 52,000 would indicate further bullish momentum, with resistance levels seen at 53,500 and then at 55,000.

Conclusion Both the Nifty and Bank Nifty indices have successfully closed above their respective monthly support zones despite initial market volatility, maintaining a generally bullish sentiment. Investors are advised to closely monitor key support and resistance levels as they evaluate trading opportunities in the forthcoming sessions.

Stocks to buy on Monday 1. Infosys Ltd. (INFY): Buy at 1,830 | Target Price at 1,900 | Stop Loss at 1,260.

2. State Bank of India Ltd. (SBIN): Buy at 843 | Target Price at 885 | Stop Loss at 815.

3. National Aluminium Co. Ltd. (NATIONALUM): Buy at 238 | Target Price at 270 | Stop Loss at 220.
Retelling myths and epics for contemporary readers is one of the easiest and, if you are lucky, most lucrative route to a writing career. The stories remain omnipotent, thousands of years after their origins, always ready to be adapted into new-age fantasies or revisited from fresh perspectives. Think of the proliferation of titles inspired by the Hindu pantheon that overrun Indian bookstores, or the ever-expanding universe of genre fiction, anime, comic books and graphic novels drawing on the vast constellation of Norse, Viking and Anglo-Saxon legends and folklore.

In the hands of great raconteurs, the retelling of classical stories turns into a form of its own, as is evident from Odyssey, the final volume of Stephen Frys four-book series on Greek legends, which came out recently.

To be fair, the title is a bit misleading. The book isnt a full, or even a faithful, account of Homers great epic. While the years-long homecoming journey of the eponymous hero of the Trojan War is central to Frys design, other tales of returnnot necessarily with happy endingsflow into the narrative like tributaries into a sea of stories. From Agamemnons murder by his aggrieved queen Clytemnestra, to Menelaus and Helens arduous journey back to Sparta to, Aeneas abandonment of Dido to found his own kingdomthe idea of homecoming isnt just laced with nostalgia in this version.

Fry takes some questionable liberties with characterisation as well. As Odysseus reclaims his kingdom from the suitors hankering after Penelopes hand, his son Telemachus is overjoyed to have his parents reunited. Unlike the original ending, he doesnt sully his princely reputation by hanging the 12 enslaved women who had been defiled by the uncouth hangers-on at the court. Margaret Atwoods Penelopiad (2005) took this bloody ending as its basis to revisit the story of Odysseus from Penelopes perspective. In an even more surprising turn, Fry makes Odysseus come up with the bow competition in the end, instead of Penelope, diminishing her role further.

Even as scholars dissect these departures from the original and argue over the politics of Frys decisions, it is worth going back to a fundamental question: Why does the appeal of epics, legends and myths refuse to dim with time, especially for people who are already familiar with the content of these stories? When an adult picks up a work of fiction based on a tale they know all too well, is their impulse all that different, cognitively, from that of a child, who begs its parents to put on The Lion King for the 17th time? What does our attraction to these ancient stories say about who we are?

In a world full of uncertainties, theres comfort in knowing how things are going to unfold. Even keener is the pleasure of discovering strains of the new amidst that which is familiar. This joy of recovering home truths, or stumbling upon meanings that had previously eluded us, in beloved classics contributes to their persistence.

There is, for instance, a palpable tension between mortals and gods all through Odyssey. The two entities are pitted against each other repeatedly. The gods are irresistibly attracted to the mortals, their unions, often non-consensual, spawn demigods galore, who, then, are not allowed to enjoy the privileges of divinity. No matter how beloved some humans remain of certain deities, they are, at the end of the day, mere playthings in the hands of higher powers. As Odysseus puts it, There are no heroes in this tale. Only men and women. And godsalways gods."

In a secular context, the sentiment may recall the inherently unequal structure of society, where, much like the laws of cosmos, the weak are acted upon by the strong, who create and break rules according to their whims. In a rare moment in Frys Odyssey, when Princess Erigone, the daughter of Aegisthus and Clytemnestra, addresses the judges trying Orestes for matricide, she wishes for a world where the scales are more evenly balanced and common people are empowered to deliver justice. We mortals can achieve justice and obey the law in our own way without the capricious and brutal intervention of the gods," as she says.

View Full Image Stephen Fry takes some liberties with characterisation in his book 'Odyssey'.

In her succinct and hard-hitting statement, Erigone captures the Greek worlds shift from an ethos of fear of retribution to a human-centric society, ruled by the laws of democracyfrom a time of divine covenant to a time of human treaties and contracts", Fry writes. These transitions establish the conditions for an elect group of humans to take charge over the rest. An ethos of vengeance, where conflicts were settled primarily through blood feuds, gives way to a judicial framework of dispensing fairness in the world. But the latter, too, suffers from its limitations.

As Fry reminds us, the legacy of the Greeks, enshrined in their great philosophical and political treaties, needs to be tempered with more than a generous pinch of salt. We should remember too that Socrates, the freest and most open philosopher of the great Athenian age, was put to death by the state for asebeia," he writes, blasphemy, impiety, corrupting young minds by teaching against the accepted norms of religion."

The parallels of the ancient world with the one we have inherited, several thousands years later, remain ironic. Heres Fry, once again: We too live in a society where certain pieties cannot be questioned without the danger of social annulment and ostracism for those who overstep the bounds of the acceptable." We may no longer suffer the mood swings of an irritated Zeus, an easily affronted Hera or a petty Poseidon. But we do have to survive the topsy-turvy politics of Donald Trump or the mischiefs of Elon Musk, the man-child.

At his best, Frys comic genius is risque and tongue in cheek. In a story overflowing with sexual violence, incest and unconventional liaisons, to put things mildly, the best policy may be to not get too caught up in the finer details, he advises. I dont recommend thinking too hard about these relationships. They do a persons head in."

Frys riffs on etymology and pronunciation deserve special mention. In case youre stuck saying Arsinoe," try Arse-in-oh-way". As for the stuff that puts the lotus eaters into a stupor, heres Frys erudite guesswork: lettuce is well known for its soporific qualities Beatrix Potter remarks upon it in The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies, where it sends the young rabbits to sleep."

Frys masterstroke, for me, is his take on the scholarly debates on authorship of The Iliad and The Odyssey. We might recoil at the idea, but the current thinking on who Homer wasa kind of crowd-sourced compendiumcould remind us of the way generative (i.e. content-producing) AI works." Now thats a theory both his older and newer readers may want to get behind.

Somak Ghoshal is a writer based in Delhi.
A credit card can be an incredibly useful tool to build your personal brand by helping you develop a reputation of credibility, financial responsibility, and exclusivity so long as it aligns with your brand.

By making credit card payments regularly, you can improve your credit score. Besides, you can make the most of your reward points, access to exclusive events, lounges and clubs to get access to the events which you otherwise would not have got. Overall, you can build a long term association with your banking partner, thus helping you build your individual brand in more ways than one.

This is how you can build a personal brand around credit cards: I. Impact of high credit score: Clearing your credit card bills regularly can help you build a strong credit history. This can contribute to your reputation as financially responsible, which can grow into trustworthiness in your professional as well as personal circles.

Showcasing your financial management skills through a solid credit history can be useful if your brand revolves around personal finance, entrepreneurship, or professionalism.

II. Travel and rewards: Many credit cards offer access to unique experiences, like events, VIP lounges, or priority bookings. These perks can be shared on social media as part of your brand image, especially if your personal brand involves travel, luxury, or lifestyle content.

Also Read | 4 best balance transfer credit cards in India for 2024

With rewards for travel, dining, or shopping, you can more easily create branded contentvisiting destinations or trying products within your niche without significantly impacting your budget.

III. Credibility: If part of your brand includes credit card rewards or finance tips, using credit cards as a tool can be a practical demonstration of your advice. Sharing strategies and examples of your own rewards success can build credibility.

IV. Access to exclusive events: Several credit cards offer a slew of perks such as access to events, conferences, and even private events which align with personal branding goals. This can help you build a personal network and gain social proof by sharing your presence at prestigious events.

V. Enhanced lifestyle: Whether your brand is about professional success or a luxury lifestyle, using credit cards strategically to elevate your lifestyle can make your brand appear more aspirational. Travel cards can give you access to first-class lounges, elite hotel stays, or dining perks that reflect success.

Also Read | What is travel hacking and how can you use it to maximise rewards?

VI. Building partnerships: Regularly sharing your insights on rewards, credit cards could lead to sponsorships or partnerships with brands in the finance industry. As you show your knowledge of credit card benefits, it could even lead to affiliate partnerships or influencer deals.
Veteran Tamil actor Delhi Ganesh has passed away after suffering with health issues due to old age. He was 80. He passed away at 11 pm last night. According to reports, the last rites will be held today i.e. November 10.

Ganesh's family, in a heartfelt statement, confirmed his passing, saying, "We deeply regret to inform that our father Mr Delhi Ganesh has passed away on 9th November at around 11 PM." His mortal remains have been kept in Ramapuram, Chennai.

Here's all you need to know about Delhi Ganesh Delhi Ganesh, born on August 1, 1944, made his cinematic debut in 1976 with the iconic director K. Balachander's film Pattina Pravesam.

Over the years, he has appeared in more than 400 films including Tamil, Telugu, and Malyalam.

Prior to acting, he had also served in the Indian Air Force for a decade i.e. 1964-1974.

Delhi Ganesh is famous for his roles in movies including Nayakan (1987) and Michael Madhana Kama Rajan (1990).

Some of his other notable films include Apoorva Sagodharargal (1989), Aahaa..! (1997), Thenali (2000), and Engamma Maharani (1981), Dhuruvangal Pathinaaru (2016).

In 1979, he had won Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize for his performance in Pasi while in 1994, he was given Kalaimamani Award for his excellence in the arts.

He was also known for portraying a wide range of characters, including villains, friends, and fathers and has worked with famous including Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, and Vijayakanth.

In the later stages of his career, Ganesh also ventured into television and short films, continuing to entertain audiences with his distinctive style.

He was also a member of the Delhi-based theatre troupe Dakshina Bharata Nataka Sabha.

He also appeared in a memorable cameo as Alfred Pennyworth in the short film 'What If Batman Was from Chennai'.

Reactions pour in Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan expressed deep sadness on the actor's death. He wrote, Deeply saddened by the death of veteran Tamil actor Thiru Dilli Ganesh Avl. His amazing acting career and contribution to Indian cinema with over 400 films have made a lasting impression on audiences. His prior service in the Indian Air Force demonstrates his passion and patriotism to the country. My deepest condolences to his family and fans. May he rest in peace - Pawan Kalyan.

Calling him a phenomenal actor, R Madhavan wrote, an amazing soul departs for the heavens to entertain them. You will be so sorely missed, sir.. Rest in peace for eternity.

Vijay Sethupathi wrote, Deeply pained to know of the demise of #DelhiGanesh sir, one of Tamil cinema's most versatile actors.The void he leaves behind will be hard to fill. My deepest condolences to his family members, friends and fans.

Rajinikanth called the actor a wonderful man. He wrote, Amazing actor. I am saddened to hear of his passing. My condolences to his family and friends. Om Shanti
Mumbai: India is not worried about the impact of the recent US presidential outcome given prime minister Modis personal rapport with US president-elect Donald Trump, Union minister of external affairs Dr S. Jaishankar said.

I know today a lot of countries are nervous about the USWe are not one of them, he said, adding that PM Modi's call was among the first three to president Trump following the results.

Jaishankar was speaking at an event here on Sunday to celebrate the silver jubilee of the Aditya Birla Scholarships programme. The programme, established in 1999 by the Aditya Birla Group, has so far seen 781 scholars across engineering, management and law disciplines.

Also Read: India lambasts Canada for blocking Australian channel over EAM Jaishankars press conference coverage The programme partners with 22 premiere institutions such as the IITs, BITS Pilani, leading IIMs and National Law Schools. Each cohort of the merit-based scholarship has 48 students, selected by a jury.

The minister noted that India has an opportunity in the global workspace as demand for services and human talent is growing. A better educated, skilled and confident generation of Indians will have openings that could not be contemplated earlier, he said.

Also Read: 'Hypocrite' Canada Bans Australia Today For Telecasting MEA S Jaishankar's Press Conference In fact, the interest in Indian talent is probably the most frequent theme in my conversations right now with foreign governments and corporates, Jaishankar noted. Anticipating this, the government has concluded mobility agreements with other countries which ensure better access and fair treatment for Indian professionals. More than 20 nations are currently covered, with others underway, he added.

Shift in Indias interaction with world The minister said that there has been a shift in Indias interaction with the world. Our exports have increased significantly in the last decade, especially in services. Investments into India have also more than doubled during this decade. There is today a perceptible interest in engaging with us, reflected in the steady flow of high profile visitors, he said.

Foreign policy has now shifted to advancing national development apart from ensuring national security, he added.

Also Read: Jaishankar sees 4 key areas that will benefit India after Donald Trumps election win: Businesses can move as well Chairman of Aditya Birla Group Kumar Mangalam Birla also addressed the event. The India of today is far removed from where we were 25 years agowe are a far more confident nation [and] amongst the most consequential economies in the world, he said. The narrative has shifted in the Indian corporate landscape with more professionals from Indias elite institutions wanting to work for Indian corporations, he noted.
Ten people were killed after gunmen in a truck opened fire in a bar in central Mexico, authorities said on Sunday. The attack on Los Cantaritos bar in Queretaro's downtown district left 10 people dead and at least seven injured, said the city's public security department chief Juan Luis Ferrusca.

"Emergency services arrived at the scene and confirmed that at least four people armed with long weapons had arrived on board a pickup truck," Ferrusca said in a video on social media.

According to news agency AFP, Ferrusca said one suspect was detained and the vehicle used in the attack was found abandoned and set on fire. He said there were no reports of similar incidents in the city.

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The victims included three women, according to the Queretaro state prosecutor's office, which said forensic experts were examining the scene of the attack and the vehicle.

Queretaro, the capital of Queretaro state, is considered one of the safer cities in Mexico, which has been plagued by years of drug cartel-related violence.

Located around 200 kilometers (120 miles) northwest of Mexico City, it is known for its Spanish colonial architecture.

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Spiraling violence, much of it linked to drug trafficking and gangs, has seen more than 450,000 people murdered in Mexico since 2006.

Tackling the murders and kidnappings that are a daily occurrence in Mexico is among the major challenges facing President Claudia Sheinbaum.

The former Mexico City mayor, who became the country's first woman president on October 1, has ruled out declaring "war" on drug cartels.

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Instead she has pledged to continue her predecessor's strategy of using social policy to tackle crime at its roots, while also making better use of intelligence.

The northwestern cartel stronghold of Sinaloa has seen a surge in violence since the July arrest of drug lord Ismael Zambada in the United States unleashed a wave of gang infighting.

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There has also been a spike in bloodshed in the southern state of Guerrero, the scene of long-running gang turf wars.

Authorities said Thursday that the bodies of 11 people, including two minors, were found abandoned in a pickup truck in the state capital Chilpancingo.

They were part of a group of 17 people  reported to be traveling merchants  who were declared missing last month.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Bihar on November 13 (Wednesday) to lay the foundation stone for AIIMS hospital in Darbhanga district.

Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey said on Sunday PM Modi will be in Darbhanga on Wednesday when 'bhumi pujan' for the super-specialty project will also take place in the presence of a host of other dignitaries, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Union ministers Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi.

Notably, the north Bihar town will become the second place in the state, after capital city Patna, to have an All India Institute for Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

"The project, which involves a cost of 1,700 crore, will be of immense benefit to north Bihar and adjoining areas. AIIMS, Darbhanga is a proof that the NDA, which rules the Centre as well as the state, works for the development of all areas and cares for the most needy sections of society," Pandey added.

On Saturday, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that now he would stay permanently with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Addressing a public meeting in favour of NDA nominee, Vishal Prashant of BJP for the Tarari assembly byelection, Kumar said: "I have said it earlier alsoI am once again saying that we (BJP-JDU) were together earlier. I made a mistake twice in the past by joining hands with the RJD., I went 'idhar udhar' twice in the pastBut now, I have again come to the NDA. I will remain permanently with the NDA".

He also said: "We have been working for the development of Bihar since 2005. Several infrastructural and development works have been done in Bihar after 2005..and it will continue further under the NDA rule"

Kumar accused RJD of trying to "polarise" votes on "communal lines" in the upcoming bypolls in the state.
The body of a BJP leader, Prithviraj Naskar, was discovered inside the party office in Usthi, located in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district, a police officer reported on Saturday.

As reported by PTI, Naskar, who managed the BJP's social media accounts in the district, was found dead under suspicious circumstances. The BJP has blamed the Trinamool Congress (TMC) for the incident, while the police, after arresting a woman in connection with the murder, suggested that the motive 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 party's 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.

A TMC leader suggested that the injuries on Prithviraj Naskar's body indicated animosity and contempt from the assailant, expressing hope that the investigation would explore all these potential motives.

Meanwhile, Naskar's father alleged that his son had incurred the anger of local TMC activists and the police after he had put up placards during the recent Durga Puja festival, demanding justice for a victim at R G Kar Hospital. This, he believed, may have contributed to the hostility leading to his son's death.

"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.
On the last day of his office, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud shared his reflections on the crucial role retired judges play in Indias legal system, particularly in post-retirement assignments in various tribunals. In an exclusive conversation with Hindustan Times, Chandrachud addressed several key issues surrounding the involvement of retired judges in public service and the medias portrayal of such roles.

Upholding dignity and integrity after retirement Chandrachud discussing the expectations that follow retired judges, emphasizing that the respect and scrutiny judges attract during their tenure persist even after their retirement. I can assure you that my personal belief is that even when you lay down office as a CJI or a judge, people always look upon you as a judge or CJI, he remarked, underscoring the responsibility to maintain high standards of behavior post-office. He stressed the importance of staying true to the office once held and upholding the integrity of the judiciary throughout ones life.

Speaking about his post-retirement plans, Chandrachud said, "Society expects a certain standard of behaviour, and I do believe speaking for myself that I should be true to the office that I held and in everything I do after retirement."

The need for experienced judges in key tribunals The CJI emphasised the increasing significance of retired judges in the countrys legal framework, particularly in tribunals such as the National Green Tribunal, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, and the Telecom Disputes Tribunal. He pointed out that these tribunals, which handle high-value cases in sectors such as electricity, telecommunications, and the environment, require the expertise and integrity that only experienced judicial figures can offer.

These tribunals handle cases of immense value, particularly as the economy has liberalized and private investments in sectors like electricity have increased. As such, there is a strong need for individuals with the highest levels of integrity and expertise to preside over these matters, the CJI explained.

He emphasized that former judges, especially those with backgrounds in the Supreme Court or High Courts, are ideal for these roles due to their experience and understanding of complex legal issues. He added, "It is for this reason that former judges, particularly those from the Supreme Court and High Court, are appointed to these roles."

Addressing media perceptions and misconceptions However, the CJI expressed concern over the negative perceptions in the media regarding retired judges accepting post-retirement roles in tribunals. He acknowledged that some members of the public and the media view these assignments with skepticism, often suggesting they may be a form of quid pro quo for favorable judicial decisions made during a judges tenure.

Chandrachud warns against undermining the role of retired judges in legal system This perception discourages many judges from accepting such roles, the CJI noted, adding that "it is unfortunate, because it undermines the necessity of having experienced, ethical individuals managing these critical tribunals." He further stated that these assignments are necessary for the smooth functioning of Indias legal landscape and for ensuring justice in increasingly complex economic and legal matters.

Economic consequences of negative perceptions The CJI further emphasized the broader implications of these perceptions, particularly in terms of economic development. He warned that the lack of experienced and ethical judges in these tribunals could hinder economic growth and the resolution of critical legal disputes.

CJI emphasizes need for experienced judges to ensure economic progress "The real impact of this negative perception is that if we do not have judges with the highest levels of integrity and expertise in these positions, we are fundamentally affecting the progress and transformation of the economy. This is a serious concern because the functioning of these tribunals is key to handling disputes that arise from the increasingly complex legal and economic landscape," he explained.

CJI urges media to reevaluate coverage of retired judges in roles The CJI also called on the media to reconsider how it portrays retired judges in such roles, urging a more constructive and understanding approach. Therefore, I believe the media should reconsider how it portrays retired judges accepting these roles. We need former judges in these positions to ensure that the process is fair and trustworthy, CJI Chandrachud said.

CJI defends retired judges in Tribunal roles The CJI responding to the often-criticized practice of retired judges accepting positions in Tribunals, emphasised that these roles are vital for the smooth functioning of Indias legal system. He also stated that if Parliament has created an office specifically meant for a retired judge, there should be no issue with a former judge taking up that position after stepping down.

No reason to criticize retired judges in Tribunal roles He said, "If parliament has created an office where a retired judge of the Supreme Court should hold that office why should we then castigate a judge who occupies that office after having seized to be a judge."
People visit the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk to commemorate the 86th anniversary of his death in Ankara, Turkiye, Nov. 10, 2024. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)

ISTANBUL, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Turkiye on Saturday marked the 86th anniversary of the death of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Turkish Republic, with a series of events across the country.

At 9:05 a.m. local time (0605 GMT), the exact moment when Ataturk passed away in Istanbul in 1938, sirens blared, ships sounded their whistles, traffic stopped, and people stood still in solemn tribute to honor the late leader.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his cabinet members participated in a state ceremony at Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Ataturk in the capital Ankara.

In Istanbul, traffic on the 15 July Martyrs Bridge, also known as the Bosphorus Bridge, which spans the Bosphorus Strait, came to a standstill as citizens stepped out of their vehicles to observe the moment of silence.

Many lined up at the entrance of the Dolmabahce Palace to visit the room where Ataturk passed away and lay carnations on his bed.

On the water, boats and ships paused before his room, offering their respects to the nation's founder. The TCG Istanbul frigate, one of the Turkish Navy's key homemade warships, also anchored off the palace.

Ataturk declared the republic in 1923, ending the rule of the Ottoman Empire after the Independence War, and served as the first president until 1938, when he died at the age of 57. 
In a unique incident, a man moved a Delhi court, seeking a criminal action against his wife's family for giving him dowry without a demand.

However, his plea was rejected by the judge.

The man had challenged an order of the magisterial court that dismissed his request for an First Information Report (FIR)against his wifes parents and brother for giving him dowry.

During the hearing, it also came on record that the man was facing a cruelty case by the wife's family.

Additional Sessions Judge Navjeet Budhiraja was hearing the man's revision plea against a July 2022 order of the magisterial court.

"Until the evidence is led by both the parties during the trial, the aspect of whether dowry was demanded or not cannot be effectively adjudicated upon and thus, at this stage, the averment of the revisionist (Kumar) that he never demanded any dowry from the respondents and despite that, a sum of 25,000 and 46,500 was transferred in his account would be a self-serving statement," the court said.

In an order passed on October 5, judge Budhiraja noted that his in-laws had already registered an FIR against him under Section 498A (husband or his relatives subjecting a married woman to cruelty) of the IPC.

The magistrates observations regarding the man's complaint that the in-laws while registering the FIR had categorically admitted that they paid dowry to Kumar and such an admission was an offence under the Dowry Prohibition Act, the court said.

Section 3 of the Dowry Prohibition Act prescribes the penalty for giving or taking dowry.

The court further recorded that the magistrate's observation that Kumar had concealed the fact that his wife and in-laws had made "serious allegations of persistent dowry demand" against him in the FIR.

It noted that the magistrate's dismissal order stated, "His (Kumars) repeated averments in the instant complaint that he never demanded dowry and despite the absence of such demands, dowry was given, is unsubstantiated and appears to be an "attempt to hoodwink this court."

The issues raised by the man had been "suitably addressed" by the magistrate, said the court.
The security forces and J&K police have launched anti-terrorist strikes in different locations under its joint operation against terrorists and militants. The forces killed a terrorist in the ongoing operation in Sopore and Baramulla area on Saturday.

In another ongoing anti-terror operation, three Army personnel were injured in a separate anti-terror operation in a remote forest area in Jammu and Kashmirs Kishtwar on Sunday, reported News18.

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One terrorist has been neutralised by the security forces in the ongoing Operation in general area Rajpura, Sopore, Baramulla. Search Operation is in progress, said Chinar Corps-Indian Army on X.

In an update on security forces' action against terrorists in Srinagar, an exchange of fire between terrorists and security forces broke out in the forest area Ishber Nishat area. Further details are awaited.

The ongoing developments have come after security forces and police have launched a joint-anti-terrorist operation in the Sopore area of Jammu Kashmir's Baramulla district on Saturday which has been extended to next day as well.

"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," Kashmir Zone Police wrote on social media platform X.

Anti-terror operation in Kishtawar The joint search parties of the Army and J&K police launched attacks on terrorists in different locations. An encounter between the forces and terrorists broke out in Keshwan forests in Kishtwar district on Sunday. An army jawan was injured during the encounter, reported PTI citing officials.

The encounter broke out after the joint search parties of the Army and police intercepted hiding terrorists around 11 am. According to officials, this was the same group of terrorists who earlier killed two innocent villagers. Further details of the operation are awaited.

"Encounter begins at Keswan-Kistwar between terrorists and security forces. Three or four terrorists believed to be trapped," a police spokesperson told PTI.

Two terrorists killed in J&K's Sopore Earlier, two terrorists were neutralised in an encounter operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Sopore area, reported ANI citing an Army officer on Friday, November 8.

The two terrorists involved in the encounter were operating in North Kashmir and owned a significant quantity of arms and other war-like materials.

"On the evening of 7 November, we received specific information that two terrorists were hiding in Panipura village. The Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and CRPF jointly conducted a search operation, during which the terrorists opened fire. Today, they were neutralised, and a large cache of arms and other material has been recovered," ANI quoted Brigadier Deepak Mohan, commanding officer of the 7 Sector RR on Friday.

"We learned that these terrorists had been active in North Kashmir over the past few days. Neutralising them is a major achievement for the security forces," he added.
Sanjiv Khanna will take oath as the new Chief Justice of India on Monday  with President Droupadi Murmu administering the oath of office at Rashtrapati Bhavan at 10 am. He will succeed DY Chandrachud who retired on Sunday. Justice Khanna will remain in the top office till mid-May 2025.

The CJI-designate has served as a Supreme Court judge since January 2019. He was part of several landmark judgements such as upholding the sanctity of EVMs, scrapping the electoral bonds scheme, upholding the abrogation of Article 370 and the grant of interim bail to former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

He was a third-generation lawyer before being appointed a high court judge. Justice Khanna is the son of former Delhi High Court judge Justice Dev Raj Khanna and the nephew of prominent former apex court judge H R Khanna.

Outgoing Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and his successor headed a four-judge ceremonial bench on Friday. The CJI  who set a record of sorts by sitting in 38 Constitution benches during his eight-year-long tenure as an apex court judge  said in the last two years around 1.07 lakh cases were disposed off by the apex court including 21,358 bail matters. On his last working day, he highlighted the work done during his tenure and was all praise for his colleague judges including CJI designate Sanjiv Khanna.

CJI-designate Khanna and bar leaders, including the attorney general, the solicitor general and SCBA president Kapil Sibal lauded the "monumental" contributions of Justice Chandrachud. Justice Khanna also said the CJI worked on a mission to improve the apex court and pursued his goal of making it "a sanctuary of inclusivity", which was accessible to all.

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Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has issued over 3000 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to participate in the birthday celebrations of Guru Nanak to be held in Pakistan from 14-23 November 2024. Guru Nanak is regarded as the founder of Sikhism and is the first of the ten Sikh Gurus.

Expressing his views on the occasion, Charge dAffaires, Mr. Saad Ahmad Warraich, extended his heartfelt felicitations and wished the pilgrims a fulfilling yatra, the post on microblogging site X read.

Guru Nanak Jayanti Every year, Guru Nanak Jayanti (birthday) is celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu lunar month of Kartik to celebrate the Sikh leader's birth. This year, Guru Nanak Jayanti will be celebrated on November 15, Friday.

Indian Sikh pilgrims who will travel to Pakistan would visit Dera Sahib, Panja Sahib, Nankana Sahib and Kartarpur Sahib.

On November 10, Saturday, the Pakistan High Commission had denied visas to 1,481 Sikh devotees out of 2,244 applicants who had applied to undertake a pilgrimage to Nankana Sahib on the occasion of Guru Nanak's birthday.

Harjinder Singh Dhami, president, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee said the rejection in such large numbers was particularly hurtful and undermined the religious sentiments of Sikhs.

Buses for Gurudwara darshan stopped Another person named Harbhajan Singh said that the buses for visiting the Gurudwara in Pakistan were stopped. That should run again. Like Delhi Lahore bus to Amritsar Nankana Sahib, even Samjota Exores train have been stopped. We should connect the people of both the countries through religious places, news wire ANI quoted Singh as saying.

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SOPHOS, a US-based cybersecurity firm, has issued a warning to internet users about a unique cyber threat tied to a seemingly harmless search phrase: "Are Bengal Cats legal in Australia?" Hackers are reportedly exploiting this specific search term to lead users to malicious websites.

SEO poisoning leads to malware infection By using SEO poisoning, cybercriminals have manipulated Googles search results to rank these malware-laden sites highly, enticing users with what appear to be legitimate links. Once clicked, users risk infection by GootLoader malware, which can steal data, deploy ransomware, and install other harmful software.

GootLoader: Malware delivery platform The Sophos report highlights that GootLoader, an evolved malware-delivery platform that has been repurposed by cybercriminals as an "initial access as a service" tool, relies heavily on search engine optimization (SEO) poisoning to trick users into clicking malicious links in their search results. The attackers rank these compromised websites highly on Google by leveraging popular search terms, such as "Are Bengal Cats legal in Australia?" Once a user clicks the link, a seemingly innocent .zip file is downloaded, containing JavaScript-based malware designed to evade detection.

Upon execution, the initial JavaScript downloads a second-stage payload, identified as GootKita remote access trojan (RAT) that establishes a foothold in the victims network. This malware is capable of persisting through multiple sessions and can later deploy other malicious software like ransomware.

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Advice for safe internet browsing SOPHOS cautions users to stay vigilant, avoid suspicious links, and be mindful of search phrases that may disguise potential cyber threats. They advise avoiding unusual or overly enticing search terms and being wary of search results on unfamiliar websites, as SEO-poisoned links continue to serve as a significant vector for initial malware compromises.

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Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy and MP wife Sudha Murty, who appeared on Netflix's The Great Indian Kapil Show on November 9, both shared anecdotes of their life as a couple and humouros instances with each other.

Sharing an incident where daughter Akshata Murthy asked him to return on the first flight back to Bangalore because he forgot the couple's 25th wedding anniversary, Murthy explained what happened.

Akshata is now married to former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The UK-based couple were in Bengaluru on November 5 visiting the Sri Raghavendra Swami Mutt along with Narayana Murthy and Sudha Murty, according to an ANI report.

The 25th Wedding Anniversary Story Recalling the incident, Murthy said that he forgot his 25th wedding anniversary with Sudha Murty, despite her trying to jog his memory by asking "is anything special today" in a lighthearted conversation with host Kapil Sharma, he added that he headed to office but got a reminder from his daughter.

One day, I woke up and Sudha asked me, Is anything special today? I said, No, nothing. So, I decided to head to the office. But as I was getting in the car, she asked again, Think of anything special today? Again, I said no. It felt like just another day, he said.

Murthy added that their daughter Akshata was studying in the United States at the time and called him in the evening when he was on his way to Mumbai. She asked me, What are you doing? I told her I was heading to catch a flight. She replied, Cancel the flight right now, take the first flight back to Bangalore tomorrow morning, and wish your wife a happy anniversary! I dont care if you have a speech at 3 pm. If you need to hire a private plane, hire it, but come back and wish her!

Responding to Murthy's narration of the incident Sudha Murty added that she was not as upset as her daughter. It was our 25th wedding anniversary so it doesnt happen every year. So I thought, let me give him a cue but it did not work For five-ten minutes I felt bad because Im also human. But my daughter was very upset, she went In America this never happens!, but I went India main it happens though, who can remember these things??

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Terrible Cook Tales Murty was also free about being a terrible cook and appreciated Narayana Murthy's outlook on her meals, joking, Look at his weight; its thanks to my cooking! I always tell wives not to cook great food if they want their husbands to lose weight. Im not an expert in cooking, so I dont take risks. I know hes not a foodie, and thats an advantage for me.
Director of multiple award-winning "Oppenheimer", Christopher Nolan, is all set to return with his another movie, featuring several Hollywood A-listers, including Spider-Man Homecoming's couple, Zendaya and Tom Holland, Oscar winner Anne Hathaway and more.

What is the name of Christopher Nolan's next movie? So far, there has been no information about the movie. Before the present one, Christopher Nolan gained success with his multiple award-winning "Oppenheimer", which also earned him his first Best Director Academy Award.

Christopher Nolan's next film star cast The movie will feature Zendaya, Tom Holland, her partner and co-star from three "Spider-Man" movies. Additionally, Matt Damon will team up for Nolan's movie after appearing in his 2014 film "Interstellar" and Oppenheimer.

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Annie Hathaway, who owned huge recognition for her work in Interstellar and The Dark Knight Rises will also be a part of the movie. Nolan wrote the script and is directing the film, which will be distributed by Universal Pictures. The filmmaker is also backing the project alongside producing partner and wife, Emma Thomas, for their Syncopy banner.

About Nolan's movie plot details and release date According to Hollywood Reporter the setting of the movie is not contemporary but there are no details about whether the story has been established in the past or future, reported Hollywood Reporter. The movie is expected to be released on July 17, 2026.

Christopher Nolan's last movie, Oppenheimer, proved to be a milestone, earning a staggering $976 million worldwide. The movie had earned worldwide applaud for its starcast and storyline. Moreover, it was the first time when Nolan had worked with Universal after breaking its ties with Warner Bros in late 2020s.
After Donald Trumps victory in the presidential election, Google saw a significant increase in U.S.-based searches about relocating to Scotland. Americans are increasingly researching Scottish citizenship, as well as rights related to abortion and LGBTQ+ issues in Scotland, according to The National. These search trends reflect rising interest in emigration as Americans react to Trumps return to the White House.

Google data revealed that about 76% of the relocation-related searches originated in the United States, particularly in states like Oregon, Colorado, Washington, Tennessee, and Minnesota. Other top destination interests included New Zealand, Ireland, and Canadanations noted for relatively straightforward immigration policies for U.S. citizens.

What Americans are searching on Google? Beyond relocation logistics, searches revealed concerns about social issues, with terms like Scottish citizenship, is abortion legal in Scotland, and Scotland trans rights seeing increased interest. These topics indicate potential anxiety among some Americans regarding changes in domestic policies on abortion and LGBTQ+ rights under Trumps administration.

Responding to this surge, Patrick Harvie, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, expressed Scotlands openness to those seeking a progressive environment. Donald Trump is a convicted felon and political extremist who has shown a complete lack of respect for human rights, democracy or our climate, Harvie told The National. It is no surprise that people would want to get as far away as possible from his destructive rhetoric and the racist politics that he represents. We believe in a Scotland that is open and welcome to all, a country that removes barriers rather than building walls.

Trumps victory was confirmed on Wednesday when a win in Wisconsin put him past the required 270 electoral votes, solidifying his position as the 47th President of the United States. His success in battleground states such as Arizona, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia, Michigan, and North Carolina played a critical role in his path to the presidency.
Following the recent US presidential election results, demand for abortion pills surged dramatically as concerns grew over potential restrictions in a new Donald Trump administration.

Unprecedented spike in abortion pill requests The Guardian reported that as results favoring Trump spread, Aid Access, a provider of mail-order abortion pills, saw an unprecedented 5,000 requests for abortion pills within 12 hours. Rebecca Gomperts, founder of Aid Access, was quoted as telling the publication, I can see all the new requests ticking in as were talking. Weve never seen this before.

Demand extends to emergency contraception It was also reported by the news site that the urgency extended beyond abortion pills. The telehealth service Wisp, which provides emergency contraception, reported a 300% increase in requests, while Plan C, an abortion pill directory, experienced a 625% surge in traffic, as per the report.

Preparing for the worst fearing restrictions on reproductive rights Clearly, people are trying to plan for the reproductive apocalypse that we anticipate will be happening under a Trump presidency, said Elisa Wells, the co-founder of Plan C, was quoted as saying, highlighting the deep-rooted fears triggered by the election results.

Increased demand for hormone treatments In addition to reproductive health concerns, trans healthcare providers experienced a similar uptick in demand, the report stated. Dr Crystal Beal, founder of QueerDoc, a service providing hormone therapy, reportedly received an overwhelming number of emails from patients worried about their access to essential medications under a second Trump administration. I have to tell people I ultimately cant predict the future or make that choice or decision for them, and I certainly cant give legal advice, Beal was quoted. QueerDocs response in advising patients was reassuring. It is said that QueerDoc sent a message to its patients on Wednesday morning (November 6) reminding them that while they were worried about the future, trans people have always been here, and we will continue to persist.

Other telehealth providers reported similar spikes, the news report mentioned. Hey Jane, a birth control provider, saw a doubling in requests, while Winx reported six times the usual sales of Plan B emergency contraception in one day. Cynthia Plotch, Winxs co-founder, was quoted as saying on the reaction: Women are smart. We see what is coming, and we are protecting ourselves.
Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley reacted for the first time after 2024 US presidential election winner Donald Trump announced her exclusion from his White House Team.

Sharing a post on X on Sunday, the Indian-origin Republican politician expressed her happiness on her past work as a US ambassador to UN and said, I was proud to work with President Trump defending America at the United Nations. I wish him, and all who serve, great success in moving us forward to a stronger, safer America over the next four years.

Her social media post also reshared Trump's X post which announced his decision to exclude her and Mike Pompeo from Trump 2.0.

"I will not be inviting former Ambassador Nikki Haley, or former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to join the Trump Administration, which is currently in formation," Trump wrote in the post.

Why did Trump remove Nikki Haley from his administration? Prior to the US Presidential Elections against Kamala Harris, Donald Trump's real battle was to regain foot in his own Republican party. Most of the senior party leaders viewed him as a threat because of the unpredictability of his first term.

Nikki Haley ran against Donald Trump in the year's Republican primary. She also secured support from wealthy Wall Street figures, but faced challenges in winning over Trump's base. Establishment Republicans saw her candidacy against Trump as a final opportunity to reclaim control of the party.
PHNOM PENH, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia recorded an almost 50 percent rise in the number of Chinese tourists during the first nine months of 2024, said a Cambodian Ministry of Tourism's report released on Sunday.

A total of 607,542 Chinese visitors traveled to the Southeast Asian country during the January-September period this year, up 49.8 percent from 405,514 over the same period last year, the report said.

The number of Chinese tourists accounted for 12.65 percent of the total 4.8 million international tourist arrivals to Cambodia during the first nine months of this year, the report said, adding that China was the third biggest source of the foreign holidaymakers to the kingdom after Thailand and Vietnam.

Cambodian Minister of Tourism Huot Hak said the growth of Chinese tourists is an important opportunity, not only to boost the development of the tourism sector, but also to create investment opportunities in other sectors.

"Cambodia is projected to receive 7 million international tourists including more than 2 million Chinese tourists in 2025," he said.

Tourism is one of the four pillars supporting Cambodia's economy, in addition to garment, footwear, and travel goods export, agriculture, and construction and real estate.

The country received 5.45 million international tourists in 2023, generating a gross revenue of 3.08 billion U.S. dollars, according to the Ministry of Tourism.

Cambodia is well known for its four UNESCO-listed world heritage sites, namely the Angkor Archaeological Park in the northwestern Siem Reap province, the Temple Zone of Sambor Prei Kuk in central Kampong Thom province, and the Temple of Preah Vihear and the Koh Ker Archaeological Site in the northwestern Preah Vihear province. 
US President-elect Donald Trump, who has frequently claimed he could resolve the Russia-Ukraine war within his first 24 hours in office, is expected to propose the deployment of European soldiers to establish an 800-mile buffer zone between the Russian and Ukrainian forces.

The US, a major provider of aid and arms to Kyiv, is reportedly planning to supply Ukraine with more weapons to prevent Russia from reigniting the conflict. However, the US would not contribute troops to patrol or enforce the proposed 800-mile buffer zone between Russian and Ukrainian forces.

"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," a member of Trump's team said, as reported by The Telegraph.

The Daily Mail reported that earlier, President Zelensky met with European leaders in Budapest at a summit of the European Political Community, where he warned that offering concessions to Russia would be suicidal for Europe.

He emphasised that no US troops would be deployed to the warzone, and that the responsibility for enforcing the buffer zone would fall on Britain and other European nations.

Daily Mail reported that senior UK security sources reacted "furiously" to Donald Trump's proposal, arguing that it would favor Russia and leave Ukraine vulnerable to territorial division.

Speaking at a security conference in Sochi, Russian President Vladimir Putin mocked NATO's reliance on US leadership, suggesting that without it, the alliance would no longer dominate its "zone of influence."

Also Read: Ukraine commander says challenges increase in war with Russia

This view is supported by NATO figures showing that the US currently spends twice as much on defense as all other member nations combined.

Trump's "America First" strategy, which includes pulling back from Europe's security structure, could weaken NATO significantly, potentially representing its most serious threat since its founding after World War II.

Impact of Trump's America First Policy on Russia-Ukraine war Since the end of the Second World War, and particularly after the Cold War, the United States has played a central role in shaping the global order, using its military power and influence over global trade and commerce. In his first term, Donald Trump sought to disrupt this established global framework, adopting a more inward-looking, insular, and transactional approach. This shift surprised both U.S. allies and competitors.

For example, Trump questioned the contributions of other NATO members, demanding that they meet their financial obligations. A key feature of his first administration was the significant increase in tariffs and trade restrictions, especially with China.

Also Read: Trump transition distances itself from Ukraine peace plan outlined by Republican strategist
Another person has been arrested for his alleged involvement in a violent altercation that occurred at a Hindu temple in Brampton on November 3.

This has been the fourth arrest in the case. The police began an investigation into the matter after videos of the violent altercation went viral on the internet, capturing acts of assault by demonstrators using flags and sticks, according to a press release issued by Peel Region Police on Saturday.

According to an official statement from Peel Region Police, investigators from the 21 Division Criminal Investigations Bureau and Strategic Investigation Team (SIT) have arrested and charged another individual involved in the violent demonstration at a Brampton Mandir.

Earlier, the police had arrested 57-year-old Lal Banerjee from Toronto in the matter, reported ANI on November 8 citing police.

On Sunday, November 3, 2024 Peel Regional Police responded to an altercation during a demonstration at a Mandir on The Gore Road in Brampton. As tensions between opposing sides increased, the demonstrations became physical and assaultive, the statement said.

Investigation of Brampton temple attack underway The police continue to scrutinise hundreds of videos of the incidents and interrogate eyewitnesses and other people present on the spot to identify the culprits and suspects involved in the attack.

The police have also suspended a department official for allegedly taking part in the pro-Khalistani protest outside Brampton Hindu temple, which turned violent following an altercation with the other side.

Sergeant Harinder Sohi, a Peel Regional Police Officer in Canada, was suspended for allegedly taking part in the pro-Khalistani protests, which resulted in an attack at the Hindu Sabha Temple in Brampton, according to a Hindustan Times report.

The police have arrested nearly four people in the matter. Out of them two have been released on bail. One of the individuals who has since been identified is 35-year-old Inderjeet Gosal of Brampton. He was arrested and charged with assault with a weapon. He was released on conditions and is to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton at a later date.
Canada is on "high alert" with all eyes on the US border as the country is bracing for a possible influx of migrants from the United States.

"We're on high alert," a Royal Canadian Mounted Police spokesman, Sergeant Charles Poirier, told AFP.

"All of our eyes are looking at the border to see what's going to happen... because we know that Trump's stance on immigration might drive up illegal and irregular migration to Canada," he said.

On Friday, Canadas Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland in Ottawa met with a group of ministers tasked with handling thorny issues that might emerge between Canada and the incoming Trump administration.

Accusing immigrants of "poisoning the blood of the country, US President-elect Donald Trump has promised the largest mass deportation in American history.

During his first presidential term from 2017 to 2021, tens of thousands of migrants, including Haitians were stripped of US protections, fled north to Canada.

Also Read | Justin Trudeau: Not all Khalistani supporters represent Sikh community in Canada

Freeland has also sought to reassure that Canada was ready for a possible uptick in migrant arrivals.

"We have a plan," she told a news conference after the meeting, without giving details. "Canadians need to know... our borders are safe and secure and we control them."

Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's 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 province's already strained ability to house them.

According to Google Trends, immediately following Tuesday's election, online searches in the United States about moving to Canada jumped tenfold.

Entering Canada between border checkpoints is illegal, and dangerous, especially in winter months, the RCMP's Poirier noted.
President-elect Donald Trump stated that he will not be offering positions in his new administration to his former UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, or his former Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo.

I very much enjoyed and appreciated working with them previously, and would like to thank them for their service to our country, he said in a Saturday post on Truth Social, as reported by Bloomberg.

Nikki Haley, a former governor of South Carolina, ran against Donald Trump in this year's Republican primary, securing support from wealthy Wall Street figures while facing challenges in winning over Trumps base. Establishment Republicans, often seen as part of the old GOP guard, viewed her candidacy as a final opportunity to reclaim control of the party.

High-profile conservatives, from billionaire Ken Griffin and the Koch Group to Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who had grown disillusioned with Trumps combative style and the unpredictability of his first term, were willing to bet that Haley could block his path to a third consecutive nomination.

Pompeo, a Trump loyalist, also served as the Central Intelligence Agency director under him. Names being floated for secretary of state include Ric Grenell, Trumps former ambassador to Germany, and Steven Mnuchin, the former Treasury chief.

Republicans are on track to win total control of government, having gained the White House and the Senate while leading in the race for the House of Representatives. That means Trumps nominees for 4,000 government posts, including more than two dozen cabinet officials, could sail through the confirmation process in the Senate.

Also Read: Joe Biden invites former rival Donald Trump to meet at Oval House on Nov 13

Trump recently announced Florida Republican operative Susie Wiles would be his chief of staff. Wiles, who Trump has called the ice baby and said likes to stay in the background, was the first to get a prized post in the new administration as hordes of party loyalists jockey for cabinet positions in Washington, Bloomberg reported.

President Joe Biden is set to host former President Donald Trump at the White House on November 13 for their first post-election meeting, marking the beginning of the U.S. transition of power, which will be completed in January.
By Emily Rose

JERUSALEM -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 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.

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.

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.
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip  Israeli strikes killed dozens of people including children on Sunday in Lebanon and isolated northern Gaza, as the world watched for signs of how the U.S. election might affect the war against Iranian-backed militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has spoken three times with Donald Trump since Tuesdays election and they see eye-to-eye regarding the Iranian threat and all of its components. Israels president, Isaac Herzog, is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday.

The Israeli airstrike in Lebanon killed at least 23 people including seven children in Aalmat village north of Beirut, far from the areas in the east and south where Hezbollah militants have a major presence. Lebanon's Health Ministry said another six people were wounded. There was no Israeli evacuation warning. There was no immediate Israeli comment.

Hezbollah began firing rockets, drones and missiles into Israel after war broke out in Gaza, in solidarity with the Palestinians and Hamas. Israel retaliated, and a series of escalations have led to all-out war.

In northern Gaza, an Israeli strike on a home sheltering displaced people in the urban refugee camp of Jabaliya killed at least 17 people including nine women, according to Dr. Fadel Naim, director of Al-Ahly Hospital in Gaza City.

Israel's military said it targeted a site where militants were operating, without providing evidence. It said the details of the strike are under review.

A separate strike hit a house in Gaza City, killing Wael al-Khour, a minister in the Hamas-run government, as well as his wife and three children, according to the Civil Defense, first responders who operate under the government. Israel strikes deeper into Lebanon

Israel has struck deeper inside Lebanon since September, when it killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah as well as most of his top commanders. Hezbollah has expanded its rocket fire from northern to central Israel. The fighting has killed over 3,000 people in Lebanon, according to the Health Ministry, and more than 70 people in Israel.

After Israel's strike in Aalmat, some 40 kilometers north of Beirut, legislator Raed Berro denied that any Hezbollah personnel or assets were in the building that was hit, adding: The important people are on the front line resisting  It is impossible for them to be among people in civilian life."

Hassan Ghaddaf, who lived next door and was lightly wounded, said displaced people were in the house that was struck.

I had seen them and got to know them the other day, Ghaddaf said. They were peaceful. On the contrary, they had someone from the Lebanese Internal Security Forces that works for the state, and we saw their garb and clothes in the rubble.

In Syria, an Israeli airstrike hit a residential building in the Damascus suburb of Sayyida Zeinab and the Defense Ministry said seven civilians were killed, state news agency SANA reported. Britain-based opposition war monitor The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights suggested Hezbollah was targeted. Israel did not immediately comment. Fears of famine in northern Gaza

The mid-month deadline is approaching for an ultimatum the Biden administration gave Israel to allow more aid into Gaza or risk possible restrictions on U.S. military funding.

Israeli forces have encircled and largely isolated Jabaliya and the nearby northern Gaza towns of Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun for the past month, allowing only a trickle of humanitarian aid. Experts from a panel that monitors food security say famine is imminent or may already be happening.

The northern third of Gaza, including Gaza City, has suffered the heaviest destruction of the 13-month war that was triggered by Hamas' attack into southern Israel. Israel has sent forces back in after repeated operations, saying Hamas has regrouped.

Israeli strikes often kill women and children. The military says it only targets militants, whom it accuses of hiding among civilians.

Also Sunday, Israel's military released what it said was video footage of Hamas abusing detainees. The soundless footage, dated from 2018 to 2020, appears to show hooded detainees chained in stress positions. In some clips, men beat or poke them with batons.

It was not possible to independently verify the videos, which the military said it recovered during operations in Gaza.

Rights groups have long accused the Hamas-run government in Gaza and the Western-backed Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank of abusing detainees and violently quashing dissent. Israel has been accused of similar abuses, especially since the start of the war. Israeli prison authorities say they follow relevant laws and investigate any allegations of wrongdoing. The toll of war

The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. They killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, about a third believed to be dead.

Israel's offensive has killed over 43,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities who do not distinguish between civilians and militants in their count but say over half the dead were women and children.

Israeli bombardment and ground invasions have left vast areas of Gaza in ruins and displaced around 90% of the population of 2.3 million people, often multiple times. Hundreds of thousands of people live in tent camps with few if any services.

Cease-fire talks mediated by the United States, Qatar and Egypt have repeatedly stalled, as have parallel efforts by the U.S. and others to halt the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

Qatar, a key mediator with Hamas, said Saturday it had suspended its efforts and would resume them when the parties show their willingness and seriousness to end the brutal war.

Magdy reported from Cairo and Chehayeb from Beirut. Associated Press writers Lujain Jo in Aalmat, Lebanon, and Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel contributed to this report.

Follow s war coverage at /hub/israel-hamas-war
Separatist leader Arsh Dalla was arrested by Canadian authorities on Sunday in connection with a recent shooting incident in Milton. He was designated an individual terrorist by Indian authorities last year and considered a successor to slain Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. New Delhi had previously urged its Canadian counterparts to make a provisional arrest of the fugitive.

According to an India Today report, the Khalistani leader was arrested by the Canadian police over his suspected involvement in the armed confrontation last month. Indian security agencies have also received confirmation about his detention.

The Halton Police began its investigation in late October after a shooting in Milton town. An official release indicates that the police was contacted after two men visited a hospital in the Guelph region.

One of the males was treated and released for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound apparently suffered in Halton region. The other was not injured. The HRPS Major Crime Bureau is now investigating and both males have been arrested, the police note added.

The development comes at a time when ties between the two countries have become increasingly strained following allegations of Indian involvement in the murder of Nijjar. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed in September last year that there was credible evidence linking Indian government agents to the killing. Ottawa also alleged at the end of last month that senior BJP leader and Indian Home Minister Amit Shah was behind plots to target Sikh separatists on Canadian soil.

New Delhi has repeatedly denied the allegations  calling them "absurd" and "motivated"  and accused Canada of giving space to extremist and anti-India elements in their country.

India also issued a furious rebuttal earlier in November after Canadian authorities listed the country as a cyberthreat adversary for the first time. Ottawa also suggested that state-sponsored actors could be spying against it  an allegation that New Delhi has dubbed another example of the Canadian strategy to attack India.
Russia is making extensive efforts to shore up its declining birth rate  including the possible formation of a ministry of sex. Russia recorded its lowest birth rate since 1999 in the first six months of this year while the ongoing war with Ukraine exacted a heavy toll. The conjuncture of declining births and rising mortality has led to a sharp decrease in population over the past few years.

Kremlin officials have dubbed it a catastrophic situation for the country with many pitching for a special demographic operation to improve the birth rate. Recently implemented measures include a barrage of incentives for those contemplating parenthood and extensive (and often invasive) data collection.

According to a report by Mirror, Russian officials are currently scrutinising a petition demanding the establishment of a ministry of sex amid growing calls to halt the demographic slide. The proposal includes several unusual ideas including shutting down the internet  and even switching off lights  between 10 pm and 2:00 am to promote intimacy.

Other ideas that are reportedly under consideration include the payment of a salary to stay-at-home mothers for housework and usage of public funds to cover wedding-night hotel stays for couples. The Russian government has also broached the possibility of funding first dates in order to promote relationships.

Data published by the statistics service Rosstat indicates that 599,600 children were born in Russia in the first half of 2024  16,000 fewer than in the same period in 2023 and the lowest since 1999. The natural decline of population has also accelerated this year with 325,100 deaths recorded between January and June  49,000 more than the corresponding period of last year. The population decline was somewhat offset by 20.1% growth in migrants that was seen between January and June.
A Russian state media outlet, Russia-1, aired explicit nude photos of Melania Trump on live television following Donald Trump's landslide victory in the 2024 US presidential election on Tuesday. The former First Lady's photos were shown on the network's program 60 Minutes, with a clip of the broadcast shared on X (formerly Twitter) by Julia Davis, creator of Russian Media Monitor.

Mint has decided not to embed video in the story.

In a post on X, Julia Davis wrote, Meanwhile in Russia: this is how the most watched state TV channel in the country welcomed Melania Trump's upcoming return to the White House. Olga Skabeeva is trying not to laugh. This was probably her idea.

Photo: X

The Russian anchor on the Russia-1 networks 60 Minutes program described the explicit details of the photos, stating, The future first lady lies on top of furs in a negligee, and Inside the magazine, Melania's sexy photos near a private airplane and aboard a plane. The nude photos, taken in 2000, were reportedly shot aboard Donald Trumps Boeing 727, according to The US Sun.

Meanwhile, the netizens termed this incident embarrassing and shocking.

Netizens react to the viral video on X. (Photo: X/@JuliaDavisNews)

Earlier in September, Melania Trump posted a new video on social media Wednesday, defending her past nude modeling work while also promoting her new book. In the video, she addressed the controversy surrounding the images and expressed pride in her career, emphasizing that her modeling work was a personal choice and part of her journey before becoming First Lady.

Why do I stand proudly behind my nude modeling work? The more pressing question is: Why has the media chosen to scrutinize my celebration of the human form in a fashion photo shoot? she said in the video posted on X.
Russia entered into a strategic partnership with North Korea after President Vladimir Putin signed a treaty into law between the two countries. The partnership, resulting from the treaty in June 2024, would include a mutual defence provision, reported Reuters, citing a decree published on Saturday.

The development comes nearly five months after Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed an accord after a summit in Pyongyang. According to the summit, the two nations can call for each 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. The treaty is likely to come into effect as Putin signed a decree on that ratification that appeared on Saturday on a government website outlining legislative procedures.

What does the treaty between North Korea and Russia include? Russia hasn't clearly mentioned all the aspects of the treaty with North Korea. The Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations will replace the 961 and 2000 treaties and the 2000 and 2001 Moscow and Pyongyang declarations, according to Observers Research Foundation.

The treaty extends to a wider area of cooperation between the two, including mutual security guarantees in the event of an attack, increasing the threat perceptions in Northeast Asia, etc. The treaty is also expected to promote the expansion and development of cooperation in trade and economic, investment, scientific and technological fields.

'Unambiguous': Kremlin on its mutual defence agreement with North Korea Months after signing the agreement, Russia has avoided commenting on the clause of mutual defence agreement in the treaty. While addressing the media in October this year, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the treaty implies truly strategic deep cooperation in all areas, including security, reported Reuters.
BEIRUT, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- At least 20 people were killed and six others injured Sunday morning in an Israeli airstrike targeting the town of Almat in the Jbeil District north of the capital Beirut, the Lebanese health ministry reported.

According to the ministry, civil defense teams are still working to search for more victims under the rubble.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

Since Sept. 23, the Israeli army has been launching an unprecedented, intensive air attack on Lebanon in a dangerous escalation with Hezbollah. The attacks have been focusing on southern and eastern Lebanon, where Hezbollah has a major stronghold.

According to the health ministry, the death toll from Israeli airstrikes since the beginning of the war on Oct. 8, 2023, has reached 3,136, with injuries hitting 13,979. 
And so American politics came to this: the day after a jury concluded in a civil case that Donald Trump had committed sexual abuse and then defamed his victim, he preened on national television as the front-runner for the presidential nomination of the party of family values and law and order, of American greatness and American pride. Mr Trumps gall should not surprise anyone, of course, not after his success for seven years in defining Republican values down. Yet what a degrading spectacle it was.

When Mr Trump attacked his accuser all over again, calling her a whack job", members of the audience of Republicans and independents, convened on May 10th by CNN for a town hall in the early primary state of New Hampshire, laughed and applauded. They laughed again when he insisted that crazy Nancy Pelosi", not he, was responsible for the mayhem during the insurrection of January 6th 2021 at the Capitol. He called that a beautiful day" and said that he was inclined to pardon many of the convicted rioters, who had love in their heart".

Armoured in his shamelessness, Mr Trump lied again and again, as CNNs moderator, Kaitlan Collins, valiantly cut him off and tried to fact-check him in real time. Youre a nasty person," Mr Trump eventually told her, to further whoops and laughter.

Mr Trump did emit one truth, flashing a light into the depths of his cynicism. After he demanded that Republican legislators refuse to raise the debt limit without massive cuts" to the budget from President Joe Biden, Ms Collins noted Mr Trump once said the debt ceiling should not be a negotiating tool.

Thats when I was president," Mr Trump said.

So why is it different now?" Ms Collins asked.

Because now Im not president," he replied with a smirk. That brought down the house. How hilarious that he would baldly proclaim he would wreck Americas credit purely for politics.

Even as the town hall was under way, CNN came in for a hail of criticism on Twitter and elsewhere for permitting Mr Trump its platform, particularly with a friendly studio audience. Mr Trump probably did help himself with primary voters. In appearing on CNN for the first time since 2016for years he has attacked it as fake news"he was taking the fight to his fans enemies and showing up rivals like Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, who play it safe with friendly journalists. Ms Collins challenged Mr Trump about his lies about election fraud as forcefully as any journalist to date. But the perverse rules of polarisation, including that of the media, meant her tenacity probably earned him support.

Yet CNN did the country a favour by showing Americans just how dangerous Mr Trump remains. Until now he has been running an effective campaign, one suggesting a disturbing capacity to learn from past mistakes. While battering Mr DeSantis before he has even announced his candidacy, Mr Trump has been methodically posting three-minute videos in which he describes his own policy positions. The online publication Politico recently reported that Mr Trump has been courting party leaders in states such as Louisiana who are likely to be delegates at the 2024 convention.

And he has been pitching his message to a general-election audience as well as a primary one. A new Trump advertisement, released on May 10th, deploys video of Mr Biden, who is 80, stumbling on the steps of Air Force One and falling off a bicycle. A Washington Post-ABC News poll published on May 7th showed Mr Trump beating Mr Biden in a head-to-head matchup.

But, unfiltered by his aides, Mr Trump damaged himself in the town hall for purposes of a general-election campaign. Mr Biden was fundraising off the event as it ended (Do you want four more years of that?" he asked on Twitter) and within half an hour his team released an ad interleaving Mr Trumps musings about the beauty of January 6th with images of violence that day. Should Mr Trump win the nomination, his boasts about overturning abortion rights would haunt him, along with many other remarks, some of which may also enhance his growing legal jeopardy.

The jury verdict on the eve of the town hall came in a civil case, in federal court in New York, brought by E. Jean Carroll, a writer. She accused Mr Trump of raping her in the 1990s, and then of defaming her after she made her accusations in 2019, while he was president. By a preponderance of the evidencethe standard for a civil casethe jury found that Ms Carroll did not prove rape, but did prove the other accusations. It ordered Mr Trump to pay her $5m. He said he would appeal.

The primary imperative

Mr Trump declined to appear in his defence, but in a videotaped deposition he confirmed he believed what he said in the Access Hollywood" video released in 2016, that stars could get away with grabbing women by their genitals. He called that statement largely true, unfortunately or fortunately". That last adverb, like the jurys ruling, will not help Mr Trump win back the suburban women he lost to Mr Biden by 19 points. Fortunately or unfortunately for her," he said in the town hall, by way of awful clarification.

Mr Trump was twice impeached, and in April he was indicted in New York on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Potentially more serious state and federal charges may lie ahead. So far, such censure has solidified his Republican support. That is because so few Republican leaders stand up to him. Most of his current and likely opponents for the nomination, including Mr DeSantis, repeated that mistake after the jury delivered its decision for Ms Carroll, ducking questions about it.

But after the town hall, the political action committee backing Mr DeSantis called it an hour of nonsense that proved Trump is stuck in the past". That is more like it. Mr Trumps opponents will not beat him by waiting for someone else to do the job. They should show some respect for the country, their party and themselves by standing up for the rule of law, and simple decency.

 2024, The Economist Newspaper Ltd. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
As the Maharashtra Assembly elections approach, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has ramped up its campaign with the slogan batenge toh katenge (If divided, we perish), aimed at invoking Hindu unity. However, Ajit Pawar, a prominent leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and an alliance partner of BJP in Mahayuti, has voiced strong opposition to the slogan, asserting it will not resonate with the people of Maharashtra.

Ajit Pawars Response to BJP's Campaign Slogan Maharashtra Deputy CM, Ajit Pawar stated that he did not support the slogan, which has been echoed by BJP leaders such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra leader Devendra Fadnavis.

I have said this several times. It will not work in Maharashtra. This may work in UP, Jharkhand, or some other places, Pawar told India Today.

The slogan, first introduced by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP leader Yogi Adityanath in the wake of anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh, has become a central element of the BJP's campaigning in Maharashtra.

Also Read | Battle for Baramati: Ajit Pawar vs Yugendra Pawar in Maharashtra assembly polls

Ajit Pawar, who is set to contest the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections 2024 from Baramati, emphasised that the focus in Maharashtra should be on development. We should be concentrating on Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas, not divisive politics, Pawar told India Today, distancing himself from BJPs polarising narrative.

Batenge toh katenge faces backlash The BJP's slogan has faced criticism not only from Ajit Pawar but also from the opposition, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accusing the BJP of promoting divisive politics. Congress, in particular, has condemned the slogan as an attempt to pit one religion against another.

Ajit Pawar, a seven-time MLA and former Deputy Chief Minister, pointed out that Maharashtras political culture is shaped by figures like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj, and Mahatma Phule, who stood for unity and social harmony. You cannot compare Maharashtra with other states; the people of Maharashtra do not like this, Pawar said in response to CM Adityanaths rally.

Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024: A New Battle This years Maharashtra Assembly elections, scheduled for November 20, will see the Mahayuti alliance, consisting of the BJP, Shiv Sena (led by Eknath Shinde), and Ajit Pawars NCP, face off against the Maha Vikas Aghadi, which includes Uddhav Thackerays Shiv Sena, Sharad Pawars NCP, and Congress.

The elections have become even more significant due to the split within regional parties, with Ajit Pawar and his uncle, Sharad Pawar, leading separate factions of the NCP.

For Ajit Pawar, this election is personal as he faces his uncles faction and the larger challenge of establishing his leadership credentials. Despite the recent split, Ajit Pawar has maintained that his decision to part ways with Sharad Pawar was not a mistake. I did not leave him. All the MLAs wrote to him and he gave his permission, Ajit Pawar told Hindu.

Also Read | Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar says breaking family was a mistake
The Longford / Westmeath constituency has produced the first major controversy of the General Election campaign 2024 with Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald stating that teachers had been 'mocked and demeaned from a Fine Gael stage' as Ryanair boss Michael OLeary endorsed the candidacy of Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke TD.

Mr OLeary endorsed Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke in the LongfordWestmeath constituency, adding that he would give his second preference to Fianna Fail candidate Robert Troy and it was important to elect a government that gets shit done.

The multimillionaire based part of his endorsement on Mr Burkes background in the private sector, as he criticised TDs who were teachers in the past. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin is among those who has a background in teaching.

The Dail is full of teachers  nothing wrong with teachers, I love teachers, but I wouldnt generally employ a lot of teachers to go out and get things done, he said.

Reacting to the comments, Fianna Fail Minister of State James Browne said the remark was offensive, adding that he was the chair of a board of management of primary school.

One of the most effective things you can do with your life is being a teacher, he said.

Fianna Fail candidate for Dublin Bay South Jim OCallaghan added: As the son of a primary school teacher, I can tell him hes absolutely incorrect  teachers are very effective at getting things done.

In an apparent reference to Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach Simon Harris, Mr OCallaghan added: We need people from different backgrounds in Dail Eireann, teachers, all walks of life  it cant be the case that everyone just decides at 19 years of age that Im going to be a politician and stay in politics for the rest of their lives.

Elsewhere, Labour leader Ivana Bacik said it was very disappointing to hear someone in public life taking snipes or sneers at teachers, as she called on Fine Gael to distance themselves from the comments.

She said: Were all conscious of the enormous contribution that teachers have made.

She added: Its particularly disappointing at a time when we know theres a crisis in education, the recruitment and retention of teachers.

Also read: Seventeen candidates in Longford / Westmeath set to battle it out for five Dail seats

Mr Burke later distanced himself from Mr OLearys remarks, telling RTE radio that he absolutely disagreed with the businessman about teachers.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said Mr Harris should clarify his partys position, adding: For teachers to be jeered and demeaned in this way is unacceptable.

She also said the public were exhausted with Fine Gael, after Simon Coveney claimed that Mr Harris was exhausting the opposition

Ms McDonald said: "This was a Fine Gael event for a Fine Gael election campaign where teachers were mocked and demeaned from a Fine Gael stage.



"It's incredibly disrespectful to teachers who work very hard for our children and for the future of the country. It's just plain wrong.



"This is the demeaning attitude towards teachers being displayed by Simon Harris' party. He should be asked to account for it. It requires an explanation from him as leader of Fine Gael. How can he stand over it?"

Speaking at Mr Burkes campaign launch in Mullingar, Mr OLeary also took aim at Sinn Fein and continued a long-running feud with the Green Party.

Mr OLeary, who grew up and lives in Mullingar, said the November 29 vote would be one of the most seismic elections within the next three decades because of the expected population boom.

He added: So it is vital this time that we elect a government that delivers.

We need a government that delivers for enterprise, that creates jobs. We need a government that delivers infrastructure that fixes the problems we face today, and above all, its vital that we elect a government that gets shit done.

Because, frankly, Im fed up with the left-wing politicians telling us that if they tax us more and spend more, all will be well.

Mr OLeary urged the crowd to also support Fianna Fail candidates but urged them not to vote for the Green Party or Sinn Fein.

I would also urge everybody to give your number two to somebody in Fianna Fail as well, he said.

Its important, I think, in this election that Fine Gael and Fianna Fail supporters transfer to each other.

Ryanair has repeatedly criticised the Green ministers for transport and tourism, Eamon Ryan and Catherine Martin, over what the airline sees as a lack of action on the Dublin Airport passenger cap.

POLL: What's the most important issue for you in this General Election?

What is most important in this election is we weed out the Greens. Weve learned after five minutes that the Greens are just weeds, Mr OLeary said.

They poison enterprise. Theyve destroyed transport.

He added: Please dont vote for Sinn Fein. I would ignore Sinn Fein. If you cant run your own party, you havent much chance of running a government or a country either.
A leading Longford hair care specialist has been recognised for standards of excellence in the Irish hair and beauty profession.

Creative Oceanic powered by Oceanic Awards announced the winners of The Irish Hair and Beauty Awards 2024 on October, 20 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at Dublin Airport.

David Keenan, the owner of The Hair Doc Hair salon in Kenagh, was the recipient of the award for the hair stylist of the year 2024 at the recent gala event in Dublin.

Taking to social media David said, My salon may be small, but it is mighty. When you pour your heart and soul into something, it is amazing to receive the results you work hard towards.

READ NEXT: Gardai on hunt for brazen criminals behind daring Longford farm raid

The evening of glamour and celebration honoured the achievements of exceptional individuals and establishments who set standards of excellence in the world of hair and beauty.

The salon owner said: Thank you to all my clients who keep me busy and for placing their trust and faith in me. The salon wouldn't be what it is without you all and none of this would be possible.

For a salon situated in a small village like Kenagh, I really am placing it on the map. It's only bigger and better we can go from here.

READ NEXT: Longford set for first affordable housing scheme as Council gets approval for 93 unit turn key development

The talented hairdresser has been racking up awards since opening in Kenagh in 2022. Earlier this year The Hair Doc also won out in the prestigious Hi Style Passoa Hair and Beauty Awards 2024.

The Irish Hair & Beauty Awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding talents in the hair and beauty community.
DAMASCUS, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed and several others injured in an Israeli airstrike on Sunday targeting two sites allegedly housing Hezbollah fighters in the Sayyidah Zaynab area on the outskirts of Syria's capital Damascus, a war monitor reported.

According to Britain-based watchdog group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the attack was aimed at specific individuals in an apartment within a residential building in Sayyidah Zaynab.

Sources in the area confirmed to Xinhua that three bodies were transported to a local hospital following the attack.

Earlier, Syrian state TV reported that explosions were heard in Sayyidah Zaynab as an Israeli airstrike targeted a residential building there.

The attack caused significant damage to the building, according to the television, without offering official reports of any casualties.

Sayyidah Zaynab, located just south of the Syrian capital, is home to a prominent Shiite shrine and has been the target of Israeli attacks in the past.

Israel has conducted numerous airstrikes in Syria in recent years, targeting what it says are Iranian military assets and arms transfers to Hezbollah. 
A drunk driver, who came to the attention of a witness after he repeatedly and erratically crossed the centre white line before crashing into a wall, has been disqualified for one year.

Dmytro Kravchenko of 4 Costello's Nursing Home, Ballyleague, Lanesboro pleaded guilty at Longford District Court to the offence that occurred at 2pm on February 7, 2024 at Lisduff Cross, Lisduff.

Garda Inspector Declan McGlynn said a member of the public contacted Gardai and reported that they had seen a motorist driving a Ford C-Max "erratically and dangerously" between Kilcommoc Cemetery and Longford Slashers GAA Club grounds.

READ NEXT: Longford set for first affordable housing scheme as Council gets approval for 93 unit turn key development

Gardai received a report a short time later the driver, a married father of one, had subsequently crashed into a wall at Lisduff.

Garda Morag Patterson and Garda Vincent O'Leary arrived at the scene and observed a man taking a bag out of the boot.

The witness informed Garda Patterson that the male was the driver of the vehicle and the officer noticed Kravchenko was unsteady on his feet and there was a smell of alcohol.

The Ukrainian national was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and a breath sample gave a result of 42mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

READ NEXT: Longford/Westmeath FG candidate says lump sum payments will help with cost-of-living ex

The legal limit is 22mg.

Solicitor Brid Mimnagh said her client came to Ireland two years ago due to the war in Ukraine and she handed in a medical report.

She told Judge Brendan O'Reilly he had a serious medical condition in 2006 and that had been a factor in the case.

"He cannot get the medication he needs here and his doctor had told him that if he becomes stressed a small amount of alcohol might help," she added.

Ms Mimnagh said her client had taken a very small amount of alcohol to ease his anxiety.

The solicitor stated her client had just secured work at a local sawmill and she asked if the disqualification could be postponed.

Judge O'Reilly agreed to this request and he noted the amount of alcohol the defendant had in his system was on the lower end of the scale.

However, he warned Kravchenko that despite his health issues there was no reasonable excuse to consume alcohol and drive.

If he wants to drink he can drink as much as he likes and can afford at home, he added.

Judge O'Reilly imposed a 300 fine with six months to pay and a one year driving ban that will commence from March 11, 2025.
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.
A lucky Massachusetts State Lottery player bought a winning Powerball ticket worth $50,000 at a variety store in Ipswich on Saturday.

The ticket was purchased at DJs Variety on Washington Street on Saturday.

In Powerball, players select five numbers between 1 and 69 and one Powerball number between 1 and 26. They then choose how many drawings they want to use those numbers for.

Players that match all five numbers and the Powerball number win the jackpot. They have 1 in 292,201,338 chances of winning this way.

Players that match four numbers and the Powerball number win $50,000. They have 1 in 913,129.18 chances of winning this way.

The Powerball jackpot prize stands at $103 million as of Sunday. Powerball drawings take place every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m.

Overall, at least 254 prizes worth $600 or more were won or claimed in Massachusetts on Saturday, including three in Springfield and eight in Worcester.

The Massachusetts State Lottery releases a full list of winning tickets every day. The list only includes winning tickets worth more than $600.

So far, the largest lottery prize won in Massachusetts this year was worth $1 million a year for life.

The prize was from the lotterys Lifetime Millions scratch ticket game. The winner claimed their prize through a trust on July 10, and opted to receive a one-time payment of $15.4 million.
A person passes the booth of Hong Kong Tourism Board at the Trade in Services Exhibition Area during the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 9, 2024. Emphasizing digitalization and focusing on the whole life cycle of business activities, the theme of Trade in Services Exhibition Area represents an integration of "Green and Low-carbon Development, Stable and Strong Chains, and Digital and Smart Future". (Photo by Chang Nengjia/Xinhua)

A person demonstrates an AI Platform for Smart Knitwear Design and Production at the Trade in Services Exhibition Area during the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 9, 2024. Emphasizing digitalization and focusing on the whole life cycle of business activities, the theme of Trade in Services Exhibition Area represents an integration of "Green and Low-carbon Development, Stable and Strong Chains, and Digital and Smart Future". (Xinhua/Liu Ying)

People visit the Trade in Services Exhibition Area during the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 7, 2024. Emphasizing digitalization and focusing on the whole life cycle of business activities, the theme of Trade in Services Exhibition Area represents an integration of "Green and Low-carbon Development, Stable and Strong Chains, and Digital and Smart Future". (Xinhua/Xu Liang)

People visit the booth of Hong Kong Tourism Board at the Trade in Services Exhibition Area during the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 7, 2024. Emphasizing digitalization and focusing on the whole life cycle of business activities, the theme of Trade in Services Exhibition Area represents an integration of "Green and Low-carbon Development, Stable and Strong Chains, and Digital and Smart Future". (Xinhua/Xu Liang)

People visit the booth of UPS at the Trade in Services Exhibition Area during the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 9, 2024. Emphasizing digitalization and focusing on the whole life cycle of business activities, the theme of Trade in Services Exhibition Area represents an integration of "Green and Low-carbon Development, Stable and Strong Chains, and Digital and Smart Future". (Photo by Chang Nengjia/Xinhua)

A person takes photos at the Trade in Services Exhibition Area during the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 9, 2024. Emphasizing digitalization and focusing on the whole life cycle of business activities, the theme of Trade in Services Exhibition Area represents an integration of "Green and Low-carbon Development, Stable and Strong Chains, and Digital and Smart Future". (Photo by Chang Nengjia/Xinhua)

People visit the booth of DHL at the Trade in Services Exhibition Area during the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 9, 2024. Emphasizing digitalization and focusing on the whole life cycle of business activities, the theme of Trade in Services Exhibition Area represents an integration of "Green and Low-carbon Development, Stable and Strong Chains, and Digital and Smart Future". (Photo by Chang Nengjia/Xinhua)

A child experiences an improved economy-class seat at the Trade in Services Exhibition Area during the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 9, 2024. Emphasizing digitalization and focusing on the whole life cycle of business activities, the theme of Trade in Services Exhibition Area represents an integration of "Green and Low-carbon Development, Stable and Strong Chains, and Digital and Smart Future". (Photo by Chen Haoming/Xinhua)

A staff member (L) introduces a sales solutions platform to a visitor at the Trade in Services Exhibition Area during the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 9, 2024. Emphasizing digitalization and focusing on the whole life cycle of business activities, the theme of Trade in Services Exhibition Area represents an integration of "Green and Low-carbon Development, Stable and Strong Chains, and Digital and Smart Future". (Photo by Chen Haoming/Xinhua)

An assistant robot designed for taking care of people who suffer from dementia is seen at the Trade in Services Exhibition Area during the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 9, 2024. Emphasizing digitalization and focusing on the whole life cycle of business activities, the theme of Trade in Services Exhibition Area represents an integration of "Green and Low-carbon Development, Stable and Strong Chains, and Digital and Smart Future". (Xinhua/Liu Ying)

People visit the booth of Pacific International Lines at the Trade in Services Exhibition Area during the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 7, 2024. Emphasizing digitalization and focusing on the whole life cycle of business activities, the theme of Trade in Services Exhibition Area represents an integration of "Green and Low-carbon Development, Stable and Strong Chains, and Digital and Smart Future". (Xinhua/Xu Liang)

People pose for photos at the Trade in Services Exhibition Area during the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 8, 2024. Emphasizing digitalization and focusing on the whole life cycle of business activities, the theme of Trade in Services Exhibition Area represents an integration of "Green and Low-carbon Development, Stable and Strong Chains, and Digital and Smart Future". (Xinhua/Liu Ying)
The state of Massachusetts has been a Democratic stronghold for many years, even though some pockets lean Republican.

But in some cases, those red pockets have strengthened leading up to the 2024 presidential election, and at least one reliably blue city flipped this year.

Fall River is one of seven communities where voters chose the Democratic candidate running against President-elect Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020. However, they chose Trump in 2024, the first time the city chose a Republican candidate for president in decades.

Florida, Rockland, Seekonk, Somerset, West Springfield, and Westport also voted for Trump for the first time this year. But unlike Fall River, the race has been tight in those six towns this year and in previous years.

In Fall River, Trump received 36.6% of the vote in 2016 compared to Democratic candidate Hillary Clintons 58.6%. In the 2020 election, Trump received 42.8% to President Joe Bidens 55.5%.

This year, Trump jumped almost eight points, pulling in 50.7% of the vote in Fall River to beat Kamala Harris' 47.7%, according to unofficial tallies.

Mayor Paul Coogan told WPRI this week that he has noticed the shift over the past 12 years.

The city is trending in a conservative way right now, he told the TV news station. People tie the inflation issues to the Biden administration. I think they dont like our homeless population, and while Fall River is a welcoming city, they think the residents who are from here should go first.

He acknowledged that the city has a high immigrant population, mostly of Portuguese descent, including from the Portuguese Azores islands. However, the city is also home to a strong white working-class population, a demographic that has leaned heavily toward Trump.

Boston University political scientist Daniela Melo told WBUR before the election that the Portuguese population in Fall River may also see themselves as different from the immigrants coming into the United States across the Mexican border. Because they came to the country the right way, Melo said, they have grabbed onto Trumps rhetoric against those who do not.

I think its primarily about being a part of the fabric and already feeling integrated, she told WBUR, and potentially seeing people who come without documents as breaking the code, breaching the values of the good American immigrant.

Of the other five towns, no candidate received a majority vote in 2016. The following election cycle, Biden did receive a majority in all six, but just barely in some  in Florida, he received 50% of the vote while Trump received 48.6%, and in Westport, the vote was 50.2% to 48.2%.

Once again, in 2024, neither candidate achieved a majority of the vote in Rockland, Seekonk or West Springfield. The races were still close in the other towns, with Trump taking home 53.2% in Florida, 51.3% in Somerset and 52.8% in Westport.
Westport Civic Trust is delighted to host its next lecture at 8pm on Tuesday, November 19, in the Plaza Hotel when well-known journalist and author Peter Murtagh will talk about his retirement project which was a motorbike trip from Tierra del Fuego to Alaska. All are welcome: admission is free to members, otherwise 5 on the night.

A former well-travelled journalist from the Irish Times, Peter published the book of his adventure called 'Tip to Top: the journey of a lifetime', which was launched earlier this year. It has been described as a ground-level portrait of the Americas as we rarely see them. He travelled alone with just a tent, his bike and a sleeping bag. His story has been described by Fintan OToole as a personal odyssey, a political exploration and a rattling good yarn.

Peter, who lives some of the time in Louisburgh, finished his journey in Deadhorse, a one-horse town in Alaska, where he had to stop his bike because theres a bear, a very, very large brown bear, ambling along on all fours towards us. Hes a grizzly bear, which I can tell by the hump on his back  and although hes ambling with a sort of lumbering motion, he has that way about him that has me thinking: 'he looks like he could run very fast if he wanted to'. I pull over to the left side of the road and start fumbling urgently for my phone to take pictures. I can see people in the cars sort of freaking out and the bear apparently tried to open one of the car doors, grabbling the handle in his mouth. My efforts to video Mr Bear fail miserably as I realise that I too better hightail it out of there, which I do, making in the process a two-second video of the road surface'.

His illustrated talk will be well worth hearing.
A Canadian woman who tossed a message in a bottle into the sea 24 years ago has visited the West Mayo beach where it was discovered earlier this year.

Lexi Ploc-Canning, a native of Ontario with Irish connections through her grandfather, has said she wants to move to Mayo after she visited local couple Aoife and Tom Bourke, who discovered her message in a bottle on Bertra Beach while out walking with their children.

Ms Ploc-Canning threw the bottle into the Atlantic Ocean in Newfoundland when she was eight years old thinking that pirates were going to find it.

I had forgotten about it for a very long time time and then shortly before they found the letter both my grandparents passed away and then I was remembering all the memories with them and thought about the letter and then it was a couple of weeks after I thought about the letter that it popped up here, Ms Ploc-Canning told The Mayo News.

Lexi Ploc-Canning pictured in Newfoundland aged eight

Though water-damaged, the message in the bottle was legible enough to show Ms Ploc-Cannings name.

The couple then connected with her through Instagram, and eventually, Ms Ploc-Canning organised a trip to the very beach where her bottle was discovered.

She said she was very shocked when the Bourkes made contact saying they had discovered it 24 years after she tossed it into the ocean.

I had been staying in Costa Rica for a while and I was just leaving and it was a very magical place that I was staying in, she said.

Then I get this message and it the reminder that I needed in that moment that magic is everywhere, no matter where I go, that its always going to happen, that its always present.

An avid animal enthusiast, Ms Ploc-Canning, was very taken by the scenery in West Mayo before returning home to Canada last Thursday.

I love it, its probably one of my favourite places that Ive been. The land is beautiful, the people are amazing, the culture and all of it, she said.

I could not even have imagined it in my wildest dreams. The fact that Im here and the letter is here is so surreal.

Though she will remain in Canada for the foreseeable future, Ms Ploc-Canning is already dreaming of one day opening a farm centre in West Mayo.

I need to think about it all and look into all of that. I have been looking at getting a VISA too to come here for years and see really if I like it before I decide to do something like that, she said.
TEHRAN, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi is scheduled to arrive here Wednesday night for talks on unresolved nuclear issues, the official news agency IRNA reported Sunday.

Grossi's visit, to take place at Iran's official invitation, would be aimed at holding talks with high-ranking Iranian officials starting Thursday, the report said.

The visit will come as several outstanding issues remain unresolved between Tehran and the IAEA, including the agency's claim to have found "traces of uranium" at a number of "undeclared" Iranian sites, which Iran has repeatedly rejected, and the move by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran to dismiss a number of the UN nuclear watchdog's inspectors last year.

On Nov. 17, 2022, the IAEA's Board of Governors passed a resolution proposed by the United States, Britain, France and Germany that called on Tehran to collaborate with the agency's investigators regarding the alleged "traces of uranium" at some of its "undeclared" sites.

Last year, the two sides reached an agreement in Tehran to have further interactions based on Iran's cooperation and greater openness to the agency's inspections.

Iran signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, with world powers in July 2015, agreeing to put some curbs on its nuclear program in return for removing the sanctions on the country. The United States, however, pulled out of the deal in May 2018 and reimposed its unilateral sanctions on Tehran, prompting the latter to drop some of its nuclear commitments under the deal.

The talks on the revival of the JCPOA began in April 2021 in Vienna, Austria. Despite several rounds of talks, no significant breakthrough has been achieved since the end of the last round in August 2022. 
Australia to offer free RSV vaccines to newborns and pregnant women in 2025, boosting protection.

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Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)



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Protect your baby from #respiratorysyncytialvirus! New #RSVvaccine now available for pregnant women. Talk to your doctor today. #pregnancy

Respiratory Syncytial Virus

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Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) - (https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv)

Starting in 2025, Australia will provide free respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccinations () for newborns and pregnant women.Mark Butler, the minister for health, announced 174.5 million Australian dollars ($114.8 million) in funding to subsidize RSV vaccinations following a spike in cases in 2024. According to the government, 12,000 Australian babies are admitted to hospital every year with severe cases of RSV -- a contagious virus mostly affecting young children that causes infections of the respiratory tract, reports Xinhua news agency.Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus that can cause mild, cold-like symptoms in most people. However, it can lead to severe illness, especially in infants, young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. RSV spreads easily through droplets in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. While there's no specific treatment for RSV, preventive measures like frequent handwashing and avoiding close contact with sick individuals can help reduce the risk of infection.Under the new program, women who are between 28 and 36 weeks pregnant will be eligible for a free vaccine from February, giving protection to their unborn children.Additionally, all children younger than two years whose mothers were not immunized during pregnancy will also be eligible for free vaccination in winter when RSV infections typically occur.The maternal RSV vaccine is currently only available in Australia to women in the late stages of pregnancy and costs up to 350 AUD ($230.3). Australia has recorded over 165,000 cases of RSV so far in 2024, up from 128,117 in 2023 and 95,959 in 2022, according to data from the Department of Health's National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System.Of the 2024 cases, 82,048 were recorded in children aged 0-4 and another 14,016 in those aged 5-9.Source-IANS
Varicose veins are swollen, twisted veins causing discomfort, often in legs, treatable with lifestyle changes.

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Varicose veins - Symptoms and causes



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#Varicoseveins: Twisted, enlarged veins, often blue or purple, that usually develop in the legs. More common in #Indians due to genetics, prolonged standing, and lack of exercise. #India

What are Varicose Veins

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Varicose veins - Symptoms and causes - (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/varicose-veins/symptoms-causes/syc-20350643)

25% of Indians have varicose veins (), a condition often overlooked and treatable without surgery, according to leading medical experts.They believe recent advancements in non-surgical treatment methods are transforming the approach to vascular care, enabling even remote areas to access high-quality treatments. Over 100 medical professionals from across India participated in the Indian Vein Congress (IVC) 2024, hosted by Avis Hospitals.Experts from Brazil virtually participated. It was spearheaded by Dr. Rajah V. Koppala, founder of Avis Hospitals and a renowned vascular interventional specialist. The IVC focused on sharing best practices in non-surgical solutions such as laser treatments and other innovative approaches. Dr. Koppala highlighted that Avis Hospitals has successfully treated over 40,000 patients using non-surgical methods over the past eight years. He stressed the importance of staying updated on new developments to continue enhancing patient outcomes.Varicose veins are swollen, twisted veins that are visibly raised and often appear dark purple or blue, usually on the legs and feet. They develop when the valves in the veins malfunction, causing blood to pool and creating increased pressure within the vein walls. This can result in pain, heaviness, or aching in the affected areas, and in severe cases, lead to skin ulcers or blood clots. Factors such as age, pregnancy, prolonged standing, and genetics can increase the risk of developing varicose veins. While often a cosmetic concern, treatments like compression stockings, lifestyle changes, and minimally invasive procedures can help alleviate symptoms and improve vein health.The event featured insights from international experts, including Dr. Rodrigo Gomes de Oliveira and Dr. Fernando Tres Silveira, who shared updates on global trends and challenges in vascular and interventional radiology. The discussions underscored that while non-surgical methods can be highly effective, there are cases where surgical intervention is necessary. Indian experts engaged in dialogue with international colleagues, exchanging knowledge on advanced treatments and decision-making for complex cases.Participants gained practical insights into various treatment options, with senior specialists outlining which methods are most effective for different conditions. The Congress showcased the importance of continuous learning and adopting new techniques to improve the treatment of varicose veins, a condition often underdiagnosed in India.Dr. Koppala said the participation of top vascular experts in Hyderabad and the knowledge shared here will benefit practitioners across the country. "This Congress is not just about sharing information but about shaping the future of medical practice in India. With non-surgical treatments gaining traction globally, our healthcare professionals must integrate these methods into their practice, he said.Dr. Roy Varghese, Vascular Surgeon, emphasized: "Chronic venous disease affects 20-35 percent of the adult Indian population. Endovascular procedures have simplified treatment, offering a painless, day-care approach."The event also included participation from major medical technology companies such as Medtronic, which showcased cutting-edge equipment useful for modern vascular procedures, underlining their role in the advancement of non-invasive treatment methods.Source-IANS
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Russia is open to hearing 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 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 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.

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 Im 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 Unions 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 Ukraines 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 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.

In Russia, the Defense Ministry said 50 Ukrainian drones were destroyed over seven Russian regions  more than half over the Bryansk region, bordering Ukraine.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

___

Morton reported from London.
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.

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.
WASHINGTON (AP)  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.
WHITEFISH POINT, MI - Forty-nine years ago today, the Edmund Fitzgerald was caught in the grip of a deadly storm on Lake Superior.

Investigators would later say the Mighty Fitzs course had put it in the worst possible place amid the monstrous waves of that November gale.

When it sank with all 29 souls aboard on Nov. 10, 1975, the big freighter became the Great Lakes most well-known shipwreck.

RELATED: Edmund Fitzgeralds final hours: 8 things to know

The Fitzgeralds demise was shared around the world in Gordon Lightfoots song The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, while the harrowing details of the ore carriers last journey became part of mariner lore.

Today, we remember the lives lost. And we honor the amazing bravery of those who risked their own lives to search for a crew who would never be rescued.

Were highlighting a collection of photos that have been shared by our friends at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, the Associated Press, the U.S. Coast Guard, and other ship enthusiasts.

Weve included some interesting facts about the Fitzgeralds work history as a stellar cargo hauler, and some of the heartbreaking conversations that marked its final hours.

To the Mighty Fitz, we offer the formal salute: 3 longs and 2 shorts.

RELATED: 2024 Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Ceremony: The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point in the Upper Peninsula will be offering a livestream memorial service at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 10. See the streaming details here.

Part 1: The Early Days

The Edmund Fitzgeralds launch at Great Lakes Engineering Works on June 7, 1958.

The Edmund Fitzgerald launch at Great Lakes Engineering Works on June 7, 1958.

Edmund Fitzgerald seen from the Ambassador Bridge. In this photo, the vessel is underway (downbound) on the Detroit River in 1960.

Edmund Fitzgerald seen from the Ambassador Bridge

Originally a coal-fired "laker," the Edmund Fitzgerald was later outfitted to burn oil, and had a diesel-powered bow thruster. She was owned by Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company of Milwaukee.

The Edmund Fitzgerald under construction.

The Edmund Fitzgerald

The Edmund Fitzgerald was not only an ore-hauling workhorse with nearly 750 round trips to her credit, she was also the largest freighter on The Great Lakes for 13 of her 17 years.

Part 2: The Day of the Storm

CONVERSATION AT 3:30 P.M. ON NOV. 10, 1975

At 3:30 p.m. The Fitzgeralds captain, Ernest McSorley, calls the nearby freighter Aurthur M. Andersons captain, Jesse Cooper, to report damage and say his ship would slow to let the Anderson catch up. Minutes later, the U.S. 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.

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

CONVERSATION AT 5:30 P.M. ON NOV. 10, 1975

At 5:30 p.m., the Fitzgerald crew is advised by Swedish ship Avafors 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.

Even after the Edmund Fitzgerald disappeared from radar, it took a while to organize a search effort because of the fierce storm pounding Lake Superior. The Arthur M. Anderson, which had been trailing the Fitzgerald for more than a day, was the first to search. By then, the doomed freighter had already plunged to the lake's bottom and had broken in two.

Image of the Edmund Fitzgerald shipwreck taken during a dive in 1995 to recover the ship's bell. The ship sank in a storm off Whitefish Point in Lake Superior on Nov. 10, 1975.

Image of the Edmund Fitzgerald shipwreck taken during a dive in 1995 to recover the ship's bell.

FINAL CONVERSATION ON NOV. 10, 1975

At 7:10 p.m. the Anderson calls the Fitzgerald with navigation instructions. The Anderson 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.

At 7:15 p.m. the Fitzgerald disappeared from the Andersons radar. More than an hour later, the Coast Guard began an active search. The 29 crew members aboard all perished.

This 1976 underwater photo shows a close up of the pilot house of the freighter Edmund Fitzgerald after it sank at the bottom of Lake Superior on Nov. 10, 1975. The freighter split in two when it was caught in a severe storm and sank with its load of iron ore and crew of 29 men. (AP Photo)ASSOCIATED PRESS

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

Part 3: Pieces Recovered, Dives to the Wreck Site

The No. 2 lifeboat that was recovered after the Edmund Fitzgerald sank.

Life vests recovered after the Edmund Fitzgerald sank.

An oil-splattered life ring from the Edmund Fitzgerald was among the limited debris recovered after the sinking.

Lake Superior claimed all 29 men aboard the Mighty Fitz, from a young deckhand to its veteran captain.

When the U.S. Coast Guard surveyed the Edmund Fitzgerald's wreck site in 1976, it used a U.S. Navy submersible to get video of the ship's two halves on the lake bottom, covered in mud. Artist sketches made from this video are included in the official Marine Casualty Report issued in 1977.

A helicopter, aiding in the search for the missing Edmund Fitzgerald lost in a severe storm in Whitefish Bay on Lake Superior just north of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, is fueled at a landing pad at Whitefish Point on Tuesday on Nov. 12, 1975. The Fitzgerald went down with a crew of 29 while carrying about 26,000 tons of taconite pellets. (AP Photo/JCH)ASSOCIATED PRESS

Lake Superior claimed all 29 men aboard the Mighty Fitz, from a young deckhand to its veteran captain.

Image of the Edmund Fitzgerald shipwreck taken during a dive in 1995 to recover the ship's bell.

The Edmund Fitzgerald's bell now is displayed at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point. Canadian explorer Joseph MacInnis led a 1995 expedition to recover it. This quest gave the families of the lost crew members a tangible memorial.

The crew aboard the USCGC HOLLYHOCK visited the site of the wreck of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald in 2016 for a brief memorial service.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Along with reading and history, hundreds of West Michigan students are spending their class time learning how to become habitat heroes, starting with releasing Monarch butterflies.

These students will also spend this school year learning about birds and growing native plant species.
BAY COUNTY, MI  Two Bay County bars surpassed $100,000 in on-premises liquor sales last year.

Meanwhile, police in Bay City de-escalated a fight at Baytown Family Neighborhood  only for it to pick back up an hour later, with one person being killed by a gunshot to the head.

Those headlines and more are included below in this roundup of Bay County-area news you may have missed while you were perusing election results.

See the 10 Bay County bars with the highest liquor sales in 2023

Two bars in Bay County surpassed $100,000 in on-premises liquor sales last year.

Jakes Corner Lounge, 114 3rd St., which touts itself as downtown Bay Citys best dive bar, racked up the most among bars in the city with $133,242 in liquor sales for 2023.

Double S Party Store, 1461 S. Huron Road in Kawkawlin, ranked No. 2 in liquor sales among Bay County bars in 2023, amassing $125,371 sales. An establishment that sells tobacco, groceries and other items in addition to featuring pool tables and liquor, Double S says it prides itself in customer service, and we believe that is what sets us apart from our competitors.

Read the full story here.

Police de-escalate fight at Baytown. Man fatally shot with laser-sighted rifle an hour later.

Early one recent morning, Bay City police responded to a reported fight at Baytown Family Neighborhood. Hoping to quell the tense situation, officers removed a 26-year-old man from the scene, took him to a party store and bought him some cigars, then sent him on his way.

About an hour later, the man was back at Baytown, suffering from a fatal gunshot wound to his head. As witnesses would tell police, a teen fired the bullet with a small-caliber rifle, using a laser sight to find his target.

These details are contained in police reports within court files, released the day after the suspect was arraigned on a murder charge.

Read the full story here.

Tall ships wont return to Bay City in 2025

Every three years, sail boats of varying sizes, equipped with beautiful masts and nautical allure to boot, would converge on Bay City, often sailing up or down Lake Huron before entering the Saginaw Bay and making their way up the Saginaw River.

And every three years, tens of thousands of people would make their way to Bay County to capture the beautiful sites as they sat, docked along the river near Veterans Park, taking in the oohs and ahs from spectators.

Next year, 2025, was supposed to be the next time this sailing phenomenon took place. But now, officials with the city say that wont be the case.

Read the full story here.

Firefighters extinguish small blaze inside John Glenn High School

Firefighters quickly doused a small fire inside a Bangor Township High School this morning.

Around 7:05 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5, firefighters responded to John Glenn High School, 3201 Kiesel Road, after staffers there called 911 to report a blaze, said Chief Mark Galloner. Crews entered and found a small fire inside a classroom.

Crews doused the flames with an extinguisher then ventilated the room, Galloner said. No injuries were suffered and the resultant damage was minor, the chief said.

Read the full story here.

Teen suspect surrenders in fatal shooting of Saginaw man in Bay City

The teenage suspect in a recent fatal shooting in Bay City has surrendered to police.

JaiMari K. Campbell, 19, on the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 6, turned himself in to his probation officer.

Police arrested him on a warrant charging him with open murder in the death of Saginaw resident Toryon T. Patterson.

Read the full story here.

Twice-convicted sex offender charged with molesting boy in Bay County

For the third time, a Pinconning Township man is charged with sexually assaulting a child.

Bay County Sheriffs deputies on Nov. 1 arrested 65-year-old Rojelio R. Rodriguez on a warrant. After spending the weekend in jail, Rodriguez on Nov. 4 was arraigned in Bay County District Court on two counts of second-offense second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a victim 13 or younger. The charge is punishable by up to 15 years in prison, with the second-offense addendum mandating a five-year minimum.

According to an affidavit contained in charging documents, Rodriguez between August and October of this year twice touched a boys privates. Both incidents were recorded on video by another minor, the affidavit states.

Read the full story here.

Lafayette Bridge fully operational after overnight repairs

Good news, Bay City commuters. Lafayette Bridge is open.

Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) officials on Tuesday morning, Nov. 5, Election Day, said the bridge was reopened to traffic shortly after 4 a.m., when repairs were completed.

The Lafayette Bridge experienced an electrical malfunction Saturday, Nov. 2, that led to the expedited order for a replacement component. Crews received the equipment and began working to repair the bridge Sunday, Nov. 3, but the new component did not solve the ongoing issue.

Read the full story here.

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI  At the top of the ticket, Kent County continued its shift this election from one-time Republican stronghold to Democratic leaning, with Vice President Kamala Harris defeating President-elect Donald Trump 52% to 47% and other leading Democrats scoring a victory too.

But scan further down the ballot, and youll see a different political reality at play.
JERUSALEM, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Three agricultural workers were injured as a barrage of rockets from Lebanon hit northern Israel on Sunday, according to Israeli sources.

The barrage targeted the Upper Galilee and the Western Galilee and included about 10 rockets, some of which "were intercepted and the rest fell in open areas," the Israeli military said in a statement.

Two men working in an agricultural field sustained moderate injuries, and the third was lightly injured, the Galilee Medical Center said in a statement. The three are all residents of the Arab village of Sheikh Danun in northern Israel.

By Sunday noon, Hezbollah forces in Lebanon had fired about 20 rockets toward northern Israel, according to Israeli figures. 
The Democratic presidential primary is expected to be wide open in 2028 after Vice President Kamala Harris loss Tuesday.

With former President Donald Trump not yet inaugurated, some are looking ahead to who those contenders four years from now could be.

Its a list of the usual suspects so far. Among them, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, and, of course, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Whitmer has long been viewed as a potential presidential candidate in 2028 but hasnt herself confirmed those ambitions, though she hasnt closed the door on a run either.

Related: Will Gov. Whitmers meteoric rise result in presidential run?

Her name was floated as a possible replacement at the top of the Democratic ticket over the summer when President Joe Bidens candidacy was faltering under a poor debate performance and low approval ratings.

But when Harris took the reins, the possibility of her winning the election and running for a second term changed the calculus on a potential Whitmer 2028 run.

Whitmer, 53, became a rising star in the Democratic Party and a national figure in 2020, the year she went toe-to-toe with then-president Trump over federal pandemic assistance, implemented strict stay-at-home orders and survived a foiled plot to kidnap her.

She was also a contender that year to be named Bidens vice presidential nominee, but Whitmer was reportedly hesitant to jump into consideration.

It still stands that shes one of the leading candidates to be the Democrats nominee in 2028, said Whitt Kilburn, a professor of political science at Grand Valley State University.

Another Trump presidency could allow Whitmer to again act as a foil to his conservative leadership, expanding her national profile even further and potentially even become the face of the party.

First elected as governor in 2018, Whitmer has two years left in her tenure as governor. She won both elections by about 10 points, with her reelection in 2022 seeing an historic takeback by Democrats of both state legislative chambers.

That trifecta, though, was short lived, with Republicans taking back a majority in the state House on Tuesday.

Whitmers profile hasnt diminished since 2020.

Over the past year, she raised roughly $8.27 million for her super PAC, Fight Like Hell PAC, according to federal campaign finance filings. She launched the super PAC in 2023 to canvass voters in support of Biden, and then Harris, but also to raise that national profile.

In true potential presidential candidate fashion, Whitmer released a memoir over the summer, True Gretch, that was a hit nationwide, briefly holding spots on New York Times bestsellers lists.

And during the Democratic National Convention in August, she held a coveted speaking slot on the final night just 30 minutes before Harris walked on stage to address the convention and accept the nomination for president.

While politicians, pundits, experts and more are still dissecting why Harris lost, Kilburn said its clear that the Democratic party in 2028 will have to focus more on bread-and-butter issues that affect everyday people.

I would say Whitmer has been a strong governor on those issues, a strong candidate, Kilburn said.

Working on those issues is something Whitmer touched on in her statement following the election outcome.

As governor of the great state of Michigan, my job remains the same no matter who is in the White House, she said. I am focused on getting things done that make a real difference in peoples lives.

Whitmers office did not immediately respond to MLives request for comment.
BEIJING, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Diplomacy and dialogue are the only meaningful ways to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, while provocative legislation and military build-up will only lead to a lose-lose situation for everyone, said experts in their recent interviews with Xinhua.

The remarks came when the Philippines passed two domestic laws defining its so-called maritime zones and archipelagic lanes, attempting to legalize its illegal claim in the South China Sea.

Earlier this week, the Southeast Asian country also organized a forum, expecting to muddy the waters by playing the victim and inviting more foreign military assets into the region.

Anna Malindog-Uy, vice president of the Manila-based Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute, voiced her concerns about the recent developments.

"The recent enactment of the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act has introduced new complexities to the already challenging diplomatic and political relations between the Philippines and China," Malindog-Uy said, adding that such a move might be a ploy to redirect public attention from the archipelago's domestic challenges, such as economic concerns or other governance issues.

The Filipino scholar's views were echoed by Joseph Matthews, a senior professor at the BELTEI International University in Cambodia.

According to Matthews, the Philippines is attempting to sway the situation in its favor by imposing domestic laws beyond its jurisdiction.

"It is absolutely illegal and unacceptable to other countries involved in the South China Sea dispute to accept and follow the Philippine domestic laws," he added.

The experts also warned of the growing military presence in the region.

Malindog-Uy said the military's build-up in the South China Sea risks escalating regional tensions and may perpetuate an arms race.

Bunn Nagara, director and senior fellow of the Belt and Road Initiative Caucus for the Asia-Pacific, a Malaysian think tank, said that placing more weapons in the region is "provocative" and "these concerns are shared by all countries."

Hu Bo, director of the Center for Maritime Strategy Studies of Peking University, said military deterrence in the region fuels power competition, which is counterproductive and doomed to backfire.

To avoid a worsening situation, the experts called on relevant parties to have a sincere dialogue rather than a war of words, stressing the need for diplomacy without external interference.

There are no real alternatives other than diplomacy and dialogue to resolve disagreements, Nagara said, underscoring that the willingness of countries to meet and discuss differences shows a commitment to resolving the problem.

"Unwillingness instead shows only a no-win approach and leads to a lose-lose situation for everyone," he said.

Nagara believed the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) is urgently needed to avoid accidents and miscalculations that may get out of control.

Fearing further complications, Matthews warned of the involvement of a third party in the South China Sea.

"Do not involve or engage a third party in the conflict that will complicate and enlarge the conflict beyond the control," said Matthews.

"Inviting foreign troops and installing a missile system will never resolve the issue, but raise the tensions and create more complications," he added. 
BEIJING, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- China will offer over 100 exchange opportunities to Italian universities, with the aim of further deepening higher education exchanges between the two countries, Huai Jinpeng, the Chinese minister of education, said on Saturday.

Huai made the announcement at the opening ceremony of the China-Italy University Rectors Dialogue held in Beijing, stating that China will offer at least five fully funded student exchange opportunities to each of the 22 Italian universities participating in the event.

At the opening ceremony, the Italy leg of a high-level initiative to double the scale of European youth exchanges in China was launched, and several Chinese and Italian universities also signed agreements to jointly build research centers and campuses.

"Currently, China and Italy boast all-round, wide-ranging and multi-layered education exchanges and cooperation," Huai noted, adding that China is now the largest source country of international students in Italy, while Italy ranks among the top five European countries in terms of the number of its own students studying in China.

To date, universities from both countries have jointly established 45 collaborative higher education institutions and programs, as well as nine international research laboratories with a focus on cutting-edge and foundational disciplines as well as high-tech engineering fields.

"We sincerely hope that universities in both countries can make full use of various opportunities such as short-term study visits, student exchanges, summer schools and joint training programs to promote in-depth exchanges among Chinese and Italian youth," Huai added.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Italy comprehensive strategic partnership. Over the past two decades, educational exchanges and cooperation between the two sides have played a significant role in enhancing mutual understanding between the two peoples.

"More than 700 years ago, Marco Polo's travels connected the Chinese and Western civilizations. Looking into the future, we will continue the spirit of mutual respect and exchange in dialogue and cooperation, and create more opportunities for the young people of both countries," said Tiziana Lippiello, board member of the Conference of Italian University Rectors, at the ceremony.

The dialogue was jointly organized by China's Ministry of Education and the Italian Ministry of University and Research, with representatives from nearly 50 universities in both countries attending. 
BEIRUT, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Lebanese government is determined to strengthen the deployment of the country's armed forces in southern Lebanon, Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Abdallah Bou Habib said Sunday.

The government has decided to recruit and train some 1,500 soldiers in preparation for sending another 5,000 soldiers to join about 4,500 already present in southern Lebanon, Bou Habib said in Saudi Arabia's Riyadh during a ministerial preparatory meeting ahead of the Arab-Islamic Summit scheduled for Sunday.

According to posts published by the ministry on social media platform X, Bou Habib called for Arab and Islamic support and assistance "in providing the requirements for this deployment."

Urging Arab and Islamic pressure on Israel to stop the war and destruction in Lebanon, Bou Habib said, "Lebanon has clearly expressed its position and vision for a sustainable solution through the comprehensive and parallel implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701."

Lebanon is committed to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and its condemnation of any attacks on its personnel or headquarters, he added.

Since Sept. 23, the Israeli army has been launching an unprecedented, intensive air attack on Lebanon in a dangerous escalation with Hezbollah.

According to the Lebanese health ministry, the death toll from Israeli airstrikes since the beginning of the war on Oct. 8, 2023, has reached 3,136, with injuries hitting 13,979. 
You are here: Arts

This photo taken on Oct. 28, 2024 shows a batch of 56 lost Chinese cultural relics to be returned from Italy in Rome, Italy. [Photo by Li Jing/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.

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. [Photo by Li He/Xinhua]



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.

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. [Photo by Li He/Xinhua]



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.
PORT SUDAN, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Sudanese government on Saturday denied U.S. accusations of blocking humanitarian aid delivery to those affected by the country's armed conflict.

In a statement, Sudan's Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC), a governmental body that manages humanitarian work, said the accusations made by U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello were part of an organized campaign targeting the commission's efforts.

"It would have been more realistic and courageous of him (Perriello) to direct his criticism toward the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia, which has been looting, detaining, and obstructing the delivery of humanitarian aid, besieging those in need, and denying them access to food and medicine," the statement said.

The statement said that between Jan. 1 and Nov. 6, the HAC had granted 12,170 movement permits to organizations and agencies, allowed 1,073 trucks to enter through the Adre and Tina crossings, and approved 2,985 entry visas for foreign humanitarian workers.

The statement said the total funds provided by the government in the form of customs and tax exemptions, transportation of aid, and purchase of supplies exceeded 600 million U.S. dollars.

In a post on social media platform X on Wednesday, Perriello said that the HAC prevented 520 of the 550 humanitarian relief trucks from leaving Port Sudan to deliver life-saving supplies to states across the country.

Sudan has been gripped by conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF since mid-April 2023. According to a report by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project on Oct. 14, the ongoing conflict has claimed more than 24,850 lives. The International Organization for Migration estimates that over 14 million people have been displaced within or outside Sudan as of Oct. 29. 
SHANGHAI, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- On Shanghai's Chongming Island, rows of solar panels shimmer above a vast crab pond. These panels do more than capture the light. They also generate green electricity to power one of China's biggest events of the year, the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE).

This innovative approach combines aquaculture with renewable energy, enabling the expo, held in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10, to be fully powered by green energy for the first time in its history.

According to the State Grid Shanghai Municipal Electric Power Company, organizers secured 10 million kWh of clean electricity for the event, a quarter of that coming from solar panels in the crab ponds, ensuring that the venue runs sustainably throughout its duration.

Lvuhua Town on the island is leading the way in adopting the combined "fisheries-solar" approach. The crab ponds, home to prized Chinese mitten crabs (also known as Shanghai hairy crabs), are now doubling as solar power stations.

Zhang Jun, a local crab farmer, has been experimenting with this new idea. "I've been raising crabs on about 200 mu (around 13.33 hectares) of my pond this year," he said.

Notably, after solar panels were installed, Zhang noticed a significant drop in the crab mortality rate. He explained that the panels serve as natural sources of shade, cooling the water during the hot summer months and creating a healthier environment for the crabs.

The first phase of the project in Lvhua Town spans an area of 1,263 mu and has a total capacity of 44 megawatts. The floating solar panels generate 45.76 million kWh of electricity annually.

According to the developer, China Huadian Corporation Ltd., the output is equivalent to saving 14,000 tonnes of coal each year and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 39,000 tonnes annually.

"We supported the construction of the 110 kV transmission line to connect this renewable energy directly to the grid," said Ma Qingyun, an engineer at the State Grid Shanghai Municipal Electric Power Company's Chongming branch.

The project is part of Chongming District's broader efforts to become a carbon-neutral island. Over recent years, Chongming has rolled out a series of green initiatives, including solar farms in the towns of Chenjia, Hengsha and Lvuhua. Other areas like Gangxi and Zhongxing townships are following suit.

Currently, Chongming's total installed capacity for renewable energy, including solar, wind and biomass, has exceeded 686,000 kilowatts. Renewable energy now accounts for around 40 percent of the district's total electricity consumption -- among the highest in Shanghai. 
TAIPEI, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Calligraphy and seal-carving art works by 200 prominent artists from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan are being exhibited at the 2024 Cross-Strait Chinese Character Culture & Art Festival, which opened on Saturday in Taoyuan, Taiwan.

The event, running until Dec. 3, also features an exhibit showcasing creative works centered on Chinese characters by young people, and an art carnival with the participation of 18 calligraphy and seal-carving groups, celebrating the charm of Chinese characters and traditional Chinese culture.

The festival stands not only as a feast of artistry but also a valuable opportunity for the two sides of the Taiwan Strait to collaborate on cultural preservation and promote people-to-people exchanges, said Liu Chao-shiuan, chairman of the Foundation of Chinese Culture for Sustainable Development, in his opening remarks.

"Chinese characters are a symbol and carrier of the culture shared by the two sides of the Strait. By using them as a bridge, we hope to unleash the dynamics of traditional culture in artistic exchanges," Liu said.

The event is co-hosted by the Taiwan-based Foundation of Chinese Culture for Sustainable Development and the mainland-based Chinese National Academy of Arts. Since 2010, it has been held alternately between Taiwan and the mainland.

In a video message, Zhou Qingfu, president of the Chinese National Academy of Arts, said that the festival is not only a cultural gathering but also a moment of connection.

"Through this event, we deepen our mutual understanding and trust and become closer. Let us continue to pass on our artistic traditions, promote mutual understanding, and advance Chinese culture together," Zhou said.

This year's exhibition features art works by 100 artists from the mainland and another 100 from Taiwan, all inspired by the theme of the historical period of the Three Kingdoms.

The two sides of the Strait should together bear the responsibility of passing on the art of Chinese characters, which is an essential part of Chinese cultural heritage, said Huang Zhi-yang, a calligrapher and dean of the College of Humanities and Arts at Huafan University in Taiwan.

"Through exchanges like this, artists from both sides can appreciate each other's creations, inspire each other, and grow together," he added.

The event also exhibits 100 outstanding works by young people aged 12 to 25, of which 60 come from Taiwan and 40 from the mainland.

Lu Chi-hui, a high school senior who has studied calligraphy for nearly 10 years, won an award for excellence with her submission.

"My favorite calligrapher is Chu Suiliang, and I'm looking forward to seeing his inscriptions in Xi'an (in northwest China's Shaanxi Province) someday," she said. "Today people mainly type on phones, so there are fewer opportunities to write by hand. In the future, I'd love to become a calligraphy teacher and contribute to the preservation of calligraphy."

In addition to the exhibitions, the opening day featured an art carnival where 18 calligraphy and seal-craving clubs and traditional stationery stores across Taiwan offered interactive experiences such as brush-making, seal carving, water-based printing, handwritten couplets, and ink rubbings. Many locals brought their children to experience this traditional form of culture.

Other events included a demonstration with calligraphers showcasing their craft live and a forum focusing on the development of Chinese character art in modern society. 
Maharashtra Elections: BJP releases manifesto, here are the top promises in 'Sankalp Patra'

Siddharth Chakravorty

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Palak Vij

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Sreejita De and Michael Blohm Pape tie the knot in a traditional Bengali wedding in Goa, see pics from Mehendi ceremony

M Snehanjali

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Jefferies India lowers FY25 earnings estimates for 63% of companies it covers, steepest downgrade since 2020

Rohit Singh

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Sunil Matkar

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Russian oil finds its way to Europe via India; India now biggest exporter of fuel to EU

101Reporters

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FPIs continue sell-off; withdraw Rs 30,000 cr from equities in first fortnight in March

Prime Minister Modi expressed deep sadness at the passing of renowned film personality Thiru Delhi Ganesh Ji. He praised Ganesh for his exceptional acting talent and the depth he brought to every role, which resonated with audiences of all ages. The Prime Minister also acknowledged Ganesh's passion for theatre and extended condolences to his family and fans, offering prayers for his soul. Om Shanti.

A man has been detained by security agencies at Kolkata Airport after making a false bomb threat regarding a plane, according to airport sources. He was apprehended at the boarding area, and security teams are currently conducting a search of the aircraft.

A scuffle erupted between Congress workers and CRPF personnel during Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's roadshow for the Wayanad Lok Sabha by-election at Vaduvanchal, Muppainad Kalpetta.

The UP STF and Mumbai police have arrested wanted shooter Shiva Kumar along with two others in connection with the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique, according to an official. They were arrested from Uttar Pradesh, reported Mumbai Police. The gunman, Shivkumar from Nanpara, was apprehended by the Mumbai Crime Branch and the UP STF in a joint operation near Bahraich. His goal was to escape to Nepal. Three more individuals who assisted the shooter in escaping to Nepal were detained by the UP STF.

Odisha is hosting an international symposium focused on Shree Anna (millets) and lesser-known traditional foods. The event was inaugurated earlier today by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. Speaking about the state's agricultural progress, Odisha Agriculture Secretary Arabinda Padhee highlighted that Odisha's growth rate in the crop sector exceeds the national average, which is encouraging. He also mentioned that the Chief Minister has called for targeted initiatives, including a new program titled Comprehensive Rice Fellow Management, aimed at effectively utilizing the state's significant area of fellow lands.

AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi held an election rally in Aurangabad to campaign for party candidates Imtiaz Jaleel and Naseer Siddiqui.

Indian Army pays tribute to Nb Sub Rakesh Kumar for sacrifice in Kishtwar operation

Deblina Halder

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HOUSTON, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- At least one person was killed and several others injured early Sunday morning in a shooting on the campus of Tuskegee University in the southern U.S. state of Alabama, the university said in a news release.

The killed was not a student at the university, the news release said.

"Several others including Tuskegee University students were injured and are receiving treatment at East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika and Baptist South Hospital in Montgomery," it added.

Macon County Coroner Hal Bentley said "quite a few people" were injured, but did not say the exact number of the injured.

Among the injured, a female student was shot in the stomach, said Tuskegee City Police Chief Mardis.

No arrest has been announced. Mardis added that it was not immediately clear what led to the shooting.

Tuskegee celebrated its 100th homecoming on Saturday. 
Delhi gasps for breath with 'very poor' air quality; AQI breaches 330 in national capital

Deblina Halder

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Nitin Gadkari downplays BJP's role in political splits, says Sharad Pawar did the same

Chandrima Sanyal

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November 10, 2024 / 16:47 IST

On BJP's Sankalp Patra for Maharashtra Election2024, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said, "The Sankalp Patra has been launched by BJP and BJP always fulfils the promises that they make with the public...Sankalp Patra has been launched to develop Maharashtra and take every section of society forward. The double-engine government will be formed in Maharashtra.The public also understands that wherever the double-engine government of BJP is being formed, the states are progressing at a very fast pace. In Haryana, the public formed the BJP government for the third time."

On Maha Vikas Aghadi's manifesto, he says, "Congress and its allies ruled the country for almost sixty years, they did not conduct caste census in the country. So, now during the elections, they are just making these kinds of announcements to create confusion among the public for votes..They (Congress) did not fulfil the promises they made in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana.The public of Maharashtra will never vote for them..."
TEHRAN, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Three terrorists were killed and nine others arrested during an anti-terror operation by the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on Sunday in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan.

Sardar Ahmed Shafaei, the spokesperson for the operation, said that the IRGC Quds Force has been conducting a counter-terrorism campaign in the province since October 26.

During Sunday's operation, three terrorists were killed, nine were apprehended, and two others surrendered, Shafaei said, adding that since the campaign began, a total of 15 terrorists have been killed, 33 arrested, and two have surrendered.

He emphasized that the Iranian force is committed to continuing the counter-terrorism efforts in the region.

Sistan-Baluchestan, which borders Pakistan and Afghanistan, has long been a hotspot for armed groups and drug traffickers. On October 26, a group of militants attacked a border patrol in the province, resulting in the deaths of 10 Iranian soldiers and police officers. 
Canada on high alert, bracing for migrants fleeing US after Trump's win

Siddharth Chakravorty

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Siddharth Chakravorty

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AMMAN, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Jordan's Interior Ministry announced Sunday that it would allow citizens of South Sudan to enter the country without prior approvals.

According to the ministry, citizens of South Sudan now need a passport with a validity of at least six months to travel to Jordan, and they can obtain an entry visa either through the electronic visa website or upon arrival at border centers.

The decision, coming after a series of meetings between Jordan's Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan and representatives of health associations and medical tourism, aims at attracting patients and tourists to visit Jordan for medical treatments, said the ministry.

It said the decision followed a previous one, allowing Libyan nationals to enter Jordan without prior approval. 
Trump urges his supporters to donate to Democrats to help them in 'financial crisis'

101Reporters

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US to speed up interceptor missiles delivery to Ukraine: Report

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SANAA, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S.-British coalition warplanes conducted seven airstrikes on targets across the Houthi-controlled northern Yemen on Sunday morning, Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported.

The airstrikes targeted military sites in the capital Sanaa and the northern province of Amran, the report said, without providing any further details.

The fresh airstrikes came a few hours after the Houthi television reported on Saturday night three airstrikes by the coalition on other sites in Sanaa.

Residents in the capital have reported explosions that rocked the entire city.

The coalition has yet to comment on the strikes.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since the Houthi group seized control of several northern provinces in late 2014, forcing the internationally recognized Yemeni government out of the capital.

Since November 2023, the Houthi group has launched rocket and drone attacks on Israel and disrupted "Israeli-linked" shipping in the Red Sea, allegedly to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In response, the U.S.-led navy coalition stationed in the Red Sea has been conducting regular air raids and strikes against Houthi targets since January in a bid to deter the group from disrupting the international shipping lanes. 
LIMA, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- An annual meeting on practical cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was held here in Peru's capital Friday, focusing on new opportunities available within the framework.

The event was jointly organized by the China Economic Information Service of Xinhua News Agency, Peru's Andina News Agency and the China Southern Power Grid Co., Ltd. Attendees had an in-depth discussion on bilateral cooperation under the BRI framework and future development.

Over the years, the BRI has promoted practical cooperation, and become an important driving force for the good of both countries, Latin America and the world at large.

Peru is one of the first Latin American countries to establish diplomatic relations and a comprehensive strategic partnership with the People's Republic of China. It is also the first Latin American country to sign a package of free trade agreements with China.

Since China and Peru signed the memorandum of understanding on BRI cooperation in 2019, bilateral cooperation has achieved fruitful results, with increasingly close collaboration in economy, trade, finance, culture and other fields.

Thanks to the cooperation, Peruvian alpaca dolls have enjoyed tremendous popularity in China, and Peruvian blueberries, grapes, avocados and other agricultural products are also widely welcomed by Chinese consumers.

China has been Peru's largest trading partner and largest export market for 10 consecutive years. The fruitful practical cooperation between the two countries embodies the common aspiration of the two peoples for joint development and shows bright prospects for future cooperation.

Both China and Peru have a rich history and a splendid civilization, and the people of the two countries, though thousands of miles apart, share a strong friendship and similar ideas.

Peru is one of the Latin American countries where Chinese immigrants first arrived and settled in large numbers. In recent years, people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries have become increasingly close, with more and more Chinese tourists visiting Peru. The Congress of Peru in May designated Feb. 1 as the "Peru-China Fraternity Day."

At present, BRI cooperation has entered a new stage of high-quality development, which will inject fresh impetus into the joint efforts by China, Latin America and other countries from the Global South toward modernization.

Take the Chancay Port project, a landmark project of the two countries' BRI cooperation, as an example. It will not only help Peru improve its shipping efficiency but also effectively promote the development of its science and technology and industrialization.

The project has created 1,300 direct jobs and about 8,000 indirect jobs for locals. After completion, the port will become a new maritime hub connecting Latin America and Asia.

Looking ahead, the two countries are expected to continue to join hands in exploring new opportunities within the BRI framework. The cooperation between China and Peru will contribute to mutual prosperity in both countries, Latin America, and the world at large. 
Harare  The spectre of Operation Murambatsvina hangs heavy over Harare as the city council prepares for a fresh wave of demolitions targeting illegal settlements. Over 20 court judgments authorising the demolition of structures built on illegally occupied land have been obtained by the council, raising fears of widespread displacement and echoing the controversial 2005 operation under former President Robert Mugabe.

The scale of the impending demolitions is significant. Thousands of families face homelessness as the council gears up to remove housing structures built on land acquired through unregulated sales by so-called land barons. These individuals, many with alleged links to the ruling Zanu-PF party, are exploiting a legal loophole that lacks specific legislation criminalising land theft. Currently, they are only charged with fraud, theft, or trespass.

Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume confirmed the councils intention to proceed with the demolitions.

As the city of Harare we have obtained a number of court orders all over town. We have over 20 judgments against many settlements, but we have not been able to implement them because of the fact that it would require a whole government to come up with a way forward in relation to these illegal settlements. Where we have taken an upper hand is in the low density areas, there is no reason for people to invade low density area but other informal settlements we are waiting for guidance from the central government, Mafume told Truth Diggers, an investigative unit of Alpha Media Holdings.

Mafumes statement highlights the complex challenge facing the council. While possessing legal authority to demolish the structures, the sheer scale of the problem necessitates a coordinated government response. He stressed the need for stronger legislation to tackle land theft effectively.

There is no specific law that criminalises these people. These land barons are only charged with fraud, theft and trespass and so on. We need a statutory instrument either from the presidential powers that amends the criminal code or Parliament itself must come up with a law that criminalises land barons and confiscates the gains that they would have made from land baronism. (The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority) should also play its part to go after these informal people. We need a specialised crime against land barons that criminalises this behaviour. We are going to ask the central government to assist us in formulating heavy criminal laws to deal with this issue of land barons, Mafume explained.

The current situation mirrors the devastating impact of Operation Murambatsvina in 2005, which displaced an estimated 700,000 people in Harare alone, with the UN suggesting a national impact of up to 2.4 million. Critics at the time alleged that the operation targeted urban populations who traditionally supported the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) led by the late Morgan Tsvangirai. The upcoming demolitions risk repeating this history, raising concerns about potential human rights violations and the displacement of vulnerable populations.

The land barons themselves are operating within a legal vacuum. They acquire land in disputed or unregulated areas, subdivide it illegally, and sell it to desperate home-seekers. These individuals, often unaware of the legal complexities, invest their life savings, only to find their homes demolished. The courts have consistently ruled against these home-seekers, declaring their occupation of land illegal.

The council currently issues 48-hour notices before demolition, allowing residents time to challenge the action in court. However, this timeframe is often insufficient for legal processes, leaving many residents with little recourse.

Mayor Mafume acknowledged the plight of innocent victims, urging them to follow proper channels for land acquisition.

We empathise with innocent people who are being duped by land barons. We urge them to follow proper channels to acquire land. We advise people to verify papers, get approved plans and avoid being caught up in the mess. Most of the time its politically connected land barons who grab the land. They then sell to unsuspecting public who do not know the procedures. If its low density land its better to buy land with title deeds. And also to follow council processes like plan approvals and inspections, he said.

Last month, police arrested at least 184 land barons for misleading home-seekers into building on state-owned, wetland, and grazing land. This action, while addressing the issue of illegal settlements, does not fully resolve the underlying legal and social issues contributing to the problem.

The story of Keagan Nicol, whose house was demolished in Belvedere despite claiming to have followed all due processes, including consulting the council and paying for title deeds, illustrates the vulnerability of those caught in this complex situation.

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Harare  A controversial plan by President Emmerson Mnangagwas allies to extend his time in office is facing significant headwinds, not least the staggering financial implications. The proposal, which would require amending the constitution and holding potentially two referendums, carries a projected cost running into billions of US dollars, raising serious questions about its feasibility and political wisdom.

The current constitution, adopted after referendums in 2000 and 2013, limits presidential terms to two five-year periods. Despite President Mnangagwa previously stating his intention to step down in 2028, a resolution passed at Zanu-PFs annual conference in Bulawayo last month seeks to extend his tenure beyond this date.

Legal experts have outlined the complex and costly process involved. They anticipate the need for two separate referendums: one to postpone the next general election beyond 2028 and another to specifically allow Mnangagwa to benefit as the incumbent president. While both referendums and general elections involve similar processes, the legal experts highlight that the referendum process is even more expensive due to the intricate legislative changes required.

The financial implications are staggering. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) received ZW$860 billion (approximately US$188 million at the time) to conduct the disputed August 2023 general elections.

However, constitutional lawyer Lovemore Madhulu believes a referendum would be far costlier: For the referendum to be successful we need not less than US$1 billion, as we factor in corruption tendencies, inflated prices and so forth, he stated.

He further elaborated: Thats the reality Its an opportunity for some people to make money. They need money to prepare voter registers, voter inspection, voter registration blitz and so forth, and also, we need money to put in place the legislation. There are likely more voters in the referendum than in a general election. It will mean that we will have three elections in five years.

Constitutional lawyer Tinomudaishe Chinyoka echoed these concerns, emphasising the impossibility of holding both referendums concurrently: The two referendums, one to extend the term of office and the other for the incumbent to benefit cant be done at the same time, Chinyoka explained.

They have to be done separately. We are not in financial capacity to sustain two referendums and an election on top of that within five years. We are not even in a position to sustain the general election though we still have to conduct it because its a constitutional mandate. Certainly we dont have the luxury to spend that much money for the benefit of one person.

Douglas Mwonzora, another prominent lawyer, condemned the proposal as an unnecessary and extravagant expenditure: It is totally unnecessary as it brings about unnecessary costs to the country, Mwonzora argued.

That proposition will be costly and Zimbabwe is going through economic hardships especially for a common person. The cost of running a referendum is the same as running for the presidential elections and we also know that there is corruption involved, so the cost will be even higher.

He further warned of the potential for increased political instability: This is a serious bill and therefore there is a possibility of violence and it is very expensive. This will make Zimbabwe a laughing stock, especially at a time when we are in a dire economic situation, he said.

While Mnangagwas loyalists, particularly in Midlands and Masvingo provinces, have openly championed the 2030 agenda, the proposal lacks support within the army and at the grassroots level. This internal division within Zanu-PF mirrors past succession struggles, culminating in the removal of Robert Mugabe, who sought to cling to power despite his declining health.

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Harare  Controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo has once again made headlines, this time for a lavish display of philanthropy. Chivayo, known for his high-profile government tenders and past legal troubles, announced the donation of ten buses and US$1 million in cash to his Johane Masowe Chishanu church and a chosen charity organisation.

The announcement, made via social media, coincided with Chivayos upcoming birthday in November. He explained his decision to forgo personal luxury in favour of charitable giving: Hallo Fridayas I celebrate my birthday month, I am reminded of the abundant blessings God has granted me and I feel a deep calling to always tirelessly give back to my church.

Chivayo detailed his donation, stating: This year, instead of spoiling myself with a latest Rolls Royce or adding to my Maybach fleet, I have decided to start off by donating these three (3) brand new Higer 61 seater buses to my church all supplied by Faramatsi Motors at a reasonable total cost of USD420,000.00. I have ordered another seven (7) more at a cost of USD980 000.00 which I will gladly distribute to other solid and highly recognized Johane Masowe Chishanu branches countrywide.

The businessman emphasised the significance of the church in his life, stating: This gesture is not just about offering convenient transport to my fellow church members but its a small token of my gratitude for the churchs guiding influence in my life. The church has played a crucial role in creating this inevitable aspiring billionaire I am about to be and I remain committed to uplifting my church as we continue our spiritual journey together, with love, faith and the power of prayer.

Chivayos generosity extended beyond the church. He pledged a further US$1 million to a reputable charity: Beyond these buses, I will also dedicate USD1 million in cash to a highly reputable charity organisation of my choice. Supporting those in need has always been close to my heart, and this donation signifies my unwavering dedication to helping the underprivileged. By extending this love and support, I aim to reflect the generosity that God has shown me and to inspire others to do the same.

Chivayo, who previously faced scrutiny over a controversial US$40 million Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) deal, presented this act as a demonstration of his commitment to sharing his wealth. Details of the ZEC deal became public following a dispute with associates, Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe, over the distribution of profits. Despite his past controversies, Chivayo portrays himself as a generous benefactor.

He reiterated this sentiment, stating: My birthday celebration this November is not about me, but about sharing the blessings and showing love to the church community that has given me so much and to the less fortunate who need the help more than anyone else. I am grateful for this opportunity to honor God through these acts of service, and I pray these gifts will make a difference and strengthen the lives of those they touchI ask this through Christ our Lord.

The donation of ten buses, valued at US$1.4 million, represents a substantial contribution to the Johane Masowe Chishanu church, providing much-needed transportation for its various branches across the country. The additional US$1 million pledge to charity further solidifies Chivayos commitment to philanthropic endeavors. While his past business dealings have drawn criticism, this significant act of generosity has undoubtedly captured public attention.

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Buhera  A 70-year-old Buhera man, Sekuru Aaron Njuko, has been sentenced to ten years imprisonment for the rape of a 7-year-old girl from the same village. The incident occurred on June 26th in Buhera in Manicaland province.

According to a statement released by the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) on X (formerly Twitter), Njuko encountered the victim while she was alone, herding cattle. He lured her closer before dragging her to a secluded location where the assault took place.

The NPAZ statement detailed the events of that day: On 26 June Aaron Njuko saw the complainant who was alone herding cattle and called her. He dragged her into a secluded place where he raped her. Njuko was caught in the act by the complainants sister who was looking for the complainant. A police report was made, leading to his arrest.

The swift action of the victims sister proved crucial in bringing Njuko to justice. Upon discovering the assault, she immediately reported the crime to the police, leading to Njukos arrest and subsequent prosecution.

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Furious Democrats blame JOE BIDEN and TIM WALZ for Kamala Harris humiliating election loss

The blame game within the Democratic Party has begun. Supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris are now turning on President Joe Biden and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, blaming the two for her loss in the election against President-elect Donald Trump.

On the morning after the election on Wednesday, Nov. 6, Harris addressed a crowd of her supporters in Washington, D.C. and announced that she had conceded the race to Trump. During her speech, she encouraged her supporters to not lose hope, saying that while the race for the presidency has ended, she has not conceded "the fight that fueled this campaign."

With Harris' concession, political analysts, Democratic insiders and regular liberals and supporters of the vice president's campaign have started pointing fingers in an attempt to find a scapegoat to hold responsible for Trump's victory.

This election is considered to be a devastating loss to the Democrats, who lost not only the presidency but also the Senate and the House of Representatives  which pollsters thought could flip back to the Democratic Party.

One of the people standing out as prime targets for blame is Biden, with Democrats believing him dropping out far too late deprived the party of being able to democratically decide on a candidate through primaries.

Biden is also being blamed by the party's left-wing who believe that the Biden administration's stance on Israel and the Harris campaign's attempts to appeal to the pro-Israel lobby, to moderate voters and to anti-Trump Republicans were all huge mistakes.

Other Harris supporters have also taken their ire out on Walz for a variety of reasons, including that he is too progressive, too "folksy" and too tainted by the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, which began in Minneapolis following the death of African American man George Floyd.

Harris' position on key issues also being blamed for her loss

Other critics believe that it's not a single person, but the issues themselves. Some analysts have argued that Americans resonated with Trump's stances on immigration, the economy and foreign wars. (Related: Kamala voters wanted her to take a more hard-line stance on immigration  but she didn't.)

Another big issue being blamed is Harris' refusal to break with Biden and many others in the Democratic Party who support continuing to send arms to Israel, which many on the party's left believe led to many of her voters deciding to either stay home or to shift their support for third-party candidate Jill Stein of the Green Party of the United States, who has been unequivocal in her support for Palestinians.

The Israel argument started on social media almost as soon as Harris became the nominee. Firstly, she did not pick Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who is Jewish, as her running mate. Former Democratic National Committee official Lindy Li by argued picking Shapiro could have gotten Harris over the line.

People are wondering what would have happened had Shapiro been on the ticket. And not only in terms of Pennsylvania," Li told Fox News.

Li, who worked for Shapiro last year, argued that choosing a moderate like Shapiro would have shown Harris wasn't the "San Francisco liberal" Trump claimed she was.

"But she went with someone actually to her left. In the eyes of the American people, Walz was the governor who oversaw the protests," she said.

Watch this video discussing the blame game going around regarding Vice President Kamala Harris' recent election loss.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Like a true fascist, MSNBC's Rachel Maddow says Kamala needs to cancel every one of Elon Musk's contracts with government because he's a "national security" threat.

Democrats say Trump planning to throw them in concentration camps  this after calling for Republicans to be "reeducated" in gulags.

JOE BIDEN'S PERVO Halloween party featured licking, biting children's feet, wife Jill dressed as PERV PANDA from Pizzagate.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

NBCNews.com

Independent.co.uk

Brighteon.com
Former Clinton administration consultant blasts Kamala Harris as SORE LOSER

A former strategic consultant under former President Bill Clinton slammed Kamala Harris, outgoing vice president and failed presidential candidate, as a "sore loser."

Barbara Heineback, a long-time Democratic staffer who first served under the late former President Jimmy Carter, aired out her disdain during an appearance on Sky News Australia. Her gripe stemmed from Harris' refusal to address her supporters on Election Night, Nov. 5, when it was clear that she lost the 2024 election to President-elect Donald Trump. At the time, Harris and her supporters were monitoring the race at Howard University in the District of Columbia.

"I am so disappointed and really insulted that I'm a Howard [alumna] and that she didn't have the decency to walk out and say [something] to her university, make a comment to the United States. Things were not looking well for her," Heineback said. "It wasn't completely over, but short of a miracle. We knew which way this was going, and she didn't have some grace. I mean, it shows us how classless she actually is; a sore loser."

Heineback further described Harris as "such a poor candidate," noting that her refusal to select Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as her running mate was "the biggest mistake" she made. Instead of Shapiro, the incumbent vice president picked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to accompany her on the ticket.

"She had an ace in the hole, and she didn't take that. Shapiro is so well respected [and] liked, he's doing an incredible job in Pennsylvania. She is so completely insecure that she could not have someone that bright around her to upstage her and outshine her. This is why she didn't select him, I'm pretty sure," Heineback continued.

Harris did concede election to Trump  but only after Election Day

Despite this, Heineback said there was a silver lining with Harris' actions following the results of the Nov. 5 presidential elections.

"Even though it's painful for her [and] for the Democrats, I think America might be relieved at recognizing and realizing they don't have to put up with this any longer. If this is what they were walking into, maybe it's better that it gets cut at the nip right now." (Related: Kamala Harris LOSES SUPPORT in latest post-DNC poll.)

Heineback's complaint centered around the outgoing vice president's refusal to address her supporters  it was only after Election Day that Harris did. On Wednesday, Nov. 6, the former U.S. senator for California conceded to Trump in a speech at her alma mater.

"The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for," Harris told supporters. "But hear me when I say: The light of America's promise will always burn bright."

The vice president also confirmed that she had congratulated Trump on his victory, and stressed that the Democrats "had to accept the results of the election to preserve democracy." Harris also promised to facilitate a "peaceful transfer of power"  something many conservatives expressed doubt about.

Outgoing President Joe Biden, who withdrew from the presidential race in June to give way for Harris, reiterated his support for his vice president. He praised the former California attorney general and said choosing her as his second-in-command was "the best decision" he made.

"What America saw today was the Kamala Harris I know and deeply admire," Biden said in a statement, adding that she will continue to be a "leader our children will look up to for generations to come as she puts her stamp on America's future."

Head over to KamalaHarris.news for more stories about Kamala Harris' failed presidential run.

Watch Barbara Heineback denouncing Kamala Harris as a "sore loser" during her Sky News Australia guesting below.

This video is from the Sanivan channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Like a true fascist, MSNBC's Rachel Maddow says Kamala needs to cancel every one of Elon Musk's contracts with government because he's a "national security" threat.

Black Muslim leaders reject Kamala for president because she supports Israel: "Genocide must be our red line."

Kamala Harris faces backlash for "tone-deaf" lame comedy video at Al Smith Dinner.

Sources include:

Modernity.news

NBCNews.com

Brighteon.com
Israeli govt threatens Dan Bilzerian, Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens for criticizing Gaza genocide

The Israeli government is now openly threatening Dan Bilzerian, Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens that they're being "monitored" as "engines of antisemitism" for criticizing the Jewish state's mass slaughter of women and children in Gaza.

(Article Chris Menahan republished from InformationLiberation.com)

The threats were issued by Israel's Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Minister Amichai Chikli on Thursday in the Jerusalem Post.

From The Jerusalem Post, "Qatar behind antisemitic influencers like Dan Bilzerian, Chikli tells 'Post' - interview" (Archive):

Qatar is partially responsible for the increase in Diaspora antisemitism and X/Twitter is the most problematic social media platform, Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Minister Amichai Chikli said in a conversation with The Jerusalem Post about aliyah and hatred toward Jews. Chikli spoke about the Diaspora Ministry's launch of a new tool two months ago, which aims to combat antisemitism. The AI-based system allows the ministry to monitor every social network and provide key details that prevent terror attacks against Jewish communities, as well as give indications of the level of antisemitism in various countries. Chikli said the system also helps the ministry understand who the "engines of antisemitism" are, be they politicians or influencers or organizations. The ministry's tool enables them to understand who is spreading antisemitism, Chikli added, which is the first step to combating it.

Qatar is partially responsible for the increase in Diaspora antisemitism, Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Minister Amichai Chikli (@AmichaiChikli) said in a conversation with The Jerusalem Post's @MathildaHeller. https://t.co/jRuzLH3CTt  The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) November 7, 2024

According to Chikli, Canada and the US's recent ban on the pro-Palestinian organization Samidoun  which is affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)  was partly due to reports published by the Diaspora Ministry and shared with the respective governments. The ministry's research department is currently doing the same with other groups such as Students for Justice in Palestine. The team at the Diaspora Ministry has also maintained constant correspondence with the leadership of social networks, especially TikTok. The platform, which Chikli said was particularly problematic at the start of the war, has taken many steps to try to prevent antisemitism. "TikTok is better now than it was 10 months ago, but there is still a lot of work to do [regarding social networks], especially on X," Chikli said. [...] [Chikli] noted that the ministry does a lot of work monitoring anti-Israel influencers, such as Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson, who are both right-wing commentators. Chikli also spoke on his suspicion regarding right-wing anti-Israel influencer Dan Bilzerian, who "all of a sudden became an Islam promoter." "All of a sudden, [Bilzerian] has changed the narrative. He is speaking about the Quran and Islam and the state of Israel." While Chikli noted that it was too early to tell, he suggested that there might be "a Qatari effort behind some of these influencers and the changes they have made in their opinions." "I have said from the beginning of the war, the cooperation with Qatar regarding the hostages is a grave mistake because Qatar should have been pressed first and foremost by the Americans and also by Israel to pay the price for their support of Hamas," Chikli stressed. "I don't see Qatar as a friendly state. I don't see Qatar as a fair mediator in the negotiations." "Qatar is an enemy state," Chikli told the Post.

He has no evidence whatsoever Bilzerian is working for Qatar -- which he labels an enemy -- but he just throws it out there to smear and intimidate him.

The Israel-Hamas War and in the North has been at the epicenter of Jewish, if not global, affairs, Chikli continued, significantly impacting the lives of Diaspora Jews. "Just like us, [Diaspora Jews] are at war," Chikli told the Post. While the nature of this war is different from the one in Israel, he said, the rise in antisemitism, the harassment, the attacks, and the graffiti can nevertheless be considered the battleground of Diaspora Jews.

If Iran or Russia made statements like these, the US government would be treating them as terroristic threats and their AI-driven "monitoring" operation would be rightly targeted as a tool of espionage.

"After Oct 7 [we implemented] an Iron Dome for Israel here in the US, where we're monitoring every elected official at every level of government. Every school board commission, from social media to press releases to official documents, we're monitoring all of it." - Dillon pic.twitter.com/Cd88YVAMmh  Chris Menahan ?? (@infolibnews) October 30, 2024

Instead, it's just another day in Occupied America.

Read more at: InformationLiberation.com
Michigan man arrested for threatening to MURDER CHRISTIANS if Trump won

Federal law enforcement have arrested a 25-year-old man from Michigan who allegedly threatened to carry out a mass shooting against Christians should Donald Trump reclaim the White House.

According to the Department of Justice, Isaac Sissel is being charged with sending threatening communications to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Threat Operations Center in West Virginia on Saturday, Nov. 2, three days before the election. Sissel planned to use a semi-automatic rifle in the mass shooting.

"I shall carry out an attack against conservative Christian, [sic] filth in the event trump [sic] wins the election. I have a stolen [AR-15] and a target I refuse to name so I can continue to get away with my plans," Sissel allegedly wrote. (Related: BOMBSHELL: FBI arranged Trump's real foreign assassin's entry into the U.S.A.)

Sissel continued: "Without a specific victim or ability to find the place I hid the gun, there's not a thing the FBI can do until I complete the attack."

Sissel was arrested on the morning of Tuesday, Nov. 5, just hours away from Trump being proclaimed the winner of the 2024 United States presidential election. He appeared in federal court that very afternoon.

His case is being handled by the FBI's field office in Detroit, which is under the purview of the Justice Department's Election Threats Task Force.

"Sissel said that he wouldn't kill Trump, but if he knew someone was going to assassinate Trump that it was his duty to not intervene," the federal complaint against Sissel reads. "Sissel said that he hated conservative Christians, who he enjoyed threatening."

Violence against Trump and his supporters on the rise

Trump's supporters have been targeted by political violence in recent days. For instance, a shopper wearing a "Trump 2024" hat had his teeth broken by a stranger in Bath, New York. Trump himself had been a subject of least two assassination attempts. The first, in Butler, Pennsylvania, saw the president-elect and three supporters shot during a rally, one fatally.

On Election Day, at least 15 states deployed a total of over 250 members of their respective National Guards to deter any potential acts of violence or terror during the election: Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

Another 85 National Guard personnel were placed on standby in Colorado, Florida, Nevada and the District of Columbia, with the National Guard Bureau stating that these reserve Guard elements were tasked with cybersecurity and general operations.

The FBI also reported receiving several bomb threats against polling locations in some states, especially in the swing state of Georgia. Some of these were deemed "non-credible" and purportedly originated from Russia.

On the afternoon on Election Day, U.S. Capitol Police reported arresting one individual who "smelled like fuel," carried a torch and had a flare gun in his possession. This incident prompted police to shut down all remaining scheduled tours of the Capitol building for the rest of the day.

Watch this clip of the Seattle Police Department shutting down a planned riot by Antifa on Election Night, just hours away from Trump being proclaimed the presumed winner of the election.

This video is from the Children Are Not Sex Toys channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Gender-confused Democrat ARRESTED for saying he wanted to shoot Trump.

Democrat politicians want to confiscate guns from law-abiding Americans, but why not remove politicians from office who are "friends with school shooters" instead?

STAND DOWN: The common hidden theme for mass shootings, Pearl Harbor and 9/11 where tragic events are "allowed" to happen to justify bigger government power grabs.

An ultra-violent migrant gang is shooting police officers, trafficking young women and raping kids.

When Trump wins, expect the ABSOLUTE WORST reactionary revolt in U.S. history, wrought with destruction, mayhem and millions of election denial sufferers.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

NationalReview.com

Brighteon.com
Despite pandering to Israel, Trump only received 21% of Jewish vote: exit polling

The Jewish vote overwhelmingly went to Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, data from the largest preliminary exit poll suggests.

Trump was so unpopular among American Jewish voters, even despite his constant pandering to Israel, that he received the lowest support any GOP candidate has received from the Jewish voting bloc in 24 years.

In the United States, at least, most Jewish people lean Democratic. Many of them do not support the Zionist agenda of Israel's right-wing government, including its war in Gaza, which has split the nation largely along partisan lines.

Democrats as a whole, by the way, think the U.S. too strongly supports Israel while Republicans overwhelmingly hold a support Israel at all costs viewpoint. As such, the overall Jewish vote for Trump was minimal, all things considered.

"In recent decades, between 20 and 30 percent of American Jews have supported Republicans in national elections," reported The Times of Israel. "The GOP hit a high-water mark in 1980 when Ronald Reagan won some 40% of Jewish votes, but the more typical split makes Jews among the most reliably Democratic demographics in the United States."

"But this year, with some Jews feeling alienated from the left and others all-in on the right due to Israel, some speculated that Trump could post an unusually strong showing among Jewish voters ... Initial polls suggest that is not the case."

(Related: According to the Health Ranger, Trump and RFK Jr. are not enough to prevent the collapse of the U.S. empire.)

Jews divided on U.S. support for Israel

According to the National Election Pool, which produces exit polling for a consortium of major news outlets, 79 percent of Jewish voters cast their ballots for Kamala Harris while just 21 percent of Jewish voters selected Trump.

Voters were surveyed in 10 states as part of the research: Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin. Interestingly, voters in New York and California, the two U.S. states with this largest populations of Jews, were not sampled, though we know that most Jews in New York and California likewise vote Democrat.

We do not yet know the sample size or any further details about the polling, not to mention the fact that the votes in some states are still being counted. Even so, it is clear from the preliminary results that Jewish voters overwhelmingly lean left.

Some of the polling methodology has admittedly changed over the years, which could be skewing the results. There are also many more people vote by mail now ever since voting methods shifted dramatically due to the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "pandemic."

Fox News, which tends to lean right, conducted its own Election Day "voter analysis" that found only about 67 percent of Jewish voters in the U.S. picked Kamala compared to 31 percent for Trump. In both cases, most Jews picked Kamala.

Compared to any other religious group, Jewish people in America voted for Kamala over Trump at the highest rate. In the Fox News poll, at least, Jews seem to be split on the issue of aid and support for Israel.

In the Fox poll, 56 percent of Trump voters, regardless of religious persuasion, indicated that they either strongly or somewhat support "continuing aid to Israel in the war against Hamas and Hezbollah," this compared to 58 percent of Kamala voters who are strongly or somewhat opposed to further Israel aid.

"Voters were evenly split among the categories, with Democrats making up 68% of those who said U.S. support for Israel was too strong and Republicans making up 81% of those who said it was not strong enough," The Times of Israel added.

The latest news about Trump can be found at Trump.news.

Sources for this article include:

X.com

TimesOfIsrael.com

NaturalNews.com
"I think the Swiss public is ready for all the innovation that comes from China." Swiss importers actively engaged in collaborations with Chinese car companies during the Auto Zurich 2024, looking forward to introducing Chinese electric vehicles (EV) to the Swiss market. #auto




Top 10 ways to DECONSTRUCT and RECONSTRUCT the entire education system in America as top priority for incoming Trump Administration

Let this successful election of Donald J. Trump usher in the New Golden Age of education and evolution of our nation, for children, teens, young professionals and adults of all ages. After suffering so many years of Democrats and perverted Liberals in charge of our education system, it needs a total overhaul in so many facets, from curriculum to social interactions, from research tools to project guidelines, and from testing protocols to real-world applications of math, technology and resources.

Most science and social studies textbooks, supplement materials, and curriculum guidelines need to be trashed and new ones created and issued to schools

Both the public and private sectors of most schools in America have swaths of books, supplement materials and curriculum that is based on completely fabricated facts about climate change and global warming. Climate alarmism programming and videos flood school science curriculum, YouTube and popular extension programming for hands-on experiments, activities and projects, like Bill Nye the fake Science Guy, anti-biological science perv Neil DeGrasse Tyson, and global warming propagators Generation Genius.

Hundreds of millions of dollars have been wasted producing these propaganda-laden textbooks, workbooks, videos and science pamphlets in order to brainwash students into believing in the false climate change narrative. Globalists and communists want these kids to become adults who believe in these lies so they will vote for politicians who run these racketeering and embezzlement schemes at the expense of education.

The Democrats and Liberals have embedded their communist hate machine into education at all levels, teaching students to hate themselves, anyone who disagrees with their own (warped) opinions, and to think about sex and sex partners all day long. Most children and teens are suffering from gender dysphoria now, thanks to all the perverted, anti-science literature and social media claiming theres no difference between male and female, that men can breastfeed, have babies and get their period, and that boys and men who claim to be pan-something can compete in female sports, which ends up being a total disaster for the females.

So, here are some ways for the incoming Trump administration to deconstruct and reconstruct Americas education system:

#1. End Climate Change (Global Warming)  the big lie has infiltrated science curriculum and social studies books across all public schools. Show students how Climate Change is manipulated by weather weapon technology and modification systems and educate them properly about carbon and Co2.

#2. Get rid of Critical Race Theory (CRT)  its just reverse racism and teaching minorities to hate everyone who is white.

#3. Eliminate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and everything else that represents Woke in schools  it just gives students unfair advantages they did not earn.

#4. Ban Gender Fluidity (PC Pronouns), Drag Queen Story Hour, and Furry Animal Identity  no more tampons in boys bathrooms or litter boxes for furries (kids who try to identify as cats, dogs, or other furry animals). Plus, stop allowing boys to compete in girls sports, at all levels.

#5. Improve Curriculum for more Inquiry-Based Learning and Critical Thinking Skills  Have much less standardized testing of multiple-choice answers, rote memorization and closed-ended questions.

#6. Promote self-esteem, self-respect, and individualism as a prime motivational tool.

#7. Reveal how social media manipulates thoughts, actions, purchases, desires and enables cyber-bullying, violence and human trafficking.

#8. Focus more on real-world math applications of skills and strategies.

#9. Teach students how to do research outside of the highly biased Google search engine (and other mainstream poor sources like Wikipedia).

#10. Promote project-based learning  where students incorporate multi-media projects, technology and innovations in small groups and working with partners, preparing them to function like entrepreneurs and most successful businesses.

Tune that internet dial to RealScienceNews.com for updates on ways schools can incorporate actual science in the curriculum instead of fake science propaganda, like climate change alarmism.

Sources for this article include:

NaturalNews.com

FoxNews.com
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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 'Refinish Service' tailored to address the challenges of returns management in the fashion and lifestyle sector.

Meanwhile, Amazon India's 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 company's net loss declined by 6.9 per cent to Rs 80 crore against Rs 86 crore.
Tokyo, Nov 9 : 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 November 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, Xinhua news agency reported.

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.
MOSCOW, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Aviation authorities temporarily closed Domodedovo, Zhukovsky and Sheremetyevo international airports in the Moscow region on Sunday due to potential risks of drone attacks.

"In order to ensure the safety of civil aircraft flights, temporary restrictions have been introduced for the operation of Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports starting from 08:03 Moscow time, November 10. The airports are temporarily not accepting or sending flights," the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency said in a statement.

Sheremetyevo International Airport was later shut down, too.

Aircraft crews, air traffic controllers, and airport services are taking all necessary measures to ensure flight safety is a top priority, according to the statement.

According to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, seven more drones were shot down in the regions of Domodedovo, Ramenskoye and Kolomna on Sunday morning, bringing the total number of downed drones to 32. 
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.
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.
Nairobi, Nov 9 : Kenya's health authorities have called on citizens to stay vigilant after confirming three new cases of mpox, ending a month-long hiatus and bringing the total case count to 17.

Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Health Deborah Barasa said in a statement issued on Friday evening that the government has intensified public health response to the disease and urged Kenyans to defer non-essential travel to areas with active mpox transmission, Xinhua news agency reported.

She said that the three latest cases are under management while 13 patients have fully recovered and one reported death. "So far, 83 contacts have been identified, with 78 completing the required 21-day follow-up. Of these contacts, three have tested positive for mpox, and two remain under active follow-up," Barasa said.

She called on citizens to follow mpox preventive measures which include avoiding close contact with infected individuals or their items, limiting the number of sexual partners to reduce exposure, and maintaining good hygiene through frequent handwashing or hand sanitizer use.

Kenya's screening efforts at 26 entry points have included 1.7 million travelers. Vaccines are expected in the country in December, as Kenya is one of five African nations set to receive 50,000 doses of the mpox vaccine under a World Health Organization-led initiative to curb the disease's spread across Africa.

Besides Kenya, several African countries with mpox cases such as Burundi, Liberia, Uganda, and South Africa, have not recorded new cases in the past six weeks, though Africa remains in the acute phase of the outbreak with over 50,000 cases reported this year, said the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday.

Mpox, known as monkeypox, was first detected in laboratory monkeys in 1958. It is a rare viral disease typically spread through body fluids, respiratory droplets, and other contaminated materials. The infection usually causes fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes.
New Delhi, Nov 9 : In a significant development having far-reaching implications for Indian students, Canada has announced the discontinuation of its Student Direct Stream (SDS) visa programme. The SDS is a key pathway for international students seeking permits for studies.

It is said that the decision has come as part of the country's attempts to address "ongoing housing shortages and resource strain". The SDS programme was launched in 2018 by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). It was designed to fast-track study permit applications for students from 14 countries. These nations include Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Under this programme, the application process was faster, paving the way for quicker access to Canadian educational institutions.

However, in a statement on its official website, the Canadian government explained that the programme would be discontinued to "strengthen programme integrity, address student vulnerability, and give all students equal and fair access to the application process".

The move by the Canadian government is expected to impact international students, particularly those from the countries previously included in the SDS programme.

Applications submitted by 2 p.m. ET (Eastern Time) on November 8 -- which will be 12.30 a.m. (IST) on November 9 -- will still be processed under the Student Direct Stream (SDS) programme, while those received after that deadline will be handled through the regular study permit stream, according to information.

The SDS programme was known for its faster processing times and higher approval rates. With the discontinuation of this programme, students from India and 13 other countries will now face longer and more complex processes for visa applications.

In fact, Canada is set to considerably reduce the number of immigrants it admits for the first time in years. This will mark a major shift in policy as the Canadian government seeks to regain public support amid growing resentment.

Known for its welcoming gesture towards newcomers, Canada is now changing its narrative, with officials pointing to the pressure that the immigration is putting on the country's housing market, rising cost of living, and already overburdened healthcare system.

This policy shift comes as the government faces the challenges of maintaining public approval and addressing concerns about the impact of rapid population growth.

The issue of immigration has become one of the most contentious topics in Canadian politics, especially with the upcoming federal election which may be held in October 2025.

Recent polls indicate that an increasing number of Canadians believe the country is accepting too many immigrants. This sentiment is fuelling political debate as public concern over housing, job competition, and public services grows.

This shift in opinion is putting pressure on the government to adjust its immigration policies in response to voters' displeasure.
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.
Moscow, Nov 10 : Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into law a treaty on comprehensive strategic partnership with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)

This development happened on Saturday, as per Xinhua news agency.

The treaty, originally signed by the top leaders of the two countries in Pyongyang on June 19, was ratified by the State Duma, or the lower house of parliament, on October 24. Russia's upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, approved the bill on November 6.

The preamble to the treaty said that the document aligns with the core interests of the two peoples, aiming to ensure regional and global peace, security and stability.

Under the terms of the agreement, Russia and the DPRK are committed to developing a sustained partnership based on mutual respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-interference in internal affairs, equality, and other principles of international law that support friendly relations and cooperation among nations.

The treaty also includes provisions for immediate military and other forms of assistance if either nation faces an armed attack, as stipulated by Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.

The treaty will come into effect upon the exchange of ratification instruments.
New Delhi, Nov 10 : President Droupadi Murmu will on Monday swear in Justice Sanjiv Khanna as the next Chief Justice of India (CJI).

Justice Khanna will be the 51st CJI and will have around 6 months term in office.

As a Supreme Court judge, he has been part of the landmark judgments on Article 370, decriminalisation of adultery, electoral bonds scheme, EVM-VVPAT tally etc.

On October 24, the Centre cleared the appointment of Justice Khanna to the highest judicial office of the country after incumbent CJI D.Y. Chandrachud had recommended him as his successor last month.

"In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Judge of the Supreme Court, to be the Chief Justice of India with effect from 11 November 2024," had said a notification issued by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice.

Justice Sanjiv Khanna holds the post of Chairman, Supreme Court Legal Service Committee. He is presently the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority and a member of the Governing Counsel of the National Judicial Academy, Bhopal. Before elevation to the Supreme Court, Justice Khanna served as a judge in the Delhi High Court till January 2019. As a judge of the Delhi HC, he held the position of Chairman/Judge-in-charge, Delhi Judicial Academy, the Delhi International Arbitration Centre, and the District Court Mediation Centres.

Born in May 1960, he obtained his law degree from the Campus Law Centre, Delhi University. He enrolled as an advocate in the Bar Council of Delhi in 1983 and primarily practised taxation, arbitration, commercial law, environmental law, medical negligence law, and company law in the Delhi High Court. He had a long tenure as the Senior Standing Counsel for the Income Tax Department. In 2004, he was appointed as the Standing Counsel (Civil) for the Delhi government. He had also appeared and argued in a number of criminal cases at the Delhi High Court as an Additional Public Prosecutor and as an amicus curie (friend of the court).
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Mainly cloudy with snow showers around in the morning. High 39F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 50%. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight. Low 24F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.
People visit the booth of Toyota at the Automobile Exhibition Area during the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 5, 2024. [Photo/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.
QINGDAO, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- A Great Mekong Subregion (GMS) international road transport service has been launched between Qingdao, a port city in east China's Shandong Province, and the Thai capital of Bangkok as part of efforts to facilitate transportation in the GMS.

Loaded with agricultural products from Shandong, a truck departed from a bonded operational site at the Qingdao Port on Friday, marking the inauguration of the service.

The truck will cross the border via the land port of Mohan, pass through Laos and arrive in Bangkok. The seven-day trip spans about 4,400 km.

The vehicle, holding a GMS international road transport permit and a temporary entry certificate, is exempt from paying customs duties and guarantees when crossing GMS countries. According to Qingdao customs, such a vehicle is allowed to freely cross borders between GMS countries along designated routes, with the container no longer necessary to be transferred onto another truck or unstuffing.

Ma Li, an export department manager at Qingdao Baiwei Auto Transportation Co., Ltd., said the service saves costs and makes customs procedures more convenient.

The service was part of the actions to implement the consensus reached at the Eighth Meeting of the Joint Committee for the GMS Cross-Border Transport Facilitation Agreement.

The GMS comprises China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. 
Andhra CM Sets June 2025 Target for Rs 611-crore Vijayawada Airport Expansion Works

Published By :

PTI

Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 11:55 IST

Officials informed the CM that nearly 60 percent of the expansion work has been completed until now while the Rs 85-crore ATC tower witnessed the completion of 52 percent works.

Vijayawada Airport. (File photo)

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday set a target for officials here to complete the Rs 611-crore new integrated terminal building works of Gannavaram Airport (Vijayawada Airport) by June 2025.

The Chief Minister issued these guidelines during a review of the airport expansion works at his residence in Undavalli, which was also attended by Union Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu.

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He (CM) set June 2025 as the target for completing the Rs 611-crore new integrated terminal building," said an official press release.

Officials informed the CM that nearly 60 percent of the expansion work has been completed until now while the Rs 85-crore air traffic controller (ATC) tower witnessed the completion of 52 percent works.

Delving on designs, Chandrababu Naidu insisted that the airport should reflect the culture of the southern state and called for Kuchipudi-themed designs for the terminal building.

Meanwhile, the CM told officials that the southern state is intending to build five airstrips at Mulapeta, Kuppam, Dagadarthi, Tadepalligudem and one more between Anantapur and Tadipatri. PTI STH SA

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Location : Amaravati, India

First Published: November 10, 2024, 11:55 IST
Budget 2025 Expectations: India Inc Seeks Customs Amnesty, Tax Compliance Reforms

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 23, 2025, 23:38 IST

Budget 2025: CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM and PHDCCI, have put forth detailed recommendations about the Budget

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman showcases a tablet wrapped in a red pouch carrying the Budget documents, outside the Finance Ministry. (File photo/PTI)

Budget 2025 Expectations: An amnesty scheme for customs, reduction in tax rates for individuals and Limited Liability Partnership firms, easier tax compliance, fast tracking of faceless appeals and a dedicated dispute resolution mechanism top India Incs wishlist for the next Budget submitted to the government.

Industry Bodies Submit Budget Recommendations for 2025

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Representatives from all four key industry bodies, CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM and PHDCCI, have put forth detailed recommendations about the Budget, to be presented on February 1, 2025, in separate meetings held with top Finance Ministry officials.

FICCIs Recommendations for an Amnesty Scheme Under Customs

Industry body FICCI sought the introduction of an Amnesty Scheme under Customs" as a one-time settlement scheme to clear past dues, arguing that it will help the industry to reduce the baggage of litigation.

CIIs Focus on Tax System Reforms

CII also made a strong pitch for further reforms in the tax system, including through simplification of taxes, increasing Indias tax competitiveness, broadening of tax base and reducing tax litigation to build a globally competitive Indian economy.

ASSOCHAMs Push for a Tax Amnesty Scheme

Similarly, Assocham has also pitched for the introduction of a comprehensive Tax Amnesty Scheme under Customs.

A one-time settlement scheme to clear past litigations can be considered by the Government, on the lines similar to Sabka Vishwas Legacy Dispute Resolution Scheme, 2019 for pre-GST era indirect taxes and Vivad Se Vishwas for Income tax," Assocham stated.

It suggested that the Government can provide relief to importers against all the disputes related to the Customs Act; Partial waiver of the duty in dispute depending on the quantum involved; and Complete waiver of interest and penalty.

Simplified Compliance and Dispute Resolution Mechanisms

Industry chambers have also demanded simplified compliance concerning TDS (tax deducted at source) and the introduction of a new independent Dispute Resolution forum for effective and time-bound dispute resolution.

FICCIs Proposal to Support Women-Led Development

To enhance women-led development, FICCI urged the government to exempt reimbursement of daycare expenses from perquisite taxation.

PHDCCIs Suggestions on Tax Rates and MSME Support

PHDCCI submitted suggestions related to a reduction in rates of taxation for Individuals and Limited Liability Partnership firms, fast tracking of faceless appeals by introducing a statutory period; increase in the limit of presumptive tax scheme for professionals; expansion of the PLI scheme beyond the 14 sectors; change in classification norms of MSMEs for NPAs and interest equalization scheme on pre and post shipment export credit for MSMEs services exports.

PHDCCIs Projections for Union Budget 2025-26

PHDCCI expects a significant increase in the size of Union Budget from Rs 48.2 lakh crore for the year 2024-25 to more than Rs 51 lakh crore for the year 2025-26 and continued capital expenditure expansion from Rs 11.11 lakh crore for the year 2024-25 to more than Rs 13 lakh crore for the year 2025-26," said Hemant Jain, President, PHDCCI.

ASSOCHAMs Call for TDS Decriminalization

Moreover, Assocham sought decriminalisation of certain TDS defaults under Section 276B which provides for imprisonment for up to seven years if a person fails to comply with certain tax deduction at source (TDS) provisions.

The Government should consider amending this to exclude from its ambit any failure to pay tax or ensure payment of tax required," Assocham said.

The chamber argued that Criminal proceedings should apply only when the taxpayer has enriched himself at the expense of the government, and not to cases where certain payments / benefits are made or provided without applying TDS. Normal penalty and interest consequences can continue to apply.

CIIs Call for Increased Capex in Infrastructure and Social Sectors

Besides, CII called upon the government to increase the capex by 25 per cent over 2024-25 (BE) with a sharp focus on infrastructure related to rural areas, agriculture, and the social sector.

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Budget 2025 Date India

The Budget for 2025-26 is set to be presented on February 1, 2025.

First Published: November 10, 2024, 14:29 IST
Sebi Mulls Expanding Scope Of Unpublished Price-sensitive Information

Published By :

PTI

Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 15:29 IST

Sebi is looking to broaden the scope of Unpublished Price Sensitive Information

SEBI Bhavan at BKC Bandra in Mumbai (PTI/ File Photo)

To enhance transparency in market disclosures, Sebi is looking to broaden the scope of Unpublished Price Sensitive Information (UPSI) by including proposed fundraising activities, restructuring plans, and one-time bank settlements.

In its consultation paper, Sebi has proposed that only agreements, including shareholder, joint venture and family settlement, that affect the management and control of the firm and are known to the firm should be considered price-sensitive and included in the illustrative list of events under the definition of UPSI.

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Additionally, key developments in corporate insolvency proceedings, such as initiation or approval of resolution plans by the tribunal, should be disclosed as potentially price-sensitive.

If a forensic audit is launched or concluded for issues like fund misappropriation or financial misstatements, it should be disclosed as price-sensitive.

The proposed changes to Sebis definition of UPSI are aimed at increasing regulatory clarity and consistency.

In the constitution paper, Sebi suggested including fundraising proposed to be undertaken in the definition of UPSI.

Currently, the decision concerning fundraising proposed to be undertaken is not included in the definition at present.

The regulator has proposed the inclusion of restructuring plans, one-time bank settlements and other significant financial restructurings as UPSI.

Sebi has also proposed that actions by regulatory or judicial bodies against a company or its key personnel if involving significant enforcement, fines, penalties, or other sanctions, should be considered price-sensitive and classified as UPSI.

Among others, the regulator suggested that outcomes of major litigations or disputes that could affect a companys operations or finances, along with any major contracts or orders awarded to the company (or significant amendments or terminations) outside regular business activities, should be disclosed as UPSI due to their potential impact on financial performance.

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Further, the granting, withdrawal, or suspension of essential licenses or approvals should be disclosed, as such events could significantly affect company operations.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has sought public comments on the proposals by November 30.

First Published: November 10, 2024, 15:29 IST
PM Internship Scheme 2024 Registration Ends Today; Steps To Apply, Stipend And More

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 08:48 IST

The PM Internship Scheme 2024 aims to offer internship opportunities in the top 500 companies across India to more than one crore candidates over five years.

This year, the scheme offers 80,000 internship opportunities in 24 areas of specialisation in notable firms such as Mahindra & Mahindra and L&T. (Representative image)

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) will conclude the registration process for the Prime Minister Internship Scheme 2024 today, November 10. Candidates still have some time left to apply for various internship positions through the schemes official portal, pminternship.mca.gov.in. The scheme, announced in the Union Budget 2024, aims to offer internship opportunities in the top 500 companies across India to more than one crore candidates over five years.

This year, the scheme offers 80,000 internship opportunities in 24 areas of specialisation in notable firms such as Mahindra & Mahindra, L&T, Tata Group and Jubilant FoodWorks. Banking, financial services, oil and energy, fast-moving consumer goods, manufacturing, travel and hospitality are among the available sectors.

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How to apply for the PM Internship Scheme 2024?

Step 1: Head to the official website, pminternship.mca.gov.in.

Step 2: On the homepage, click on the Register link and fill in the required details.

Step 3: After submitting the details, the system will auto-generate your resume based on the information provided.

Step 4: Next up, apply for up to five internship positions, including preferences such as location, sector and qualifications.

Step 5: Submit the form and keep a hard copy of it for future reference.

PM Internship Scheme 2024: Eligibility Criteria

To apply for the PM Internship Scheme, candidates must be between 21 to 24 years of age.

Must have passed at least High School or Higher Secondary School.

Must hold an ITI certificate, a diploma from a Polytechnic Institute or a degree such as BA, BSc, BCom, BCA, BBA or B Pharma.

PM Internship Scheme 2024: Stipend

During the internship period, the interns will receive a stipend of Rs 5,000. Out of this, the host company will contribute Rs 500 from their CSR funding, with the government providing the rest of Rs 4,500 to the shortlisted interns.

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The scheme also adheres to reservation regulations for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes.

The internships will last 12 months, with at least half of the time dedicated to hands-on job experience. In addition, interns will receive a one-time stipend of Rs 6,000 to cover incidental expenditures throughout their internship.

First Published: November 10, 2024, 08:48 IST
UPSC GK Capsule: From Delhis Smog To PM-Vidyalaxmi Scheme, Top News Stories of This Week

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 13:26 IST

If youre preparing for a government exam or a recruitment drive, heres a summary of the most important news stories from the week.

List of important events to look back at from the past week for your UPSC preparation (Representative image)

Current affairs are a crucial part of all government exams and recruitment drives, including the UPSC. If you are preparing for a government exam, you should be well-versed in current affairs and national and international events around the world. This will help you crack the written exams and ace your interview round.

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From Delhis smog to the PM-Vidyalaxmi scheme, here are the top news stories from this week:

Rapidly Increasing Vehicles On Delhi Roads Become Biggest Polluters

The biggest contributor to Delhis harmful smog is the steadily growing number of cars clogging the citys highways. A recent analysis by the Centre for Science & Environment (CSE) in New Delhi found that when all local sources are taken out of the equation, the transport sector accounts for more than half of the PM2.5 concentrations in the national capital. This is despite the biggest-ever CNG program for public and local commercial transportation, the phase-out of diesel and petrol vehicles older than 10 and 15 years, the ban on non-destined trucks, the implementation of Bharat Stage-6 emissions standards, and the start of fleet electrification. READ MORE

One Rank One Pension For Veterans

On November 7, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the introduction of one rank one pension" (OROP) for veterans. He said this is a major step in reiterating the nations appreciation for its heroes. In a post on X, he mentioned what the BJP had promised before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, was put into effect on this day. The benefits of OROP became operative from July 1, 2014, when his government decided to implement it and issued an order on November 7, 2015. The Prime Minister further noted that his government will always make every effort to improve the welfare of those who serve the country and bolster the military forces. READ MORE

Indian Officials Hold First-Ever Talks With Talibans Acting Defence Minister

A senior official from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) met with Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, the Talibans acting defence minister, in the first-ever meeting between India and the Taliban-led government to discuss ways to further bilateral ties. Indias Joint Secretary for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran, JP Singh, met with Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, the Talibans military leader since 2020, in Kabul on November 5. According to Hindustan Times, Yaqoob is the son of Mullah Omar, the founder of the Taliban. This was an important milestone in Indias diplomatic relationship with Afghanistan under Taliban rule. READ MORE

What Happens To Pending Criminal & Civil Cases Against Donald Trump After His Re-Election?

Donald Trump, a convicted felon, elected to the White House of the United States, is still awaiting sentencing in his New York hush-money case. On November 6, he was re-elected as the President of the United States (US). Trump declared, This will truly be the golden age of America," in his victory speech. Prosecutors from the state and federal governments had wanted to present their evidence against Trump before election day, but his legal team used many postponed strategies that led to only one Manhattan criminal trial. CNN reports that Jack Smith, Trumps special counsel, is currently discussing ways to resolve the criminal lawsuits against Trump with the leadership of the Justice Department. READ MORE

PM-Vidyalaxmi Scheme

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On November 6, the Union Cabinet gave its approval to the PM-Vidyalaxmi scheme, which offers financial aid to deserving students pursuing higher education. Every year, the programme seeks to provide school loans to more than 22 lakh deserving students who are accepted into the top 860 prestigious universities in the country. Students can apply for special education loans under the PM-Vidyalaxmi scheme that are free of collateral and guarantors. With a fully digital platform to guarantee comfort and convenience for students, the application process is made to be straightforward, accessible and student-friendly. READ MORE

For all updates regarding government exams, follow the News 18 website.

First Published: November 10, 2024, 13:26 IST
Ek Rahoge To Safe Rahoge: PM Modi Accuses JMM-Congress Of Dividing OBCs

Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 16:34 IST

Addressing the rally in Bokaro, Modi claimed that till there was no unity between OBCs, tribals and Dalits, the Congress kept forming governments at the Centre.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a public meeting ahead of Jharkhand Assembly elections (PTI)

Alleging that the Congress-JMM coalition wanted to divide OBCs by pitting sub-castes against each other, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday told an election rally in Jharkhand ek rahoge toh safe rahoge (be united to be safe).

Addressing the rally in Bokaro, Modi claimed that till there was no unity between OBCs, tribals and Dalits, the Congress kept forming governments at the Centre.

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"Beware of Congress-JMMs evil designs and conspiracies. They can go to any extent to grab power. Congress has been an opponent of SC, ST, and OBC unity since Independence. Till there was no unity, Congress kept forming governments at the Centre and looted the nation," he said.

"More than 125 sub-castes are considered OBCs in the Chotanagpur region. Congress-JMM wants to break the OBC unity by pitting sub-castes against each other like Yadav versus Kurmi and Sonar versus Lohar. I warn you, ek rahoge toh safe rahoge," he added.

The PM also attacked the Congress and its allies for seeking to reinstate Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.

"The Congress and its allies want to bring back Article 370 so that Babasahebs Constitution is once again out of Jammu and Kashmir, and our soldiers again face the fire of terrorism," he said.

"Modi buried Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. For seven decades, Ambedkars Constitution was not in force there," he said.

Modi said it was the first time that the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir had taken oath in the name of the Indian Constitution and this was his tribute to Ambedkar.

He said a BJP-led government was needed in Jharkhand to drive out infiltrators and eradicate corruption.

"You are hankering for a handful of sand, they are smuggling it and earning crores. I promise to ensure stringent punishment for the corrupt leaders of the JMM-led coalition," he said.

"Recruitment mafia and paper leak mafia created by the JMM-led coalition will be sent to jail and those who played with the future of the youth would not be spared," he added.

Modi claimed there was a strong wave in favour of the BJP  "Roti, beti, maati pukar  Jharkhand mein BJP-NDA ki sarkar".

The PM said that those who opposed the creation of Jharkhand cannot develop it, asserting, "We created Jharkhand and will give shape to it." "Ten years ago, there was a Congress government at the Centre from 2004 to 2014. Madam Sonia Gandhi used to run the government and Manmohan Singh was the prime minister. At that time, the Centre gave Rs 80,000 crore to Jharkhand over 10 years with great difficulty. After 2014, the government changed in Delhi, you gave your sevak Modi a chance to serve you, and in the last 10 years, we have given more than Rs 3 lakh crore to Jharkhand," he said.

Modi said the Centre was spending lakhs of crores of rupees to develop highways, railways and airports.

More than 50 railway stations are being modernised in Jharkhand and the airport in Bokaro will be made operational soon, he said.

"It is my dream to ensure that those who wear slippers and are poor travel by air," he said.

The PM said the Centre was reviving closed industrial units in Jharkhand and has already given a new lease of life to the Sindri fertiliser plant, ensuring employment for thousands of people.

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He promised to provide employment to the youth, citing the example of Haryana where, he said, soon after the BJP formed government, orders were issued for jobs without kharchi-parchi (bribe).

"It is Modis guarantee to implement Gogo Didi Yojna in the state to transfer money (Rs 2100 per month) to the bank accounts of women. Modi lives for you. We will provide piped gas connections at affordable prices," he said.

Location : Bokaro, India

First Published: November 10, 2024, 16:34 IST
GAZA, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Much rattled, Mohammed Alloush, a Palestinian man from Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, rushed to his relatives' house on Sunday to see what had happened after it was attacked by the Israeli army.

Upon his arrival with dozens of his neighbors, Alloush was shocked to find the house, once alive with more than 50 residents, completely destroyed.

"We heard cries for help from beneath the rubble. Some were still alive. I must help and rescue them," Alloush told Xinhua with a breaking voice.

However, neither Alloush nor any other responders have any tools in hand.

"We are forced to dig with our bare hands to help the injured and pull out the dead as possible as we can," said the 35-year-old father of four, holding the body of a child in his arms.

"The situation is very dangerous here, as the Israeli army may strike the house again, but we have to race against time to rescue as many as we can," he said.

Alloush said he and his neighbors have to bury the dead in place, and transfer the injured to the Kamal Adwan and Indonesian hospitals, which have been out of service, with donkey carts.

Earlier on Sunday, the Israeli army killed at least 36 members of Alloush's family in an attack on their house in Jabalia refugee camp, according to locals and medical sources.

The attack was part of Israel's ongoing large-scale military offensive in the area starting from Oct. 5, which aims to kill the remnants of Hamas and prevent it from regrouping in the territory, the Israeli military has claimed.

Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza, said the Israeli military forced the Civil Defense teams to leave the area and sieged many locals inside their houses.

Israel has been conducting a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 taken hostage.

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks in Gaza has risen to 43,603, with injuries up to 102,929, Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Sunday.

In northern Gaza, the Israeli offensive has killed more than 1,800 people, wounded about 4,000 others, and left hundreds missing, apart from destroying all local hospitals, the Hamas-run government media office said Monday in a press statement.

Meanwhile, rescue operations are difficult in Gaza City, even with the presence of the Civil Defense services.

On Saturday night, the Israeli army killed at least five Palestinians in an attack on a house of the al-Khour family in the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood west of Gaza City.

"It was very hard for the ambulances and Civil Defense to reach the area quickly, so I decided to use my hands to rescue the survivors and pull out the dead to bury them in the early morning," 25-year-old Palestinian Mohammed Doghmosh told Xinhua.

Doghmosh said he and his friends used the flashlights on their mobile phones to see clearly through the rubble so that they could pull out the casualties as soon as possible.

"All the time, we are in a race against death, war, and time. So, we have to take the mission into our own hands and help each other as best we can," he said. 
Who Will Be Mahayuti's CM Face In Maharashtra Polls? Amit Shah Responds

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 15:10 IST

The Mahayuti has not declared any official CM face for the Maharashtra polls. Amit Shah has responded to the question on Sunday.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah (PTI Image)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday launched the BJPs poll manifesto for the Maharashtra Assembly Elections and exuded confidence in the Mahayutis return to power for the third term.

The BJP unveiled its 25-point poll promises in Mumbai in which Union Minister Piyush Goyal and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis were also present.

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Who will be Mahayutis CM face?

Speaking to the reporters after releasing the party manifesto, Shah also spoke about the chief ministerial face of the alliance.

We have Eknath Shinde as our CM now and the alliance partners will decide on the CM face after the elections. Wont give Sharad Pawar a chance," Shah said.

How did Fadnavis react to CM aspiration question?

Earlier last month, at a press conference during the induction of former Congress leader and former LoP of Mumbai Municipal Corporation Ravi Raja into the BJP, Fadnavis was asked about the CM face of the alliance, responding to which he had said, I accept the wishes of everyone. Here, the government is going to be that of Mahayuti and not BJP".

When asked if he aspired to be the CM again, he had maintained silence while only smiling at the question.

Notably, Ravi Raja while joining the BJP termed Fadnavis as the upcoming Chief Minister". Greetings to current DCM and upcoming CM Devendra Fadnavis," Raja said. To this, Fadnavis said in jest, You need to censor this".

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The Mahayuti has not declared any Chief Ministers pick for the polls and is contesting under Chief Minister Eknath Shindes leadership, according to the alliance leaders.

The state will go to Assembly polls on November 20 in a single phase, the counting of votes will take place on November 23.

First Published: November 10, 2024, 15:04 IST
Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 23:58 IST

Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024 LIVE Updates: BJP MP Dhananjay Mahadik has kicked up a controversy by allegedly warning women who received Rs 1,500 under the Mahayuti governments Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme against attending rallies of the Congress.

Addressing a campaign rally on Saturday (November 9), he said: If you spot women who received Rs 1,500 under the Ladki Bahin Yojana in Congress rallies, take their photographs, and we will see them. Taking aid from our government and praising others will not be allowed.

The Kolhapur district collector, who is the district election officer, has issued a show cause notice to Mahadik for his statement under Section 179 of BNS for violating the model code of conduct. The Rajya Sabha MP drew flak from the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi for his comments.

The Majhi Ladki Bahin has been one of the major initiatives of the BJP-led Mahayuti this election year. In its manifesto for the assembly polls, the ruling alliance has promised to increase the aid to Rs 2,100 from Rs 1,500 if it is voted to power.

The election will be held on November 20, while results will be declared on November 23.
Army Officer Killed, Soldiers Hurt In Gunfight With Terrorists Who Shot Dead J&K Village Guards

Curated By :

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Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 19:05 IST

Three jawans were injured in an encounter with the terrorist group involved in the killing of two VDGs in Kishtwar this week.

Indian Army in Kashmir (Image used for representational purposes) (PTI Image)

A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Armys special forces laid down his life on Sunday, while three more soldiers were injured in a gunfight with terrorists in a remote forest area in Jammu and Kashmirs Kishtwar district, officials said.

The Army identified the fallen hero as Naib Subedar Rakesh Kumar of 2 Para and saluted his supreme sacrifice.

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#GOC #WhiteknightCorps and all ranks salute the supreme sacrifice of #Braveheart, Nb Sub Rakesh Kumar of 2 Para (SF). Sub Rakesh was part of a joint #CI operation launched in general area of # Bhart Ridge #Kishtwar on 09 Nov 2024. We stand with bereaved family in this hour of grief," the White Knight Corps said in a post on X.

#GOC #WhiteknightCorps and all ranks salute the supreme sacrifice of #Braveheart, Nb Sub Rakesh Kumar of 2 Para (SF). Sub Rakesh was part of a joint #CI operation launched in general area of # Bhart Ridge #Kishtwar on 09 Nov 2024.We stand with bereaved family in this hour of pic.twitter.com/sh9H4gkOKm  White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) November 10, 2024

This is the third such gunfight that broke out with terrorists in the past 24 hours. The latest one broke out in the Keshwan forests when the joint search parties of the Army and police intercepted hiding terrorists around 11 am. Nearly three or four terrorists are believed to be trapped.

Same terror group involved in VDGs abduction and killing

This is the same group that killed the 2 innocent villagers earlier this week," the officials said.

#KishtwarOn 10 Nov 24, based on specific intelligence input regarding presence of terrorists, a joint Operation was launched by #Security forces in general area #Bhart Ridge #Kishtwar. This is the same group which had abducted and killed 02 innocent villagers (village  White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) November 10, 2024

The operation in the forests of Kuntwara and Keshwan was underway since Thursday evening following the incident in which two civilians working as Village Defence Guards (VDGs) were first kidnapped and then killed, they added.

The two men had gone to a nearby forest area to graze their cattle but did not return.

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Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed concerns over the killing of two civilians by terrorists and asked the security forces to plug any gaps" in the counter-terror grid.

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 had said.

Location : Kishtwar, India

First Published: November 10, 2024, 12:29 IST
J&K: Heavy Gunfight Breaks Out Between Security Forces And Terrorists In Srinagar's Forest Area

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 10:03 IST

The encounter broke out in the forest area in Srinagar on Sunday morning, officials said.

Indian Army troops (Image used for representational purposes) (PTI Image)

A heavy gunfight broke out between security forces and terrorists in the forest area of Ishber Nishat on the outskirts of Jammu and Kashmirs Srinagar on Sunday, officials said.

A heavy exchange of fire is underway.

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Encounter is going on in the upper reaches of the area on a mountain," officials said.

A joint police and security forces operation was launched in the Zabarwan forest area of Srinagar based on specific intelligence about the presence of terrorists. An exchange of fire ensued during the operation, they added.

Dozen injured in Srinagar grenade attack last Sunday

The encounter in Srinagars Ishber Nishat area comes exactly a week after 12 civilians were injured in a grenade attack near the heavily guarded Tourist Reception Centre, an area close to Lal Chowk on November 3, last Sunday. Terrorists had lobbed a hand grenade at a security force deployment near the crowded Sunday Market at around 2 pm.

Terrorist killed in another operation

In another operation in Baramulla, the security forces killed a terrorist in the general area of Rajpura, Sopore.

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#WATCH | J&K | One terrorist neutralised by security forces in Operation Rajpura in the general area of Rajpura, Sopore, Baramulla. A search operation is underway.(Visuals deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/LDPYFdfLiY  ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2024

Three terrorists, including wanted Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Usman Lashkari, were killed in two separate anti-terrorist operations in Kashmir on November 2.

Location : Srinagar, India

First Published: November 10, 2024, 09:32 IST
'Never Allow Yourself...': CJI Chandrachud On Why His Father Told Him Not To Sell Pune Flat

Curated By :

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Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 13:08 IST

Justice DY Chandrachud bid farewell to the position of the Chief Justice of India in a heartfelt speech on November 8.

Outgoing CJI DY Chandrachud being presented a memento by senior lawyer Kapil Sibal and others during his farewell. (PTI)

Outgoing Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud bid farewell to his position on November 8 (Friday) in a heartfelt farewell speech following the completion of his two-year term. Before parting ways, Justice Chandrachud shared a story about when his father bought a small flat in Pune and why he didnt allow his son until he retired.

Justice Chandrachud was succeeded by Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who will be sworn in on Monday. Justice Khannas name was proposed by Justice Chandrachud himself or the 51st CJI and he would have a tenure of six months before he retires on May 13, 2025, as Supreme Court judges retire at the age of 65.

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At the farewell organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association, the outgoing CJI said," He (my father) bought this small flat in Pune. I asked him, why on earth are you buying a flat in Pune? When are we going to go and stay there? He said, I know Im never going to stay there. He said Im not sure how long I will be with you. But do one thing, keep this flat until the last day of your tenure as a judge."

#WATCH | While addressing his farewell function, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud says He (my father) bought this small flat in Pune. I asked him, why on earth are you buying a flat in Pune? When are we going to go and stay there? He said, I know Im never going to stay pic.twitter.com/6nqbSH7HKk ANI (@ANI) November 8, 2024

I said, why is that? He said, if you feel that your moral integrity or your intellectual integrity is ever compromised, I want you to know that you have a roof over your head. Never allow yourself to be compromised either as a lawyer or as a judge because you have no place of your own," he added.

I Was A Sick Child, Mother Said

He thanked the Supreme Court Bar Association and the lawyers for organising the event in the presence of his family. Remembering his mother, Justice Chandrachud said, I was a sick child. I was prone to falling sick. My mother must have spent night after night keeping awake to ensure that I get well."

I must have heard her innumerable times saying Medicine is like the Ganges and the doctor was in the position of Narayan (god) She told me while I was growing up, I have named you Dhananjay, but the dhan is not material wealth, I want you to acquire knowledge," he added.

#WATCH | While addressing his farewell function, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud says Thank you so much for such a great honourI would like to thank from the bottom of my heart the Supreme Court Bar Association for organising this eventMy mother told me when I was pic.twitter.com/YJy44SL6Qz ANI (@ANI) November 8, 2024

The outgoing Chief Justice said his mother, like most Maharashtrian women, was very powerful. Ours was a woman-dominated house. My mother dominated everything at home. I think women from Odisha are in the same pattern. My lovely spouse Kalpana calls all the shots at home, but never messes around with the judgments," he said.

CJI Chandrachud On Online Trolls

Justice Chandrachud, who had often been criticised during his term, also commented on online trolls who will be rendered unemployed" from Monday. I am, probably, one of the most trolled judges and on a lighter note, I am wondering what will happen from Monday as all those who trolled me will be rendered unemployed," he said.

Justice Chandrachud has been criticised by at several occasions for certain public remarks, including the recent one regarding the Ayodhyas Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid judgment when he said that he had appealed to God to help him with a solution to the long-standing dispute.

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The outgoing CJI Holds a BA with Honors in Economics from St. Stephens College, New Delhi, an LLB degree from Campus Law Centre, Delhi University and an LLM and SJD from Harvard Law School. He was designated as a Senior Advocate and Additional Solicitor General of India in 1998. His tenure as Chief Justice of India began on November 9, 2022.

(with agency inputs)

First Published: November 10, 2024, 12:54 IST
Shiv Kumar, Shooter Involved In Baba Siddique Murder Case, Arrested From UPs Bahraich

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 20:37 IST

Shiva Kumar is among the three assailants who shot dead Baba Siddique. The total number of people arrested in connection with the case has reached 23.

Shiv Kumar was nabbed for UPs Bahraich by a team comprising 6 officers and 15 personnel. He is among the assailants who shot dead the Maharashtra lawmaker. (IMAGE: SOURCED)

Shiv Kumar, one of the assailants who shot dead former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, was nabbed from Nanpara, Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh during a joint operation on Sunday led by the states special task force and a unit of the Mumbai crime branch.

They also arrested four individualsAnurag Kashyap, Gyan Prakash Tripathi, Akash Srivastava, and Akhileshendra Pratap Singhfor providing him shelter and helping his bid to flee the country.

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With Shiva Kumar and the four people arrested on Sunday, the total number of people arrested in connection with the case has reached 23.

Siddique (66) was shot dead by three gunmen in Mumbais Bandra area on October 12.

Jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnois younger brother Anmol, believed to be living in Canada, was allegedly behind the murder, but the motive remains unclear, police have said.

Gurmail Singh, a native of Haryana and Dharamraj Kashyap from Uttar Pradesh along with Shiva Kumar were the other two who accompanied Shiva Kumar in murdering Siddique, who was shot dead in front of his MLA son Zeeshan Siddiques office.

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Shiv Kumar fired at Baba Siddiqui, while Dharmraj was carrying chili spray. However, before he could use it, Shiv had already opened fire. Three constables were present with Baba at the time but failed to do anything," DCP crime branch Datta Nalawade said while speaking to reporters last month.

(with inputs from Amit Kumar Singh)

Location : Bahraich, India

First Published: November 10, 2024, 20:04 IST
'Unknown To Civilised System, Simply Unacceptable': SC Raps UP Govt's 'Bulldozer Justice'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 07:53 IST

The Supreme Court rapped the Uttar Pradesh government over its "bulldozer actions" and said that it is "simply unacceptable".

Supreme Court of India (Getty Image)

The Supreme Court rapped the Uttar Pradesh government for its bulldozer justice" calling it simply unacceptable" and something that is unknown to any civilised system" of jurisprudence.

The courts remarks came while delivering a verdict in a case related to the demolition of a house in the Maharajganj district of the state in 2019. The order was passed on November 6, which was put on the website later.

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A bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud directed the UP government to follow due process of law before initiating action to remove illegal encroachments or structures constructed unlawfully.

Right to property would be reduced to dead letter: SC

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 JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.

According to Article 300A of the Constitution, no person shall be deprived of his property save by authority of law.

The top court ordered the Uttar Pradesh government to pay Rs 25 lakh compensation to the petitioner whose house was taken down for a road project.

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 order 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," the judgment penned by the CJI, who retired on November 8, said.

The court said that municipal and town-planning legislation laws were already in place, listing adequate provisions to tackle 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.

The apex court said that 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.

State must issue written notice to encroachers for removal: SC

The bench said that if the state finds any encroachment, it must issue a proper written notice to the encroachers for its removal.

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.

During the hearing on November 6, the Supreme Court had pulled up the Yogi Adityanath government for the illegal" demolition.

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You cant come with bulldozers and demolish the constructions overnight. You dont 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.

(With PTI inputs)

First Published: November 10, 2024, 07:25 IST
Telangana: 8 Cars Gutted As Lorry Catches Fire, Driver Suffers Burns

Published By :

PTI

Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 21:10 IST

Three fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the flames were brought under control, while the lorry driver who suffered 20% burns was rushed to a hospital

Police said based on preliminary investigation, a short-circuit could have led to the fire mishap. (Image for representation: PTI)

A container lorry with eight cars being transported on it caught fire in Sangareddy district in Telangana on Sunday and the driver suffered burns.

According to the police, the incident took place on the national highway at Zahirabad town between 1.30 pm and 2 pm. Three fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the flames were brought under control, police said, adding the lorry driver who suffered 20 per cent burns was rushed to a hospital.

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Officials said based on preliminary investigation, a short-circuit could have led to the fire mishap. The cars were being transported from Gujarat to Hyderabad, they said.

A case has been registered and the probe is underway, police added.

First Published: November 10, 2024, 21:10 IST
Tension In Karnataka's Mandya Village As Dalits Enter Temple For First Time

Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 22:21 IST

Tension prevailed in a village in Mandya on Sunday after the district authorities made way for the Dalits to enter the temple and worship the deity 'Kalabhairaveshwara' for the first time.

Heavy police force has been deployed in Hanakere in view of the prevailing tension. (Representative image)

Tension prevailed in a village in Mandya on Sunday after the district authorities made way for the Dalits to enter the temple and worship the deity Kalabhairaveshwara for the first time.

The upper caste people, mostly Vokkaligas, allegedly took away the Utsava Murthy, the metallic festival idol of the deity for performing rituals outside the temple in Hanakere village.

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Heavy police force has been deployed in Hanakere in view of the prevailing tension.

According to sources, there was an old Kalabhairaveshwara Swamy temple in the village and Dalits were never allowed to enter it.

About three years ago, the old dilapidated structure was demolished and a new temple was built. Recently, the shrine came under the control of the Religious Endowment Department of the state government.

Soon, Dalits decided to enter the temple but the members of the upper caste communities did not agree.

The Dalits complained to the district administration about the discrimination done against them. Subsequently, two peace meetings were conducted but they failed.

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On Sunday, the Dalits entered the temple amid police security. The upper caste members who were upset with the development took away the festival idol.

"Let them keep the temple, we will take the deity with us," one of them was heard saying.

Location : Mandya, India

First Published: November 10, 2024, 22:21 IST
Two Americans Arrested In Bihar For Trying To Cross Over To Nepal Illegally

Published By :

PTI

Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 23:55 IST

The two Americans, residents of California, were arrested in Bihar's Madhubani.

The police arrested two locals along with two Americans as well. The US nationals were trying to cross over to Nepal from Bihar illegally. (IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK)

Two US nationals, including a woman, were arrested in Bihars Madhubani district when they were allegedly trying to cross over to Nepal without valid travel documents, police said on Sunday.

The arrested US nationals are residents of California, a senior officer said.

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The police also arrested two locals who provided them with logistical support during their stay in the Jainagar area near the India-Nepal border.

According to the police, security personnel of the 48th battalion of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) intercepted the two Americans near the Betaunha border outpost under the jurisdiction of the Jainagar Police Station while they were leaving India for Nepal on Saturday afternoon.

They were held by the SSB personnel as they were trying to cross over to Nepal without valid travel documents. The arrested US nationals are a couple. The woman, born in Nepal, married to the man and took the US citizenship. Both were jointly interrogated by the police, SSB and officials of other agencies concerned," Jainagar Deputy SP Ankur Kumar told PTI.

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The police registered a case and arrested both US nationals. Two locals were also apprehended for providing them with logistical support," he said.

The matter is being further investigated, the deputy SP added.

Location : Madhubani, India

First Published: November 10, 2024, 23:55 IST
by Joseph Matthews

Countries including China and Brazil launched a "Friends of Peace" platform on the Ukraine crisis earlier in September at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The platform was designed to create an atmosphere for the resumption of peace talks, to promote a ceasefire, and to end hostilities between Ukraine and Russia.

In my view, the Russia-Ukraine conflict is a direct result of the absence of talks and negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in the first place.

Had NATO states and the United States allowed Russia-Ukraine talks without third-party interference, this conflict could have been avoided.

Instead, Washington and its Western allies manipulated the situation and hijacked the possible talks between Russia and Ukraine, and pushed Ukraine into conflicts by ignoring the legitimate security concerns of Russia.

Since the conflicts broke out, China and many other countries have focused on promoting peace rather than fueling tensions.

The "Friends of Peace" is a platform made by China, Brazil and "Global South" countries to strive for peace. It is supported by South Africa, Turkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, and many other countries that want to see peace in the region.

Before that, in May 2024, China and Brazil presented a six-point consensus to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The six points call on all parties concerned to de-escalate, to create conditions for direct talks until the realization of a comprehensive ceasefire, to increase humanitarian assistance, to oppose the use of weapons of mass destruction, to oppose attacks on nuclear power plants and other peaceful nuclear facilities, and to protect the stability of global industrial and supply chains.

The "Friends of Peace" platform has the potential to create the conditions for Russia and Ukraine to start talking and seeking a political settlement to the conflict without interference from external forces, whom I call warmongers.

China's role as a peacemaker was proven last year when China successfully facilitated reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

China also brokered the peace deal between 14 different factions of Palestinians in July this year.

China's role as a peacemaker showcases China's resolve to create a world without conflict, hegemonic force, and poverty.

Editor's note: Joseph Matthews is a senior professor at the BELTEI International University in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Xinhua News Agency.
UP Man Who Went On 'Blind Date', Held Hostage By Woman, 2 Others For Ransom

Published By :

PTI

Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 20:34 IST

Explaining the modus operandi of an alleged gang that targeted the man, the police said the accused said they first make a woman call a man over the phone and ask him to meet her in Jhansi

Police arrested three persons, including a woman, from Jhansi district. (Image for representation: News18)

A man from Uttar Pradesh was rescued by the police after allegedly being held hostage for a ransom of Rs 3 lakh by a woman he met on a blind date". The woman and two other accused were arrested from Jhansi, officials said.

According to the police, the man from Lalitpur district, identified as 50-year-old Lallu Chaubey, received a call from some people on November 8 (Friday) who later held him hostage by demanding a ransom of Rs 3 lakh. Out of the total ransom amount demanded, Rs 1 lakh was already paid, Lalitpur SP Mohammad Mushtaq told PTI.

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On Saturday (November 9), police conducted a raid and rescued Chaubey while the three accused Akhilesh Ahirwar (30), Satish Singh Bundela (27) and the woman Kiran (35) were arrested.

Explaining the modus operandi of an alleged gang that targeted Chaubey, the police said the accused told them that many women are associated with them. They first make a woman call a man over the phone and ask him to meet her in Jhansi when the gang holds him hostage, they said.

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Mushtaq said action is being taken against the accused under the Gangster Act and an investigation is underway to trace other gang members. The officer said the case was registered on a complaint from the victims son, who reportedly received the ransom call.

According to reports, police formed multiple teams with a constable posing as the son, who went to give the ransom. One of the accused then took the cop to a location where Chaubey was being held hostage.

Location : Jhansi, India

First Published: November 10, 2024, 20:34 IST
5 Simple Marinades to Add Big Flavour to Your Meals

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 08:05 IST

Be it for a weeknight dinner or a weekend get-together, these simple marinades bring big flavour with very little prep.

Marinades are an easy way to infuse big flavor into any meal, transforming simple ingredients into something delicious. A well-balanced marinade typically includes an acid, like citrus or vinegar, along with oil, herbs, and spices to enhance taste and texture. For a zesty option, try combining lemon juice, garlic, and herbs. For a hint of sweetness and richness, add honey or brown sugar along with spices. Marinades work well with meats, vegetables, tofu, or seafood, allowing flavors to soak in and create depth. Whether grilled, baked, or sauteed, a good marinade can elevate any dish with minimal effort.

Adding a burst of flavour to your meals doesnt have to be complicated. Marinades are an easy yet effective way to enrich your dishes with layers of taste.

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Chef Siddharth Parab, Executive Chef, SpiceKlub USA, Cupertino, California, shares five versatile marinades that will elevate your everyday meals with minimal effort. These marinades are perfect for everything from meats, seafood to veggies and tofu.

Garlic Herb Marinade

For a fresh and aromatic profile, this Garlic Herb Marinade combines earthy herbs and zesty lemon with the bite of garlic. This versatile blend adds a savoury freshness to your meal, making it ideal for chicken, shrimp or vegetables.

Ingredients:

 3 cloves garlic, minced

 1/4 cup olive oil

 2 tbsp lemon juice

 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped

 1 tbsp fresh thyme, chopped

 Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

In a small bowl, whisk together the garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper until well-combined. Pour it over your choice of chicken, shrimp or vegetables, and let it marinate for at least 30 minutes before cooking to let the flavours meld beautifully.

Soy Ginger Marinade

Thanks to the blend of soy sauce, sesame oil and honey, this Soy Ginger Marinade brings a rich, umami flavour with an Asian-inspired twist. The combination of ginger and garlic adds a subtle heat, making this marinade perfect for pork, paneer or tofu.

Ingredients:

 1/4 cup soy sauce

 2 tbsp sesame oil

 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated

 1 clove garlic, minced

 1 tbsp honey

Instructions:

Mix the soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, garlic and honey in a bowl until smooth. Pour the mixture over your protein and allow it to sit for at least 2030 minutes. This marinade brings out deep flavours and enhances every bite with an irresistible delicious finish.

Citrus Honey Marinade

Bright and tangy, this Citrus Honey Marinade combines orange and lime zest with a dash of honey for a refreshing and slightly sweet taste. This marinade works wonderfully with seafood, chicken or vegetables, as it gives them a vibrant, sunny flavour.

Ingredients:

 Zest and juice of 1 orange

 Zest and juice of 1 lime

 1/4 cup olive oil

 1 tbsp honey

 Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Whisk together the orange zest and juice, lime zest and juice, olive oil, honey, salt and pepper in a bowl until well blended. Cover it over seafood, chicken or vegetables, and let it marinate for about 1530 minutes. The citrus notes will bring a delightful brightness to your dish with a touch of sweetness from the honey.

Balsamic Mustard Marinade

For a deeper, more complex flavour, try this Balsamic Mustard Marinade. With balsamic vinegar and Dijon mustard as the stars, it releases a sweet yet tangy taste that pairs beautifully with pork, tofu or even mushrooms.

Ingredients:

 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

 2 tbsp olive oil

 1 tbsp Dijon mustard

 1 clove garlic, minced

 Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Combine the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and whisk until smooth. Coat your choice of protein with this marinade and let it rest for 30 minutes or longer. This marinade creates a rich and savoury glaze that enhances the natural flavours of the meat or mushrooms.

Spicy Yogurt Marinade

If youre looking to add a creamy, tangy twist to your dish, then this Spicy Yogurt Marinade is your answer. Greek yoghurt and lemon juice add richness, while cumin and cayenne bring warmth, making it an excellent choice for marinating chicken, paneer or lamb.

Ingredients:

 1/2 cup plain Greek yoghurt

 1 tbsp lemon juice

 1 tbsp ground cumin

 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)

 1 clove garlic, minced

 Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

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In a bowl, stir together the Greek yoghurt, lemon juice, cumin, cayenne, garlic, salt and pepper until creamy. Coat your protein generously and allow it to marinate for at least 30 minutes to an hour. This marinade not only tenderises but also infuses the meat with a deliciously tangy and spicy kick.

Be it for a weeknight dinner or a weekend get-together, these simple marinades bring big flavour with very little prep. Theres something here for everyone! Chef Siddharth Parabs marinades are designed to make cooking flavourful meals easy, giving you a range of options to turn everyday ingredients into delectable dishes.

First Published: November 10, 2024, 08:05 IST
Mundhra To Vizag: 10 Important Ports In India

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 12:26 IST

From ancient times to the present day, seaports have served as gateways to global trade and cultural exchange that facilitate the transportation of goods worth billions of dollars each year.

Seaports blend historic legacy with modern innovation, linking India to the world.

Seaports have played a pivotal role in shaping the countrys economy and culture. From ancient times to the present day, these ports have served as gateways to global trade and cultural exchange that facilitate the transportation of goods worth billions of dollars each year. India, with its extensive coastline, has a rich maritime history and boasts a network of impressive seaports. From bustling commercial hubs on the mainland to historical landmarks, these ports offer a fascinating glimpse into Indias maritime heritage.

These ports stand out for their historical significance, infrastructure, and operational capacity. They blend historic legacy with modern innovation, linking India to the world. In this article, lets explore some of the most significant seaports in India:

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Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra: Located in Navi Mumbai, JNPT is one of the largest container ports in India, handling 55 percent of the total container cargo passing through India. The port was established in 1989 and is ranked 28th among the worlds top container ports. It is among the first privately managed ports in India. Chennai Port, Tamil Nadu: Chennai Port is one of the oldest artificial ports in India, functioning since 1881. Located on the southern tip of the Indian mainland, Chennai Port ranks as the second-largest container port in India. It handles a massive 50 million tonnes of cargo every year, including automobiles, textiles, and machinery. Mundra Port, Kutch, Gujarat: Gujarat is the hub for business in India and for smooth imports and exports. Among them, the Mundra port is the largest privately managed seaport in India. It is well connected to the railway routes throughout India. The port handles a massive 5 million TEUs and 338 million metric tonnes of cargo. Visakhapatnam Port, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh: A natural harbour on the Bay of Bengal, Visakhapatnam Port is a significant port that deals with diverse cargo types, from coal to iron ore. It serves as a hub for international trade, strategically located between Chennai and Kolkata ports. It is also one of the deepest ports in India. Cochin Port, Kochi, Kerala: Situated on the Malabar Coast, Cochin Port is a major port for the export of spices, tea, and marine products. Established by the British in 1928 to facilitate trade from countries in the Gulf, this port is approximately 100 years old. It serves as a significant cruise port in India and experiences traffic from the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. The Kochi port is also the home to ICTT (International Container Transhipment Terminal), which is Indias largest container facility. Kandla Port, Kandla, Gujarat: Located in the Gulf of Kutch, Kandla Port is one of the largest ports in India in terms of cargo handled. The port specialises in handling cargo such as petroleum and gases, oil, chemicals, grains and textiles. It also plays a crucial role in Indias foreign trade, particularly in the import of petroleum products and the export of agricultural products. Mumbai Port, Mumbai, Maharashtra: Mumbai Port is one of the best-known ports, thanks to its unique history and importance. The port was established in the late 17th century by the British and it now serves as a gateway to international trade. The Mumbai port handles bulk and general cargo, including liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and general cargo, around 62.9 million metric tonnes. Hazira Port, Hazira, Gujarat: Located in Surat, this port is one of the most important petroleum and LNG harbours on the western coast. Considered one of the most advanced ports of India, Hazira Port handles vessels from America, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Kolkata Port: Situated on the Hooghly River, Kolkata Port is Indias only riverine port that has a historical legacy dating back to colonial times. This port, including the Haldia Dock Complex, serves as an important trade route for the eastern region of India. Marmagao Port, Goa, India: One of the oldest and most picturesque ports in India is the Marmagao port in Goa. It has a state-of-the-art mechanised material handling system of conveyors and a cargo capacity of 7 million metric tonnes. The Marmagao port also has specialised berths for the navy.

First Published: November 10, 2024, 12:26 IST
World Science Day For Peace And Development 2024: Theme, History And Significance Explained

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 11:19 IST

This years theme for World Science Day for Peace and Development is Why Science Matters - Engaging Minds and Empowering Future.

World Science Day for Peace and Development seeks to raise awareness of the importance of science in maintaining and improving the fabric of society. (Image: Shutterstock)

WORLD SCIENCE DAY FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT: World Science Day for Peace and Development is observed annually on November 10, highlighting the role of science in society. Proclaimed by UNESCO in 2001 through Resolution 31 C/20, this day aims to encourage global engagement with scientific knowledge and its relevance to everyday life. It seeks to raise awareness about the importance of science in maintaining and improving the fabric of society.

World Science Day for Peace and Development also acknowledges the vital contributions of scientists towards the sustainable development of our planet.

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WORLD SCIENCE DAY FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT 2024: THEME

This years theme for World Science Day for Peace and Development is, Why Science Matters  Engaging Minds and Empowering Future. This theme has been selected to highlight the significant role of science in society and in our daily lives.

ALSO READ: Citizen Science: A New Way To Travel And Make A Difference

WORLD SCIENCE DAY FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT 2024: HISTORY

UNESCO and the International Council for Science organised the first-ever World Scientific Conference in Budapest in 1999. At the event, several delegations emphasised the need for educating society about science. A unanimous decision was made to dedicate a special day or week to science. A year later, the UNESCO Executive Body adopted November 10 as World Science Day for Peace and Development.

Proclaimed by the UNESCO General Conference in 2001, this day has since inspired numerous global science projects and programmes. It also aims to promote collaboration among scientists in regions affected by conflict, as shown by the establishment of the Israeli-Palestinian Science Organisation (IPSO), which received support from UNESCO.

On November 10, 2002, the first World Science Day for Peace and Development was observed globally. It brought together various partners, including UNESCO National Commissions, governmental, intergovernmental, and non-governmental organisations, professional associations, scientific and research institutions, science teachers, schools, and even the media.

ALSO READ: Indian Scientists Pioneer Nose-To-Brain Drug Delivery Method For Tuberculosis Treatment

WORLD SCIENCE DAY FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT 2024: SIGNIFICANCE

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Science is the foundation of information and knowledge, and one of the aims of observing this day is to make society more aware and informed. The observance of World Science Day for Peace and Development has had a significant impact globally since its establishment. The day is celebrated to raise awareness, highlight the role of science in building a sustainable society, promote methods deeply rooted in science and their application to achieve peace, face challenges with commitment and focus, and make scientific literacy accessible to all.

It is a day when people from all walks of life can come together to learn about the latest discoveries in the field and understand the benefits of science and its key role in enhancing their lives. This day has led to the launch of important projects, programmes, and grants for research worldwide.

First Published: November 10, 2024, 06:00 IST
Ashutosh Rana Birthday: How He Met Renuka Shahane, Their Love Story And Family Life

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 11:18 IST

Ashutosh Rana love story with his actress-wife Renuka Shahane is equally interesting and heartwarming, and it has stood the test of time.

Ashutosh Rana and Renuka Shahane got married in 2001. (Image: ashutosh_ramnarayan/Instagram)

Ashutosh Rana, over the years, has gained recognition for portraying antagonistic roles in films such as in Dushman, Dhadak, Sangharsh and Mulk. The multi-hyphenate personality doesnt just have an impressive work front. His love story with his actress-wife Renuka Shahane is equally interesting and heartwarming, and it has stood the test of time. Now, on the occasion of his birthday today, November 10, lets look at how he met his wife and their love story blossomed.

Where Ashutosh Rana Met Renuka Shahane

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Ashutosh and Renuka first crossed paths during Hansal Mehtas film preview. Although that movie never saw the light of day, it did act as a catalyst in making the two actors meet, marking the beginning of their relationship.

Ashutosh went to the preview with his friends, and one of them turned out to be Renukas friend as well. During an interview with the Mumbai Mirror, the Hum Aapke Hain Koun actress revealed that they were attracted to each other because they had very similar tastes.

Ashutosh Rana and Renuka Shahanes Love Story and Family Life

Ashutosh asked director Ravi Rai for the actress number, who gave him strict instructions on how to contact her. He was told not to contact Renuka after 9 PM and that he must leave a message on an answering machine. On the pretext of wishing the actress on Dussehra, Ashutosh left a message on her answering machine, hoping that she would find a way to contact him.

Lo and behold, Renuka responded to his wish by leaving a message with his sister and also giving her phone number, leading to a friendship between them.

During an interview with The Lallantop, Ashutosh Rana revealed that he had called her at 10 PM on her number, and she had received it, leading to 1.5 hours of conversation.

The next day, he called her at 11 PM, and they talked for hours at a stretch. Their friendship blossomed over calls, and they started talking three times a day for months to come.

During the interaction, the actor shared that he was first hesitant about proposing his love to Renuka, thinking that if she didnt reciprocate the same feelings, it might ruin their friendship, which he cherished dearly.

However, Ashutosh Rana decided to go forth with the confession and wrote a poem about love. He recited it to Renuka, and she confessed her love for him as well.

The couple reportedly dated for three years. While they had no plans for marriage, Ashutoshs father insisted that he should get married. He was sceptical at first, given the difference in their families.

Ashutosh belonged to a small village in Madhya Pradesh, whereas Renuka was from Mumbai. Despite initial hesitation due to their different beliefs and backgrounds, Ashutosh proposed marriage to Renuka, and the couple got married in 2001. Their wedding was a grand affair, attended by approximately 1.5 lakh people.

The couple has two sons, Shauryaman and Satyendra, and have been happily married for over two decades now.

First Published: November 10, 2024, 06:20 IST
Kriti Sanon Begins Preparations For Aanand L Rais Tere Ishk Mein With Dhanush? Here's What We Know

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 14:00 IST

Kriti Sanon continues her remarkable 2024 with another high-profile project, Tere Ishk Mein, directed by Aanand L. Rai. Teaming up with Dhanush, Kriti is already preparing for her role in this eagerly awaited film, which is set to release in 2025.

Kriti Sanon joins Dhanush in Aanand L. Rai's Tere Ishk Mein, a highly anticipated 2025 release.

Kriti Sanon is undeniably dominating 2024 with an impressive series of performances, establishing herself as one of Bollywoods most versatile and sought-after talents. Her stellar year continues with another eagerly awaited project, Tere Ishk Mein. Directed by Aanand L. Rai, this film is set to be a significant addition to Kritis 2024 lineup.

In Tere Ishk Mein, she joins Dhanush on screen, a pairing that has already generated considerable excitement among fans. The anticipation around their chemistry is high, as audiences are keen to see how the two will bring their characters to life under Rais guidance. Kriti has already started her preparations for the role.

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The films production was initially scheduled to start in October 2024, with a theatrical release targeted for 2025, fueling even more anticipation. Written by Himanshu Sharma and Neeraj Yadav, Tere Ishk Mein is being produced by Colour Yellow Productions.

Although announced last year, Tere Ishk Mein faced delays due to Dhanushs prior commitments, with filming now expected to kick off in October. Rai has addressed comparisons between this project and his 2013 romance drama Raanjhanaa, which also starred Dhanush. While acknowledging some overlap in the team involvedDhanush, AR Rahman, Irshad Kamil, and Himanshu SharmaRai emphasized that the similarities end there.

Tere Ishk Mein is a different story, but yes, you may get the fragrance of Raanjhanaa because of the feel, energy, and mood," Rai explained. He further added, Its an expansion, not an extension. It expands that emotion in a different film."

The films announcement coincided with the 10th anniversary of Raanjhanaa. Rais teaser hinted at its spirit: Kundan and this boy are the same, but his mood is to blow up the world! Only for youTere Ishk Mein."

In a previous interview with News18 Showsha, Rai shared his thoughts on revisiting the sensibilities of Raanjhanaa in this film. In 2011, after Tanu Weds Manu, I was curious to see how a person like me would handle tragedy. When Himanshu brought the world of Raanjhanaa to me, I was eager to explore a story centered on love and tragedy," he revealed.

He added, Tanu Weds Manu was all about fun and games in my middle-class world. Raanjhanaa was a step forward. Twelve years later, this 53-year-old man is keen to see his growth in the tragedy genre. Its a different story now. Whether its more mature or not is up to the audience and reviewers to decide. Im excited to dive back into that world and explore relationships from a different perspective."

Comparing Raanjhanaa and Tere Ishk Mein, which he sees as part of the same universe, Aanand commented, The rage, aggression, and passionate love present in Raanjhanaa are also evident in Tere Ishk Mein. Thats why I feel Tere Ishk Mein is from the world of Raanjhanaa."

When asked if Dhanush worried about repeating himself, Aanand responded, After many years of working together, I know Dhanush has matured. He was a brilliant actor then, and hes even better now, as an actor, writer, and director. Hes more assured of himself. Even if he were to tackle a similar story, hed approach it differently."

Dhanush and Rai previously collaborated on another romantic drama, Atrangi Re, adding further depth to their creative partnership.

First Published: November 10, 2024, 14:00 IST
Mukesh Khanna Hints At Shaktimaan's Return, Fans Celebrate With Nostalgic Reactions; Watch Here

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 17:06 IST

Indias iconic superhero Shaktimaan is set to make a comeback, thrilling fans across social media. Mukesh Khanna, the original Shaktimaan, teased his return with a nostalgic Instagram post.

Mukesh Khanna teases the return of Shaktimaan, Indias first superhero, sparking nostalgia and excitement among fans.

Long before Marvel and DC superheroes took over, India had its own iconic hero  Shaktimaan. Now, this beloved character is all set for a thrilling return to the screen. On Sunday, Mukesh Khanna, the actor behind Shaktimaans legendary role, hinted at the comeback, sparking a wave of nostalgia and excitement among fans on social media.

On Saturday, Mukesh shared a nostalgic photo and an engaging video clip on Instagram. The video opened with powerful words, As Darkness & Evil Prevails Over Children of Today, Bheeshm International Brings Back Indias First Super Teacher Super Hero." It then transitions to Mukesh as Shaktimaan, landing on a school campus. He begins singing, Aazadi ke deewanon ne jung ladhi phir jaanein di, ang ang kat gaye magar anch watan par na ane di" The stirring song plays as he reflects on images of Indian freedom fighters like Chandrasekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh, and Subhash Chandra Bose.

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In his Instagram post, Mukesh captioned the image, Its Time For HIM to RETURN. Our First Indian SUPER TEACHER- SUPER HERO. YES! As Darkness And Evil prevails over Children of Today Its time for him to return. He returns with a Message. He returns with a Teaching. For todays generation. Welcome Him. With both hands."

Fans, filled with nostalgia, flooded social media with comments celebrating the news. One fan wrote, I have missed school many times to see this," while another posted, Mere Shaktimaan." Fans expressed their excitement with comments like, Youre my childhood hero" and Very much excited sir, and lots of good wishes."

So excited to watch sir," shared another, and one fan added, Watching your serials made my childhood very memorable." An enthusiastic follower commented, Waitinggg sir.. Most powerful 1st superhero," while another said, Welcome back sir, big fan of yours, very much excited, best of luck!"

Originally aired on Doordarshan in 1997, Shaktimaan starred Mukesh Khanna alongside a talented cast, including Kitu Gidwani, Vaishnavi, Surendra Pal, and Tom Alter. The show was a phenomenon, running for 450 episodes over nearly eight years. As Indias first superhero, Shaktimaan was a figure of mystical and supernatural powers, chosen by saints to battle evil forces in the world. Fans are now eagerly awaiting his return, ready to welcome their beloved super teacher" back onto their screens.

First Published: November 10, 2024, 17:06 IST
Samantha Fans Feel She's Heartbroken As Varun Speaks About Starting Family: 'No One Deserves This Pain'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 08:02 IST

Samantha Ruth Prabhu's fans believe she's heartbroken as she heard Varun Dhawan talk about yearning for a child.

Fans concerned after Samantha Ruth Prabhu looked heartbroken during an interview.

A video of Samantha Ruth Prabhu has caught her fandoms attention and it is breaking her fans hearts. Samantha has been busy with the promotions of her new series, Citadel: Honey Bunny. She stars in the Amazon Prime Video title with Varun Dhawan. The duo has been on a massive promotional spree. During one of the promotional interviews, Varun was seen talking about starting a family. As he opened up about his wifes pregnancy and welcoming a daughter, Samanthas fans noticed that the actress appeared in pain.

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter India, a fan asked Varun how he related to the character of Bunny, especially since hes a father now. The actor admitted that he understands the character better, even though he shot the series before he welcomed his daughter Lara. He added that like in the series, wherein Bunny yearned for a family, in real life, he understood the characters yearning when he wanted to start a family.

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I went through a major period when Natasha and I wanted to start a family, and I had that yearning that I want to have my own family. I connected with Bunny at that point, at that hunger for a family. And now that I do have a daughter, though I shot this before, I get the protection bang on," Varun said. While he answered the question, fans noticed that Samanthas face fell. Fans began speculating that Samantha was heartbroken.

Watch the video below:

She (looks like she) just wants to scream and cry badly ..God bless you beta ..I know the pain," a fan wrote. Cant wait for the day when Sam will find a very very great and loving partner for herself and we will get to see her all happy and blessed all over again," added another. She would have also craved for dream of her own family but it got shattered brutally. Stay strong Sam," a third social media user wrote.

Praying for her. May she find a man who knows her value and treats her like a queen. may she have beautiful babies and a happy life. all women deserve this," a fan said.

Samantha was married to Naga Chaitanya for four years. However, in 2021, the couple announced that they are parting ways. Chaitanya is now set to marry Sobhita Dhulipala. The couple is rumoured to be getting married in December this year.

First Published: November 10, 2024, 08:02 IST
Yash Keeps A Low Profile As He Shoots For Toxic Amidst Tight Security At Versova Jetty In Mumbai | Watch

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Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 16:51 IST

Kannada actor Yash was spotted at the Versova Jetty in Mumbai. The actor kept a low profile as he shot for Toxic in the city.

Yash shoots for Toxic in Mumbai.

Following the success of KGF, fans have been waiting with bated breath for Yashs new movie. The actor is currently filming for his much-anticipated movie, Toxic, where he will also don the hat of a producer. Amidst the shoot of the film, the actor was spotted by the paparazzi at the Versova Jetty in Mumbai.

In a video shared by a paparazzo, Yash was seen entering a ferry at the Versova Jetty in Mumba. The Kannada actor was surrounded by his security. He donned a white t-shirt and covered his face with a black cloth. He also wore a pair of sunglasses to cover his look and not to grab eyeballs. He did not interact much with the paparazzi and sat on the ferry. Fans asked him for pictures but he said no and simply waved at them and gave them a thumbs up.

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Take a look at the viral video here.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Snehkumar Zala (@snehzala)

Yashs Toxic is one of the most anticipated releases in the South Indian film industry. This film will mark his return to the big screen after KGF: Chapter 2 which was released in 2022. The movie was originally slated to release on April 10, 2025, but it has been postponed. In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Yash talked about the delay. He said, We had to start a little early, but something went wrong. We had some date issues, so it took more time than expected. I wont be able to come out with the film on that dateCredibility is important. It has never happened before that we announced a date and couldnt meet it. This is the first time. We didnt even start [filming] Bringing everyone together is a little difficult in this film."

Apart from Toxic, Yash will also make his Bollywood debut with Nitesh Tiwaris Ramayana where he will share the screen with Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 10, 2024, 16:51 IST
Zendaya And Sydney Sweeney's Euphoria Season 3 To Go On Floors In 2025, HBO Dismisses Rumours Of Cancellation

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Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 20:53 IST

The makers of HBO have dismissed the rumours of the show's cancellation. They have revealed that the show will go on the floors next year.

Production for the third season of Euphoria will start in January 2025. (Photo Credits: YouTube)

HBOs Euphoria is one of the most loved television series. With two successful seasons, the makers renewed the teen drama for a third season. The second season concluded in 2022 and fans have been waiting with bated breath for the next season. Online rumours claimed that the makers would not be going ahead with the third season. However, the production house has responded and has put an end to the speculations.

As reported by PEOPLE, an HBO representative dismissed the rumours. They mentioned that the series will go on the floors next year and will go as per the schedule. The news outlet quoted the representative saying, Euphoria is going into production in 2025. Nothing has changed." The show was renewed for a third season in February 2022 but the production got delayed due to the ongoing writers and actors strikes and also because of the script delays. It was slated to go on floors in the summer of 2024.

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Back in July 2023, Francesca Orsi, the executive vice president of HBO Programming and head of HBO Drama Series and Films, had talked about how the studio will not be backing out of Euphoria. She said, We could not be happier with our creative partnership with [creator] Sam [Levinson] and this incredible cast. We look forward to bringing this new season of Euphoria to life for the fans."

Euphoria revolves around Rue Bennett (played by Zendaya) who returns home from rehabilitation. Season 2 which aired in 2022, concluded with an emotional finale. The death of fan-favorite Ashtray (Javon Walton) and the cliffhanger surrounding Fezcos (Angus Cloud) fate left viewers on edge. Rues ongoing battle with sobriety remained unresolved, only adding to the anticipation for the next season. However, the tragic death of Angus Cloud in August 2023, at the age of 25 due to an accidental drug overdose, has left fans heartbroken and uncertain about the future of his character, Fezco. Additionally, the departure of Barbie Ferreira, who played Kat Hernandez, has further fueled speculation about the shows direction.

The teen drama stars Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi, Alexa Demie, and Hunter Schafer in key roles. HBO has not announced the premiere date of Season 3 as of now.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 10, 2024, 20:53 IST
JERUSALEM, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday officially took responsibility for a deadly attack targeting Hezbollah in September, in which thousands of handheld pagers exploded across Lebanon and Syria.

"I wanted to launch the pager operation," Netanyahu said at a weekly cabinet meeting. "They told me in the cabinet, 'Don't do it; the United States will oppose it.' I didn't listen to them."

It marks the first time an Israeli official has publicly acknowledged Israel's role in the attack, which sharply escalated cross-border hostilities between Israel and Lebanon that have persisted since October 2023.

The operation, conducted in two waves on September 17 and 18, involved the detonation of thousands of explosive-laden pagers and hundreds of walkie-talkies across Lebanon and Syria, aiming at Hezbollah members. At least 42 people were killed and more than 3,400 injured during the attack, according to Lebanese reports.

During Sunday's cabinet meeting, Netanyahu also noted that he had spoken with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump three times in recent days.

"These were very good and important talks, aimed at further strengthening the solid alliance between Israel and the United States," Netanyahu said, adding that they "see eye to eye on the Iranian threat in all its aspects and the danger it poses." 
Deepinder Goyal Shares How He Met 2nd Wife, Mexican Model Grecia; Friends Predicted 'Youll Marry Her'

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Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 10:48 IST

Zomato head Deepinder Goyal married Mexican model Grecia Munoz earlier this year. He has now shared how they met.

Deepinder Goyal and Gia Goyal's love story revealed.

Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal opened up about his love story with his wife, Gia Goyal (previously named Grecia Munoz). Speaking with Kapil Sharma on his show, The Great Indian Kapil Show, Deepinder revealed that he was introduced to Gia, former Mexican model, by a friend in New Delhi. He added that his friend had foreseen that Deepinder would marry her.

I was single for the longest time. My friends would set me up on dates and always advised me not to settle down. When Grecia first came to Delhi, a friend called me and said, Theres a girl here you should meet. I agreed, and he said, Make sure to meet her; youll end up marrying her," Deepinder recalled.

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It was his foresight. He had always told me not to get serious, but this time he said, You have to marry if you find a girl like her. I was intrigued to meet her, and then" he added.

Deepinder married Gia earlier this year. She then moved to India and has been actively involved in Zomatos functioning. Recently, she was seen joining Deepinder in his social experiment to deliver food as a Zomato delivery boy. The couple was seen wearing matching tees and delivering food in different parts of the city.

During the episode, Deepinder also jokingly revealed that Zomatos creative notifications are inspired by his love for Gia. Sometimes, my romantic messages to Gia serve as inspiration for the apps notifications. I give full credit to our marketing team, who took my idea of building a relationship with the customer a bit too seriously!" he said.

Live Mint reported that this is Deepinders second marriage. The Zomato head was previously married to Kanchan Joshi. The former couple had met when he was studying in ITT Delhi.

First Published: November 10, 2024, 10:48 IST
Opinion | Zurich: A Truly Experiential City

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 13, 2024, 10:20 IST

Visiting Zurich for winters or Christmas holidays? Here are the best experiences to indulge into

While Switzerland's manicured landscapes and picture perfect scenery are on every bucket list, it is also known for its cheesy delicacies, writes the author. (File)

Ten years ago, I luxuriated in Switzerlands unforgettable vistas, rolling pasturelands, quaint towns, and the panoramic train rides with my partner. From diving in the beauty of Lucerne, Interlaken, Titlis, via Bern to going all the way to Jungfrau  the main summit of Bernese Alps, nicknamed Top of Europe  we had packed in a diverse range of experiences.

It started with a fond flashback but soon I was drowned in nostalgia as the cabin crew (Swiss Air) prepared to land and the breathtaking landscape unfolded beneath me. Last week, I travelled to Zurich, one of the most sophisticated cities of the world. The familiar landscape evoked several feelings; however, last time I had barely landed in Zurich when I had been whisked away to the wondrous smaller towns.

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This time, I had come prepared to dedicate a few days to Zurich. I wanted to soak in all  its cosmopolitan vibes, strong cultural scene, gorgeous old town, postcard-worthy architectures, state-of-the-art museums, contemporary art galleries, picturesque river banks, delicious cheese and mouth-melting chocolates. After my return, I must declare that not only did I redeem myself but also had a whole lot of fun, more than I had anticipated.

A picturesque Swiss metropolis

From the humid weather of New Delhi, it was a welcome change to be serenaded with the immediate blast of crisp air of autumn in Zurich. From the Flughafen (airport), I hopped on a train towards the Zurich Hauptbahnhof main train station (Zurich HB) and found my way to the 25 Hours hotel which was exactly a 9 minutes walk in the popular neighbourhood of Langstrasse.

Zurich has an excellent public network which is a cakewalk for even a first-timer. After a quick shower and sumptuous breakfast, I was all set to saunter around the city for hours, enjoying the sights and sounds without any specific destination in mind. The Swiss transport system is impeccable, but the charm and the character of the city can be absorbed best by strolling around. I could see that Zurichs eclectic vibe and energy was evident in its architectural buildings, transport system and its people. Every corner appeared immaculate, orderly and photogenic than the last. Someone has rightly quoted: Zurich is a city that ignites the imagination."

Consistently ranked as one of the worlds most livable cities, Zurich is often confused as the Swiss capital which it is not. With a 2,000-year-old settlement, Roman baths, historic buildings and umpteen legends, the citys rich past blends in with modern urbanisation. I had heard people rave about Zurich and how they had fallen in love with it at first sight, but now I had my own reasons. While I have several takeaways from this trip, here are some of my favourite experiences that may be of use to you.

Love at first sight

It is best to start the exploration at the Old Town which is choc-a-bloc with medieval buildings, frescoed facades, and cobblestone alleys. This is among the prettiest parts of the city where visitors get an intimate encounter with the past. From visiting its three iconic churches Grossmunster, and Fraumunster, to the oldest St. Peters Church (originally built before 900 AD) to Lindenhof atop Lindenhof Hill, there was never a dull moment for me.

I enjoyed capturing countless frames rendered historical records in concrete and stone. The chic boutiques, designer stores and cafes in every alley added more drama to the narrative. Also, the elaborate water fountains at every intersection were unmissable. Zurich alone has more than 1,200 water fountains providing for fresh drinking water and enhancing the aesthetics of the city. Niederdorf and Oberdorf are two popular streets which run into each other and entice shoppers in the day and party lovers in the night. And there are remains of a Roman spa too at the Thermengasse.

The lifeline Limmat River divides the old town of Zurich in half before emptying into Lake Zurich. For the onlookers, everything around the banks is utterly charming and soothing to the eyes. Zurichs Rathaus and Stadthaus (City Hall) are some of the original buildings which give a peek into the Renaissance style along with Baroque elements. From Romanesque and historicism through to modern  the city of Zurich impresses with its diverse range of architectural styles. One of the most gorgeous historical streets in all of Zurich is Augustinergasse. Zurich shines as a treasure trove for history buffs. Taking a guided walk with a local would also be a great way to gain context of this historical heart. During Christmas, the Old Town turns resplendent with special decorations and lights.

How expensive can it be?

One has to visit to find out. This stretch of 1.4 km from the main station towards Zurich Lake makes for one of the worlds most expensive shopping streets and is home to all the high-brow brands. Shopping aficionados vouch for it and this premier shopping boulevard is renowned for its flagship stores of designer clothes, Swiss watches, perfumes, and other finer things of luxury. Paradeplatz is a square where you will find some of the most interesting medieval alleyways, global bank headquarters, and world-class confectioners. I loved exploring this street as it had an elite European vibe with interesting architecture, history, and a tram network right in the middle of the main street.

One may require some serious money to splurge here but strolling around the buildings and stores on both sides, people watching and having a hot chocolate in one of the cafes is the best way to make the most of this pretty promenade and powerful financial centre. In December you must walk here after dark to see the dazzling lights of Bahnhofstrasses custom-made decorations.

An art haven

Art lovers will thank me later for insisting on including Kunsthaus in their Zurich itinerary. This remarkable art-house showcases and protects the cultural legacy of Switzerland like none other. While the museum has a series of rooms dedicated to the likes of Van Gogh, Edward Munch, etc. it also showcases the works of contemporary artists in a different light. With its four buildings from different eras  the Moser building (1910), the Pfister building (1958), the Muller building (1976), and now the Chipperfield extension (2020), the Kunsthaus Zurich has become the largest art museum in Switzerland. While preserving art collections with works from the 15th century up until the present day, it is truly a place which lends a whole new perspective to art.

While the permanent exhibitions are extremely insightful, the latest exhibition showcases the amazing works, similarities in style and differences between the Chinese-Canadian artist Matthew Wong (1984-2019) and Van Gogh. Van Gogh was a great source of inspiration for Wong and the kind of influence that he had on him is mind-boggling.

The unmissable chocolate tour

I walked into this gorgeous and huge white facade in Kilchberg, located 15 minutes from Zurichs main station and was immediately pulled into the magical world of chocolates. There stood the sweetest spectacle in the atrium. The awe, admiration and disbelief in the eyes of every visitor, irrespective of their age, were alike. About 1,500 kg of real chocolate standing tall as a working fountain was enamouring. Opened in 2020, Lindt Home of Chocolates is the unmissable destination for every chocolate lover on Earth.

It would be an injustice to the Zurich itinerary if I did not indulge in the fascinating history of chocolates in Kilchberg. The use of cocoa was recorded in the 17th century and drinking chocolate spread in Europe thereafter.

Switzerlands first chocolate factory opened in Corsier-sur-Vevey in the year 1819. At present, Cailler is the oldest existing chocolate brand of Switzerland. The country saw a very interesting phase in the early 19th century. Switzerland was driven by the spirit of innovation and the country was almost turning into a chocolate valley. In 1875, Daniel Peter added condensed milk to chocolate and it was a winning breakthrough. At the same time, Rodolphe Lindt was also striving for a perfect melt-in-the-mouth chocolate recipe. His hunting trip led to the revolutionary invention of a conching process which changed the texture of chocolates forever. The process of conching remained Rodolphe Lindts secret for 20 years until he sold it to Zurich chocolate manufacturer Johann Rudolf Sprungli. A collective brand was born, which expanded in Kilchberg in 1898 and there has been no looking back.

I learned about almost all the Swiss chocolate brands and more inside this state-of-the-art museum. It promises one of the most interactive chocolate tours that trace the whole journey, right from the sourcing of cocoa buds to the production of the best Swiss chocolates. And the biggest Lindt Chocolate Shop is right there where you can create your own chocolate. If you wish to have a lively experience of making chocolates, do not miss the Master Chocolatier classes. Exciting sessions are lined up for the advent and Christmas season.

Worlds oldest vegetarian restaurant

While Switzerlands manicured landscapes and picture-perfect scenery are on every bucket list, it is also known for its cheesy delicacies. In addition to producing the best chocolates and amazing Alpine cheese varieties, the country has also given Bircher muesli to the world. For the uninitiated, let me share that Bircher Muesli was developed around 1900 by Swiss physician Maximilian Bircher-Brenner and it happens to be one of the most popular breakfast options.

Swiss cuisine not only enriches our palette but also tells us a lot about the history, culture and innovative spirit of the country. Zurich is a bustling hub of restaurants and cafes. Several other food and drink stalls pop up around the city during summer and Christmas festivals. Fondue, Rosti, Zurcher Geschnetzelte, leeks with potatoes and sausage and Burli (Swiss sourdough bread rolls) are some of the must-try dishes of Switzerland. This winter, enjoy the sharp air, cotton snow and cosy fondue restaurants.

You will be surprised to know that in the heart of Zurich, there stands a very popular vegetarian and vegan eatery which holds the Guinness world record for being the oldest vegetarian restaurant in the world. I had to dine to believe. I was thrilled to see how they use Indian spices and are committed to making meat-free Swiss delicacies. It is tough to pick one favorite confectionery shop but do not miss the delectable hot chocolate at the Lindt cafe. Santa chocolates, macaroons, gingerbreads and special treats are waiting alongside it.

Lake Zurich, Limmat River and Tram rides

Zurich city overlooks a river and a misty lake. So how can it be any less dreamy? Well, tram rides have always been my favourite mode of transport in Europe but cruising comes close second. From relaxing, sightseeing, gastronomic cruises to sunset party cruises, there are all kinds of cruising options on Lake Zurich. I did one from Kilchberg to Zurich to soak in a different perspective of the city. Cruises typically depart from Burkliplatz. You may combine a lake cruise with a visit to various other attractions on the way.

Limmat River is enjoyed best on its banks. Limmat River Cruiser also takes visitors on a ride through the bridges and scenic sights of the Old Town of Zurich. Last but not least, if you have a Zurich card which is very helpful, you can take unlimited train, tram and bus rides. My favourite has to be tram rides. They are a great way to explore the city in a slow-motion way.

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There are many things to do in this lovely city. But when you return, dont forget to buy some chocolates, cheese and fridge magnets to put a sweet endnote to any Zurich trip.

Manjulika Pramod is a travel writer. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: November 10, 2024, 19:02 IST
Extensive Use Of Hindi By Treasury Benches A Problem For South MPs: CPI(M)

Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 16:43 IST

Brittas questioned the emphasis on Hindi by the Union government and recalled his days as a journalist in Delhi in the late 1980s when he covered Parliament.

CPI(M) MP John Brittas (ANI File image)

CPI(M) MP John Brittas on Sunday said many members of Parliament from the treasury benches were choosing Hindi more and more for their speeches, posing a huge problem for the southern MPs and those from other non-Hindi speaking states.

In an interview with PTI, Brittas said even Ministers who are well-versed in English were using Hindi. He called it an attempt to make Hindi the "de facto language" of the Parliament.

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"This is not an isolated incident. I feel this is part of an orchestrated move. there is a planned move to ensure that Hindi is made the de facto language," Brittas told PTI.

"There have been systematic attempts to impose Hindi, not only in Parliament also outside. In Parliament, I know that there is a new practice that has been adopted mostly treasury benches and the ministers speak in Hindi alone, with an exception of one or two ministers," Brittas said.

The Left leader said that earlier, there was a practice of responding in English if a question was asked in English. "But now that healthy precedent has gone away, the sensitivity has been shed." Brittas also alleged that when some of the treasury bench members choose to speak in English, they get a signal to switch to Hindi. "There is a subtle instruction that is there that they should interact in Hindi alone." Sticking to his guns, the Marxist leader chose to reply in Malyalam to the Hindi responses he received to his special mentions and a zero-hour notice in Rajya Sabha from Ravneet Singh Bittu, Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries.

Brittas said that letters addressed from the Union government to South MPs are written in English, and a norm was broken when he received the responses in Hindi.

Former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai threw his weight behind the politician and slammed the central government for "excessive use of Hindi" as a language of communication.

Brittas said he felt compelled to reply in Malayalam as it was not an isolated incident.

"This is not only this particular minister, we get so much of communication in Hindi. Since they are all random communications, we overlook it," he said.

"But in this particular case, it was not one letter or two letters, it was a series of letters, not only addressed to me but addressed to many other members whom I know from south India. Thats why I was compelled to reply in Malayalam," he said.

Brittas questioned the emphasis on Hindi by the Union government and recalled his days as a journalist in Delhi in the late 1980s when he covered Parliament.

"Almost 80 to 90 per cent of the discourse in Parliament used to be in English at that time. Im not saying that is right. But I am saying it happened to be like that," he said.

"People think that BJP is one party which is intending to impose Hindi, but, nevertheless, I would request the BJP leaders to look at the antecedents of their leaders too. One of the tallest leaders of the BJP, LK Advani, used to always speak in English in Parliament. That was in a way balancing the Hindi delivery of his senior colleague, Atal Bihari Vajpayee," Brittas said.

The Rajya Sabha MP from Kerala also pointed out that his state has not adopted Hindi as an official language.

"The Official Languages Act 1963 says English should be used for communication between the Union and any state which has not adopted Hindi as its official language," he said.

Brittas also alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah made many statements in favour of Hindi, but failed to accord same respect to other languages.

"If you look at the statements of the Honorable Home Minister, you would see a number of statements in favour of Hindi. That is fine, but he is the Home Minister of this country who is the prime custodian of the integrity, unity and also centre-state relations.

"Understanding the sensibility and sensitivity of such matters, including language, is the cardinal responsibility of the Home Minister of this country. If he harps on Hindi, Hindi like that, I have no problem. But it should not be at the cost of other languages," the Kannur-born leader said.

Asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modis comments on opposition parties creating a "north-south divide" that he made during his reply to the motion of thanks to the Presidents address in Rajya Sabha, Brittas said the southern states are being penalised for their performance.

"When he speaks in terms of we intend to create a south divide or a north divide, he doesnt understand the fact that southern states have been penalised for their performance," he said.

"The funds which are supposed to come to Kerala have been denied to us. Whatever we contribute to the Union as part of the taxes, we only get a pittance out of it. And the reason which is cited is that you have already crossed the threshold," he said.

The national capital earlier this year witnesses two protests staged by the opposition-ruled states, which alleged they were short-changed on their due share of taxes.

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On February 7, Karnataka Congress leaders, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, staged a protest at Jantar Mantar.

The very next day, the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), led by Kerala Chief Minister Pinnarayi Vijayan, held a protest, which was joined by other non-Congress INDIA bloc parties.

First Published: November 10, 2024, 16:43 IST
Making India Proud: Delhi's Chinmay Sharma Sets Guinness World Record With Highest 360 Kick

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 09:00 IST

Tang Soo Do is a Korean Martial art influenced by karate, taekkyeon and some Chinese martial art forms.

Sharma is the chief trainer at the Lion Institute of Martial Art. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

A Delhi martial artist recently had his name registered in the Guinness World Records for the highest unassisted martial arts 360 kick of 2.068 metres or 6 feet 9 inches. This incredible stunt was filmed and uploaded to the social media handle of Guinness World Records, demonstrating Sharmas prowess in Tang Soo Do, a Korean martial arts discipline, which he has been practising for more than 15 years.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Guinness World Records (@guinnessworldrecords)

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On social media, people reacted positively to his hard work and skill set.

A user commented, Making India proud".

Thank you for making India proud," added another user.

We are very grateful that you are not only a highly trained and educated martial artist, you are also a wonderful teacher and person. Im proud and grateful that I was your teacher," read another comment.

Since school days I have seen you growing and aiming always on that bulls eye. More power to you brother," said a person.

Besides his latest accomplishment, Sharma has other Guinness World Records to his name. He is also the chief trainer at the Lion Institute of Martial Art where he trains more than 150 students, especially women, in self-defence.

What is Tang Soo Do?

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Tang Soo Do is a Korean Martial art influenced by karate, taekkyeon and some Chinese martial art forms. It incorporates both the physical and the mental aspects of training for self-protection and philosophical development. The term Tang Soo Do" means the way of the Tang hand," and it originated from Chinese martial arts practised in the Tang Dynasty.

The Tang Soo Do has in the previous year copied and adopted other roles from martial arts and vice versa. During the 1950s, when Korean martial arts styles were steadily coalescing around the name of Taekwondo many practitioners continued practising in the Tang Soo Do tradition as they began adopting new forms.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 10, 2024, 09:00 IST
Man Takes DNA Test After Doubt Over Daughter's Looks, Gets Shocking Results

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 10:00 IST

Upon learning the DNA test results, the father used the news as an accusation, blaming his wife for infidelity  a claim she vehemently denied.

The daughters were swapped at hospital. (Representative Image)

A Vietnamese fathers growing suspicion about his teenage daughters lack of resemblance to him or his wife, Hong, led to a shocking revelation  she was not his biological child. His doubts had been lingering for years, but it wasnt until he insisted on a DNA test that the truth was confirmed , that Lan, the daughter, was not his biological child.

According to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the revelation sent shockwaves through the family. Upon learning the DNA test results, the father used the news as an accusation, blaming his wife for infidelity  a claim she vehemently denied. The tension in the household escalated, with the father turning to excessive drinking and emotionally withdrawing from his family. Eventually, Hong, along with Lan, was compelled to leave their home and flee to Hanoi to escape the growing turmoil.

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The story took an unexpected turn when Lan, while attending a new school, befriended a girl who not only shared her birthday but was also born in the same place. Their connection grew so strong that the friends mother planned a joint birthday celebration. However, when the friends mother saw Lan at the party, she was struck by how much Lan resembled her younger self.

This resemblance prompted the families to request a DNA test, which shockingly revealed that Lan and her friend had been swapped at birth.

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According to the SCMP report, the discovery left both families in disbelief, and they are now trying to come to terms with the life-altering revelation. They have started spending time together as they try to figure out how to tell the girls the truth, but they are undecided about whether they will pursue legal action against the hospital responsible for the mix-up.

One online commenter compared the situation to a plot twist straight out of a Korean drama, saying, The story is really thrilling, like the plot twists in the Korean TV drama Autumn in My Heart."

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 10, 2024, 10:00 IST
Bangladesh's Interim Govt To Seek Interpol Help To Repatriate Ex-PM Hasina

Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 16:39 IST

Hasina and her party leaders face accusations of ordering brutal suppression of the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement, resulting in numerous casualties during the July-August protests.

Bangladesh Former PM Sheikh Hasina (L) and interim leader Muhammad Yunus (R). (Image: AFP)

Bangladeshs interim government on Sunday said it will seek Interpols assistance in repatriating deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina from India, and other "fugitives", to face trial for alleged crimes against humanity.

Hasina and her party leaders face accusations of ordering brutal suppression of the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement, resulting in numerous casualties during the July-August protests. The movement later intensified into a large-scale uprising, forcing Hasina to secretly flee to India on August 5.

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According to the interim government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, at least 753 people were killed and thousands injured during the protests, which it termed crimes against humanity and genocide. Over 60 complaints of crimes against humanity and genocide have been filed against Hasina and her party leaders with the ICT and the prosecution team till mid-October.

"A Red Notice will be issued through Interpol very soon. No matter where in the world these fugitive fascists are hiding, they will be brought back and held accountable in court," Law Affairs adviser Asif Nazrul told reporters here after inspecting the status of renovation at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), which is housed in the Old High Court building on the Supreme Court premises.

Officials said a Red Notice is not an international arrest warrant, but rather a global request for law enforcement agencies to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. Interpol member countries enforce Red Notices according to their own national laws.

The ICT was originally formed by the Hasina-led Awami League government in March 2010 to try the perpetrators of the crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Liberation War. It later formed ICT-2, and at least six Jamaat-e-Islami and leaders of Hasinas arch rival Khaleeda Zias BNP party were executed following the judgments of the two tribunals. The tribunal remained dormant since mid-June after its chairman retired.

The interim government reconstituted the tribunal on October 12.

On October 17, the tribunal issued arrest warrants against Hasina and 45 others, including her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and several of her former cabinet members.

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The interim government had earlier said that Hasina and several of her cabinet colleagues and Awami League leaders will be tried in this special tribunal.

However, Chief Adviser Yunus in an interview with the UK-based Financial Times newspaper last month said his government would not immediately seek Hasinas extradition from India, an approach seen as preventing diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

Location : Dhaka, Bangladesh

First Published: November 10, 2024, 16:39 IST
Canada Police Arrest Khalistani Leader In Connection To Attack On Brampton Hindu Temple

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 12:18 IST

Scenes of protesters holding Khalistani flags attacking Hindu devotees in Brampton last week sent shockwaves across the world.

Visuals showed a group of men wielding sticks and attacking devotees outside the Hindu temple in Canada. (Image: X)

Canadas Peel Regional Police have made another arrest in the Khalistani attack on a Hindu temple in Brampton. The accused has been identified as Inderjeet Gosal, 35, of Brampton, who was charged with assault with a weapon.

Last week, a group of protestors holding banners in support of Khalistan disrupted a consular event attended by Indian officials at Bramptons Hindu Mandir. The protestors allegedly thrashed people with sticks outside the temple. The incident was condemned, including by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau.

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Gosal, is the coordinator for Gurpatwant Pannuns Sikhs for Justice in Canada.

He was released on conditions and is to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton at a later date, said the Peel Regional Police in a statement. A Strategic Investigative Team dedicated to investigating incidents of criminality during the unrest has been formed.

Earlier, the police said they arrested three individuals following a demonstration held by the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) in protest against the Khalistani intimidation" and anti-Hindu" hatred after the recent attacks on Hindu temples in Canada.

In an official statement released last week, Peel Regional Police stated that the demonstration subsequently" relocated to two different locations within the city of Mississauga and the charges would be investigated by their 21 Division Criminal Investigation Bureau along with the 12 Division Criminal Investigation Bureau. The individuals were arrested under criminal charges, the police added.

Hindu Temple Attacks Meticulously Planned: Sources

After the attack on Hindu devotees in Brampton, the Ministry of External Affairs of India said that New Delhi remains deeply concerned" about the safety and security of Indian nationals in Canada. The MEA further called on the Trudeau-led Canadian government to protect the places of worship from such attacks on its soil.

Hindus in Canada have witnessed crime grow at the hands of Khalistani extremists over the years. India has consistently argued that Canada has provided a safe haven to Khalistani extremists who have espoused radical and anti-India sentiments.

These attacks were planned meticulously and the directions possibly came from the top, top intelligence sources told CNN News-18. They said these attacks were supported by the state machinery, notably with the suspension of Peel police Officer Harinder Sohi, who was seen participating in a pro-Khalistan protest outside the Brampton Hindu Temple.

Most alarming was warning messages by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun before Diwali when he even issued threats to Indian airlines," sources added, saying lack of cooperation in investigation from UK, US and Canada was an issue.

Trudeau Admits Canadas Khalistan Problem

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Meanwhile, Trudeau recently admitted that there are supporters of Khalistan in Canada but they do not represent Sikh community as a whole. The Canadian PMs acknowledgement about Khalistan supporters in the country vindicates Indias stand that Trudeau government is sheltering Khalistani separatists.

Trudeaus remarks came while he was addressing the Indian Canadian diaspora in Ottawa Parliament Hill during Diwali celebrations last week. He went on to say that there are supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modis government in Canada but they do not represent all Hindu Canadians as a whole.

Location : Ottawa, Canada

First Published: November 10, 2024, 07:53 IST
Canada On High Alert, Bracing For Migrants Fleeing US After Trump's Win

Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 08:42 IST

US President-elect Donald Trump has promised the largest mass deportation in American history, accusing immigrants of "poisoning the blood of our country."

People participate in a car caravan in support of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on November 9, 2024 in New York City. Despite the city historically leaning Democratic, the area saw one of the biggest increases in Trump support in the country. (Picture: AFP)

Canadian authorities said Friday theyre on high alert" with all eyes on the US border as the country braces for a possible influx of migrants from the United States.

US President-elect Donald Trump has promised the largest mass deportation in American history, accusing immigrants of poisoning the blood of our country."

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During his first presidential term from 2017 to 2021, tens of thousands of migrants, including Haitians stripped of US protections, fled north to Canada.

Were on high alert," a Royal Canadian Mounted Police spokesman, Sergeant Charles Poirier, told AFP.

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 met Friday with a group of ministers tasked with handling thorny issues that might emerge between Canada and the incoming Trump administration.

She sought to reassure that Canada was ready for a possible uptick in migrant arrivals.

We have a plan," she told a news conference after the meeting, without giving details. Canadians need to know our borders are safe and secure and we control them."

Watching out for a possible influx comes 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.

 Google searches 

Immediately following Tuesdays election, online searches in the United States about moving to Canada jumped tenfold.

The legal status of the people making those queries is unclear, but some US citizens opposed to Trumps return to power have reportedly been querying Canadian immigration and relocation services.

Google Trends pointed to search terms such as immigrate to Canada," Canada immigration process" and how to move to Canada."

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.

Entering Canada between border checkpoints is illegal, and dangerous, especially in winter months, the RCMPs 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," Poirier said.

Some have died.

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.

Poirier said more boots on the ground" are expected to be deployed along the worlds longest unmilitarized border in the coming days, as authorities expect migrants to start hitting the road soon, ahead of Trumps inauguration in January.

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Additionally cameras, sensors and drones have already been set up along this 8,891 kilometers (5,525 miles) stretch, and information is being shared between Canada and the United States in real time, he added.

Despite months of planning, Poirier warned if thousands of migrants come all at once and cross at many border points it could become unmanageable."

Location : Ottawa, Canada

First Published: November 10, 2024, 07:50 IST
Dutch Sleuths Revive Cold Case Of Teen Sex Workers Murder Using Interactive Hologram

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 23:58 IST

Detectives revive 2009 cold case of murdered teen sex worker, seeking justice for her using her hologram.

Police renew investigation into teen sex worker Betty Szabos 2009 murder, hoping to find new leads 15 years later. (IMAGE: X)

A hologram of Bernadette Betty" Szabo, a 19-year-old Hungarian sex worker who was murdered in 2009, a few months after giving birth to her son, appears in Amsterdams red light district urging people to come forward and help Dutch detectives solve the cold case.

Bettys 3D projection, dressed in faded denim hotpants and a leopard-print bra, with a tattoo winding across her torso, reaches out, to knock on the glass to draw attention. At one point, she leans forward, breathes on the window and traces the word help" on the glass

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Bettys story is a chilling reminder of the risks Amsterdams sex workers face while catering to clients.

Detectives, while speaking to UK-based broadcaster BBC, said they believe that this innovative use of technology could trigger memories or attract leads from those who may have witnessed something years ago but never came forward.

Investigators are hopeful that the hologram will draw fresh attention to Bettys case, which has remained unsolved for over a decade.

A young woman, only 19, taken from life in such a horrific way," cold case detective Anne Dreijer-Heemskerk was quoted as saying by the broadcaster.

In the early hours of February 19, 2009, two sex workers, noticing that Betty Szabos usual music had stopped, decided to check on the teenage mother during a break between clients.

Upon entering her brothel rooma cramped space furnished with a plastic-covered bed, a vanity table, and a small sinkthey found her lifeless body.

Betty, only 19 and just three months post-childbirth, had been brutally stabbed to death. Her son was subsequently placed in foster care, never having the chance to know his mother.

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Despite an immediate murder investigation by police, the killer of Bernadette Betty" Szabo was never identified. Authorities reviewed CCTV footage extensively and interviewed potential witnesses, but the case grew cold.

Investigators also believe the suspect may have been a foreign visitor. Now, police are appealing to anyone who may have been in Amsterdam at the time to recall details of that night, offering a 30,000 reward as an incentive for witnesses to share information that could finally help solve the 15-year-old case.

Location : Amsterdam, Netherlands

First Published: November 10, 2024, 21:47 IST
Gangster Arshdeep Dalla, Nijjars Aide, Detained By Canadian Police In Shootout Case

Reported By :

CNN-News18

Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 18:29 IST

Khalistani terrorist Arshdeep Dalla, an aide of top deceased Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, has been detained by the Canadian police.

Khalistani terrorist Arshdeep Dalla was involved in a shootout and Canadian police have CCTV evidence, sources said. He has been detained. (IMAGE: X)

Khalistani terrorist Arshdeep Dalla, an aide of top deceased Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, has been detained by the Canadian police in connection with a shootout, sources told CNN-News18 on Sunday.

Top government sources indicated that, given the current state of relations between Ottawa and New Delhi, Indian agencies are unable to gather information or pursue further action regarding Dalla.

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus claims of the Indian governments involvement in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar has soured ties between India and Canada.

Extradition is a tough job and in todays scenario (it is) next to impossible. (Also) they have not arrested him so far, only detained," the source said.

Dallas detention comes shortly after reports of his involvement in a shootout in Canada around October 27-28. Sources have said Halton Regional Police have detained him on Sunday.

Punjab police on Sunday also arrested two members of Canada-based Dallas gangs two members from Mohali for their alleged involvement in the murder of a Sikh activist last month.

The accused also are allegedly involved in the murder of another individual in Madhya Pradesh. They were arrested during a joint operation of the state special operation cell, the anti-gangster task force and Faridkot Police, the Punjab director-general of police Gaurav Yadav said.

Delhi Police last year said Dalla has links with international terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba and Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

He is a key member of the extremist groups Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF). He lives in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada with his wife and a minor daughter.

Dalla became active in 2020, primarily focused on funding, organising terror cells, facilitating weapons smuggling across the border and orchestrating targeted killings in Punjab.

He, along with Nijjar, is said to have formed a three-member KTF module responsible for the 2021 killing of Tejinder, aka Pinka, the owner of Sunshine Clothes Store in Moga. In 2022, they teamed up again to create a four-person KTF module to execute grenade attacks. Nijjar was murdered outside a gurdwara in British Columbia in June 18 last year.

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Dalla also intended to carry out killings of RSS and religious leaders in Punjab at the behest of the ISI and the LeT, a Delhi Police chargesheet filed last year says.

He left India in July 2020 and holds a passport issued by the Jalandhar Regional Passport Office, valid until August 31, 2027.

Location : Ottawa, Canada

First Published: November 10, 2024, 17:52 IST
DAMASCUS, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Seven civilians, including women and children, were killed and 20 others injured in an Israeli airstrike near Syria's capital, Damascus, on Sunday evening, the country's Defense Ministry reported.

The ministry said in a statement that around 5 p.m. local time (1400 GMT), the Israeli "enemy" launched an airstrike from the occupied Golan Heights, targeting a residential building in the Sayyidah Zaynab area in the countryside of Damascus.

The attack also caused significant damage to private properties, it added.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, previously reported that the strike hit a flat in a residential building inhabited by Lebanese nationals and Hezbollah members in the area.

Sayyidah Zaynab, located south of the Syrian capital, is home to a prominent Shiite shrine and has been the target of Israeli attacks in the past.

Israel has conducted numerous airstrikes in Syria in recent years, targeting what it says are Iranian military assets and arms intended for transfer to Hezbollah. 
Israel Considering Time-Limited Ceasefire With Lebanon On Northern Border: Report

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 13:45 IST

As per reports, Israel is weighing a limited ceasefire to avert a UN Security Council decision on its campaign in Gaza.

There seems no end in sight to Israels campaigns against Hamas militants in Gaza or Hezbollah in Lebanon. (Reuters)

Israel is reportedly considering a limited-term ceasefire in the ongoing military campaign with Lebanon on the northern border, reported Channel 12 Israel. This would be a significant breakthrough, if true, in the months-long battle between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza..

Israel had been weighing the possibility of a time-limited ceasefire at the northern border with Lebanon to avert a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) decision against Israel, reported the Jerusalem Post citing N12 News.

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While the details of the agreement are currently unknown, Israel is expecting the UNSC to possibly call for halting Israels fighting in Gaza or impose restrictions on Israel, the report said.

Israeli Strikes Kill Over 30 In Gazas Jabalia

The report came as dozens of people were killed and wounded in an Israeli strike on a house in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip at dawn on Sunday, Palestinian medics said. The Palestinian official news agency WAFA and Hamas media put the number of people killed at 32.

Israel says it sent forces into Jabalia, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun in the north of the enclave to fight Hamas militants waging attacks from there and to prevent them from regrouping. It says its troops have killed hundreds of militants in those areas since the new offensive began.

On Saturday, 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.

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.

Qatar Clarifies On Suspending Ceasefire Efforts

Meanwhile, several reports claimed Qatar had suspended mediation talks between Israel and Hamas, which would have dealt a major blow for a ceasefire, and also asked Hamas to close its political office in Doha. In a statement, Qatars Foreign Ministry denied suspending talks and said reports about the Hamas political office were inaccurate.

Dr Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari, the spokesperson for Qatars Foreign Ministry, said the country had notified the parties 10 days ago during their 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.

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He also said 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 the 13-month-long war in the Gaza Strip.

(with agency inputs)

Location : Jerusalem, Israel

First Published: November 10, 2024, 13:14 IST
Netanyahu Admits Israels Role In Pager Blasts Targeting Hezbollah Operatives

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 11, 2024, 08:06 IST

The pager blasts injured and killed Hezbollah operatives across Lebanon earlier this year.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacks were carried out despite opposition from several parts of the government. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged Israeli role in pager blasts that targeted Hezbollah operatives in September.

The pager operation and the elimination of [Hezbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah were carried out despite the opposition of senior officials in the defence establishment and those responsible for them in the political echelon," the Israeli Prime Minister was quoted as saying by the Times of Israel on Sunday.

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Hand-held devices used by Hezbollah operatives detonated two days in a row in supermarkets, on streets, and at funerals in mid-September.

They killed nearly 40 people and wounded nearly 3,000, and preceded Israels ongoing military operation in Lebanon.

Omer Dostri, the Israeli PMs spokesperson, also confirmed that Netanayahu spoke of Israels involvement in the pager blasts.

Netanyahu confirmed Sunday that he greenlighted the pager operation in Lebanon," Dostri told news agency AFP.

Hezbollah had previously blamed its arch foe for the blasts that dealt a major blow to the Iran-backed militant group and vowed revenge. The Israeli PMs admission could be the first time Israel has acknowledged its role in the pager blasts.

Israel has so far publicly denied its role in the pager blasts.

Since late September, Israel has been engaged in a two-front war after turning its focus north towards Lebanon.

Hezbollah began low intensity strikes on Israel in support of Hamas following its allys October 7, 2023 attack on Israel which triggered the Gaza war.

Israel escalated air strikes and later sent in ground troops after almost a year of tit-for-tat exchanges of fire with Iran-backed Hezbollah. The Lebanese group said it was acting in support of Hamas.

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The war in Gaza erupted with Hamass October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel which resulted in 1,206 deaths, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Israels retaliatory campaign has killed 43,603 people in Gaza, according to figures from the Hamas-run territorys health ministry, which the UN considers reliable.

Location : Tel Aviv, Israel

First Published: November 10, 2024, 22:04 IST
Nikki Haley, Mike Pompeo Excluded From Trump 2.0 Administration

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 09:21 IST

While Haley's exclusion from Trump's incoming cabinet was unsurprising, Pompeo was tipped as a contender for defence secretary at one point.

Nikki Haley and Mike Pompeo were excluding from Trump's next administration despite endorsing his campaign. (Reuters)

US President-elect Donald Trump announced that he would not invite former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley or his ex-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to join his incoming administration following a resounding victory over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.

I will not be inviting former Ambassador Nikki Haley, or former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to join the Trump Administration, which is currently in formation. I very much enjoyed and appreciated working with them previously, and would like to thank them for their service to our Country. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.

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From President Donald J. Trump: pic.twitter.com/qo25FoZ33j Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) November 9, 2024

Nikki Haley, the Indian-origin Republican leader, was Trumps final challenger in the fierce GOP primaries earlier this year as they fought to become their partys candidate for the White House. Haley strongly criticised Trump during the race, calling him unhinged" at one point, but failed to outshine him in the primaries and eventually endorsed him for the White House.

Why Were Haley And Pompeo Excluded?

Pompeo was criticised by Trumps supporters for not being supportive enough during the presidential campaign. Many of Trumps closest allies have accused Haley and Pompeo of being so-called deep state moles, saying they would plot to undermine his America First agenda, according to BBC.

However, Pompeos exclusion from the administration was more surprising as he was tipped as a contender for secretary of defence. According to Forbes, Trump previously said on the Hugh Hewitt Radio Show that he had four or five good choices" for defence secretary, including some names like: Sen. Tom Cotton, Rep. Mike Waltz and Pompeo.

Pompeo had led Trumps diplomatic blitz in the Middle East and often locked horns with the press in defence of his boss. However, influential voices within the Trump-world have been lobbying against Pompeo and Haley, including veteran political strategist Roger Stone.

Former US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer was also not asked by Trump to return, contrary to a Financial Times report, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

What Is Trump Doing Now?

As the results came in, the President-elect spared no time to get to work. Trump announced the formation of an inaugural committee, which would plan and celebrate his inauguration on January 20, 2025. The committee will be co-chaired by long-term Trump allies: Steve Witkoff and Kelly Loeffer.

Trump also appointed his campaign manager, Susie Wiles, as the top aide in his new administration. Susie Wiles will be the first woman in US history to hold the role of White House Chief of Staff. She is recognised for orchestrating his most disciplined and effectively managed campaign to date.

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Meanwhile, outgoing US President Joe Biden will meet Trump at the Oval Office on Wednesday, said the White House in a statement. Such a post-election meeting is traditional between the outgoing president and the incoming president.

(with agency inputs)

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 10, 2024, 09:21 IST
'Not Accurate': Qatar Denies Suspending Gaza Ceasefire Talks, Closing Down Hamas Office

Curated By :

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Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 07:31 IST

Earlier reports claimed Qatar had suspended mediation efforts with Israel and Hamas and the Hamas political office "no longer served its purpose".

Qatar has played a leading role in trying to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. (Qatar's MoFA)

Qatars Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday denied withdrawing from mediation talks between Israel and Hamas over the ongoing Gaza conflict, saying the recent reports suggesting it had done so were not accurate. It also rejected reports that the Hamas political office in Qatar no longer served its purpose" after an apparent fallout.

Dr Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari, the spokesperson for Qatars Foreign Ministry, said the country had notified the parties 10 days ago during their 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.

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He also said 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 the 13-month-long war in the Gaza Strip.

What About Hamas Political Office In Qatar?

Al-Ansari told the Qatar News Agency (QNA) that Qatar will not accept that mediation be a reason for blackmailing it, as we have witnessed manipulation since the collapse of the first pause and the women and children exchange deal, especially in retreating from obligations agreed upon through mediation, and exploiting the continuation of negotiations to justify the continuation of the war to serve narrow political purposes."

He also said the media reports about the Hamas political office in Qatar were inaccurate and that it serves as a channel of communication between the concerned parties and has contributed to achieving a ceasefire in previous stages and maintaining calm in the Strip in exchange of hostages and prisoners.

Hamas has had a base in the Qatari capital since 2012, reportedly at the request of the Obama administration, BBC reported. Several reports indicated that Qatar had agreed with the US to tell Hamas to close its political office in Doha due to a refusal to negotiate a deal in good faith".

Qatars Role In Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Talks

The United States, Qatar and Egypt had been at the forefront of months-long and painstaking talks to mediate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, without success, as the ongoing war in Gaza has claimed the lives of more than 43,000 Palestinians and became a geopolitical flashpoint.

On Saturday, officials claimed Qatar has decided to suspend its key mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel due to their unwillingness to commit to a ceasefire deal. A source with Egypt told the Associated Press that as a consequence, the Hamas political office no longer serves its purpose" in Qatar.

US officials had earlier informed their Qatari counterparts about two weeks ago that they must stop giving Hamas refuge in their capital. 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 US senior administration official said.

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These talks come as the Israel-Hamas war continued with no end in sight. Three separate Israeli strikes killed at least 16 people, including women and children, in Gaza on Saturday, Palestinian medical officials said. Meanwhile, Israel announced the first delivery of humanitarian aid in weeks to hungry, devastated northern Gaza.

(with agency inputs)

Location : Doha, Qatar

First Published: November 10, 2024, 07:31 IST
Plan To Rename Lahore's Shadman Chowk After Bhagat Singh Scrapped

Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 21:28 IST

A plan to rename Shadman Chowk in Lahore city after Bhagat Singh and install his statue there has been scrapped in light of an opinion by a retired military official, the district government of the capital of Pakistan's Punjab province has told the high court.

Sardar Bhagat Singh (File)

A plan to rename Shadman Chowk in Lahore city after Bhagat Singh and install his statue there has been scrapped in light of an opinion by a retired military official, the district government of the capital of Pakistans Punjab province has told the high court here.

In a written response submitted to the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday by Assistant Advocate General Asghar Leghari, serious allegations were levelled against the freedom fighter.

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"A proposed plan of the city district government Lahore to name Shadman Chowk after Bhagat Singh and place his statue there has been scrapped in light of an observation submitted by Commodore (retd.) Tariq Majeed," the Metropolitan Corporation of Lahore said in a reply to a contempt petition filed by Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation Pakistan Chairman Imtiaz Rasheed Qureshi in the LHC.

It said Majeed, engaged by the government in a committee to rename Shadman Chowk after Singh, in his observations claimed that Singh "was not a revolutionary but a criminal, in todays terms he was a terrorist, he killed a British police officer, and for this crime, he was hanged along with two accomplices".

Majeed recommended to the government that the Shadman Chowk must not be named Bhagat Singh Chowk and his statue should not be installed there.

The report further says Singh was influenced by "religious leaders hostile to Muslims and the NGO  Bhagat Singh Foundation  is working against Islamic ideology and Pakistani culture, (and) it should be banned".

"Dont the officials of the foundation, who call themselves Muslims, know that it is not acceptable to name a place after an atheist in Pakistan and that Islam prohibits human statues?" it asked.

In response to the report, Qureshi told PTI on Sunday that Bhagat Singh was declared a great revolutionary, freedom fighter and martyr undisputedly.

"I will send a legal notice to retired Commodore Majeed for levelling serious allegations against the Bhagat Singh Foundation and contest his stance on Bhagat Singh," he said.

Qureshi has made the district government, DC Lahore, Chief Secretary Punjab and Administrator City District Government parties in a contempt of court petition filed through Advocate Khalid Zaman Khan Kakar, in which it was said that LHC Justice Shahid Jamil Khan had issued instructions to the concerned authorities on September 5, 2018, to take steps to name Shadman Chowk after Bhagat Singh, but the court order has not been implemented yet.

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LHC Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza adjourned the hearing of the contempt plea until Jan 17, 2025, due to the unavailability of the petitioners counsel.

Singh was hanged along with his two comrades  Rajguru and Sukhdev  by British rulers on March 23, 1931, at the age of 23 in Lahore, after being tried under charges for hatching a conspiracy against the colonial government and allegedly killing British police officer John P Saunders.

Location : Lahore, Pakistan

First Published: November 10, 2024, 21:28 IST
UK PM Starmer Under Fire As British Hindus Express Fury Over Meat, Alcohol At Diwali Party

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 15:28 IST

British Hindus were shocked after the Diwali Party hosted by PM Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street served lamb kebabs and wine.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer receives a floral garland during a Diwali reception at 10 Downing Street. (Reuters)

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted a grand Diwali party at 10 Downing Street, which was attended by community leaders and top UK politicians. However, the Labour leader has attracted controversy by serving non-vegetarian food and alcohol on the sacred occasion, which incited the fury of British Hindus.

The party hosted by Starmer on October 31 involved spiritual messages, lighting of diyas as well as music and dance to highlight Diwalis central message of good over evil. Renowned Kuchipudi dance artist Arunima Kumar and her young students, Arushi Nagaraju and Aishwarya Gupta performed the traditional dance of Jyotir at the event.

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We value and respect your heritage and traditions, and recognise the strength of our shared values and the celebration of Diwali  a time of coming together, of abundance, and welcome," said Starmer in his message for the British Indian community. There seems to be a lot of darkness across the world, and having that celebration of the light over darkness is very, very important. It gives us hope, it steadies us," he said.

ALSO READ: In Karnatakas Shimoga, This Muslim Mans Diwali Celebrations Highlights Unity In Diversity

British Hindus Offended By Diwali Party

However, some British Hindu guests were shocked when they found that non-vegetarian dishes like lamb kebabs were served on the menu, along with beer and wine, which is deemed disrespectful to Hindu traditions. Notably, meat and liquor were not served during Rishi Sunaks Diwali party last year.

Satish K Sharma, a well-known British Hindu Pandit, lashed out at the UK Prime Minister for his complete lack of sensitivity and simple consultation" for disrespecting the Diwali festivities. I was disappointed and frankly quite shocked that this years celebrations at 10 Downing Street, rather than being a reflective, positive and uplifting spiritual coming together, it seems to have been more of an inebriated meat-induced stupor dominated event," he said.

The complete lack of sensitivity and simple consultation, at any level, is of great concern. If accidental, its still disappointing. @SeemaMalhotra1 ?If deliberate @UKLabour and @10DowningStreet team have again sent a message to the British Hindu community. @Keir_Starmer may https://t.co/GxCcXrfYr7 pic.twitter.com/czzDQfv5jq Pt Satish K Sharma MBCS FRSA FRAS (@thebritishhindu) November 10, 2024

Its a tragedy that the prime ministers advisers would have been so careless, negligent and inattentive. The thing thats most disappointing is this is one of those events where lack of care and attention actually does more harm than if the event had not been held at all," Sharma added, saying Starmer has sent a message" to the British Hindu community.

Insight UK, an advocacy group of British Hindus and Indians, said the sacred festival of Diwali emphasizes on purity and devotion and hence traditionally involves vegetarian meals and strict avoidance of alcohol."

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by INSIGHT UK (@insightuk2)

The choice of menu at the Diwali celebration hosted by the Prime Minister himself, displays an appalling lack of understanding or respect for the religious traditions associated with the festival of Diwali. It also raises the pertinent question of whether Hindu community organisations and religious leaders were consulted for greater cultural sensitivity and inclusivity," it wrote in an Instagram post.

Location : London, United Kingdom (UK)

First Published: November 10, 2024, 15:28 IST
People search among the rubble of a building destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in the Nuseirat camp, central Gaza Strip, on Nov. 7, 2024. (Marwan Dawood/Xinhua)

GAZA, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Much rattled, Mohammed Alloush, a Palestinian man from Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, rushed to his relatives' house on Sunday to see what had happened after it was attacked by the Israeli army.

Upon his arrival with dozens of his neighbors, Alloush was shocked to find the house, once alive with more than 50 residents, completely destroyed.

"We heard cries for help from beneath the rubble. Some were still alive. I must help and rescue them," Alloush told Xinhua with a breaking voice.

However, neither Alloush nor any other responders have any tools in hand.

"We are forced to dig with our bare hands to help the injured and pull out the dead as possible as we can," said the 35-year-old father of four, holding the body of a child in his arms.

"The situation is very dangerous here, as the Israeli army may strike the house again, but we have to race against time to rescue as many as we can," he said.

People search among the rubble of a building destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in the Nuseirat camp, central Gaza Strip, on Nov. 7, 2024. (Marwan Dawood/Xinhua)

Alloush said he and his neighbors have to bury the dead in place, and transfer the injured to the Kamal Adwan and Indonesian hospitals, which have been out of service, with donkey carts.

Earlier on Sunday, the Israeli army killed at least 36 members of Alloush's family in an attack on their house in Jabalia refugee camp, according to locals and medical sources.

The attack was part of Israel's ongoing large-scale military offensive in the area starting from Oct. 5, which aims to kill the remnants of Hamas and prevent it from regrouping in the territory, the Israeli military has claimed.

Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza, said the Israeli military forced the Civil Defense teams to leave the area and sieged many locals inside their houses.

Israel has been conducting a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 taken hostage.

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks in Gaza has risen to 43,603, with injuries up to 102,929, Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Sunday.

People conduct rescue work at a school-turned shelter after an Israeli bombing in the al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City, on Nov. 7, 2024. (Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)

In northern Gaza, the Israeli offensive has killed more than 1,800 people, wounded about 4,000 others, and left hundreds missing, apart from destroying all local hospitals, the Hamas-run government media office said Monday in a press statement.

Meanwhile, rescue operations are difficult in Gaza City, even with the presence of the Civil Defense services.

On Saturday night, the Israeli army killed at least five Palestinians in an attack on a house of the al-Khour family in the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood west of Gaza City.

"It was very hard for the ambulances and Civil Defense to reach the area quickly, so I decided to use my hands to rescue the survivors and pull out the dead to bury them in the early morning," 25-year-old Palestinian Mohammed Doghmosh told Xinhua.

Doghmosh said he and his friends used the flashlights on their mobile phones to see clearly through the rubble so that they could pull out the casualties as soon as possible.

"All the time, we are in a race against death, war, and time. So, we have to take the mission into our own hands and help each other as best we can," he said.
As Democrats look around for steps to take before they lose control of the White House and Senate in January, their gaze has fallen on Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Even if she resigns, nominating and confirming a Democratic pick to succeed the 70-year-old would be difficult and appears unlikely, CBS News reports. But seeing Donald Trump fill the spot held by Ruth Bader Ginsburg with Amy Coney Barrett, after Ginsburg's death in September 2020, still stings Democrats. Should Sotomayor die in office during Trump's new term, the head of a progressive judicial group, said, "We have no idea how long it will be until somebody who shares Justice Sotomayor's jurisprudence, her values will be in a position to be nominated again." The issues with such an effort include:
A 31-year-old American tourist was killed while on vacation in Hungary, and a 37-year-old suspect was in custody Saturday. The victim, Mackenzie Michalski from Portland, Oregon, was reported missing on Nov. 5 after she was last seen at a nightclub in central Budapest, per the AP . 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. The man was detained on Nov. 7 and questioned by police, and later confessed to the killing.

Before the confession, Michalski's family and friends had launched an effort to find her, starting a Facebook group to gather tips on her whereabouts. Her parents traveled to Hungary to assist in the search, but while en route learned that she had been killed. At a candlelight vigil in Budapest on Saturday night, the victim's father, Bill Michalski, told the AP that he was "still overcome with emotion" at the death of his daughter. "There was no reason for this to happen," he said. "I'm still trying to wrap my arms around what happened ... I don't know that I ever will."

Police detained the suspect, an Irish citizen, on the evening of Nov. 7. Investigators said that Michalski and the suspect met at a nightclub and danced before leaving for the man's 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., 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 Michalski's body in a wardrobe before purchasing a suitcase and placing her body inside.

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He then rented a car and drove to Lake Balaton, around 90 miles southwest of Budapest, where he disposed of the body in a wooded area outside the town of Szigliget. 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.

(More Hungary stories.)
Israeli strikes killed dozens of people including children on Sunday in Lebanon and isolated northern Gaza, as the world watched for signs of how the US election might affect the wars between Israel and Iranian-backed militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement saying that he has spoken three times with Donald Trump since Tuesday's election, per the BBC , and that they "see eye-to-eye regarding "the Iranian threat." Israeli President Isaac Herzog is scheduled to meet with President Biden on Tuesday, the AP reports.

The airstrike in Lebanon killed at least 23 people, including seven children, in Aalmat village north of Beirut, far from the areas in the east and south where Hezbollah has a major presence. There was no Israeli evacuation warning. Hezbollah began firing rockets, drones, and missiles into Israel after war broke out in Gaza, in solidarity with the Palestinians and Hamas. Israel retaliated, and a series of escalations have led to all-out war. In northern Gaza, an Israeli strike on a home sheltering displaced people in the urban refugee camp of Jabaliya killed at least 17 people, including nine women, according to Dr. Fadel Naim, director of Al-Ahly Hospital in Gaza City. Israel's military said that it targeted a site where militants were operating, without providing evidence. It said the details of the strike were under review.

Also on Sunday, Israel's military released what it called footage of Hamas abusing detainees, per the AP. The soundless footage, dated from 2018 to 2020, appears to show hooded detainees chained in stress positions. In some clips, men beat or poke them with batons. It wasn't possible to independently verify the videos, which the military said that it recovered during operations in Gaza. Rights groups have long accused the Hamas-run government in Gaza and the Western-backed Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank of abusing detainees and violently quashing dissent. Israel has been accused of similar abuses, especially since the start of the war.

(More Israel-Hamas war stories.)
A shooting at the close of Tuskegee University's 100th Homecoming celebration left one person dead and 12 people hospitalized with bullet wounds, authorities said. Four other people were otherwise injured, the AP reports. The attack took place at apartments on the Alabama school's campus. "Some idiots started shooting," Patrick Mardis, the City of Tuskegee's police chief, told Al.com. The person killed, an 18-year-old male, was not a student, officials said. The wounded did include students.

No arrests were made, and it wasn't clear whether police were seeking one suspect or more, per CBS News. The shooting left everyone in the historically Black university shaken, said the student government president. "This senseless act of violence has touched each of us, whether directly or indirectly," Amare' Hardee said at the school's homecoming convocation Sunday morning. The administration said in a statement that it "joins the students in mourning the event after such a joyous weekend." Monday's classes are canceled. (More mass shootings stories.)
Fairbanks, AK (99701)

Today

Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the evening. Low 1F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 50%..

Tonight

Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the evening. Low 1F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 50%.
This photo shows the damage caused by Israeli airstrikes in Bekaa, Lebanon, on Nov. 10, 2024. At least 24 people were killed and several others injured on Sunday afternoon in Israeli airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported. According to NNA, most of the casualties resulted from Israeli attacks on towns and villages in the city of Baalbek, the Baalbek-Hermel Governorate, and the Bekaa Valley. (Photo by Maher Kamar/Xinhua)

BEIRUT, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- At least 24 people were killed and several others injured on Sunday afternoon in Israeli airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported.

According to NNA, most of the casualties resulted from Israeli attacks on towns and villages in the city of Baalbek, the Baalbek-Hermel Governorate, and the Bekaa Valley.

The agency reported that the death toll from the Israeli airstrike earlier in the day, which targeted the town of Almat in the Jbeil District north of Beirut, has risen to 23, with search efforts still ongoing for additional victims.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah said its fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli forces near Hassan Gate near the occupied town of Shebaa and another gathering of Israeli soldiers at HaGoshrim, a kibbutz in Israel.

It also targeted the Shraga base north of the city of Acre with a barrage of rockets and a moshav in northern Israel.

The Israeli army has been conducting intensive air attacks on Lebanon in an escalation with Hezbollah since late September.

According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, the death toll in the country from Israeli airstrikes since the onset of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in October 2023 has reached 3,189, with injuries rising to 14,078. 

This photo shows the damage caused by Israeli airstrikes in Bekaa, Lebanon, on Nov. 10, 2024.

At least 24 people were killed and several others injured on Sunday afternoon in Israeli airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported.

According to NNA, most of the casualties resulted from Israeli attacks on towns and villages in the city of Baalbek, the Baalbek-Hermel Governorate, and the Bekaa Valley. (Photo by Maher Kamar/Xinhua)

This photo shows the damage caused by Israeli airstrikes in Bekaa, Lebanon, on Nov. 10, 2024.

At least 24 people were killed and several others injured on Sunday afternoon in Israeli airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported.

According to NNA, most of the casualties resulted from Israeli attacks on towns and villages in the city of Baalbek, the Baalbek-Hermel Governorate, and the Bekaa Valley. (Photo by Maher Kamar/Xinhua)

This photo shows the damage caused by Israeli airstrikes in Bekaa, Lebanon, on Nov. 10, 2024.

At least 24 people were killed and several others injured on Sunday afternoon in Israeli airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported.

According to NNA, most of the casualties resulted from Israeli attacks on towns and villages in the city of Baalbek, the Baalbek-Hermel Governorate, and the Bekaa Valley. (Photo by Maher Kamar/Xinhua)
HM King Hamad Arrives in the UK on Official Visit at the Invitation of King Charles III

HM King Hamad Arrives in the UK on Official Visit at the Invitation of King Charles III

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, arrived in the United Kingdom today for an official visit at the invitation of His Majesty King Charles III. The visit highlights the strong and enduring ties between Bahrain and the UK, which continue to deepen through leadership-driven cooperation.

Upon his arrival at RAF Brize Norton airbase, His Majesty King Hamad was honored with an official guard salute, reflecting the significance of his visit. The welcoming party included Ron Spurs, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire representing King Charles III, Captain Louise Henton, Commander of RAF Brize Norton, and Bahrains Ambassador to the UK, Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, along with embassy staff.

The visit underscores the longstanding friendship between Bahrain and the UK, with both monarchs expected to hold high-level discussions aimed at further strengthening their nations historic relations. The bilateral ties, which span several centuries, are built on mutual respect, close cooperation, and a shared commitment to enhancing the well-being of their peoples.

This meeting between the two leaders reflects the continued efforts to advance collaboration in various sectors, reaffirming the pivotal role both nations play in regional and international stability
TEHRAN, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Five members of Iran's Basij voluntary force were killed on Sunday in what authorities called a "terrorist incident" in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported through its official news outlet, Sepah News.

The incident occurred in Saravan County, prompting immediate deployment of IRGC units to the area, according to the report. A search operation is underway for those responsible, whom the IRGC referred to as "thugs."

Sistan-Baluchestan, bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan, is a region known for ongoing clashes involving armed groups and drug trafficking.

Just last month, militants attacked law enforcement forces in the province, resulting in the deaths of 10 Iranian soldiers and police officers. 
Wildfires continued to rage across New Jersey on Sunday, as a record-long dry spell is poised to come to an end.

The largest was West Milfords Jennings Creek wildfire, which straddles the New York-New Jersey border. The fire had so far consumed 2,500 acres and threatens 25 structures, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said late Sunday morning. The blaze was at 0% containment as of Sunday morning, the West Milford Fire Marshals Office said.

The fire started on Saturday, officials said, and the cause remained unknown and under investigation.

Two residences and eight buildings in the Long Pond Ironworks Historic District were threatened by the fire, officials said. An additional 14 buildings in New York were in danger. There were currently no evacuations in place.

An 18-year-old firefighter died battling the blaze in Sterling Forest. Dariel Vasquez, a parks employee in New York, was killed Saturday in the New York section of the park, New York State Police said. His death remained under investigation.

The fire was just one of many reported in the past several days throughout the state, spurred by a lengthy drought that has produced perilous fire conditions.

Cant see the map? Click here.

Elsewhere, the Cannonball 3 Wildfire in Pompton Lakes was at 175 acres Sunday morning, the same size it was Saturday night. The fire remained 75% contained, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said on X, formerly Twitter.

While there have been no evacuations, 55 structures remained threatened. Cannonball Road remained closed at DuPont Place, but all lanes of Route 287 had reopened.

The cause of that fire remained under investigation. An update will be provided around 6 p.m. Sunday night, officials said.

An air quality alert was in effect in Bergen, Passaic, Hudson, Essex, Union counties until 9 p.m. on Sunday.

Most of New Jersey has not seen meaningful rain since late August, and no rain at all since September. Most of New Jersey is in a severe drought, with three counties in the Pinelands region in an extreme drought, a more serious and rare designation.

Up to half an inch of rain is expected in some parts of New Jersey on Sunday evening, which though helpful will not be enough to end the drought, forecasters said. But wind conditions expected to accompany the rain could make battling the forest fires even more complicated.

New Jersey is currently under a Stage 3 fire ban, which prohibits any open fires from being lit.

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Katie Kausch may be reached at kkausch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KatieKausch.
A Powerball ticket worth $1 million was sold in New Jersey for Saturdays lottery drawing, but no one hit the $92 million jackpot.

New Jersey lottery officials have not yet disclosed where the winning ticket was sold. It was the only seven-figure winner in the nation, matching all five numbers but not the Powerball.

Saturdays winning numbers were: 11, 24, 50, 56 and 66. The Powerball drawn was 16, with a Power Play of 2X.

With no jackpot winners, the prize for Mondays drawing jumps to $103 million, with a $48.6 million cash option.

The odds of hitting the Powerball jackpot are 292,201,388 to 1. A player who buys a $2 ticket has about a 1 in 11,688,053 chance to match five numbers and win at least $1 million, while the odds are 913,129 to 1 to win a third prize of at least $50,000.

Powerball drawings are held each Monday, Wednesday and Saturday in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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Riley Yates may be reached at ryates@njadvancemedia.com.
Americans just elected a president who vows to use the Justice Department to prosecute his political enemies: Time to take stock of this strange new world that we suddenly find ourselves in. How, exactly, could he go after his enemies?

He could start by appointing a flunkey as Attorney General, someone like Mike Davis, a Republican lawyer whose name has repeatedly come up as a possible nominee, and has made his vengeful intentions clear.

On Nov. 6th, right after Trump surpassed the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency, Davis tweeted this about Democrats: Heres my current mood: I want to drag their dead political bodies through the streets, burn them, and throw them off the wall.

And Trump is newly empowered to break the law. The Supreme Court this summer granted president broad immunity to criminal prosecution over official acts and specifically cited his control of the Department of Justice as a prime example.

Its a good bet that they will push the limits of that decision, a former federal prosecutor told us last week.

Defendants often complain that theyre being prosecuted for political reasons, but Trump has made explicit promises to do so, and the immunity ruling removes all restraints.

What you worry about is some broad thing  like he charges people with insurrection because they were disloyal to the country, because they attacked him, said Lawrence Lustberg, a prominent criminal defense attorney. Imagine Trump ordering his DOJ to investigate and charge Liz Cheney and other outspoken critics, like Chris Christie, with insurrection because they slammed him on TV.

There are safeguards against wrongful prosecution like that. Some prosecutors will refuse on principle. Good judges will dismiss bad cases. But even launching investigations of political enemies will impose a penalty on them, draining time and forcing them to spend money on lawyers, or find one who will work for free. Even frivolous cases can drag out, making peoples lives miserable.

Trump could also tell the DOJ or some other federal agency to investigate his enemies, or perhaps audit their taxes, as Richard Nixon tried to do.

Federal crimes are pretty broadly drawn and if they look hard enough, they can usually find something, the former federal prosecutor told us. The potential for abuse is the reason long-standing Justice Department policy emphasizes that you investigate and prosecute conduct, not people.

Yet with the right AG and the immunity decision, Trump could indulge his worst impulses to trample over that. They lied on a rental application, or who the heck knows, said Lustberg. Juries are not that forgiving, and so, it could happen.

Trumps threats may be bluster, of course, like his vow to build a wall and force Mexico to pay for it. But dont count on that. He intends to appoint loyalists this time around, so will be off restraint.

This clear danger will be another stress test for our democracy. Attorneys general of both parties have frequently stood up to the president in the past, as when conservative John Ashcroft refused to reauthorize the warrantless surveillance going on under the Bush administration after 9-11. Some are vowing to do the same now.

Respect for the legal system and the rule of law is part of the bedrock of this country and our state. If President-elect Trump uses his position to unlawfully attack the rights of New Jersey residents, we will see him in court, said New Jerseys Attorney General, Matthew Platkin.

Principled lawyers would be willing to take these cases pro bono, and organizations would band together to file amicus briefs about the threat this presents to our democracy. Its up to patriots to push back. And the Constitution will help.

What makes this country great is that we can disagree and have First Amendment protections, Lustberg noted. I actually believe even this Supreme Court would stand for that.

Yet Trump is also likely to appoint hardline conservative judges, which could weaken the resistance. And if he gets his DOJ to go after just one enemy, it could serve as a warning to all.

The danger is not just to the high-profile critics like Cheney or Christie. Trump could go after political activists and the press as well, notes Amol Sinha, head of the ACLU of New Jersey. Weve already seen him intimidate two major newspapers  The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times  whose billionaire owners blocked publication of editorials endorsing Kamala Harris.

Protestors may be targets as well. Heres what Trump said about the college students who protested the war in Gaza in the Spring: One thing I do is, any student that protests, I throw them out of the country  and he could unleash violence on them too.

Hes vowed to revoke the federally issued licenses of media broadcasters that displeased him. It would betray American traditions, chill political discourse and public service if people fear prosecution simply for doing something the new regime disagrees with.

Which is why, for the past several months, the ACLU has been engaged in scenario planning to identify the perceived threats and will look for opportunities to turn New Jersey into a firewall for freedom with more policies to protect civil liberties, Sinha said.

The ACLU w/ a full page ad in the NYT. pic.twitter.com/21k1n4kF9y  Teresa Evangeline (@TeresaEvangelin) November 8, 2024

In the early days of the first Trump administration, the ACLU received record-breaking donations and hired a fleet of new lawyers, more than doubling its size nationally; it ended up filing more than 434 legal challenges against the Trump administration. People saw us as the front lines of freedom, Sinha said.

On Wednesday, he spent the day on the phone with supporters and donors, warning that a second Trump administration could be worse than the first. Other groups are gearing up too. Its going to require the entire legal industry to push back and insist on protecting democratic values.

The opposition is in a period of grief right now and may feel less galvanized than it did in 2016, and wearier. But the stakes are too high to just tune out. Trumps philosophy of governing is going to be promises made, promises kept  and for the sake of America, lets hope thats not true.

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NEW DELHI, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- A junior commissioned officer of the Indian army's special forces was killed and three troopers wounded Sunday in a fierce gunfight with militants in the Indian-controlled Kashmir, officers said.

The gunfight broke out in the Keshwan forest area in Kishtwar district, about 215 km southeast of Srinagar city, the summer capital of the Indian-controlled Kashmir.

According to defense officers, the troopers were part of a search team tracing militants responsible for the recent killing of two village defense guards.

The two civilian militia personnel were abducted on Thursday and subsequently killed. 
For three decades, Dr. Gisela Munne has had a thriving medical practice in the Journal Square area of Jersey City. She often works 12-hour days, six days a week. After seeing a few dozen patients, she makes hospital rounds. It takes weeks to get an appointment. And I know because for years she treated my mother, Grace, and her caregiver, Bernardine Franciscan Sister Mary Reginald Zajac.

Part of Munnes success is that she has what is often called a good bedside manner. She is very patient and does not rush you even though there is a full waiting room outside the examination room. She has a pleasant personality and is very caring. Her staff reflects that same ambience in the office.

As a daughter of Cuban immigrants, Munne has a significant number of Hispanic patients. But what is not known is that her Christian faith not only informs how she practices internal medicine, but it has also motivated her to spend significant time throughout her medical career giving back to some of the poorest residents in Central America.

As a Christian, I have always joined churches that support ministries, she said, paraphrasing the Gospel of Matthew when Jesus tells his disciples to go out and spread the message of salvation and baptism throughout the world.

To go, she said, could mean next door or another country.

And thats where she spent part of this past summer  in Chiquimula, Guatemala  on a mission trip sponsored by Mendham Hills Community Church. The church contracts with Beyond the Walls, a local non-profit, to plan and carry out their mission trips.

In Chiquimula, she said, poor people live in shacks with leaking tin roofs. There is no running water in their homes.

Some of the volunteers would build little homes, called Potter houses, or classrooms. She, obviously, worked in the medical clinic.

During the trip, they also built a large chicken coop.

They also have a program to sponsor childrens education because most drop out by third grade because they have to work, Munne said.

Malnutrition is the main health problem for these families, she lamented. We provide them with bags of food and hygiene products.

In the clinics, she saw many malnourished children very behind in the growth chart, she said.

As part of the mission, the group also provided vaccines for the children and Munne noted that adults dont seek medical attention unless its severe.

They cant afford the medicines, testing, and follow up, she said.

Government-run clinics and hospitals are so overwhelmed, many people also dont go for screenings, she said.

As a believer, however, she also participates in the missionary spirit.

We also bring them the message of hope and eternal life through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Munne said.

During previous trips, the missionaries would support single moms and pregnant women who would have otherwise terminated their pregnancies or given their children up for adoption, she said. In Guatemala City, they helped a local church feed their children and also taught them budgeting and trades like cooking and making leather goods they could sell.

The two churches shes attended through the years  Mendham Hills Community and the Crossing Church in Livingston  sponsor fund raisers year-round to defray the airfare (as much as $1,800 per volunteer) for the mission trips. She pays her own way and even raised money from members of her spin class.

The Mendham Hills church sends about 38 people in each of three summer groups. Throughout the year, parishioners tithe toward the missions.

Munne also sponsors the education and school lunches of two students each year, she said. She learned from experience that for some children thats their only meal.

Munne was born in Miami Beach to parents who were exiled from Cuba in 1961 after Fidel Castro took over. She graduated from a Christian elementary and high school and then from Barry University, a Catholic university in Miami, in 1983. She then graduated from St. George University School of Medicine in the West Indies in 1988 and did her residency at St. Josephs Medical Center in Paterson.

She then returned to Miami and joined a medical practice in Coral Gables. Her husband was from New Jersey, and they then relocated back to New Jersey. Their son is a veterinarian, and their daughter is following in her footsteps and is now in her last year of her residency in internal medicine.

I would tell anyone who is interested (in a mission trip) to look into it and get out of your comfort zone, Munne suggested.

She knows that for most of the people she has met in Guatemala, their poverty wont go away.

But they will know that they are loved, she said, and that people are praying and helping to provide for them.

The Rev. Alexander Santora is the pastor of Our Lady of Grace and St. Joseph, 400 Willow Ave., Hoboken, NJ 07030. Email: padrealex@yahoo.com; X: @padrehoboken.

To help ...

To learn more about Beyond the Walls and contribute to its missions, go to gobtw.org.
Perhaps the most prominent opponent of puritanism in the last century, the great H.L. Mencken, once said of New England, It began life as a slaughterhouse of ideas and it continues so to this day.

Indeed it does, only now its been rebranded as woke rather than puritanical. Consider this quote on climate policy from Massachusetts senator Ed Markey:

Its time for us to stop talking about what is politically feasible and start talking about what is scientifically necessary. We cannot compromise on science.

I would recommend that quote to any of my Democratic friends who whine about the death of democracy.

What Markey was saying is that the views of the public should be discounted if they clash with the views of whatever scientists are cherry-picked by a politician.

Markey was among the authors of the so-called Green New Deal during the early years of the Biden administration.

But were now approaching the early years of the second Trump administration and were going to get a new deal of a different sort.

I found that out last week when I had a phone conversation with the man who may be the member of Congress most despised by the Democrats.

Thats U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew of Cape May County.

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Van Drew is disliked by the Democrats because he once was one of them. But after getting elected to Congress in 2018 as a Democrat, he moved to the GOP in 2020.

It was a smart move. Then-President Trump threw a fund-raiser for him in Wildwood that year. And as of last week he has won three elections as a Republican.

Van Drew remains close to The Donald and speaks to him regularly. One of the issues they discuss is that plan to line the ocean off New Jersey with as many as 200 wind turbines more than a thousand feet high.

Trump plans to deep-six those turbines as soon as he gets into office, Van Drew said.

Hes opposed to them, Van Drew said. Its just a matter of figuring out how to get rid of them.

While theyre at it, perhaps they could get rid of that 120-foot wind turbine in Van Drews yard.

Van Drew, who was a dentist in real life, was an early adopter of renewable energy.

I was always open-minded, he said.

The solar panels he put on his roof work fine, but the wind turbine has been problematic at best, he said.

Even when it was new, the turbine only put out half the power that was advertised, he said. And then it broke, as highly complicated appliances do when left out in the weather.

The cost to repair it would be $30,000 to $40,000, so it sits in his yard as a monument to stupidity, he said.

Bob Stern agrees. Stern is a Long Beach Island resident who started a group called Save LBI to oppose the turbine project.

Hes an actual scientist with a Ph.D, as well as years of experience working for the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the state Department of Environmental Protection.

His expertise is in environmental impact statements. Those for the wind project that could be built off Long Beach Island say that any effect on New Jerseys carbon footprint would be negligible, he said. (But the turbines would adversely affect whales.

If China sells one coal plant to Africa, basically everything we do to reduce carbon emissions is out the window, Stern said.

Theres a way to produce plenty of carbon-free power, he said.

If your primary concern is carbon dioxide emissions, the realistic alternative is nuclear, he said.

Thats certainly my preferred alternative. In Ocean County, where I live, we had one of the first nuclear plants in America, Oyster Creek.

It pumped out reliable, carbon-free power for half a century.

But it was shut down after in 2018 after objections by environmentalists.

Nuclear power is also expensive, but unlike wind it produces energy around the clock. The Biden administration made some efforts to keep existing nukes online, but Bill Gates argues we need a national effort promoting nuclear power as the best way to generate the base load of electricity.

Gates has famously stated that we need nukes because the wind doesnt always blow and the sun doesnt always shine.

And when those two arent working, electricity rates skyrocket, as is happening in California at the moment.

The question of cost is crucial. One reason the Democrats lost this election was the rise in the cost of living under President Joe Biden.

A Monmouth University Poll in 2023 showed that most New Jerseyans support offshore wind. But when asked if they would still support it if it caused your electricity rates to increase for the next few years, support dropped to a mere 25 percent.

Gov. Phil Murphy remains a big proponent of offshore wind. But when he was asked last week about whether Trump would pull the plug on offshore wind, he replied, Thats going to be an interesting oneis he gonna do what he said versus prosecute a different agenda?

Van Drew said hes gonna do what he said.

Its worked for him so far.
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JERUSALEM, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Israel's military and Shin Bet internal security agency said on Sunday that they had killed Muhammad Abu Sakhil, head of operations for the Islamic Jihad militant group, in an airstrike in the Gaza Strip.

The commander was targeted in "a precise strike" by the Israeli Air Force on Saturday, according to a joint statement. "Abu Sakhil operated in a command and control center embedded within a compound that previously served as the Fahd Al-Sabah School in northern Gaza," the statement added.

Israeli security forces described Abu Sakhil as "a significant figure" in Islamic Jihad, responsible for planning and coordinating attacks, including joint operations with Hamas against Israeli civilians and troops in Gaza.

The Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, often referred to simply as Islamic Jihad, is a militant group primarily operating in the Gaza Strip. Founded in 1981, it is the second-largest armed group in Gaza after Hamas. 
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Pfizer's booth at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai, Nov. 7, 2024. [Photo by Wang Yiming/China.org.cn]

Pfizer showcased new treatments for atopic dermatitis, the leading type of eczema, at the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), targeting the country's growing demand for skin disease solutions.

The company featured two therapies: Cibinqo (abrocitinib tablets) and Staquis (crisaborole ointment), offering treatment options for various severity levels of the condition.

"This year marks Pfizer's sixth appearance at the CIIE, our 175th anniversary globally, and 35 years of operations in China," said Liu Jing, general manager of Pfizer China's Inflammation and Immunology Franchise.

Liu noted that inflammation and immunology remain a key strategic priority for Pfizer. "We have spent the past three decades pioneering JAK inhibitors to treat inflammatory immune diseases, benefiting over 70 million AD patients in China."

"We will continue to drive scientific exploration, actively promote real-world studies, and constantly leverage evidence-based medicine to advance standardized atopic dermatitis care in China, thus helping realize the 'Healthy China 2030' initiative," Liu added.

Liu Jing, general manager of Pfizer China's Inflammation and Immunology Franchise, speaks at the 7th China International Import Expo in Shanghai, Nov. 7, 2024. [Photo courtesy of Pfizer]

Pfizer has launched several research initiatives in China, including an Abrocitinib Chinese Registry on atopic dermatitis, headed by Yao Zhirong, dermatology director at Xinhua Hospital, which is affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine.

According to Yao, the study will encompass more than 1,000 patients across over 40 institutions nationwide.

The research aims to develop standardized diagnosis and treatment protocols for atopic dermatitis, both domestically and internationally, while establishing scientific medication guidelines under the treat-to-target framework.

"This study brings the 'voice of Chinese science' to the world," he said.

The pharmaceutical company is collaborating with local media and healthcare organizations to boost public awareness and patient education about atopic dermatitis. Its initiatives include the "China Skin Health Action Plan," focused on improving disease understanding and management through medical education.
TEHRAN, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- General Chief of Staff Fayyad al-Ruwaili of the Saudi armed forces held talks with his Iranian counterpart in Tehran on Sunday, marking a significant step in defense ties between the two regional powers following their diplomatic rapprochement last year.

Al-Ruwaili met with Mohammad Baqeri, chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, to explore ways to strengthen military cooperation, Iran's Fars news agency reported.

During the meeting, Baqeri extended an invitation for Saudi naval forces to participate in an Iranian maritime exercise planned for next year, either as an active participant or observer.

"The exchange of such visits between our armed forces carries special importance for the region and Muslim world in the current circumstances," Baqeri was quoted as saying by Fars.

Al-Ruwaili, who arrived in Tehran on Sunday leading a high-level military delegation, agreed to enhance bilateral military cooperation across various domains. Both officials emphasized their countries' influential role in fostering regional unity among Muslim states.

The Palestine issue was also discussed during the talks, according to Fars.

This high-level military engagement follows the Beijing-sponsored restoration of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran in April 2023, ending a seven-year freeze. Riyadh had severed ties with Tehran in 2016 after Iranian protesters attacked Saudi diplomatic missions following the kingdom's execution of a Shiite cleric. 
ESB Networks remind all groups and parties involved in the upcoming General Election that the erection of candidate posters on electricity poles is strictly prohibited and poses a serious safety risk to members of the public as well as ESB Networks staff and contractors.

Hazardous situations have been created in the past by people erecting posters on live electricity poles and infrastructure. Attaching anything to electricity poles exposes individuals to the risk of electric shock, burns and falling from a height. ESB Networks wires and equipment are always live, and posters attached to poles have previously caused poles to catch fire and fall.

As we come into the winter months, weather conditions such as heavy rain and winds can cause posters to become detached and in turn potentially making contact with live electrical wires. The removal of posters from electricity poles can pose significant safety risks to ESB Networks staff, which can result in severe injuries.

Speaking ahead of the upcoming election Michael Murray, ESB Networks Public Safety Manager, said: ESB Networks regularly advise members of the public to always stay clear of electricity poles and wires through our various campaigns. It is never safe to interfere with electricity equipment and we previously have been required to interrupt the electricity supply to households and businesses to safely remove posters. It is important that these messages are taken on board in the interest of safety.

You should always stay safe and stay clear of electricity wires and cables as these are always live and potentially dangerous. If you see a potentially dangerous situation or in the event of an emergency involving the electricity network, please contact ESB Networks on our 24/7 emergency phone number: 1800 372 999.
A new children's book has been launched in time for Christmas in Offaly

THE Lions the Bees and the Bogs, a Tullamore Lions Club publication, supported by Offaly County Council and illustrated by Delores Keaveney, was launched by Olympic boxer Grainne Walsh, in Esker Arts, on Thursday last.

Arising from their Clonbeale More Conservation Project it was decided to spread the message of peatland conservation in storybook format. The Lions the Bees and the Bogs is a delightful publication, superbly written and illustrated by Dolores Keaveney, capturing the essence of what Tullamore Lions Club is attempting to convey to future generations.

The book tells the beautiful story of a busy bee's adventure with a mighty lion on a bog in the heart of Ireland. With the help of some magic pollen dust, the bee brings the lion on a magical journey all the way from the plains of Africa to Clonbeale More Bog in Offaly.

During this adventure, the lion learns how bogs were formed and how important they are. The bee explains to the lion how causing damage to our bogs can badly affect our climate.

Luckily, many of these bogs can be restored which will be a big help to our world in the future. We hope that the adventures of the Lion in an Irish bog will raise awareness of sustainable life practices and inspire todays youth to become guardians of the environment in the future.

Tullamore Lions Club received financial assistance from Offaly County Council and Creative Ireland towards the production costs for the book. Tullamore Lions Club is donating copies of the book to all Primary Schools in Co. Offaly.

The book will also be available for sale (9.99 per copy) in bookshops around Tullamore.
THE Heritage Council has announced Offaly native James Scully as its 2024 Heritage Hero ahead of the annual National Heritage Week awards ceremony in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin, on Friday November 15th. The award is one of eight to be announced at the ceremony across a range of categories with a total of 21 National Heritage Week events shortlisted for an award. https://www.heritageweek.ie/news/announcing-the-2024-national-heritage-awards-shortlist

Originally from Tullamore, James Scully is a retired primary school teacher who taught in Banagher at St. Rynaghs Primary School for 35 years and has been contributing to Offalys heritage and local history for over 50 years. He is being honoured with the 2024 Heritage Hero award for his outstanding contribution to the protection and promotion of heritage over that time.

James was responsible for establishing the Bronte Society in Banagher in 2023, dedicated to raising awareness of the association of Charlotte Bronte and her husband, Arthur Bell Nicholls, with the town of Banagher. He was a key advocate for the Fort Eliza Napoleonic fortification conservation in Banagher and played a key role in the development of its interpretative signage and installation of canons!.

He has published numerous local history books and papers including. Forgotten Souls: Memorials in Saint Rynaghs Old Graveyard, The Stories and Glories of Offaly Graveyards and Meelick Martello Tower Looking Around  a local studies textbook and has been of enormous assistance to many other authors, generously sharing his research, passion and knowledge. He has hosted several events during National Heritage Week all with Kieran Keenaghan over the years including tours of West Offaly Castles and leading the way on some dramatic historic reenactments along the way.

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD, said: James Scully is a perfect example of the kind of unsung hero that goes silently about his business, conserving and protecting our heritage so that it can be used and enjoyed by future generations. He has published several books on local history, conducted significant research on the bridges of the River Brosna, the role of Matthew De Renzi and his place in medieval West Offaly and the connections of Charlotte Bronte to his native Banagher. For all of this, and for countless other contributions, he absolutely deserves this recognition and our gratitude.

Speaking ahead of the awards ceremony on Friday, Chief Executive of the Heritage Council Virginia Teehan said: Every day in my work as CEO of the Heritage Council, I encounter brilliant people doing incredible things to protect our national heritage. Very often, they are not the kinds of people who go out of their way to seek awards or recognition. They do what they do because they believe it is important to preserve and celebrate heritage. This perfectly describes our Heritage Hero for 2024, James Scully whose contribution to heritage in Offaly is being rightly acknowledged on Friday.

The National Heritage Week awards ceremony can be livestreamed from the website on Friday from 11am: www.heritageweek.ie/awards
PORT SUDAN, Sudan, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- At least 11 people were killed and 18 others injured on Sunday in an attack by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Al Hodur village in Gezira State, central Sudan, the Sudanese Doctors Network, a non-governmental organization, reported.

According to the network, the RSF also looted the village's health center and homes. Among the casualties were children, the statement added.

In a separate development, the Nidaa Al-Wasat Platform, a volunteer group monitoring human rights violations, reported that the death toll in Al Hilaliya city, also in Gezira State and under siege for more than 17 days, had surpassed 300.

"More than 300 civilians, including children, the elderly, and the sick, were killed by terrorist gangs who forced them to die without mercy," the group said.

The RSF has yet to comment on the violence in Al Hilaliya.

Local activists and volunteer groups have accused the RSF of launching attacks across eastern Gezira following the surrender of its regional commander, Abu Aqla Keikel, to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on Oct. 20.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported on Tuesday that around 135,400 people had been displaced across Gezira State since Oct. 20 due to escalating violence in over 30 villages and towns.

Sudan has been embroiled in the conflict between the SAF and the RSF since mid-April 2023. The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project reported on Oct. 14 that the ongoing violence had claimed more than 24,850 lives. 
CANBERRA, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has said it will make vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) free for newborns and pregnant women from 2025.

Mark Butler, the minister for health, on Sunday announced 174.5 million Australian dollars (114.8 million U.S. dollars) in funding to subsidize RSV vaccinations following a spike in cases in 2024.

According to the government, 12,000 Australian babies are admitted to hospital every year with severe cases of RSV -- a contagious virus mostly affecting young children that causes infections of the respiratory tract.

Under the new program, women who are between 28 and 36 weeks pregnant will be eligible for a free vaccine from February, giving protection to their unborn children.

Additionally, all children younger than two years whose mothers were not immunized during pregnancy will also be eligible for free vaccination in winter when RSV infections typically occur.

The maternal RSV vaccine is currently only available in Australia to women in the late stages of pregnancy and costs up to 350 AUD (230.3 USD).

Australia has recorded over 165,000 cases of RSV so far in 2024, up from 128,117 in 2023 and 95,959 in 2022, according to data from the Department of Health's National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System.

Of the 2024 cases, 82,048 were recorded in children aged 0-4 and another 14,016 in those aged 5-9. 
ISLAMABAD, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Four terrorists were killed in two military operations in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military said.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan army, said in a statement that security forces on Sunday engaged with terrorists in North Waziristan district of the province.

The ISPR said that the first engagement occurred in Spinwam area, and after an intense exchange of fire, two terrorists were killed.

In another operation, security forces successfully thwarted terrorists' attempt to infiltrate through the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in the district and killed two terrorists while injuring two others.

A clearance operation was being conducted to eliminate any other terrorists.

Earlier in the day, the ISPR said that six terrorists were killed on Saturday during an intelligence-based operation in Spinwam area. 
MOSCOW, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into law a treaty on comprehensive strategic partnership with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Saturday.

The treaty, originally signed by the top leaders of the two countries in Pyongyang on June 19, was ratified by the State Duma, or the lower house of parliament, on Oct. 24. Russia's upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, approved the bill on Nov. 6.

The preamble to the treaty said that the document aligns with the core interests of the two peoples, aiming to ensure regional and global peace, security and stability.

Under the terms of the agreement, Russia and the DPRK are committed to developing a sustained partnership based on mutual respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-interference in internal affairs, equality, and other principles of international law that support friendly relations and cooperation among nations.

The treaty also includes provisions of immediate military and other forms of assistance if either nation faces an armed attack, as stipulated by Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.

The treaty will come into effect upon the exchange of ratification instruments. 
Chennai: Veteran actor Ganesan, widely known as Delhi Ganesh, passed away around 11.30 pm on Saturday in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He was 80. His funeral will be held on Sunday.

Born in 1944, Ganesan had a prolific career, appearing in over 400 films, predominantly in Tamil, with roles in Telugu and Hindi movies as well as television serials. Before entering the film industry, he was a member of the Delhi-based theatre troupe Dakshina Bharata Nataka Sabha. Ganesan also served in the Indian Air Force from 1964 to 1974, after which he shifted his focus to acting.

Ganesan received the Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize for his performance in Pasi (1979) and was later honoured with the prestigious Kalaimamani award in 1994 by then Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

Among his standout performances in Tamil cinema are Sindhu Bhairavi (1985), Nayakan (1987), Michael Madana Kama Rajan (1990), Aahaa..! (1997), and Thenali (2000). He also left a mark in Malayalam cinema with memorable roles in films like Dhruvam (1993), Devaasuram (1993), Kaalapani (1996), Keerthi Chakra (2006), and Pokkiri Raja (2010), among others.
Firewall gender equality from threats like anti-rights Geneva Consensus Declaration

SHOBHA SHUKLA - CNS



Abortion rights are fundamental human rights

(Image by CNS) Details DMCA



Trump's earlier tenure as President of the United States was marred by the infamous jolt to abortion rights and broader sexual and reproductive

health and rights. Within days after the 2024 election results point towards his imminent return as the President, anti-abortion and anti-rights agenda is menacingly on the rise once again, as per the recent news.

We must remember that all governments have promised to deliver on gender equality and human rights by endorsing a range of declarations, agreements and other commitments, including the legally-binding treaty CEDAW in 1979 (the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women), ICPD in 1994 (International Conference on Population and Development and its Programme of Action), Beijing Declaration in 1995 and its platform for action, UN Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, among others.

But anti-rights push of Geneva Consensus Declaration threatens to undo whatever-little progress has been made on gender equality and human rights. The Geneva Consensus Declaration takes an anti-rights stance against recognising abortion as a human right and aims to scuttle sexual and reproductive rights. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned us last year that "on the current track, gender equality is projected to be 300 years away." Governments have promised to deliver on gender equality by 2030 as part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

"When the PACT for the future was adopted at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September 2024, alarmingly over 30 countries have adopted it which are also signatories to the regressive and anti-rights Geneva Consensus Declaration," said Menka Goundan, Programme Director, ARROW (Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women). She was speaking at the 2nd session of SHE & Rights (Sexual Health with Equity and Rights) co-organised by ARROW, IPPF, WGNRR and CNS.

Menka added: "Whilst the bigger winds like the PACT of the future adopted at the UNGA might come in, and we would be like 'oh yeah! this is so progressive' but we often do not underscore it against threats like Geneva Consensus Declaration which will impede the progressive implementation of the PACT for the Future, and other commitments we are making for gender equality and human rights."

"That is why we need to educate ourselves in terms of threats like Geneva Consensus Declaration. This Declaration is regressive and anti-abortion, and right winged (in terms of its framework) because it allows governments to hide under the principle of 'sovereignty' and to release these countries from their obligation to enact sexual and reproductive rights for women. So, it is a very slim move to regress when it comes to sexual and reproductive health and rights. We are failing to ensure that women have autonomy to make choices on their sexual and reproductive health" said Menka.

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Remarks upon acceptance of Real Nobel Peace Prize, Oslo, Norway, November 10, 2024.

It's wonderful to be here with many of you whose work I've known but whom I've rarely if ever been with in person. I am very grateful to John Jones and Tomas Magnusson for arranging this event. I am thrilled to be here at the start of what I expect will be years of terrific work by the Lay Down Your Arms Foundation -- an appropriate name here in the House of Literature. The great Fredrik Heffermehl, who has been gone from us for nearly a year now, often stressed the influence on Alfred Nobel in the creation of the Nobel Peace Prize by Bertha von Suttner, the author of the 1889 novel Lay Down Your Arms.

The impact of that book was not, I think, due to the characters or the plot or any depiction of how horrific war can be, but rather to the way the book framed war abolition within a story of advancing civilization. Humanity was developing, according to this story, after endless eons of fighting off ferocious beasts and fighting off ferocious humans. Violence was on the wane. The beasts were gone, and the humans were learning to speak and negotiate. City states were united as nations. Blood feuds were left behind. Dueling among individuals was being replaced by discussions, arbitrations, courts of law, and -- more importantly -- by a new conception of honor. No longer would disgrace fall on the man who tolerated an affront so much as on the buffoon who delivered it. There were indigenous cultures that had never had to recover from the madness of war as it had been developed in the West, but the West always likes to think of itself as humanity, and its recoveries from its most depraved behaviors as new developments for the species.

In 1889, war itself was being civilized. The Red Cross was seeking to tend the wounded. Atrocities were being banned. Disputes among royals were being mocked by republicans as proper grounds for wars. Arbitration was proving itself as an alternative to slaughter. With slavery and pillage being left behind, with religion beginning to fade, with the technology of weaponry rapidly advancing, war was losing its economic motive, its theocratic justification, and its suitability as a test of individual skill or courage. The ending of war was an idea that went from fringe craziness to mainstream popularity during Bertha von Suttner's lifetime, and in great measure because of her.

And here we are, well over a century later, with many forms of violence fading fast, capital punishment banned in much of the world, Norwegian prisons focused on rehabilitation, small-scale fighting scorned, physical punishment of children abhorred, sexual violence deeply condemned, mass-shootings and bombings thankfully rare outside of the United States, and the connection between gun deaths and guns generally recognized. Such absurdities as dueling are nearly forgotten, and the notion of humanitarian dueling or defensive dueling or an obligation to support one side of any duel is usually deemed as risible as attributing noble valor to one rooster in a cockfight. And yet, war is on the rise, the risk of nuclear war is on the rise, and the weapons business through which a small number of countries fuel war around the world has lost all shame, replacing it with the pride of performing a laudable public service. Worst of all, the vision of successful war abolition has been set aside by a too easily discouraged public. In the words of Fredrik Heffermehl, "the main obstacle to global peace is the common belief that it is impossible."

What went wrong?

Corrupt governments went on waging wars, whether people wanted them or not, but that should have been expected. Tomorrow is 106 years since World War I was ended in Europe (while it continued for weeks in Africa). It was ended at the scheduled moment on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month -- with an extra 11,000 people dead, wounded, or missing after the decision to end the war had been reached early in the morning. In many countries, the day was made into an annual antiwar holiday for decades before being gradually transformed into a day for celebrating militarism. Western public support for war abolition reached its height following World War I, but governments still did not listen.

Instead, they went back to war and dragged more of the world along. U.S. and other western nations prioritized opposing the Soviet Union to such an extent that they supported and funded and armed the Nazis, who studied genocide and segregation laws and eugenics in the United States, not to mention the history of European assaults on non-Europeans documented in Exterminate All the Brutes by the late Swedish author Sven Lindqvist. Western governments held public meetings in places like Evian, France, where they announced that they would not save the Nazis' intended victims. The U.S. and British governments made that same decision repeatedly through the war. But after World War II, too much had been lost to scorn the enterprise. The profiteers had been too entrenched for societies to wriggle out of their grasp. The propaganda agencies had developed too far for facts to be in charge anymore. Myths became foundational: the myth that the war had been fought to prevent genocide, the myth that nuclear weapons had saved lives, and most importantly the myth that more war was inevitable, together with the myth that preparing for more war wouldn't make war more likely but that, on the contrary, precisely preparing for peace would make war more likely. These myths have been supported by one more: the myth that if the U.S. government does it, it isn't really happening: if it puts troops in your country, your country is not occupied; if it tells your government what to do it isn't an empire; if its bases poison your land, air, and water, if they steal land from the Inuit in Greenland, or Aleutian Islanders, Pacific Islanders, Hawaiians, Okinawans, Chagossians, Koreans, Palestinians, that's not stealing land; that's spreading freedom. In the words of Harold Pinter, "it's a brilliant, even witty, highly successful act of hypnosis."

There have always been sensible people around, even in our militarized culture, people who have said "If you keep expanding NATO to Russia's border, if you keep putting missile bases on Russia's border, if you keep fueling violence by rightwing forces in Eastern Ukraine, if you keep tearing up treaties and abandoning disarmament agreements, you're making war more, not less, likely." Others have pointed out that if the U.S. government and NATO support and arm the Ukrainian government and refuse to allow peace negotiations, even while blowing up Russian pipelines, ending communications with Russia, and expanding NATO further yet, peace will be very difficult.

But the clever retort has always been heard: "What do you mean the Russian government is a saintly force for peace and prosperity that has never harmed a soul?"

Of course, it isn't. A blatantly provoked illegal immoral attack is still an illegal and immoral attack. Russian warmaking must be condemned, just as both sides of a duel must be condemned. War is, after all, less, not more, intelligent than dueling. But condemnation of Russia elicits the immediate response: "What do you mean NATO is a saintly force for peace and prosperity that has never harmed a soul?"

It's easier for people to oppose war in the abstract. Or if it's a little bit farther away. Or if we're only asked about one side of it. Some people are able to oppose Israeli warmaking and warmaking by Hamas. They don't worry that one cancels out the other or that the two are somehow being equated despite their different scales. Many are able to oppose Western warmaking in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, or Yemen, and to simply avoid the question of the morality of the approaches taken by the other sides. There wouldn't be much point in having an opinion on what Iraqis should do, and one would be accused of blaming the victims merely for thinking about it. But what to do with an endless deadly stalemate here in Europe that puts all life on Earth at risk while slaughtering thousands for gains of inches as in World War I?

In most cases, people either declare all blame to lie with Russia or all blame to lie with Ukraine and NATO -- an obvious oversimplification of a sort that most children have learned to reject on the playground, but that governments promote heavily. In reality, both sides in this war are forcing people to fight against their will, locking up resisters, censoring freedom of speech and press, avoiding fair and open elections, using banned weapons while condemning the other for doing so, rejecting negotiation, insisting on control of territories rather than on the right of local residents to determine their fate democratically, and failing to develop unarmed resistance in their populations chiefly because people so trained can resist not only invaders but their own governments as well. Both the United States and Russia oppose the International Criminal Court and defy the rulings of the International Court of Justice. Of 18 major human rights treaties, Russia is party to only 11, and the United States to only 5. Both nations violate treaties at will, including the United Nations Charter, not to mention their abuse of the veto in the Security Council. While most of the world upholds disarmament and anti-weapons treaties, the United States and Russia refuse to support and openly defy major treaties. Russia and the United States stand as rogue regimes outside the Landmines Treaty, the Arms Trade Treaty, the Convention on Cluster Munitions, and many others. Neither supports the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons or complies with the disarmament requirement of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. The U.S. and Russia are far from being the same, but if either of them is taken as a model for the world, then the world will be doomed.

The fact that there's no good solution easily available in Ukraine does not justify continuing to increase the risk of nuclear apocalypse. In fact, nothing ever justifies war, and nothing ever justifies preparing for war. Even if we imagine a war that has never been, a necessary and noble war that does more good than harm, that protects against subhuman monsters, that does not slaughter the innocent for the gleam in a politician's eye . . . even if we imagine such a war, the fact will remain that keeping around the bases, weapons, ships, and personnel that make war possible does more harm than war itself -- and will until war goes nuclear. The institution of war wastes money that could save many more lives than are lost in wars. War preparation, like war, is a major destroyer of the environment, and the chief impediment to international cooperation on the environment, on disease, on poverty, on homelessness. War is, of course, the chief cause of homelessness. War preparation is the justification for government secrecy and surveillance. It is a major source of bigotry and hatred, and the biggest influence in our culture in favor of continued violence. It concentrates wealth, corrupts politicians, erodes liberties, and celebrates sadism.

Fredrik Heffermehl understood the need to abolish the entire institution of war. I think he would probably have cheered for this year's Nobel Peace Prize recipients and considered them the first such recipients in at least six years to have merited the award based on the purpose for which it was created. Abolishing nuclear weapons is essential to our survival. But when some nations maintain nuclear weapons as a misguided response to the dominance of another nation in non-nuclear warmaking, we are faced with the need to abolish the entire war enterprise if we are going to abolish its worst weapons. Reforming war isn't going to work. Taboos on certain weapons aren't going to hold. Restrictions on war's cruelty are not going to be honored. During each war in recent years, we have heard the cries of the outraged: "This is not a war, it's a genocide!" "This is not a war, it's an occupation!" "This is not a war, it's terrorism!" "This is not a war, it's a crime!" And so forth. All perpetuating the myth that there ever has been or can be a war that isn't cruel, that doesn't terrorize, that kills only the proper people for killing. The desire to reform war has always been a noble one, but survival requires that we End it, Not Mend It.

Our heroes should not be those who kill to enrich Lockheed Martin and Boeing and Kongsberg Gruppen. Our heroes should be those Norwegian teachers and others who refused to be occupied. We should recall what gave the world the word "Quisling" to describe an official who obeys a foreign government, something every NATO member does. We should remember the nonviolent movements in the Baltics that took apart the Soviet Union without the use of F35s. We should celebrate the history of neutrality in countries like Finland, so beneficial to the world. Perhaps we should even celebrate the peace efforts that produced something like the Oslo accords, although the secrecy and one-sidedness, and the circumventing of the actual leaders of the first intifada, show that such things could be done better. We should thank national governments like Norway's and Sweden's for supporting the International Criminal Court and recognizing the state of Palestine.

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The election is over in the U.S. and a new president has been elected. This time the polls had two candidates in a virtual tie for favorability with the American public. As sometimes happens, the polls were off and Trump won both the electoral vote and an overall majority. The latter is not necessary because the system tallies a candidate's performance in each state, and sparse population states may be over-represented because each state has two senators. It was the price paid to bring them into the union.



Leaders have also been burdened with ethical problems. If Trump was defending a hush money case -- now abandoned by the prosecutors -- Biden too had problems four years ago. He was being accused of forcing his attentions on female staffers as a young congressman, and his son Hunter, who had drug problems, was into influence peddling. As with Trump, who in theory could have been running the White House from prison, Biden's difficulties dissipated rapidly after he was elected; all for the simple reason that the president is the ultimate head of the justice department and the Attorney General reports to him.



Asked by reporters what Trump would do if the attorney general brought up the case where he was president, his sharp response ... he'd fire the guy in two seconds. Justice has never been the same for the rich and the poor alike, or the well-connected. So it was for the wives of Henry Viii and so it is now. The Jefferson Memorial celebrates Thomas Jefferson. But think about his 'second family' with his black slave Sally Hemings. By the way, there were plenty of disbelievers of the affair until DNA evidence confirmed the connection.



The real question now is what the new Trump administration will prioritize. In foreign policy the two regions of violent discord are Ukraine and the Middle East.

Vladimir Putin looked decidedly pleased with Trump's win. The latter wants to stop the drain on the U.S. treasury, and work for a settlement with the Russians who currently hold about a fifth of Ukrainian territory ... likely the area with a Russian population. The lines of settlement then are fairly obvious if one ends the Biden policy of bleeding the Russians.



In the Middle East, ending Israel's Lebanese adventure should not be too difficult. The crux of the problem is Gaza and Netanyahu wanting to (just imagine) denude it of its 2 million Palestinian population. The way that Trump presents himself -- he would be silent. But he seems to have forgotten the remaining Arabs in the region, particularly Egypt next door that is hardly likely to welcome them.



And so it goes on with a seldom seen comatose president and a vice president who finally discovered what the people thought about the new administration. No surprise either that we are not hearing much from the pollsters after their fiasco.



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We embark on a tour of Ireland, UK, USA public schedule here

"An activist is someone who cannot help but fight for something. That person is not usually motivated by a need for power or money or fame, but in fact is driven slightly mad by some injustice, some cruelty, some unfairness, so much so that he or she is compelled by some internal moral engine to act to make it better." V (Formerly Eve Ensler) who supports Palestinian rights

EMPIRE NEWS Israel appointed a colonial kahanist fanatical settler as its ambassador to the US right after the US election. The Democratic party lost these elections because they chose to disconnect from their base and continue to engage in genocide. This is the moment that broke the camels back for progressive when she shut down a protestor of the genocide The Trump Republican party will also not dare challenge the deep state run by the unelected Zionist lobby. Whether Donald Trump or Donald Duck is the president. Why? See list of Epstein's clients including Donald Trump and Bill Clinton (Biden was blocked out for national security issues as he is the president)

But either case and while executing the policies of his handlers within the decaying US/Israel empire, the rising BRICS countries are not going to be pushed around like they did 2016-2020. A new multilateral world is emerging strong. "Empires do NOT reform. Resilience is the term associated with the Oppressed, not the Oppressor. With elite delusions and a popular sense of being special/exceptional/unique/superior, empires get toxic at home and abroad, decay, get overpowered/crushed or simply collapse. USA is no exception, except it has the capacity to bring humanity at large with it, to Hell." M. Zarni In my talks all over the world I explained that there is a 60% chance that we the world we know will be destroyed. The Genocide in Gaza woke up hundreds of millions of people but it is not yet clear that this pressure is enough to change the western subserviance to forces (deep state) promoting colonialism, imperialism, and especially now Zionism that drive the world to the abyss. To compound the problem the oppressive forces are no longer led by rational megalomaniacs but by lunatics like Netanyahu, Biden, and Trump. Those individuals and their smaller clones/disciples (JD Vance, Kamala Harris, Ben Gvir, Smotrich) do not consider any logical argument because they answer to strong motivation driven from special interests. They have command of resources and are willing to sacrifice people (and now the planet) at the altar of egos. While there existed before them people like that (Hitler, Musolini, Milosovitch, Bush etc.), the era we live in cannot afford this. There will not be human winners and losers in the next global or even regional wars.

"Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,.." preamble of the universal declaration of human rights

Israeli Gas Exploration Licenses in Palestine's Maritime Areas Are Illegal and Violate International Law

Common Dreams: As millions starve in Gaza, Israel tears up its contract with UNRWA. Must read: UNRWA chief statement at UN. 500 scholars call for suspending Israel from the UN

ANALYSIS

ACTIVISM/GOOD NEWS

Israeli political system is falling apart. There is infighting among the leadership of the pirates/colonialists while genocide continues. Yet, as Anthony Bourdain said: "Today nearly everything is made in China- except for courage, it is made in Palestine" Gaza people are the most resilient, most courageous, most kind people I met in my life. Here are examples

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6. A rap song on one whole year of genocide

7.

Keep Palestine and humanity alive

Mazin Qumsiyeh

A bedouin in cyberspace, a villager at home

Professor, Founder, and (volunteer) Director Palestine Museum of Natural History

Palestine Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability Bethlehem University Occupied Palestine

facebook pages Personal Institute

French
Benjamin Franklin once wrote, "[I]n this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." However, old Ben wasn't entirely correct  at least not for retirement income.

If you're retired, you may or may not have to pay state taxes on your retirement income. Here are 13 states that won't tax your Social Security, 401(k), individual retirement account (IRA), or pension income.

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Image source: Getty Images.

States that don't have an income tax

Depending on where you live, you might not have to wait until you're retired to forego paying income taxes. Nine states currently have no income tax at all:

Alaska

Florida

Nevada

New Hampshire

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Washington

Wyoming

Are there any gotchas with these states? Yes, a couple.

While New Hampshire doesn't have a state income tax, it does levy taxes on dividends and interest. The good news for retirees is that you won't pay those taxes on dividend and interest income within an IRA or 401(k). Even better news: New Hampshire will phase out these taxes after 2024.

Also, the state of Washington taxes capital gains. That might have changed next year, but voters rejected an initiative to eliminate the taxes.

States that tax income but not retirement income

All the other U.S. states still have income taxes. However, four of them don't tax retirement income, including money received from Social Security, 401(k) plans, IRAs, or pensions:

Illinois

Iowa

Mississippi

Pennsylvania

However, in some cases, when you withdraw money from a retirement account could be important. In Mississippi, for instance, early distributions aren't viewed as retirement income and could be subject to taxes. Pennsylvania also taxes early distributions.

Alabama will tax retirement income from 401(k) plans and IRAs. However, the state doesn't tax Social Security retirement benefits or pension income from a defined benefit retirement plan.

Hawaii won't tax any retirement distributions from private or public pension plans as long as retirees don't contribute to the plans. Retirement plans with employee contributions are taxable only on the portion of increased value in the plan resulting from the employee contributions.

States where Social Security isn't taxed

There's good news and bad news if you're retired and live in a state not already mentioned. First, the bad news: You might have to pay state taxes on at least some of your retirement income.

The good news, though, is that many states don't tax Social Security benefits. Below are the states (other than the 13 that don't tax any retirement income) that don't tax Social Security:
Actor Tony Todd attends the All in for CP celebrity charity poker event benefiting the One Step Closer Foundation's effort to fight Cerebral Palsy at Bally's Las Vegas on December 9, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Gabe Ginsberg | Getty Images

Actor Tony Todd, known for his haunting portrayal of a killer in the horror film Candyman and roles in many other films and television shows, has died, his longtime manager confirmed. He was 69.

Todd died Wednesday at his home in the Los Angeles area, his manager Jeffrey Goldberg said in a statement to The Associated Press.

I had the privilege to have Tony as my friend and client for over 30 years and I will miss that amazing man every single day, Goldberg said.

Known worldwide for his towering presence, both physically and artistically, Tony leaves behind an indelible legacy in film, theater, and the hearts of those who had the honor of knowing him, Goldbergs management company said in announcing the death.

We bid farewell to Tony Todd, a giant of cinema and a beloved soul whose impact on our lives and the world of film will never be forgotten, it said.

Todds film resume included roles in award-winning movies such as the Oliver Stone-directed classic Platoon, released in 1986.

Todd was also known for his role in the 2000 horror film Final Destination and its sequel in 2003. The film company New Line Cinema mourned Todds death on social media over the weekend:

The industry has lost a legend, the company said on Instagram. We have lost a cherished friend. Rest in peace, Tony.

In Candyman, released in 1992 and followed by a remake in 2021, Todd played a menacing killer who had a hook on one arm. The premise is built around an urban myth that Candyman roamed the Cabrini-Green housing projects in Chicago and could be summoned by saying his name five times in front of a mirror. The 2021 movie explores societal problems such as racism and police brutality.

Todds television career included roles in Night Court, Matlock and Law & Order.

Off-screen, Tony was cherished as a mentor, a friend, and a beacon of kindness and wisdom, Goldbergs company said. He gave his time and resources to aspiring actors, consistently advocating for greater representation and authenticity within the industry.

Those who knew him will remember his warm laugh, generous spirit, and his dedication to his craft, the company said. Whether on stage, on screen, or in personal conversations, Tony brought an unyielding honesty that resonated deeply with his friends, family, and fans.

 By JEFF MARTIN, Associated Press
Last weeks elections packed some punches for a state that reliably votes blue. Former President Donald Trumps quick and decisive win was the biggest prize for Republicans, but far from the only one. The red wave predicted for the 2022 midterms showed up this year instead, giving Republicans control of the Senate and, as of Friday, a highly feasible path to holding the House.

At the same time, Democrats in Oregon will again occupy all five statewide elected positions after sweeping the races for attorney general, secretary of state and treasurer. Democrats also picked up a state Senate seat, giving the party a three-fifths supermajority in that chamber, while maintaining its control of the House headed into the 2025 legislative session.

It is already apparent how many ways the objectives of the Trump Administration will collide head-on with the values that a majority of Oregonians espouse. Trumps election raises questions over possible cuts to federal Medicaid funding, mass deportations, punishing tariffs on goods produced overseas, rollbacks from climate and clean energy goals and changes that restrict access to abortion medication, among many other concerns.

But the broad range of possible battlegrounds shows just how importantly our leaders must approach the next Trump Administration with a strategy of targeted priorities, multistate and in-state collaboration and pragmatic restraint. While Oregonians must respect the democratic process that led to our national results, state leaders must be prepared to champion the core values and freedoms that Oregonians have consistently supported through their votes and elected representation. The twist, however, is that this will require more bipartisanship among Oregonians, not less.

Credit our elected leaders and Oregonians as a whole for the discipline they have shown in spite of the disappointment that many feel. Ahead of the election, state and local elected officials, business leaders, law enforcement and community groups collectively called for peaceful protest and warned of repercussions for criminal activity. Portland Police, working with Multnomah County Sheriffs deputies and Oregon State Police, have also kept a high profile, proactively looking to head off problems before they start. As of Friday afternoon, there have been no signs of the kind of property damage and violent action that characterized protests following Trumps election in 2016 and the racial justice demonstrations of 2020. While the possibility for unrest always exists, such collaborative action has been encouraging for Oregonians to see and reassures residents that we will not go back to the chaos and destruction that only sabotages ourselves.

Gov. Tina Kotek has also set the right tone. In a statement released after the election, she emphasized the bonds that link Oregonians across the state, and a shared vision of working for a better future. She telegraphed, too, a unifying theme of protecting individual freedom  a quintessential Oregon value. Oregonians have shown they will continue to lead with compassion, courage, and conviction  protecting a place where everyone can be themselves, feel welcome, and have equal opportunity to a healthy, prosperous life, she said. We will continue to march forward and stand together as a shield against any attempt to undermine our fundamental freedoms.

Leaders of both parties should embrace that sentiment and work jointly to identify top priorities in advance of the legislative session next year and commit to leaving behind divisive bills meant for political posturing. If nothing else registers from the national election, Oregon leaders should hear the call to deliver what everyday people need  economic relief amid a rising cost of living. That message should not go unrecognized, even in blue Oregon where housing costs have skyrocketed as building has stalled.

Although shared priorities wont translate necessarily into a friction-free session, they can go a long way to keeping Oregons leaders and Congressional delegation working together to advocate on Oregons behalf in the event of federal cuts or restrictions. Local officials, too, must be a vital part of the coalition.

Certainly, incoming Attorney General Dan Rayfield will have a role in defending Oregon laws, likely working with other blue-state attorney generals to challenge Trump Administration efforts to undermine state laws. And incoming Secretary of State Tobias Read, too, may need to defend Oregons elections system from skeptical Republicans  especially after the recent discovery that Oregon mistakenly added more than 1,600 noncitizens to voter rolls. Nothing feeds conspiracy theories like incompetence. Thankfully, Read has the experience, attention to detail and no-drama approach to provide the scrutiny and correction that the office needs.

But the next four years are likely to pack some deeply difficult challenges for which theres no easy answer. Oregons best response will be a unified one.

-The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board

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Lorelei Juntunen, Mike Wilkerson and John Tapogna

Juntunen is ECOnorthwests president and CEO, Wilkerson is the firms director of economic research and Tapogna is president emeritus. The views expressed are the authors, not ECOnorthwests.

Its hard to remember a more consequential Portland election in modern times than last Tuesdays. Voters navigated a field of 117 mayoral and City Council candidates to find 13 who will usher in the citys new form of government. Their work is cut out for them. The new council must elect its leader, who could prove to be the citys most powerful elected official. And Keith Wilson, Portlands next mayor, must define the relevance of his new position without veto powers or even a vote on most matters.

This challenging organizing work will prove easier than what comes next: stemming recent population losses and restoring the citys reputation for good tax-service value. As they attempt these feats, the 13 winners will find themselves in a swirl of powerful demographic, economic and policy trends.

Well before the pandemic, demographers could see that the city was getting older and that, sometime in the 2020s, deaths would outnumber births. To grow, the city would need more people moving in than moving out.

Then, two big things happened.

The pandemic ushered in the era of hybrid work  increasing mobility for many  and voters approved sizable new public programs and taxes to fund them. When the accounting was done, Portland had the second highest marginal income tax rates in the nation for individuals.

Economists argue that people vote with their feet and choose to live in places that offer a mix of taxes and services that meet their preferences. With more mobility, a big expansion in taxes and services, and growing cost of living (driven in part by rising home prices), Portland put that theory to the test. And vote they did. The city lost 22,846 residents from 2020 to 2023, taking with them their talent, networks and importantly, often their jobs.

Population loss is a rarity for Portland  and a recipe for economic malaise. Some conservationists may cheer the exits, but continuing down this path leads local governments into cycles of service cuts and austerity. Cleveland, Detroit and St. Louis serve as postcards of that future.

So, the first question facing Mayor Wilson and the council is whats your plan to get Portland growing again?

An agenda of sound fiscal stewardship, improved safety and catalytic neighborhood investments would put Portland back on a growth trajectory.

A pro-growth council would start by recognizing theres no room for increased taxes in the next couple of years. Hundreds of millions of dollars remain unspent across the new city, county and regional initiatives collecting revenue for clean energy, supportive housing and prekindergarten programs. Service delivery should catch up with the revenue before more taxes and services are contemplated.

Next, the council needs to address Portlanders most profound concern: safety. Asked by the Oregon Values and Belief Center to describe the kind of city residents want Portland to be in 20 years, one word stood out: safe. It beat out vibrant, clean, livable and, by a longshot, weird. The surveys responses suggest that safety begins by compassionately and demonstrably reducing the number of our neighbors who live on the streetsstarting with those diagnosed with psychosis, opioid disorders or both. The new mayor brings new ideas and laser-like focus to this topic. Success will require alignment with the new council, Metro, the county commission and the state.

Safety also requires that police response times to high-priority crimes come down from last months average of 24 minutes to the pre-pandemic norm of less than 10. Slow responses to a 911 call  during in-progress shootings and burglaries  are terrifying. And finally safety means bringing shootings down to below pre-pandemic levels. That requires extending the kind of focus that has benefited downtown Portland during the past year to Centennial, Hazelwood, Lents and Powellhurst-Gilbert.

But safety alone wont turn this economy around. That means executing on the citys abundance of transformative, neighborhood-scale projects: Albina Vision, the Broadway Corridor, the Lloyd District, OMSI and a plan for Waterfront Park. Those developments are to our future what the Pearl District and South Waterfront were to the past 20 years. Newly approved tax increment financing districts and funding support from the state and federal governments will accelerate the work. Many of these projects have the added benefit of increasing housing supply, a key to addressing the pressing concern of housing affordability in the city. Portlands reputation will recover as these neighborhoods fulfill their exciting visions.

The new governing group has already made history. They will define positional roles and relationships that will influence how the city works for the next generation or more.

But will their history-making stop there?

They serve in exceptionally difficult times. People are leaving, and investors are staying away. The times demand turnaround artists in addition to governing pioneers. If you love Portland, root for their success. If they can get Portland growing again, they will go down as one of the most consequential group of leaders Portland has ever seen.

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I was disappointed when I saw the results of the presidential election, but then found something to be happy about. In two months, the Russia-Ukraine war is going to end, because Donald Trump promised he would do so by Inauguration Day. The killing of Ukrainian women and children by Russian weapons will stop. The Russian military will leave all the sovereign land of Ukraine that it is illegally occupying. And Russia will begin making the billions of reparation payments to rebuild the areas of Ukraine that it has destroyed during this unwarranted war.

Im sure these are the plans that president-elect Trump has for the region  shouldnt we believe him? And I will celebrate the results above and his success in accomplishing them. So, mark your calendars for Jan. 20, 2025, and join me in acknowledging this justice for Ukraine.
The biggest loser in the election was the Media Industrial Complex which has been trying to bring down President Donald Trump ever since he was first elected in 2016. Incredibly biased reporters seemed to act as a woke propaganda arm of the Democrats and threw everything at him but the kitchen sink.

They were so over the top that it backfired. They made Trump stronger and more determined to succeed. In the end, they created a new woke movement of Americans, including union workers, who rejected the mainstream media and overwhelmingly handed Trump a mandate to make America great again.
At least 10 candidates have won election to the Portland City Council based on near-final results released Saturday.

The winners include two who have previously served on the Portland City Council and two who were endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America. At least six of the 19 candidates recommended by the Portland Metro Chamber will win seats. At least six endorsed by the Northwest Labor Council also will take office.

Six of the 10 winners known so far are women and five are people of color. They range in age from 28 to 70. Three are renters.

Five candidates from the most left-leaning contingent of the 98-candidate field won seats. With two races still too close to call, its unclear whether four or five candidates from the pro-business, pro law-and-order flank of the field will take office in January.

Two candidates  former Portland Commissioner Steve Novick in District 3 and former TriMet official Olivia Clark in District 4  won their races on election night, as declared by The Oregonian/OregonLive. Clark is the only candidate who secured more than 25% of first-choice votes to secure a win in the first round of ballot counting.

The other eight winners claimed their spots Saturday afternoon after new tallies showed no viable path for their opponents to overtake them, according to an analysis by The Oregonian/OregonLive.

In east Portlands District 1, environmental justice advocate Candace Avalos and former Multnomah County Commissioner Loretta Smith will join the City Council come January.

In North and Northeast Portlands District 2, Sameer Kanal, a former city policy manager, garnered the most votes in preliminary rounds among the races 22 candidates, followed by policy strategist and longtime union leader Elana Pirtle-Guiney and current City Commissioner Dan Ryan.

In Southeast Portlands District 3, Portland Public Schools teacher Tiffany Koyama Lane and rising progressive stalwart Angelita Morillo will join Novick on City Council.

In District 4, centered on the citys west side, Clark will be joined by energy economist Mitch Green. The third District 4 seat will go either to high-ranking Multnomah County official Eric Zimmerman or Portland bike cop Eli Arnold in a race that Zimmerman leads by 820 voters but remains too close to call.

The other race not determined as of Saturday is for the third seat representing District 1. Former City Hall staffer Jamie Dunphy currently leads that contest by just 790 votes over small business owner and public safety advocate Terrance Hayes.

Green, Kanal and Koyama Lane are all members of the Democratic Socialists of America. The groups Portland chapter formally endorsed Green and Koyama Lane.

More than 15,000 votes could potentially still be tallied countywide, county election officials said. Most of those, about 11,000, are from ballots on which signatures were missing or did not match voter registration files.

Backers of candidates who remain close to securing a seat could urge voters with signatures in question to visit the elections office to clear up that uncertainty and get their ballot counted. The Portland chamber and the Portland police union, for example, endorsed Hayes and not Dunphy.

In 2022, Portland voters approved the switch to a 12-member City Council whose members will earn an annual salary of $133,000.

Under the first-in-the-nation election system, electors were allowed to choose up to six council candidates in order of preference, and candidates needed only 25% of first-, second- and potentially even third-, fourth- and fifth-choice votes to win.

The new City Council will be tasked with policy making and constituent services. The body will hold significant power within the citys new form of government, in part because Portlands next mayor wont have veto power.

Voters overwhelmingly approved the move to a new form of government, including an expanded City Council, and new election method amid deepening dissatisfaction with how Oregons most populous city runs and those elected to lead it.

Proponents claim that by electing multiple candidates in a single district, thus lowering the threshold for each of them to win, multi-winner ranked-choice voting would better capture diverse political preferences, boost the number of people who vote and produce winners who satisfy more of the electorate.

At least eight candidates who raised more than $100,000 for their campaigns went down to defeat. They include one candidate, Steph Routh, who raised more than $200,000 in her unsuccessful bid for a District 1 seat.

The others who raised more than $100,000 and got endorsement nods but did not secure enough votes to join the council include: In District 4: Chad Lykins, a civil engineer and founder of an after-school chess program; environmental advocate Sarah Silkie; and retired construction management consultant Stan Penkin. In District 3: Jesse Cornett, policy and advocacy director at nonprofit Oregon Recovers. In District 2, city employee Tiffani Penson; former cider house owner and TriMet bus driver Nat West; and Mariah Hudson, a communications specialist for Oregon Health & Science University.

OREGON ELECTION 2024: Live Results Page | Election Live Updates

 Betsy Hammond oversees coverage of state politics and government as well as education, Portland City Hall, Multnomah County and homelessness. Reach her at betsyhammond@oregonian.com or follow her at @OregonPolEds

 Jamie Goldberg oversees The Oregonian/OregonLives politics, education and homelessness coverage. She can be reached at jgoldberg@oregonian.com or 503-221-8228. You can find her on X at @jamiebgoldberg

-- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh covers Portland city government and politics, with a focus on accountability and watchdog reporting. Reach him at 503-294-7632. Email at skavanaugh@oregonian.com. Follow on X @shanedkavanaugh

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While Democrats nationally react to stinging losses in the presidential race and U.S. Senate, Democratic lawmakers in Oregon received a boost in this falls election, flipping a key seat in the Legislature to expand their control in the state Senate.

However, the party appears to have failed to flip any seats in the House, leaving it just one seat short of regaining a powerful supermajority in both chambers, which would have allowed it to push through new taxes or increase existing ones without Republican support.

Although Democrats were widely expected to keep their legislative majority, it was less clear whether they could reclaim the three-fifths majority in both chambers they lost in 2022.

In the Senate, they managed to do so, flipping the Bend seat long held by former Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp, who was barred from running for reelection for participating in a walkout during the 2023 legislative session.

Voters in that district had reliably supported Republicans for years before the map was redrawn in the wake of the 2020 census, turning it into what is likely to be a reliably blue district going forward. Democratic Bend City Councilor Anthony Broadman easily beat Redmond School Board Chair Michael Summers, a Republican, to claim the seat, with results as of Friday showing him up 59% to 41%.

We are thrilled to be in the supermajority again, Senate Majority Leader Kathleen Taylor, a Democrat from Southeast Portland, told The Oregonian/OregonLive. Oregonians spoke up and said they wanted the Democrats to be running things, and they had the opportunity to make a different decision, but they absolutely chose the Democrats in a really strong way.

Democrats didnt fare quite as well in the House as four vulnerable House Republicans  Reps. Kevin Mannix, Tracy Cramer, Cyrus Javadi and Jeff Helfrich  all appeared to secure reelection.

Helfrich, the House Republican leader, led his Democratic opponent Nick Walden Poublon, a drug and alcohol prevention specialist, by just 1,000 votes as of Friday afternoon. The small margin separating the candidates comes despite Helfrich, who lives in Hood River, outraising his opponent $1 million to only $86,000.

While the race still remains too close to call, Helfrich, who trailed on election night, has since pulled ahead and extended his lead as more votes have been tallied.

Assuming results hold, Democrats will have an 18 to 12 supermajority in the Senate and a 35 to 25 majority in the House.

A Democratic supermajority in the Senate could have implications in next years legislative session, in which lawmakers aim to create more funding sources to address a massive shortfall in Oregons transportation budget. However, Democrats failure to net any seats in the House could temper their power, especially since revenue bills must originate in the House and Democrats will need at least one Republican vote to pass any tax increases.

Democratic lawmakers are generally more supportive of tax increases than their Republican counterparts. For example, the 2019 Student Success Act , which raised corporate taxes to provide more funding for schools, passed with no Republicans voting in favor.

Officials say the need for more transportation funding is dire. The state transportation agency warned lawmakers earlier this year that it would have to lay off approximately 1,000 workers without more funding, and cities and counties have asked for increased state funding to better maintain their roads and traffic infrastructure.

Even when Democrats had a supermajority, it definitely was always challenging to (raise taxes), because theyre serious votes, Taylor said. You dont just say yes, you have to really be convinced that its the right thing to do.

Although Republican lawmakers tend to oppose most proposals for new taxes, there are exceptions. Last year, four Republicans voted in favor of a bill that instituted a new tax on landlines and other telecommunications services to fund a suicide prevention hotline.

Republicans say its too early to determine which, if any, proposals to increase transportation funding they would support. Work groups are currently sifting through many options, including raising the states gas tax or imposing a tax on Oregon drivers based on the number of miles driven.

We look forward to partnering with our colleagues on both sides of the aisle on bipartisan solutions to tackle our states challenges, but House Republicans will also serve as a crucial check against unnecessary tax increases, Helfrich said in a statement.

Despite their Senate supermajority, top Democrats have said they want any transportation package next year to receive bipartisan support.

They point to past efforts that received bipartisan support, such as lawmakers this year rolling back Oregons landmark drug decriminalization law, as evidence that both parties can reach a consensus on the states most pressing issues.

We do need a bipartisan majority in order to pass the transportation package, and I dont think thats a bad thing. I think that was always the plan, said House Majority Leader Ben Bowman, a Democrat from Tigard. If were going to get it done, its going to force us all to collaborate and work together.

Despite some Democrats expressing hope for compromise, some Republicans remain skeptical about the promise of bipartisan cooperation.

As far as policy goes, under a supermajority, (Democrats) dont have to have any discussion about it with us, said Deputy Senate Minority Leader Cedric Hayden, a Republican from Fall Creek. They just choose what theyre going to put through, and thats it.

As the minority party, Republicans have few options to prevent Democrats from passing their full agendas. In recent years, they have increasingly resorted to boycotting floor sessions to deny Democrats the two-thirds quorum necessary to vote on bills, but the days of extended walkouts might be over.

Measure 113, passed by voters in 2022, prohibits lawmakers from running for reelection if they accumulate 10 or more unexcused absences from floor sessions. Ten Republicans who participated in a six-week walkout in 2023 were barred from seeking reelection under the law.

The whole system is set up so that one side has the authority, Hayden said. For me, thats a bit of a stretch to say, Its gonna be great, its gonna be bipartisan. But well see.

 Carlos Fuentes covers state politics and government. Reach him at 503-221-5386 or cfuentes@oregonian.com.

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The Oregon Air National Guard is planning eight flyovers as part of Veterans Day events throughout Oregon on Monday morning.

F-15 Eagle fighter jets will begin the flyovers at 10:30 a.m. in Tillamook and end around noon in Portland, visiting The Dalles, Albany, Salem, Estacada and Lake Oswego in between.

The jets  from the Portland-based 142nd Wing  fly about 1,000 feet above ground level, at about 350 mph.

These flights symbolize our respect and gratitude for veterans while demonstrating our ongoing commitment to protecting the Pacific Northwest and upholding the freedoms they fought to secure, Col. Michael Kosderka, the 142nd Wing commander, said in a statement.

The approximate schedule, which is dependent on weather, is below:

10:30 a.m. Tillamook

10:45 a.m. The Dalles

11:00 a.m. Albany

11:06 a.m. Salem

11:15 a.m. Estacada

11:20 a.m. University of Portland

11:30 a.m. Lake Oswego

12:00 p.m. Sandy Boulevard, Portland

 Aviva Bechky covers politics and education for The Oregonian/OregonLive. They can be reached at abechky@oregonian.com or on X at @avivabechky.

Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com.
Warren Washington, a pioneering climate scientist originally from Portland who helped develop early models of global warming, died at home on Oct. 18. He was 88.

His family announced his death in Colorado last month. They did not share a cause.
New Lifetime movie Searching for a Serial Killer: The Regina Smith Story premieres tonight, Saturday, November 9 at 8/7c on Lifetime. The highly anticipated movie tells the true story of a single mother who joins the Dallas Police Department to help girls in need. Watch it live for free with a trial of Philo.

 How to watch: Searching for a Serial Killer: The Regina Smith Story (free trial, cheapest streaming option) or with Fubo (free trial). If youre out of free trials, you can sign up for only $28/month for 70+ channels.

What is Searching for a Serial Killer: The Regina Smith Story about?

The movie tells the true story of Regina Smith, a single mom who joined the police department to try to mae the world safer for her daughter. When she tries to help a girl in need, she comes across some clues leading her to the serial Eyeball Killer. Watch what unfolds in this true story turned Lifetime movie by tuning in with Philo to watch for free.

Who is in the cast of Searching for a Serial Killer: The Regina Smith Story?

The movie stars Blair Penner and Ted Cole.

What channel is Lifetime on?

What: Searching for a Serial Killer: The Regina Smith Story

When: Saturday, November 9 at 8/7c

TV Channel: Lifetime

Watch the live stream online: Watch for FREE with Philo (free trial, cheapest streaming option) or with Fubo (free trial). If youre out of free trials, you can sign up for only $28/month for 70+ channels.

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.
For over three decades, one of America's largest banks, JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM), has refused to pay out a $331 monthly pension to Elaine Silverberg, widow of one of their former longtime employees, according to The New York Post. The publisher recently reported on the ordeal that has left the widow fighting for what should be hers  a battle she has been waging for over 13 years.

Don't Miss:

Elaine's late husband, Melvyn Silverberg, worked for Chase Manhattan Bank as a systems analyst until 1979. Tragically, he passed away at just 43 years old in 1988 due to multiple organ failure, leaving Elaine, who was just 37, to raise their three children alone. Since then, Melvyns $53,000 pension from his 10 years at the bank has been in limbo for more than 36 years as Elaine has battled to collect it upon her retirement.

In a statement to the New York Post, JPMorgan Chase admitted that Melvyn had earned a vested retirement package but claimed that he had failed to complete the necessary paperwork to elect his wife as a beneficiary. Unfortunately, Mel passed away before the 1984 Retirement Equity Act, which automatically granted pension benefits to spouses, came into effect. Because Mel's employment ended before this law was passed, the bank has used this technicality to argue that Elaine is not entitled to any payments.

Trending: Studies show 50% of consumers think Financial Advisors cost much more than they do  to debunk this, this company provides matching for free and a complimentary first call with the matched advisor.

Elaine, now 73, said that the company has treated her like an insignificant cockroach just to be stepped on. The bank has not backed down despite her repeated pleas and even enlisting the help of Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey and former New York congressman Eliot Engel.

According to the Social Security Administration, the pension should payout $331 monthly, which isnt exactly a life-altering amount for a bank that made almost $13 billion in profits in the third quarter alone this year.

JPMorgan Chase says they sympathize with Elaine but cannot make an exception without the required paperwork. To add insult to injury, correspondence reviewed by the paper shows that the bank allegedly contacted Melvyn multiple times after his death, including once in 1990, asking him to elect for spousal coverage  two years after he had already passed away.
New Hallmark Channel movie Santa Tell Me premieres tonight, Saturday, November 9 at 8/7c with a live broadcast on The Hallmark Channel, and is available to stream on demand shortly after. For a sneak peek, check out the video provided below.

 Dont have cable? If you dont have cable, you can watch the premiere live for FREE with Philo (free trial) or with Fubo (free trial).

What is Santa Tell Me about?

An interior designer named Olivia finds a note from Santa that says she will fall in love with a guy named Nick. When she meets three Nicks at once, she is left wondering which is the man for her. Will she find her soulmate or is the spirit of Christmas her true match in life? Watch the premiere live with a free trial of Philo.

Who is in the cast of Santa Tell Me?

The movie stars Erin Krakow, Daniel Lissing, Benjamin Ayres, Christopher Russell, and Kurt Szarka.

How can I watch the Hallmark Channel?

What: Hallmark original movie Santa Tell Me

When: Saturday, November 9 at 8/7c

TV Channel: Hallmark Channel

Watch the show live streaming online: If you dont have cable, you can watch the premiere live for FREE with Philo (free trial) or with Fubo (free trial). If youre out of free trials, you can sign up for Philo for $28/month and get 70+ channels.
vs. Dr. Lydia McGrew

Dr. Lydia McGrew is an Anglican philosopher and author, with a very impressive Curriculum Vitae, and she is a respected friendly acquaintance. She wrote an article, For All Saints and All Souls: Speak of me always to Maleldil on 1 November 2014. I responded to it and related comments from her, in my article, Dialogue with an Anglican on Praying to Mary, Patron Saints, Etc. (11-10-14). I would like to now reply more extensively to one of the major points of disagreement, that she repeatedly expressed, since subsequent biblical research that I have undertaken offers, I think, additional insight about her point of contention.

Her words from our dialogue will be in blue.

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I also disagree with the idea, which I have often seen expressed by Catholics, that certain dead saints have special influence with God the Father or with Jesus Christ . . ., so that by going to them we are making our prayers more efficacious than they otherwise would be. This conveys a notion that seems to me theologically false and even unsavorynamely, a notion of needing to be in with the in crowd theologically rather than being loved fully by Our Lord oneself and being able and encouraged to approach Him directly with ones petitions. . . .

Look at your own analogy of levels of bosses and asking an intermediate-level boss to get a raise for us. Is that how we should think of God and our relationship to him? And the author of Hebrews (Hebrews 4:16) tells us to come boldly to the throne of grace and emphasizes throughout the book that, the old covenant being at an end, we need no human intermediary other than the Lord Jesus himself. These verses and others (the Lords prayer itself, for example) encourage believers to strive for a directness and intimacy in their relationship with God . . .

I think that the father would be rightly hurt if a son said that he asked his brother to make a request on his behalf because he thought the brother a favorite and wanted the brother to help him by getting it for him. . . .

The whole point of the request to the intermediary in those analogies is that that person is asking for you, instead of your asking yourself. . . .

For example, consider the verses in James. Im rather intrigued by the fact that you seem to think that those verses do teach that we should go to those intermediaries (e.g., the elders of the church) rather than praying on our own behalf. I would call this a type of biting the bullet. I would say that this demonstrates that our disagreement comes at the level of what degree of intimacy should obtain between Christians and God. They absolutely do not mean that we should ask the righteous man to pray for us instead of praying for ourselves.

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My reply to this is simply summed up: the Bible teaches otherwise, particularly and most undeniably in this passage:

James 5:14-18 (RSV) Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; [15] and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. [16] Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects. [17] Elijah was a man of like nature with ourselves and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. [18] Then he prayed again and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth its fruit. 1 Kings 17:1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, As the LORD the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.

The Catholic position is that its best, and always possible, to go straight to God in prayer, unless there happens to be a person more righteous than we are in the immediate vicinity, who is willing to make the same prayer request. Then the Bible  not merely the Catholic Church  recommends that we ask them to intercede, rather than asking God directly. If someone wants to be biblical and to follow the biblical model of prayer and intercession, it would include this practice. Ill now proceed to document that.

Anyone can go directly to God in prayer at any time. No Catholic who knows anything at all about their faith has ever stated otherwise, nor has the Catholic Church. But they can also choose to wisely ask a person holier than themselves to make a prayer request of God, because of the passage above, and others like, the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer (1 Pet 3:12), and When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears (Ps 34:17), and the prayer of the upright is his delight (Prov 15:8), and he hears the prayer of the righteous (Prov 15:29), and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him (1 Jn 3:22), and If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened (Ps 66:18; cf. 66:19-20).

Having established this principle of scriptural prayer, we see how it is carried out in the case of very holy people. God told Abimelech that Abraham would pray for him, so he could live, for Abraham was a prophet (Gen 20:6-7). All Israel (1 Sam 12:1) said to Samuel [the prophet], Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, that we may not die. . . (1 Sam 12:19). God told Jobs friends: my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly (Job 42:8). Why did God listen to Jobs prayers? Its because God Himself stated that there is none like Job on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil (Job 1:8). King Zedekiah asked the holy prophet Jeremiah to pray for him and the country (Jer 37:3; cf. 42:2: [they] said to Jeremiah the prophet, Let our supplication come before you, and pray to the LORD your God for us ).

If we go to a more righteous or holy person and ask them to pray for x, then x is far more likely to happen than if we go to God directly (because we are less righteous). Therefore, its more efficient and better to do this in these instances rather than go directly to God. Righteous people know Gods will better than those who are not following God with a whole heart, with all their might. Therefore, their prayers are more effective. Here are many more passages that teach this principle of prayer:

Exodus 32:30 On the morrow Moses said to the people, You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin. Numbers 11:1-2 And the people complained in the hearing of the LORD about their misfortunes; and when the LORD heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them, and consumed some outlying parts of the camp. [2] Then the people cried to Moses; and Moses prayed to the LORD, and the fire abated. Numbers 14:11-13, 19-20 And the LORD said to Moses, How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs which I have wrought among them? [12] I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they. [13] But Moses said to the LORD,  . . . [19] Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray thee, according to the greatness of thy steadfast love, and according as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now. [20] Then the LORD said, I have pardoned, according to your word; Numbers 21:6-8 Then the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. [7] And the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. So Moses prayed for the people. [8] And the LORD said to Moses, Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and every one who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live. Deuteronomy 9:18-19 Then I lay prostrate before the LORD as before, forty days and forty nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all the sin which you had committed, in doing what was evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. [19] For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure which the LORD bore against you, so that he was ready to destroy you. But the LORD hearkened to me that time also. Deuteronomy 10:10 I stayed on the mountain, as at the first time, forty days and forty nights, and the LORD hearkened to me that time also; the LORD was unwilling to destroy you. 1 Samuel 7:8 And the people of Israel said to Samuel, Do not cease to cry to the LORD our God for us, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines. 1 Samuel 12:18-19 So Samuel called upon the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. [19] And all the people said to Samuel, Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king. 1 Kings 13:6 And the king said to the man of God, Entreat now the favor of the LORD your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me. And the man of God entreated the LORD; and the kings hand was restored to him, and became as it was before. 2 Kings 6:18 And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, and said, Strike this people, I pray thee, with blindness. So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. 2 Chronicles 30:18-20 . . . Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one [19] who sets his heart to seek God, the LORD the God of his fathers, even though not according to the sanctuarys rules of cleanness. [20] And the LORD heard Hezekiah, and healed the people.

Related Reading

The Prayer of a Righteous Man Availeth Much (James 5:16: KJV): What Does It Mean? Dialogue with a Lutheran (vs. Stuart Floyd) [6-8-05]

Biblical Evidence for Prayers of the Righteous Having More Power [3-23-11]

Why the Bible Says the Prayers of Holy People Are More Powerful [National Catholic Register, 3-19-19]

Bible on Praying Straight to God (vs. Lucas Banzoli) [9-21-22]

Reply to Banzolis Questions for Catholics About Prayer [9-23-22]

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Photo credit: Elijah prays to raise the widows son. Mezzotint by R. Earlom, 1768, after Rembrandt. From Wellcome Images, a website operated by Wellcome Trust, a global charitable foundation based in the United Kingdom. Refer to Wellcome blog post (archive). [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license]

Summary: Anyone can and should pray straight to God. But the Bible also undeniably teaches that the best way to get a prayer answered is to find a very righteous person to intercede.
Sometimes you have to choose a side.

Im usually an advocate of wait and see maintain optionality and dont make a decision until you have to. The longer you wait, the more information youll have, the more things will play out, and the better decision you can make when you do make it.

But sometimes circumstances demand a decision now. Sometimes it becomes evident that the approach you hoped would work, isnt working. Your goals depended on other people who decided to go in a different direction, so its time to reorient your efforts toward things that are within your control.

And sometimes you need to not just choose a side, but declare a side. This is one of those times. Im choosing a side.

I choose witchcraft.

This is who and what the United States of America is

I have always been on the side of building a compassionate and multicultural society, and I remain on firmly that side.

The West in general and the United States in particular made great progress in that direction in the 20th and 21st centuries. I love the Theodore Parker quote adopted by both Martin Luther King Jr. and Barack Obama: the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.

I didnt realize how many people were trying to bend it back the other way. Any delusions were firmly squashed early last Wednesday morning when it became clear that Donald Trump had won not just the electoral vote, but also the popular vote.

We cant blame the election on cheating, foreign interference, a bad candidate, or a bad campaign strategy. Oh, Ive seen plenty of people doing all of the above, but theyre refusing to acknowledge the unpleasant truth: over half of America either likes authoritarian nationalist rulers, or theyre OK with them if they promise to lower the price of eggs.

Those of us who have long ridiculed the idea of American exceptionalism shouldnt be surprised. Weve seen the same thing throughout Europe and the rest of the world. The UK voted for Brexit, and they only kicked the Conservative Party out of office after 14 years because they wanted a change and the Labour Party was the only viable choice.

Too many people dont want a compassionate multicultural society. They want a society where their culture is the one and only norm and a strong leader keeps everyone else under control, or simply out.

This is who and what the United States of America is in 2024.

Elections alone will not save us

In 2008, then-candidate Barack Obama came under fire because the minister at his church  the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, pastor of the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago  preached a sermon that included the line God damn America. Rev. Wright called out slavery, genocide of Native Americans, foreign wars, and continued discrimination as reasons for cursing rather than blessing America.

Even if you disagree with that one line, this is a fine sermon in the tradition of the Black church. Its titled Confusing God and Government and its a textbook three-point sermon:

Governments lie Governments change Where governments fail, God never fails

As a Pagan and a polytheist I would say that somewhat differently, but his core message was spot-on. If youre counting on government to save you, youre always going to be disappointed.

Democracy only works when people of good will participate. We have an obligation to vote in every race in every election, and to otherwise actively participate in the political process. But voting isnt the only thing we can do, and voting alone wont save us.

Last week I shared a piece from Margaret Killjoy titled The Sky is Falling; Weve Got This. I shared it for her critically important line de-escalate all conflict that isnt with the enemy. Another important line is:

the biggest problem with election years is that we seem to collectively forget that we have agency outside of voting

Margaret speaks as political activist. Thats one way to respond to the trouble we find ourselves in. But its not the only way  there are many.

I choose witchcraft.

How I got here

I always wanted to be a witch.

The first time I saw witchcraft on TV as a small child, I immediately knew two things. First, I knew what I was watching was fiction. And second, I knew there was a reality behind the fiction. It took me almost 30 years to find that reality.

Even then, things didnt work out the way I had hoped  mainly because I hadnt dealt with my religious baggage. When I started that process, I discovered Druidry. That was a very good fit for me, and Druid quickly became my primary spiritual identity. I soon added Pagan and polytheist to my identity, along with my role as a priest.

Magic has always been a part of my practice. Druidry  both ancient and modern  has plenty of room for magic, so I saw no need adopt the identity and/or title of witch. I thought about it, but it seemed superfluous.

I found myself writing about witchcraft a lot, and I usually added a disclaimer that I didnt call myself a witch  mainly to keep myself out of the never-ending arguments about who is or isnt a witch.

My good friend and fellow Denton CUUPS leader Cynthia Talbot (whos been a witch longer than Ive been a Druid) and I often find ourselves at odds with stereotypes. She casts a circle with a sickle (the traditional tool of the Druids) and I use a wand. At a recent Sunday service we co-led, I wore all black and she wore Fall nature colors. But weve always done magic together seamlessly  her witchcraft and my Druidry differ in emphasis, not in essentials.

But that began to change in 2022.

Claiming the identity of a witch

We called our 2022 CUUPS Samhain circle A Witches Samhain. It was inspired by Heather Greens post-Dobbs article How to make a thousand witches with one Supreme Court decision. We wanted to invite people to begin their own witchcraft practice, but we emphasized that this was a serious decision. Our liturgy included this line:

I charge you again, that witchcraft is not a gift. It is a craft. And like all crafts it requires practice and work. It requires sacrifice.

Cyn and I co-wrote the ritual. I participated in it fully, freely and of my own will  words I think I wrote myself. The ritual was powerful, and after that I started thinking about witchcraft more seriously.

The next step on this journey came at Austin Witchfest in March 2023. Jason Mankey was the Guest of Honor. He led a ritual called The Gifts of the WitchFather and he asked me to take a small part in it. Of course I said yes.

During the ritual, Jason said to be a witch is to choose a side  to choose Nature and to choose freedom. After that I knew I had to not just choose a side, but to cross a line.

That came on the full moon immediately before Samhain last year. It was a rather informal ceremony  Cyn asked me about five times are you sure you want to do this? Each time I said yes. And then I did some other things not for publication (that whole keep silence thing, but if youre guessing I assure you youre wrong).

I chose witchcraft.

I choose it again now. Because its necessary, and because I want to.

Doing the work of a witch

What does it mean to choose witchcraft? What does it mean to be a witch?

Lots of people have lots of different answers. While Im not interested in arguing with them, I do have my own answers.

Witchcraft is unauthorized magic  magic done for the witchs own reasons without the blessings of church, state, or mainstream society. A witch is someone who does witchcraft.

There was a time when I called myself a magician, in recognition of the fact that I do work magic on a regular basis. Just as there have always been witches, there have always been magicians  people who worked magic that, if not exactly authorized, was at least protected by power and wealth. John Dee is a good example. He was the court astrologer  and likely, the court magician  to Elizabeth I.

There are magicians working for the other side right now, even though most of them would not use that term for themselves. Theyre trying to create change in conformance with their will or more precisely, in conformance with the will of the politicians who are paying them.

Witchcraft has always been the magic of the people who had nowhere else to go. While I have enough privilege to live in relative safety (Pagans are on the Christian Nationalists list, but were pretty far down the list), I am just as thwarted as everyone else in my attempts to build a compassionate and multicultural society through the electoral process. Being a magician isnt enough.

And so I choose witchcraft.

Embracing the mythology of the witch

One of the keywords of the Strength card in the Tarot is soft control  creating change not through force or coercion but through calmness, compassion, resilience, and perseverance.

If you live in a democracy (more or less) and you keep losing elections, you have to convince people that your vision for the future is better for them than the future theyve been voting for. You rarely accomplish that through debate. You accomplish that by showing them a better way, and you show them by living that way yourself.

The best way to do this  as I see it, at least for me  is to embrace the mythology of the witch. Not the actual history, but rather the stories we tell ourselves about witches and witchcraft.

I start with the myth of the witch as someone on the edge of society. Perhaps the witch lives deep in the woods, but its not so deep she cant be found by those who need her services. Just deep enough that her daily work isnt interrupted on a regular basis. I need to focus on my own life and my own practice without completely abandoning the mainstream society.

In what I think was the best episode of Agatha All Along, Lilias mentor asks her do you have a coven? Ive never been part of an actual coven, but I am thankful I have a small group of local friends to practice with, who I can call on in an emergency and know theyll answer, and who I support in return. And who I can share a meal or a drink with from time to time. The next few years are going to be difficult  Im glad I dont have to go through them alone.

Modern witchcraft is closely connected to Nature, and this is a perfect fit with my Druidry and its emphasis on Nature spirituality. I need to stay connected to the land and the spirits of the land, and to the rhythms and cycles of Nature.

A witch decides a witchs fate. Our ancestors lived in societies and under governments that were far more repressive than what we have now, or are likely to have in the coming years. They still managed to live good, honorable, and at least occasionally, happy lives. What they did, we can do too.

And we will.

I am still a Pagan, a Druid, and a polytheist

I didnt write a blog post the day after the full moon last October to announce that Im now a witch. I havent hidden it  Ive told a few people when the topic came up  but it felt not quite right to broadcast it for no good reason.

And now I have a good and necessary reason.

My religious identity has not changed. Im still a Pagan and a polytheist. I still serve my Gods and my community as a priest.

Im still a Druid. Im a member of two Druid orders and I know lots of people who are both Druids and witches. Druid is still my primary spiritual identity.

But I am also a witch. I work magic for my own reasons. I embrace the mythology of the witch.

We live in difficult times, times that require a choice.

I choose witchcraft.

Witchka

The title of this post comes from a line in S.J. Tuckers song Witchka, from her 2010 album Mischief. It was inspired by a cute encounter S.J. had with a small child, which S.J. turned into a song about a teenage girl who just bought her first book of spells and shes going to take over the world, thankyouverymuch. Its a reminder to take inspiration where ever you can find it, and, even in these difficult times, to remember to have fun.

A witch decides a witchs fate.
Update: Arrest made after Alabama college homecoming shooting left 1 dead, 16 hurt

One person was killed on the campus of Tuskegee University after dozens of shots were fired early Sunday morning after the historically Black universitys 100th homecoming.

The person who was killed was not associated with the university, according to Tuskegee spokeswoman Thonnia Lee.

Several other people, including Tuskegee students, were injured and are receiving treatment at East Alabama Medical Center and Baptist South Hospital. The severity of their injuries was not immediately known.

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Lt. Jeremy Burkett said the shooting happened at 1:40 a.m. No arrests have been made, but State Bureau of Investigation Special Agents are still in the process of gathering and studying evidence to determine the sequence of events.

He said investigators plan to release another update early Sunday afternoon.

Macon County Coroner Hal Bentley said as of 9 a.m. just one person had died. That person has not yet been identified, but university officials said the victim was not affiliated with the school.

Several students were injured in the shooting.

A female student was shot in stomach, Tuskegee city Police Chief Mardis said. I helped load her up. A male student was shot in the arm and Mardis said he did not have information about the third person injured.

In social media videos, rapid-fire shots are heard as people crouch on the ground and behind cars at West Commons.

City police were on the scene of an unrelated double shooting where two people suffered minor injuries at a Texaco station when officers got the call about the shooting at the West Commons on-campus apartments, Mardis said.

SEE ALSO: Tuskegee homecoming shooting captured in chilling videos

Some idiots started shooting, Mardis said of the campus shooting. You couldnt get the emergency vehicles in there there were so many people there.

Tuskegee celebrated its 100th homecoming on Saturday. It played Miles College, who Sunday morning said in a release that our hearts are with the Tuskegee family as they face the tragic aftermath.

Emergency responders, along with campus and local law enforcement, secured the scene. The State Bureau of Investigations is conducting an active investigation.

The university is in the process of completing student accountability and notifying parents, according to Lee.

No one is in custody and it was not immediately clear what led to the shooting, Mardis said.

Its horrible, said Mardis, who is the former chief of campus police.

Mardis said he lived in fear of a shooting on campus when he led the university police department.

I was always on pins and needles when I was there. You see it happen everywhere. Its happened everywhere else but us.

At a Sunday morning convocation service, Student Government Association President Amare Hardee extended sympathies to those affected by the shooting.

Our gathering is shadowed by a heartbreaking event, Hardee said.

We experienced a tragedy that has left us all shaken. This senseless act of violence has touched each of us, whether directly or indirectly. We extend our deepest sympathies to the victims and their families, and we stand united in our commitment to supporting each and every one of us, Hardee said.

We will get through this together, added Norma B. Clayton, Chair of the Tuskegee University Board of Trustees.

Because in tough times, tough people band together and they survive. And weve been surviving for 143 years. I think we can continue to survive even more.

AL.com reporters Ruth Serven Smith and Kayode Crown contributed to this report.
By Jaxon White, LNP, Lancaster, Pa. (TNS)

The Lancaster County lawmaker who leads Republicans in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives announced Friday afternoon he would step down from the leadership post, a move that came days after the GOP failed to retake the chamber in Tuesdays elections, leaving Democrats with a one-seat majority.

Bryan Cutler, of Drumore Township, announced he wouldnt seek reelection to the role next week in an email sent to House Republicans. His spokesman, Jason Gottesman, shared the email with LNP-LancasterOnline.

Rep. Bryan Cutler answers questions after being sworn-in as House Republican Leader in December 2022. (Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com, file)

Part of being Leader is putting the right people in the right places to advocate for our positions. This includes my own, Cutler wrote. I strongly believe we have to make changes from the top down to ensure our future success and for that reason I will not be seeking the position of Republican Leader for the upcoming Session.

Cutler noted in his email that Republicans did not see the same benefits from the top of our ticket translate into our down-ballot State House races this year.

I know that disappoints everyone, myself included, Cutler wrote. I recognize that leaves us all wanting more and needing to make further changes.

Cutler represents the 100th Legislative District, which covers much of the southern half of the county. He was elected majority leader of the GOP caucus in 2018. In 2020, he became House speaker  a role he filled until Democrats took control of the House two years ago.

After the GOP lost its majority in 2022, Cutler upset some Republicans by supporting Berks County Democrat Mark Rozzi as his successor as speaker.

Rozzi had agreed to be an independent House speaker, preventing Democrats from having total control over the legislative agenda. Rozzi did not adhere to the agreement and later stepped down in favor of Philadelphia Rep. Joanna McClinton, the current speaker.

According to Spotlight PA, two lawmakers had entered to be the next leader by Thursday morning: Education Committee Minority Chair Jesse Topper, of Bedford County, and Policy Committee Chair Josh Kail, of Beaver County. On Friday, Milou Mackenzie, of Northampton County, entered the race to replace Cutler.

The closed-door election will take place in Harrisburg on Tuesday as lawmakers return for two days of legislative business. Retiring Republican Caucus Chair George Dunbar, of Westmoreland County, must also be replaced among party leadership.

Democrats leadership elections are also scheduled for Tuesday. In the Pennsylvania Senate, both parties are expected to hold leadership elections on Wednesday.
By Susie Blann and Joanna Kozlowska, The Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine  A massive drone strike rattled Moscow and its suburbs overnight into Sunday, injuring several people and temporarily halting traffic at some of Russias busiest airports, officials reported. Meanwhile, a huge nighttime wave of Russian drones targeted Ukraine.

This came after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a pact with North Korea Saturday night, obliging the two countries to provide immediate military aid using all means if either is attacked. The agreement marks the strongest link between Moscow and Pyongyang since the end of the Cold War.

Earlier this week, Ukraine reported that its troops engaged for the first time with North Korean units. U.S. officials earlier confirmed the deployment of at least 3,000 North Korean troops to Russia, while Kyiv has repeatedly said the number is far higher. This has fueled concerns of a marked escalation in Moscows war on Ukraine, and tensions spilling over into the Asia-Pacific.

U.K. estimates Russian troop losses at 700,000

Both Moscow and Kyiv have kept a tight lid on casualty figures since the start of the full-scale war despite regular reports of Russian forces taking huge losses following human wave attacks that aim to exhaust Ukrainian defenses.

However, the chief of the U.K. defense staff, Tony Radakin, told the BBC that Russian forces had suffered their worst month of casualties in October since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. He said Moscows troops suffered an average of 1,500 dead and wounded every single day, bringing their total losses in the war to 700,000.

According to Radakin, ordinary Russians were paying an extraordinary price for the war, even as a grueling, monthslong Russian offensive in Ukraines industrial east continues to eke out gains. He did not say how U.K. officials had calculated the Russian casualty figures.

There is no doubt that Russia is making tactical, territorial gains and that is putting pressure on Ukraine, he said. But he added that they were tiny increments of land, and Moscows mounting defense and security spending was putting an increasing strain on the country.

Radakin insisted that Ukraines Western partners should stand by it for as long as it takes to beat back Russian aggression, even as allies of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump have signaled that Kyiv may have to cede territory to seek peace.

Russia is cautiously optimistic about Trumps forthcoming presidency

On Sunday, the Kremlins official spokesman voiced cautious optimism about Trumps upcoming presidency, saying: At least he talks about peace.  He does not talk about confrontation.

The signals are positive. Trump, during his election campaign, said that he perceives everything through deals, that he can make deals that will lead everyone toward peace, Dmitry Peskov told reporters at a briefing.

He does not talk about a desire to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, and this favorably distinguishes him from the current (U.S.) administration, Peskov said.

Continuing fighting causes damage and casualties on both sides

Fierce fighting has continued near the eastern Ukrainian cities of Toretsk and Kurakhove, Ukraines General Staff reported Sunday. Between 700 and 1,000 residents remain in Kurakhove, a front-line city surrounded on three sides and battered into ruin. Most of them live underground with no running water, heating or electricity.

Meanwhile, Russias Defense Ministry said a total of 84 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight in Russian territory, following what it called a mass strike on civilian infrastructure. A man died under rubble after drones struck his apartment block in Russias Belgorod region, just kilometers from the Ukrainian border, local Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov reported.

Five other people were injured in the Moscow suburb of Ramenskoe and a nearby village, according to local officials. Russian channels on the messaging app Telegram carried eyewitness reports of drone debris setting fire to suburban homes.

Russias aviation authority said flights were briefly grounded at major international airports including Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo. At least 14 flights bound for Moscow were rerouted to Nizhnyi Novgorod, a city over 490 kilometers (300 miles) east, airport representatives there reported.

A central streets covered in debris from destroyed residential buildings after Russian bombing in Kurakhove, Donetsk region, Ukraine, on Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Anton Shtuka)AP

Ukraines General Staff claimed on Sunday that Ukrainian drones caused a fire at an arms depot in Russias southern Bryansk region, near Ukraine and Belarus. The online update featured a photo showing thick plumes of reddish smoke rising into the night sky. The AP could not verify the circumstances in which it was taken, and there was no immediate comment from Russia.

Separately, Russias emergencies ministry on Sunday said that a major fire broke out at a warehouse outside of Moscow. There were no immediate reports of casualties, and it was not clear whether the blaze was linked to the Ukrainian drone strikes.

Russia overnight launched a record 145 drones at Ukrainian territory, according to Ukraines air force, 62 of which were shot down. A further 67 were lost, the air force said, a likely reference to electronic jamming that caused the drones to veer off course.

At least one person was injured as Russian drones struck residential areas in Ukraines southern port of Odesa, local Gov. Oleh Kiper reported. And at least five civilians, including a 17-year-old girl and 10-year-old boy, were injured by falling drone debris and shelling in Ukraines northeastern Kharkiv region Sunday, its Gov. Oleh Syniehubov and local prosecutors said.

Kozlowska reported from London.

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
President-elect Donald Trump made an announcement Saturday that was met with glee from many of his top supporters in the MAGA movement.

That announcement?

Sorry, Nikki Haley, but all of the attempts to patch things up with Trump have fallen flat, and Mike Pompeo, well  feel free to look for other work, too.

I will not be inviting former Ambassador Nikki Haley, or former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to join the Trump Administration which is currently in formation, he wrote on Truth Social. I very much enjoyed and appreciated working with them previously and would like to thank them for their service to our Country.

The announcement came after CBS news said two sources said that Pompeo was being discussed to fill the secretary of defense roll. Haley, of course, did her best to battle Trump for the 2024 Republican nomination, and did not endorse Trump until July.

His post was shared widely across social media platforms by his supporters with many excited that Haley and Pompeo wont be coming along for the second trip to the White House. Trump has already announced that his campaign manager, Susie Wiles, will be the White House Chief of Staff.
By Ashley Stalnecker, LNP, Lancaster, Pa. (TNS)

Nov. 9Nearly 50 Lancaster Country Day School students  about twice the number originally reported  are victims in an incident where a fellow student last year created artificial intelligence-generated nude images of female classmates, according to an update from the school on the investigation.

Initially, 22 students were identified as victims, but police revealed recently that 38 current students and eight former students were subjects in the incident, according to an outside consultant for the district.

Most of the 225 students in the upper school  grades nine through 12  on Friday walked out in protest of the administrations handling of and lack of communication about the incidents, prompting a cancellation of the remainder of the days classes. Head of School Matt Micciche responded to the walkout in an email sent to families Friday night that included an altered class schedule for Monday.

In the email, Micciche said he addressed students in a school assembly at 11 a.m. Friday, 15 minutes prior to the planned student walkout. During the walkout, students marched around campus and chanted Hear us. Acknowledge us. See us.

The family communication was forwarded to LNP-LancasterOnline by a consultant for the school.

I acknowledged that something awful has happened in our community and that, in addition to the terrible toll it has taken on the victims themselves, it has also eaten away at that most precious quality, our sense of trust, Micciche wrote in the statement. I apologized for our missteps in navigating this situation, trying to impress upon them that even well-intentioned adults sometimes make mistakes despite thinking theyre doing the right thing.

Upper school students will start classes at 10 a.m. Monday  nearly two hours later than their normally scheduled start of school. Students needing to arrive earlier than 10 a.m. will have a supervised study space, according to the email.

Multiple counselors will be available for students to visit as needed throughout the day, according to the email. Students may participate in a series of community-building activities and sessions meant to help us make the important strides that are needed.

The email didnt provide further detail on the activities planned for Monday but said a more detailed schedule will be sent to upper-school students over the weekend.

The administration also is working to bring a trauma expert into the school to speak with the community and be available for any students, according to the email.

Micciche said he plans to send an email to the community Monday on progress made by the days events.
Washington Commanders kicker Austin Seibert will not play against the Pittsburgh Steelers after suffering a hip injury. Seibert was limited throughout the week, and the team signed kicker Zane Gonzalez to their practice squad to prepare for the scenario that Seibert would not play.

Now, Seibert will officially not play. He had been excellent for the Commanders this season, but the injury threw a wrench in the Commanders' plans. It could lead to the Commanders opting to go for it more often than not on fourth down.

Gonzalez will give the Commanders a veteran kicker who has been around the block more than a few times. In his career he is 91 of 113 on field goals attempts and 127 of 134 on extra point attempts. Gonzalezs career-long is 57 yards.

He has not kicked in an active game since 2021, but has experience in the past with members of the Commanders' staff, which will allow him to get up to speed quicker than other kickers.
If You Invested $1,000 In Bitcoin When Jay-Z & Jack Dorsey Opened The Bitcoin Academy, Here's How Much You'd Have Now

Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.

Rapper Jay-Z has shown love for leading cryptocurrency Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) in the past and even used the crypto to help set up non-profits and community projects like The Bitcoin Academy, which was launched in June 2022 with Jack Dorsey.

What Happened: Jay-Z and Dorsey announced on June 9, 2022 that they would launch The Bitcoin Academy on June 22, 2022, adding a community initiative to help support the area of New York where the rapper grew up.

"Shout out to @Jack. #Bitcoin Academy, starting in Marcy, a place that taught me so much, is hopefully the first of many. The simple goal is to provide people tools to build independence for themselves and then the community around them," Jay-Z tweeted.

Dont Miss:

According to the company's website, The Bitcoin Academy is about "the future of money."

"Education is power. Shawn Jay-Z Carter and Jack Dorsey are personally funding The Bitcoin Academy, a program for residents of Marcy Houses, in Brooklyn, New York, where Jay grew up. This program aims to provide education and empower the community with knowledge," the website reads.

The program offers free classes to Marcy Houses residents, which includes lessons on Bitcoin and how people can build their own financial future. A Bitcoin Academy spokesperson told TechCrunch previously that participants in the program would be given a small amount of Bitcoin.

Trending: Wondering if your investments can get you to a $5,000,000 nest egg? Speak to a financial advisor today. SmartAssets free tool matches you up with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you.

The duo also launched a 500 Bitcoin investment to help grow cryptocurrency in regions like India and Africa.

While The Bitcoin Academy faced criticism at the time as cryptocurrency was highly volatile and the group of residents being targeted may not be able to handle the ups and downs of the sector, the cryptocurrency has posted a nice return since the project launched.

You may not be a billionaire like Jack Dorsey, but you can uncover hidden gems in the stock market using our proprietary data and pattern recognition  check out five stocks flying under the radar that deserve your attention.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have activated wide receiver Ben Skowronek and linebacker Tyler Matakevich from injured reserve. Both players returned to the 53-man roster after missing multiple games with injuries. As a corresponding move to free up two spots, the Steelers released safety Terrell Edmunds and running back Jonathan Ward.

Both Skowronek and Matakevich suffered injuries in the teams win over the Denver Broncos, but practiced fully this week. They were initially listed as questionable but were upgraded on Saturday to have no designation, meaning that both players will end up playing.

Matakevich and Skowronek are unlikely to have plentiful roles on defense and offense, but both are core special teamers for the Steelers. Skowronek slots in as a gunner across from James Pierre while Matakevich figures to end up as one of the Steelers' stalwarts on their coverage units.

Pittsburgh will replace a slew of special teams snaps with older players who are coming back from injuries after cutting Rodney Williams, Edmunds, and Ward.
POMPTON LAKES, N.J. (AP)  A New York parks employee died battling one of a number of wildfires in New Jersey and New York amid dry conditions that have prompted air quality warnings in both states, authorities said Sunday.

The Eastern Dutchess County Fire and Rescue said the New York state forestry service reported that the worker died when a tree fell on him Saturday afternoon as he battled a major brush fire along the New York-New Jersey border, officials said.

Rip brother your shift is over job well done, the post said.

New York State Police said they were investigating the death amid the fire in Sterling Forest located in Greenwood Lake and identified the victim as Dariel Vasquez, an 18-year-old Parks and Recreation aide employed by the New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Department.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protections Forest Fire Service reported the sprawling blaze had spread to more than 3 square miles (about 8 square kilometers) near the border in Passaic Countys West Milford and Orange County, New York. Dubbed the Jennings Creek wildfire, it was threatening two homes and eight buildings in the Long Pond Ironworks Historic District.

Health advisories were issued for parts of New York and northeastern New Jersey due to unhealthy air quality due to smoke from the fires. People were urged to limit strenuous outdoor physical activity if possible; those especially sensitive included the very young and very old and people with ailments such as asthma and heart disease.

New Jersey officials, meanwhile, reported 75 percent containment of a 175-acre (70-hectare) fire in the Pompton Lakes area of Passaic County that was threatening 55 homes, although no evacuations had been ordered.

Progress was also reported on fires in the Bethany Run area on the border of Burlington and Camden counties in Evesham and Voorhees townships; a blaze along the Palisades Interstate Parkway in Englewood Cliffs in Bergen County; and the Pheasant Run wildfire in the Glassboro wildlife protection area of Gloucester County.

Prosecutors in Ocean County on late Saturday afternoon announced arson and firearms charges in connection with a 350-acre (142-hectare) Jackson Township fire that started Wednesday. They said it was sparked by magnesium shards from a shotgun round on the berm of a shooting range. Officials said firing that kind of incendiary or tracer ammunition was barred in the state. The majority of the blaze has been contained, officials reported Friday.
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Nick Marchington Takes a Commanding Lead Ahead of NAPT Main Event Finale

David Salituro Live Reporter Copy link

Nick Marchington was a fresh-faced 21-year-old when he burst into the poker spotlight by making the final table of the WSOP Main Event. Five years later, the British pro is on the verge of another shot at stardom as he takes a massive chip lead into the final table of the PokerStars North American Poker Tour Las Vegas Main Event.

Marchington, using relentless aggression in the day's closing levels, built up a stack of 9,990,000 as he leads the remaining six players with a shot at the trophy and $765,200 first prize. The now-26-year-old finished seventh in that 2019 Main Event, but he finds himself in a commanding position to capture his first major title.

Final Table chip counts

Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Nick Marchington United Kingdom 9,990,000 100 2 Jeff Madsen United States 5,585,000 56 3 Joel Micka United States 4,475,000 45 4 Curt Kohlberg United States 3,290,000 33 5 Marco Johnson United States 2,475,000 25 6 Masato Yokosawa Japan 1,085,000 11

In second place is Jeff Madsen with 5,585,000. Madsen also first rose to poker stardom as a 21-year-old nearly 20 years ago when he won two WSOP bracelets and Player of the Year in 2006. The California veteran will cross $6.5 million in live earnings tomorrow as he chases the biggest score of his already-storied career.

Joel Micka (4,475,000) came close to winning a PokerStars title before finishing runner-up in the PCA in 2013. The Washington native doesnt play much poker these days but, 11 years later, finds himself in third place with a chance at redemption.

The MIT-trained businessman Curt Kohlberg is in fourth place with 3,290,000. Kohlberg is no stranger to appearing at major final tables, with four on the World Poker Tour and a runner-up finish in Florida in 2011. Two-time WSOP bracelet winner Marco Johnson takes 2,475,000 into the final day and sits in fifth place.

Mosato Yokosawa

At the bottom of the counts is Japanese superstar Masato Yokosawa (1,085,000). Yokosawa has nearly a million subscribers on his YouTube channel and is the most-followed poker vlogger in the world. The eyes of a poker-mad nation will be on him as he tries to spin up his short stack tomorrow and take a run at the title.

Day 4 Action

Day 4 began with 18 players returning to Resorts World Las Vegas to try to secure their spot at the final table. A flurry of early double-ups signalled that players were in for a long day if they hoped to get there.

First, Johnson doubled up with queens against Brent Harts ace-king. Matt Affleck also doubled with queens against Madsen, while Hart then won a race with tens against David ODB Bakers ace-jack. Byung Eun Shin flopped two pair against Maria Konnikovas aces and was poised for his double up. Still, the river gave Konnikova a better two pair to send Shin out in 18th place.

Victor Paredes, who began the day as chip leader, got off to a shaky start when he doubled up Madsen. He then shoved the small blind only for Matthew Wantman to wake up with aces in the big blind. Left with just 220,000, Paredes stunning downfall would be completed a few hands later when Wantman flopped trip tens and improved to a full house on the river.

Martin Carnero ran sixes into Marchintons flopped trips to fall in 16th place. Hart busted in 15th when Johnson hit a queen on the river to beat his pocket nines.

Maria Konnikova

Konnikova was down to less than 500,000 and shoved from under the gun with jack-ten. Micka woke up with queens in the cutoff and the PokerStars Ambassador was sent to the rail in 14th. Baker then raised to 600,000 in early position, leaving just 65,000 behind, and Marchington called. Baker got his last chips in on the flop and was still ahead with pocket fives, but Marchington spiked a flush on the turn to eliminate him in 13th.

Jared Jaffee then jammed for 700,000 and Yang Li called. Brock Wilson then reshoved for 1,500,000 and Li called with ace-queen. Jaffee had ace-nine, but Wilson had picked up kings and held on to scoop the entire pot and eliminate Jaffee in 12th while doubling up off Li.

Mike Vanier made a full house to double off Johnson, but Johnson got his revenge in a big way when he picked up aces against Vaniers kings in a nearly 5,000,000-chip pot as Vanier was sent to the rail in 11th.

Kohlberg was riding a short stack when he moved all in for 650,000 with two queens. Madsen called with ace-queen, but Marchington reshoved with jacks to force out Madsen. Kohlbergs queens stayed in the lead to earn him a triple up. Wantman was eliminated on the final table bubble as he got his last 455,000 in with two nines, but Yokosawa picked up two jacks.

Marchington led at the start of the nine-handed final table with 5,100,000. Wilson began in second place but on the first hand ran queens into Kohlbergs kings as Kohlberg doubled up yet again. Marchington continued to use his big stack to his advantage, constantly three-betting and taking down most pots with little resistance as he began to separate from the field.

Wilson hit two pair on the turn to bust Li in ninth place. After a dinner break, Affleck shoved for 1,940,000 with ace-king but couldnt win a classic race against Mickas queens to fall in eighth. Wilson then shoved for 1,395,000 with ace-seven and Madsen called with two eights. Wilson hit a pair of sevens on the flop but improved no further as Madsen took the pot to end the night with Wilsons bustout in seventh.

Brock Wilson

The remaining six players return at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow to play down to a champion. The action will be streamed on PokerStars YouTube and Twitch channels on a 30-minute delay, with updates provided to match the stream. There is 70:41 remaining in Level 29 with blinds of 50,000-100,000 and a 100,000 big blind ante at the start of play tomorrow. Everyone left has already locked up $155,550, but the gold-plated trophy and top prize awaits only one player.

Final Table Payouts

Place Player Country Prize 1 $765,200 2 $478,450 3 $341,750 4 $262,900 5 $202,250 6 $155,550 7 Brock Wilson United States $119,650 8 Matt Affleck United States $92,000

PokerNews will be back covering all the action from the final table until a new NAPT champion is crowned.

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Nick Marchington was a fresh-faced 21-year-old when he burst into the poker spotlight by making the final table of the WSOP Main Event. Five years later, and the British pro is on the verge of another shot at stardom as he takes a massive chip lead into the final table of the PokerStars North American Poker Tour Las Vegas Main Event.

Marchington, using relentless aggression in the day's closing levels, built up a stack of 9,990,000 as he leads the remaining six players with a shot at the trophy and $765,200 first prize. The now-26-year-old finished seventh in that 2019 Main Event, but he finds himself in a commanding position to capture his first major title.

Final Table chip counts

Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Nick Marchington United Kingdom 9,990,000 100 2 Jeff Madsen United States 5,585,000 56 3 Joel Micka United States 4,475,000 45 4 Curt Kohlberg United States 3,290,000 33 5 Marco Johnson United States 2,475,000 25 6 Masato Yokosawa Japan 1,085,000 11

In second place is Jeff Madsen with 5,585,000. Madsen also first rose to poker stardom as a 21-year-old nearly 20 years ago when he won two WSOP bracelets and Player of the Year in 2006. The California veteran will cross $6.5 million in live earnings tomorrow as he chases what will be the biggest score of his already-storied career.

Joel Micka (4,475,000) came close to winning a PokerStars title before, finishing runner-up in the PCA in 2013. The Washington native doesnt play much poker these days but, 11 years later, finds himself in third place with a chance at redemption.

The MIT-trained businessman Curt Kohlberg is in fourth place with 3,290,000. Kohlberg is no stranger to appearing at major final tables, with four on the World Poker Tour on his resume including a runner-up finish in Florida in 2011. Two-time WSOP bracelet winner Marco Johnson takes 2,475,000 into the final day and sits in fifth place.

Mosato Yokosawa

At the bottom of the counts is Japanese superstar Masato Yokosawa (1,085,000). Yokosawa has nearly a million subscribers on his YouTube channel and is the most-followed poker vlogger in the world. The eyes of a poker-mad nation will be on him as he tries to spin up his short stack tomorrow and take a run at the title.

Day 4 Action

Day 4 began with 18 players returning to Resorts World Las Vegas trying to secure their spot at the final table. A flurry of early double ups signalled that players were in for a long day if they hoped to get there.

First, Johnson doubled up with queens against Brent Harts ace-king. Matt Affleck also doubled with queens against Madsen, while Hart then won a race with tens against David ODB Bakers ace-jack. Byung Eun Shin flopped two pair against Maria Konnikovas aces and was poised for his double up, but the river gave Konnikova a better two pair to send Shin out in 18th place.

Victor Paredes, who began the day as chip leader, got off to a shaky start when he doubled up Madsen. He then shoved the small blind only for Matthew Wantman to wake up with aces in the big blind. Left with just 220,000, Paredes stunning downfall would be completed a few hands later when Wantman flopped trip tens and improved to a full house on the river.

Martin Carnero ran sixes into Marchintons flopped trips to fall in 16th place. Hart busted in 15th when Johnson hit a queen on the river to beat his pocket nines.

Maria Konnikova

Konnikova was down to less than 500,000 and shoved from under the gun with jack-ten. Micka woke up with queens in the cutoff and the PokerStars Ambassador was sent to the rail in 14th. Baker then raised to 600,000 in early position, leaving just 65,000 behind, and Marchington called. Baker got his last chips in on the flop and was still ahead with pocket fives, but Marchington spiked a flush on the turn to eliminate him in 13th.

Jared Jaffee then jammed for 700,000 and Yang Li called. Brock Wilson then reshoved for 1,500,000 and Li called with ace-queen. Jaffee had ace-nine, but Wilson had picked up kings and held on to scoop the entire pot and eliminate Jaffee in 12th while doubling up off Li.

Mike Vanier made a full house to double off Johnson, but Johnson got his revenge in a big way when he picked up aces against Vaniers kings in a nearly 5,000,000-chip pot as Vanier was sent to the rail in 11th.

Kohlberg was riding a short stack when he moved all in for 650,000 with two queens. Madsen called with ace-queen, but Marchington reshoved with jacks to force out Madsen. Kohlbergs queens stayed in the lead to earn him a triple up. Wantman was eliminated on the final table bubble as he got his last 455,000 in with two nines but Yokosawa picked up two jacks.

Marchington led at the start of the nine-handed final table with 5,100,000. Wilson began in second place but on the first hand ran queens into Kohlbergs kings as Kohlberg doubled up yet again. Marchington continued to use his big stack to his advantage, constantly three-betting and taking down most pots with little resistance as he began to separate from the field.

Wilson hit two pair on the turn to bust Li in ninth place. After a dinner break, Affleck shoved for 1,940,000 with ace-king but couldnt win a classic race against Mickas queens to fall in eighth. Wilson then shoved for 1,395,000 with ace-seven and Madsen called with two eights. Wilson hit a pair of sevens on the flop but improved no further as Madsen took the pot to end the night with Wilsons bustout in seventh.

Brock Wilson

The remaining six players return at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow to play down to a champion. The action will be streamed on PokerStars YouTube and Twitch channels on a 30-minute delay, with updates provided to match the stream. There is 70:41 remaining in Level 29 with blinds of 50,000-100,000 and a 100,000 big blind ante at the start of play tomorrow. Everyone left has already locked up $155,550, but the gold-plated trophy and top prize awaits only one player.

Final Table Payouts

Place Player Country Prize 1 $765,200 2 $478,450 3 $341,750 4 $262,900 5 $202,250 6 $155,550 7 Brock Wilson United States $119,650 8 Matt Affleck United States $92,000

PokerNews will be back tomorrow covering all the action from the final table until a new NAPT champion is crowned.
You are here: Business

Gao Yunlong, chairperson of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, attended a China-Indonesia business forum in Beijing on Sunday.

China is ready to work with Indonesia to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, and push for new achievements in bilateral trade and investment cooperation, Gao said.

China and Indonesia should set an example of win-win cooperation among developing countries, said Gao, also vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Addressing the event, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto welcomed Chinese enterprises to invest in Indonesia, adding that he looked forward to closer bilateral cooperation to achieve common prosperity and development.
Shares of NuScale Power (NYSE: SMR) were moving higher today after the development-stage maker of small modular reactors reported third-quarter results last night.

While the numbers weren't the focus, management commentary on its progress seemed to please investors.

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As a result, the stock was up 4.3% as of 1:42 p.m. ET after being up as much as 19.2% earlier in the session.

Image source: Getty Images.

NuScale takes some more baby steps

Nuscale reported revenue of $475,000 in the quarter and a net loss of $17.5 million, or $0.18 per share, which compared to estimates at $3.14 million and a loss of $0.09 per share. The company finished the quarter with $161.7 million in short-term investments and no debt.

However, those numbers are mostly irrelevant as the stock is seen as a bet on big tech's embrace of nuclear energy to run its data centers, and NuScale is a potential leader in that industry.

The company is still the only maker of small modular reactors (SMRs) that's approved by the Department of Energy. It also signed a contract with Fluor, its majority owner, to proceed with a new study for an SMR power plant in Romania, which would be the first of its kind in Europe. Fluor is planning to de-consolidate its stake in NuScale.

Management also noted progress in working with data center/artificial intelligence (AI) customers and said supply chain partner Doosan Enerbility was making progress on its first NuScale Power Modules.

Can NuScale keep gaining?

The data center story has been the main story driving NuScale stock higher, and according to McKinsey, data center consumption of U.S. electricity is expected to grow from 3%-4% to 11%-12% between 2023 and 2030, creating a huge opportunity for NuScale and its peers.

Keep an eye on NuScale's project development as it still hasn't gotten a project up and running, but with the interest in nuclear energy building, the upside potential for the stock is considerable.

Should you invest $1,000 in NuScale Power right now?

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 9, 2024 / Levi & Korsinsky notifies investors that it has commenced an investigation of Franklin Resources, Inc. ("Franklin Resources, Inc.") (NYSE:BEN) concerning possible violations of federal securities laws.Franklin subsidiary Western Asset Management Company issued a press release on August 21, 2024, announcing that co-Chief Investment Officer Ken Leech "is on a leave of absence, effective immediately" after "receiv[ing] a Wells Notice from the Staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission". That same day, Bloomberg reported that "[f]ederal prosecutors in New York are investigating whether a Western Asset Management executive allocated winning trades to favored accounts, as part of a criminal probe into a practice known as  cherry-picking.'" Following this news, Franklin's stock price fell over 12% on August 21, 2024. To obtain additional information, go to:or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com or by telephone at (212)363-7500.WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, Levi & Korsinsky LLP has established itself as a nationally-recognized securities litigation firm that has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. The firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212)363-7500 Fax: (212)363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 9, 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
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 9, 2024 / Spey Resources Corp. (CSE:SPEY)(OTC:SPEYF)(FRA:2JS) (the "Company" or "Spey") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a share exchange agreement dated November 8, 2024 with Antimony Assets Inc. ("Antimony") and the shareholders of Antimony to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Antimony in consideration for an aggregate of 4,975,000 common shares of the Company at a deemed price of $0.0675 per share (the "Consideration Shares"). Antimony is a privately held arm's length party that holds an interest in two mineral claims covering 3,550 hectares, located in Haida Gwaii, British Columbia (the "Claims").The proposed transaction remains subject to customary conditions of closing, including the Company completing due diligence to its satisfaction and the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange (if required), and is expected to complete shortly.The Consideration Shares will be issued pursuant to an exemption from the prospectus requirements under applicable securities laws pursuant to Section 2.16 of National Instrument 45-106 and are anticipated to be free trading upon issuance. There are no guarantees that the proposed transaction will be completed as contemplated or at all.Name ChangeThe Company is also pleased to announce it intends to change its name from "Spey Resources Corp." to "Armory Mining Corp." , effective on or about November 19, 2024. The trading symbol on the CSE will change to "ARMY". An application is pending for a symbol change on the OTC and will be provided once available. The new CUSIP will be 042279109 and the new ISIN will be CA0422791099.No action will be required to be taken by shareholders with respect to the name or symbol change and the share capital of the Company will remain unchanged. Outstanding share and warrant certificates are not affected by the name change and do not need to be exchanged.The ClaimsThe Claims, known as the Riley Creek Project, are located on the west side of Graham Island, Haida Gwaii in the north coast region of British Columbia. The Riley Creek Project surrounds four small claims owned by an arm's length company that cover four separate gold-antimony occurrences. These four occurrences are described as hydrothermal hot spring deposit types within the Middle Jurassic Yakoun Group pyroclastic andesites, volcanic sediments and argillites. They occur along the regionally significant Rennell-Louscoone northwest trending fault system. No Qualified Person working for the Company has been able to verify the information related to the four occurrences, but the Company believes the proximity to the occurrences supports exploration for new targets in the Riley Creek Project area. The references to these occurrences are not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Riley Creek Project area. Significant features of the individual mineral occurrences are summarized briefly below:NEEDLES: - Gold, silver, antimony showing. "A 3.0-metre chip sample of the altered zone assayed 0.93 gram per tonne gold and a 1.0 metre sample assayed 0.96 gram per tonne gold and 0.68 gram per tonne silver (BC Assessment Report 15325)."SOL (GUMBO ZONE): - Gold, silver antimony showing. "A drill hole intersected a 2 metre section which assayed 3.3 grams per tonne gold and 0.6 grams per tonne silver (BC Assessment Report 8225)."COURTE: - Antimony, gold silver, lead, zinc showing. "A chip sample of continuous exposure in Sol Creek assayed 1.37 grams per tonne gold and 0.4 per cent antimony over 95 metres (BC Assessment Report 24981, page 8)" Also "A drill hole 425 metres east-southeast from mineralization exposed in Sol Creek assayed 1.37 grams per tonne gold and 0.23 per cent antimony over 10 metres (BC Assessment Report 24981, page 8)." And a "A 2.27 kilogram sample, taken by Luke Watson in 1942, assayed trace gold, 19.2 grams per tonne silver, 0.1 per cent lead, 0.2 per cent zinc and 32.9 per cent antimony (Minister of Mines Annual Report 1942, page 32)"RUMPLESTILTSKIN: - Gold showing. "Surface samples have returned from 1.25 to 7.8 grams per tonne gold (George Cross Newsletter #94 May 17, 1982)."Figure 1: The Riley Creek Project and Surrounding Four Small Claims with Gold-Antimony and Silver ShowingsQualified PersonHarrison Cookenboo, Ph.D., P.Geo., is an independent Qualified Person for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release.All data in this news release is historical in nature and was not verified by Spey. Referenced nearby occurrences provide geologic context for the Riley Creek Project, but are not necessarily indicative that they hosts similar potential, size or grades of mineralization.About Spey ResourcesSpey Resources Corp. is a Canadian lithium focused mineral exploration company which has an 80% interest in the Candela II lithium brine project located in the Incahuasi Salar, Salta Province, Argentina. Spey also holds a 100% interest in the Kaslo Silver project, west of Kaslo, British Columbia and an option to acquire a 100% interest in certain mineral claims located in Nova Scotia.FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:Nader VatanchiCEO, Directore: nader@ speyresources.capp: 778-881-4631Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as the term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this news release.Certain information contained herein constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to the Company completing the acquisition of Antimony, the consideration shares being free trading, the receipt of approval by the Canadian Securities Exchange, the name change and symbol change and anticipated timing thereof. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipates", "anticipated" "expected" "intends" "will" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and they are from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different, including receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals. Although management of the Company have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those c
Editor's note: An earlier version of this article included incorrect information from the city regarding one of the organizations helping pay the cost of the Tejon Street revitalization project in downtown Colorado Springs. The Downtown Development Authority will split the remaining cost, after grant monies, with the city parking enterprise and city traffic.

The new year means a makeover for portions of Colorado Springs' historic Tejon Street downtown, part of a multimillion-dollar project officials say will boost business activity, public safety and accessibility.

The city, in collaboration with the Downtown Partnership's Downtown Development Authority, plans to revitalize the approximately half-mile stretch of Tejon Street from Colorado Avenue to Boulder Street. The first phase of the project, which the city hopes to get underway starting in January or February, is planned for the first two blocks between Colorado Avenue and East Kiowa Street.

Wider and more accessible multimodal walkways, expanded outdoor dining space for restaurants, the removal of the center lane and relocation of deliveries to new zones on side streets, as well as possible new on-street parking options, are among some of the planned changes for these two blocks in the first phase of construction, Director of Public Works Richard Mulledy said.

The Tejon Street revitalization has been planned for several years as part of the Downtown Partnership's "Experience Downtown" master planning process, he said. After soliciting feedback from businesses and property owners located between Colorado Avenue and Kiowa Street in January of this year, the city paused the project for several months to review new elements based on their input. Now, the city is in the process of revamping its original design to incorporate changes those businesses said they want to see, Mulledy said.

The city will present the updated design to businesses and property owners within these first two blocks once it is complete.

"The city's role is to help the Downtown Partnership and businesses balance these wants and wishes, and get the best for them," Mulledy said.

The second design will include plans to expand walkways from 6 feet to 10 feet to incorporate more outdoor dining space for area restaurants as well as multimodal, accessible walkways so pedestrians of all abilities can safely and easily move down the corridor, he said.

Removing the center lane and moving deliveries to side streets will also enhance safety for delivery drivers and business employees who will no longer have to cross traffic to load and unload goods, he said.

The city is also developing a parking and curb management plan for downtown and Old Colorado City, informed by a parking study that officials began soliciting public feedback for in May, Mulledy said. When complete, the documents will help guide new changes to parking configurations as part of the Tejon Street revitalization. The city expects to complete the parking plan in December and unveil it in early January 2025.

"We want to make informed decisions based on data and actual conversations with businesses," Mulledy said. "The city does not want to make decisions in a vacuum."

Eric Brenner, who owns the Red Gravy Italian restaurant at 23 S. Tejon St., said he is excited for the planned changes along his block and believes they will be a boon for business by making it easier for people to shop, eat and play downtown.

"I'm a downtown cheerleader. We're trying always to make downtown a better decision, or a decision that provides better return or better time for folks," he said.

Brenner and Meredith Klube, managing partner/business partner at Jack Quinn's Irish Pub next door, are particularly eager for more patio space that will allow them and other restaurants to expand their seating areas and boost sales.

"To have all the patios be consistent in size and look, and then having a more walkable sidewalk area, I just think that is going to be an improvement," Brenner said.

The addition of trees to this block, where there currently are none, will also give Tejon Street a more seamless look and provide a better outdoor dining experience for their customers, Klube said.

"It'll be a nicer area to sit outside," she said.

Construction is a concern, Klube said, as it could disrupt usual business operations, but she's confident the city and Downtown Partnership will "fully support businesses" during the enhancements.

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Mulledy said he's hopeful the first phase of work could be complete by next summer.

Possible new parking configurations and the elimination of the center lane have garnered probably the most concern among businesses along North and South Tejon Street.

Jane Hammoud, a pottery artist at the Gallery 113 collective on 125 N. Tejon St., said she worried revitalization plans are calling for the elimination of up to as much as 45% of current parking spaces by converting from diagonal to parallel spaces.

"That is critical," she said.

Parallel parking spaces will mean a net loss of parking spots downtown, which could discourage people from visiting the area, Hammoud and other business and property owners said.

"It's also my belief that it will slow traffic down too much," said Luke Travins, the co-owner of Jose Muldoon's on North Tejon and MacKenzie's Chophouse on South Tejon. He is also the landlord for the Colorado Craft Social on South Tejon.

Though MacKenzie's Chophouse is just south of the revitalization area, Travins said he has seen firsthand how parallel parking configurations near that restaurant negatively affect traffic.

"You can spend 10 minutes on that block and see how either when the downtown shuttle bus stops or when someone is angling to get into a parallel spot it will back traffic up into the intersection," he said.

Hammoud also worried that in losing the center lane on Tejon Street, deliveries could be moved to alleyways where business owners currently park and by which they enter their buildings, making it less accessible and safe for them.

Mulledy stressed there are no plans to eliminate so much parking.

"Our goal is to maintain all the parking that we can. If we have to remove a spot or two, it's a spot or two, but we're not decreasing parking in a huge amount. That's just not true," he said.

The plans for the first phase of revitalizations are not necessarily going to be the same plans for later phases of the project that will make changes to North Tejon, from East Kiowa to East Boulder streets.

"That is some time down the road. We haven't even started planning for those phases. When we are ready to develop a plan we will go through the public process with businesses in those northern blocks and get input. ... We value it and we're going to get it," Mulledy said.

He added that over the last few years the city has put in a "significant amount of work" into renovating and repairing parking garages in the area, which provide added parking options for downtown employees and visitors. Any "minimal loss" of on-street parking can be supplemented by the parking garages, he said.

Frank O'Donnell, who owns the building on North Tejon that houses Gallery 113 and other tenants, as well as the building on South Tejon including tenants like East Coast Deli and Fujiyama, doesn't believe garages are the best parking alternative.

"Customers who access retail destinations or restaurant destinations want to park within eyesight of where they're going. That's one of the oldest principles of retail commercial development, in shopping centers or downtowns," O'Donnell said.

The total project is estimated to cost between $6 million to $8 million to design and construct, city spokesman Eric Sieger said. The city received a $1.6 million grant from the Colorado Department of Transportation's Revitalizing Main Streets grant program and used $400,000 of the city's American Rescue Plan Act funds to match, a condition of the state grant.

The remainder of the cost will be paid by the Downtown Development Authority, the city's parking enterprise and city traffic. Those amounts will be determined as construction plans and bids are finalized, he said.
In this undated photo provided by Grand Teton National Park a grizzly bear known as No. 399 stands alongside a cub.
Prateek Dutta is the vice president of policy for CLCS Action, the Colorado League of Charter Schools partner 501(c)(4) organization.
OSLO, Norway, Nov. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BlueNord ASA, ("BlueNord" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the operator of the DUC, TotalEnergies, has informed its partners that all necessary machinery is now fully operational at the new Tyra facilities. This milestone marks the achievement of full technical capacity, which BlueNord expects will enable the ramp-up to production plateau before year-end in line with the Company's previous communications to the market.

"I am very pleased that Tyra II has achieved full technical capacity, and we can begin the ramp-up to plateau production before the winter season. The benefits of restarting Tyra II extend beyond increased gas production. With Tyra's upgraded facilities, we expect a significant reduction in CO2 intensity and a lower unit operating cost," said Miriam Lykke, Chief Operating Officer in BlueNord.

Reference is also made to the REMIT notifications issued by TotalEnergies: Postings (gashub.at) (https://www.gashub.at/remit/postings.xhtml).

This information is subject to disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

Contact:

Cathrine Torgersen, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer

Phone: +47 915 28 501

Email: [email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/bluenord-asa/r/bluenord--update-on-tyra-redevelopment-project,c4063888
SAN DIEGO, Nov. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The law firm of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces that purchasers or acquirers of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE: EW) securities between February 6, 2024 and July 24, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"), have until Friday, December 13, 2024 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff of the Edwards Lifesciences class action lawsuit. Captioned Patel v. Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, No. 24-cv-02221 (C.D. Cal.), the Edwards Lifesciences class action lawsuit charges Edwards Lifesciences as well as certain of Edwards Lifesciences' executives with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

If you suffered substantial losses and wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the Edwards Lifesciences class action lawsuit, please provide your information here:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases-edwards-lifesciences-corporation-class-action-lawsuit-ew.html

You can also contact attorneys J.C. Sanchez or Jennifer N. Caringal of Robbins Geller by calling 800/449-4900 or via e-mail at [email protected].

CASE ALLEGATIONS: Edwards Lifesciences provides products and technologies for structural heart disease and critical care monitoring. One of Edward Lifesciences' core products is Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement ("TAVR").

The Edwards Lifesciences class action lawsuit alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) defendants created the false impression that they possessed reliable information pertaining to Edwards Lifesciences' projected revenue outlook and anticipated growth while also minimizing risk from seasonality and macroeconomic fluctuations; (ii) TAVR's growth was at risk of decelerating; (iii) Edwards Lifesciences' optimistic reports of TAVR's growth and anticipated ramp in second quarter 2024 and further ramp throughout fiscal year 2024 fell short of reality as defendants' "patient activation activities" failed to reach the perceived low-treatment-rate population TAVR's growth relied upon obtaining; and (iv) defendants relied far too heavily or otherwise overstated hospital desire to continue to utilize Edwards Lifesciences' TAVR procedures over newer, innovative structural heart therapies.

The Edwards Lifesciences class action lawsuit further alleges that on July 24, 2024, Edwards Lifesciences disclosed second quarter 2024 TAVR results below expectations and lowered fiscal year 2024 projections for TAVR. On this news, the price of Edwards Lifesciences stock fell more than 31%, according to the complaint.

THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits any investor who purchased or acquired Edwards Lifesciences securities during the Class Period to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the Edwards Lifesciences class action lawsuit. A lead plaintiff is generally the movant with the greatest financial interest in the relief sought by the putative class who is also typical and adequate of the putative class. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the Edwards Lifesciences class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice to litigate the Edwards Lifesciences class action lawsuit. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff of the Edwards Lifesciences class action lawsuit.

ABOUT ROBBINS GELLER: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is one of the world's leading law firms representing investors in securities fraud cases. Our Firm has been #1 in the ISS Securities Class Action Services rankings for six out of the last ten years for securing the most monetary relief for investors. We recovered $6.6 billion for investors in securities-related class action cases  over $2.2 billion more than any other law firm in the last four years. With 200 lawyers in 10 offices, Robbins Geller is one of the largest plaintiffs' firms in the world and the Firm's attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history, including the largest securities class action recovery ever  $7.2 billion  in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig. Please visit the following page for more information:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/services-litigation-securities-fraud.html

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.

Contact:

Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP

J.C. Sanchez, Jennifer N. Caringal

655 W. Broadway, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101

800-449-4900

[email protected]

SOURCE Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP
NEW YORK, Nov. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Paragon 28, Inc. ("Paragon 28" or the "Company") (NYSE: FNA). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.

The class action concerns whether Paragon 28 and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

You have until November 29, 2024 , to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you are a shareholder who purchased or otherwise acquired Paragon 28 securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On July 30, 2024, Paragon 28 disclosed that its previously reported financial results for 2023 and the first quarter of 2024 were unreliable. The Company admitted to material weaknesses in its internal controls and disclosed significant accounting errors. Specifically, Paragon 28 understated its cost of goods sold by 19%, resulting in an overstated operating loss by 22% and net loss by 20%.

On this news, Paragon 28's stock price fell $1.24 per share, or 13.73%, to close at $7.79 per share on July 31, 2024.

Then, on August 8, 2024, Paragon 28 reported its financial results for the second quarter of 2024. Among other items, the Company said that it now expects full-year revenue between $249 million and $255 million, down from a previous range of $249 million to $259 million. Paragon 28 further disclosed that, in an effort to cut costs and preserve cash, it is implementing an operational efficiency strategy that includes laying off approximately 7% of its workforce, as well as reducing inventory and adjusting executive compensation.

Following these announcements, Paragon 28's stock price fell $1.67 per share, or 20.1%, to close at $6.64 per share on August 9, 2024.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Danielle Peyton

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

646-581-9980 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
NEW YORK, Nov. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Domino's Pizza, Inc. ("Domino's" or the "Company") (NYSE: DPZ) and certain officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, and docketed under 24-cv-12477, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired Domino's securities between December 7, 2023 and July 17, 2024, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials.

If you are a shareholder who purchased or otherwise acquired Domino's securities during the Class Period, you have until November 19, 2024 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

Domino's, through its subsidiaries, operates as a global pizza company in three segments: U.S. Stores, International Franchise, and Supply Chain. Domino's offers pizzas and other food products under the Domino's brand name through Company-owned and franchised stores. The Company's largest "master franchisee"i.e., a franchisee that is charged with developing a geographical area and may profit by sub-franchising and selling food and equipment to those sub-franchiseesis Domino's Pizza Enterprises ("DPE"). As of December 31, 2023, DPE operated 3,840 stores in 12 international markets, accounting for approximately 28% of the Company's international store count and 19% of its global store count.

In December 2023, Domino's hosted its 2023 Investor Day, during which Defendants provided new long-term guidance of "1,100+" annual global net store growth for the years 2024 to 2028.

The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) DPE, the Company's largest master franchisee, was experiencing significant challenges with respect to both new store openings and closures of existing stores; (ii) as a result, Domino's was unlikely to meet its own previously issued long-term guidance for annual global net store growth; (iii) accordingly, Domino's business and/or financial prospects were overstated; and (iv) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

On July 18, 2024, Domino's issued a press release announcing its Q2 2024 financial results. Among other items, Domino's disclosed that it "expects it will fall 175 to 275 stores below its 2024 goal of 925+ net stores in international primarily as a result of challenges in both openings and closures being faced by Domino's Pizza Enterprises ('DPE'), one of its master franchisees." Accordingly, "[t]he Company is temporarily suspending its guidance metric of 1,100+ global net stores until the full effect of DPE's store opens and closures on international net store growth are known." On an earnings call held that same day to discuss the Company's Q2 2024 results (the "Q2 2024 Earnings Call"), the Company's Chief Financial Officer Defendant Sandeep Reddy further revealed that the long-term guidance announced at the 2023 Investor Day did not accurately reflect the extent of DPE's challenges with respect to new store openings and closures of existing stores.

On this news, Domino's stock price fell $64.23 per share, or 13.57%, to close at $409.04 per share on July 18, 2024.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Danielle Peyton

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

646-581-9980 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
SOUTHPORT, Conn., Nov. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Southport children's author Letitia Burton won her fourth prestigious award last night, the Silver Medal in the Moonbeam Children's Book Awards in the category of books about animals or pets.

Austin tells the heartwarming story of a baby robin who, through tough love and resilience, learns to fly after being pushed out of his nest by his mother. Austin has previously been honored with the Purple Dragonfly Book Award.

The inspiration for Austin came from a true story shared by Reverend Paul Whitmore during a sermon at Southport Congregational Church. The tale of a baby robin rescued by a Bernese Mountain Dog and its journey to flight captivated Burton, who collaborated with Australian illustrator Caitlin O'Dwyer to bring the story to life.

It was a biography of Dr. Seuss that Burton read to one of her daughters ten years ago that first inspired her to become a children's author, she explained during her acceptance speech. Ted Geisel was working as a journalist in New York City during World War II. Following the War, he travelled to Germany where he met German children who were prejudiced and realized that the most important audience to reach in a society was not the adults he had been writing for. It was children. Burton said she closed the biography and realized she too was meant to write for children. She signed up for a writing class the following week. The next year, she left her job at Accenture, where she had worked for two decades, so she could focus on writing. "We are doing important work," she told the group of authors and publishing industry executives. "We are teaching children how to navigate the inevitable ups and downs of life. We are teaching them how to be good friends."

Burton's other notable works include Soar: The Incredible Journey of Hendrix and Ryder, which follows twin osprey brothers on their perilous migration from Long Island Sound to South America, earning the Benjamin Franklin Silver Award in 2023. Soar was used successfully in the 3rd and 4th grade curriculum at The Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore last Spring. After reading Soar to the students, lower school librarian Christine Roberts invited members of the Maryland Conservation Corps to set up migration games for the students to enhance their learning of ospreys and conservation efforts in the Chesapeake Bay.

Burton has also published Guthrie and Gretzky, a story about two geese who are best friends but have to adapt to a new kind of friendship after tragedy strikes. Guthrie and Gretzky won the Mom's Choice Award in 2023.

Burton's books foster a love of birds and the natural world.

The Moonbeam Awards celebrate excellence across various categories for children's literature. Burton and other winners were honored at an awards ceremony in Traverse City, Michigan.

For interviews or to schedule a school or nature center visit, please contact Letitia Burton at [email protected].

SOURCE Southport Press
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New Delhi, Nov 10 : Here is a guide to the week ahead, forecast for November 11-17.

Aries

This week, focus on managing your money and how family influences your financial choices. You may start thinking about future financial security and potential investments. Honest and open conversations with relatives about money will be key. Your job and responsibilities will also take centre stage, affecting both your personal and work life. Be mindful of how you communicate this week. Misunderstandings could impact those close to you. Keeping a calm and professional attitude can help prevent conflicts. While money and material matters may dominate, donat forget to show care for loved ones. Singles could meet someone who shares their values, especially around family and finances. Donat rush; let things develop naturally. For those in relationships, financial discussions may strengthen your bond if handled calmly.

Tip of the week: Manage funds wisely

Taurus

This week encourages you to take control of your life as the Sun boosts your desire to lead and make changes. Itas a time for self-reflection and considering how you want to be seen by others. You may feel motivated to change your lifestyle or appearance. The Sunas energy will brighten your social and work life, so seize the opportunity to pursue your passions. However, be mindful not to overdo it, as this could strain relationships with friends and family. This week, your career can flourish. Recognition for your achievements at work is likely, and job expectations may shift. Use this time to highlight your accomplishments and express your career goals to supervisors or colleagues. Take advantage of this momentum to advance, but remain humble to avoid upsetting coworkers. Job seekers can expect positive results if they actively pursue opportunities.

Tip of the week: Take control of your life

Gemini

This week is all about self-reflection, closure, and inner growth. You may need to step back from the hustle and focus on personal development and emotions. Itas a great time to prioritise mental and emotional health. Avoid activities outside the home and take time to rest. Singles may feel the urge to spend time alone and avoid dating. Use this period to reflect on past experiences and clarify what you want in a partner. For those in relationships, this week is ideal for emotional closeness. Be patient with each other, as both may need space. This is also a good time for forgiveness and resolving past misunderstandings. Family matters may require attention, especially with elders. You might feel close to your family but need physical space to process emotions. Talk with your parents, especially your mother, for emotional support.

Tip of the week: Prioritise mental health

Cancer

This week is a good time for teamwork, group projects, and reconnecting with people who share your goals. Think about your long-term plans and make sure they are realistic. Building strong connections can open new opportunities and provide support. This week could bring good news if you aim for a better position. Networking is important, so attend work events and stay in touch with contacts. For job seekers, job leads may come through friends. Keep an eye on your network for openings and recommendations. In love, shared experiences are highlighted. Singles may benefit from listening to friendsa dating stories and attending social events where they could meet someone with similar interests. Take your time with new connections. For those in relationships, this week is an excellent chance to set goals as a couple and plan activities together.

Tip of the week: Make realistic plans

Leo

This week, focus on your responsibilities. Your actions will likely attract attention, especially from those in authority. Stay strategic and focus on the big picture rather than getting caught up in small details. Itas a great time to build your reputation and show hard work and discipline. Remember, consistency matters, and people will notice your reliability. Employees may have opportunities to take on leadership roles or manage key projects. Supervisors will notice your efforts, which could lead to rewards or promotions. Singles may be drawn to people who share similar ambitions and goals. Youare likely to connect with someone who understands your drive and vision. While your career may take priority, itas a good time to seek advice from your parents or an elder.

Tip of the week: Focus on the big picture

Virgo

This is the perfect time to think about your future and long-term goals. The choices you make now can have lasting effects. You may reflect on your lifeas purpose and want to pursue something meaningful. Seek advice from mentors, teachers, or experienced individuals. This week brings opportunities for learning and growth at work. Employees might be given tasks that require new skills or collaboration with other teams. Consider volunteering for new responsibilities or joining training programs to expand your career options. Family discussions may focus on future plans. Seek advice from parents for a new perspective. Use this time to clear up any misunderstandings gently. Friends or siblings might suggest ideas for travel or learning that could change your outlook.

Tip of the week: Seek advice from mentors

Libra

This week is about reflecting on your emotions and financial state. You may feel the need to address unresolved personal or financial issues. Itas a good time to pay off debts, return borrowed items, or review your investments. If youave felt stuck, now is the time to embrace change. Take it slow and avoid rushing into new activities without thoughtful consideration, which benefits your mental health. Job seekers may find networking opportunities in research, finance, or technology. Be open to stepping out of your comfort zone and taking on problem-solving or coordination roles. For those in relationships, this week is ideal for discussing finances, future goals, or unspoken emotions. Family matters, especially related to property or finances, may require your attention. Discussions about joint investments or inheritance should be approached calmly.

Tip of the week: Address unresolved issues

Scorpio

This week, you may feel more social and motivated to resolve ongoing relationship conflicts. Itas a good time to reconnect with people you may have drifted apart from. Youall be able to see situations from othersa perspectives, which will help build stronger relationships. You might also feel inclined to make choices that affect others, so being polite and fair is key. Address unresolved issues to find solutions and strengthen bonds. Job seekers should use this time to connect and network within their field. Opportunities may arise through these interactions, so focus on roles that value teamwork. Show youare cooperative and ready to work well with others during interviews or discussions. Singles may be drawn to those who value order and balance. Building rapport with new people will be rewarding if you take your time and stay open. Use this time to clarify your expectations for a relationship.

Tip of the week: Make new connections

Sagittarius

This week encourages commitment to daily tasks and responsibilities. Learn to prioritise and handle important issues. This is a great time to develop structure, build healthier habits, and set clear goals. Patience and following through with your plan will help you succeed. At work, focus on staying productive and organised. This week may bring added pressure due to tight deadlines or extra tasks. Managing these challenges effectively requires good organisation and avoiding procrastination. Your superiors will likely notice your hard work, possibly leading to rewards or promotions. Show your problem-solving skills and offer practical solutions when issues arise. Steer clear of office politics, focus on teamwork, and complete tasks on time. Family life may demand more of your attention this week. You might need to assist with household matters or support a family member.

Tip of the week: Prioritise tasks

Capricorn

This is a great week for leisure, arts and crafts, and spending time with loved ones. You may feel a stronger urge to unwind and enjoy activities that bring you happiness. This is a chance to showcase your skills and gain recognition at work. You may even be assigned a leadership role in a project. Bringing new ideas to your workplace will be welcomed by colleagues and superiors. However, while embracing creativity, ensure you stay disciplined to meet deadlines. Singles may feel more open to exploring new connections and expressing emotions in love. This is a good time to meet new people and show confidence, but donat rush into anything serious. Focus on enjoying the moment and getting to know the other person. The Sun signals a renewed sense of passion for those in relationships. Spending quality time and doing fun activities together can strengthen your bond.

Tip of the week: Unwind and enjoy

Aquarius

This week is ideal for resolving family issues or changing your home. Your mental and emotional well-being will be a priority, and small updates to your surroundings can help. Work may feel less productive as personal matters take up more attention. Balancing work and personal life may be challenging, so staying organised is key. Job seekers may need to pause and reflect before applying for new positions. Use this time to consider what you truly want in a job and whether it aligns with your goals. Look for roles with a good work-life balance or opportunities close to home. This is a good week to think about what you want in a partner and how a relationship can bring you happiness. If you meet someone new, the relationship may develop slowly but steadily.

Tip of the week: Balance work and pleasure

Pisces

The organisation will help you manage increased social and mental activity this week. Students may have multiple tasks or obligations, making good organisation essential. Itas a great time for connecting with others and attending meetings, conferences, or short trips. These interactions will be significant, so approach them with clarity and confidence. Job seekers will benefit from networking and improving communication skills. This is an excellent time for job searching, interviews, and meeting others in your field. Business opportunities may come from conversations, so follow up on leads. Jobs in communication, media, sales, and education are especially favourable now. For those in relationships, this week is ideal for meaningful communication. Discuss projects, exchange ideas, and clear misunderstandings to strengthen your bond.

Tip of the week: Look for a new job

(Neeraj Dhankher is an astrologer proficient in Vedic, KP, and Nadi astrology. He is the Founder and CEO of Astro Zindagi. The observations are made by the writer based on his analysis)
Sydney, Nov 10 : A 32-year-old man will face court on Sunday, charged with allegedly murdering a 15-year-old boy in Wilton, a town of the Macarthur Region of Sydney, police in the Australian state of New South Wales said on Sunday morning.

Officers were called to bushland off Wilton Park Road in Wilton at about 7:25 a.m. local time on Saturday (2025 GMT on Friday) after the boy's body was found, Xinhua news agency reported.

Following a public appeal for information, a 32-year-old man was arrested after presenting himself at a police station shortly after 4:00 p.m. local time (0500 GMT) Saturday. He has now been charged with murder.

Detectives will allege in court the man stabbed the teen during a physical altercation, according to the statement.
The 4th Judicial District announced their cooperation in an investigation into the Colorado Department of State initiated by the 2nd Judicial 
Port Sudan, Nov 10 : The Sudanese government denied US accusations of blocking humanitarian aid delivery to those affected by the country's armed conflict.

In a statement, Sudan's Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC), a governmental body that manages humanitarian work, said the accusations made by US Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello were part of an organised campaign targeting the commission's efforts, reports Xinhua news agency.

"It would have been more realistic and courageous of him (Perriello) to direct his criticism toward the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia, which has been looting, detaining, and obstructing the delivery of humanitarian aid, besieging those in need, and denying them access to food and medicine," the statement said.

The statement said that between January 1 and November 6, the HAC had granted 12,170 movement permits to organisations and agencies, allowed 1,073 trucks to enter through the Adre and Tina crossings, and approved 2,985 entry visas for foreign humanitarian workers.

The statement said the total funds provided by the government in the form of customs and tax exemptions, transportation of aid, and purchase of supplies exceeded $600 million.

In a post on social media platform X on Wednesday, Perriello said that the HAC prevented 520 of the 550 humanitarian relief trucks from leaving Port Sudan to deliver life-saving supplies to states across the country.

Sudan has been gripped by conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF since mid-April 2023. According to a report by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project on October 14, the ongoing conflict has claimed more than 24,850 lives. The International Organization for Migration estimates that over 14 million people have been displaced within or outside Sudan as of October 29.
Zagreb, Nov 10 : Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic condemned Friday's assaults against foreign workers in Split, the country's second-largest city.

"I condemn attacks against foreign workers," Plenkovic said at a news conference on Saturday, adding that foreign workers offset the shortage of local workers in the labour market.

Plenkovic made the statement after four young men were arrested for physically assaulting a foreign delivery worker in Split, with investigations underway for the offence of bodily harm with potential links to hate crime, reports Xinhua news agency.

Additionally, there were three more incidents involving attacks on foreign delivery workers in Split on Friday night. In one case, a delivery worker from Nepal got seriously injured, and the perpetrators fled the scene.

Croatia will adopt the Foreigners' Act to regulate the employment of foreigners and to enable them to have "a decent and fair pay and help them have their dignity concerning their accommodation and functioning in a completely different culture and society," Plenkovic said.

In response to a labour shortage in Croatia, the country has been issuing work permits to foreign workers, with 131,000 permits granted by the end of July.
Seoul, Nov 10 : South Korean Police said on Sunday that they have identified over 4,700 minors involved in online gambling activities over the past year.

The National Police Agency said that 4,715 individuals under the age of 19 were discovered during a special crackdown on illegal online gambling conducted from September 2023 to October this year. No arrests of minors have been made, Yonhap news agency reported.

The figure accounts for 47.2 per cent of all age groups involved in the crackdown. Initially, police focused on targeting illegal gambling operators and habitual or high-stakes gamblers, but the scope of the campaign was expanded last year due to the growing problem of juvenile gambling.

As a result, the number of underage gamblers identified surged by an astounding 2,784 per cent from just 162 cases reported during the previous year.

Seventeen-year-olds made up the largest group, with 1,763 people, followed by 16-year-olds (1,241) and 15-year-olds (560).

The most popular form of gambling among these teens was online casino games, accounting for 82.6 per cent of overall cases. The total amount wagered reached 3.7 billion won ($2.64 million), with an average bet of 780,000 won per person.

Of the 4,715 underage violators, 1,733 were referred to professional counselling services, according to the police.

The agency said that the special crackdown will be extended for another year, as illegal gambling among youth shows no signs of declining.
Hyderabad, Nov 11 : A huge explosion in a hotel in Hyderabad's upscale Jubilee Hills damaged six nearby huts on Sunday. Two persons have been injured in the incident.

Hyderabad, Nov 11 (IANS) A huge explosion in a hotel in Hyderabadas upscale Jubilee Hills damaged six nearby huts on Sunday. Two persons have been injured in the incident.

The explosion occurred in Telangana Spice Kitchen on Road Number One Jubilee Hills. According to police, the explosion damaged the boundary wall of the hotel. Some of the stones and cement bricks of the wall flew in the air and fell on huts about 20 metres away.

Six huts were damaged in the incident, which sent panic among people in Durga Bhavani Nagar Basti. A few electric poles were also knocked under the impact of the blast.

Police rushed to the spot. Two persons sustained minor injuries.

The clues team and bomb disposal squad were on the scene to gather clues. Disaster Response Force (DRF) and fire services personnel had also rushed to the spot. Police later said that a refrigerator compressor exploded in the hotel resulting in the accident.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Vijay Kumar, Assistant Commissioner of Police Venkatagiri and other senior officials visited the scene and spoke to the hotel's management.

Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender also visited the spot and spoke to residents. The affected people demanded compensation from the government.

An injured woman said that the stones flying in the air under the impact of the explosion fell on the houses. She added all household goods were damaged.

Another resident said that each house suffered a loss of Rs 50,000 to Rs1 lakh and urged the government to provide compensation to them.

The incident left the residents badly shaken. Most of the people were asleep in their huts when the explosion occurred.

Preliminary reports suggest gas leakage in the kitchen caused the explosion. Later, the police said that a refrigerator compressor exploded.

A police officer said that further investigations into the incident were on.
New Delhi, Nov 10 : Bhojpuri star Khesari Lal Yadav has spoken about his former "Bigg Boss 13" housemate Shehnaaz Gill and shared that the reason behind her moving ahead in life is because she is "entertaining and a beautiful person by heart." New Delhi, Nov 10 (IANS) Bhojpuri star Khesari Lal Yadav has spoken about his former "Bigg Boss 13" housemate Shehnaaz Gill and shared that the reason behind her moving ahead in life is because she is "entertaining and a beautiful person by heart."

In a conversation with IANS during the promotions of his film "Rajaram", Khesari spoke about the rise of Shehnaaz, who gained the spotlight in 2020's "Bigg Boss 13", which had late star Sidharth Shukla as the winner.

"She is a very entertaining and beautiful person by heart that is the reason behind her moving so forward in life. People who work by their heart cannot be stopped by anyone. Shehnaaz is a very strong person and with that she moved ahead leaving her sadness," he said.

"She accepted all the love from the audiences that has come her way and people have accepted her. This is a beautiful thing for a performer and I think people who are strong can handle whatever life throws on them," added the actor.

Asked that the actress, who made her Bollywood debut in 2023 with the Salman Khan-starrer "Kisi Ka Kisi Bhi Jaan," has often been trolled over using Sidharth's name to grow, Khesari jumped in support of Shehnaaz.

"Sidharth's name was used by Asim Riaz too, why couldn't he go forward. The topic isn't that. The person who has talent, that person doesn't have to use anyone's name, and instead make their own name. People who don't have any talent, they troll others"

Khesari said that Shehnaaz is very talented.

"Shenaaz has a lot of talent and that is why she went ahead in life. Siddharth too was very talented Everyone fought with Siddharth (in the "Bigg Boss 13" house) then everyone loved him too, where did they go in life? Why did Shehnaaz go ahead? It's because she has something in her and that is why she is touching the skies."

"People who respect others will be respected by others," he concluded.
Agartala, Nov 10 : Tripura's Advocate General Siddhartha Shankar Dey has confirmed that he would quit the post and submit his resignation letter to the government on Monday.

De, who declined to comment about his decision to resign, told the media that he would formally submit his resignation letter on Monday.

Sources, however, said that owing to "rifts with the senior officials of the Tripura government's law department and senior bureaucrats", the veteran law officer would quit the post.

Dey was appointed as Advocate General on December 29, 2020, after his predecessor Arun Kanti Bhowmik, also a former MLA, died after being affected by Covid-19-related complications.

Originally from northern Tripura, Dey had been practising at the Gauhati High Court before his appointment to the Advocate General of Tripura.

Reacting on his tenure, De remarked, "All songs have an end like all seasons have a changeover, just like that."

"I have had a memorable and successful tenure of four years under two successive Chief Ministers (Biplab Kumar Deb and Manik Saha). It was a fulfilling journey, but this is a pleasure post that depends on the conveniences of both the government and myself," the veteran lawyer observed.

Highlighting his performance during his term, Dey said that he lawfully streamlined the state's promotion policy, which had been stalled for eight years.

According to De, the policy overhaul filled approximately 4,000 vacant positions, accelerating the administrative process and revitalising the stateas governance framework.

Another noteworthy feat, De pointed out, was the formulation of a government appointment policy prioritising local candidates.

Recognising Tripura's unique challenges as a landlocked state with limited industrial expansion opportunities, De stressed that prioritising locals in government jobs was crucial for sustainable growth.

Local media reports said that the state government has already selected a senior lawyer for the post of next Advocate General.

The official announcement is expected to be made soon, the reports said.
Jammu, Nov 10 : As a gunfight is already underway between the security forces and terrorists in Kashmir's Srinagar district, another exchange of fire started on Sunday in Kishtwar district of Jammu division.

Jammu, Nov 10 (IANS) As a gunfight is already underway between the security forces and terrorists in Kashmiras Srinagar district, another exchange of fire started on Sunday in Kishtwar district of Jammu division.

Officials said that an encounter started between terrorists and security forces in the Chaas area of Kishtwar district on Sunday.

Intermittent firing exchanges are now going on between the security forces and the terrorists in Chaas, Kishtwar, an official said.

A cordon and search operation was launched by the joint team of Police and army, based on specific input about the presence of some militants in the area.

An early morning gunfight started between the security forces and the terrorists in the Ishbar area of Srinagar on Sunday. The operation against two to three terrorists hiding in the area is still going on in this area, officials said.

On Saturday, one terrorist was killed in an encounter in Rampora locality of Sopore in Baramulla district. A day before that, two foreign terrorists were killed in another gunfight with the security forces in Sagipora locality of Sopore town.

Hometown and once known as the political bastion of hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Sopore has traditionally been the hotbed of separatist sentiment in Kashmir valley.

Due to the overall improvement in the law & order situation and pro-active anti-terror thrust by the security forces, Sopore had not only returned to normalcy in the last seven years, but a perceptible change of political loyalty also came to light when people participated in the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in large numbers.

Two back-to-back encounters in Sopore have brought to light the basic reality that unless terrorism and its ecosystem are completely wiped out in J&K, the situation will continue to be dicey and peace will remain fragile.

It is for this reason that Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, who controls the police and remains responsible for law & order even after an elected government took office in J&K, has recently directed the security forces to spare no effort in eradicating terrorism, its sympathisers, harbourers and the terror ecosystem that sustains violence.

Intelligence agencies say that the Handlers of terrorists across the border have directed terrorists in J&K to carry out attacks in order to remain in headlines, irrespective of whether the victim is a civilian, policeman, security force or army personnel.
New Delhi, Nov 10 : Congress leader Rashid Alvi criticised the Supreme Court's handling of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) minority status issue, saying its approach "is not the way justice should work", as he expressed his disappointment that the decision was referred to a three-judge bench instead of being finally resolved by the larger seven-judge bench.

New Delhi, Nov 10 (IANS) Congress leader Rashid Alvi criticised the Supreme Court's handling of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) minority status issue, saying its approach "is not the way justice should work", as he expressed his disappointment that the decision was referred to a three-judge bench instead of being finally resolved by the larger seven-judge bench.

Reflecting on the court's latest stance, the Congress leader expressed concerns about the prolonged delay. "The Supreme Court revisited an issue that has remained unresolved for 55 years since the status was removed in 1967. Referring it to a smaller bench means we could wait another 50 years for a resolution. This is not the way justice should work, a final verdict by a seven-judge bench would have been preferable," Alvi told IANS.

The recent decision by the Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, overruled the previous 1967 Azeez Basha case judgment, which had long been used to deny AMU its minority status.

In a 4:3 split verdict, the court directed that judicial records of the case be placed before the Chief Justice to consider forming a new bench to address the 2006 Allahabad High Court ruling.

Responding to recent remarks by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath about AMU, Alvi urged him to refer to the Constitution before making such statements. "Article 30 clearly states that minorities have the right to establish and manage institutions, including universities and madrasas, without discrimination in funding. The Chief Minister should read the recent Supreme Court judgment to understand the law of the land," Alvi asserted, adding that adherence to constitutional principles should guide such sensitive issues.

In his first reaction to the Supreme Court judgement regarding the minority status of the Aligarh Muslim University, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath said earlier on Saturday that the AMU didn't belong only to Muslims.

''AMU doesn't belong to the Muslims only. How can it be possible that it is preparing to give 50 per cent reservation to the minorities despite getting funds from the Central government," he said while addressing an election meeting in Aligarh.
Mumbai, Nov 10 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday claimed that the Mahayuti government comprising BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP will come back to power and completely ruled out any need for estranged partner Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray.

"There is no if and but. The Mahayuti government will be formed in the state after the Assembly elections," asserted the Union Minister at the press conference here after he released the BJP's Sankalp Partra-2024 (manifesto)."

"The voters gave the mandate to the BJP-led alliance in 2014 and 2019. However, some betrayed the mandate to gain power but it didn't not last long. The Mahayuti alliance is united and taking on the Maha Vikas Aghadi which has internal differences. The opposition wants power as they have nothing to do with ideology. However, the Mahayuti is committed to further speed up Maharashtra's growth," he said.

Cooperation Minister Shah also downplayed the Maha Vikas Aghadias attempt to corner the Mahayuti alliance over who would become its chief minister after the elections.

"At present, the Mahayuti alliance was contesting the elections under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. After the elections are over, the three parties will sit together and decide about the Chief Minister. However, we will not give any opportunity to Sharad Pawar (for Maha Vikas Aghadi to have its Chief Minister).

He also targeted the NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray, saying that their parties split because they gave preferences to the family members instead of other party leaders in the functioning of their respective parties.

"Sharad Pawar made his daughter Supriya Sule the party chief and not Ajit Pawar. Uddhav Thackeray promoted his son and not other leaders. Had they given opportunities to other party leaders, this situation may not have arisen," he said.

The senior BJP leader dared Uddhav Thackeray to make Congress MP Rahul Gandhi say good words about freedom fighter VD Savarkar and Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.

"Uddhavji who are you sitting with? People who opposed the abrogation of Article 370 and the construction of the Ram temple... You are sitting with those who oppose Aurangabad to be named Sambhajinagar. They opposed the CAA and uniform civil code. Further, you are sitting with those who are opposed to the Waqf Amendment Bill," he said, adding that it is up to Uddhav Thackeray to decide where he wants to associate himself.

Slamming Sharad Pawar for setting a narrative which is far from reality, Union Minister Shah said, "The people of Maharashtra are with MahaYuti this time and will not fall into his (NCP-SP leader's) tactics.

He claimed that Sharad Pawar should answer people about less financial aid received from the Centre during the UPA government.

"Maharashtra received only Rs 2 lakh crore during the 10-year UPA rule against Rs 10 lakh crore between 2014 and 2024 during the BJP-led government," he added.

He said that Maharashtra regained the number one position in attracting foreign direct investments in the last two years especially it had slipped to fourth rank during the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

"Maharashtra is leading the country in many fields. Maharashtra will become a $1 trillion economy and make a big contribution to Prime Minister Narendra Modias ambitious plan of India becoming a $5 trillion economy," he remarked.

The Union Minister strongly defended the Mahayuti government's flagship Ladki Bahin Yojana saying that it symbolises the conscious and judicious use of budget for making allocations to those sections who deserve the financial aid for development and empowerment.
Seoul, Nov 10 : The largest South Korean doctors' advocacy group voted on Sunday to impeach its chief, holding him responsible for poor responses to a prolonged walkout by junior doctors and various other controversies.

During an emergency assembly of representatives, the Korean Medical Association (KMA) decided to impeach Lim Hyun-taek after holding a vote of confidence and approved the formation of an emergency committee, reports Yonhap news agency.

Lim took office in March, a month after thousands of trainee doctors began leaving their workplaces in protest of the government's decision to raise the medical school quota by around 2,000 annually for the next five years or so to address a shortage of doctors.

But the hard-liner chief has faced criticism for failing to play a role in resolving the walkout and making improper comments on the current health care service disruptions.

The impeachment is expected to help make progress in talks between the government and the medical community in hopes of a breakthrough, according to some officials. The KMA said it plans to hold a by-election to elect a new chief in 60 days.

Last month, the education ministry said it will temporarily allow medical students to take a leave of absence on condition that they return to school next year.

The decision follows Seoul National University's move late last month to approve leave of absence requests submitted en masse in protest of the government's medical reform plans, which include increasing medical school quotas.

While reaffirming its stance that taking leave to show solidarity is not a valid reason, the ministry said its temporary measure is aimed, in part, at normalising education.

It, however, warned that students who fail to return next year will face penalties, including possible expulsion.

The major lobby group of community doctors had renewed its demand for the government to revisit the 2025 medical school admissions quota, clouding prospects for a breakthrough to resolve months-long walkouts by junior doctors.
Seoul, Nov 10 : President Yoon Suk Yeol on Sunday called for the launch of finance, trade and industry consultative bodies to brace for the potential impacts of former US President Donald Trump's return to the presidency.

Yoon made the call during an economic and security meeting with ministers and senior aides to discuss preparations before Trump assumes office in late January.

"International markets have already begun responding based on anticipated policy directions even before the new U.S. administration takes office, so the government should monitor the markets closely and ensure thorough preparations," Yoon said.

He emphasised the new U.S. administration's shift in policies could bring significant changes to the global economy and security landscape, reports Yonhap news agency. "Consequently, this will directly impact our economy and security, so thorough preparations are essential," he added.

Yoon anticipated positive momentum for the shipbuilding and petrochemical sectors under Trump's energy policies and highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation in advanced industries, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology and quantum technology.

During a phone conversation with Yoon, Trump expressed the U.S.' interest in working with South Korea in the shipbuilding industry, particularly in naval shipbuilding, exports and maintenance.

"In defence, based on our robust South Korea-U.S. alliance, we must maintain a strong deterrent against North Korea and be prepared to lead in promoting genuine peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region," Yoon said, noting significant structural changes in security could arise.

A second Donald Trump administration is expected to bring shifts and unpredictability to the U.S.-South Korea alliance, potentially increasing pressure on Seoul to take on a larger share of the burden as a U.S. ally.

Another key focus will be how Trump might address North Korea's denuclearisation, especially amid growing skepticism about Washington's commitment to this goal, as well as his approach to Russia's war in Ukraine, where North Korean troops have been sent to support Moscow.
New Delhi, Nov 10 : Senior BJP leader Ujjwal Nikam, reflecting on the BJP's manifesto for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly Elections, praised the alignment of priorities within the Mahayuti alliance.

"Today, the manifesto is launched by Home Minister Amit Shah, and it highlights ten common issues that are shared by the Mahayuti coalition, including Shiv Sena, Ajit Pawaras faction, and the Eknath Shinde group, overall it's a good manifesto," the BJP leader remarked, underscoring the unity among alliance partners.

The manifesto was officially launched by Home Minister Amit Shah in Mumbai, attended by prominent leaders such as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar, and Union Minister Piyush Goyal.

HM Shah emphasised that the document genuinely reflects the aspirations and spirit of Maharashtra, a state known for its role in Indiaas Independence and social reform, and for being home to iconic leaders like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

"Maharashtra has always led the way for an Independent India and for social reform. The aspirations of this state are reflected in the manifesto," Shah declared, pointing to a focus on empowering farmers, supporting women, and fostering a secure environment that strengthens the pride of the people.

Ujjwal Nikam also addressed the issue of religious conversion, voicing the BJPas commitment to monitoring and preventing forced conversions. "We need to look at the conversion law and what the requirements are, but if it is done at gunpoint, they wonat be spared," the BJP leader asserted.

He also addressed the controversial topic of 'vote jihad,' stressing that while every citizen has the democratic right to vote, actions provoking people along caste lines would be met with firm action.

Maharashtra voters will head to polls in a single phase on November 20, with the counting of votes and announcement of results set for November 23.
Mumbai, Nov 10 : Director Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, who is known for 'The Kashmir Files, 'The Vaccine War' and others, has shared an exhilarating update on his upcoming movie 'The Delhi Files'. The director took to his X, formerly Twitter on Sunday, and shared that he has officially begun shooting for the film.

He shared a behind-the-scenes video from the set of 'The Delhi Files', marking the start of the film's shooting. The video captures the team performing a Pooja and offers a glimpse of the vast set created to replicate the partition era in Kolkata.

He wrote, "SHUBHARAMBH. With your blessings, the shooting of #TheDelhiFiles began today. A puja was conducted by all the devis of the crew. O Mother! Please give us the courage to tell this difficult tale with utmost honesty and fearlessly".

For the film, Vivek proclaims to have done extensive research. He travelled from Kerala to Kolkata to Delhi to gather the information for his film.

Earlier, he visited Gandhi's Ashram, as he took to social media to share pictures from his visit to Gandhi's Ashram. He wrote, "For the research of #TheDelhiFiles, I spent days at Gandhi's Ashram in Sewagram. This cottage has been visited by whos who of the world. Some of the best journalists used to station themselves here to interview Gandhi. Every parent must take their children there. Truly inspiring".

He immersed himself in literature, reading over 100 books and more than 200 articles related to the historical events that form the backbone of his film. He and his team also travelled across 20 states for research, studying over 7000+ research pages and 1000 above archives articles were also studied other than books.

After 'The Kashmir Files', producer Abhishek Agarwal has yet again joined hands with Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri with his production banner Abhishek Agarwal Arts, along with Agnihotri's own production house 'I Am Buddha' on 'The Delhi Files'.
Pithoragarh, Nov 10 : Local residents and Hindu outfits took to the streets in Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh on Sunday, organising a large rally in protest against what they claimed was an illegal mosque in Berinag.

Pithoragarh, Nov 10 (IANS) Local residents and Hindu outfits took to the streets in Uttarakhandas Pithoragarh on Sunday, organising a large rally in protest against what they claimed was an illegal mosque in Berinag.

The protest, organised at the call of Rashtriya Seva Sangh President Himanshu Joshi, saw significant participation from the majority community, as protesters demanded strict action from the authorities.

Residents claim that their pleas over past three months for mosque's removal have yielded no substantial action from the authorities and many feel the matter should have been addressed during the construction phase itself.

The protest gained momentum on Saturday, with participants rallying through the streets, leading to a complete shutdown of the local market.

The rally started from Ganesh Chowk and concluded at the Tehsil office. Protesters gathered at the Government Inter College (GIC) ground, raising slogans and staging a sit-in.

In response to this, the SDM Shrestha Gunsola implemented Section 163 in the area, resulting in police forces being called in from across the district.

According to reports, an abandoned house in Berinag has been illegally converted into a mosque to offer Namaz inside. Following protests by the Hindu outfits outside SDM office last month, an inquiry was ordered to ascertain the truth behind the raging controversy.

The demonstrations resumed this Sunday, with protesters voicing concerns that such construction activities disrupt the "religious harmony in Devbhoomi,".

Himanshu Joshi, leading the protests, stated, "This case has been ongoing for two months, and it's gaining attention across the country. Today's protest reflects our demand for the mosque's removal."

"The administration has informed us that the matter is currently pending in court. We insist that it be cordoned off immediately and brought under control," he told IANS.

One protester expressed frustration over the recent demolition of his home by authorities, reportedly for being built on unauthorised land.

"If my home can be demolished, then why can't this mosque be removed?" he questioned. "There should be one rule and one law for everyone, regardless of the nature of the structure."

The protest follows ongoing tensions regarding alleged illegal mosque constructions in other parts of Uttarakhand, such as Uttarkashi and Dharchula.
Mumbai, Nov 10 : BJP Rajya Sabha member Dhananjay Mahadik, who stoked controversy over the MahaYuti's Ladki Bahin Yojana as he warned that the monthly financial aid of Rs 1,500 will be discontinued for those women who are seen attending rallies of the opposition Congress, apologised soon after facing a backlash, saying that his statement was not meant to "insult" women.

"If you see women, who take Rs 1,500 from your (Ladki Bahin Yojana) scheme, in the Congress rallies, take their photos and write down their names. They will not work for our government (MahaYuti) but sing the opposition's tune," said Mahadik during an election rally.

He added that many women are now beating on their chests, saying they do not "want money but they want security".

"So do they not want money? Do they do politics with this money? If someone (a woman beneficiary) starts speaking loudly, give her the form and get her signature making her say that she does not want money under the Ladki Bahin Yojana). The financial aid to such women under the Ladki Bahin Yojana will be discontinued immediately. We don't have much money either," added Mahadik.

His statement comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed that the Ladki Bahin Yojana has become popular across the country. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also strongly defended its implementation, saying that it symbolises the conscious and judicious use of budgetary allocation for those who deserve such assistance for development.

Earlier, MahaYuti legislators Ravi Rana and Mangesh Shinde had also issued similar warnings to the women, saying that if the women beneficiaries under the Ladki Bahin Yojana support the opposition, they will be excluded from the scheme.

Mahadik's statement evoked angry reactions from the Congress.

Congress MP from Solapur Praniti Shinde demanded an apology from Mahadik while the Congress legislator Satej Patil claimed that Mahadik's statement showed his arrogance.

Amid the raging controversy, Mahadik in his post on X said, "I apologise unconditionally to any mothers and sisters who have been hurt by my statement. My statement was not meant to insult any mother or sister."

He added that while women fall victim to the false propaganda of the opposition party during the election campaign, his reaction was natural, especially for the women who are doing "vote jihad".

"I want to clearly say that the Ladki Bahin Yojana was successful only because of the MahaYuti government. I have always respected women in my personal and political life. My wife and I have always been doing good work for the self-reliance of women through Bhagirathi Mahila Sanstha for many years and will continue to do so. I pray to Ai Ambabai (Goddess Ambabai if Kolhapur) that my sisters who have been hurt by my statement will forgive me with all their hearts, taking note of my efforts towards the respect and empowerment of women," added Mahadik.

However, in his apology, Mahadik created another controversy saying that he was targeting those women who were "committing vote jihad".

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar have raised alarm over "vote jihad" referring to how the consolidation of Muslim votes led to the electoral loss of the MahaYuti in the Lok Sabha elections.

"Vote jihad" was seen at least in 14 out of 48 Lok Sabha seats, where people of a particular community unitedly defeated pro-Hindutva candidates.

However, BJP ally in the MahaYuti, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP has opposed the "vote jihad" or "Batenge to Katenge" claims. NCP president and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar argued that Maharashtra has been known for progressiveness and maintaining communal and social harmony.

(Sanjay Jog can be contacted at sanjay.j@ians.in)
Lahore, Nov 10 : Maryam Nawaz, Chief Minister of Pakistan's Punjab province, is being severely criticised by the opposition for embarking on a Europe trip even as several cities, including Lahore, Multan and surrounding areas, battle massive smog crisis, becoming the most polluted region in the world.

Maryam Nawaz travelled to Switzerland on Wednesday night, where she was joined by other family members, including her father and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who arrived from London.

Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the Punjab CM is in Geneva to undergo a medical checkup for a thyroid gland.

She is later expected to visit London with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief before returning home sometime next week.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Information Advisor Ali Saif on Sunday alleged that Maryam Nawaz had hired a private jet for the journey and the father-daughter duo are "enjoying the fresh air of Geneva" even as the people of Punjab are struggling to breathe.

"The plane was reportedly filled with trunks and suitcases. The country's condition is dire, but their royal expenses show no sign of ending," Pakistani daily The Express Tribune quoted Saif as saying.

"Despite multiple terms in power, they haven't established a single hospital where they can receive treatment themselves," he added.

Several Pakistani cities are currently facing a severe smog crisis as the air quality remains in an extremely hazardous zone.

Local media reported Sunday that the Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 1914 in Multan on Saturday and peaked at 970 in Lahore, making them the most polluted cities in the world.

A lockdown-like situation has already been created with the government declaring 'smog calamity across Punjab province.

After having already shut down schools till November 17, Pakistan Punjab's provincial government on Friday ordered a complete ban on the people's entry to public and private parks, zoos, playgrounds, historical places, monuments, museums and joy/play lands effective immediately due to the massive deterioration of air quality.

On Thursday, a three-year-old girl moved a petition against the provincial government in Lahore High Court (LHC) as the entire region reels under the severe impact of smog.

The petitioner, Amal Sekhera, through her lawyer maintained in the petition that young children and the elderly are severely affected by air pollution and sought justice for herself, friends and the future generations.

"Under Article 99-A of the Constitution, the government is obligated to provide citizens with a clean and healthy environment," the petition stated.

The petition criticised the Punjab government for failing to protect the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Pakistan.

As per the Swiss air quality monitor IQAir, Lahore has been topping the list of world's most polluted cities with the AQI levels exceeding 1000 several times during the past couple of weeks.

The smog has also affected nearby cities of Kasur, Sheikhupura, Muridke and Gujranwala.
Guwahati, Nov 10 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday took aim at the Congress party for the pre-poll violence in the Samaguri Assembly constituency, which is heading for by-elections next week.

He claimed that the Opposition party which does photo-op with the Constitution is actually resorting to violence and attacking BJP workers.

Taking to X, Sarma wrote, "I strongly condemn the attack on Hon'ble MLA Shri Jitu Goswami in Samaguri by @INCAssam supporters. This is the same Congress that proudly holds up the Constitution for the cameras, yet resorts to violence under cover of darkness to intimidate our karyakartas."

The Chief Minister also alleged that Congress has resorted to violence not out of fear of defeat in the elections but because its fundamental vote bank has made the Opposition workers do such extreme things.

"The real question is, why has Congress stooped to such depths in this by-election? It's not just fear of defeat but the desperation to hold on to their core vote bank that drives them to such extremes. Justice will be served, and we will not allow anyone to sabotage or undermine our democratic process," he added.

Assam's Samaguri seat saw a spike in pre-election violence late on Saturday night when suspected armed criminals opened fire on a BJP march that included Barhampur MLA Jitu Goswami, injuring at least three people.

Attackers targeted BJP politicians taking part in the march, including MLA Goswami, in the Moriputhi neighborhood of Samaguri.

According to witnesses, the attackers first pelted stones at the participants before striking them with sticks. Three people were hurt when unidentified persons opened fire on the group. The attack also caused some damage to Goswami's car.

The injured persons were sent to a hospital in Nagaon.

Recently, there have been sporadic incidents of violence occurring in the Samaguri constituency between the Congress and BJP supporters.

The contest in Samaguri between BJP and Congress has become very interesting. A total of five Assembly seats have by-elections on November 13 and except in Samaguri, where Congress heavyweight Rakibul Hussain has been winning since 2001, the rest of the four seats are with the BJP-led alliance.

The senior Congress leader ousted the three-time AIUDF MP and party chief Badruddin Ajmal in the Dhubri Lok Sabha seat with a margin of more than 10 lakh votes in this year's Lok Sabha polls.

The Congress leadership kept trust in Rakibul Hussain and gave a ticket to his son Tanzil Hussain, in Samaguri.

According to pollsters, due to the dominance of Muslim voters in the Samaguri seat, Congress has an edge over BJP in this seat.

BJP has fielded Diplu Ranjan Sarma in Samaguri to take on Tanzil Hussain.
Raver, Nov 10 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday accused Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) of playing appeasement policies with the sole intention of achieving power in Maharashtra.

The Home Minister at the poll rally in Jalgaon district's Raver for BJP and MahaYuti candidates, said: "An organisation of Ulemas demanded 10 per cent reservation for the Muslims in Maharashtra from the Congress. The Maha Vikas Aghadi has crossed all the limits of appeasement due to the greed for power. They cannot do good for Maharashtra."

He added that at least 50 per cent of reservations have already been allocated and to give reservations to the minorities, they would have to take away reservations of the SCs, STs and backward class.

"The Aghadi (Maha Vikas Aghadi comprising Congress, Shiv Sena UBT and NCP-SP) is blinded by the power. However, I assure you that minorities will not be given reservations," the Home Minister said.

He asserted that the BJP's alliance has been formed to protect the culture of Maharashtra, adding that the BJP's alliance is an alliance of parties following the principles of Shivaji Maharaj which will make Maharashtra prosperous.

"November 10 is a very important day not only for Maharashtra but for the whole country as it is being celebrated as 'Shiv Pratap Day'. In 1659, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj hoisted the saffron flag after killing Afzal Khan," the Home Minister said.

He appealed to vote for the BJP and MahaYuti which will follow the principles of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Amit Shah strongly defended the Centre's move to table the Waqf Board Amendment Bill saying that opposition parties are strongly opposing it.

"Recently, entire villages in Karnataka were declared as Waqf property. Many temples, farmers' land, and houses of villagers became Wakf property. The same is going to happen in Maharashtra as soon as the Aghadi government is formed, but don't worry, Modi has decided to amend the Waqf Act," the Home Minister said.

"When our coalition government named Aurangabad after Maharaj Sambhaji, the Aghadi people protested. When Ram Temple was built, they opposed it, they opposed the removal of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, they opposed the abolition of triple talaq," he asserted.

The Home Minister led a scathing attack against the Maha Vikas Aghadi for accusing the MahaYuti government of industries not coming to Maharashtra.

"When the MVA government was in power and Uddhav ji was the Chief Minister, Maharashtra was in the fourth place in FDI. Devendra Fadnavis became Deputy Chief Minister and Eknath became Chief Minister. For the last two years, the highest FDI in the whole of India has come to Maharashtra. Maharashtra is number one in investment," he claimed.

The Home Minister also attacked the MVA for criticising the Ladki Bahin Yojana and said that as soon as the MahaYuti government is formed the monthly financial assistance under the scheme will be increased to Rs 2,100 from Rs 1,500.

"Under the Ladli Yojana, women get Rs 1500, and the Aghadi intends to stop it if they come to power. Be rest assured, that the MahaYuti government is going to be formed. As soon as the government is formed, Rs 1,500 will be increased to Rs 2100," the Home Minister said.

Further, Amit Shah said that the MahaYuti government through PM Kisan will give Rs 15,000 annually to every farmer and it will increase 20 per cent MSP.

"The pensions of the senior citizens, widows and divyangs will be increased to Rs 2,100 from Rs 1,500. Every year 25 lakh jobs will be created by the MahaYuti government," he said.
Chandigarh, Nov 10 : The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Sunday asked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to clarify if party MP Ravneet Singh Bittu's statement equating farmers, agitating against cuts in procurement and shortage of DAP fertiliser, with the Taliban was the stand of the party or the MP's personal belief.

In a statement here, senior party leader Bikram Singh Majithia said "It is shocking that Ravneet Bittu is equating farmers with the Taliban and threatening them with the registration of false cases even as the BJP is mum on this issue. The party should make it clear whether the hatred being spread by Bittu has its blessings or is the personal agenda of the MP".

Majithia said instead of encouraging those indulging in such divisive politics, the Central government should try to put balm on the wounds of farmers.

"We cannot forget that 800 farmers were martyred during the Kisan Andolan. Recently we witnessed the murder of Shubhkarman at Khanauri, besides atrocities inflicted on Pritpal Singh after he was kidnapped by Haryana Police".

The SAD leader said all this was followed by the Centre's failure to lift foodgrains from Punjab, resulting in the present glut in mandis as well as failure to supply even the allocated supply of DAP fertiliser to farmers of the state.

"This is causing a sense of alienation among farmers who feel the Central government is taking revenge against them for participating in the Kisan Andolan".

Asking the Centre to address issues of lifting of paddy and supply of DAP, Majithia also called for implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report in toto.

"Right now brazen assertions are being made that the Swaminathan Commission report has been implemented which is incorrect and amounts to deceiving the farmers," he added.
New Delhi, Nov 10 : BJP leader Gaurav Vallabh on Sunday launched a blistering attack on the Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) government, alleging that it prioritises a "Bangladeshi Ghuspaithiya (infiltrators) Swagat Yojana" over developmental work.

In a conversation with IANS, Vallabh asserted that the people of Jharkhand are ready for a change and support a BJP-led government.

Addressing Soren's recent comments suggesting that Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma is attempting to topple the JMM government, Vallabh stated, "Soren has acknowledged that his government is on its way out. Thank you for admitting defeat before the elections. People across Jharkhand, including tribal communities, have resolved to bring in a new government."

Vallabh further criticised Soren's governance, saying, "You have failed the youth, women, elderly, disabled, and widows of Jharkhand."

He alleged that the JMM government is more focused on sheltering Bangladeshi infiltrators than addressing the state's needs, which he claims has led to the erosion of local support.

Turning his focus to the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections, Vallabh expressed confidence in BJP's prospects, critiquing Congress-governed states for their financial conditions.

"Look at the financial condition of Himachal, Telangana, and Karnataka. The Karnataka government is allegedly draining resources to fund campaigns in Maharashtra. Wherever Congress governs, corruption takes over. The Karnataka government is looting the people there so that it can give money to the Congress candidates in Maharashtra and spend money on campaigning," he asserted.

"The Prime Minister is right -- Maharashtra should not be under the Congress royal family's control," he said.

He further added that the situation is similar in Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka and the people there will also vote for the BJP in the next term.

Referring to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Ek hai to safe hai" and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's "Batenge to katenge" remarks, Vallabh defended the statements, asserting that they promote unity.

"If the people of this country stay united, they will prosper," Vallabh said.

He also accused Kharge of engaging in appeasement politics, arguing, "You want to practice politics of appeasement, you want to make your policies keeping one religion in mind, you do not think about the majority community, you think only about one particular community. That is why you do not understand what we are saying. And we are saying that if every person of the country stays united, then he will remain safe and 'Batenge to katenge' (if we do not stay united and if we are divided)."

"So this is the same thing. They are confused only because they want to do politics of appeasement," he added.
New Delhi, Nov 10 : After a two-year-long stint, Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud formally demits the highest judicial office of the country on Sunday.

Elevated as an apex court judge on May 13, 2016, he, in his over eight-year-long stint at the Supreme Court, pronounced several landmark judgements.

Article 370 revocation

A 5-judge Constitution Bench, headed by CJI Chandrachud, had upheld the revocation of Article 370, while ordering the Election Commission to take steps to conduct elections to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly by September 30, 2024.

The bench, also comprising Justices S.K. Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, B.R. Gavai, and Surya Kant, had left open the question of whether the Parliament can extinguish the character of statehood by converting a state into one or more Union Territories, but said that "restoration of statehood shall take place at the earliest and as soon as possible".

In May, the apex court dismissed a batch of review pleas filed against the decision.

Same-sex marriage

A 5-judge Constitution bench headed by CJI Chandrachud had declined to read the gender-neutral "person" in place of "male" and "female" existing under the Special Marriage Act. It unanimously agreed that there exists no unqualified right to marriage and accepted the Centre's proposal that a committee, headed by the Cabinet Secretary, be set up to examine what administrative steps could be taken to address basic social benefit concerns relating to same-sex couples.

The bench, also comprising Justices Khanna, Hima Kohli, B.V. Nagarathna, and P.S. Narasimha, left it to the legislature to take a call on enacting the marriage equality law. It had asked the Union and state governments to ensure that the LGBTQ+ community is not discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation and queer individuals are not refused access to any goods or services.

Non-consensual unnatural sexual acts in BNS

A bench, headed by CJI D.Y. Chandrachud, refused to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking criminalisation of non-consensual unnatural sex, sodomy, and bestiality in the new Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), like the IPC, saying that the apex court cannot compel the legislature to classify a particular act as a criminal offence but granted liberty to the petitioner to make a representation before the Union government.

Electoral bonds

A five-judge Constitution Bench, headed by CJI Chandrachud, had struck down the electoral bonds scheme, saying that denying voters the right to know the details of funding of political parties would lead to a dichotomous situation and the funding of parties cannot be treated differently from that of the candidates who contest elections.

In a unanimous verdict, the Bench, also comprising Justices Gavai, Khanna, J.B. Pardiwala, and Manoj Misra, had directed the State Bank of India to forthwith stop the issuance of electoral bonds and ordered the Election Commission to publish, on its official website, the details of the political parties which have received contributions through electoral bonds since April 2019.

Subsequently, a bench headed by the CJI declined to entertain a PIL seeking a SIT probe under the supervision of a retired apex court judge into an alleged scam in poll financing using electoral bonds.

UP Madarsa Act

A bench, headed by CJI Chandrachud, set aside the Allahabad High Court ruling which had struck down the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madarsa Education Act, 2004, which had held that the madarsa education was bound to be struck down for violation of the basic structure and principles of secularism.

The Bench, also comprising Justices Pardiwala and Misra, held the Madarsa Education Act "unconstitutional" to the extent it regulates higher education in conflict with the UGC Act, and held that Article 21-A of the Constitution and the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 have to be read consistently with the right of religious and linguistic minorities to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.

AMU minority status case

In a 4:3 decision, a seven-judge Constitution Bench headed by CJI Chandrachud overruled its 1967 five-judge bench verdict which had laid down that Aligarh Muslim University, being a Central varsity, cannot claim to be a minority institution.

"The view taken in the 1967 Azeez Basha case that an educational institution is not established by a minority if it derives its legal character through a statute is overruled," it ruled.

The majority opinion, concurred by Justices Khanna, Pardiwala, and Misra, added that a regular Bench should decide the question of the minority status of the AMU and the correctness of the Allahabad High Court's 2006 order, striking down the 1981 amendment conferring minority status on the varsity, in view of the principles laid down in its latest judgment. Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta, and S.C. Sharma wrote separate and dissenting opinions.

MPs/MLAs prosecution for bribery

In its unanimous verdict, a 7-judge Constitution Bench headed by CJI Chandrachud overruled a 1998 judgment granting immunity to lawmakers from criminal prosecution for accepting bribes to make a speech or vote in the Parliament or state legislatures.

'Quota within quota' permissible

A 7-judge Constitution Bench judgment, headed by CJI Chandrachud, held that sub-classification within Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) would be permissible for providing benefits of affirmative action. It suggested the application of the "creamy layer" principle for availing quota benefits, but with a caveat that while providing for sub-classification, the government would not be entitled to reserve 100 per cent of seats available for SCs/STs for a particular sub-class to the exclusion of other castes in the List.

In a 6:1 decision, it overturned its 2004 judgment, which had ruled against giving preferential treatment to certain sub-castes within SCs "as the members of the reserved category groups form a homogeneous class incapable of further regrouping or classification".

Caste-based division of labour in prisons

A bench headed by CJI Chandrachud held it unconstitutional the practice of employing "lower caste" jail inmates in cleaning and manual scavenging work in prisons. The Bench, also comprising Justices Pardiwala and Misra, directed that the "caste" column and any references to caste in prisoners' registers inside the prisons be deleted in the prison manuals and related laws.

Effective implementation of Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006

A bench, headed by CJI Chandrachud and comprising Justice Pardiwala and Mishra, said that child marriage deprives children of their agency, autonomy and right to fully develop and enjoy their childhood. It issued a slew of directions for the effective implementation of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, including ordering the state governments and Union Territories to appoint officers solely responsible for discharging the functions of Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs) at the district level.

Section 6A of Citizenship Act

A five-member Constitution Bench, headed by CJI Chandrachud, upheld the constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955, which was inserted to give effect to the Assam Accord and formed the basis of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam in 2019.

Interpretation of Article 39(b) of the Constitution

A seven-judge Constitution Bench, headed by CJI Chandrachud ruled that not every resource owned by an individual can be considered a "material resource of the community", merely because it meets the qualifier of "material needs".

The bench, also comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy, Nagarathna, Sudhanshu Dhulia, Pardiwala, Misra, Rajesh Bindal, S.C. Sharma and A.G. Masih, was dealing with questions as to whether the term "material resources of the community" in Article 39 (b) include privately owned property and whether laws intended to achieve this provision's objective of redistributing material resources for the "common good" be exempted from legal challenges based on violations of fundamental rights.

While Justice Nagarathna authored a separate but partially concurring opinion, Justice Dhulia penned down a dissenting judgment.

NEET-UG 2024

Refusing to order a fresh exam, a bench headed by CJI Chandrachud observed there was no systematic leak of the question paper of the NEET-UG 2024 examination.

Adani-Hindenburg controversy

A bench, headed by CJI Chandrachud, refused to form any SIT or group of experts to conduct the investigation in the Adani-Hindenburg controversy and said the facts of the case did not warrant a transfer of investigation from the SEBI, holding that reports prepared by third-party organisations such as the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and Hindenburg Research cannot be regarded as "conclusive proof".

Manipur violence

A bench headed by CJI Chandrachud took suo moto cognisance of the disturbing viral videos where two tribal women were paraded naked and sexually assaulted in Manipur and set up a committee comprising three woman judges tasked with collecting information related to violence against women in Manipur as well as monitoring the conditions at relief camps and deciding on compensation to victims.

LMV licence holders need no separate endorsement to drive light transport vehicles

A five-judge Constitution Bench, headed by CJI D.Y. Chandrachud, reiterated that Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) licence holders do not require any separate endorsement to drive a transport vehicle of the LMV class if the gross vehicle weight is under 7,500 Kg.

Cases against MPs/MLAs

A bench headed by CJI Chandrachud directed Chief Justices of all High Courts across the country to register suo moto cases to monitor the expeditious disposal of criminal cases pending against MPs and MLAs, and a special bench to be formed in every High Court will issue continuing directions to curb the criminalisation of politics and may seek assistance from the Advocate General and other officers of the state government.

Recruitment rules cannot be amended midway

A Constitution Bench, headed by CJI Chandrachud, reiterated that recruitment rules cannot be amended after the selection process has commenced, unless provided otherwise in the extant rules or the recruitment advertisement, and if a change in eligibility criteria is permitted under rules or advertisement, it will have to satisfy the test of non-arbitrariness.

Appointment of arbitrators in public-private contract

A 5-judge Constitution Bench, headed by CJI Chandrachud, ruled that the unilateral appointment of arbitrators by a government entity in a public-private contract violates Article 14 of the Constitution, as since the activities of the government have a public element, it is incumbent upon the government to ensure that it enters into a contract with the public without adopting any unfair or unreasonable procedure.

The majority opinion, concurred by Justices Pardiwala and Misra, held that the principle of equal treatment of parties applies at all stages of arbitration proceedings, including in the appointment of arbitrators. In separate opinions, Justice Roy opined that the independence and impartiality of the arbitrator must be examined within the statutory framework of the Arbitration Act and public law and constitutional principles should not be imported into it, while Justice Narasimha said that arbitration agreements enabling one of the parties to unilaterally constitute an arbitral tribunal do not inspire confidence of independence and after scrutinising these, the court can hold them to be invalid.

Unstamped arbitration agreements valid in law

In a unanimous decision, a 7-judge Constitution Bench, headed by CJI Chandrachud, overruled its earlier decision that an arbitration agreement would be invalid or void ab initio if the underlying contract was not stamped as per the relevant Stamp Act, ruling that non-stamping or insufficient stamping does not render an agreement void but merely makes it inadmissible in evidence, and non-stamping or insufficient stamping of an agreement is a curable defect under the Indian Stamp Act.

Review of 2021 Canon India judgment

A bench, headed by CJI Chandrachud, allowed a petition seeking a review of the 2021 Canon India judgment, where it was held that the officers of the DRI who were not otherwise officers of customs, could not have been assigned as the "proper officers" under the Customs Act.

Decriminalisation of homosexuality

In the landmark 2018 Navtej Johar judgment, the top court unanimously declared Section 377 of the now-repealed Indian Penal Code (IPC) unconstitutional "in so far as it criminalised consensual sexual conduct between adults of the same sex" on a writ petition filed by social activist Johar and five others belonging to sexual and gender minority communities.

(Then) Justice Chandrachud, as part of the five-judge bench, had authored a separate but concurring opinion.
Jammu, Nov 10 : The army said that the terrorist group involved in the abduction and murder of two Village Defence Guards (VDCs) of Ohli village in Kishtwar district is the same one that has been engaged by the security forces in the gunfight in the Chaas area of the same district on Sunday.

Four army soldiers were injured in the initial firing exchanges between the terrorists and the security forces in the Chaas area on Sunday.

"The injured have been shifted to hospital where attending doctors said that three of the injured Para commandos have sustained critical gunshot injuries," officials said.

Nagrota headquartered White Knight Corps of the army said on X today: "On 10 November 24, based on specific intelligence input regarding presence of terrorists, a joint Operation was launched by #Security forces in general area #Bhart Ridge #Kishtwar. This is the same group which had abducted and killed two innocent villagers (Village Defence Guards) in the Kishtwar region two days back. Contact was established and the firefight ensued. Operation is in progress."

On Saturday, a terrorist was killed in an encounter in the Rampora locality of Sopore in Baramulla district. A day before that, two foreign terrorists were killed in another gunfight with the security forces in the Sagipora locality of Sopore town.

Once known as the hometown and political bastion of hardline separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Sopore has traditionally been the hotbed of separatist sentiment in the Valley. Due to the overall improvement in the law & order situation and pro-active anti-terror thrust by the security forces, Sopore had not only returned to normal in the last few years, but a perceptible change of political loyalty also came to light when the people participated in the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in large numbers.

Two back-to-back encounters in Sopore have brought to light the basic reality that unless terrorism and its ecosystem are completely wiped out in J&K, the situation will continue to be dicey and peace will remain fragile. It is for this reason that the Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha, who controls the police and remains responsible for law & order even after an elected government took office in J&K, has recently directed the security forces to spare no effort in eradicating terrorism, its sympathisers, harbourers, and the terror ecosystem that sustains violence.

Intelligence agencies say that the handlers of terrorists across the border have directed the terrorists in J&K to carry out attacks in order to remain in news headlines irrespective of whether the victim is a civilian or from any security force - police, army, or paramilitary.
New Delhi, Nov 10 : On the third day of Delhi Nyay Yatra, city Congress chief Devender Yadav on Sunday thanked Delhiites for their "overwhelming" support, saying that people are looking up to the party to save them from misrule and injustice of the AAP government.

New Delhi, Nov 10 (IANS) On the third day of Delhi Nyay Yatra, city Congress chief Devender Yadav on Sunday thanked Delhiites for their "overwhelming" support, saying that people are looking up to the party to save them from misrule and injustice of the AAP government.

While passing through areas like Shanti Nagar and Inderlok, the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president took brief halts to listen to the grievances of shopkeepers, residents and market association members.

He also offered prayers at Inderlok Gurdwara.

"We want to remain in touch with the city residents and know about their problems. This will help us devise policies in future that will mitigate their hardships," said Yadav.

Yadav said Arvind Kejriwal and his associates were taking credit for works done by the Congress government during its 15-year rule to make Delhi a green and clean Capital city in the world.

He said during the Yatra, Congress workers were interacting with residents of every Assembly constituency to expose the inaction and incompetence of the AAP government, which squandered the past 10 years in constant fights with the Lieutenant Governor and the bureaucracy under Arvind Kejriwal and Atishi.

Yadav said that he was overwhelmed by the support of the people for the Yatra throughout its route, as people expect the Congress to usher in a new era of progress and development in the Capital, and save them from the misrule and injustice of the AAP government.

He said that the aim of the Yatra was to get justice to the unemployed youth, women and the elderly, who have not received their pensions, lakhs of poor people who have not been issued rations cards and other suffering citizens, as the Aam Aadmi Party and the BJP have done gross injustice to them through corruption and misrule over the past 10 years.

The Delhi Congress chief said that when Congress workers and leaders interacted with the local people during the Yatra, they received a litany of complaints like getting dirty water or not getting water through the DJB pipes, accumulated garbage everywhere as the MCD vans rarely come to lift the filth, water-logging and mishaps during monsoon, air pollution and traffic congestion and other such problems.

He said that while people suffered, Kejriwal and his associates in the Aam Aadmi Party and Government prospered and filled their pockets by implementing the corrupt liquor policy, construction of classrooms and other such deals.

The third day of the Yatra coincided with five-time MLA and Congress leader Chaudhary Mateen Ahmed joining the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Mateen Ahmed has represented the Seelampur Assembly constituency five times from 1993 to 2015. Previously, he served as the Vice President of the Delhi Jal Board and was appointed chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board under former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

On Saturday, the Yatra passed through Chandni Chowk main market, Sadar Bazar, and Azad Market before culminating at Bara Hindu Rao after covering nearly 25 km.

The Delhi Congress Yatra is being held in four phases, starting November 8, and it shall culminate in Timarpur on December 4.

The first phase of the Yatra would cover 16 Assembly constituencies starting from Chandni Chowk and the second phase from November 15 to 20 would cover 18 seats.

As many as 16 Assembly constituencies would be covered in the third phase from November 22 to 27 and 20 seats in the fourth from November 29 to December 4.
New Delhi, Nov 10 : Union Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar launched the 'EV as a Service' programme of Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL), aimed at boosting e-mobility in government offices with the deployment of 5,000 e-cars in government departments over the next two years.

The Union Minister flagged off an EV rally comprising vehicles in multiple segments with the call to action on adopting clean mobility alternatives to reduce emissions.

The programme held at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here, marks a significant step forward in advancing the adoption of electric cars in Central and State Government ministries/departments, Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) and institutions.

CESL, a subsidiary of Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), as part of its E-Services drive, is leveraging a flexible procurement model, the programme allows for the deployment of a variety of e-car models, enabling government offices to choose e-cars that best align with their operational requirements.

It not only supports the government's environmental sustainability vision but also aligns with India's ambitious goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2070, according to an official statement.

Enabling EV adoption within government fleets, CESL is contributing significantly to cutting carbon emissions, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and bolstering India's energy security.

The CESL has already deployed nearly 2000 nos. of E-Cars across India and is also facilitating the deployment of approximately 17,000 e-buses.

The minister said, "The 'EV as a Service' programme exemplifies CESL's dedication to sustainable innovation and showcases its ability to address the urgent need for clean mobility solutions."

"I commend CESL for not only driving change but for setting an inspiring example in our nation's journey toward greener transportation. With initiatives like these, India moves closer to a future where clean energy is the norm, creating a lasting impact for generations to come," the minister added.

"The launch of 'EV as a Service' follows the recent introduction of the PM E-DRIVE Scheme, a national initiative aimed at fast-tracking India's shift to electric mobility," said Vishal Kapoor, MD & CEO, CESL.

"At CESL, the future of transportation is electric, and by facilitating EV adoption in government fleets, we are enabling large-scale emissions reduction and enhancing energy security for India. This programme aligns stakeholders - from manufacturers and fleet operators to policymakers and users - creating a collaborative ecosystem poised for growth," he explained.

The launch event saw an impressive turnout and featured an EV Exhibition and an EV rally comprising more than 100 electric vehicles from a wide array of segments, including e-bicycles, electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, four-wheelers, e-tractors, e-mobile charging vans, e-cargo pickups, e-buses, and e-trucks.

Senior officers from Central Government Ministries and Departments such as the Ministry of Power, Ministry of Heavy Industries, Department of Revenue, and Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs attended the event.

Further, various E-Mobility Original Equipment Makers (OEMs), think-tanks and EV enthusiasts attended the event.
Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 10 : With the first seaplane landing in the Kochi backwaters on Sunday, seaplane tourism is set to take off in Kerala.

The seaplane, which took off from Vijayawada, touched down at the Bolgatty backwaters in Kochi at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Tourism Minister P.A. Muhammad Riyas will officially flag off the trial seaplane service from Bolgatty to the Mattupetty reservoir near Munnar at 9:30 a.m. on Monday.

This marks a major milestone in Keralaas ambitious plan to link its scenic waterways through aerial routes. Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) has played a crucial role by providing technical expertise and infrastructure for the seaplane project.

With its extensive network of rivers, lakes, and lagoons, Kerala is well-suited for seaplane tourism, offering travellers a unique experience of the waterways combined with the thrill of flight.

The new seaplane services are expected to open up fresh tourism avenues, enabling visitors to enjoy stunning aerial views. Kerala, famed for its backwaters and extensive coastline, stands to gain significantly from this tourism innovation.

This initiative is anticipated to boost tourism and contribute to Keralaas economic growth by creating jobs and improving connectivity to some of the stateas most remote and scenic areas.

Tourism department officials highlighted that seaplanes offer the advantage of large windows, providing passengers with breathtaking views over Keralaas landscapes, particularly the Western Ghats and Munnar.

The amphibious aircraft, capable of taking off and landing on both land and water, can carry up to nine passengers. While the tourism sector is enthusiastic about the seaplane project, Kerala faces challenges in making the initiative sustainable in the long term.

The seaplane project has been introduced under the Civil Aviation Ministryas Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) UDAN.

Kerala Tourism had proposed launching seaplane services from various locations, including Kovalam, Ashtamudi Lake, Kumarakom, Idukki Dam, Mattupetty Dam, Punnamada, Malampuzha Dam, Banasura Sagar Dam, and Chandragiri River in Kasaragod.

The government identified these water bodies for seaplane operations after the Civil Aviation Ministry simplified regulations set by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

These changes allow non-scheduled operators to enter the market by eliminating the need for waterdrome licences and easing compliance requirements.

Notably, in 2013, the Kerala government invested Rs 14 crore to set up waterdromes on Ashtamudi and Punnamada lakes. However, the project was halted due to protests from the fishing community, primarily led by pro-Left unions.

According to sources within the Kerala government, the state had considered a proposal from a private operator to link four airports and several major water bodies, including those in Kochi.

The operator quoted Rs 54 crore for a two-year contract to provide a four-hour daily service connecting these locations, but the state has not yet made a decision on this proposal.
Chandigarh, Nov 10 : A three-day literary extravaganza - Abhivyakti 4.0 - an exemplary initiative of the Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA) concluded on Sunday on a note of high positivity and resilience with former diplomat Navtej S. Sarna and celebrated author Radhakrishnan Pillai sharing their insights on trials and tribulations of writing as an intellectual pursuit.

The day's proceedings in Chandimandir, near here, started with a keynote address by Pillai, this was followed by Lt General Manoj Kumar Katiyar, GOC-in-C, Western Command, releasing 'General's Jottings,' a book by Lt General Kamaljit Singh (retd).

Pillai in his keynote address shared his views of different aspects of book writing and also emphasised the need for developing a reading habit to be a good writer.

"Each of us has a story to tell and we need to know how to tell that story. India is a country that is reading in multiple languages but the books that are being read are mainly textbooks. So, we have the opportunity to make people read non-text books as well," said Dr Pillai.

In his conversation with senior journalist Vipin Pubby, Sarna, India's former Ambassador to the U.S., shared his thoughts on different dimensions of creative writing in reference to his noted work -- 'The Exile and Crimson: A Novel'.

Admitting the dilemma of writing historical fiction, Sarna said: "Distorting or not distorting facts is a challenging proposition. I have been very careful about details. I have used fiction only to fill in the gaps."

Sarna said, "Many things are not known about Udham Singh. Don't distort history. Be true to history. Dates have to be true."

Sarna also spoke about Maharaja Duleep Singh, the youngest son of Sher-E-Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Maharani Zinda, the central theme of his novel 'The Exile'.

A lively panel discussion on 'Rekindling the Habit of Reading' moderated by journalist Soni Sangwan, saw panellists Ajay Jain, Vandana Palli and Saguna Jain dwelling upon challenges and opportunities of inculcating the habit of reading among today's youngsters.

Moderated by Ambreen Zaidi, a panel discussion on 'Digital Narratives: Storytelling in the Age of Screens' brought experts such as Shikha Akhilesh Saxena, Gunjan Mishra, Amrinder Maan and Maj Nithi CJ (retd) together, delving deep into the subject and challenges ahead.

Editor-in-Chief of The Tribune Jyoti Malhotra in her closing remarks highlighted the role of literature in society and also shared her experience and journey as a female journalist.

Shuchi Katiyar, Regional President AWWA, proposed the vote of thanks. The grand closing ceremony of Abhivyakti 4.0 also saw a medley of regional dances by a cultural troupe of the NZCC, Patiala.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 10 : US President-elect Donald Trump has strong relationships with Big Tech CEOs like Elon Musk and has talked about positive relationships with Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos and Meta Co-founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Other support from Silicon Valley comes from the disdain for Lina Khan, Biden's strong anti-trust FTC chair who has been very hard on Big Tech, according to a report by Counterpoint Research.

"With a potentially more business-friendly FTC chair during the Trump administration, and likely deregulation in the financial industry, we expect more M&A activity by Big Tech," the report mentioned.

Trump's support from social media companies is not as prominent due to his repeated claims that their sites are biased against conservatives.

Now that Trump is elected, Brendan Carr, a member of the FCC, would likely be named FCC chairman.

"Carr has proposed to deploy an agency against censorship by Big Tech in the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025. What that would specifically entail is unclear but as the FCC chairman, Carr's actions could include halting mergers of media companies and regulating social media," the report said.

When it comes to TikTok, a Trump presidency provides some sense of relief as Trump campaigned on TikTok-friendly rhetoric and suggested that he may repeal the sell-off legislation, already passed by the Senate.

It is likely that he would reserve that action and use it as leverage in unrelated China negotiations.

According to the report, as we foresee a generally more relaxed climate for Big Tech under a Trump administration, the regulatory environment will diverge from other jurisdictions, most notably the EU, whose powerful European Commissioner for Competition has been a thorn in the side of US Big Tech companies.

High-profile tax and anti-trust cases have been brought against the likes of Apple, Amazon, Qualcomm, Google, Meta, Microsoft and Mastercard.

In fact, in September 2019, Trump described Commissioner Margrethe Vestager as the EU's "tax lady" who "hates the US, perhaps worse than any person I have ever met".

"Regulatory differences, in addition to potential tariffs on the EU, could further inflame tensions between the US and the 27-member bloc," the report stressed.
Bhubaneswar, Nov 10 : A five-member team of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 including its chairman Jagadambika Pal arrived in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.

A meeting of the JPC with various stakeholders is scheduled to be held in Bhubaneswar on Monday.

The proposed meeting is a part of JPC's study tour in five cities - Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Patna, and Lucknow - between November 9 and 14 to collect the opinions of various stakeholders in these states on the bill.

Speaking to the media persons, Jagdambika Pal on Sunday said that if the government wished, it could get the Bill passed after it was tabled in the Parliament. But the government took the initiative to refer the bill to a JPC so that the poor Muslims, common people, pasmanda, youth, women, and children can get the benefits of Waqf in a transparent manner.

"We are visiting different states and discussing with people on the proposed amendments introduced in the Waqf act. As part of this, we will hold day-long meetings in Bhubaneswar on Monday to know the sentiments here on the bill [Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024]," said Pal.

On the other hand, Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi, who is also a member of the JPC, told mediapersons that the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has constituted a JPC comprising 31 members of Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha.

She also stated that the Union government aims to introduce the 44 amendments in the Waqf Act, 1995 taking the opinion of all the stakeholders.

She also said that the Waqf Board possesses huge acres of land, so it is the duty of the government to ensure its proper governance and the administration.

The Waqf is a permanent dedication of property by a person for a purpose that is recognised as pious, religious or charitable by Muslim law.

In 1995, the Waqf Act was enacted by the Central government to regulate Waqf properties in the country. However, the act came under criticism over illegal encroachment and mismanagement.

To address the issues, the Central government introduced the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in the Lok Sabha this August.
Kabul, Nov 10 : A total of 500 drug users have recovered and reintegrated with their families after receiving treatment in a rehabilitation center in Kabul, the national capital of Afghanistan, the office of the Deputy Minister of Counter-Narcotics of the Ministry of Interior said on Sunday.

The recovered addicts, after a four-month medical treatment and rehabilitation, as well as receiving professional and vocational trainings, have reunited with their families, it said.

Meanwhile, police have rounded up 126 people with drug dependence and shifted them to a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul for treatment, it added, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Afghan caretaker government, in addition to taking the drug users to rehabilitation centers, has banned poppy cultivation and drug trafficking in efforts to keep the nation from drug menace and addiction.
Amaravati, Nov 10 : Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Y. S. Sharmila Reddy has appointed coordinators for Assembly constituencies to strengthen the party from the grassroots levels in the state.

She announced coordinators for 50 Assembly constituencies on Sunday. She said the move is aimed at strengthening the party from the grassroots and rebuilding everlasting relations with the people in the state.

She said the coordinators for the rest of the Assembly segments will be announced in the next phase.

The state has 175 Assembly constituencies.

Congratulating the new coordinators, she wished them to do their best in the services of the people of Andhra Pradesh.

About 35 coordinators have been named for Assembly constituencies in the Rayalaseema region. Only two coordinators have been appointed in north coastal Andhra while the remaining appointments were made for constituencies in south coastal Andhra.

Sharmila has named M. Dhruva Kumar Reddy as the coordinator for Pulivendula constituency in her home district Kadapa. The constituency is represented by her brother and political rival Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.

The former chief minister and YSR Congress Party president Jagan Mohan Reddy won the Pulivendula seat for a third consecutive term in the elections held in May 2024. Dhruva Kumar Reddy had contested as a Congress candidate and finished a distant third.

For the Kuppam constituency, represented by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Sharmila has appointed A. Govindharajulu as the coordinator. Govindharajulu had finished poor third in the recent elections.

Chandrababu Naidu has been winning the Kuppam seat since 1989.

Former minister and former APCC president Sake Sailajanath will be the coordinator for the Singanamala constituency. He had contested unsuccessfully from here in the recent polls.

Sharmila led the party in the simultaneous elections to the state Assembly and Lok Sabha held in May. However, for a third consecutive time, the Congress party drew a blank in both the Assembly and Lok Sabha.

The Congress party was virtually wiped out in 2014 as the party failed to win a single Assembly or Lok Sabha seat due to public anger over the bifurcation of the united Andhra Pradesh. The party lost several senior leaders who joined either YSRCP or TDP.

The party failed to open its account in 2019 as well. There were hopes that Sharmilaas appointment as state party chief would change the partyas fortunes in 2024. However, it once again failed to open its account.
New Delhi, Nov 10 : Singapore Airlines is poised to invest Rs 3,194.5 crore in Air India following the anticipated merger of Vistara with the Tata Group-owned airline.

Vistara was set up in 2015 as a joint venture with Singapore Airlines holding a 49 per cent stake in the Indian carrier and the Tata Group owning a majority 51 per cent share.

Singapore Airlines said that after the completion of the merger in November 2024, SIA's additional investment is likely to total Rs 31,94.5 crore. According to the Singapore Airlines statement, further capital injections in Air India will be made after evaluating the airline's funding demands and the financial options which will be available.

"The Group continues to strengthen its foundations with strategic initiatives including the Air India-Vistara merger and S$1.1 billion A350-900 retrofit programme," Singapore Airlines said in a statement. The company reported a net profit of $742 million for the first half of the current financial year.

"The Air India-Vistara merger is expected to be completed within November 2024. For SIA, the consideration comprises its 49 per cent interest in Vistara and INR 20,58.5 crore in cash (equivalent to S$318 million), in exchange for a 25.1 per cent equity interest in the enlarged Air India. Upon the completion of the transaction, the Group expects to recognise a non-cash accounting gain of approximately S$1.1 billion," Singapore Airlines said.

SIA further stated that "at the same time, it will also start equity accounting for its share of Air India's financial results. The merger, announced by SIA and Tata Sons (Tata) in November 2022, includes an agreement for SIA to contribute its share of any funding previously provided by Tata prior to the completion of the merger, together with relevant funding costs, up to INR 5,020 crore(equivalent to S$880 million, based on the prevailing exchange rates at that time). This would allow SIA to maintain a 25.1 per cent stake in Air India.

The merger between Air India and Vistara was announced on 29 November 2022 and is scheduled to be completed on 11 November 2024. Once the merger is complete, Singapore Airlines will own a 25.1 per cent stake in the combined entity.

The merged entity will have a significant presence across all key Indian air travel segments including domestic, international, full-service, and low-cost operations. This will strengthen SIA's multi-hub strategy, allowing it to continue participating directly in India's large and fast-growing aviation market, the statement said.

Air India and SIA recently agreed to significantly expand their codeshare agreement, adding 11 Indian cities and another 40 international destinations to their network. This marks the first extensive expansion of codeshare arrangements between the airlines since 2010, offering customers enhanced travel options between Singapore and India, as well as beyond. Both carriers will continue to explore ways to deepen their commercial partnership.

The SIA Group revenue rose $335 million (+3.7%) to $9,497 million, with passenger flown revenue up $118 million and cargo flown revenue higher by $42 million. Increased competition and higher passenger capacity in key markets exerted pressure on yields, which fell 5.6 per cent. On the cargo front, the yield was 13.4 per cent lower amid the continued recovery in belly hold capacity, the airline said.
Wayanad, Nov 10 : Congress General Secretary and Wayanad Lok Sabha seat bypoll candidate, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday offered prayers at the renowned Thirunelli Mahavishnu Temple, with the visit holding personal significance for her as the ashes of her father, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, were immersed in the Papanasini river there.

"Today, I visited the ancient Thirunelli Temple in Wayanad, Kerala - it is special to me as my fatheras ashes were immersed in the Papanasini River that runs beside the temple. May Lord Mahavishnu always protect the people of Wayanad and bless them with good health and happiness," she said in a post on X, adding pictures of her visit.

She was accompanied by senior Congress leaders, including Sulthan Bathery MLA, I.C. Balakrishnan.

The Congress leader, who was chosen to contest the bypoll after her brother and sitting MP Rahul Gandhi chose to retain the family borough Rae Bareli in UP, has been in Wayanad since last Sunday and has held several meetings and interactions with the voters across the constituency since then. She was joined by Rahul Gandhi for a joint public meeting last Sunday itself and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday.

As she fights her first poll battle, she has been crisscrossing the constituency which spans seven Assembly constituencies - three each in the Wayanad and Malappuram districts and one in the Kozhikode district.

On Sunday, she had different programmes in the Mananthavady-ST, Kalpetta, and Sultan Bathery-ST Assembly segments.

On Monday, she will be joined by Rahul Gandhi for a joint roadshow from the Assumption Junction to Chungam Junction in Sultan Bathery, slated for the morning, and then another joint roadshow from the Gram Panchayat Office to the Bus Stand in the Thiruvambadi constituency of the neighbouring Kozhikode district, in the afternoon.

Prominent Congress leaders have expressed confidence in Priyanka Gandhias victory by a substantial margin. Party insiders are anticipating a margin of around 500,000 votes in her favour.

CPI leader Satyan Mokeri is contesting as the Left Democratic Front candidate while BJP leader Navya Haridas is contesting for the NDA.

Apart from Rahul Gandhi and party chief Kharge, senior party leader Sonia Gandhi, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, and Sachin Pilot have campaigned for her.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Rahul Gandhi won Wayanad with a margin of 364,422 votes, defeating CPI candidate Annie Raja. The BJP candidate, K. Surendran, came in third with 141,045 votes.

However, Rahul Gandhi's victory margin had dipped as he had set a record in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, winning Wayanad by a margin of 431,770 votes.
Kolkata, Nov 10 : The trial in the ghastly rape and murder of a woman junior doctor of the R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital here in August will start at a special court on Monday.

The process of framing of charge in the matter against the "sole prime accused", civic volunteer Sanjay Roy, was completed on November 4 following which Monday was scheduled for the date of the beginning of the trial process.

The trial will be conducted on a fast-track and daily basis.

It will start 94 days after the body of the junior doctor was discovered at a seminar hall within the R.G. Kar premises on the morning of August 9.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had filed its first charge sheet in the matter 35 days before the beginning of the trial process. In the first charge sheet, Roy was identified as the "sole prime accused" in the rape and murder crime.

Recently, there was a verbal appeal in the Supreme Court, as it heard its suo motu case relating to the tragedy, for shifting the trial process to any court outside West Bengal. However, the plea was turned down by the outgoing Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud.

On Saturday, the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari too raised the demand for shifting the trial outside West Bengal, claiming that justice will never be achieved in the case with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee remaining in power in the state.

Recently, Roy has claimed that he neither committed the rape nor the murder and he was being falsely implicated by the government. Pointing his finger at the Kolkata Police, where he was attached to as a civic volunteer, Roy also claimed he had been threatened by his own departmental colleagues to remain silent in the matter.
New Delhi, Nov 10 : Indian Naval Sailing Vessel Tarini, which is undertaking a global circumnavigation expedition christened Navika Sagar Parikrama II, arrived at its first port of call in Fremantle, Australia.

INSV Tarini arrived in Fremantle on Saturday after a challenging 39-day voyage at sea.

The historic expedition was flagged off from Goa by Adm Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) on October 2.

The vessel has covered a distance of 4900 nm (nautical mile) from Goa, crossing the Equator on October 16 and the Tropic of Capricorn on October 27. During this 38-day non-stop voyage, the Indian Navy duo of Lt Cdr Dilna K and Lt Cdr Roopa A encountered a range of weather conditions from calm to severe, facing winds up to 40 knots and a sea state of 6. Throughout the journey, the crew remained in good health and in high spirits, demonstrating resilience in the face of extreme conditions.

The progress of the expedition has been closely followed by the Navy Chief, receiving daily updates. On the eve of Diwali, while the vessel was at sea, the CNS interacted with the crew and found them fully motivated and dedicated to their mission.

The arrival of INSV Tarini in Fremantle was honoured with a warm welcome by dignitaries, including the Consul General of India at Perth, the Defence Advisor from Canberra, the Secretary of the Indian Navy Sailing Association (INSA), representatives from the Royal Australian Navy, along with members of the media and Indian Naval veterans residing in Australia. The celebration was further enriched by the sound of classical music, which the Tamil Association of Western Australia performed using the Parai Drum and Kombu Tharai drum, offering a rich cultural touch to the reception.

Navika Sagar Parikrama II is an ambitious circumnavigation voyage that includes stops at four major ports worldwide. The two-women crew expedition continues the Navyas legacy of INSV Tarinias first circumnavigation, promoting gender equality, sustainability, and global maritime cooperation. The expedition also underscores Indiaas commitment to fostering stronger relationships with international maritime communities and serves as an ambassador of Indiaas rich maritime heritage.

As INSV Tarini prepares for its next leg, this milestone underscores the strength, skill, and resilience of the Indian Navyas women sailors and reaffirms Indiaas dedication to sustainable and inclusive global engagement.
Kathmandu, Nov 10 : Six people were killed and 13 others wounded on Sunday afternoon in a fatal traffic accident in western Nepal.

A sport utility vehicle carrying 20 people fell 200 metres down a cliff in Kalikot district, but one passenger managed to jump off the vehicle.

"Most of the injured are in serious conditions," Govinda Prasad Chaudhary, spokesperson for district police, told Xinhua news agency.

He noted that a Nepal Army helicopter had reached the site and that poor road conditions and overload could have resulted in the accident.

Two traffic accidents occurred in Nepal's Surkhet and Chitwan districts on Friday, leaving nine dead and 35 others injured.

Hundreds of people lose their lives in traffic accidents in Nepal each year.
Tehran, Nov 10 : Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi is scheduled to arrive in Tehran on Wednesday night for talks on unresolved nuclear issues, the official news agency IRNA reported Sunday.

Grossi's visit, to take place at Iran's official invitation, would be aimed at holding talks with high-ranking Iranian officials starting Thursday, the report said.

The visit will come as several outstanding issues remain unresolved between Tehran and the IAEA, including the agency's claim to have found "traces of uranium" at a number of "undeclared" Iranian sites, which Iran has repeatedly rejected, and the move by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran to dismiss a number of the UN nuclear watchdog's inspectors last year, Xinhua news agency reported.

On November 17, 2022, the IAEA's Board of Governors passed a resolution proposed by the United States, Britain, France and Germany that called on Tehran to collaborate with the agency's investigators regarding the alleged "traces of uranium" at some of its "undeclared" sites.

Last year, the two sides reached an agreement in Tehran to have further interactions based on Iran's cooperation and greater openness to the agency's inspections.

Iran signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, with world powers in July 2015, agreeing to put some curbs on its nuclear program in return for removing the sanctions on the country. The United States, however, pulled out of the deal in May 2018 and reimposed its unilateral sanctions on Tehran, prompting the latter to drop some of its nuclear commitments under the deal.

The talks on the revival of the JCPOA began in April 2021 in Vienna, Austria. Despite several rounds of talks, no significant breakthrough has been achieved since the end of the last round in August 2022.
Istanbul, Nov 10 : Turkey on Saturday marked the 86th anniversary of the death of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Turkish Republic, with a series of events across the country.

At 9:05 a.m. local time (0605 GMT), the exact moment when Ataturk passed away in Istanbul in 1938, sirens blared, ships sounded their whistles, traffic stopped, and people stood still in solemn tribute to honor the late leader.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his cabinet members participated in a state ceremony at Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Ataturk in the capital Ankara, Xinhua news agency reported.

In Istanbul, traffic on the 15 July Martyrs Bridge, also known as the Bosphorus Bridge, which spans the Bosphorus Strait, came to a standstill as citizens stepped out of their vehicles to observe the moment of silence.

Many lined up at the entrance of the Dolmabahce Palace to visit the room where Ataturk passed away and lay carnations on his bed.

On the water, boats and ships paused before his room, offering their respects to the nation's founder. The TCG Istanbul frigate, one of the Turkish Navy's key homemade warships, also anchored off the palace.

Ataturk declared the republic in 1923, ending the rule of the Ottoman Empire after the Independence War, and served as the first president until 1938, when he died at the age of 57.
Kolkata, Nov 10 : A civic volunteer was nabbed in Kolkata on Sunday after he forcibly went inside the room of a neighbouring woman in a totally inebriated state on Sunday and misbehaved with her.

The event took place at Entally Market area in central Kolkata on Sunday. As the woman started screaming in a state of shock, the other neighbours rushed into her room and tried to nab the civic volunteer.

However, he somehow managed to evade the clutches of the local people and escaped from there. Later the woman filed a complaint at the local Entally Police Station following which the cops arrested him within hours.

Besides criminal proceedings, the city police have also started a departmental probe against the accused civic volunteer.

The incident has gained significance considering that the "sole prime accused" in the ghastly rape and murder of a lady junior doctor of R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata Sanjay Ray is himself a civic volunteer. The trial process in the matter will start on Monday at a special court in Kolkata.

In past also, there have been complaints of excesses by civic volunteers, who are basically contractual staff of either Kolkata Police or West Bengal Police.

The opposition party leaders in the state, a number of times, have said that the civic volunteers are basically political appointees by the ruling Trinamool Congress though whom the ruling party leaders conduct all sorts of nuisance.

In the past, the Calcutta High Court has clearly said that civic volunteers under no circumstance can be attached to law & order or election-related duty. However, despite that clear court order, there were allegations of civic volunteers being used in election-related duties in the Parliamentary elections this year.
Houston, Nov 10 : At least one person was killed and several others injured early Sunday morning in a shooting on the campus of Tuskegee University in the southern US state of Alabama, the university said in a news release.

The killed was not a student at the university, the news release said.

"Several others including Tuskegee University students were injured and are receiving treatment at East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika and Baptist South Hospital in Montgomery," it added.

Macon County Coroner Hal Bentley said "quite a few people" were injured, but did not say the exact number of the injured, Xinhua news agency reported.

Among the injured, a female student was shot in the stomach, said Tuskegee City Police Chief Mardis.

No arrest has been announced. Mardis added that it was not immediately clear what led to the shooting.

Tuskegee celebrated its 100th homecoming on Saturday.
Beirut, Nov 10 : The Lebanese government is determined to strengthen the deployment of the country's armed forces in southern Lebanon, Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Abdallah Bou Habib said Sunday.

The government has decided to recruit and train some 1,500 soldiers in preparation for sending another 5,000 soldiers to join about 4,500 already present in southern Lebanon, Bou Habib said in Saudi Arabia's Riyadh during a ministerial preparatory meeting ahead of the Arab-Islamic Summit scheduled for Sunday.

According to posts published by the ministry on social media platform X, Bou Habib called for Arab and Islamic support and assistance "in providing the requirements for this deployment."

Urging Arab and Islamic pressure on Israel to stop the war and destruction in Lebanon, Bou Habib said, "Lebanon has clearly expressed its position and vision for a sustainable solution through the comprehensive and parallel implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701."

Lebanon is committed to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and its condemnation of any attacks on its personnel or headquarters, he added, Xinhua news agency reported.

Since September 23, the Israeli army has been launching an unprecedented, intensive air attack on Lebanon in a dangerous escalation with Hezbollah.

According to the Lebanese health ministry, the death toll from Israeli airstrikes since the beginning of the war on October 8, 2023, has reached 3,136, with injuries hitting 13,979.
New York, Nov 10 : President-elect Donald Trump has completed a clean sweep of the seven swing states with media announcing him the winner in Arizona, the last state for the results to be known.

With Arizonaas 11 votes in the Electoral College, Trump now leads with 312 seats to Vice President Kamala Harrisas 226.

Based on its analysis of the counting trend, the Associated Press news agency announced on Saturday night the result in Arizona, even though counting was still in progress.

The results were held up by the slow counting in the stateas Maricopa County, parts of which includes a House of Representatives constituency where an Indian American Democrat is locked in a tight race.

The Republican candidate was ahead of Amish Shah by 4.4 per cent of the votes, with 11 per cent still to be counted.

Arizona was the last of the swing states a" and the final state a" for the results to be known, although Trump had been declared the winner by Wednesday morning when his tally crossed 270 electoral votes in the 538-member Electoral College based on the results from states at that point.

In the Electoral College system, the president is elected not by the number of popular votes but by the seats won in the body.

With the other states almost evenly divided firmly in the the camp of either party, the swing states a" also known as the battleground states a" have an inordinate influence in determining the winner and Harris and Trump spent most of their energies campaigning there.

The RealClear Polling aggregation of polls showed Trump ahead by only 2.8 per cent of the votes, but the AP tally showed him ahead by 6.1 per cent.

In a rout for pollsters, he carried the elections in all the seven states by larger margins than predicted, including Wisconsin and Michigan, where the aggregation showed Harris winning.

Unlike in 2016, when Trump did not get the majority of the popular votes but won with the number of Electoral College votes, this time he is ahead in popular votes also.

Arizona is a border state where Latinos make up 30.1 per cent of the population.

President Joe Biden had won the state in 2020 by about 10,000 votes, less than 0.5 per cent.

The Harris campaignas expected that Trump promising firm action against illegal migrants, a majority of whom come from Latin American countries, and some of his supportersa racist remarks against the community, would rally them to vote for her.

But that did not materialise and nationally Trump has weaned away Latino voters from the Democratic Party, increasing the proportion of votes from them to 46 per cent compared to 35 per cent in the last election, still leaving the Democrats with a small lead, according to AP polling.

The Latino voters are legal immigrants or were born in the US and the immigration issue did not resonate with them as a communal issue that Democrats made it to be.

The common issues of price rise and the economic and social fallout from high illegal migration swung the Latinos.

In the absence of a national election body, by tradition, the AP first declares the results based on the counting trend and the historical data, and the official declaration comes days or weeks later after military and postal votes are cleared.

About its methodology, the AP says it "only declares a winner once it can determine that a trailing candidate canat close the gap and overtake the vote leader".
New Delhi, Nov 10 : An online delivery firm's employee, who escaped with gold items given to him for delivery to a customer, has landed in the Delhi Police net along with the precious articles and a car, police said on Sunday.

Kanwar Pal Singh, 34, a resident of Palam Village, told interrogators that he executed the crime to pay off his debt and live a lavish lifestyle.

"Using the money obtained by selling some of the gold items, the accused had paid his rent dues, and purchased a vehicle and household items," said a police official.

At the time of his arrest, police recovered the online company's stolen gold article, a pair of silver anklets, a car, a motorcycle, a washing machine and Rs 18,500, the official said.

On August 20, a complaint was received from the online delivery company regarding theft in Dwarka South by an employee who used to handle field executive jobs for the firm.

Kanwar Pal Singh received an order of gold from one of the dealers on behalf of the complainant company and with ill-intention did not deliver it to the client and went untraceable with the gold items, the complainant said.

During interrogation, the accused confessed his involvement in the gold theft. He admitted that he had a lot of debt so he planned to commit the theft and sell the gold items to earn money and get rid of his debt.

After the registration of a breach of trust case, a Dwarka police district team under ACP, Dwarka, M.L. Meena and SHO, Dwarka South, Inspector Sanjeev Mandal launched a manhunt for Kanwar Pal Singh.

The team inspected several CCTV cameras and activated local informers to trace the culprit who had switched off his mobile and changed his house after committing the crime, an official said.

On November 11, information was received about the accused by Head Constable Praveen Yadav through an informer regarding a person who was suspected to be involved in the theft of gold items.

A police team raided his hideout in Palam village and arrested him along with stolen items.
New Delhi, Nov 10 : The Supreme Court is set to hear on Monday a plea seeking the postponement of by-elections to the four Assembly seats in Bihar in view of the week-long Chhath Puja.

As per the causelist published on the website of the apex court, a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan will hear the plea filed by Jan Suraaj Party on November 10.

Two days before, a bench headed by (then) CJI D.Y. Chandrachud agreed to consider the urgent listing of the plea after the matter was mentioned for an urgent hearing.

The plea filed before the apex court challenged the Election Commissionas "failure" to not defer the by-elections in Bihar while rescheduling the polls in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Kerala due to social and religious events. It said that by-elections in states like Uttar Pradesh, Kerala etc. were rescheduled from November 13 to 20 on account of large-scale social and cultural gatherings that may impact the voter turnout. The plea added that similar conditions exist in Bihar and not deferring by-polls in Bihar was not only unjust but violated the right to equal treatment under Article 14 of the Constitution.

"The logistical issues and apprehension of reduced voter turnout are as much a concern in Bihar as they are in Uttar Pradesh. There is no reason whatsoever and no intelligible differentia, to warrant a different treatment for elections in Bihar," the plea, filed through Karanjawala & Co, contended.

Further, it said that deferring the four by-elections in Bihar would prevent inconvenience to a large number of voters, promote their participation in the electoral process, and strengthen the democratic process.

The plea said that "more than forty Chhath Puja organising committees have also written to the Election Commission of India on the same issue" and the failure of the poll body to not defer the dates violated the fundamental rights of the electorate at large. It added that the Election Commissionas conduct smacked of "arbitrariness" in whimsically changing the dates of some elections but not of others, when similar socio-religious circumstances are prevailing.

"Election Commission's selective treatment in processing deferment requests violates the basic principles of natural justice, as it disregards the petitioner's legitimate expectation of equal treatment," said the petition.
Guwahati, Nov 10 : In a first of its kind, two elephant Mahouts of Assam's Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) attended the 'Gentle Training Workshop' for elephant handlers, owners and carers at National Elephant Institute Lampang, Thailand, officials said on Sunday.

KNPTR Director Sonali Ghosh said that two elephant Mahouts -- Kasim Ali (Kaziranga Range) and Sanjeev Pegu (Agoratoli Range) attended the three-day training workshop from November 6 to 8.

She said that the three-day event organised by the Human-Elephant Learning Programs Foundation (H-ELP) gave an introduction to the principles and practice aimed at advancing captive elephant welfare through an understanding of the most relevant scientific knowledge available and focused on positive reinforcement techniques.

The key trainers and facilitators were Dr Andrew McLean, Dr Portland Jones of the H-ELP foundation and Dr Bhaskar Choudhury of Wildlife Trust of India, the KNPTR Director said.

The IFS official said that positive reinforcement means adding a stimulus to the environment to increase the frequency of behaviour.

"As the aim is to increase specific responses or behaviour, positive reinforcement applies gentler and softer methods of training using reward systems. Traditional elephant training tends to focus on correcting unwanted, or undesired behaviours. Positive reinforcement has a more constructive and rehabilitative psychological impact on the elephants and their relationship with their caregivers by significantly reducing stress, pain, and fear," Ghosh pointed out.

Noting that learning begins for elephants the moment they start to interact with people and surroundings after birth, she said that positive reinforcement has been used for generations of training animals.

The senior forest and wildlife official said that if it is introduced appropriately, the learning experience for an elephant is improved drastically.

Ghosh said that during the training, a practical demonstration of a sequence of verbal and signal training was exhibited.

Desensitisation was demonstrated in elephants as well as painful or fearful experiences which is useful for working with dangerous animals and conditions in later life, she stated.

In the Thailand training event was also attended by Mahouts from Nepal, Laos PDR, Thailand and Sri Lanka.

The KNPTR, measuring about 1,300 sq km, is home to more than 2,613 one-horned Indian rhinos.

The world-famous park is not just a home of rhinos, but also to Asian elephants, Royal Bengal tigers, wild buffalos and many more animal species while it is also a habitat to thousands of birds of over 125 species.

India's seventh (fourth in natural) UNESCO World Heritage site, the KNPTR is spread across several districts of Assam, including Golaghat, Nagaon, Sonitpur, and Biswanath.

(Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujitchakrabortyne@gmail.com)
Mumbai, Nov 10 : Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge claimed on Sunday that the only threat to India was from the RSS and the BJP, which were trying to divide people.

Lashing out at the BJP leaders for raising the bogey of 'batenge to katenge', Kharge said the country was already united and not divided.

"Only the BJP and the RSS were trying to divide the people," he charged.

He alleged the RSS people kept talking about dividing and lynching people from morning to evening.

"The BJP and the RSS had already created divisions in the society through their ideology and by following the Manusmriti, which discriminated between people," Kharge said while addressing a 'Save Constitution' conference.

The Congress President expressed relief that the Modi government became a lame government as the BJP did not get '400 plus' seats. He added that it is now dependent on two crutches of Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu.

He said, earlier this government would not engage in debates and discussions.

Talking about the healthy relations earlier between the leaders of the ruling party and the Opposition, Kharge recalled the former Prime Minister and BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

He said Vajpayee even described Indira Gandhi as Durga when she liberated Bangladesh.

He said, Vajpayee praised Pandit Nehru as well and he (Nehru) also praised the former.

The Congress President accused Prime Minister Modi of misusing the ED, the CBI, the CVC and other institutions to intimidate political opponents wherever the BJP felt that it was not winning.

However, he asked PM Modi as to how long he can intimidate his opponents and how many leaders he can put behind bars. He asserted that the opposition was united and it would not be threatened and intimidated, come what may.

Without taking his name, Kharge took a dig at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, saying there was a Chief Minister, who wears saffron robes, instead of white, and uses the expression 'batenge toh katenge" to divide people.

Praising the country's democracy, Kharge pointed out that while India elected a woman Prime Minister Indira Gandhi long back and also a woman President from Maharashtra (Pratibha Patil), the United States, despite its claims of being a progressive country had still not elected a woman as President.

He claimed that the credit for establishing such a modern and progressive democracy in the country goes to the Congress and its leaders who laid down strong democratic foundations for the country.
Kolkata, Nov 10 : The proposed organisational reshuffle in Trinamool Congress will focus on East Midnapore district, the fortress of the West Bengal Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Suvendu Adhikari.

Source said that the possible event of East Midnapore bearing the maximum impact of the proposed rejig is quite natural considering the pathetic results of the ruling party in the district in the Lok Sabha elections this year.

In those polls, Adhikarias popularity helped the BJP to snatch away both the Lok Sabha constituencies in the district, namely Kanthi and Tamluk, from the control of the ruling party.

Party insiders said that besides the performance of the heads of certain municipalities in East Midnapore, that of two state cabinet members from the district are also under the scanner of the party leadership since Trinamool Congress trailed miserably from their respective Assembly constituencies in the Lok Sabha polls this year.

Trinamool Congress General Secretary and the party Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee has already given some suggestions to the party supreme and the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee suggesting a change of heads in a number of municipalities in the state, especially for those where BJPas performance was much better than the stateas ruling party in the Lok Sabha polls this year.

The General Secretary is in favour of a performance-based reshuffle in the party in view of the state Assembly elections in 2026.

Party insiders said that besides East Midnapore the other districts which are under the focus of the state leadership to implement rejig include Birbhum, Howrah, Hooghly, Aliopurduar and Jalpaiguri.

The reshuffle is likely to take place soon after the bypolls for six assembly constituencies in the state are over.

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 Trinamool Congress in terms of votes secured this year.
Hyderabad, Nov 10 : A youth in Hyderabad on Sunday opened fire on the father of his girlfriend for sending her away to the U.S to break their relationship.

The incident occurred in Venkateswara Colony under the limits of Saroornagar police station of Rachakonda Commissionerate.

The bullet hit the eye of Revanth Anand (57) when Balwinder Singh (25) opened fire with an airgun following an argument.

According to police, Balwinder was in friendship with the 23-year-old daughter of Anand, a businessman, for the last few years. When Anand came to know about this, he asked his daughter not to meet Balwinder.

Anand had also warned Balwinder against continuing the friendship. However, when they did not stop meeting and speaking over the phone, Anand sent away his daughter to the U.S.

Balwinder went to Anandas house and picked up an argument with him. In a fit of rage, Balwinder opened one round from the airgun he was carrying.

Anand was critically injured as the bullet hit his eye. On receipt of the information, police rushed to the spot and shifted him to the hospital.

Balwinder, who had fled the spot, was later arrested by the police. Police registered a case and took up further investigation.

Meanwhile, a youth in Andhra Pradeshas Guntur district was murdered over illicit relations with a woman. N. Devaraj (34), an outsourcing employee in the electricity department, was attacked by some youth with iron rods in Mulukuduru village in Ponnur Mandal on Sunday. He died on the spot.

Devaraj, who was married, was maintaining extramarital relations with a woman of the same village. Another person Madhav was also having relations with the same woman. According to police, Devraj and Madhav were fighting over the woman.

Madhav along with some youth attacked Devaraj with iron rods on Sunday. They later dumped the body near a liquor shop.

Police launched a hunt for the accused.
Imphal, Nov 10 : Armed attackers from the hills fired from their automatic weapons and threw bombs in Manipur's Imphal East district on Sunday, police said.

A police official in Imphal said that combined security forces of the army (Mahar regiment), Border Security and police have rushed to the areas and retaliated the firing leading to a heavy exchange of fire between the two sides at Thamnapokpi village.

The armed cadres also fired many powerful bombs on the villagers and the security forces.

Tension prevailed in the Thamnapokpi village and adjoining areas.

During the past few days, farmers in a few districts were unable to work in their paddy fields due to the firing of armed attackers from hilltops towards the low-lying fields.

To prevent the situation from escalating further, the Manipur Police deployed additional forces in the trouble-torn and vulnerable areas.

Meanwhile, unidentified armed assailants gunned down Sapam Ongbi Sonia Devi, a woman belonging to the Meitei community in Bishnupur district on Saturday (November 9).

The attackers fired on Devi when she was working in her paddy field at Saiton village and she died on the spot.

Saturdayas incident occurred within 48 hours after the suspected militants killed another woman named Sangkim and burnt down at least eight houses at Hmar tribal-dominated village Zairon in Manipur's Jiribam district on November 7.

The woman had been burnt by the fire which engulfed her home. Local sources report that the remains of her burned body were later dismembered by the militants.

During the sudden November 7 attack, panic-stricken villagers, including children, women, and elderly people, managed to flee to safer places.

Meanwhile, recently two abandoned farmhouses were also set on fire by suspected militants in the Nungkhal area in the same Jiribam district.

The mixed-populated Jiribam district, adjoining Assam, has witnessed several incidents of violence this year, though the overall situation in the district had been relatively peaceful even after ethnic violence broke out in many other districts of the northeastern state since May last year.
Shillong, Nov 10 : Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Sunday expressed grief following the death of Sepoy Aibok Madur from the 10th Battalion of the Assam Regiment and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 20 lakh to the next of kin of the brave heart.

According to Meghalaya government officials, Madur, a native of Mawbri village in Meghalaya's Ri-Bhoi district, made supreme sacrifice in the line of duty in Siachen Glacier on November 7.

The Chief Minister in his post on the X: "While paying homage to Sepoy Aibok Madur from the 10th Battalion of the Assam Regiment, the state government will provide an ex-gratia of Rs 20 lakh to the next of kin of the braveheart. The brave heart made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty in Siachen on November 7, 2024."

Sangma in another post said: "We salute the unparalleled bravery of Sepoy Aibok Madur from Assam Regiment, who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty on November 7, 2024, in Siachen."

He said that hailing from Mawbri village in Ri Bhoi District of Meghalaya, Sepoy Madur embodied the true spirit of patriotism.

"His selfless act of valour will never be forgotten. We honour his sacrifice and remember his unwavering dedication to our nation. Our heartfelt condolences go out to Sepoy Madur's family, and we stand in solidarity with them during this immense hour of grief. The state government extends its full support and deepest sympathies to the bereaved family. May Sepoy Aibok Madur's courage and sacrifice inspire future generations, and may his legacy live on forever in our hearts," the Chief Minister said.

Meghalaya Education, General Administration and Border Area Development Minister Rakkam A. Sangma also expressed his grief over the death of Sepoy Aibok Madur.

The Minister in his post on the X said: "I am deeply saddened to learn that one young Soldier of Indian Army from our State, Sepoy Aibok Madur, of 10th Assam Regiment has made supreme sacrifice by laying down his precious life while on duty in Siachen Glacier Region in Jammu and Kashmir on 7th November, 2024."

"This is a big loss for us all in Meghalaya and his supreme sacrifice for the interest of the Nation will leave behind a memory in the history of the nation," said the Minister, adding, "I join the people of Meghalaya to convey our profound condolences to the brave family members and loved ones and may Almighty God be with them and give strength during this period of sadness and great lose of our brave heart. May the departed soul rest in peace."
Gaza, Nov 10 : Much rattled, Mohammed Alloush, a Palestinian man from Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, rushed to his relatives' house on Sunday to see what had happened after it was attacked by the Israeli army.

Upon his arrival with dozens of his neighbours, Alloush was shocked to find the house, once alive with more than 50 residents, completely destroyed, Xinhua news agency reported.

"We heard cries for help from beneath the rubble. Some were still alive. I must help and rescue them," Alloush told Xinhua with a breaking voice.

However, neither Alloush nor any other responders have any tools in hand.

"We are forced to dig with our bare hands to help the injured and pull out the dead as possible as we can," said the 35-year-old father of four, holding the body of a child in his arms.

"The situation is very dangerous here, as the Israeli army may strike the house again, but we have to race against time to rescue as many as we can," he said.

Alloush said he and his neighbors have to bury the dead in place, and transfer the injured to the Kamal Adwan and Indonesian hospitals, which have been out of service, with donkey carts.

Earlier on Sunday, the Israeli army killed at least 36 members of Alloush's family in an attack on their house in Jabalia refugee camp, according to locals and medical sources.

The attack was part of Israel's ongoing large-scale military offensive in the area starting from Oct. 5, which aims to kill the remnants of Hamas and prevent it from regrouping in the territory, the Israeli military has claimed.

Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza, said the Israeli military forced the Civil Defense teams to leave the area and sieged many locals inside their houses.

Israel has been conducting a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 taken hostage.

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks in Gaza has risen to 43,603, with injuries up to 102,929, Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Sunday.

In northern Gaza, the Israeli offensive has killed more than 1,800 people, wounded about 4,000 others, and left hundreds missing, apart from destroying all local hospitals, the Hamas-run government media office said Monday in a press statement.

Meanwhile, rescue operations are difficult in Gaza City, even with the presence of the Civil Defense services.

On Saturday night, the Israeli army killed at least five Palestinians in an attack on a house of the al-Khour family in the Tal al-Hawa neighbourhood west of Gaza City.

"It was very hard for the ambulances and Civil Defense to reach the area quickly, so I decided to use my hands to rescue the survivors and pull out the dead to bury them in the early morning," 25-year-old Palestinian Mohammed Doghmosh told Xinhua.

Doghmosh said he and his friends used the flashlights on their mobile phones to see clearly through the rubble so that they could pull out the casualties as soon as possible.

"All the time, we are in a race against death, war, and time. So, we have to take the mission into our own hands and help each other as best we can," he said.
New Delhi, Nov 11 : New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) Vice-Chairman Kuljeet Chahal claimed on Sunday that AAP and Congress will be wiped out in the upcoming Assembly elections.

In an interview with IANS, Chahal discussed various issues concerning Delhi and also attacked the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress.

IANS: Congress leaders have accused Aam Aadmi Party of corruption in Delhi, what is your reaction to this?

Kuljeet Chahal: If any party's government has done the most injustice, it is the Congress government. When their government was in power in Delhi, scams like the Commonwealth Games scam, the 2G scam, and several other scams took place. Whether it is Congress' Nyay Yatra or Anyaay Yatra, only Rahul Gandhi and his team will tell in Delhi. Even before the Lok Sabha polls, they had made many big promises, but they formed an alliance with the party (AAP) which abused a leader like Sheila Dikshit and called her corrupt.

Not only this, he also raised questions on the Gandhi family. They have no principles, they can go to any extent to save their chair and for nepotism. When they can form an alliance with Muslim League in Kerala, they can also form an alliance with Arvind Kejriwal to save their seat in Delhi. In the upcoming Assembly elections, AAP and Congress will be wiped out in Delhi and the Bharatiya Janata Party will form the government.

IANS: Sandeep Dikshit alleges that there is a scam in DTC buses in Delhi, what is your take on this?

Kuljeet Chahal: Sandeep Dikshit has been exposing the scams of Aam Aadmi Party earlier also. Congress has tried to suppress his voice from time to time, but he has put forward his point strongly. Corruption and Aam Aadmi Party government have become synonymous with each other. There was a liquor scam in Delhi and a class-room scam in the name of education. Apart from this, there was a land scam and now they have done a scam in DTC buses.

They embezzled crores of funds in the corporation and could not even build roads. Thousands of crores of rupees were embezzled in the name of cleaning the Yamuna. We saw during Chhath how our brothers and sisters from Purvanchal stood in the river and offered water to the Sun. The Aam Aadmi Party is not worried about anything. They are only giving contaminated water and polluted air, and still say they are honest, but the people of Delhi have made up their mind to remove this government.

IANS: After assuming the post of Vice President of New Delhi Municipal Council, what will be the agenda for the next 100 days?

Kuljeet Chahal: I thank the world's most popular leader, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I also thank Home Minister and party president J.P. Nadda. Our 100-day agenda is to contribute to fulfilling the Prime Minister's resolve of a Viksit Bharat and also take necessary steps to reduce pollution.

NDMC has done good work in the past and has contributed successfully in organising conferences like G-20. The objective of NDMC will remain that water reaches every home. We will keep working with the objective that every settlement in which Arvind Kejriwal has not been able to provide water should get drinking water. Arvind Kejriwal does nothing even in his Assembly, and remained engaged in scams. We have a 100-day agenda and we will work on this 100-day agenda.

IANS: What is your vision?

Kuljeet Chahal: Both our vision and mission are clear. We will continue to work as a team to fulfill PM Modi's mission of 'Viksit Bharata by 2047. Yesterday I myself went to Hanuman Temple, which is the centre of faith for the people. We are working together with all the employees and officials on how to clean it.


Book Release and Launch Announcement for THE LOST KING, the second book in the Wings of Valenia fantasy trilogy by Elizabeth Creith FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / PRURGENT



Elizabeth Creith is nationally recognized for her role as Shepherd in Residence on CBCs Richardsons Roundup. Host Bill Richardson says her chronicles about raising sheep in Northern Ontario were loved by listeners and presenters both. Her letters were eventually published in book form.



IndieReader called the first book in the series, The Swan Harp, "a spellbinding fantasy romance...(recommended) to readers who enjoy slow burn fantasy romance, shapeshifting magic, medieval fantasy settings, and subtle political intrigue.



The sequel, The Lost King, received a coveted recommendation from Kirkus Reviews: Memorable heroes and daunting villains headline this fantasy series thrilling sophomore installment. Inspired by a 500- year-old ballad about two sisters in love with the same man, this series follows the story of Kiar, daughter of King Tir of the human kingdom of Valenia, and Queen Tianis of the swanfolk. When dark magic threatens the kingdom, Kiar must embrace her role as next in line to the throne and protect her family and people at all costs.



And BookLife from Publishers Weekly called The Lost King a bold and dynamic fantasy thriller with well written characters and a compelling plot and a stirring fantasy epic which features incredible worldbuilding and a glut of interesting characters.



Ms. Creith was recently featured at the World Fantasy Convention in Niagara Falls, New York, and plans a series of events to launch this second installment in her fantasy trilogy, including:



November 15, 7:00 p.m. - Book launch: reading and Q&A

Thessalon Public Library - Thessalon, Ontario
You are here: China

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.

The document, comprising 92 rules in eight chapters, focuses on combat readiness and aims for effective fulfillment of the missions and tasks of the armed forces in the new era, according to an official statement on Saturday.

The regulations make improvements to the mechanism and procedures of supply, management and repairing of military equipment, which are expected to promote the work of supporting military equipment in an innovative way, reads the statement.
Opposition Biju Janata Dal and Congress on Sunday criticised the Odisha Bharatiya Janata Party government and police for their handling of the investigation into a gang-rape case involving a 19-year-old college student who was allegedly forced to run from one police station to another before her complaint was finally registered.

Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: ANI Photo

In separate petitions submitted to the Odisha police, both parties alleged that the victim approached multiple police stations -- Puri Ghat, Sadar, and Barang --before her FIR was accepted by the Badambadi police station.

The incident occurred during Dussehra festival when the victim visited a cafe in Puri Ghat police station area with her boyfriend to celebrate her birthday.

As per the FIR, the boyfriend, with the help of the cafe owner, filmed intimate moments of the couple at the eatery. Later, he and his friends allegedly blackmailed the victim using the video, leading to multiple sexual assaults.

The complaint was filed on November 4, and the accused were arrested within the following two days, the police said.

A day after Congress MLA Sofia Firdous from Barabati-Cuttack assembly segment submitted a petition with DGP YB Khurania, a delegation of Biju Mahila Janata Dal led by its state president Snehangini Chhuria met Cuttack DCP Jagmohan Meena and handed over a memorandum.

The BJD's women wing demanded thorough probe and stringent action.

In the petition, Chhuria raised concern over delay in filing the FIR and also about another accused who was yet to be arrested. "During Naveen Patnaik's regime, police stations were under Mo Sarkar and complaints were immediately filed," she claimed.

The BJD women wing leader also alleged that the cafe where the obscene video was shot was illegal.

"The police administration was aware about illegal use of hookah at the cafe. The same place was used by BJP's Cuttack-Barabati MLA candidate as party office during the elections earlier this year. A BJP corporator also stays nearby," Chhuria alleged and demanded an explanation from Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.

Firdous after meeting the DGP on Saturday said, "When the victim went to lodge an FIR against the accused, three police stations in Cuttack refused to register it. Therefore, I urged the DGP to investigate why the FIR was not lodged at first. The delay is alarming and raises serious concern about the responsiveness of the law enforcement agencies, especially when it comes to addressing the crimes against women."

Firdous claimed that the survivor could not be reached at present, expressing concern about her well-being and safety.

Meanwhile, police said it has arrested six people, including the woman's boyfriend.

Cuttack's deputy commissioner of police Jagmohan Meena told PTI that an enquiry will be made into the allegations leveled by the Congress MLA and the BJD leaders.

"We came to know about the allegation that police did not register a case at first from the MLA. The police will certainly inquire into it. However, neither the victim nor anyone from her family has made such an allegation. The victim is safe," he said.

"The police have arrested six persons named in the FIR. Now, the survivor's family members have informed about involvement of one more unknown person in the case and it is being investigated. Allegations on illegal use of hookah in the cafe will be probed by the Puri Ghat police," the DCP said.

Asked about the safety and security of the rape survivor, the DCP explained, "Specific security has not been provided to the girl's family as it would then establish their identity in the locality. We are in touch with them. The survivor is doing fine, as per her family. Help will be extended to them if needed."

Rejecting the allegations made by the BJD leader, law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said, "People have rejected BJD in the last elections because of the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. Our government is taking stringent steps, and the accused are being arrested immediately. Efforts are also being made for early conviction," the minister told reporters.
The body of a Bharatiya Janata Party leader was found inside the party office at Usthi in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district, a police officer said on Saturday.

Photograph: Courtesy @Amit_Thakur_BJP/ Rediff.com IMAGE: Prithviraj Naskar handled the social media account of the BJP in South 24 Parganas district.

The deceased, Prithviraj Naskar, used to handle the social media account of the party in the district.

The BJP pointed an accusing finger at the Trinamool Congress, while the police, after arresting a woman in connection with the killing, said the reason for the murder could be personal.

Naskar's 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 party's 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 party's district social media convenor was abducted, tortured and murdered by TMC goons.

'The police ignored his family's 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 Naskar's 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.

Meanwhile, Naskar's 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.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday promised to enact an-anti conversion law with stringent provisions in Maharashtra, and also assured a skill census for training as per industry needs as well as free ration to low-income families.

IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah along with Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, state party chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule release BJP manifesto for the state assembly elections, in Mumbai on Sunday. Photograph: ANI Photo

Union Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled in Mumbai the 25-point 'Sankalp Patra 2024', as per which the financial assistance component under the Mahayuti government's Ladki Bahin scheme for women will be increased from Rs 1,500 per month to Rs 2,100.

The BJP, in its manifesto for the November 20 state assembly polls, also promised to create 25 lakh job opportunities and assured 10 lakh students will get a stipend of Rs 10,000 every month.

The ruling Mahayuti comprises the BJP, Shiv Sena of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Nationalist Congress Party led by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar.

The BJP's manifesto promised that an anti-conversion law will be enacted with provides for stringent action against forced and deceitful conversions.

Though the skill census, the ruling party assured to ascertain the needs of the industry and upgrade skill training wherever necessary.

Under the Akshay Anna Yojana, low-income families will be provided free food items every month through the Public Distribution System (PDS), as per the manifesto.

The BJP has also planned to develop the state into an advanced robotic and Artificial Intelligence (AI) training hub. It also promised to create 10 lakh new business leaders through the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Akanksha centres in each district.

The party promised to create 50 lakh 'lakpati didis' by 2027 for which one industrial cluster of 500 self-help groups will be created and an initial corpus of Rs 1,000 crore will be provided.

The manifesto promised that if voted to power, the Mahayuti will develop Nagpur, Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nashik and Ahilyanagar as modern aeronautical and space manufacturing centres.

It also promised that the SGST on the purchase of fertilisers will be returned to farmers as grant. The prices of essential commodities will be kept stable, according to the manifesto.
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.

Image used only for representation. Photograph: ANI Photo

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.
Canadian police have arrested a 35-year-old Brampton resident on charges of assault with a weapon during a violent demonstration at a Hindu temple in the city, authorities said.

IMAGE: A massive crowd gathers outside Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton, Canada, after pro-Khalistan demonstrators attacked the temple on November 3, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

On November 3, a protest occurred at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton and unverified videos circulating on social media appeared to show demonstrators holding banners in support of Khalistan.

The videos showed fist fights and people striking each other with poles on what appears to be the grounds surrounding the temple.

The Peel Regional Police responded to the altercation during the demonstration at the Mandir. As tensions between opposing sides increased, the demonstrations became physical and assaultive, a statement said on Saturday.

Police began investigating several offences that occurred during the demonstration, many of which were captured on video; including individuals using flags and sticks to assault people, it said.

Investigators from the 21 Division Criminal Investigations Bureau and Strategic Investigation Team (SIT) have arrested and charged Inderjeet Gosal of Brampton, the Peel Police statement said.

Gosal, is Sikhs for Justice coordinator for Canada, Toronto Star reported.

The US-based SFJ is banned in India.

On November 8, 2024, he was arrested and charged with assault with a weapon. He was released on conditions and is to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton at a later date, it said.

A SIT dedicated to investigating incidents of criminality during the November 3 and 4 incidents has since been formed.

On November 3, the protestors carrying Khalistani flags clashed with people and disrupted a consular event co-organised by the temple authorities and the Indian Consulate.

The Sunday incident was condemned by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who said every Canadian has the right to practise their faith freely and safely.

India condemned the attack with an expectation that those indulging in violence 'will be prosecuted'.

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 relations between India and Canada came under severe strain following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations in September last year of a 'potential' involvement of Indian agents in Khalistan extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar's killing.

New Delhi rejected Trudeau's charges as 'absurd'.

India has been maintaining that the main issue between the two countries is that of Canada giving space to pro-Khalistan elements operating from Canadian soil with impunity.
Arshdeep Singh Gill alias Arsh Dalla, who was designated a terrorist by India, is likely to have been arrested in Canada's Ontario province following a shooting incident, sources claimed in New Delhi on Sunday.

IMAGE: Khalistan supporters hold a protest outside India's consulate, after Canada's PM Justin Trudeau raised the prospect of New Delhi's involvement in the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, September 25, 2023. Photograph: Carlos Osorio/Reuters

The incident occurred on October 28 in Milton.

The Halton Regional Police Service had on October 29 said that it had arrested two men on charges of "discharging firearm with intent" following an investigation after the duo had come to a hospital and one of them was treated for a non-life-threatening gunshot and later discharged.

It did not disclose their identity and said both accused "were held in custody pending a bail hearing".

The sources claimed that one of those arrested is believed to be Arsh Dalla, who is associated with the banned Khalistan Tiger Force and ran terror modules on behalf of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a designated terrorist who was killed in June last year.

"The HRPS was contacted by Guelph Police in the early morning hours of October 28, 2024, after two males attended a hospital in Guelph.

One of the males was treated and released for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound apparently suffered in Halton region. The other was not injured.

"The HRPS Major Crime Bureau is now investigating and both males have been arrested. A 25-year-old male of Halton Hills and a 28-year-old male of Surrey BC have both been charged with Discharging Firearm with Intent," a Halton police statement said, adding they were actively investigating the incident.

Earlier on Sunday, the Punjab police announced the arrest of two shooters of Arsh Dalla's gang, who were allegedly involved in the murder of a Sikh activist last month, from Kharar in Mohali.

Director general of police Gaurav Yadav said the arrest came in a joint operation of the state special operation cell, the Anti-gangster Task Force and the Faridkot police.

The two were identified as Anmolpreet Singh alias Vishal, a resident of Bhadorh in Barnala and Navjot Singh alias Neetu, a resident of Nijjar Road in Kharar.

Arsh Dalla, who has been accused of involvement in targeted killings, terror financing and extortion in Punjab, was in January last year designated a terrorist by the Indian government.

The Union Home Ministry had said in a notification that he was involved in the cross-border smuggling of drugs and weapons on a large scale.

He is an accused in various cases registered and investigated by the National Investigation Agency, including targeted killing, extorting money for terror funding, attempt to murder, disturbing communal harmony and creating terror among the people in Punjab.

The central government believes that Gill is involved in terrorism and hence designated as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 by exercising the powers conferred by clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 35 of the Act, the notification had said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said the ruling Mahayuti in Maharashtra will retain power with full majority and a decision on who will be the chief minister will be taken by the alliance partners after the state polls.

IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah along with Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Maharashtra Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis, state party chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule release BJP manifesto for the state Assembly elections, in Mumbai on Sunday. Photograph: ANI Photo

Talking to reporters in Mumbai after unveiling the Bharatiya Janata Party's manifesto for the November 20 state assembly polls, Shah expressed confidence that the Mahayuti will win the elections.

All the three alliance partners -- the BJP, the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party -- have released their manifestos and after the elections, a committee of ministers from the three parties will be formed to prioritise the assurances given, Shah said.

"At present, Eknath Shinde is the chief minister. After the elections, all the three alliance partners will decide on the chief minister," the senior BJP leader said.

He said the Shiv Sena and NCP split because Uddhav Thackeray prioritised his son over Eknath Shinde while Sharad Pawar prioritised his daughter over Ajit Pawar.

"These parties gave priority to their family members and the parties split. They blame the BJP for no reason," he said.

The BJP is against family-based politics, Shah asserted.

He rejected the Congress' accusation of BJP's plan to weaken reservations.

"It is the Modi government which gave reservations to OBCs. In fact, we strengthen the reservations," he said.

Shah also said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's act of flaunting the Constitution has been exposed after it came to light that the book (carried by Gandhi) had blank pages.

"He (Gandhi) has now become the butt of a joke," the BJP leader said.

Shah said the opposition MVA's leadership has been targeting the Mahayuti government's Ladki Bahin scheme for women, but has made a similar assurance with a higher financial assistance.

"This shows their contradictions. Instead of taking a stock of our performance, Rahul Gandhi should check what is happening in the states ruled by his party," he said.

Shah also said that the Congress' caste politics was aimed at dividing the country.

He rejected the MVA allegations about Maharashtra lagging behind in investments.

"During the MVA rule, Maharashtra was at the 4th position (in terms of FDI) while in the last two years, the state has got the highest FDI," Shah said.
The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi on Sunday released its manifesto for the Maharashtra assembly polls, promising free cervical cancer vaccines for girls aged 9 to 16 and and two optional leave days for women employees during menstruation.

IMAGE: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge with NCP-SP working president Supriya Sule, Shiv Sena-UBT leader Sanjay Raut release the joint manifesto of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) for the Maharashtra assembly Elections, in Mumbai on Sunday. Photograph: ANI Photo

The manifesto, titled 'Maharashtranama', also assured a caste-based census, establishment of a separate department for the empowerment of self-help groups, formation of a dedicated ministry for child welfare, and six cooking gas cylinders every year at Rs 500 each to women.

It also promised to frame a 'Nirbhay Maharashtra' policy and enforcement of the Shakti law for the safety of women and children.

The MVA also assured to provide Rs 1 lakh each to girls on attaining the age of 18 years.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge released the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi's (MVA) manifesto for the November 20 state polls at a press conference in Mumbai where Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar working president Supriya Sule and Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray MP Sanjay Raut were also present.

Replying to questions on populist schemes announced by the MVA after criticising the ruling Mahayuti for the same, Kharge said, 'Give us government and we will give you the budget'.

He said that in Karnataka, Rs 52,000 crore has been budgeted for the implementation of guarantees and the budget and expenditure details are available.

"We did not lie. If you are determined to help the poor, you will find a way out," he said.

Sule and state Congress president Nana Patole said enough funds will be available if the escalation of cost for infrastructure projects and corruption are stopped.

Kharge denied that some populist schemes, similar to the Mahayuti government's Ladki Bahin Yojana, are meant to influence voters.

"It is about ideology to provide social security," he said.

For farmers in the state, apart from debt waiver up to Rs 3 lakh and Rs 50,000 incentive for regular loan repayment, a review will be conducted to improve the existing schemes and provide support to widows and children of families affected by cultivator suicides, the MVA promised.

The manifesto also assured establishment of a Youth Commission for welfare of the youth, Rs 4,000 per month allowance for unemployed educated graduates and diploma holders and recruitment for 2.5 lakh positions in the state government.

The opposition alliance also promised a new industrial policy and a dedicated ministry for the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

A welfare corporation for the organised and unorganised sanitation workers is also among the promises made in the MVA's manifesto.

The MVA also assured to take immediate measures to control the prices of essential commodities, a monthly waiver of up to 100 units on electricity bills for consumers using up to 300 units and restoration of the Old Pension Scheme for government employees.
Some British Hindus have taken to social media to voice their objections over a lack of proper consultation ahead of a Diwali reception hosted by Prime Minister Keir Stramer at 10 Downing Street in London, where reportedly non-vegetarian snacks and alcohol were included on the menu.

IMAGE: Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer has a tilak applied by a member of the Arunima Kumar Dance Company during a reception at 10 Downing Street to celebrate Diwali in London, on October 29, 2024. Photograph: Mina Kim/Pool/Reuters

While community organisation Insight UK questioned the 'appalling lack of understanding' of the spiritual aspect of the Hindu festival, others pointed out that greater dialogue is required ahead of such religious events.

'Diwali is not just a time for festivity, but also holds a deeply religious meaning. The sacred festival of Diwali emphasises purity and devotion and hence traditionally involves vegetarian meals and strict avoidance of alcohol,' Insight UK stated in a post on X.

'The choice of menu at the Diwali celebration hosted by the Prime Minister himself displays an appalling lack of understanding or respect for the religious traditions associated with the festival of Diwali. It also raises the pertinent question of whether Hindu community organisations and religious leaders were consulted for greater cultural sensitivity and inclusivity,' it said.

The group urged 'greater consideration' at future celebrations intended to promote multiculturalism and inclusivity, mindful of the 'cultural and religious practices of the communities they seek to honour'.

Pandit Satish K Sharma, author and Dharmic speaker, noted: "The complete lack of sensitivity and simple consultation, at any level, is of great concern. If accidental, it's still disappointing."

Others have commented on these posts expressing their surprise over the move.

Some British Hindu groups have also flagged their lack of invitation to the reception, held regularly over the years at Downing Street and last hosted by Conservative leader Rishi Sunak -- the first British Hindu prime minister of Britain.

Downing Street did not comment on the menu at the event held on October 29 -- the first Diwali reception since the Labour Party won a landslide at the July general election.

Government sources indicated that the reception was a cross-community gathering, which involved a wide range of representatives and also included Sikh celebrations of Bandi Chhor Divas.

It brought together British Indian community leaders, professionals and parliamentarians and included Starmer lighting candles on the doorstep of 10 Downing Street, following in the footsteps of predecessor Sunak.

'We value and respect your heritage and traditions, and recognise the strength of our shared values and the celebration of Diwali -- a time of coming together, of abundance, and welcome, it is a time to fix our eyes on the light which triumphs over the darkness,' read excerpts released from Starmer's address at the event last week.
In a breakthrough, Mumbai Police and Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) on Sunday arrested wanted shooter Shivkumar in Nationalist Congress Party politician Baba Siddique murder case from the northern state along with four others, an official said.

IMAGE: Baba Siddique. Photograph: ANI Photo

Former Maharashtra minister Siddique, 66, was shot dead on October 12 by three assailants outside his son MLA Zeeshan Siddique's office building in Bandra East, Mumbai.

He sustained two bullet injuries on his chest and was rushed to the Lilavati hospital in Mumbai, where he passed away.

A Mumbai crime branch official, however, said three persons including Shivkumar were arrested.

The STF and the Mumbai Crime Branch today (Sunday) arrested the shooter Shivkumar and his four protectors from Nanpara in Bahraich district, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order and STF) of UP Police Amitabh Yash told reporters in Lucknow.

Yash said that the accused Shivkumar was trying to flee to Nepal.

The four others, namely Anurag Kashyap, Gyan Prakash Tripathi, Akash Srivastava and Akhilendra Pratap Singh, have been arrested for sheltering Shivkumar and helping him flee to Nepal, he added.

Mumbai Police had said that jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's younger brother Anmol, believed to be living in Canada, was allegedly behind the murder, but the motive was not clear.

After confirming the whereabouts of the accused persons, a joint operation with the UP STF was conducted, involving 21 police officers and personnel of Mumbai Crime Branch, the Mumbai Police official said.

The arrested persons are being brought to Mumbai.

Notably, accused Dharmaraj Kashyap (19) and Shiv Kumar alias Shiva Gautam (20) are residents of Gandara village in Kaiserganj police station area of Bahraich district, a senior UP police officer had said after Siddique was shot dead.

Kaiserganj Circle Officer (CO) Anil Kumar Singh had told PTI that Shivkumar alias Shiva had gone to Maharashtra to work as a labourer a few years ago and in April this year, he had called his neighbour Dharmaraj Kashyap to work with him.

Shiva's father Balkrishna works as a mason as a daily wager.

Meanwhile, arrested accused Shiv Kumar during his interrogation told police that he and Dharamraj Kashyap are from the same village.

"I used to work in a scrap (shop) in Pune. My scrap shop and Shubham Lonkar's (shop) were next to each other," Shiv Kumar had told the police, the UP STF said in a statement on Sunday.

Shubham Lonkar works for Lawrence Bishnoi. He made me talk to Lawrence Bishnoi's brother Anmol Bishnoi several times through Snap Chat.

"In exchange for the murder of Baba Siddique, I was told that after the murder you will get Rs 10 lakh and every month you will keep getting something or the other. Shubham Lonkar and Mohd. Yasin Akhtar gave us weapons, cartridges, SIM (card) and a mobile phone for the murder.

"After the murder, the three shooters were given new SIM and mobile phones to talk to each other," Shiv Kumar told the police.

"For the last several days, we were doing the recce of Baba Siddique in Mumbai and on the night of October 12, 2024, when we got the right time, we killed Baba Siddique. That day, because of the festival, there were police and a crowd of people due to which two people were caught on the spot and I escaped. I threw the phone on the way and went from Mumbai to Pune," Shiv Kumar said.

From Pune, I reached Bahraich via Jhansi and Lucknow. In between, I kept talking to my colleagues and handlers by asking for anyone's phone. When I talked to Anurag Kashyap using a passenger's phone from the train, he said that Alinder, Gyan Prakash and Aakaash have together made arrangements for you to hide in Nepal.

"That is why I came to Bahraich and was trying to escape to Nepal along with my colleagues. The rest of the colleagues also supported this," Shiv Kumar said, according to the statement issued by the UP STF.

According to Mumbai Police, 18 persons had been arrested in the Siddique murder case until November 7.
Two shooters of Canada-based gangster-turned terrorist Arsh Dalla's gang, who were allegedly involved in a Sikh activist's murder last month, have been arrested from Kharar in Mohali, a top Punjab police officer said on Sunday.

Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: ANI Photo

The accused were also allegedly involved in the recent murder of another person in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior.

The duo were planning to target more individuals, another senior officer said, adding that at least four target killings of prominent persons in major cities have been averted with their arrest.

Director general of police Gaurav Yadav said the arrests in the murder case of Sikh activist Gurpreet Singh Hari Nau alias Bhodi were made in a joint operation of the state special operation cell, the Anti-gangster Task Force and Faridkot Police.

Pragya Jain, senior superintendent of police, Faridkot, identified the arrested persons as Anmolpreet Singh alias Vishal, a resident of Bhadorh in Barnala, and Navjot Singh alias Neetu, a resident of Nijjar road in Kharar.

The police also arrested their accomplice Balvir Singh alias Kalu, brother of Navjot, for aiding and abetting the criminals. All the arrested persons have criminal history, Jain said.

The police said they recovered two sophisticated pistols along with seven live cartridges from the accused.

Gurpreet Singh Hari Nau was shot dead in Faridkot on October 9 while returning home from the village gurdwara on his motorcycle.

The police had then claimed that gangster-turned-terrorist Arshdeep Singh alia Arsh Dalla was the mastermind behind the murder. They had also alleged that the activist was killed at the behest of Amritpal Singh, who is lodged in Dibrugarh jail in Assam under the stringent National Security Act.

SSP Jain on Sunday said preliminary investigations revealed that Arsh Dalla tasked Navjot to target the Sikh activist, who runs a YouTube channel under the name of "Hari Nau Talks".

Arsh Dalla also asked him to rope in more associates to execute the task, she said, after which Navjot took the help of Anmolpreet, she said.

Jain said Arsh Dalla arranged a pistol along with ammunition and a motorcycle for the duo, who on October 9 went to Hari Nau village and shot dead the activist.

The senior officer said investigation revealed that both the shooters were provided hideouts by Arsh Dalla.

After the crime, the shooters were constantly on the move and changed several hideouts in various cities, including Amritsar, SBS Nagar, Himachal-Punjab Border, Chandigarh, Mohali and Kharar.

Jain said the probe also found that the accused also killed Jaswant Singh Gill on Thursday in Gwalior on directions from Arsh Dalla. Both suspects then returned to Punjab after committing the crime, where they were apprehended near Kharar.

In addition to this, these accused were involved in a firing and extortion incident at Zirakpur on October 18, where a businessman was threatened after firing and a poster came up at his building's main entrance with Arsh Dalla's name on it.

During investigation, information relating to their wider conspiracy to target more individuals was received and was probed diligently, said Jain, adding that with their arrest at least four target killings of prominent persons in major cities have been averted.

Meanwhile, Arsh Dalla, who is a Khalistani extremist and was designated a terrorist by India, is likely to have been arrested in Canada's Ontario province following a shooting incident, sources in New Delhi claimed on Sunday.

The incident is suspected to have occurred on October 28 in Milton.
President-elect Donald Trump ruled out two of his previous Cabinet members -- former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former envoy to the United Nations Nikki Haley -- to be part of his upcoming administration.

IMAGE: Then US President Donald Trump talks with then UN Ambassador Nikki Haley in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on October 9, 2018. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Trump, 78, was elected as the 47th president of the United States. He defeated Vice President Kamala Harris, 60, in the elections held on November 5. In the first term, Trump served as the 45th president from January 20, 2017, to January 20, 2021.

'I will not be inviting former Ambassador Nikki Haley, or former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to join the Trump Administration, which is currently in formation,' Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

Pompeo served as the CIA Director and Secretary of State in his first term, while Haley served as his ambassador to the United Nations in the first two years of his presidency. Both his cabinet-ranking officials later entered the presidential race against him in the Republican primaries.

While Pompeo dropped from the race early, Haley was the last challenger against Trump till February this year.

Later on, the two endorsed his campaign. Haley announced her support for Trump during the Republican National Convention in Wisconsin in July this year.

However, in his post, Trump thanked his two former Cabinet officials for their service.

'I very much enjoyed and appreciated working with them previously, and would like to thank them for their service to our Country. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!' Trump said.

*****

Biden invites Trump for meeting at White House on Nov 13

Outgoing United States President Joe Biden has invited his successor President-elect Donald Trump for a meeting at the White House on November 13, which would formally begin the presidential transition.

"At President Biden's invitation, President Biden and President-elect Trump will meet in the Oval Office on Wednesday at 11:00 am," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.

The meeting between the outgoing president and the incoming one is ceremonial and is seeped into decades old tradition. It is generally held in the Oval Office during which the outgoing president gives the president-elect a briefing about the key agenda of the country.

The president-elect is also given a tour of the White House. It involves a meeting between the First Lady and the incoming First Lady. This is only the second time in American history that a president is re-elected after a gap of four years.

In this case, President-elect Donald Trump, who was the 45th president of the United States for four years beginning January 20, 2017, and First Lady Melania Trump are familiar with the workings of the White House and a presidential administration.

The customary meeting between the outgoing and incoming president, which signifies a peaceful transfer of power, was paused in 2020 when Trump had not conceded the election. He also did not attend the swearing-in ceremony of President Joe Biden.

A similar meeting between outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris and her successor J D Vance is also being scheduled.
Incidents of violence rocked Assam's Samaguri assembly constituency where by-elections will be held on November 13 with both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the opposition Congress alleging that gunshots were fired targeting each other's supporters over the last 24 hours, police said on Sunday.

IMAGE: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that supporters of the Congress attacked MLA Jitu Goswami's vehicle. Photograph: ANI Photo

It was also alleged that three journalists who went to cover the violence, which happened on Saturday, were manhandled by Congress supporters.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma slammed the Congress for 'resorting to violence under cover of darkness' to intimidate BJP workers, stating that no one would be allowed to sabotage or undermine the democratic process.

"We got reports that an incident of firing took place at Mari Puthikhaiti village in Samaguri. BJP workers alleged that a shot was fired from the house of one Congress worker aiming at ruling party MLA Jitu Goswami's vehicle," a police officer said.

In the vehicle, Goswami and BJP leader Suresh Bora were travelling, although no one had been injured in the firing, he said.

"On the other hand, Congress workers alleged that the party's former anchalik panchayat member Ismail Hussain's son Imam Uddin was shot at by BJP workers, injuring him in the leg," the officer said.

The injured victim, Uddin, was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, he said, adding that the claims and counter-claims are being verified.

Over the night, at least half a dozen vehicles were smashed by supporters of the ruling and opposition parties at several places in the constituency when they clashed with each other, police said.

For the upcoming bypoll, the Congress has named Dhubri MP Rakibul Hussain's son Tanzil as the party's candidate against Diplu Ranjan Sarma of BJP.

In a post on X, the chief minister said, 'I strongly condemn the attack on Hon'ble MLA Shri Jitu Goswami in Samaguri by @INCAssam supporters. This is the same Congress that proudly holds up the Constitution for the cameras, yet resorts to violence under cover of darkness to intimidate our karyakartas.'

Questioning why the Congress has 'stooped to such depths' in this by-election, he said that it was not just fear of defeat but the 'desperation' to hold on to their core vote bank that drives them to such extremes.

"Justice will be served, and we will not allow anyone to sabotage or undermine our democratic process," the CM said.

Slamming the Congress, MLA Goswami demanded immediate punitive action against the attackers, 'led by MP Rakibul to terrorise the voters'.

The BJP candidate said, "I strongly condemn the incident of firing. Rakibul Hussain gave a very provocative speech last night, following which the shooting took place. We are now going to complain to the Election Commission, demanding urgent steps."

He also condemned the alleged attack on the journalists and said freedom of the press is paramount in a democracy.

On Sunday, journalists held a sit-in protest at Samaguri against the attack and demanded the immediate arrest of the culprits.

Hussain, who has been campaigning aggressively for his son's first electoral battle, reached the scene of violence and condemned the BJP's alleged 'barbaric' attack on Congress workers.

"I immediately informed Nagaon SP Swapnanil Deka and other local police officers, urging them to take action. However, Deka and others blamed Congress workers instead of carrying out an impartial investigation in front of the reporters," he said.

Incidents of violence have been reported almost on a daily basis in Samaguri since the bypoll was announced.

Already, a number of complaints have been filed by both the BJP and Congress before the Election Commission.

The BJP is making an all-out effort to snatch the seat in the demographically sensitive Nagaon district, while Congress is in no mood to leave its stronghold under any circumstances.

Hussain, who won the Dhubri Lok Sabha seat this year by a record margin of over 10.12 lakh votes, was an MLA from Samaguri for five consecutive terms before becoming a parliamentarian.

Bypoll will take place in Dholai, Sidli, Bongaigaon, Behali and Samaguri assembly constituencies as these seats fell vacant with their MLAs winning the Lok Sabha elections.

The polling for the by-elections will take place on November 13 and the votes will be counted on November 23.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Cloudy skies with some morning fog. High 62F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Rain likely. Low near 50F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall possibly over one inch.
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.
As Azerbaijan prepares to host this month's global climate summit, it is getting plenty of the attention it has sought. But as often happens when this oil-rich, authoritarian state is home to a high-profile international event, much of the publicity is bad.

Baku surely expected it would get criticism from the likes of Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW) when it won its bid last year to host the 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) on November 11-22. It has also been taking flak within business and finance circles, however.

Unflattering pieces in the Financial Times and The Economist have accused it of using the COP-adjacent cred to deflect from its own "critically insufficient" climate plans, "launder" the reputation of authoritarian President Ilham Aliyev, and generally "greenwash" the regime, distracting from a poor human rights record and other faults.

"I cannot but touch upon the smear campaign by some media outlets aimed at tarnishing Azerbaijan's image under false pretext," Aliyev groused publicly at a pre-COP meeting on October 10. "Such vain attempts cannot derail us from achieving our noble mission to cope with the negative impacts of climate change."

It is a drill Azerbaijan has been through before. The country has long regarded holding large-scale events as a path toward international prestige. It hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012. It has bid repeatedly, albeit unsuccessfully, to host the Summer Olympics and has hosted two Olympics-like events: the European Games in 2015 and the Islamic Solidarity Games in 2017. Since 2017, it has hosted the Formula One circuit's Azerbaijan Grand Prix through downtown Baku.

The Azerbaijani government is drawn to such hosting opportunities for "brand-making purposes," said Najmin Kamilsoy, an analyst and doctoral candidate in public policy at Charles University in Prague.

At the same time, "the government is very sensitive to the negative attention of the international media ahead of the event," he told RFE/RL. "They want as many Western stakeholders as possible to attend COP29, and they want their organization of the event to be regarded as successful."

Azerbaijan has gotten bad press for big events in the past. But the problem could be magnified with COP29, given its planetary stakes.

"I don't think the government was fully aware that COP was not Formula One or Eurovision, that it had global implications," said Arzu Geybulla, an Azerbaijani journalist and co-author of a new report by the U.K.-based think tank Chatham House.

COP29's Azerbaijani organizers are paying PR firm Teneo $4.7 million to manage publicity for the event. A Teneo filing under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act shows hundreds of attempts to reach out to the press, with a clear emphasis on major English-language media.

One of the organizers' key narratives about the conference is that it will be dedicated to "peace." They have promoted the idea of a "COP Truce," calling on warring parties around the world to suspend fighting for the duration of the event. Chatham House called the idea "incongruous" and "implausible" in light of Azerbaijan's recent military offensive to retake Nagorno-Karabakh and its continuing pressure on neighboring Armenia.

It also argued that the proclaimed peace agenda risks distracting from COP29's key climate challenges and thus making it a failure.

"A poor COP29 outcome could invite allegations of, at best, greenwashing. At worst, it could bring accusations of a dereliction of duty," the Chatham House authors wrote. "Recriminations towards Azerbaijan would likely damage its international reputation and undermine goodwill towards its government, as opposed to strengthening or resetting the country's international relations as the leadership might hope in the event that COP29 is perceived as successful."

In its pushback against the bad press, Azerbaijani officials and pro-government media have relied on a well-established playbook, including blaming it on the global Armenian lobby.

They also argue that it's illogical that Azerbaijan would seek to "greenwash" by inviting attention.

"It's completely counterintuitive because what is happening now is that there is a much greater emphasis and spotlight on Azerbaijan," Elin Suleymanov, Azerbaijan's ambassador to the United Kingdom, told Times Radio. "Who would do this? Who would try to avoid scrutiny by inviting the spotlight?"

Azerbaijani Ecology and Natural Resources Minister Mukhtar Babayev, a longtime state-oil executive who is also president of COP29, blamed unnamed ill-wishers.

"Azerbaijan has achieved significant success: restoration of territorial integrity, economic achievements, strong positions in the international arena. Some countries don't perceive this. It is difficult for them to assess it fairly. However, we expected [such a campaign]," he said.

But he praised the country's PR representatives for fighting back.

"Thanks to the work of this professional team, there has not been a week this year when we have not provided information and made statements to international media," Babayev said. "Now [foreign journalists] all understand and see the strength of our country."

In the end, though, the audience for such mega-events is less international NGOs and press than international policymakers, said Kamilsoy.

"For the Azerbaijani elite, COP is an intergovernmental platform and the civil-society dimension of it is negligible," he said.

As a result, Azerbaijan's government might be increasingly unconcerned at the criticism.

"It feels emboldened and totally dismissive on the accountability front, both internally and externally," Geybulla said.
Dozens turned out in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, to hear a lecture by Greta Thunberg on November 8. The Swedish climate activist met with activists from countries in the region -- Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. The latter is due to host the COP29 global climate summit on November 11-12. Thunberg said the event "is whitewashing the crimes and the extremely dangerous things that Azerbaijan is doing." She also called the summit "a greenwash conference," an attribute activists give to publicity stunts they say are only pretending to care about the environment.
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
Tajik opposition activist Dilmurod Ergashev arrived in Tajikistan on November 7, after he was deported from Germany, where he had been seeking asylum since 2011. Ergashev was immediately arrested on his return by Tajik authorities; he hasn't been heard from since. Ergashev is one of several Central Asian opposition activists sent back to their homelands; dozens more continue to pursue asylum claims in Europe. Why, despite knowing the repressive tendencies of Central Asian governments and being party to international agreements against refoulement, do some European countries still deport people to countries where returnees are routinely imprisoned? Joining host Bruce Pannier to discuss this are Leila Seiitbek, a lawyer and chairwoman of the NGO Freedom for Eurasia, and Hugh Williamson, the Europe and Central Asia director for Human Rights Watch.
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."
By Cillian Sherlock, PA

Ryanair boss Michael OLearys endorsement of Fine Gael was offensive to teachers, a Fianna Fail minister has said.

It comes after the airline chief announced his support for a Fine Gael candidate in the General Election, adding it was important to elect a government that gets shit done.

Mr OLeary endorsed Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke in the LongfordWestmeath constituency, adding that he would give his second preference to Fianna Fail candidate Robert Troy.

The multimillionaire based part of his endorsement on Mr Burkes background in the private sector, as he criticised TDs who were teachers in the past. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin is among those who has a background in teaching.

The Dail is full of teachers  nothing wrong with teachers, I love teachers, but I wouldnt generally employ a lot of teachers to go out and get things done, he said.

Reacting to the comments, Fianna Fail Minister of State James Browne said the remark was offensive, adding that he was the chair of a board of management of primary school.

One of the most effective things you can do with your life is being a teacher, he said.

Michael OLeary has endorsed Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke (Brian Lawless/PA)

Fianna Fail candidate for Dublin Bay South Jim OCallaghan added: As the son of a primary school teacher, I can tell him hes absolutely incorrect  teachers are very effective at getting things done.

In an apparent reference to Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach Simon Harris, Mr OCallaghan added: We need people from different backgrounds in Dail Eireann, teachers, all walks of life  it cant be the case that everyone just decides at 19 years of age that Im going to be a politician and stay in politics for the rest of their lives.

Mr Burke later distanced himself from Mr OLearys remarks, telling RTE radio that he absolutely disagreed with the businessman about teachers.

Speaking at Mr Burkes campaign launch in Mullingar, Mr OLeary also took aim at Sinn Fein and continued a long-running feud with the Green Party.

Mr OLeary, who grew up and lives in Mullingar, said the November 29 vote would be one of the most seismic elections within the next three decades because of the expected population boom.

He added: So it is vital this time that we elect a government that delivers.

We need a government that delivers for enterprise, that creates jobs. We need a government that delivers infrastructure that fixes the problems we face today, and above all, its vital that we elect a government that gets shit done.

Because, frankly, Im fed up with the left-wing politicians telling us that if they tax us more and spend more, all will be well.

Mr OLeary urged the crowd to also support Fianna Fail candidates but urged them not to vote for the Green Party or Sinn Fein.

I would also urge everybody to give your number two to somebody in Fianna Fail as well, he said.

Its important, I think, in this election that Fine Gael and Fianna Fail supporters transfer to each other.

Ryanair has repeatedly criticised the Green ministers for transport and tourism, Eamon Ryan and Catherine Martin, over what the airline sees as a lack of action on the Dublin Airport passenger cap.

What is most important in this election is we weed out the Greens. Weve learned after five minutes that the Greens are just weeds, Mr OLeary said.

They poison enterprise. Theyve destroyed transport.

He added: Please dont vote for Sinn Fein. I would ignore Sinn Fein. If you cant run your own party, you havent much chance of running a government or a country either.
Three individuals arrested and detained as part of an investigation into burglaries in County Roscommon have been released without charge, Gardai have confirmed.

This morning, Sunday, Gardai confirmed that the three had been released and that files would now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

As part of an ongoing investigation into organised criminal activity and burglaries in counties Roscommon, Mayo, Longford, Westmeath and Sligo, Gardai arrested the three in the Dublin Metropolitan Region last Tuesday.

The operation involved the search of four properties in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) where North Western Region personnel were assisted by members from the Armed Support Unit, DMR West and DMR South along with DMR Regional support and members from Athlone.

The three males (aged 26, 21 and a juvenile) were arrested and taken to Garda stations in the Mayo/Roscommon/Longford Division, where they were detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007. All three have now been released without charge.
Protests Erupt Outside Canadian High Commission in Delhi Following Brampton Temple Attack

Hindu Sikh Global Forum, expressed concerns over the increasing number of attacks targeting Hindu and Sikh communities.

Brampton Temple Attack Latest News: In response to the recent attack on a Hindu temple in Brampton, Canada, members of the Hindu Sikh Global Forum staged a protest outside the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi on Sunday.

Demonstrators were stopped by Delhi Police at Teen Murti Marg as they raised slogans condemning the rise in anti-Hindu violence in Canada, allegedly fueled by Khalistani extremists, according to ANI.

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The Hindu Sikh Global Forum organized the march, representing a unified voice of Hindu and Sikh communities calling for action after the November 3 attack at Bramptons Hindu Sabha Temple.

During the incident, Khalistani extremists allegedly assaulted Hindu devotees, including women and children, sparking international outcry and condemnation from global leaders.

Tarvinder Singh Marwah, President of the Hindu Sikh Global Forum, expressed concerns over the increasing number of attacks targeting Hindu and Sikh communities. Reflecting on the toll of past militancy, he said, An entire generation was destroyed, either through violence or forced migration, and now drugs have been used to harm our youth."

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He emphasized that these incidents threaten community unity, pointing to recent attacks on temples as a troubling escalation. "This is wrong and unfortunate," he remarked, highlighting the need for proactive measures to protect community spaces and religious freedoms.

(For more news apart from Brampton Temple Attack Latest News, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Kartarpur Sahib Corridor Completes Five Years, Uniting Devotees from India and Pakistan

The Kartarpur Corridor stands as a reminder of shared heritage and faith.

Kartarpur Sahib Corridor Latest News: The Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, a historic passage between India and Pakistan, celebrates its fifth anniversary today. Established as a symbol of peace and religious harmony, the corridor has enabled nearly 342,000 pilgrims from India to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan, fulfilling a long-cherished dream for many to pay obeisance at one of Sikhisms most sacred sites.

Devotees expressed profound gratitude to both governments, acknowledging the effort to create this bridge that has fostered connection between the two neighboring nations. "Its a blessing to be able to visit Kartarpur Sahib in our lifetime, shared one pilgrim.

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Since its inauguration, the corridor has not only strengthened religious ties but has also served as a hopeful symbol of unity for people on both sides of the border. Devotees prayed for the corridors continued operation, expressing hope that this path connecting separated communities remains open forever, allowing future generations the opportunity to visit.

The Kartarpur Corridor stands as a reminder of shared heritage and faith, bridging cultural divides and offering a platform for peaceful interaction between India and Pakistan.

(For more news apart from Kartarpur Sahib Corridor Latest News, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Members of the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights celebrate during a watch party with the Colorado Democrat Party in Denver after an announcement that Amendment 79 passed, which protects abortion in the state constitution.
Arsh Dalla, close aide of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, arrested in Canada: Sources

Dalla, the acting chief of the Khalistani Tiger Force, has been linked to various violent acts in India.

Arshdeep Singh aka Arsh Dalla Arrest Latest News Today: Canadian authorities have arrested Arshdeep Singh, also known as Arsh Dalla, a prominent Khalistani terrorist and one of Indias most-wanted criminals, in connection with a recent shootout, sources confirmed to India Today TV.

Indian security agencies reported that Dallas arrest followed his alleged involvement in an armed incident on October 27 or 28 in Milton, Canada. Arsh Dalla, wanted for multiple criminal activities in India, has been residing in Canada with his wife. The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) is leading the investigation into the recent shootout.

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Dalla, the acting chief of the Khalistani Tiger Force, has been linked to various violent acts in India. Earlier this year, he publicly claimed responsibility for the killing of Congress leader Baljinder Singh Balli in Punjab, accusing Balli of ruining his future and implicating his mother in police custody.

On the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) terrorist list, Dalla has allegedly orchestrated several crimes in Punjab from Canada over the past few years. Indian authorities previously disrupted Dalla-backed operations in Punjab, recovering weapons and arresting his close aides.

Dallas arrest follows a recent attack on a Hindu temple in Canada, heightening tensions between India and Canada amid ongoing diplomatic strain since Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus accusations last year linking India to the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjaran allegation India has strongly denied.

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(For more news apart from Arshdeep Singh aka Arsh Dalla Arrest Latest News Today, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Brampton Hindu Temple Attack: Peel Police Make Another Arrest

The altercation occurred during a demonstration at the Brampton Mandir.

Brampton Hindu Temple Attack Latest News Today: The Peel Region Police have made an additional arrest following a violent incident at a Hindu temple in Brampton, Canada, on November 3.

The arrest was part of an investigation by the 21 Division Criminal Investigations Bureau and the Strategic Investigation Team (SIT), which has been examining the clash at the temple on The Gore Road.

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The altercation occurred during a demonstration at the Brampton Mandir. According to the police statement, tensions between opposing groups escalated, leading to physical confrontations where flags and sticks were reportedly used as weapons. Numerous offences, many captured on video, prompted police to launch a detailed investigation.

One suspect, identified as 35-year-old Inderjeet Gosal of Brampton, was arrested on November 8 and charged with assault with a weapon. He has been released under specific conditions and is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton.

The SIT, formed to investigate the incidents from November 3 and 4, noted that the complex investigation is ongoing and further arrests are anticipated as more suspects are identified.

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In response, Canadian MP Chandra Arya condemned the attack by Khalistani extremists, denouncing any attempts to frame the incident as a Hindu-Sikh conflict. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed condemnation on X, formerly Twitter. The Indian High Commission in Canada criticized the "violent disruption" outside a consular camp, attributing it to 'anti-India' elements.

(For more news apart from Brampton Hindu Temple Attack Latest News Today, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
George Brauchler is the former district attorney for the 18th Judicial District and is a candidate for district attorney in the newly created 23rd Judicial District. He has served as an Owens Early Criminal Justice Fellow at the Common Sense Institute. Follow him on Twitter(X): @GeorgeBrauchler
European stocks fell on Friday, with markets in the UK, Germany and France registering heavy losses by the close, as a wave of poorly received corporate earnings and underwhelming stimulus measures in China weighed on sentiment.

The Stoxx 600 declined 0.7% to 506.63, with small losses in Milan (-0.5%) and Madrid (-0.2%) met with more significant drops in London (-0.8%), Frankfurt (-0.8%) and Paris (-1.2%).

In Germany in particular, ongoing political uncertainty in Berlin was keeping investors on their toes following this week's collapse of the coalition government after Chancellor Olaf Scholz's decision to dismiss his finance minister, paving the way for a confidence vote and potentially a snap election.

"Political instability in Germany comes at particularly tricky time for Europe. In the short term, the downside risks to growth are probably a little higher now because Germany might be without a budget for part of next year, unless the ruling SPD and Scholz's remaining coalition partner, the Green party, manage to get support from elsewhere," said Angel Talavera, head of European economics at Oxford Economics.

Meanwhile, China unveiled its latest stimulus package on Friday, as it looked to tackle surging levels of local government debt and revive the country's flagging economy. Beijing approved a Rm10trn (1.1bn) plan to help heavily-indebted local governments refinance. The funds will go towards reducing off-balance, or hidden, debts. However, many say the measures don't get far enough.

"The problem with Chinas stimulus measures is that they are not stimulus. They are essentially a debt swap to shore up local governments finances. The market reaction shows that traders do not see these measures as boosting consumption, and instead they are designed to stop a financial crisis domestically in China," said Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB.

Investors were also still digested interest-rate cuts in Sweden, the UK and US on Thursday, along with uncertainty surrounding the potential ramifications of newly elected US president Donald Trump's proposed import tariffs on international trade.

Market movers

London's heavyweight mining sector was providing a drag as Chinese stimulus measures disappointed, with Anglo American, Antofagasta, Glencore and Rio Tinto all out of favour.

Richemont shares were down 7% after the Swiss luxury accessories group said weak consumer spending in China led to a 1% fall in second-quarter sales, missing analysts' estimates. Others in the sector such as Burberry, Swatch Group and Kering also fell.

Vistry dropped nearly 26% after the UK housebuilder warned on full-year profits again, cutting its forecast for completions and highlighting issues at its South Division.

Also in London, Serco fell 9% after revealing it had lost a 165m-a-year long-running Australian immigration detention centres contract, and estimating that labour costs would rise by 20m a year due to tax changes announced in last week's autumn budget.

Polish retailer Dino Polska was the standout performer on the Stoxx 600, rising 14% after beating forecasts with its third-quarter results, which saw double-digit growth in both sales and gross profits.

Spanish and London-listed airline IAG also jumped 6% after beating analysts' forecasts for top-line growth in the third quarter and delivering strong guidance, as it unveiled a 350m share buyback plan.
An American family is mourning the death of a 31-year-old American tourist who was killed while on vacation in Hungarys capital, according to the Associated Press.

The victim, Mackenzie Michalski from Portland, Oregon, 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 37-year-old man later identified as the suspect in several of the clubs the night of her disappearance. As of Saturday, the suspect was in custody.

The man confessed to the killing after being detained on Nov. 7 by police for questioning.

Before the confession, Michalskis family and friends had launched an social media effort to find her. Michalskis parents traveled to Hungary to assist in the search, but learned on the way there that she had been killed.

During a candlelight vigil in Budapest on Saturday night, Michalskis father, Bill Michalski, told The AP that he was still overcome with emotion at the death of his daughter.
A Dyker Heights man is facing multiple charges after allegedly staging a car crash on a Queens section of the Belt Parkway that was captured on the victims dashcam and posted to social media last month where it has received millions of views, according to the Queens Courier.

Maikel Martinez, 28, was taken into police custody Thursday at JFK Airport as he arrived back in the country on a flight from Ecuador, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.

Authorities allege that on Oct. 16 at around 11:10 a.m., the victim, Ashpia Natasha, was headed north on the Belt Parkway in Rosedale, Queens when Martinez, driving a Honda Civic, cut her off and brought his vehicle to an abrupt stop. Natasha jammed on her brakes as Martinez then backed the Civic into her cars frontend, damaging both vehicles in the process, the report said.

In the aftermath of the crash, the dash cam footage shows the occupants of Martinezs car holding up a tarp to obscure the victims view as they allegedly switched seats inside the Civic. An occupant of Martinezs car then exited the car and hopped into an SUV that drove off from the scene, the report said.

The defendant and others allegedly staged a crash on a busy highway and rammed an unsuspecting driver with their vehicle after they forcibly stopped her on the left lane of the Belt Parkway, Katz said. Countless lives were jeopardized due to this reckless conduct.

Martinez, whos been charged with staging a motor vehicle accident, criminal mischief, reckless endangerment, conspiracy and insurance fraud pleaded not guilty and was ordered to return to Queens Criminal Court in January. He faces up to seven years in prison if found guilty, the report said.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  During one of the early days following her diagnosis of triple-negative breast cancer in February 2024, Melissa Hickey spent a lot of time talking to doctors in the Florina Cancer Center at Staten Island University Hospital  and a lot of time crying.

The plan to tackle the 2.9-centimeter tumor with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, followed by a double mastectomy and reconstruction, just seemed an overwhelming, impossible burden, to the Dongan Hills mom.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Families of fallen members of the New York Police Department were joined by friends, neighbors, community leaders, and elected officials to pay tribute and honor those who served.

The ninth annual Staten Island Remembers ceremony was held on Saturday at the 121st Precinct in Graniteville. For the event, active and retired NYPD members filled the stationhouse.

The NYPD Ceremonial Unit opened the event with a Color Guard and singing of the National Anthem. Father Carlos Limongi, an NYPD Chaplain, gave the the Invocation.

Assistant Chief Melissa A. Eger, recently appointed Commanding Officer of Patrol Board Staten Island, greeted everyone in attendance.

Co-chairs Marlene Markoe-Boyd and Denise Leahy-Henick read the names of the fallen members, followed by co-chair Jerry Amerosis solemn ringing of a bell.

Family members who wished to speak were invited up to the podium to share memories of their lost loved ones.

For Marilyn Calleja and her 10-year-old son Eric, this was their first time attending a Staten Island Remembers ceremony. Her husband and Erics father, Detective Eric M. Calleja of the 123rd Precinct detective squad, succumbed to a 9/11-associated illness two years ago.

As Marilyn spoke about her husband through broken tears, with Eric at her side, he held her arm, bravely comforting his grieving mother. She explained, The night he passed away, Eric was staying with my mother. When I called to tell her, she said Eric was asleep, so let him stay here, get yourself together, and come in the morning.

The following day, it took me an hour and a half to walk through that door, wondering how am I going to tell an 8-year-old boy that he lost his best friend.

When my mom opened the door, he ran over and gave me the biggest hug. Now I was even more worried about telling him because he seemed so happy.

I had him sit down and said, Mommy has to tell you something. He looked at me and said, I know, Daddy died last night. He came to see me from Heaven. I gave Daddy a hug, and he told me he loves me so much. He didnt look sick, and now hes with me wherever I go.

Eric said, Attending the ceremony was really peaceful. It made me a little emotional, but actually, it was nice.

Denise Leahy-Henik became a co-chair because her brother, Police Officer James Leahy, perished during the September 11th attack at the World Trade Center.

This is a very emotional time for the families. I am so happy to be a Co-chair here. I want to share and do my part to make sure this event happens every year so we can honor all of the fallen officers from Staten Island, she said.

Staten Island District Attorney Michael E. McMahon was joined by Staten Island elected officials and New York State Assembly Members Michael Reilly, Michael Tannousis, and Sam Pirozzolo, who attended to show support.

Reilly, who served as a lieutenant with the NYPD, said, Today was a somber yet moving day, honoring the courage and sacrifice of the NYPD officers who gave their lives in service to our community. Staten Island stands united in remembrance and support for our NYPD families, the Survivors of the Shield, who carry forward their legacy with resilience and strength. Fidelis Ad Mortem, faithful until death, and forever in our hearts.

McMahon told the audience, When I go to work, my wife is really not worried whether or not I will come home. But when you all go to work every day, your loved ones always have to have that on their mind. And thats why we respect you so much and we thank you for your service. And to the families that lost loved ones, please know this. On Staten Island, we just do not, not forget', we remember, and that to me is an active thing in our actions and our deeds, we remember.

Who Was Honored

Patrolman John Kennedy  1922  Struck and killed by train, was assigned to 123rd Precinct Patrolman Alfred A. VanCleaf  1923  Was killed in a motorcycle accident while assigned to the 63rd Precinct (Todays 122 Precinct) on Dec. 4, 1923 Patrolman Joseph McBreen  1937  Building collapse, assigned to ESS#10, Staten Island Patrolman John Wilson  1937  Shot and killed, was assigned to 1st Precinct Patrolman Daniel Sullivan  1937  Was injured in Motorcycle accident on Manor Road south of Brielle Ave, and succumbed to injures ten days later at the former St. Vincents Hospital, was assigned to Motorcycle Squad 2 Patrolman Emmett Cassidy  1939  Shot and Killed, was assigned to 120th Precinct Patrolman Norman Dixon  1941  Was struck and killed by automobile, was assigned to 120th Precinct Sergeant Matthew McCormick  1943  Struck and killed by automobile at ferry terminal, was assigned to 120th Precinct Patrolman Henry Walburger  1964  Shot and killed while assigned to the 9th Precinct Patrolman Philip Schultz  1965  Shot and killed while attempting to disarm a subject off-duty armed with a knife, was assigned to Bklyn/Staten Island Housing Authority Police Department Patrolman Edward Monzillo  1966  Killed in motorcycle accident while on duty while assigned to Motorcycle Precinct 2, the present day Highway 2 Patrolman John Joseph Darcy  1967  While on foot post in the 28th Precinct, he was struck and killed by a truck Patrolman Gerald Murphy  1970  Was fatally shot while being robbed and beaten off duty  Awarded the medal of honor in 1971  Assigned to the 9th Precinct Patrolman Arthur Pelo - 1971  Was fatally shot while pursuing a robbery suspect  First Italian-American Police Officer killed in the line of duty Patrolman Carson Terry  1971  Was fatally shot while attempting to make an arrest off-duty, was assigned to Brooklyn/Staten Island Housing Authority Police Department Police Officer Rocco Laurie  1972  9th Precinct - Was shot and killed by BLA while walking his patrol beat with his partner Police Officer Foster Police Officer Walter Bolembach  1974 (plaque on wall in 120 Precinct) - heart attack from car crash while on duty  assigned to 120th Precinct for over 19 years  daughter Maureen also retired out of 120th Precinct Police Officer Timothy Murphy  1974  Was shot and killed when he was mistaken for an offender while off duty, was assigned to 120th Precinct Police Officer Joseph Garcia- 1975 - Assigned to the 6th Precinct, was shot and killed while pursuing an armed robbery suspect Police Officer John Brideson  1977 (name on plaque in 122nd Precinct) Police Officer Robert Manzione  1979  while assigned to the 7th Precinct, collapsed and died while chasing a robbery suspect Captain Richard Jason  1979- (name on plaque in 122 Precinct) Police Officer Thomas Schimenti  1979  Assigned to MTS Precinct, while pursuing a bank robber was shot and killed Police Officer Robert Seton-Harris  1982  While assigned to the 122nd Precinct died of a heart attack Police Officer Patrick Raccioppi  1982 (name on plaque in 122 Precinct) Police Officer Charles Ferris  1983 (plaque on wall in 120 Precinct) Police Officer Francis LaSalla  1987  while assigned to ESS 1, died from injuries sustained after dashing into a burning building in Manhattan Police Officer William Jasko, Jr.  1990  (name on plaque in 122nd Precinct) Retired Police Officer Irwin Rutman  1991  was shot and killed during an attempted robbery, retired Rutman lived on Staten Island Police Officer Michael Morrissey - 1991- (name on plaque in 122nd Precinct) Detective Luis Lopez  1993  while assigned to NBMS as an undercover was fatality shot during a buy and bust operation Sergeant William Nelson  1996 (name on plaque in 122nd Precinct) Detective Kenny Fung  1997  while in Puerto Rico extraditing a fugitive, Detective Fung suffered a massive heart attack, son Kenneth is Retired Detective, Homicide, DBSI Housing Police Officer Gerard Carter  1998  Was shot and killed in the West Brighton Houses, PO Carter was assigned to Staten Island Housing Police Officer Monica Jesselli  1998 (plaque on wall in 123rd Precinct) (murdered by Police Officer husband who worked in 122 squad) Police Officer Matthew Dziergowski  1999  Assigned to the 123rd Precinct, was killed in automobile accident on West Shore Expressway Police Officer Benny Marciante  2000 (plaque on wall in 120th Precinct)  Passed away from Heart Attack, assigned to the SITF Evidence Collection Unit Police Officer John Kelly  2000  Assigned to SITF Auto Larcency Unit, was killed in automobile accident involving a stolen motorcycle. Police Officer James Leahy  2001  Killed in 911, was assigned to the 6th Precinct Detective Salvatore Cafiso  2002  NBSI - While engaged in anti-narcotics operation on Staten Island, Det. Cafiso suffered a fatal heart attack. Detective James Nemorin  2003 - assigned to OCCB, was killed after being shot during the undercover operation in the confines of the 120th Precinct Detective Rodney Andrews  2003 - assigned to OCCB, was killed after being shot during the undercover operation in the confines of the 120th Precinct Lieutenant Robert Rice  2003  Died from a 911 Related illness on April 12, 2003 Detective William Titus  2003  NBBN - Died from 911 Related illness on Aug. 24, 2003 Police Officer Kevin Lee  2006  Suffered a fatal heart attack following a foot pursuit while assigned to the Manhattan North Grand Larceny Unit on Jan. 27, 2006 Police Officer Angelo Peluso  2006 License Division, Officer Peluso died from 911 related illness on May 24, 2006 Detective Russel Timoshenko  2007  71st Precinct - Fatally shot during car-stop on July 14, 2007 Detective Kevin G. Hawkins  2007 - Intelligence Bureau - Died from a 911 related Illness, on May 7, 2007 Sergeant Edward Thompson  2008  Intelligence Bureau - Died from a 911 related Illness, on March 9, 2008 Sergeant Alex Baez  2008  84th Precinct - Died from a 911 related illness on Nov. 11, 2008 Lieutenant Gerald Rex  2009  PBMS - Died from a 911 related illness on March 30, 2009 Detective Michael Morales - 2009 122nd PDS - Died from a 911 related illness on June 10, 2009 Police Officer Frank Bolusi - 2010 120th Precinct - Died from a 911 related illness on Jan. 12, 2010 Sergeant Harold Smith  2011  NBSI - Died from a 911 related illness on March 5, 2011 Admin TEA Eugene P. Hourican 2012  Died from a 911 related illness on June 25, 2012 Detective Carmen Figueroa 2013  Major Case Squad - Died from a 9/11 related illness on May 26, 2013 Detective Joseph Cavitolo  2013  DCPI - Died from a 911 related illness on Oct. 25, 2013 Detective Angel Creagh  2014  NBBS - Died from a 911 related illness on Jan. 14, 2014 Sergeant Mark Lawler  2014  DBBN  Died from a 911 related illness on Aug. 11, 2014. Sergeant Patrick Murphy  2014  ESS#5 - Died from a 911 illness on Aug. 20, 2014 Detective Rafael Ramos - 2014 - formerly assigned to School Safety on Staten Island, was fatally shot in head while on fixed post in the confined of the 84th Precinct. Sergeant Louis R. Pioli  2015 61st Precinct, Sgt. Pioli died from a 9/11 related illness on Oct. 29, 2015 Sergeant Donald Conniff  2015  Succumbed to injuries after car accident in 1998 on duty, was assigned to Mayors Detail Detective Ronald Richards  2015  Bomb Squad - Died from a/11 related illness on October 10, 2015 Sergeant Anthony Napolitano  2016 123rd Precinct - Died from a 9/11 related illness on April 3, 2016 Police Officer (SA) William T. Walsh- 2016 D.A.R.E, PO Walsh died from a 9/11 related illness on January 11, 2016 Detective Michael E. Glazer, 2016 NBBN, Det. Glazer died from a 9/11 Related illness on May26, 2016 Lieutenant John Rowland, 2017 Counterterrorism Division, Lt. Rowland died from a 9/11 related illness on Jan. 26, 2017 Police Officer Kelly Korchak, 2017 PBSI ECT, Kelly died from a 9/11 associated illness on June 10, 2017 Sergeant Michael Incontrera, 2017 HWY District, Micheal died from a 9/11 associated illness on Dec. 10, 2017. Captain Carmine Cantalino, 2017 62nd Precinct, Carmine died from a 911 associated illness on Sept. 29, 2017 Detective John C. Ryan  2017  66th Precinct Detective Squad  Det Ryan died of a 9/11 associated illness on May 19, 2017 and was recently approved in 2023. Chief William Allee, 2018 Detective Bureau, Chief Allee died from a 911 associated illness on May 24, 2018 Police Officer Anthony R. Hanlon, 2018 ESU Canine Team, PO Hanlon died from a 911 associated illness on Oct. 21, 2018 Detective Philip T. Perry - 2019  Det. Bureau - Det Perry died from a 911 associated illness on March 14, 2019 Detective Anthony N. Brognano, 2019  Brooklyn South Gang, Det Brognano died from a 911 associated illness on Aug. 8, 2019 Detective Christopher E. Cranston, 2019 - 60 Precinct PDS, Det Cranston died of a 911 associated illness on July 20, 2019 Detective Thomas Santoro  2019 - Counterterrorism Division, Det. Santoro died of a 911 associated illness on July 21, 2019 Detective Scott G. Lovendahl, 2019 - DBSI  Det. Lovendahl died of a 911 associated illness on Sept. 14, 2019 Detective Anthony L. Lombardo  2019  DOI SQD- Det Lombardo died of a 911 associated illness on Nov. 17, 2019 Police Officer Nancy Puca  2020  Med Division  PO Puca died of a 9/11 associated illness on March 2, 2020 Police Officer Michael H. Grannis  2020 - 5th Precinct  PO Grannis died of a 9/11 associated illness on March 10, 2020 Police Officer Frank L. Gagliano  2020 - TD#34  PO Gagliano died of a 9/11 associated illness on May 13, 2020 Detective Emilio Laboy  2020  Warrant Section  Det. Laboy died of a 9/11 associated illness on May 9, 2020. Detective Peter Gianfrancesco  2020  Warrant Section  Det. Gianfrancesco died of a 911 associated illness on September 2, 2020 Supervisor Mechanic Edwin O. Lim  2020  Fleet Services PBQN, Supervisor Mechanic Edwin Lim died of a 9/11 illness on Oct. 12, 2020 Police Officer Nicholas Purpero  2021  Bus Unit  PO Purpero died of a 9/11 associated illness on Feb. 20, 2020. Police Officer Lawrence J. Prehn  2021 - 7th Precinct - PO Lawrence J. Prehn died of a 911 associated illness on November 10th, 2021 Detective Ronald A. Gray  2021 - Arson & Explosive Squad - Detective Ronald Gray died of a 9/11 associated illness on June 22, 2021 Police Officer Daniel Sanchez  2022  HW#5  PO Sanchez died of COVID-19 on Jan. 19, 2022 while receiving treatment in a rehabilitation facility Detective Frank D. Randell  2022  Operations Tech Support Unit  Det Randell died of a 9/11 associated illness on January 28, 2022. Sergeant Thomas F. Roche  2022  Narcotics Division Brooklyn South Initiative  Sgt Roche died of a 9/11 associated illness on May 10, 2022 Police Officer Donald E. Cossean  2022  Strategic Response Group #5  PO Cossean died of a 9/11 associated illness on May 17, 2022 Detective Nicholas M. Holovinsky  2022  Internal Affairs Bureau  Det. Holovinsky died of a 9/11 associated illness on July 26, 2022 Detective Eric M. Calleja  2022  123rd Precinct Detective Squad  Det. Calleja died of a 9/11 associated illness on August 7, 2022 Lieutenant Maureen Gill  Donohue  2022  79th Precinct  Lt. Donohue died of a 9/11 associated illness on December 7, 2022 Police Officer Jordan Silver  2022  68th Precinct  PO Silver died of a 9/11 associated illness on Dec. 9, 2022

187 1 / 187 9th Annual Staten Island Remembers

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Jozette Carter-Williams, the widow of Police Officer Gerard Carter, who was shot and killed in 1998, started coming to the memorial services when they were initially held in the parking lot of the Staten Island Mall.

This is really a great thing for us, so we know that no one has forgotten our loved ones. For me, this is really emotional, said Carter-Williams. Its been 26 years, but it seems like yesterday. Its great to see we have all like-minded people who are experiencing the same thing, and Im not alone.

Michelle Fung Girimonte, the widow of two police officer husbands, was among the attendees. Her first husband, Detective Kenny Fung, perished in 1997 while extraditing a fugitive from Puerto Rico.

Her second husband, Assistant Chief Albert Girimonte, who once served as the Staten Island Borough Commander, died in January of this year.

Clare Cranston was another first-time attendee. While working for the police department, she met and married her husband, Detective Christopher E. Cranston, who succumbed to a 9/11-associated illness in 2019.

I didnt know what to expect today. The support is incredible, to have everyone come, the politicians, the heads of the police department, a lot of them on their day off, to know that they dont forget my husband.

She added, Life goes on. The clock keeps moving, the days pass, and the years pass. But there are good things. When your children grow up, they have children. And my husband just became a grandfather for the first time this year.

Amanda Lupo, the granddaughter of Police Officer Thomas Schimenti, who was shot and killed in 1999, attended the ceremony with her mother and widowed grandmother, Diane.

As she has done in past years, Amanda sang a beautiful rendition of I Miss You.

Co-chair Sal Sottile, known throughout Staten Island for his unwavering support for the men and women of the NYPD, said, To the families, this is probably one of the hardest days youve had in a long time.

Sottile continued, We greatly appreciate that you participate and are part of this. As much as this is a difficult time, its an uplifting time. Its not about how they perished; its about how they lived. Its not about tears of sadness, but tears of joy, because they will never be forgotten. We will always be here for you.

Borough leaders Jerry Amerosi, Bob Cutrona, Leahy-Henick, Sottile and Markoe-Boyd hosted the catered event, which concluded with a rendition of Amazing Grace on bagpipes.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  On Saturday, Dariel Vasquez, an 18-year-old New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Department employee, was killed while battling a fire at Sterling Forest in Greenwood Lake, New York.

The New York State Police is investigating the incident, said the agency, which identified the young man who perished.

I am deeply saddened by the passing of one of our New York State Parks employees while responding to a wildfire in Orange County yesterday. My prayers go out to his family, friends and coworkers during this difficult time, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a press statement. I commend his dedication to serving and protecting his fellow New Yorkers, and his bravery on the front lines.

Hochul added that New York is battling multiple wildfires due to dry conditions.

Our State employees are working around the clock to protect our communities and we are keeping them close in our thoughts as they put their lives on the line to stop the spread of these wildfires, Hochul said.

A brush fire in Brooklyns Prospect Park burned overnight Friday into Saturday dry vegetation ignited during heavy wind gusts, the New York City Fire Department said on X. Firefighters worked overnight to extinguish the fire.

Friday night, the FDNY responded to a call of a brush fire in Prospect Park. Approximately two acres of extremely dry vegetation in the park ignited among heavy wind gusts. The FDNY battled the blaze for more than three hours.



This has been a historically dry time for New York pic.twitter.com/UUvefzQoJF  FDNY (@FDNY) November 9, 2024

According to the outlet, red flag warnings that inform the public of an increased risk of fire danger due to warm temperatures, very low humidity, and stronger winds was activated in some Northeastern cities during the weekend.

Cities in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island will be under a red flag warning until 6 p.m. Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

The Northeast has been hit with burning wild fires thanks to a combination of wind gusts and low humidity, according to NBC News.

Vegetation in the Northeastern area is very dry because the region is nearly 6 to 8 inches behind on rain since September, reported NBC News. A cold front is expected to pass through the region Sunday, bringing up to 1 inch of rain, the outlet added.

Two fires are burning in Passaic County, New Jersey: the Cannonball 3 Wildfire in Pompton Lakes and the Jennings Creek Wildfire in West Milford, the latter of which is also burning in part of Orange County, New York.

The Jennings Creek Wildfire, has burned 2,000 acres, according to the outlet.

The 39-acre wildfire burning in Bergen County is 75% contained, according to the state fire service.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Staten Islands largest environmental group is pushing for the inclusion of a rare local frog on the state endangered species list, as the frogs numbers are dwindling in the borough and in the state of New York.

Inclusion of the Atlantic coast leopard frog on the list will allow the state to protect the frogs Staten Island habitat  fresh water marshes. The marshes are threatened by overdevelopment, said Jose Ramirez-Garofalo, an ecologist and president of Protectors of Pine Oak Woods, a 1,000-plus-member Staten Island non-profit group dedicated to preserving open space on Staten Island.

Ramirez-Garofalo recently sent a letter in support of the measure to the York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), which has proposed listing the Atlantic Coast leopard frog (Lithobates (Rana) kauffeldi) as endangered in New York state.

Protecting the frog and its habitat has additional benefits, too, Ramirez-Garofalo said.

It indirectly protects other species that are occupying the same habitat, species like diamondback terrapins and species of arthropods we might not think of as being endangered, he explained.

Proposed additions to the list were released earlier in the year by the NYSDEC.

The addition of the Atlantic coast leopard frog is a vital first step in both understanding the ecology of this species and ensuring its continued persistence in New York state,' Ramirez-Garofalo said in the letter to the NYSDEC.

Currently, the frogs live on the Islands heavily developed West Shore, in pockets of habitats, which puts them at greater risk, he said.

It seems like theyre pretty happy out there, but the reason why theyre so endangered is because of the isolation between their populations, Ramirez-Garofalo said. The isolation makes them naturally more vulnerable to extinction, as a random event could potentially eliminate one entire population, he added.

Staten Island's fresh water marshes, where the frogs live, are threatened by overdevelopment, said Jose Ramirez-Garofalo, an ecologist and president of Protectors of Pine Oak Woods. (Staten Island Advance/Irving Silverstein)Staten Island Advance/Irving Silverstein

The medium-sized spotted frog is one of three animals native to New York City proposed for addition to the list. It currently lives only in six locations within the state.

Animals can fall into one of several conservation categories.

Endangered is for a native species that is in imminent risk of becoming extinct.

If an animal has a future risk of becoming endangered, its classified as threatened.

Any animals that warrant closer watch and more data collected are considered to be of special concern.

As an organization, Protectors of Pine Oak Woods has had a long history of collaborating with various agencies and organizations to protect and better understand the status and distribution of plant and animal species on Staten Island, Ramirez-Garofalo said in his letter to the NYSDEC.

Members have been particularly passionate about protecting critical wetland habitats for species on the Island, the kind favored by the Atlantic Coast leopard frog.

Currently, the Atlantic Coast leopard frog has a sparse distribution across only three counties in New York state: Richmond, Orange and Putnam, Ramirez-Garofalo said.

Once having occurred across at least 11 counties, they have apparently declined throughout what is now considered the northern portion of their range, which includes New York,' he wrote. Currently, they have a New York Heritage Program State Conservation Status Rank of S1S2, indicating that they are imperiled to critically imperiled in New York state, as evident by their presence in a small number of isolated populations.

As global sea-levels continue to rise during the 21st century, the freshwater and brackish wetlands that these frogs are restricted to will be subject to saltwater intrusion, potentially causing further endangerment to this already-sparsely distributed species, Ramirez-Garofalo said.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Former GOP Rep. Michael Grimm has been paralyzed from injuries he sustained in a September horse riding accident, the Advance/SILive.com has learned.

Former South Shore City Councilman Vincent Ignizio, who now serves as deputy executive director of the New York City Board of Elections, took to Facebook to encourage prayers and a donation for Grimm.

He revealed that Grimm is paralyzed and cannot walk due to the accident.

Ignizio posted a link to the Help Michael Grimm Walk Again GoFundMe page that has already raised $15,146 as of 10:23 a.m. on Sunday. The goal is $2.5 million.

Ignizios post explained that Grimm needs help to cover the substantial costs that insurance doesnt cover.

In a comment to the Advance/SILive.com, Ignizio called Grimm a great friend [and] a great patriot, saying: Staten Island always steps up when someone is in need, and Im hopeful that they do the same for a former congressman and friend, Michael Grimm.

The GoFundMes description reads as follows:

Our friend, former Marine, FBI Agent, and US Congressman Michael Grimm was paralyzed following a devastating accident when thrown from a horse in September 2024. He has been in the most devastating of situations and through the grace of God, Mr. Grimm has miraculously thread the needle to survive. Yet, his ongoing care and the treatment to walk again will cost millions of dollars.

For a man who has dedicated his life to helping others, we now humbly ask that you give generously to help him, says the fundraising page.

Greg Kelly, a former Fox 5 morning anchor and Newsmax colleague of Grimms, in September said Grimm sustained a neck injury that required surgery, and that Grimm was had been in an unidentified Westchester hospital.

Grimm was reportedly playing polo when his horse threw him off.

For a man who has dedicated his life to helping others, we now humbly ask that you give generously to help him and share with others who may, Ignizio wrote.

Grimm has long been an avid horseman, frequently posting to social media about his time spent at stables and playing polo.

Grimm represented Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn in the House of Representatives from 2010 to January 2015, when he resigned following a 2014 federal indictment related to fraudulent practices at an Upper East Side health food restaurant Grimm partially owned.

Ultimately, the former congressman pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion and served seven months in prison before being released in 2016.

Grimm attempted a congressional comeback in 2018, but lost a GOP primary to incumbent Republican Rep. Dan Donovan, who ultimately lost to Democrat Max Rose that year.

Grimm has mostly stayed out of Staten Island politics since then, but has been a vocal supporter of Republican candidate Marko Kepi, who ran a failed campaign for state Senate this year. The two served in the Marine Corps and share a political mentor in former Brooklyn GOP State Sen. Marty Golden.

Kepi posted the GoFundMe on his Facebook page this morning, as well.
President-elect Donald Trump revealed two top Republicans wont be joining him in the White House come January.

In a post to his social media website, Truth Social, Trump said the following: I will not be inviting former Ambassador Nikki Haley, or former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to join the Trump Administration, which is currently in formation.

Haley was one of the many Republicans who vied for the presidency this past year, but ultimately fell short to compete with Trump at the Republican National Convention.

She previously served as a United Nations ambassador for the United States under Trumps direction and as South Carolinas governor.

Pompeo, on the other hand, previously lead the CIA as its director and as the secretary of state in Trumps first presidency.

I very much enjoyed and appreciated working with them previously, and would like to thank them for their service to our Country, Trump wrote in the post.

He concluded the post with his traditional, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

Haley responded to his announcement on X, formally known as Twitter. She said, I was proud to work with President Trump defending America at the United Nations. I wish him, and all who serve, great success in moving us forward to a stronger, safer America over the next four years.

Pompeo, USA Today said, has yet to respond Trumps new plan for the White House after Pompeos name was floated as an option for the next secretary of defense.

Trump selected Susie Wiles as his next chief of staff, making her the first woman to hold the position, AP reported.
Republican Donald Trump has won a second term in the White House.

But the Constitution prohibits anybody from being elected to more than two terms as president.

So that means there will be an open seat in the Oval Office in four years.

There are already several names being mentioned as possible Democratic presidential contenders in 2028.

Gretchen Whitmer

Whitmer is the two-term governor of crucial swing state Michigan. But Whitmer in 2024 saw Republicans take control of the state House of Representatives, depriving Dems of total control over Michigan government. Whitmer would be aiming to become the first woman elected president.

Gavin Newsom

The California governor was mentioned as a possible replacement for President Joe Biden as Dem nominee this year. Newsom has long been a fixture on the national stage. But after seeing voters veer right and re-elect Trump, Dems may not go for another California liberal, a la Vice President Kamala Harris, as they look to retool.

Pete Buttigieg

The secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation would be the first openly gay president. He was mayor of South Bend in deep-red Indiana. Buttigieg won plaudits as an articulate Dem messenger during the 2024 campaign.

Josh Shapiro

The Pennsylvania governor was in the running for Harris running mate but lost out to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Some wonder if having Shapiro on the ticket might have brought the Keystone State into the Dem column and changed the election. Shapiro would be the first Jewish person elected president.

Andy Beshear

Has won plaudits by being elected governor of heavily red Kentucky. Has been a leader on Dem issues such as reproductive and transgender rights. Was also in the running to be Harris vice-presidential running mate this year.

Kamala Harris

The vice president flamed out against Trump after replacing Biden as the presidential candidate this year. But the Californian has name recognition and a record as a district attorney, state attorney general, senator and vice president and could mount another White House bid.
Law enforcement agencies are increasingly looking to forge partnerships and data-sharing arrangements with big businesses such as banks and telcos in a united effort to stamp out cybercrime and fraud risks for Australian consumers and businesses.

With new scam legislation threatening to pass on some of the cost of the estimated $3 billion lost by Australians to financial crime each year to businesses, they are building an arsenal of systems to help detect and report cybercrime: from ransomware attacks, business email interruptions and scam text messages to AI-driven deepfake frauds.

AFP raid the home of a Sydney man charged with allegedly attempting to misuse stolen Optus customer data in a text message blackmail scam. Credit: Police Media

AFP acting commander cybercrime Dean Chidgey said that public-private partnerships that combine the private sectors technological firepower with the sophisticated systems of government agencies are helping in the war against cybercrime.

There were 94,000 reports of cybercrime in the 2022-23 financial year. Certainly, Australia is a target-rich environment. Were wealthy. Were online. So this is not a problem that the APF can solve on its own, Chidgey said.
HISTORY

Beyond the Broken Years: Australian Military History in 1000 Books

Peter Stanley

NewSouth, $39.99

War, and the study of it, is important to Australians. Alongside cookbooks and crime fiction, its a bestselling genre. We remember those who sacrificed and suffered  soldiers who died, families who grieved  and we recognise how war moulded national identity. The belief that Australia was born as a nation at Gallipoli is unflinching. It underpinned the staggering $552 million we spent on Anzac 100 commemorations in 2015, when military history was conflated with national history and questioning of the Anzac tradition was regarded as un-Australian.

There are few better qualified than Peter Stanley, a former Principal Historian at the Australian War Memorial and author of 30 military history books, to write this ambitious study. It required an intimate and exhaustive knowledge of the many genres of military history spanning Australian involvement in 70 countries, starting with Sudan in 1885 and ending with Afghanistan in 2021.

As is clear from its title, the book pays homage to Bill Gammages pioneering and influential The Broken Years: Australian Soldiers in the Great War, published 50 years ago when military history was unfashionable. Stanleys 1000 books since 1974 constitutes the first published survey of Australian military writing. The study considers how those who have not experienced war have sought to understand and write about it. While most books receive only fleeting mentions, some (especially the many official histories) are subjected to analysis. Stanley does not baulk from assessing his own books or injecting his own judgements; as he indicates, this is a personal history.
London: A childrens book written by British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has been withdrawn from sale after it was criticised for causing offence to Indigenous Australians.

The Guardian newspaper reported at the weekend that the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation had blasted Billy And The Epic Escape, which was published earlier this year, for employing a series of tropes and stereotypes about Indigenous Australians, including their relationships with the natural and spiritual worlds.

Jamie Oliver was in Melbourne last year to film eight episodes of MasterChef.

The group criticised one of the fantasy novels subplots, which tells the story of an Indigenous girl living in foster care, for contributing to the erasure, trivialisation, and stereotyping of First Nations peoples and experiences.

In a statement, Oliver, 49, said he was devastated to have caused offence and apologised wholeheartedly.
Its no secret the Eurovision Song Contest loves a wild card. Take monster-masked death-metal rockers and off-key turkey puppets winning over audiences. Or US rapper Flo Rida co-representing the tiny nation of San Marino. We have even seen a tie for victory between not two, not three, but four countries.

Its most perplexing wild card to date, however, was arguably the decision to bring Australia, from 14,000km away, into the mix. Now, it is touring here.

Australia has been competing in the contest for nearly a decade, first appearing as a special guest in 2014 and as a permanent competitor since 2015. Its part of the competition that some cant wrap their heads around, but for long-time fans, its a no-brainer.

Australia competing in a European song contest? Eurovision superfans Matt Merlino (right) and partner Owen Lambourn are certain it makes sense. Credit: Wayne Taylor

Its just like, why not? says Marcus Davey, a 46-year-old Melburnian who has seen Eurovision live several times since 2013. We have such an ensconced history with Eurovision. SBS has been covering it for over 40 years, so it has built such a strong following all the way across the world.
Parents have criticised a move to introduce more pupil-free days from 2025, voicing frustration that families will be forced to cover the cost of alternative care due to a shortened school year.

The NSW government has announced the number of pupil-free days at public schools will increase from six to eight from next year, pushing back the start of term 1 to Thursday, February 6.

While some parents are concerned the decision puts more strain on families juggling work and care for young children, others say teachers need more time to prepare for lessons and the rollout of an overhauled curriculum.

Caleb Taylor says extra pupil free days is a strain on families with young children. Credit: Louie Douvis

The number of pupil-free school development days on the calendar will rise to four at the start of the year, two at the start of term 2 and a day at the start of terms 3 and 4.
As a Rotary exchange student in Evanston, Illinois in 1971, a couple of things have stayed with me as indicative of American exceptionalism (C8), writes Andrew McPherson of Tathra. The only compulsory subject at Evanston Township High School was American History. And I once heard Australia described as one of those little commie South American countries.

Alan Marel (C8) could have also included Melbourne Cup winners The Quack (1872), Comic Court (1950), Light Fingers (1965), Red Handed (1967) and of course Hype(rno) (1979) to the confluence of the Melbourne Cup and the US election, reckons George Zivkovic of Northmead.

It has occurred to me that it would be difficult, although not impossible, to manage Melbourne Cup sweeps without cash, says Alison Brooks of Hope Island (Qld). Yes, we could contribute and then hopefully receive winnings electronically, but being handed an envelope of $2 coins or $5 notes is rather special.

As I was ignored in the publishing of The Best of Column 8, Volumes 1 & 2, I demand that it be acknowledged that Column8gate (C8) has already happened, twice, declares Andrew Brown of Bowling Alley Point.

Barry Wooldridge of Harden is currently enjoying a cruise between Fremantle and Broome: A listed activity on board is a talk titled Shipwrecks on the West Australian Coast. Is this tempting fate?
The grandmother of a teenager charged with the manslaughter of a Queensland woman has spoken out, criticising the justice system and apologising for the tragedy.

It comes as a second person was charged on Sunday night with a series of robberies at gunpoint in the hours before the fatal Murrumba Downs crash.

Rosemary Franzidis, 69, died at the scene of the high-impact crash on Thursday after a teenager driving an allegedly stolen Audi smashed into her Toyota Corolla.

Rosemary Franzidis was killed in the crash in Murrumba Downs. Credit: Nine News

He is facing several charges, including manslaughter.
For 30 years, Malcolm Middleton had a car park in the city, so he drove to work. Now, he wouldnt dream of parking in town.

Middleton, who spent 10 years as the Queensland Government Architect, is one of thousands of people hopping onto public transport, but our exclusive analysis reveals demand for inner-city street parking continues to challenge supply.

Using Brisbane City Council data, Brisbane Times can reveal the hardest areas to find a metered parking spot are in South Brisbane, Spring Hill, the CBD, Woolloongabba, West End, Newstead and Bowen Hills.

Queensland Walks board member Malcolm Middleton used to drive to work in the city, but now happily catches the bus.

During the week, the three-hour parking spots on the mostly residential Birley Street in Spring Hill  near Brisbane Private Hospital  are often all gone by 9am.
Birds of a feather flock together, they say. But what about bosses? And lawyers?

Analysis by The Age using data from the latest census has shed light on the most common job in each Melbourne suburb, showing that certain occupations have carved out distinct territories.

In Brighton, Toorak, Middle Park and Albert Park, chief executives and managing directors are most prominent in the numbers. Then theres Solicitor Land, a bloc of five suburbs in the inner north where that profession outnumbers all others. The most common job held by people living in the CBD, meanwhile, is a waiters.

The map below shows the most common job in each suburb of inner Melbourne, and a more zoomed-out version showing all of Greater Melbourne can be found further down this article. Keep in mind that the map demonstrates the most common job in each suburb; it does not mean that more than half of the workers do that job.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size When the news began to spread inside Barwon Prison that someone had tried to steal the body of George Marrogis sister, the gangland boss was allowed no peace. Laughter and catcalls rang throughout the high-security unit day and night, mocking the once feared leader of the Notorious Crime Family (NCF). When Marrogi was frogmarched in shackles to the prison phones, he found newspapers left open to headlines about the gruesome plot to desecrate her corpse. To his many enemies, it was just the start. The objective? To torment him if they couldnt kill him. Marrogi, a convicted killer and the former boss of a $100 million-plus criminal empire, is only eight years into a nearly 50-year sentence for murder and drug trafficking. Clockwise from left: Siblings Meshilin and George Marrogi, thieves captured on security cameras and Meshilins crypt and memorial at Preston cemetery. Inside, he spends 24 hours a day in a box smaller than a car park space, isolated from almost any human contact because nearly every other prisoner is considered a potential threat to his life.

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There is a standing $2 million bounty on offer for his murder, allegedly put on his head by one of the most powerful new kingpins in Melbournes underworld, Kazem Kaz Hamad. On the street, Marrogis once-feared gang has disintegrated, and family members, some of whom have turned partners in crime, live in constant fear of retaliation. The NCFs wealth has been seized by authorities or looted by his rivals  with at least $10 million taken as a kind of victory tax by his enemies, according to underworld sources. Not surprisingly, Marrogi is beginning to crack under pressure. Since federal and state law enforcement took down the NCF in early 2022, and Marrogi received his 50-year sentence, his behaviour has become increasingly bizarre  setting cell fires that almost killed him, spraying guards with faeces and proclaiming a sudden religious conversion. Tormenting the fallen George Marrogi has become an underworld sport. They want him going to bed every night and waking up every morning asking: Whats next? Whos next? an underworld source said.

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A family affair When the Notorious Crime Family began its meteoric rise to wealth and power in Melbournes underworld, Marrogi gave the gang a motto: God forgives  the family wont. It wasnt hyperbole at the time. Marrogi, from inside a maximum-security jail cell, had formed a powerful new gang centred on his family connections  mother, siblings, cousins, girlfriends  and criminal associates from Assyrian and Christian Middle Eastern backgrounds. One of the other founding mottos of the NCF was: Guard your mouth  preserve your life  not something that Marrogi would take to heart when he was at the peak of his power. His arrogance as the head of the gang knew no bounds.

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We all argue, thats not a problem. But Georges first thing: Im gonna f--- your wife, you f---ing dog. Im gonna f--- your mum, you f---ing dog. Im gonna get my boys to f----ing f--- your mum on video, a prison source said. Theres no shortage of stories about Marrogis temper and his ability to make enemies. One was during a stint in a runout with other prisoners  a wire mesh cage that lets him be in the open air  in a yard divided into other cages for prisoners to exercise. Some of the drugs police seized. Marrogi thought he had seen another prisoner, a known member of one of the most powerful bikie clubs in the country, looking at him. Marrogi began screaming at the man and calling him and his club bosses dogs. What the f--- do you think is gonna happen to you when you do that? Their bosses have got dozens of members in jail, a source said. Youre never gonna be safe. Theres not one crew in there that he hasnt fallen out with.

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The tens of millions of illicit dollars being pumped into the NCF when its drug-smuggling operations were in full swing meant Marrogi could fund crews both inside and outside prison. Those on the street lived luxe lifestyles, while inmates families were given cars, computers and allowances. But the protection started to end when Marrogi and his then girlfriend and business partner Antonietta Mannella were busted in 2022 importing $55 million worth of drugs. The gangland kingpin had organised the scheme from jail, while on remand for murder. The takedown of the NCF by the Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police included seizing about $47 million worth of ill-gotten assets, including property, cars, jewellery, art and a yacht. About $2.2 million in cash was recovered and an unknown amount found in various bank accounts. But this was only some of what Marrogi had squirrelled away with various associates when the cops moved in, police and underworld sources say. That money, however, began to disappear as it became apparent Marrogi wasnt coming back.

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Starting year 12 is daunting for almost every student, but Rosie Franzke will have to do it tens of thousands of kilometres away from home.

The Victorian student is a champion cross-country skier and, for the next five months, will be training and competing across Europe.

Australian cross-country skier Rosie Franzke training near her home at Mount Beauty. Credit: Jason Robins

For the 17-year-old from Mount Beauty, that means starting her final year of school next year from a hotel after she competes in Switzerland in the International Biathlon Union junior cup.

Im a little bit concerned because I know the workload is going to be quite a bit on top of training and racing, she said.
Australians handcuffed to their employers by contracts that stop them finding a better job are losing $500 a year, new research shows amid fears that childcare, GP clinics, aged care homes and dentist practices will be the next competition battlegrounds.

In a sign overall economic activity is being reduced, with the cost delivered to consumers through higher prices, Competition Minister Andrew Leigh on Monday will reveal that every Australian household is up to $7500 a year worse off due to a drop in real competition across the country since the turn of the century.

The lack of competition in the economy and within businesses now costs households up to $7500 a year. Credit: Peter Rae

Competition issues around the world have grown in importance due to the rise of digital companies such as Apple, Meta and Google over the past decade and the demise of small to medium-sized businesses in everything from mining to the retail sector.

Increased protectionist policies, including the plans for incoming US president Donald Trump to impose tariffs of between 10 and 20 per cent on the goods of all countries exporting to America, have also added to fears the world economy will endure softer growth over coming years.
Chapman said one of the biggest issues to arise from the campaigns 12 months of consulting was people felt let down by the two-party system.

Voices campaigns are aligned with teal independent movement which helped sweep MPs such as Curtins Kate Chaney and Kooyong MP Monique Ryan to power at the 2022 election with the help of funding from Simon Holmes a Courts fundraising giant Climate 200.

Chapman will take on Liberal candidate Ben Small in the seat of Forrest and said she had decided to take the plunge into politics after volunteering with the Voices for Forrest campaign for 12 months.

They feel that theres too much antagonism, that theres too much short-term decision-making, and they really feel that when people are tied into a party system, theyre not actually allowed to make decisions that might be in the best interest for their own electorate, she said.

I think I do genuinely think that its time for change in Forrest, and its time for our community to feel like their representative works for them and not for some faceless party room and people who make decisions without any community representation.

Chapman works out of St John of God Hospital in Bunbury and has regularly travelled to Africa to volunteer her skills.

Ahead of her campaign launch in Bunbury on Sunday Chapman said she was a member of the WA Greens for a short period and had voted for both the Liberal and Labor Party in the past.

She said she left the Greens because it was not representative of what her community wanted.
How much is open public bushland worth? Its a question Hunters Hill Council may well ask after it recently floated a proposal to sell a waterfront parcel of natural bushland with a beach and a boat shed that it had bought more than 20 years ago for $2.515 million.

Muddying the waters is not only fierce opposition from locals objecting to the sale of public land, but fears it would sell for potentially a lot less.

Hunters Hill is proposing to sell waterfront bushland and a boat shed to the home owners next door, who sold it to council 22 years ago. Credit:

The 527-square-metre block on the north-facing foreshore of the Lane Cove River is described in councils proposal as remnant land and surplus to the current or future needs of the community.

This is despite being valued as one of the suburbs most expensive vacant blocks 22 years ago when council bought it from the owners of the historic Mornington mansion next door.
You have to keep at it The spring will be remembered for a series of enduring images  each of them telling a story well beyond the powers of prizemoney. It started with Harry Coffey standing high in the irons as he won the Caulfield Cup  a lesson in persistence and overcoming the odds. Harry Coffey rides Duke De Sessa to victory and celebrates after passing the post. Credit: Getty Images As a teenager, Coffey was told he could never become a jockey because he suffered from cystic fibrosis. But the country kid embraced a different line of logic  the only reason he could become a jockey, he said, was because his incurable disease meant he would never put on weight.

[This is] not just for any kid with CF [cystic fibrosis], he said after winning the Caulfield Cup on Duke De Sessa. Its any person who has an illness that you wake up one day, and you think, Hows my day going to go today? And you have just got to keep at it. Loading Maybe fellow rider James McDonald took note. He had been criticised for several rides across several weeks, and then he was literally sat on his backside. The leading jockey in the country was tossed to the ground by mare Via Sistina during a Tuesday morning track gallop at Moonee Valley in the lead-up to the Cox Plate. I think there was a fantastic picture there when I popped myself up [from the turf] and looked and watched her gallop away and, I think, if looks could tell a story, we were stuffed, McDonald said.

Ciaron Maher hugs Jamie Kah after winning a race for the late Colin McKenna on Victoria Derby Day. Credit: Getty Images But just like Coffey, McDonald kept at it. He won the Cox Plate in record time on Via Sistina and then another four group 1 victories across Melbourne Cup week to reaffirm his status as not only the best rider in Australia but maybe of all time. Agony and ecstasy If J-Mac owned Melbourne Cup week, breaking his own record with 11 wins, then Derby Day belonged to Jamie Kah. Few who were trackside could forget the powerful post-race moment when she hugged the normally unflappable Ciaron Maher in the mounting yard. Both were reduced to tears. Kah had just won the group 2 Damien Oliver on the Maher-trained Another Wil  a home-bred horse owned by their late friend and mentor Colin McKenna.

Both Col and [wife] Janice, they spoke to Jamie every day on a number of occasions for different reasons when she was needing a shoulder to lean on, Maher said. You just would not know how many people Col touched  Jamies a great example. Hes sadly missed. But the high-risk sport of racing took little time reminding Kah that you cant dwell in the moment. She was clocked flush in the face when her mount in the following race, Hurry Curry, reared at the barriers. She was stood down with a suspected broken nose, examined by doctors, passed fit to ride, and then two races later bravely won the Victoria Derby on Goldrush Guru. It was hurting before the race, and now I cant feel it, Kah said.

Pride comes before a fall Words can come back to haunt you. After a comprehensive All-Star Mile victory in March, proud owner Tony Ottobre defiantly declared that Pride Of Jenni was the No.1 miler in Australia. [Mr] Brightside is fantastic, he is a great horse, but when he gets to a mile, hes got this trouble [my mare], he said. Tony Ottobre and Pride Of Jenni in the lead-up to this years Cox Plate. Credit: Wayne Taylor He then said the Lindsay Park Hayes brothers, were really good at what they do but just a little bit behind his mares trainer Ciaron Maher.

Loading By Saturday afternoon, the storyline had flipped. Pride Of Jenni bled from both nostrils during the $3 million Champions Mile at Flemington, her third run across four Saturdays, and was retired from racing. In contrast, tough-as-old-boots Mr Brightside won the race for the Hayes brothers  Ben, Will and JD  at a more conventional third run across five weeks. It was a bittersweet moment for Ottobre. He had played a pivotal role in creating the unforgettable Pride Of Jenni fairytale. Against conventional advice, he had insisted she was a catch-me-if-you-can mare who had to lead at all costs and that jockey Declan Bates was the only rider who could execute his plan. Across the past 12 months she won three group 1s, the All-Star Mile and was crowned Australian Horse of the Year.

But while he now gets to look forward to breeding from Pride Of Jenni, he also has to deal with criticism for allegedly pushing his front-running mare to the well one too many times. Pride Of Jenni beats home Mr Brightside and Fangirl during the 2023 spring carnival. Credit: Racing Photos / Getty Images It was no secret that Maher had been reluctant to run Pride Of Jenni in the $5 million Cox Plate a week after peaking her for the $5 million King Charles Stakes in Sydney. On top of that, Maher said after the back-to-back runs he would send the mare for a spell. On both accounts, Ottobre decided to push on. On both occasions, he would have been better off heeding the trainers instincts. Caulfield takeover

Loading There was no romantic element to the Melbourne Racing Club boardroom takeover at the start of the spring, but it was a dramatic shift of leadership that would continue to resonate for years to come. In short, racing at Sandown Racecourse would be saved. Few saw such a seismic change coming. Almost two months before the Caulfield Cup, then little-known board member John Kanga stunned the club by lodging a petition for a special general meeting and calling for six board members to be sacked. The SGM never eventuated, but Kanga ultimately achieved his goal  his Save Our MRC group took control of the board and have vowed to finish what they started.

They would move the mounting yard back to the front of the members pavilion, they would not build a new $250 million grandstand, and they would not orchestrate the sale of Sandown Racecourse so that it could be developed into a new 7500-home suburb. Goodbye and good luck The final words of the spring belong to the late Colin McKenna. Thousands gathered at the meat processing moguls property at Woolsthorpe, near Warrnambool, on Friday afternoon to pay their final respects. What they did not expect was to see McKenna at the end of the service delivering a pre-taped farewell.

Id like to say to everybody, get on with life, he said. Owner Colin McKenna kisses the 2016 Caulfield Cup, won by his mare Jameka. Credit: Getty Images We dont have to be here for greed, we dont have to be here for money, we dont have to be here for success, but we can be here to give each other some love and support. He also said something that should resonate for all those who were trackside to see Coffey win the Caulfield Cup, or McDonald bounce back in Moonee Valleys Cox Plate, or Kah overcome a whack to the nose to land Flemingtons Victoria Derby, or even peoples champion Pride Of Jenni at her barnstorming best in the Feehan Stakes on grand final eve. Theres nothing greater than a day out at the races with some family and friends, McKenna said.
B Lab co-founder Andrew Kassoy. As a society, were increasingly dependent on the judgment of a few influential tech leaders, which is inherently risky, he said. The way many of these companies have been structured, they have raised capital and then gone public with share structures where theres basically two classes of shares. One is for an entrepreneur or the couple of co-founders, who then have all the votes on everything that actually matter. If those people do the wrong thing, everybody else is along for the ride. Aaron Levie, co-founder and chief executive of publicly listed US cloud computing firm Box, said he was a big fan of dual-class structures and super-voting shares.

I think the market at times can be wrong about how to think about a company strategy or evaluate where a company is going and can be much more near-term oriented, he said. I think that its very helpful if you have a founder who is able to make decisions that might be in a longer time period than what the market is maybe perceiving. If you did an analysis of all companies with super-voting stock that are led by founders, I think you would find that they tend to perform extremely well. Kassoy, Levie and other technology industry insiders were closely watching OpenAI, maker of ChatGPT, which is reportedly working on a plan to restructure into a for-profit corporation that will no longer be controlled by its non-profit board. Such a move would make OpenAI, arguably the most influential company in the artificial intelligence sector, more attractive to investors. OpenAIs original mission, established when it was founded as a non-profit in 2015, is to develop artificial general intelligence safely and for the benefit of humanity. Last month, it closed a $US6.6 billion ($9.1 billion) funding round, valuing it at an estimated $US157 billion ($238.6 billion) and cementing its place as one of the worlds most valuable private companies.

Loading Kassoy said a public benefit corporation (PBC) is not a certification, not subject to ongoing monitoring of actual performance by a third party, and is available only in the regions that have passed benefit corporation legislation. For Kassoy, given the role AI will play in societys future, this is cause for alarm. OpenAI should consider establishing a purpose trust, Kassoy said, similar to the governance structure adopted by its competitor Anthropic. Anthropic has a special class of shares, but instead of being in the hands of the companys founders, theyre in the hands of a trust entity that has legal duties to uphold the companys mission. The trust also has a right to appoint the majority of Anthropics board members. I dont think any one of these things is perfect. There are ways around that and sunset provisions, but at least in that case, you can see a much stronger effort, Kassoy said.

And with that comes like a form of transparency and fiduciary duty that I think creates a much higher likelihood that [executives] behave. He said while there was an argument for buyer beware  that investors should be aware of a companys governance structures before they invest  issues that might affect companies such as OpenAI, or WiseTech, could go far beyond affecting just shareholders. We cant just say well, thats too bad for the people who took the risk and invested in the company and made a stupid decision, Kassoy said. Its everybody else who is pretty dramatically affected when in a situation like that by a structure where an individual has way too much control. Kassoy pointed to disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried as a cautionary tale of overreliance on one individual without proper institutional safeguards in place. The entrepreneur, celebrated as a poster boy for crypto, is now serving a 25-year prison sentence. Also vital when things go wrong are board members who are willing to hold executives to account when required.
One Western official said Ukraines surprise incursion into Kursk in August had thinned out its forces across the battlefield in the east of the country, leaving them vulnerable to Russian advances. But that official, and US officials, said Ukraine still had a strong defence in Kursk and might be able to hold, at least for a time. The officials interviewed for this article spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence assessments and offer a candid appraisal of Ukraines battlefield prospects. Western and Ukrainian officials say the arrival of North Korean forces is a major escalation after more than two years of war. North Korea has sent more than 10,000 troops to fight with Russia in Kursk, US officials say. The troops are wearing Russian uniforms and have been equipped by Moscow, but they will probably fight in their own discrete units, US defence officials said.

Ukrainian officials said Moscow had supplied the North Korean forces with machine guns, sniper rifles, anti-tank missiles and rocket-propelled grenades. Russia has been training the North Koreans in artillery fire, basic infantry tactics and, critically, trench clearing, US officials said. That training suggests that at least some of the North Korean forces will be involved in frontal assaults on Ukraines dug-in defensive positions. Donald Trump met Kim Jong-un in 2019. Will he use his contact and second presidency to stop the war in Ukraine? Credit: Getty Images We fully expect that DPRK [Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea] soldiers could be engaged in combat, Sabrina Singh, the deputy Pentagon press secretary, said. US officials are not sure what constraints the government of Kim Jong-un has put on the use of its forces. However, US officials expect them to be directly involved in the fighting.

A Ukrainian official said the North Korean forces had been divided into two groups, an assault unit and a support unit, which will help provide security inside the territory recaptured from Ukrainian forces. Loading North Korea has a large army but, unlike Russia, has not been involved in ground combat for decades. The troops North Korea is deploying, however, are considered its best, drawn from the 11th Corps, home to the countrys special operations soldiers. The Ukrainians captured hundreds of square miles of territory with little opposition, but Russia has slowly chipped away at those gains  reclaiming roughly half the seized territory  and now appears ready to conduct a much larger-scale operation. US officials believe that the Ukrainian troops will prove difficult to dislodge and that the Russian and North Korean forces will probably take heavy losses, similar to what Russia has suffered in eastern Ukraine. US and British military analysts put the current number of Russian troop deaths and injuries at an average of more than 1200 a day.

The North Koreans will be fighting as light infantry, without the benefit of armoured vehicles. And current Ukrainian tactics of artillery fire and drone attacks have proved devastating to unprotected Russian troops. That said, if Russia gains momentum, it may not stop at its border but might try to drive Ukrainian forces back further. It is not clear if the North Korean government will authorise its forces to conduct sustained operations in Ukraine or if they are intended only for the Kursk counter-offensive, according to US defence officials. Some US officials believe that North Korea could order its troops to stop at the border while the Russian forces press deeper into Ukraine. US officials said they did not know how effective the North Koreans would be, considering their lack of ground combat experience. George Barros, an analyst at the Institute for the Study of War, said that despite that inexperience, the North Korean forces were well-organised. The one thing that they might actually be better at than the Russians is cohesion and discipline, he said. Rob Lee, a Russian military specialist at the Foreign Policy Research Institute in Philadelphia who recently returned from a visit to Ukraine, added: Thousands of additional infantry can make a difference in Kursk. These soldiers are younger and in better physical shape than many Russian contract soldiers.

Loading In exchange for supplying troops, US officials believe North Korea expects to receive rocket and missile technology from Russia as well as diplomatic support. But Ukrainian officials said North Korea may also be hoping to battle-harden its troops and learn from the tactics being developed in the war. US defence officials said they did not know if North Korea would send additional reinforcements. A senior Ukrainian official said Ukrainian intelligence officials had predicted that North Korea could send as many as 100,000 troops. Russia is struggling to meet its monthly recruiting goal of roughly 25,000 troops as its casualties mount, meaning the North Korean soldiers are critical. Barros called the North Korean deployment an alternative pipeline.
There are other, more stable leaders whose roles in Europe could grow to meet the crisis. But they have complications of their own. Keir Starmer, who was elected prime minister of Britain in July, has already been bruised by public outcry over gifts that he and his wife accepted  and his country is not in the European Union. Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, is a populist who could forge a close relationship with Trump  or who could find her relatively centrist approach to international affairs and support for Ukraine at odds with Trumps own positions. Analysts agree the most natural fits to lead a more independent, muscular Europe would need to come from Berlin or Paris, the places now most troubled. There is a very clear crisis of Franco-German leadership that is intensifying with the collapse of the German coalition and with France self-absorbed by its own internal political divisions, said Alexandra de Hoop Scheffer, president of the German Marshall Fund of the United States in Paris. And thats a handicap on the European and international stage.

Jorn Fleck, a senior director with the Europe Centre at the Atlantic Council in Washington, said France and Germany were suffering from self-inflicted political crises just as Trumps election added large new uncertainties to Europes future. Were looking at a much more challenging relationship, he said. Things might get worse quickly before they get better. Macron and Scholz acknowledged that difficulty this past week but offered few clues as to how they might rise to meet it. Trump was elected by the American people, and hes going to defend the interests of the American people  thats legitimate and a good thing, Macron said on Thursday at the opening of a summit of European leaders in Budapest, Hungary. The question is, are we ready to defend the interests of Europeans? The world is made of herbivores and carnivores, he added, and if we decide to remain herbivores, the carnivores will win.

Scholz acknowledged the challenging timing of his decision to kill his coalition by expelling his finance minister, Christian Lindner, who had begun to undercut the governments economic agenda. Instead of staying in office through next years regularly scheduled elections in the third quarter, Scholz and his coalition will now probably face voters in March  and Scholz appears likely to lose the chancellorship. From left: European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and European Council president Charles Michel at an EU summit in Budapest on Friday. Credit: Bloomberg I would have liked to have spared you this difficult decision, especially in times like these, when uncertainty is growing, Scholz said. But, he added: We must stick together in Europe more than ever and continue to invest together in our own security and strength. Because the situation is serious.

For years, Macron has repeatedly urged Europe to be more united and more independent militarily, economically and technologically  less tethered to the whims of successive US administrations and better equipped to compete with Chinas industrial and commercial dominance. But he is now in a much weaker position than he was during his first term  a near lame duck who no longer has much control over domestic policy and who is term-limited, as he cannot run for office again in 2027. Loading The French government is mired in parliamentary debates over a budget that is badly needed to rein in ballooning deficit and debt that are some of the worst in Europe. It is still unclear whether the government will be able to secure the deep spending cuts and higher taxes it is seeking by the end of the year without collapsing. A different, but no less divisive, budget debate looms this week in Germany. Leaders will need to agree on steps to plug a budget hole and comply with what is essentially a constitutional mandate for balanced budgets outside of times of emergency.

Disagreement over how to do that  and how best to use fiscal policy to shock the German economy out of recession  helped drive the split in Scholzs coalition. Loading An even bigger fight could be just around the corner. Trump has pushed for Germany to spend more on its military, which would require Berlin to increase its defence budget, and which would come with its own risks. That would force leaders to take new steps to borrow money  or to ponder politically painful domestic spending cuts to free up more money for the military, which could stoke voter outrage and help Germany first parties, such as the far-right Alternative for Germany, at the polls. Scholz has expressed a preference for borrowing, and rejected spending trade-offs. The heavy favourite to lead the next government is the major mainstream alternative to Scholzs Social Democrats: the more conservative Christian Democrats. They would change some policies but remain strong Ukraine supporters. If they or another mainstream party can form a government, analysts say, that may end Berlins policy paralysis  at least for a while.
Moscow: Ukraine has launched a major drone attack on Moscow and five other Russian regions, officials here reported, forcing three airports to temporarily halt operations.

Russias Defence Ministry said its air defence systems intercepted 84 Ukrainian drones over the Moscow, Bryansk, Oryol, Kaluga, Kursk and Tula regions on Sunday. Thirty-four of those drones were shot down over the Moscow region, the ministry said  making it the largest Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow since Russia invaded the country more than two years ago.

A man takes a selfie at a legendary Soviet era T-34 tank on display during an open air interactive museum at Red Square, Moscow, last week. Credit: AP

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported drones being shot down shortly after 7am local time. Andrey Vorobyov, governor of the Moscow region, said in a Telegram post that there had been a massive drone attack. A 52-year-old woman was hospitalised with shrapnel injuries and burns to her face, neck and hands and was in intensive care, he said.

The Defence Ministry said, falling debris in three settlements injured five people and caused four house fires.
Deir Al-Balah, Gaza Strip: Qatar has suspended its key mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel, it says, after growing frustration with lack of progress on a ceasefire deal for Gaza.

It wasnt 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.

A neighbourhood in Jabaliya, in northern Gaza Strip, destroyed this year. Credit: AP

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.

Qatar told Israel and Hamas it couldnt 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 would have to leave if it wasnt ready to engage in serious negotiations, the source said.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has warned the Australian economy will not be immune from the fallout of a trade war between the United States and China if incoming president Donald Trump follows through on plans to impose sweeping tariffs on imports from Americas biggest economic competitor.

Chalmers, however, has moved to calm fears that a second Trump term will cause catastrophic damage to the national economy, revealing Treasury modelling has shown the president-elects promised trade policies would probably have only a mild economic impact on Australia in the short term.

In a blow to senior Albanese government ministers efforts to build ties with the incoming Trump administration, the president-elect revealed on Sunday that former secretary of state Mike Pompeo will not be given a role in his second White House term.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers (left) said the government was well prepared for a second Trump term. Credit: AP and Alex Ellinghausen

Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defence Minister Richard Marles used recent visits to the United States to meet Pompeo, a champion of the AUKUS submarine pact who was widely tipped to be named as Trumps defence secretary.
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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.
Israel army slams soldiers for burning Lebanese flag



Jerusalem, Nov 9 (AFP) Nov 09, 2024



The Israeli military on Saturday accused a group of soldiers of burning a Lebanese flag in southern Lebanon where they are fighting the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

The military spoke after a video circulated on social media showing around half a dozen people dressed in Israeli uniforms jumping and singing a religious maxim as one of them sets fire to the flag with a lighter.

"We view the act of some soldiers burning the Lebanese flag in southern Lebanon as a violation of orders, inconsistent with the values of the defence forces, and misaligned with the goals of our military activities in Lebanon," said military spokesman Avichay Adraee.

"Our war is against the terrorist Hezbollah, which has never been truly Lebanese in creed, ideology, or identity," he added in an Arabic-language post on social media platform X.

The post did not mention any possible sanctions against the soldiers.

It did include a video allegedly showing a Hezbollah militant tearing a Lebanese flag off its pole and replacing it with the group's banner.

Israel has been at war with Hezbollah since late September, when it broadened its focus from fighting Hamas in the Gaza Strip to securing its northern border, even as the Gaza war continues.

Hezbollah began low intensity strikes on Israel in support of Hamas following its ally's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel which triggered the Gaza war.
US warplanes attack Iran-backed Huthi targets in Yemen: Pentagon



Washington, Nov 10 (AFP) Nov 10, 2024



US warplanes staged multiple strikes Saturday night on Iran-backed Huthi advanced weapons storage facilities in Yemen, the Pentagon said.

The facilities contained various weapons used to target military and civilian vessels navigating international waters throughout the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, according to information provided to AFP by the Pentagon.

The Huthi-run Al Masirah television network reported three American and British raids that targeted the capital Sanaa's southern Al Sabeen district.

"Eyewitnesses said they heard intense flying, along with explosions in different parts of the capital Sanaa," Al Masirah said.

The United States and Britain have repeatedly struck Huthi targets in Yemen since January in response to attacks by the rebels on shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The rebels say the strikes, which have disrupted maritime traffic in a globally important waterway, target vessels linked to Israel and are intended to signal solidarity with Palestinians during the Gaza war.

The attacks have seriously disrupted the Red Sea route which carries 12 percent of global trade.

In more than 100 Huthi attacks over nearly a year, four sailors have been killed and two ships have sunk, while one vessel and its crew remain detained since being hijacked last November.

Saturday's strikes come three days after the Huthi's leader Abdul Malik al-Huthi criticised US president-elect Donald Trump for supporting Israel.

Huthi said that normalisation deals between Arab countries and Israel brokered by Trump had failed to bring an end the Middle East conflict and that he would fail again in his second term.
Saudi army chief to visit Iran on rare trip: state media



Tehran, Nov 10 (AFP) Nov 10, 2024



A top Saudi military official will visit Tehran on Sunday for talks with Iranian officials, state media reported, in a rare high-level meeting since the countries restored ties last year.

"Fayyad al-Ruwaili, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia, will travel to Iran at the head of a high-ranking military delegation" on Sunday, the local Tasnim news agency said.

He is scheduled to meet with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Bagheri in an effort to bolster "defence ties" between the countries, it reported.

Bagheri had declared Iran's readiness to improve military relations with Saudi Arabia in a phone call with the Saudi defence minister in November 2023, the official Iranian news agency IRNA reported at the time.

In March 2023, Shiite Muslim-dominated Iran and Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia resumed relations under a surprise China-brokered deal.

Tehran and Riyadh had severed ties in 2016 after Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran were attacked during protests over Riyadh's execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

They have long backed opposing sides in conflict zones across the region, most notably in Syria and Yemen.

In October, Saudi Arabia announced that it had held war games with Iran and other countries in the Sea of Oman.
UN atomic watchdog chief to arrive in Iran Wednesday: state media



Tehran, Nov 10 (AFP) Nov 10, 2024



The chief of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, will visit Iran in days for talks with senior officials, Iranian state media reported on Sunday.

"The director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency will arrive in Iran on Wednesday ... at the official invitation of the Islamic Republic of Iran," the official IRNA news agency reported.

Grossi will meet Iranian officials on Thursday, the agency added.

The IAEA confirmed Grossi's visit to Iran this week, without specifying the date in a post on X.

It said the visit would include talks with Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi.

The agency also quoted Grossi as calling for "substantive progress" on a March 2023 deal that had outlined basic cooperation, including on safeguards and monitoring.

In a September interview with AFP, Grossi said Iran was showing "willingness" to re-engage on the nuclear issue, but it was not willing to walk back on a decision it took to ban some of the IAEA's inspectors.

Iran withdrew the accreditation of several inspectors last year, a move the UN agency described at the time as "extreme and unjustified".

Tehran had said then its decision was a consequence of "political abuses" by the United States, France, Germany and Britain.

Grossi last visited Iran in May, when he called for "concrete" measures to help bolster cooperation on Iran's nuclear programme at a news conference in Isfahan province, home to the Natanz uranium enrichment plant.

His visit this month will come after Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election.

During his first term in office, Trump unilaterally withdrew Washington from a pivotal nuclear deal that aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief.

Efforts mediated by the European Union have failed to bring Washington back on board and to get Tehran to again comply with the terms of the accord.

Iran has rolled back its commitments to caps on nuclear activities under the deal, and tensions have repeatedly flared between Tehran and the IAEA over its compliance.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, who took office in July, has favoured reviving that agreement and called for ending his country's isolation.

On Tuesday, Trump told reporters he was "not looking to do damage to Iran" but noted that Iran "can't have a nuclear weapon".

Iran has always denied having ambitions to develop a nuclear weapon, insisting its activities are entirely peaceful.

On Saturday, Iranian Vice President Mohammad Javad Zarif urged Trump to reassess his "maximum pressure" policy which has seen the US impose punishing sanctions on Tehran.

He blamed that policy for leading to the surge in enrichment levels "to reach 60 percent from 3.5 percent".

Enrichment levels of around 90 percent are required for military use.
King Charles leads silence for UK war dead as Kate returns to public life



London, Nov 10 (AFP) Nov 10, 2024



King Charles III led Britain in two minutes of silence on Sunday to honour the country's war dead at a remembrance service also attended by Catherine, Princess of Wales, as she returns to royal duties after cancer treatment.

The king, who was also diagnosed with cancer this year, was among the dignitaries laying wreaths at the Cenotaph memorial in central London after the nation fell silent at 11:00 am (1100 GMT).

Crowds lined the Whitehall area of the capital as political leaders including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, current and former members of the armed forces, and war veterans paid their respects to Britons killed in the world wars and other conflicts.

Catherine, wife of heir to the throne Prince William, watched the ceremony from a government building balcony as she stepped up her return to royal duties since ending chemotherapy in September.

The event came after she smiled and clapped alongside William at the Festival of Remembrance commemorative concert on Saturday night, the first major royal occasion she had attended since her treatment.

The events, two of the most important dates in the royal calendar, marked the first time the princess had carried out two consecutive days of public official engagements this year.

Buckingham Palace announced in February 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 also 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.

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 the remembrance events due to a chest infection.

Services took place across the United Kingdom, including in Belfast where Northern Ireland leader Michelle O'Neill became the first senior figure from the pro-Irish unity party Sinn Fein to attend a Remembrance Sunday service in the province.

O'Neill said her attendance backed her commitment to "moving beyond old limits and building bridges".

Sinn Fein was the political wing of the paramilitary IRA during the Troubles -- the three-decade sectarian conflict over British rule in Northern Ireland.
Saudi army chief in Iran on rare visit: state media



Tehran, Nov 10 (AFP) Nov 10, 2024



Saudi Arabia's top military official arrived in Tehran on Sunday for talks with Iranian officials, state media reported, in a rare high-level meeting since the countries restored ties last year.

Fayyad al-Ruwaili, chief of staff of the Saudi armed forces, met his Iranian counterpart "General Mohammad Bagheri at the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff Headquarters" in the capital, the official news agency IRNA reported.

"The development of defence diplomacy and the expansion of bilateral cooperation are among the main topics of this meeting," it added.

The Fars news agency said that at the meeting, Bagheri noted increased security cooperation between the two countries.

"We would like the Saudi navy to join Iranian naval exercises next year, either as participants or observers," Fars quoted Bagheri as saying.

In March 2023, Shiite Muslim-dominated Iran and Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia resumed relations under a surprise China-brokered deal.

Tehran and Riyadh had severed ties in 2016 after Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran were attacked during protests over Riyadh's execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

The two countries have long backed opposing sides in conflict zones across the region, notably in Syria and Yemen.

Bagheri had declared Iran's readiness to improve military relations with Saudi Arabia in a phone call with the Saudi defence minister in November 2023, the IRNA reported at the time.

In October, Saudi Arabia announced that it had held war games with Iran and other countries in the Sea of Oman.

Iraqi National Security Adviser Qassem al-Araji was also expected in Tehran to meet senior officials, Iranian news agency Tasnim reported.
Deadly strikes on Gaza, Lebanon as Israel faces aid deadline



Jerusalem, Nov 10 (AFP) Nov 10, 2024



Israeli air strikes killed dozens of people in Lebanon and Gaza Sunday, rescuers and authorities said, ahead of a US deadline for improved aid delivery to the Palestinian territory.

Rescuers in the Gaza Strip said 13 children were among 30 people killed by Israeli strikes in the territory's north.

The first strike early Sunday hit a house in Jabalia, killing at least 25 people including 13 children and injuring more than 30, Gaza's civil defence agency said.

At around 6:00 am, "there was a very huge explosion" at the Alloush family home, said relative Abdullah al-Najjar.

"When we arrived here, all the bodies were torn apart," the distraught man added.

Vowing to stop Hamas militants from regrouping in already ravaged north Gaza, Israel on October 6 began a major air and ground assault.

The United Nations has described the area as "under siege", and Washington set a deadline of this coming week for Israel to get more aid in or face possible cuts to military assistance.

After the strike in Jabalia, Israel's military said it hit "infrastructure" in which militants were operating and "posed a threat" to troops in the area.

"Prior to the strike, numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians," a military spokesman said.

Another strike on the Sabra neighbourhood of Gaza City killed five people, the civil defence agency said.



- US threat -



In Lebanon, the health ministry said an Israeli strike on the village of Almat north of Beirut killed 23 people including seven children.

"Under the rubble, there are only children, elderly men and women," Hezbollah lawmaker Raed Berro said at the scene, denying Israeli allegations that Hezbollah members or weapons were embedded among civilians.

The ministry reported at least another 12 dead in strikes on the Baalbek area in the east where Hezbollah has a strong presence.

In the south, Israeli strikes killed three Hezbollah-affiliated rescuers, the ministry said.

A war monitor also reported that an Israeli strike on an apartment belonging to Hezbollah south of Syria's capital Damascus killed seven people.

Since late September Israel has been engaged in a two-front war after turning its focus north towards Lebanon.

Israel admitted for the first time Sunday it was behind a wave of deadly attacks on Hezbollah communications devices in September.

Benjamin Netanyahu's spokesman said the Israeli prime minister "greenlighted the pager operation in Lebanon" in which hundreds of devices exploded.

The attacks killed nearly 40 people and wounded some 3,000 others, and preceded Israel's ongoing military operation in Lebanon.

Israel escalated air strikes and later sent in ground troops after almost a year of tit-for-tat exchanges of fire with Iran-backed Hezbollah. The Lebanese group said it was acting in support of Hamas.

The war in Gaza erupted with Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel which resulted in 1,206 deaths, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed 43,603 people in Gaza, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry, which the UN considers reliable.

Israel's main military backer the United States on October 15 warned that it could withhold some of its billions of dollars in military assistance unless Israel improves aid delivery to the Gaza Strip within 30 days -- a deadline that expires on Wednesday.



- Qatar suspends mediation -



State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said at the time that top US officials made "clear" to Israel's government that changes need to be made "to see that the level of assistance making it into Gaza comes back up from the very, very low levels that it is at today".

The demand came before Tuesday's vote for President-elect Donald Trump, who has suggested he would give freer rein to Israel.

On Saturday, a UN-backed assessment warned that famine is imminent in northern Gaza.

Fewer aid shipments were allowed into Gaza than at any time since October 2023, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report.

The alert from the Famine Review Committee warned of "an imminent and substantial likelihood of famine occurring, due to the rapidly deteriorating situation".

Israel's military questioned the report's credibility.

A military statement denounced "partial, biased data and superficial sources with vested interests".

The IPC says its process is "evidence-based" and ensures "a rigorous, neutral analysis".

The heads of UN agencies in early November described north Gaza as "under siege" and denied "basic aid and life-saving supplies".

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken hopes to use the remaining weeks of his term to press for an end to the Gaza and Lebanon wars, a spokesman said on Thursday, before fellow mediator Qatar said Saturday it had suspended its role in trying to broker a deal.

"Qatar would resume those efforts... when the parties show their willingness and seriousness," Doha's foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said in a statement.

burs-it/srm/ami
A number of people have already contacted us, and we need that flow of information from anyone who saw or heard anything of note to continue. We also need to hear from anyone who has phone, CCTV or doorbell footage that may help the investigation.
If the Bill clears its first hurdle at the end of November, it will face line-by-line examination in committee and further Commons votes before being sent to the Lords where the process begins again, meaning any change in the law would not be agreed until next year at the earliest.
The Principles of Mr. Harrison's Time-keeper

Sat 9 November 2024

This post is a transcription, plus some commentary, of the Board of Longitude's 1767 document "The Principles of Mr. Harrison's Time-keeper", from scans on the University of Cambridge Digital Library.

I was trying to learn more about the escapement in H4, and I came across a great article on "watchesbysjx": In-Depth: The Microscopic Magic of H4, Harrison's First Sea Watch, from which the scans were linked.

I have turned the English pages of the scan into a PDF for more convenient reading, you can get it here: The Principles of Mr. Harrison's Time-keeper. Sadly the first couple of pages from the Preface, and the last couple of figures, are missing from the scan and therefore from my PDF.

(Btw, if you're into this sort of stuff, I scanned in my copy of Rupert Gould's John Harrison and his Timekeepers recently - Gould rediscovered and restored Harrison's clocks in the early 20th century, and he also wrote "The Marine Chronometer: Its History and Development", which is worth a read but perhaps not at the 615 that Amazon are currently charging).

The original from 1767 is typeset in the style of the time, including use of the "long s", and "vv" instead of "w", but it is quite readable once you get used to it. In this post I have updated spelling to match modern usage, and turned Roman numerals into normal digits, but left sentence structure and capitalisation the same.

The document is split into 2 parts. First we have "Notes taken at the Discovery of Mr. Harrison's Time-keeper" by Nevil Maskelyne, Astronomer Royal. Then we have "Principles of Mr. Harrison's Time-keeper" written by John Harrison himself, which ends with notes on the figures followed by plates containing the figures, which I've rearranged in this post to make it easier to read.

The text in blockquotes is my transcription of the original, the rest is my commentary.

Notes taken at the Discovery of Mr. Harrison's Time-keeper

This part is written by Nevil Maskelyne, who was opposed to the use of a clock for determining longitude, and who preferred the lunar distance method, although his notes here appear perfectly impartial.

The "Discovery" was the event at which Harrison took the watch apart and explained it. It began on Wednesday 14 August 1765 and took place at Harrison's house in Red Lion Square, observed by Maskelyne, plus three watchmakers (Larcum Kendall, Thomas Mudge, and William Matthews), two reverends (William Ludlam and John Michell), and astronomer and instrument maker John Bird (source: "Harrison" by Jonathan Betts, highly recommended).

The balance naturally vibrates largest arcs, when in a horizontal position; next greatest, when the hours 12 and 6 are uppermost, and the watch is in a vertical position; least, when the hours 3 and 9 are uppermost.

Large arcs are naturally performed in less time than small ones. This Mr. Harrison inferred, because the watch, before any correction was applied, went slower in a vertical position than in the horizontal one, and the vibrations are visibly larger in the latter case.

The watch is adjusted to vibrate great and small arcs in equal times, in the following manner:



To go the same when placed vertically with the hours 3, 6, 9, 12 upwards successively, by making the weight of the balance different in different parts.To go the same when placed horizontal as when vertical, by the joint effect of the back of the pallets and the cycloid-pin.

I don't see how making the weight of the balance different in different parts can affect how the watch runs in different positions. If you keep the centre of mass in the centre (which you should, else it's not balanced) and the moment of inertia the same (which you should, else it will run at a different rate) then I don't see how changing the distribution of weight around its perimeter has any effect. Is it Harrison, Maskelyne, or me that is wrong here?

The curve of the back of the pallets is an arc of a circle, whose centre lies in the line joining the edges of the pallets and the centre of the spindle, the distance of the two centres being two fifths, and the radius of the curve of the pallets three fifths of the radius of the circle described by the edge of the pallets.

The description here suggests that the backs of the pallets are circular, but elsewhere they are described as cycloidal.

There is a good description of the escapement on the watchesbysjx article.

The action of the cycloid-pin, when it touches the balance-spring, tends to quicken its vibrations; and the spring, leaving the pin for a longer time in the large vibrations than in the small ones, is less accelerated by it in the former than in the latter case; and, consequently, the action of the pin tends to reduce the time of the different vibrations nearer to equality. The cycloid-pin was not applied to the watch until after it came back from the voyage to Jamaica.

If the balance-spring is too strong, it must be made weaker by rubbing it away a little; but, if it be too weak, it must be changed for a stronger.

The balance-spring is fastened at the outer end to a stud, which takes off the plate with a screw, and is put on again with the same screw, and steady-pins, exactly in the same position as before, without undoing the fastening of the spring to the stud at the end.

There is no adjustment for mean time, as in common watches; there was once, but it did not answer.

"Mean time" here is as distinct from solar time, which people of the 1700s would probably have been more familiar with. "Did not answer" presumably means that it didn't help with keeping time.

"Common watches" provided an adjustment to speed up or slow down the watch so that it would indicate the passage of about 1 day per day, but Harrison's watch had no such provision. This speaks to the purpose of the watch. To allow a human operator to determine longitude at sea, the operator had to be able to determine the time accurately. It was more important that the watch run at a known rate than that the rate be 1 day per day. Once the rate is known it is easy enough for the operator on board a ship to apply the rate to determine the true mean time. (If the watch loses 10 seconds per day, and 10 days have passed, then it's lost 100 seconds).

If adding a rate adjustment would upset the other adjustments, then in the context of a marine chronometer, it is preferable to forgo the rate adjustment and keep the known rate than to have the watch run at approximately mean time, but with larger errors.

As soon as the watch is put together, Mr. Harrison says, it will show its rate of going in three hours accurately the same which it will keep afterwards; so that he can soon determine it by comparison with his pendulum clock.

The balance-spring, when at rest, touches the cycloid-pin; and does not begin to leave it, until the balance has vibrated an arc of forty five degrees beyong the point of rest, while the spring is in the state of coiling itself up.

The thermometer curb is composed of two thin plates of brass and steel riveted together in several places, which, by the greater expansion of brass than steel by heat, and contraction by cold, becomes convex on the brass side in hot weather, and convex on the steel side in cold weather; whence, one end being fixed, the other end obtains a motion corresponding with the changes of heat and cold, and the two pins at this end, between whcih the balance-spring passes, and which it touches alternately as the spring bends and unbends itself, will shorten or lengthen the spring, as the changes of heat and cold would otherwise require to be done by the hand, in the manner used for regulating a common watch.

Mr. Harrison requires cold weather for adjusting the thermometer curb, and he places the watch near a fire, with a common thermometer by it, to try if it keeps the same time as in the cold air. If not, he alters or adjusts the thermometer curb until it goes the same in these two different degrees of temperature of the air.

The thermometer curb takes heat sooner than the balance-spring, and he thence concludes that brass takes heat sooner than steel, and that the brass rods of a gridiron pendulum should be made thicker than the steel ones.

Agreed. Brass has both a lower specific heat capacity than steel and higher thermal conductivity. Good idea about making the brass rods thicker than the steel ones in a gridiron pendulum.

Whilst the heat is increasing, the watch will sometimes go one tenth of a second slower in three hours, than when the heat is come to a stand.

It's remarkable that Harrison was able to measure this. What he's saying is that although the temperature compensation works correctly in a steady state, the difference between the rate at which brass and steel "take heat" means the temperature compensation is "wrong" while the temperature is changing.

The effect of the thermometer is increased by rubbing the sides thinner, and is lessened by thickening the edge by burnishing it.

I don't see how burnishing the edge makes it thicker. Does he mean by squashing it in the perpendicular axis to thicken it in the axis that matters?

Mr. Harrison adjusts the thermometer curb first, that is to say, before he adjusts the watch to go the same in different positions.

The watch may be put with figure 12 turned each day alternately different ways, for fear one part of the box in which it is kept may be hotter than the other.

This is advice for how the watch might be used on a ship: turn it around every day so that the temperature difference across the watch is averaged out.

The force or momentum of the balance, Mr. Harrison says, is as the square of its diameter, also as the square of the velocity, its weight being given.

Agreed. For a given angular velocity, the angular momentum of the balance is proportional to its moment of inertia, which for a "cylindrical shell" is I = mR2. And for a given moment of inertia and angular velocity, the kinetic energy is proportional to the square of the moment of inertia, K = 1/2 I 2.

The momentum of the balance acquired by increasing the velocity is better than that acquired by increasing the weight; as friction is not thereby increased, perhaps, if any thing, diminished, and the resistance of the air only is increased, the effect of which is tolerably uniform, and of great service.

The idea of air resistance being a great service is peculiar to Harrison. Most watch and clockmakers, before and since, have seen air resistance as a source of error to be eliminated. Harrison liked air resistance for two reasons.

Firstly, you want a good amount of inefficiency in the balance, so that when the motion of the balance is disturbed, it very quickly gets back into equilibrium. If the balance hardly loses any energy during a cycle, then the escapement must be designed to hardly provide any energy during a cycle, so disturbances stay around for longer.

And secondly, if the clock can be provoked to run faster in longer arcs, then you get some temperature compensation "for free", because when the temperature increases, the air density decreases, which means there is less air resistance, so the balance swings further which makes it run faster; but also the increase in temperature makes everything expand, which increases the moment of inertia of the balance, which makes it run slower.

This second effect relies on the clock having sufficient influence from air resistance, which I'm not sure applied in the case of H4, but was definitely used by Harrison on pendulum clocks (source: "Harrison Decoded" by Rory McEvoy and Jonathan Betts).

The diameter of the balance is 2.2 inches, of the plate 3.8 inches.

The balance should be a little larger, or 2.25 inches, according to a memorandum taken by Mr. Bird.

The watch makes just five beats in a second of time.

If the balance vibrated faster, the resistance of the air would be too great.

A pocket watch of this kind would do better with six beats in a second.

?? Make your mind up.

A certain size is best for the pallets, or rather a certain proportion between the diameter of the circle described by the edge of the pallets and the diameter of the balance-wheel. This was first suggested to Mr. Harrison from bell-ringing; for he could bring the bell better into a motion, by touching it from time to time somewhere near the centre than near the circumference; because in the first case his hand moved quick enough to follow the bell.

I think this is quite clumsily worded. What he's saying is that the motion of the pallets needs to be small enough that the escape wheel is able to accelerate fast enough to interact with them. So the ratio of the diameter of the pallets to the balance wheel is not really what you care about.

The grand principle of the watch is that of giving the greatest motion possible to the balance with a given force. This is done by the scaping and proper quantity of the arc described.

This note was communicated by Mr. Mudge, as also the following; That the balance, by the force from the wheels, without its spring, tends to vibrate once in two seconds.

There are four springs in the watch; first, a main spring; secondly, a spring in the inside of the fusee, to keep it going while it is winding up; thirdly, a spring, which is wound up eight times every minute; fourthly, the balance-spring. The three first were made by Maberley.

The fusee has six turns and a quarter.

The fly serves to moderate the velocity with which the spring nearest the balance would otherwise be wound up.

This is talking about the remontoire, which we'll see in more detail in Harrison's part. The "fly" is basically an air brake. It has vanes that stick into the air and meet with air resistance as it spins around.

The pivot-holes are all made in rubies, with diamonds at the ends.

The pallets are diamonds.

It is apparently still unknown how Harrison managed to shape the tiny and precise radii on the diamonds (source: "Harrison" by Jonathan Betts) (but, as a point of philosophy: that fact shouldn't motivate any particular curiosity on your part - if you don't know either way, what difference does it make whether anyone else knows? you should be no less curious about all the things that other people do know!).

One end of the watch in the late voyage to Barbados was set higher, because it was not equally adjusted in all positions. Also it was altered and brought back to the same position, with respect to the horizon, as the ship lay down on the one or the other tack, by the help of a moveable box, with a divided arch.

I'm not quite sure what he means by a moveable box with a divided arch. What is a divided arch? Elsewhere the word "arch" is used to mean "arc" and I have transcribed it as "arc", but in this case since I'm not sure of the meaning I left it alone. In any case, what's a divided arc? How does it help to bring the watch to the same position with respect to the horizon?

I'm thinking it must be either a gimballed mount, or something that lets the human operator compare the angle of the box to the horizon (by comparing the horizon to the divisons on an arch?) and adjusting it manually.

Mr. William Harrison reckons the greatest roll of a ship fifteen degrees, and the greatest lie-down, when going upon one tack, twelve degrees.

Hold the watch a little back, when in a vertical position, that the face may be a little up.

If the balance-spring be not exactly parallel to the plates, there will be a small difference in the going of the watch, when the face is up or down.

I guess this is because the balance spring would then be pulling the balance against one or other of the bearing caps, which would either be mitigated or exacerbated depending on which way up it sits?

Care is to be used in moving the watch, or in turning it about, in order to wind it up, not to give it any quick circular motion in the plane of the balance, as it might possibly stop it. A pocket-watch, which Mr. Harrison has made of this kind, once stopped this way. Turn the watch over upon some diameter of the dial-plate, as an axis, in order to bring it into a convenient position, when you want to wind it up.

It's interesting that this was already a problem in 1767. This is a problem that was only to get worse as the chronometer was developed further.

It is quite difficult to disturb a watch so as to take almost exactly all of the energy out of the balance, at a point where it is near the centre, and thereby bring it to a complete stop. But the later chronometer escapement was vulnerable to tripping, which is where a disturbance instead adds energy to the balance, sufficient to let it do another "lap" and gain a 2nd impulse from the escapement. Thereafter, due to the extra energy that keeps getting maintained by the 2nd impulse, the balance will do a second lap on every cycle and the clock will run twice as fast as it should. (source: "The Marine Chronometer: Its History and Developments" by Rupert Gould).

Oil must be applied to the pallets and pivot-holes of the watch, but very sparingly.

This is anathema to Harrison, but apparently his anti-friction wheels couldn't be satisfactorily miniaturised for the watch (source: "Harrison" by Jonathan Betts).

At the time of the discovery, in August 1765, Mr. Harrison said, that the watch then went a little slower than it had done, owing to its wanting to be cleaned, viz. two or three seconds per day.

The "discovery" here is again the event where Harrison explained the watch.

The watch should have a cap, and no outer case, the wooden box, in which it should be kept, serving that purpose better.

I'm not sure what this means. The watch is pair-cased, is Maskelyne saying that the outer case should not be used?

Principles of Mr. Harrison's Time-keeper

Now we get to Harrison's part. In "Harrison", Betts writes that this is "arguably the most seminal of all publications in the history of the chronometer".

In this Time-keeper there is the greatest Care taken to avoid Friction as much as can be, by the Wheels moving on small Pivots, and in Ruby-holes, and high Numbers in the Wheels and Pinions.

The Part which measures Time goes but the eighth Part of a Minute without winding up; so that Part is very simple, as this Winding-up is performed at the Wheel next to the Balance-wheel; by which Means, there is always an equal Force acting at that Wheel, and all the rest of the Work has no more to do in measuring Time, than the Person that winds them up once a Day.

This is talking about the remontoire, the winding of which is slowed down by the fly that Maskelyne mentioned.

The big idea here is that you can almost totally forget about variations of torque due to the mainspring winding down, or changes oil thickness etc. in most of the gear train of the watch. You only really care about the parts from the remontoire to the balance, it is like a self-contained clock that only runs for 8 seconds between automatic windings.

There is a Spring in the Inside of the Fusee, which I will call a secondary Main-spring. This Spring is always kept stretched to a certain Tension by the Main-spring, and during the Time of winding up the Time-keeper, at which Time the Main-spring is not suffered to act, this secondary Spring supplies its Place.

Without this "secondary mainspring", the fusee does not transmit any power to the gear train while the clock is being wound, because the act of winding it takes the spring tension away from the train.

In common Watches in general the Wheels have about One-thrid the Dominion over the Balance that the Balance-spring has; that is, if the Power the Balance-spring has over the Balance be called Three, that from the Wheels is One; but in this my Time-keeper, the Wheels have only about One-eightieth Part of the Power over the Balance that the Balance-spring has; and it must be allowed, the less the Wheels have to do with the Balance, the better. The Wheels in a common Watch having this great Dominion over the Balance, they can, when the Watch is wound up, and the Balance at rest, set the Watch a-going; but when my Time-keeper's Balance is at rest, and the Spring is wound up, the Force of the Wheels can no more set it a-going, than the Force of the Wheels of a common Regulator can, when the Weight is wound up, set the Pendulum a-vibrating; nor will the Force from the Wheels move the Balance, when at rest, to a greater Angle in Proportion to the Vibration that it is to fetch, than the Force of the Wheels of a common Regulator can move the Pendulum from the Perpendicular, when it is at rest.

My Time-keeper's Balance is more than three times the Weight of a large sized common Watch-balance, and three times its Diameter; and a common Watch-balance goes through about six Inches of Space in a Second, but mine goes through about twenty-four Inches in that Time: So that had my Time-keeper only these Advantages over a common Watch, a good Performance might be expected from it. But my Time-keeper is not affected by the different Degrees of Heat and Cold, nor Agitation of the Ship; and the Force from the Wheels is applied to the Balance in such a Manner, together with the Shape of the Balance-spring, and (if I may be allowed the Term) an artificial Cycloid, which acts at this Spring; so that from these Contrivances, let the Balance vibrate more or less, all its Vibrations are performed in the same Time; and therefore, if it go at all, it must go true. So that it is plain from this, that such a Time-keeper goes entirely from Principle, and not from Chance.

The following is a Description of the Drawings from which my fourth Time-keeper was made, and the Drawings are also hereunto annexed.

Fig. 1

AA is the Chain-barrel, and BB is a Section of it.

CC is the Spring-barrel, and DD is a Section of it.

EE is a Ratchet at the Spring-barrel, and FF is a Section of it. This Ratchet is screwed to the Spring-barrel by four small Screws at aaaa. There is a hole in the Pillar-plate of the Diameter from the dotted Lines bb, and that Part of the Spring-barrel cc is to mvoe in this Hole without any Shake, in order to set the Spring up. The Ratchet is also shown in Figure 13th, by the Circle bb, and it has thirty Teeth, and c is the Click that holds it.



Diameter of the spring Arbor: about 1.64 of 1/4 Inch.

Diameter of the Hole in the Centre of the Chain Barrel about: 0.38

Diameter of the upper pivot: 0.23

Diameter of the lower: 0.215

Diameter of the spring Barrel within: 1.4 Inch.

Fig. 2

AA is the Brass Edge, BB the Hole in the Middle of it, and CC is a Section of it. This Brass Edge is supported by six Pillars, and their Places are represented in Figures 13 and 14, by six Circles aaaaaa.

Fig. 3

AA represents the second Wheel acting in a Pinion at a. BB represents the third Wheel, which is concave, and acts in a Pinion at b. The second Wheel is described in Figure 14 by the Circle dd, and acts in a Pinion of 18 at e. The third Wheel is represented in Figure 14 by the Circle ff, acting in a Pinion of 16 at g.

Note, The third Wheel is larger than is represnted in Figure 14, and has 144 Teeth, and the second Wheel has 120 Teeth.

Fig. 4

AA represents the contrate Wheel, BB a Section of it, with a Section of the Spring-barrel aa. At cc is a Piece with eight Pins in it, that discharges the running Wheels every eighth Part of a Minute. This Wheel is also represented in Figure 14 by the Circle hh; it has 120 Teeth, and acts in a Pinion of 12 at i.



Thickness of the Rim about 0.048 of 1/4 inch.

The discharger and wheel for the seconds, must be a little nearer the dial plate than according to this drawing so that the tops of the pins of the discharger may be even with the plane of the pillar plate.

The crosses of the wheel are also drawn too broad at the outer end.

Diameter of the hole in the centre of the wheel about 0.23 of 1/4 inch.

Diameter of that part of the spindle which goes through the fourth wheel arbor (thicker end) about 0.108 of 1/4 inch.

Diameter of each pivot 0.045.

Length of the spring 10 inches, its weight 3.5 grains.

The second paragraph here reads like it was written by somebody else. The capitalisation is unlike Harrison's. Perhaps he dictated that part at a separate time?

Fig. 5

AA is the first Wheel, and aaaa is a Section of it. bbb is a Section of the Fusee. BB is the outer Diameter of a Ratchet which is fixed to the Inside of the Fusee, and the inner Circle CC is its inner Diameter, and it has 55 Teeth in it. dddd is what I call the perpetual Ratcher, of which cccc is a Section; there is a Ratchet with 75 Teeth in it on that Part marked ff, this is also shown in Figure 13 by the Circle ee, and this perpetual Ratchet is to carry the Barrel DD, which Barrel contains the secondary Main-spring, and will be in the Inside of the Fusee at gg, and at that Part of the first Wheel hh the inner End of this Spring is to act, as that Part hh will be its Arbor. The dotted Lines E represent the Grooves in the Fusee. The dotted Lines ll represent the upper Plate. The dotted Lines mm represent the Pillar Plate. The dotted Lines nn represent the Cock, which carries the lower End of the Arbor of the first Wheel. This Cock is also represented in Figure 13 at dddd. The Ratchet ee in Figure 13 has two Clicks, whose Centres are at ff, and gg are the Springs which act at these Clicks. In Figure 14 bb represents the first Wheel with 96 Teeth, acting in a Pinion of 21 at c.

Fig. 6

A is a Section of the Frame, with the Balance-cock, the Slide, and the Brass Edge; and a is the Centre of the Joint-pin. B is a Section, where aa represents the Balance-cock, bb the third Wheel-cock.

c the Cock at the End of the contrate Wheel.

d the Cock at the End of the fourth Wheel.

e the fourth Wheel.

f the Follower.

g the Balance-wheel.

h the Potence.

i the Balance-wheel Pinion.

k the Counter-potence, which also carries the other End of the fourth Wheel.

m the Spring-barrel.

n the Hook in it, where the out End of the Spring hangs.

o the Hook at the contrate Wheel, where the inner End of the Spring is hung.

r the fifth Wheel, with the Pin where the Detent is to stop.

S the upper Plate.

T the Pillar-plate.

Fig. 7

Is the Detent, by which is the Discharge for winding up eight Times in a Minute. The Part a acts at the eight Pins on the contrate Wheel-arbor. b is a Roller acting against a Piece of Brass on the fifth Wheel-arbor. c is a Piece that stops against a Pin in the Rim of the fifth Wheel. dd are Pieces of Brass to make it in an Equilibrium with itself; and E is the Spring which acts upon it. The Centre of the Detent is at x in Figure 14.

The note in French translates as:

The part marked a in this fig. 7 is a little too short

Fig. 8

aa are the Pallets of ten times the Size that they are in the Time-keeper. The dotted Lines from 24ths of the Circle, show the Power the Balance-wheel has to impede the Motion of the Balance by the Declivity on the Back of the Pallets, at any the same time whenever it shall have the greatest Power to give it Motion.

Fig. 9

Is to show the Proportion between the Balance, the Balance-wheel, the Balance-wheel Teeth, the Pallets, and at what Distance the Wheel acts from the Centre of the Balance. AA represents the Balance, BB the Balance-wheel, aa the Pallets, and bbbbbb the Balance-wheel Teeth.

Fig. 10

A is the Counter-potence, with the Follower a, and a small Screw at c, to stop when at its proper Place, and x is the Centre of the fourth Wheel.

B is the Cock for the Minute-wheel.

C is the Steel Bridge.

D is a Cock for the contrate Wheel.

E is a Cock at the first Wheel.

F is a Cock at the contrate Wheel on the Pillar-plate.

Fig. 11

Is the Detent, which is to stop the Balance before the Watch be down. It turns upon a Centre at t in Figure 14. A is the Locking-spring.

Diameter of the hole in the Socket. (Its wider end) about 0.19 of 1/4 inch.

Diameter of the upport pivot 0.22. Diameter of the lower pivot 0.09.

Fig. 12

AA represents the upper Plate. BB the Balance.

aa the Thermometer.

bb the Balance-spring.

cc Slider to adjust the Thermometer end-way.

d the Stud.

e the artificial Cycloid.

f a Piece to adjust it so as to bear properly against the Spring.

Fig. 13

aaaaaa the Feet of the Brass Edge.

bbthe Ratchet at the Spring-barrel.

c the Click.

dddd the Cock at the End of the first Wheel.

ee a Ratchet.

ff the Centres of the two Clicks which act in it.

gg the two Springs that act at them.

hhhhhh the six Pillars of the Frame.

ii the Steel Bridge.

kkk two Wheels that carry the Seconds, one being on the contrate Wheel-arbor, the other moving on the Cannon-pinion.

l the Cannon-pinion.

mm the Minute-wheel.

n the Hour-pinion.

oo the Hour-wheel.

Fig. 14

Sadly figures 14 and 15 are missing from the scans in the Cambridge Digital Library.

aaaaaa the six Pillars of the Brass Edge.

bb the first Wheel.

c the Centre-pinion.

dd the second Wheel.

e the second Pinion.

ff the third Wheel.

g the third Pinion.

hh the contrate Wheel, and the fourth Wheel.

i the Balance-wheel Pinion.

k the fourth Pinion.

ll the fifth Wheel.

m the fifth Pinion.

nn the Fly.

oo the Balance-wheel.

p the Potence.

rrrrrr the six Pillars of the Frame.

s the Stud.

t the Centre of the Detent, to stop the Balance.

x the Centre of the discharging Detent.

uu the upper Plate.

zz the Pillar-plate.

Fig. 15

Sadly figures 14 and 15 are missing from the scans in the Cambridge Digital Library.

Is what was designed for the Work on the upper Plate, which is now done in the Manner as represented in Figure 12.

For tempering the Balance-spindle, the Balance-spring, and the Pinions.

Before their being immersed in Metal (as just melted) let them be oiled over.

The Heat for the Balance-spindle 567 on Fahrenheit's Scale, the which is given by one of Pewter to 12 of Lead; but for the Balance-spring and the Pinions, let the Mixture be One of Pewter to 17 of Lead.



Each Turn of the first Wheel (or Fusee) is 4 4/7 Hours; so 5 1/4 of its Turns is just 24 Hours; and 6 1/4 is 28 4/7 Hours; and 6 9/16 Turns equal to 30 Hours.

Although the figure is missing, this is one of the most fascinating passages in the entire document, and at any rate doesn't appear to relate to the figure.

Harrison is achieving very precisely controlled heat treatment by melting defined alloys and then dunking his parts into the molten metal "as just melted".

The molten metal is guaranteed to be at approximately its melting point if it has only just melted, so he achieves a very repeatable heat treatment this way. And by changing the ratio of lead to pewter he changes the melting temperature of the alloy to gain continuous-valued control over the temperature. And on top of that, the part is kept in an oxygen-free environment for the bulk of the time that it is hot. Ingenious!

I'm not sure what the oil is for. To prevent the lead mixture from sticking perhaps?

FINIS.
But as Europes only two nuclear powers and with the continents strongest armies, the burden will almost inevitably fall most heavily on Britain and France to fill any defence gap left by America pulling away from its current stance on European security to focus more on the threat from China.
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
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ST. LOUIS  A former executive of a local company was sentenced Friday in a $2.1 million embezzlement scheme in which he used company money to pay off personal credit cards.

Richard D. Zellner, 66, of O'Fallon, Missouri, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for using company funds to pay off $2.1 million in credit card debt and other personal expenses from 2019 to January 2024, according to press release.

The release did not list the company Zellner worked for. Court records identified the company only by its initials, JBR.

But various reports, including one from the St. Louis Business Journal, have in the past identified a Richard Zellner of O'Fallon as CFO for John Beal Roofing, which has offices in Maryland Heights, Kansas City, Springfield, Missouri, and Carbondale, Illinois.

And the owner of the company, listed in court records as "JB," gave a victim impact statement.

John Beal Roofing did not immediately respond Thursday to a request for comment.

Federal authorities said Zellner paid off his credit card balance once hed incurred thousands of dollars in charges, which typically occurred every few days or couple of weeks. He spent the money on vacations, travel, personal bills, and gold and precious metals.

Zellner, as chief financial officer, covered by his scheme by altering company accounting records by creating fake work orders and bills.

He pled guilty in August to one count of wire fraud in federal court.
Col. (Ret.) Keil Gentry, director of the National Museum of the Marine Corps, cuts a birthday cake with a sword during a cake-cutting ceremony celebrating the 249th U.S. Marine Corps birthday at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va., Nov. 10, 2024. (Kaylyn Barnhart/Stars and Stripes)

TRIANGLE, Va.  No matter where U.S. Marines are in the world, they pause to honor the birth of the Marine Corps. A day before Veterans Day, U.S. Marines across the country and overseas are celebrating 249 years of the branchs traditions, history and service.

Marine veterans, active-duty military and families gathered at The National Museum of the Marine Corps on Sunday in Triangle, Va., for a time-honored cake-cutting ceremony, a longstanding Marine Corps birthday tradition.

Todays cake-cutting at the National Museum of the Marine Corps was a fitting tribute replete with music, a sword and Marines in dress blues, said Col. (Ret.) Keil Gentry, director of the National Museum of the Marine Corps (NMMC).

There were two cake-cutting ceremonies, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and they were open to the public. Over 1,000 people filled the museums Leatherneck Gallery to recognize the Corps birthday and enjoy a piece of cake, compliments of the museum staff.

To begin the ceremony, the crowd stood at attention for the National Anthem, followed by Marines in their dress blues rolling the birthday cake on a cart to the center of Leatherneck Gallery where Gentry assumed the honors of cutting the cake with a sword to present to the oldest and youngest Marines in attendance, in accordance with tradition.

U.S. Marines in dress blues roll the Marine Corps birthday cake through a crowd of people in Leatherneck Gallery during a cake-cutting ceremony celebrating the 249th U.S. Marine Corps birthday at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va., Nov. 10, 2024. (Kaylyn Barnhart/Stars and Stripes) A guest takes a piece of birthday cake during a cake-cutting ceremony celebrating the 249th U.S. Marine Corps birthday at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va., Nov. 10, 2024. (Kaylyn Barnhart/Stars and Stripes)

It is customary for the first slice of cake to be given to the guest of honor, which for both ceremonies was Brig. Gen. Matthew Tracy, commanding general of Education Command and president of Marine Corps University.

The second piece is given to the oldest Marine in attendance as a sign of honor and respect to experience and seniority. For the first ceremony, the oldest Marine was 91-year-old Staff Sgt. Al Ullman. For the second ceremony, 101-year-old John Jack Elliott  who is a veteran of World War II, Vietnam and Korea  was honored.

Staff Sgt. Al Ullman, 91, is presented a piece of cake by Col. (Ret.) Keil Gentry, director of the National Museum of the Marine Corps. Ullman was the oldest Marine in attendance during a cake-cutting ceremony celebrating the 249th Marine Corps birthday at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va., Nov. 10, 2024. (Kaylyn Barnhart/Stars and Stripes) Staff Sgt. Al Ullman, 91, who was the oldest Marine in attendance during a cake-cutting ceremony celebrating the 249th Marine Corps birthday at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va., Nov. 10, 2024. (Kaylyn Barnhart/Stars and Stripes)

The oldest Marine then passes a piece of cake to the youngest Marine in attendance, symbolizing the passing of wisdom, knowledge and experience as well as trust and confidence in those who continue to carry on the Marine Corps traditions.

For the first ceremony, the youngest Marine was 22-year-old 2nd Lt. Joseph Yourkoski. The second ceremony was 19-year-old Lance Cpl. Jordan Art.

The playing of The Navy Hymn and The Marines Hymn closed the ceremony.

Oorah. Semper Fi, Ullman said.

The museum live-streamed both cake-cutting ceremonies for those who did not get a chance to join in person. The live-streams are also viewable on their YouTube channel.
U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. John Basilone was awarded the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry during combat action on Guadalcanal in October 1942. Basilone, later a gunnery sergeant, was killed in action on Iwo Jima in February 1945, and was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross. The second Navy ship to bear his name, the destroyer USS John Basilone, was commissioned on Nov. 9, 2024. (U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command)
American troops with the 8th Infantry Regiment attempt to move forward during the Battle of the Bulge but are pinned down by German small-arms fire from within the Belgian town of Libin. (National Archives)

WASHINGTON  Harry Miller said he was always fascinated by the World War I veterans he watched marching at parades in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.

Orphaned as a child, he said the veterans offered a role model and a sense of purpose he lacked.

I grew up in the [Great] Depression. Life was very tough. I remember my sisters and I eating a can of beans or whatever we could get, Miller said. But the military veterans had a certain respect and dignity. From early on, I wanted to join the Army.

Miller dropped out of elementary school to pick up odd jobs and help his family. But his focus was on becoming a soldier. And as the Second World War raged on, the 15-year-old lied about his age to enlist in the Army and was sent immediately to basic training at Fort Knox, Ky.

We trained with as many infantry weapons we possibly could be involved with, Miller said. They told us to get through training as fast as we could. The military needed people. I ended up as a tank crewman and was sent overseas.

By late fall 1944, Miller joined the 740th Tank Battalion in Belgium, east of where one of World War IIs most famous battles soon would be waged near the border of Germany  the Battle of the Bulge, one of the largest and bloodiest fights of the war.

In the first half hour of combat for us, we stopped the 1st SS Panzer Division. These guys had been [Adolf] Hitlers bodyguard and massacred a lot of people, he said. We were told: Dont take no prisoners. Our names became known all over the area.

Retired Army Senior Master Sgt. Harry Miller, 96, shown at the Armed Forces Retirement Home on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes) Harry Miller of Ohio was just 16 when he joined the Armys 740th Tank Battalion in Belgium, just east of where the Battle of the Bulge started on Dec. 16, 1944  one of the largest and bloodiest fights of World War II. Miller had lied about his age when he enlisted in the Army in 1943. (Friends of the National World War II Memorial)

Now at 96, Miller is among the last surviving soldiers from the battle, which was Germanys final offensive on the wars western front, a battle fought in the Ardennes Forest in Belgium and Luxembourg, a world away from his Midwest home.

The Battle of the Bulge was most significant for me, he said. The Bulge made me the man I am. It was when I grew up. I learned real fast how to fight, to persist and to survive. That battle made my character  that is the best way to say it.

With the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge a month away, Miller and another Army veteran of the battle Frank Cohn, 99, will take center stage Nov. 13 at a small theater in the nations capital to share eyewitness accounts of the five-week fight. The event is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in the William G. McGowan Theater of the National Archives Building in Washington. Moderating is Alex Kershaw, author of The Longest Winter: The Battle of the Bulge and the Epic Story of World War IIs Most Decorated Platoon.

Kershaw described the battle as Hitlers last gamble, fought across 85 miles of heavily forested land with heavy snow drifts, freezing rain and severe cold.

These firsthand stories are invaluable. Fundamentally, World War II was a GIs war, and its the GIs stories that help us understand, said Leon Reed, a World War II historian and editor of The Bulge Bugle, a magazine published by the Battle of the Bulge Association.

Like Miller, Cohn was a teenager when he was drafted in September 1943.

They needed people real badly to serve, said Cohn, who had just graduated from high school in New York and was starting college. Within a month after turning 18, I got a notice in the mail to report to a bus stop in front of a movie theater where we were picked up and taken to Fort Dix, N.J.

The military initially delayed his deployment for three months as a background check was done to confirm he was not an enemy alien, said Cohn, who was born in Germany. His family was Jewish and had fled to the U.S. as the Nazis came to power in the 1930s. They sought permanent visa status after Kristallnacht in November 1938, when Nazis in Germany vandalized and torched Jewish businesses, schools and homes.

We would have been sent to concentration camps and certain death if we had been deported, Cohn said. I wanted to show my appreciation and allegiance to the U.S. through my military service.

Cohn, who lives in Virginia, went to federal district court and was sworn in as a U.S. citizen. He then was transferred to Fort Benning  now Fort Moore  in Georgia for basic training in the Army and onto Fort Jackson, S.C., for advanced training in the 8th infantry.

Retired Army Col. Frank Cohn, 99, shown on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Fort Belvoir, Va. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes) Army veteran Frank Cohn of New York had just graduated from high school when he was drafted to serve in World War II. Originally from Germany, Cohn and his family had fled to the United States as the Nazis came to power and began to persecute Jewish people. We would have been sent to concentration camps and certain death if we had been deported, Cohn said. (Friends of the National World War II Memorial)

He was quickly tapped for Army intelligence work after his commander realized he was a native German speaker. Cohn said he spoke English without an accent by listening to radio shows in the U.S. and adopting the cadence and tone of the speakers.

No one is certain how many Battle of the Bulge veterans  now in their late 90s and early 100s  are alive today and can recall their experiences during the fierce fighting from December 1944 into January 1945.

The fighting started Dec. 16, 1944, as a surprise attack by the Germans against Allied forces. The German strategy was to isolate and contain British and U.S. troops and then recapture the Belgium port at Antwerp, a key supply hub for the Allies, Miller said.

I awoke to gun flashes on the horizon, he said. We werent sure at first what was going on.

His battalion managed to knock out three German tanks from the 1st SS Panzer Division near a train station at Stoumont in Belgium.

The 30th infantry was in the ditches and sweating blood around the road leading to the train station. They were overrun pretty fast, Miller recounted. The 1st SS Panzer Division was coming down the road with no one to support the Allied troops.

Miller said his tank battalion came face to face with the first German tank. We fired and knocked it out.

That tank was followed by two more, which the Americans hit and destroyed. The Germans turned and retreated, he said.

Miller, then a 16-year-old private, worked as a tank crewman. His job was to load the artillery shells for the gunner. But the battalion was operating refurbished tanks pieced together from junked parts at an ordnance depot after arriving in Belgium. The guns had no sights. The gunners looked through tubes, Miller said.

But the restored M-1 Sherman tanks destroyed the first two German Panther tanks. An M36 tank destroyer fired on the third German tank, Miller said.

That third tank sent three rounds  boom, boom, boom  like that. The Germans turned and retreated, Miller said. We had some darn good gunners. We were instant heroes. The 82nd Airborne general said that you just had to point to what you wanted hit, and we hit it.

From there, his battalion liberated a nearby hospital where they discovered a priest hiding with dozens of children and elderly people in the basement.

The priest was trying to keep these people quiet. As you can imagine, he was having a helluva time. The Germans were mean. They would kill people for no reason, Miller said.

Cohn, who was sent to France for two weeks in the fall of 1944 to learn how to serve as a linguist and interrogate captured German troops, recalled entering Belgium as an Army intelligence agent as the Battle of the Bulge broke out.

There was a total blackout that first night, he said. At midnight, we were driving in a Jeep with the windshield down. We did not intercept anyone. It was snowing and sleeting too hard to see much of anything. I was lucky being a Pfc. in the backseat. My captain took the brunt of it.

Cohn and another interpreter were attached to the 12th Army Group. They were sent to Belgium just a week before the Battle of the Bulge started. One of Cohns jobs was to ferret out German soldiers who had infiltrated Allied troops and were posing as Americans.

We never intercepted anyone, he said.

During that first night of the battle, Cohn said he was assigned to guard duty and had to stop trucks approaching his installation to determine if they were carrying German troops. But his primary job was gathering intelligence from captured troops before they were sent to prisoner of war camps.

Cohn said his own German ancestry led to a difficult encounter in Belgium in later 1944. While traveling with another German-speaking interpreter, the men were stopped by U.S. troops looking for Germans in American uniforms. The pair were placed under arrest and held at a farmhouse until their identities were confirmed.

They thought we were infiltrators, Cohn said. I suddenly had an M1 rifle in my belly. We were POWs of the Americans for seven hours in miserable weather.

Approximately 600,000 American soldiers fought in the battle, according to the Battle of the Bulge Association in Gettysburg, Pa. (U.S. Army)

Approximately 600,000 American soldiers fought in the battle, according to the Battle of the Bulge Association in Gettysburg, Pa. More than 80,000 were captured or killed. But the Germans suffered heavier losses, estimated at 100,000.

The Battle of the Bulge ended Jan. 25, 1945, with Allied troops forcing the Germans into retreat.

Cohn, a staff sergeant, was offered a regular Army commission at the end of the war. He finished college and stayed in the military for 35 years. He worked as a military police officer and retired as a colonel in 1978.

His work after the war involved developing documentation for prosecuting German military leaders of war crimes.

I am proud of my career. This was my payback to the Americans for rescuing me and my family, he said. It was a very satisfying experience. The Bulge was my first combat experience. It was pretty frightening in the beginning, especially with the bad weather. We just knew the enemy had attacked, and we had to get ahead of it.

Miller, who now lives in Washington, D.C., also stayed in the military after World War II and served in the Korean War.

In 1957, he left the Army for the Air Force, retaining his rank as sergeant. Miller was deployed to Vietnam twice on special assignments in the early 1960s and retired from the military in January 1966 as a senior master sergeant.

I gave 22 years of service, Miller said. I think it was the right thing to do. I would do it again, all things being equal.
Russian President Vladimir Putin participates in a meeting with mothers of Russia's servicemen participating in the military operation in Ukraine, ahead of Mother's Day at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence, outside Moscow, on Nov. 25, 2022. On Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, Putin congratulated President-elect Donald Trump on his win in the U.S. presidential election, and said he was ready to hold discussions with the incoming American leader. (Alexander Shcherbak/Sputnik/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  Russia and the U.S. have had contact on the subject of the war in Ukraine via closed channels at the military and political levels, according to a top Russian foreign relations official.

As for the situation in Ukraine, the exchange of signals via closed channels is periodically carried out, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in an interview with the Interfax news service published on Saturday. This is done with varying degrees of intensity depending on the need, but all of this is in working order.

Ryabkov confirmed that included contacts, when asked by Interfax. It cannot be said that the communication lines are cut off and that there is no dial tone, he said.

His comments underscore that Washington and Moscow maintain at least some interaction centered around Russias almost three-year-long war in Ukraine, even as relations between the two countries are at their lowest ebb since the end of the Cold War.

One of the few remaining areas of diplomatic cooperation has been prisoner exchanges. Ryabkov said that topic remains on the agenda for relations between Russia and the U.S.

The last exchange showed that we can find effective solutions to even the most complex, complicated, multifaceted, problematic situations, Ryabkov said. But there remains no clarity for how that will work or the schedule for such an exchange going forward.

A high-profile prisoner swap was made in early August, involving Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich and others freed in exchange for a convicted Russian assassin who was serving a life sentence in Germany.

Ryabkov reiterated that diplomatic relations with the U.S. could still be completely severed if Russias frozen assets are confiscated, or if the war in Ukraine escalates. The diplomat also said there was currently no basis to resume negotiations on strategic stability or arms control.

On U.S. President-elect Donald Trumps promises to quickly end the war in Ukraine, Ryabkov said they amounted to campaign rhetoric. Still, Moscow is ready to listen to the Republicans proposals to stop the conflict, he said, echoing an earlier statement from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

On Thursday, Putin congratulated Trump on his win in the U.S. presidential election, and said he was ready to hold discussions with the incoming American leader. He gave no indication that hes ready to make concessions to secure an end to the war he started in February 2022.

Putin has repeatedly said hes willing to hold talks, while insisting that any negotiations take account of the realities on the ground since his forces invaded Ukraine and occupied large swathes of the countrys south and east.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin participates in a meeting with mothers of Russias servicemen participating in the military operation in Ukraine, at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence, outside Moscow, on Nov. 25, 2022. (Alexander Shcherbak, Sputnik, AFP via Getty Images/TNS)

President-elect Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, the first phone conversation between the two men since Trump won the election, said several people familiar with the matter.

During the call, which Trump took from his resort in Florida, he advised the Russian president not to escalate the war in Ukraine and reminded him of Washingtons sizable military presence in Europe, said a person familiar with the call, who, like others interviewed for this story, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter.

The two men discussed the goal of peace on the European continent and Trump expressed an interest in follow-up conversations to discuss the resolution of Ukraines war soon, one of the people said.

In his presidential campaign, Trump said he would bring an immediate end to the war in Ukraine, though did not offer details about how he intended to do so. He has signaled privately that he would support a deal where Russia kept some captured territory, and during the call he briefly raised the issue of land, people familiar with the matter said.

The call, which has not been previously reported, comes amid general uncertainty about how Trump will reset the worlds diplomatic chessboard of U.S. allies and adversaries after his decisive victory on Tuesday. Trump told NBC on Thursday that he had spoken to about 70 world leaders since the election, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky - a call that Elon Musk also joined.

Ukrainian officials have been informed of the Putin call and did not object to the conversation taking place, said two people familiar with the matter. Ukrainian officials have long understood that Trump would engage with Putin on a diplomatic solution to the war, the people said.

Trumps initial calls with world leaders are not being conducted with the support of the State Department and U.S. government interpreters. The Trump transition team has yet to sign an agreement with the General Services Administration, a standard procedure for presidential transitions. Trump and his aides are distrustful of career government officials following the leaked transcripts of presidential calls during his first term. They are just calling [Trump] directly, one of the people familiar with the calls said.

President Trump won a historic election decisively and leaders from around the world know America will return to prominence on the world stage. That is why leaders have begun the process of developing stronger relationships with the 45th and 47th President because he represents global peace and stability, said Steven Cheung, Trumps communications director, in an email.

Moscow initially responded coolly to Trumps win, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov telling reporters that Putin had no plans to call the incoming president of an unfriendly country that is directly and indirectly involved in a war against our state.

But on Thursday, Putin publicly congratulated Trump on his victory, praising his manly response to the assassination attempt in Pennsylvania, and said he was ready to speak with Trump.

Peskov did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Earlier Sunday, a journalist with the Russian state TV channel Rossiya, Pavel Zarubin, published an interview with Peskov in which the Kremlin spokesman said the signs for an improvement in relations under a Trump presidency were positive.

Trump talked during his campaign about how he sees everything through deals, that he can make a deal that will lead everyone to peace. At least he talks about peace, not about confrontation and the desire to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, Peskov said.

While Biden and Harriss strategy in relation to Ukraine was predictable, Peskov added, Trump is less predictable, and also [it] is less predictable to what extent Trump will stick to the statements he made during the election campaign. Lets wait and see.

One former U.S. official who was familiar with the Putin call said that Trump likely does not want to enter office with a fresh crisis in Ukraine prompted by Russian escalation, giving him incentive to want to keep the war from worsening.

Trumps call with Zelensky on Wednesday was amicable but comes as officials in Kyiv are anxious about what a Trump presidency might mean for the war effort, said people familiar with the call.

Ukraine requires billions of dollars in economic and military support every month to continue to fend off its bigger and better-equipped foe, which has made significant military advances in recent months. Trump has complained about the wars cost to U.S. taxpayers and privately noted that Ukraine may have to give up some of its territory, such as Crimea, for peace.

Tensions between Ukraine and the Trump campaign were heightened following Zelenskys visit to an ammunition plant in Pennsylvania in September. The visit to the swing state was criticized as a political stunt by Trump allies, including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana), who called for Zelensky to fire his ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova.

Zelensky is now reviewing candidates to replace her, said an official in Ukraine. The Ukrainian embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

News of the call comes as Ukraine on Sunday launched a major drone attack on Moscow and five other Russian regions, injuring one person and forcing three airports to temporarily halt operations, officials in Moscow said.

Russias Defense Ministry said its air defense systems intercepted 84 Ukrainian drones over the Moscow, Bryansk, Oryol, Kaluga, Kursk and Tula regions. Thirty-four of those drones were shot down over the Moscow region, the ministry said - making it the largest Ukrainian drone attack on the capital since Russia invaded the country more than two years ago.

Meanwhile, Ukraine is bracing to hold land it gained in Russias Kursk region amid reports that Moscow is preparing a counteroffensive. U.S. intelligence agencies have reported that there are now at least 10,000 North Korean troops in the Kursk region, which could be used to buoy the Russian attempt to retake lost territory.

Ukrainian commanders have told The Washington Post that North Korean troops are also in Russias neighboring Belgorod region.

While Trump has not spelled out a plan to end the war, he has said it would have benefited Ukraine to make a deal earlier in the war as the country continues to lose soldiers, civilians and infrastructure.

Any deal - the worst deal - wouldve been better than what we have now, Trump said during a speech in North Carolina in September. If they made a bad deal it wouldve been much better. They wouldve given up a little bit and everybody would be living and every building would be built and every tower would be aging for another 2,000 years.

What deal can we make? Its demolished, he said. The people are dead. The country is in rubble.

A former U.S. official who was apprised of the call said that Trump likely does not want to enter office with a fresh crisis in Ukraine prompted by escalation by Russia, giving him incentive to want to keep the war from worsening.

Siobhan OGrady in Kyiv, Isabelle Khurshudyan in Los Angeles, Catherine Belton in London and Aaron Schaffer in Washington contributed to this report.
Asked if he regretted the incident, Karl Ronan said he had been told not to comment on it

Ronan had no comment to make when approached by Sunday World this week

This is the salesman who has pleaded guilty to assaulting Green Party leader Roderic OGorman as the politician canvassed on doorsteps in last weekend.

Karl Ronan (45), with an address in Erris Square, Waterville, in Blanchardstown, west Dublin, hid from cameras after he appeared in court on Monday charged with assaulting Mr OGorman; using or engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour; and damaging a clipboard belonging to the party leader.

However, the Sunday World caught up with the father of two close to the scene of the attack later in the week.

Asked if he regretted the incident, Ronan said he had been told not to comment on it.

Ronan had no comment to make when approached by Sunday World this week

Im not allowed say anything. Ive been told. I cant make any comment whatsoever.

This is a private estate and private street and were all private residents here. I cant make a comment to yourself or anyone else and thats the way it has to remain.

Ronan pleaded guilty to all three offences through his solicitor Tertius van Eeden when he appeared before Judge David McHugh at Blanchardstown District Court on Monday.

Judge McHugh accepted the plea and remanded the father-of-two on bail of a 100 bond to appear in court again on December 17.

Garda Joseph Rodgers, of Blanchardstown garda station, did not object to bail on condition that Ronan have no contact with Mr OGorman and make no communications about the case online or on social media.

Ronan, who was wearing grey tracksuit bottoms and a white t-shirt, sat quietly during the short hearing.

Judge McHugh said Mr OGorman should be given the opportunity to attend court in person or send a letter to the court on his behalf.

The court was told Ronan worked in sales and earns 600 a week supporting two young children and paying a 1,500 monthly mortgage. He applied for legal aid but was refused.

The charges stem from an incident on Saturday when Mr OGorman was canvassing for the upcoming election.

In a statement, Mr OGorman said: On Saturday, while out canvassing in Dublin West, what was otherwise a positive canvass was marred by an alarming incident with one individual.

"I am grateful to the Garda protection officer assigned to me who was forced to intervene, and I have given a statement to gardai on the matter.

Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman

I have been canvassing in Dublin west for more than 20 years. Its my home. Meeting people and chatting through the issues has been and always will be at the heart of my work as a public representative.

Taoiseach Simon Harris said what happened to Mr OGorman was absolutely unacceptable and cannot be tolerated or accepted in a modern democracy.

I have been all across the country in recent months and it is important to state the overwhelming majority of people are fundamentally decent, he said.

Engaging directly with people is a core and fundamental part of our democracy and something I think people in this country value. It is essential in the weeks ahead that political candidates can go about their campaigning in complete safety and without fear.

It is unclear what the motivation was for the attack on Mr OGorman.

In one violent incident, which took place in Hartstown in Dublin during the local elections, a thug told Councillor Tania Doyle Im going to destroy you before punching her in the head and beating her husband to the ground because she didnt hold anti-immigrant views.

There were a number of other violent incidents during the local elections and politicians are fearful there will be more attacks on candidates during the general election campaign,

After weeks of speculation Taoiseach Simon Harris formally sought the dissolution of the Dail this week and confirmed the General Election will take place on November 29.
I could just bump into him on the street  Hes still very disturbed and even called himself a monster

Shane Troope eyeballs our camera as he struts out of prison

A self-described monster who subjected his former partner to two years of sickening physical assaults refused to apologise to her as he was released from prison this week.

Wexford brute Shane Troope (30) walked free from Castlerea Prison on Friday morning after serving 18 months of a two-year sentence handed down for a series of shocking attacks on the mother of his children, Leanne Hogan.

As he walked out of the jail, Troope initially told our reporter: Theres nothing I want to say to you.

And when pressed on whether he wanted to apologise to Leanne, he responded: Theres two sides to the story and I never got to tell my side.

Shane Troope walks out of Castlerea prison

When it was put to him that this wasnt an apology, he repeated: Theres two sides to the story.

Leanne, who said she had been dreading the day Troope would be released from prison, told the Sunday World: I wasnt expecting an apology but Im sickened by that.

His getting out has been hanging over me for the last week.

It was horrible and now, to know if he comes back to Wexford that I could just bump into him on the street, is really worrying.

Hes still very disturbed, obviously, to come out of prison to say theres two sides to the story.

He could have told his side, if there was one, when this was all gone through in court.

Troope is approached by our reporter

But he didnt  he admitted what he did to me and even called himself a monster. What other side is there? This just shows he has no remorse for what he did, his apology in court was just empty words.

The only side to this story is that he is a woman abuser.

If he had any remorse, then he should have come out this morning and held his hands up and apologised for what hes done.

But no  yet again, hes shown his true colours. After everything he did to me, he wants to play the victim.

Leanne was left with severe brusing (below) after one of the attacks by Troope

Previously Leanne told the Sunday World how, in a series of sickening and brutal physical assaults, 30-year-old Troope:

Hit her repeatedly over the head with his mobile phone, so hard, he smashed the device and left blood streaming down her neck;

Dragged her by the hair onto a bed where he punched and kicked her to the point of unconsciousness, leaving her face and body covered in bruises;

And pressed a 10-inch kitchen knife to her stomach after invading her home, leaving her in desperate fear this was the moment I was going to die. She also told us how, after Troope was jailed, she felt lucky to be alive to tell her story.

There were times I felt like I wasnt going to make it, she said.

.

Times I feared he was going to kill me  and I had thoughts of suicide because I felt that was the only way out. But I want people who are in the same position as I was to know there is help out there and a life beyond this nightmare.

Leanne, who became involved with Troope in 2015 when she was just 18, said the threat of violence and abuse became ever present.

After we moved in together  thats when things started to change little by little, she said.

But the last two years of the relationship, thats when the violence got really bad. Hed gotten heavy into the drink and drugs, sniffing cocaine and drinking vodka.

And when he did he became, and he used these words himself, he became a monster.

Shane Troope eyeballs our camera as he struts out of prison

When he appeared for sentence before Wexford Circuit Court, Troope pleaded guilty to three of the worst assaults he perpetrated on Leanne in the final two years of their relationship.

The first occurred in December 2020. Leanne was sitting in their apartment at the rear of Toss Byrnes in Gorey when she asked Troope about a text he was sending to another woman.

He went absolutely mad. And then he started smashing the corner of the phone off my head, she recalled.

I was always afraid of Shane, walking on eggshells, but I was extra scared of him after that, of him being violent and how far he could take it.

The next assault Troope was charged with occurred when Leanne woke him at 3pm or 4pm to ask him for help with the children.

He jumped up out of the bed and basically punched the head off me, Leanne recalled

By late 2022, Troope had been asked to leave the couples apartment by their landlord.

Leanne suffered at the hands of her partner

But, after getting into the property, Troope went on a rampage, ripping out the contents of the cupboards and drawers in the kitchen.

Blaming Leanne for alerting gardai when he had tried to enter the property earlier, he picked up a 10-inch kitchen knife from the floor and held it to her stomach.

At that moment, I thought he was finally going to do it  he was going to kill me  and I said that to the gardai in my statement, Leanne recalls.

All I remember saying was: Please dont  please dont  please dont.

Leanne said: Ill be ringing the guards to let them know he has been released. I shouldnt have to live in fear that hes going to turn up outside my home.
Sandra Hehir, who was jailed in February for money laundering, settled a High Court case against her

A sister of notorious crime boss Christy Keane has handed over an apartment in Lanzarote and a house in Limerick to the Criminal Assets Bureau to sell.

Sandra Hehir, who was jailed in February for money laundering, settled a High Court case against her, signing over the Garryowen house she had bought for her son Warren.

The renovated end of terrace property at Kilmurray Court sold for 155,000 last September, while the Canary Island property was also offloaded by the Bureau.

She was caught with 124,000 cash hidden in bundles in her own home in 2020 as garda launched an operation against the Keane gangs finances.

Crime boss Christy Keane

Earlier this year Hehir got a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence at the Special Criminal Court, even though it was accepted she had no direct involvement in the gangs crimes.

It previously emerged she had bought a house for her son Warren  a convicted drug dealer  and his wife Vicky for 128,000 in August 2017.

She paid a 39,000 deposit for the house while the couple spent another 59,000 on renovations on the house at Kilmurray Court in the city.

None of the parties had the legitimate means to have been able to afford the purchases, which they had initially said came from savings.

The recent sales were part of 19 properties sold on by this year by CAB raising well over 3.6 million for the State.

The sale of drug dealer Dean Russells Coolock house in May this year for 266,000 brought an end to one of CABs longest running cases.

The biggest single sale was the Kinahan cartels No1 man in Ireland Ross Brownings complex at Garristown Co Meath, which went for 550,000 to a single bidder last April.

But probably the most impressive was the three-story Darview Heights in Co Wexford, built by Cabra drug dealer David Waldron for 1.2 million, which sold for 522,000.

He also lost a four-bed house in Leixlip where he had 13 tenants living which sold for 415,000.

Waldrons brother Christopher Git Waldrons old Cabra home sold at auction earlier this year for 284,000.

The burglary gangs which have been under intense garda pressure in recent years were also the target of the Criminal Assets Bureau.

A detached house in Belgard, Tallaght that once belonged to crime patriarch Pale Miley Connors sold for 322,000.

Another property belonging to Patrick Wall in Newbridge Co Kildare sold for 246,000 at auction after being declared the proceeds of crime from nationwide burglaries.
Gardai and emergency services were alerted to a serious traffic collision on the N72 at Spa Glen, Mallow

Gardai have appealed for witnesses after a garda was injured in a hit-and-run in Co Cork yesterday morning.

Gardai and emergency services were alerted to a serious traffic collision on the N72 at Spa Glen, Mallow shortly before 10am.

According to gardai, an unmarked garda car was struck by a passing car, resulting in injuries to the sole occupant, a male Garda in his 40s.

The injured garda was to rushed to Cork University Hospital by ambulance for treatment and has since been discharged.

A garda spokesperson said 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.

They are now 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.
The suspect is believed to have placed the body in a wardrobe before then putting it into a suitcase

An Irishman arrested over the horrific murder of a US nurse in Budapest is understood to have claimed he accidentally killed her during sex before later placing her body in a suitcase.

The 37-year-old alleged killer, who has been identified by his initials M.L.T, was captured by detectives within 24 hours of US citizen Mackenzie Michalskis disappearance.

According to police information released to local media, the suspect was arrested in a rented apartment in Terezvaros.

Its claimed he had met the 31-year-old woman in a nightclub before bringing her back to the rented property.

Police told local media it appeared the man killed Mackenzie during an intimate relationship.

They said the accused had tried to hide the traces of the murder.

Mackenzie Michalski

He allegedly cleaned his apartment and hid her body in a wardrobe while he went to get a suitcase.

Police claimed the Irishman put the young womans remains in a suitcase and then drove to Lake Balaton in a rented car.

Its further alleged he hid his victim in a wooded area on the outskirts of Szigliget, then drove back to Budapest, where he was arrested.

Police told local media he admitted in his testimony that he killed the woman but described what happened as an accident.

He said he got ideas for hiding the body from an internet search engine.

Police said after the man confessed, he showed the police where he had hidden her body.

The Irishman in police custody

The investigators also found out that after allegedly killing Mackenzie, the 37-year-old man searched the internet terms including: Do pigs really eat corpses? The appearance of wild boar in the settlements along the Lake Balaton. What does the corpse smell like after decomposes? And, removal of rotting meat smell.

Local media allege the suspect appeared to have researched the chances of being identified for the crime.

They said, in this regard, he also searched for web cameras in Budapest, as well as How does the police handle cases of missing persons? And how reliable is the police in Budapest?.

The Irish citizen was taken into custody by the police and his arrest was initiated.

Police said prior to her death, Mackenzie Michalski was seen with the man at a nightclub and officers found him after harvesting CCTV footage from the venue.

According to police, the man was a few years older than her.

The suspect in cuffs

Its alleged after meeting in one nightclub, they moved to another club where they danced before later making their way to the mans rented apartment in the district.

Mackenzie  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.

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 parted 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.

Officers and suspect in woodland

Michalskis family 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 humour, positivity, and limitless empathy to help heal her patients and encourage family and friends alike.

Mackenzies body was placed in a suitcase

Her family and friends thanked the US 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.
These podcasts capture the human-interest side of law and bring to life some of the stories, big and small, which have taken place against the backdrop of our courts system said Chief Justice Donal ODonnell.

An exciting new series of podcasts covering some of the most high profile incidents in the 100 year history of Irelands court system is set to drop this weekend.

Involving major legal, judicial, and political figures, the podcasts look at cases where somebody was prosecuted for a public kiss; where private relationships and their legal status were examined; looks at the first woman judge in Ireland; and how small cases have resulted in big changes in the law about representation.

The full set of five podcasts now available free to download at all popular podcast sites.

It is hoped that the podcast will have broad appeal not only to those in the legal community but also to members of the public.

These podcasts capture the human-interest side of law and bring to life some of the stories, big and small, which have taken place against the backdrop of our courts system said Chief Justice Donal ODonnell.

Featuring major figures and cases from the past 100 years, the podcasts celebrate the centenary of when the Courts of Justice Act was passed in 1924.

Highlights from the series see the podcast delve into the life of Irelands first judge Eileen Kennedy, whose ground-breaking appointment in 1964 marked a turning point in Ireland's legal history.

The series also examines the intriguing and controversial Julia Clark case - a story that challenges our perceptions of justice and morality in 1930s Ireland -where a young couples innocent kiss leads to an unexpected turn of events.

Niamh Howlin (Associate Professor at the UCD Sutherland School of Law) and Mary McAuliffe (historian, lecturer, and Director of Gender Studies at University College Dublin) unpack the legal intricacies and social context surrounding this remarkable case, shedding light on a different era and its enduring impact on contemporary Ireland.

Another case to feature is the David Norris casea pivotal legal battle that challenged the constitutionality of laws criminalising male homosexuality.

Join author Colm Toibin, former President Mary McAleese, and David Norris himself as they recount the struggle to overturn laws dating back to the British Empire

The podcasts are now available in full on all major platforms, so people can listen wherever they prefer, and more information will be on https://courts.ie/podcasts

The coming into force 100 years ago of the Courts of Justice Act 1924 marked a really significant milestone in the life of the new State and was, by all accounts, a remarkable achievement worthy of celebration, said Chief Justice ODonnell.

The aim, when we set out to brainstorm the topics for these podcasts, was to curate a series which would capture the human-interest side of law and bring to life some of the stories, big and small, which have taken place against the backdrop of our courts system, and in their own ways have impacted Irish society.
Groom Philip Jnr was just six years old when his dad accidentally shot himself dead with a Glock pistol

The son of notorious Limerick crime boss Philip Collopy  who died after accidentally shooting himself in the head 15 years ago  celebrated his wedding in lavish fashion on Thursday.

Sources said Philip Collopy Jnrs family booked out 40 rooms in the four star Oriel House hotel in Cork to celebrate his wedding to Killarney native Cecilia OBrien.

Images posted by the couple  who have no involvement in crime  and their family on social media show how a memorial table to Collopy Snr was set up in the reception hall with the message: Im always with you.

The groom and his sister, Courtney, also posed for pictures with a life-size image of their father set up in the reception area.

Bride Cecelia

The couples social media was flooded with messages of support and well wishes after they posted the images online.

Congratulations, wrote one family friend. Wishing ye a lifetime of happiness. You made an outstanding bride.

Groom Philip Jnr was just six years old when his dad accidentally shot himself dead with a Glock pistol in a tragic accident in St Marys Park in 2009.

The father-of-twos inquest heard he shot himself in front of a number of teenagers and neighbours.

Just before he pointed the gun at his head, he said: There is nothing in it, watch.

Seconds later a bullet fired from the weapon and lodged in the ceiling of the home of Mary Kelly-ODonoghue at St Munchins Street, St Marys Park on March 21, 2009.

Officers arrived at the scene at around 2.15am.

Bride Cecilia O'Brien and the rings

.

One teenage girl who was in the house said Mr Collopy came out of the bathroom wearing a holster with the handgun.

Philip said, there is nothing in it, watch, said the teenager in evidence.

She said when the gun went off, he fell to the floor and a male picked up the gun and ran out the back door.

She said: I remember Philip going to the toilet. He came back and he had a gun in his hand.

I said be careful with that. He said, there is nothing in it. He put up to his head. There was a lot of blood.

A Glock pistol and a magazine were later recovered from the scene.

Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster said Mr Collopy died from severe brain swelling caused by a single gunshot wound.

The jury returned a verdict in accordance with medical evidence.

Well known to gardai in Limerick, Philip Collopy Snr had told a court shortly before his death that his life was constantly under threat and said he regularly wore a bullet-proof vest for his own protection.

Philip Collopy Jnr with sister Courtney pose alongside a picture of their late father

A criminal with more than 20 convictions, he was a leading member of the Keane-Collopy criminal gang which has been involved in the ongoing feud with the McCarthy-Dundon faction.

On the night that Kieran Keane was killed in January 2003, members of the McCarthy-Dundon gang tried to lure Philip Collopy and his brother Kieran to a meeting so that they could be shot dead with Keane.

In February this year, two of Philip Collopy Snrs brothers were found not guilty of assaulting a sulky driver and causing him harm.

Vincent (44) and Jonathan Collopy (37) both have convictions for drug dealing.

Vincent Collopy could not attend Thursdays wedding as he is currently serving a six-year jail sentence with the final 18 months suspended imposed in January last year for possessing over 10,000 worth of cocaine for sale or supply at Westbury Corbally in May 2022.

The funeral of Philip Collopy Snr (pictured below)

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He was previously jailed in 2016 for five years with the final two years suspended after pleading guilty to intimidating a former criminal associate, Willie Moran, who had made a statement against two of his brothers, Damien Collopy and Kieran Collopy.

Damien and Kieran were each jailed in 2011 for eight years with the final three suspended after they pleaded guilty to threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Mr Moran, whom they had alleged had owed 5,000 cash to their deceased brother Philip.

Brothers Brian and Kieran Collopy were released from jail in 2021 after serving five years of an eight-year sentence for drug dealing in 2016 when gardai apprehended them wrapping 37,000 worth of heroin at a house in St Marys Park. The State described the property as a commercial drug factory.

Another brother, Raymond Collopy, was convicted of engaging in violence along with eight others in the car park of a fast-food premises in Limerick in 2003 at the height of a gangland feud involving rival crime families.

Brian Collopys son, Kenneth Collopy is serving life in jail for the gun murder of innocent Limerick carpenter Daniel Fitzgerald (25) in 2009.
The three males (aged 26, 21 and a juvenile) were arrested in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) on Tuesday, 5 November.

Gardai in Dublin have released three people without charge after they were arrested and detained in relation to a string of burglaries across the country earlier this week.

The three males (aged 26, 21 and a juvenile) were arrested in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) on Tuesday, November 5, as part of an ongoing investigation into organised criminal activity and burglaries in Mayo, Roscommon, Longford, Westmeath and Sligo.

They were taken to Garda stations in the Mayo/Roscommon/Longford Division, where they were detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007.

In an update today, gardai stated that all three were released without charged and said that files will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The operation involved the search of four properties in the DMR, with Northwestern Region personnel being assisted by members from the Armed Support Unit, DMR West and DMR South, along with DMR Regional support and members from Athlone.

It was part of an investigation into 29 burglaries in counties Mayo, Roscommon, Longford, Westmeath, and Sligo.

During the searches, gardai seized property believed to be the proceeds of organised criminal activity, including a Rolex watch, designer handbags and shoes, and substantial amounts of cash.

Other property recovered included mobile phones, multiple car keys, and logbooks of vehicles.
The 42-year-old was sentenced to nine months behind bars last Friday

Former Sinn Fein press officer Michael McMonagle will be held with baby killers and child rapists in a protective unit at Maghaberry Prison.

Jail sources say the 42-year-old, who was sentenced to nine months behind bars last Friday, is to be classed as an IRM21 at risk inmate, meaning he is likely to be attacked by other criminals, and is in danger of self-harming.

Because of this, after spending a settling-in period on the Bann House committal wing, he will be moved to the Quoile, Shimna or Moyola House units.

Quoile includes the Donard landing, which is specifically for at risk prisoners and has been home to Darryn Armstrong, who was jailed for a minimum of 20 years last month for the murder of two-year-old Ali-Jayden Doyle.

Maghaberry Prison

Shimna and Moyola are designed for trusted inmates and those who are either involved in high-profile cases, elderly or disabled. Liam Adams, the now deceased child rapist brother of Gerry Adams, was held in the Moyola unit.

After being taken from Derry courthouse to Maghaberry last Friday a shaken Michael McMonagle was processed through the prison reception area, which is known as the fish tank due to its glass cells.

Following a shower the paedophile was fingerprinted, photographed and his clothing was searched for drugs.

McMonagle was then brought before the duty governor and a medical professional who explained what behaviour was expected of him.

Child killer Darryn Armstrong

Insiders say the predator will spend up to a week on the Bann wing before being moved to a vulnerable unit.

The first week will be the hardest for him as hell be on the Bann committal wing with other new inmates and they will all know who he is, said a source.

Prisoners with high-profiles like McMonagle, especially sex offenders, tend to just sit in their cells until they are moved off committal to avoid any confrontation. He will be surrounded by hoods and drug dealers who would love to have a go at him.

McMonagle pleaded guilty to 14 child sex offences including attempting to incite children to engage in sexual activity.

For 15 months between May 2020 and August 2021, while working as a senior Sinn Fein press officer, he used messaging sites to engage with what he believed were children, but were in fact decoy PSNI officers.

After his arrest in August 2021 he was suspended by Sinn Fein.

Child rapist Liam Adams

However, the following year two colleagues wrote him references to secure a job at the British Heart Foundation charity despite the party knowing he was being investigated as a suspected paedophile.

Last Monday, while he was on bail awaiting sentencing, the New IRA threw a pipebomb at a house on Limewood Street in Derry where McMonagle lives.

However, the dissidents attacked the wrong property and ended up terrifying a popular local elderly couple.

In court last Friday it was revealed McMonagle attempted to take his own life twice ahead of sentencing.
"If I had a different surname, things would have been different

The son of drug gang boss and Kinahan Cartel partner Ridouan Taghi has told a judge he feels like he is being buried alive in his maximum-security prison cell.

Faissal Taghi made his first public hearing in the secure courtroom at Schiphol on Friday.

Suspected of participating in a criminal organisation, Taghis eldest son is also accused of international drug smuggling and laundering drug money.

Faissal, who was extradited to the Netherlands last summer, just turned 24 a week ago.

He was flown into Rotterdam on a heavily guarded private jet on July 26, having been arrested a year earlier in front of a shopping centre in Dubai.

On Friday afternoon, he appeared in public for the first time, dressed in a white shirt, sand-coloured pants and white sneakers.

Faissal Taghi's father, drug gang boss and Kinahan Cartel partner Ridouan Taghi

According to a report on the news site, AD.nl, he was supported by his family in the public gallery, as the public prosecutor insisted that son Faissal is considered his father's successor both inside and outside the criminal organisation.

Prosecutors claim he belonged to the criminal group that had planned to help his father escape from the high-security Extra Secure Institution (EBI) prison in Vught.

The elder Taghi had who had managed to smuggle messages out of the prison through his lawyer and cousin Youssef Taghi, was preparing for a violent escape.

According to the plot, this would happen with the help of 'navy seals' or by kidnapping four EBI employees who could be used as bargaining chips

The list of allegations against Taghi junior, nicknamed 'Genie', includes a series of drug shipments, totalling more than 1,000 kilos of cocaine.

He has also been linked to the transportation of 224 kilos of cocaine to Valencia, that were hidden in the fuselage of a dismantled helicopter.

Another 400 blocks of coke are said to have arrived in the same Spanish port city, while a shipment of approximately 350 kilos went via the French Le Havre. Antwerp and Rotterdam were also considered destinations.

According to AD.nl, evidence in the case consists largely of hacked messages from four different Sky phones, which have been traced to Faissal Taghi.

These chats give the impression that he is the man who manages the Taghi family's assets, even more than the violence and drug trafficking, the news site reports

According to the prosecutors, it is certain that it was Faissal who was hiding behind those nicknames, the report adds.

The content of the conversations shows a large number of personal references to birthdays, the mention of 'dad' when it seems to be about Ridouan Taghi, and images in which Faissal Taghi himself can be seen."

Investigators suspect that drug money was invested in hairdressing salons and real estate projects in Dubai as well as a Bentley Bentayga that was given to another brother as a birthday present.

He is also linked to money transfers that were brought from Italy to the Netherlands totalling more than five million euros.

Faissal, who addressed the court, slammed the conditions in which he is being detained in the EBI in Vught.

While he was initially isolated, he is now in cell with two others where he is behind the door for 22 hours.

It feels like being buried alive, he told the court. I have to shower behind glass, and under supervision."

He said that he suddenly went from living his life in Dubai to complete isolation in the Extra Secure Institution.

"If I had a different surname, things would have been different, he insisted.

The full hearing of the case is expected to begin in mid-2025.

Gang boss Ridouan Taghi once headed up one of Europes biggest drug gangs and has been responsible for a wave of murders in the Netherlands.

He was arrested in Dubai at the end of 2019 and put on a plane to the Netherlands shortly after.

In February, a judge imposed a life sentence on the crime boss in the Marengo murder trial.

Taghi and accomplices had been charged over six assassinations, four attempted killings, and plans to murder several others.

Taghi was described as the undisputed leader" of a murder organisation.

Taghi is regarded as the head of a Dutch-Moroccan drug gang, known as the Mocro Maffia, who controlled a large section of Europes cocaine trade.

He is a close associate of Daniel Kinahan and they are believed to have worked together to source cocaine shipments from South America.

Earlier this month it was reported that Taghi was believed to be one of eight EBI prisoners taking part in a hunger strike over inhumane detention conditions in the high-security unit.
Apart from the support he enjoys within the north inner city, he is also likely to mop up some of the votes that Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald is expected to lose, along with other anti-establishment votes.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has reacted to the news that Gerry Hutch plans to run for election in her constituency.

Hutch last night confirmed he will contest this months General Election, after exclusively telling the Sunday World he is the peoples choice.

The Monk is due to fly into Dublin on Monday from his home in Lanzarote and will lodge his electoral papers to put himself forward to run in the Dublin Central constituency.

I am running, he confirmed last night. I will be a candidate in Dublin Central and I will be the peoples choice. They have asked me to run, so I am running.

Hutch has just been released on 100,000 bail from a Lanzarote prison after being arrested as part of a money-laundering investigation. The veteran criminal remains under investigation there, while the Hutch Organised Crime Gang (OCG) is a target of a number of different garda units here.

However The Monk, seen as the patriarch of the Hutch OCG, has had no convictions for crime since the 1980s and was acquitted of the Regency Hotel murder of David Byrne by the Special Criminal Court last year.

Now, he is planning to run a social media campaign due to ongoing concerns over his security and is expected to issue regular video and poster updates on his run for the Dail.

Gerry Hutch

Hutch has been planning his Dail run for months and has assembled a secretive campaign team who have identified prospective voters.

Apart from the support he enjoys within the north inner city, he is also likely to mop up some of the votes that Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald is expected to lose, along with other anti-establishment votes.

The other high-profile politicians standing in the area include Fine Gaels Paschal Donohoe, Gary Gannon of the Social Democrats and the Green Partys Neasa Hourigan.

At a Save Moore Street campaign event in Dublin on Sunday, Ms McDonald was asked whether she was worried about Hutch running in her constituency.

"Look, anybody can run in the election, that is their prerogative, thats a matter for himself," Ms McDonald said.

Im running with my running mate, Councillor Janice Boylan. This election is about changing the government and well be inviting people to vote for Sinn Fein to change the Government, thats where my head and my focus is at.
The actor and writer recently bumped into a man who had found a giant framed photo of her husband.

Amy Huberman shared a hilarious story about a rugby fans unusual gift to her in an Instagram post this weekend.

The actor and writer recently bumped into a man who had found a giant framed photo of her husband, former Irish rugby captain Brian ODriscoll, while cleaning out a house.

The black and white photo shows the Dubliner as a youngster in a large oval frame, which Amy posed beside as she told the story to her social media followers.

She explained that she had been busy running errands in central Dublin when the man approached her and was later forced to carry the frame home to the couples house in Rathmines, as she had left the car at home that day.

A lovely man stopped me the other day and got out of his car and said he was clearing out a house and he was hoping he might bump into me and would I like this? the mum-of-three explained.

And I couldnt say Gosh no thanks (jk jk) so I said Gosh yes thank you and we said goodbye and I was far enough away from my house so I walked around and did some errands and went to the post office and then walked home just me and my giant framed photo of my husband. It was just so lovely and so Irish, nil me abalta cope-age in aon chor.

A cute pic of your other half in your wallet I hear you say? Tsk! That aint nothin. Gonna carry this everywhere, she added.

Amys followers found the story hilarious, with one person declaring it the most Irish thing that has ever happened.

Thats brilliant. Id have been tempted to say I have no idea who that is and walk off, someone else joked.

Another person suggested the couple hang it next to the photo of the Pope in the powder room, while a fourth added: Quality story. Big Irish head on him from that angled picture as well, to top it all off.
We told stories, Suzy read some beautiful poetry. It was just a really, really lovely time with all of us together

THE youngest daughter of Kathleen Watkins and Gay Byrne spoke yesterday about the loss of her mum and told how the family had four wonderful days with her at the end.

Crona Byrne, who lives in Naas, Co. Kildare, with her husband Phil Carney and their two children, Kate (18) and Harry (15), told the Sunday World that she was marking her father Gays fifth anniversary on Monday when she got a call to say her mum was slipping away.

I cant believe the timing, Crona said. It was Dads anniversary on Mondayand on Monday I had gone with my husband Phil and the children to put flowers on Dads grave, and when we went for lunch we got the call that Mum wasnt well.

The family, including Kathleens daughter, Suzy, with husband Ronan and children, Cian (20), Sadbh (18) and Saoirse (16), were with their beloved 90-year-old to the end.

Crona says: We had a wonderful four days with her, three nights round the clockwe told stories, Suzy read some beautiful poetry. It was just a really, really lovely time with all of us together.

Gay Byrne with wife Kathleen and two daughters, Suzy (left) and Crona

She wasnt conscious, but she did react to several things we were sayingshe could hear, but there wasnt conversation.

Crona describes Kathleen, who was known as Nana Kit to her grandchildren, as an absolute lady, and a lady who reached out and touched so many peoples heartsand so generous to everybody and so kind and warm. She did a lot of things for others that people will never know about.

She just was an incredible person and we are so lucky and honoured to have been part of her life and the same with Dad. To be able to call them Mum and Dad, what a privilege.

Mum and Dads relationship was absolutely incredible and its something that we all aim for in life. It was a mutual partnership with mutual respect and a mutual love for each other, and the whole thing worked together so beautifully.

Mum ruled the roost in the home, of course. Dad would joke, I better speak to herself, the red headno hair just a red head.

While she was a rock of support for Gay in his radio and TV career, Crona said her mother had a phenomenal career of her own right  even hosting the Rose of Tralee in the 1970s.

Mum was one of the first voices of RTE, but prior to that she was the harpist with Irish Distillers and toured all over the world, Crona said.

She had a radio show, Overseas Requests, she had (TV programme) Faces & Places and she did voiceovers. And she was heavily, heavily involved in the arts in Ireland. She was on the Arts Council for many years.

The funeral of Kathleen Watkins will take place on Tuesday at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Dublins Donnybrook.
She questioned how cruel people could be, adding: For the third time, someone has burnt my family farms two hen houses in a month

Kate's family hen house was burnt in the early hours of Sunday morning

Kate Grant has been left upset and distressed over the incident

Kate Grant took to social media to appeal for support

Northern Irelands first model with Downs syndrome has expressed despair at her familys hen houses being set on fire in Co Tyrone.

Kate Grant took to Facebook to post an image of herself looking visibly distressed, alongside a photograph of the burnt chicken sheds.

She questioned how cruel people could be, adding: For the third time, someone has burnt my family farms two hen houses in a month.

Im so so upset. Thank goodness the hens were gone. I cant cope with this.

Please SHARE and hopefully catch these horrible people.

A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) said that the cause of the fire is believed to be deliberate ignition, but remains under investigation.

Kate Grant has been left upset and distressed over the incident

They added that fire fighters were called to the scene at 2.43am in the early hours of Sunday (November 10).

Flame were extinguished and operations were finished at 5.15am.

Three fire appliances were in attendance from Rathfriland and Newcastle, they added.

The Belfast Telegraph has also contacted the PSNI for details.

Kate's family hen house was burnt in the early hours of Sunday morning

Kate Grant is well known throughout Northern Ireland for her services to the modelling and disability community.

Her life changed dramatically in 2017, when her mum Deirdre posted an appeal on Facebook for someone to help her fashion-loving 19-year-old daughter realise her dream of becoming a model.

She featured on BBC1 programme Role Models, in which the documentary followed her as she pursued her dream and took her first steps on the catwalk.

Deirdre and Kate Grant

Kate was then asked to represent Northern Ireland in the Ultimate Beauty of the World beauty pageant, which she won aged 19, accelerating her fashion career.

The young woman became the first model with Down syndrome to take part in Belfast Fashion Week and be signed by the ACA Models agency.

In 2019, she was recognised for her achievements in the Queen's Birthday Honours list, and was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for "services to the community in Cookstown.
Hundreds more superannuants are using Tauranga Community Foodbank and more people are seeking long-term food support in a worrying trend linked to horrendous housing costs.

Foodbank general manager Nicki Goodwin said the service had supported 24,434 people over the past year, up about 9.5% on the year before. They came from 7862 households and included more than 12,000 children.

In the 12 months ending October last year, the foodbank assisted 360 households reliant on NZ Super as income. This increased by 73% in the next 12 months to 623 households including 882 people.

Goodwin said demand had not dropped after the big spike a few years ago, and more people needed regular grocery support from the foodbank to get through a financial change of circumstances.

The fact that theres longer-term support needed is concerning and worrying, Goodwin said.

It comes as the Bay of Plenty Times launches its annual six-week annual Christmas Appeal for the Tauranga Community Foodbank today.

Supported by The Hits Bay of Plenty 95.0FM, the appeal aims to replenish the foodbank shelves, offer Christmas treats for people who may otherwise have nothing and give the foodbank a boost coming into the new year.

Last years appeal saw $251,663 in donations  $168,651 in cash and 33,205 food items valued at $2.50 each, totalling $83,012.

This year the foodbank, which covers the area from Pahoia to Papamoa East, valued donated food items at $3 each, to account for higher costs.

Goodwin said that history had shown when things were tough for some, others that could give would do so, and that was what she was hoping for in 2024.

Christmas is a focus for people, and its good were running an appeal because it helps people to stop and think about others.

The foodbanks monthly grocery costs were $20,000, up 18% from the year prior.

She said a $50 donation could provide groceries for a family of four for four days.

Her goal is to replicate or surpass last years appeal value at a time when theres been some real hardship created through the cost of housing.

According to Stats NZ, the cost of living for average and beneficiary households increased by 3.8% in the 12 months to September.

Rent increased 4.8%. For beneficiary households, rent made up 29% of expenditure, compared with 13% for the average household.

The Christmas appeal supports the community via the Tauranga Community Foodbank with donations of food and money used to source healthy nutritious food, making dollars stretch further than what some get from supermarkets. Photo / Alex Cairns

Goodwin said continued rising need for the foodbank came down to people not having enough money after paying for housing.

It is truly completely horrendous, were seeing people whose income barely covers just the housing, never mind anything else.

So, they may be left with $30. How on earth do you clothe yourself, feed yourself, pay for your power, and run a vehicle on $30? You cant, and I dont understand how people are coping emotionally because how do you see a future? Goodwin said.

Weve got people who are really struggling which means we will be there to support them for as long as it is needed.

Those in the community needing regular long-term support were referred via Bay Financial Mentors, the foodbanks biggest referral source.

Bay Financial Mentors manager Shirley McCombe said they supported individuals and whanau across the Tauranga region, from Katikati to Otamarakau.

Our aim is to provide clients with the education and support needed to build their financial capability, and our numbers have continued to climb.

In the last 12 months we delivered almost 5200 sessions, McCombe said.

The foodbank saw a 37% increase from 2023 to 2024 in support provided to people connected with a budget mentoring service.

Tauranga Crossing is working with the foodbank to back this years appeal. Donations can be dropped off on level 1 of the shopping centre in Tauriko, as well as at NZME Bay of Plentys offices on Cameron Rd, Tauranga libraries, and the foodbank depot on Brook St in Tauranga South.

Editor Kim Gillespie said the Bay of Plenty Times was proud to bring the appeal back for another year, supporting the important work of the foodbank.

We know times are tough but people still manage to give, and we and the foodbank really appreciate that.

Tauranga Mayor Mahe Drysdale said the economic environment was challenging and some families were doing it tough.

The lead-up to Christmas can be a particularly challenging time for many, so Im fully supportive of the annual Christmas foodbank appeal.

In the spirit of Christmas, lets come together as a community and help give those in need a hand up, Drysdale said.

Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell encouraged everyone who could to support the local foodbank, as the holidays approached.

Ive seen first-hand the incredible impact it has on families in our community. Christmas is a time for giving and unity and every donation helps ensure no one is left behind.

My heartfelt thanks go to everyone involved in organising and distributing these essential goods - your dedication truly brings hope and comfort to those who need it most, Uffindell said.

Financial donations received throughout the six-week appeal are put towards healthy staple food and the foodbank team purchases perishable items like eggs and vegetables.

It goes a long way, we can make a dollar stretch a lot further than someone can at the supermarket, and were so grateful for that, Goodwin said.

Were grateful for anything. Everything is used and makes a difference. Dont think you cant give enough, a little goes a long way and every little bit adds up.

Kaitlyn Morrell is a multimedia journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has lived in the region for several years and studied journalism at Massey University.
We need to diversify what we build and create here in Aotearoa New Zealand to grow our economy, former Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said.

The Labour leader visited UBCO Bikes in Mount Maunganui to explore the electric bike company, which supplies customers worldwide.

Experiences like this help us understand how to make that happen. How do you open up new opportunities? Those questions are crucial, Hipkins said.



Labour's education spokeswoman, MP Jan Tinetti, and former Prime Minister Chris Hipkins. Photo / Tom Eley

Hipkins and Labours education spokeswoman, MP Jan Tinetti, were on a fast-paced tour of Tauranga and Mount Maunganui, visiting various start-ups.

It is just a great opportunity to talk innovation and see that people have no idea about amazing businesses like this that exist in New Zealand, Hipkins said.

It is a great chance to come and see what theyre doing. You know, talk about the barriers that they face.

The modesty of Kiwi businesses surprised Hipkins on the tour, and he said start-ups such as UBCO often go unnoticed.

Theres a lot more innovation in New Zealand than we necessarily appreciate.

UBCO Bikes, founded in a farm shed by Daryl Neal and Anthony Clyde in 2014, initially targeted the consumer market, according to CEO Oliver Hutaff.

They took the iconic New Zealand farm bike and figured they could build a better mousetrap, he said.

The first bike ever built and put into consumers hands is still working at about 70% capacity.



Some of the electric bikes at UBCO Bikes. Photo / Tom Eley

UBCO has since pivoted to the commercial and fleet market as the bikes were over-engineered for recreational retail.

Given the utility nature of the bike, everything like that, trying to put it into recreational retail, it just was sort of a square peg in a round hole, Hutaff said.

Two weeks after he came on board as CEO of the company, the start-up landed its first tender with Australia Post two years ago.

Right now, we have put 175 bikes in with Australia Post, which is sort of just a trial for them.

Australia Post has to replace its fleet of 5000 bikes after Honda pulled out of making its bikes, according to Hutaff.

They [Australia Post] have to replace their entire fleet of bikes over three years. And so thats a really good opportunity for us.

Along with Australia Post, UBCO works closely with the National Park Service in the United States and has donated 100 bikes across North America.

Right now, were in about 10 or 15 different parks, primarily up and down California, for the western part of the United States, Hutaff said.

And so we did the first trial of 20 to 25 bikes out of the 100 were giving them. Now were getting ready to roll after the remaining 75-bike donation.



The team at UBCO Bikes. Photo / Tom Eley

The New Zealand team designs all the bikes before a Taiwanese company, TPK, manufactures them. The bikes are then shipped back to Aotearoa, where they receive their final touches.

Hutaff spent 30 years in Silicon Valley before moving to New Zealand to take over the UBCO project.

Ive worked with some really impressive teams in my career, he said.

This team is probably the most dedicated, most creative that Ive worked with, and they are also some of the nicest and easiest people to meet with I have ever seen.



UBCO bikes design director in engineering Danny Neill. Photo / Tom Eley

UBCO bikes are about something other than trying to reinvent electric bicycles, but how to take inspiration from their competitors and make improvements, design director in engineering Danny Neill said.

You want to scratch beneath the surface to see what theyre not doing, he said.

And making sure that were producing a good product.

- SunLive
Mike Sherman claims he has suffered abuse, neglect and inadequate care while living in housing for people with disabilities.

Now the 31-year-old, who has severe cerebral palsy and needs 24-hour support, is sharing his experience with healthcare students in the hopes of improving the treatment of intellectually disabled people.

In the presentation, Sherman said he had suffered abuse since first moving into supported living in his mid-20s.

People have hit me, have withheld food or drink from me  sometimes over long periods of time.

The Northland man was born prematurely and suffered a cardiac arrest at 2 days old that caused a catastrophic brain bleed.

At 18 months he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and uses an electric wheelchair, communicating through yes and no acknowledgments and very short sentences.

The hardest thing is not being able to do anything for myself, Sherman said.

I cant do a thing and I have to trust the people around me to take care of me.

In a statement, he said over the years some staff were unkind.

They met basic needs, but nothing beyond that. I experienced emotional abuse  people didnt take me seriously or treat me like a human being.

It felt like I was just a job to the support workers rather than a human being deserving of care.

Sherman claimed some support staff openly admitted they did not like him and saw him as demanding.

I was physically abused. I was hit, and at times, my medications were missed.

Celeste Sherman said she heard her son being smacked by a carer when collecting him one day for a family event.

I saw the movement of her hand ... I definitely heard the slap. It was one of those instances where you think Did I really see or hear that?

She asked Sherman if the carer had smacked him and he said yes, and told her it had happened before.

Celeste called a meeting with management of the NZ Care home in Hamilton to express concern but said it did not seem they were believed.

An NZ Care spokesperson responded to the hitting allegation.

We are extremely concerned about the 2018 incident of abuse Michael Sherman reported experiencing while living in a home supported by NZ Care, which he has recently raised.

We apologise for any distress this has caused Michael and his family.

We have zero tolerance of neglect and abuse of any kind, and we are taking Michaels report very seriously.

The spokesperson said as a provider of disability support services, NZ Care had systems in place to give disabled people and their whanau opportunities to safely raise concerns of any nature with them.

A thorough review of all Michaels records shows the NZ Care team worked closely and collaboratively with Michael and his family throughout the four years that he lived in the Hamilton-based home.

According to our records, Michaels decision to leave the service in June 2019 was unrelated to the reported incident.

Celeste said they moved her son because of their concerns and now he lives at Kowhai House, a private home in Hamilton set up by the parent of another disabled person.

Sherman gives presentations about his life and what it is like to be disabled to healthcare students.

So far he has presented to NZMA health and wellbeing students, first-year Wintec occupational therapy students, representatives from Enabling Good Lives (a type of disability support funding), and Idea Services staff in Paeroa.

Overall, I have had really positive responses, especially amongst the students, Sherman said.

The main thing I get told is that the students are touched hearing a personal story from my perspective versus hearing all about care in a textbook."

A young man stood up and apologised on behalf of the people who have harmed me, thanked me for educating them and said that he can promise that he and his classmates will make sure nothing like that will ever happen again.

Sherman said the presentation, which includes slides, was read out by his support worker and Kowhai House manager Melissa Hunt.

I am working with an [occupational therapy] student to do a voice over, that can be played instead of reading the presentation out. That way, people may connect me more to the information, rather than it being a support worker talking.

Sherman hopes to keep telling his story but said with his van currently broken, he was reliant on Driving Miss Daisy for transport.

Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston said the Government wanted the best for disabled people, their families and their carers.

Any experiences of abuse and neglect are concerning.

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The levies that banks, building societies, credit unions, and finance companies pay to the new Depositor Compensation Scheme (DCS) fund will reflect their size and riskiness, Finance Minister Nicola Willis said.

The levy will be based on total deposits covered by the scheme, so the four largest banks will pay about three-quarters of the total, Willis said.

Under the scheme, deposits up to $100,000 per depositor will be protected in the event of a deposit takers failing.

The Government has decided on a risk-based approach to levy funding, which reflects the likelihood of a DCS payout occurring, the impact of the levy on entity soundness and the predictability of levy payments, Willis said.

The levy will generally be risk-based; credit unions and building societies will pay a temporary flat levy until the new prudential regime is fully in force in 2028.

This reflects careful consideration of the impact of the levy on entity soundness during a period of significant regulatory change for this sector, Willis said.

The levies collected from deposit takers will be used to build up the DCS fund to make money available if compensation is needed. The Reserve Bank will collect the levies and administer the fund.

Although the DCS legislation does not prescribe competition as one of the matters that may be considered in setting the levy, the Government expects the DCS to improve competition overall, Willis said.

The DCS will cover retail deposits, current and savings accounts, and term deposits. Deposit takers websites will list these products.

New Zealanders are more likely to be willing to switch deposit takers if they know their deposit is protected in the event of a deposit taker failing.

Willis said she will monitor the DCSs impact on competition and, if necessary, support a review of the relevant legislation.

- SunLive
Voting opens at 9am today for Zespri Kiwifruit growers, who are being asked to support the expansion of Zespris Global Supply (ZGS) business via a Producer Vote.

New Zealand kiwifruit growers are being asked to support the allocation of up to 420 additional hectares of SunGold kiwifruit annually for six years across Italy, France, Japan, South Korea, and Greece.

The Zespri Board will review this plan annually to verify that demand exceeds supply, and growers will receive annual reports.

Zespri released the Five-Year Outlook document confirming that demand for kiwifruit remains strong, although competition intensifies, Zespri CEO Jason Te Brake said.

Strong demand continues to support New Zealand grower returns and has driven the increased expansion of SunGold licence available to New Zealand growers in 2025 and beyond.

Zespri needs to fill more of the supply-demand gap in the non-New Zealand season to provide a 12-month supply to customers and consumers, he said.

Planting more SunGold hectares in the northern hemisphere is a crucial part of our plans to deliver this and to maintain our position in the category.

In the last few months, Te Break has spent a lot of time on the ground with our customers, and its very clear that the world wants more of our kiwifruit.

But if they cant buy from us, theyll look elsewhere.

The lack of competing globally could put our premium and, ultimately, New Zealand grower returns at risk over time, he said.

Theres been a huge amount of engagement with the industry on the issue and the proposal, which reflects grower views. There is strong support, and were encouraging growers to vote to ensure they have their say.

- SunLive
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re: What exactly is Hyundai's EV strategy for India? Quote: electric_eel Originally Posted by I have never really understood the strategy of Hyundai (and by extension Kia) towards EV for the Indian Market. As a car maker they should have been in the pole position for:



3. They had the first mover advantage when they brought Kona to India.



4. They have a great global portfolio when it comes to EVs. This means they can leverage their supply chain network and gain serious advantage in India Quote: GoBabyGo Originally Posted by Hi, a very good & genuine question. In my view it all depends on the production capacity in case of Hyundai & Kia. I think Kia is at 100% of their production capacity vs sales and Hyundai must be around 98% to 99% including export.



I may be wrong, but there is a need of assembly line dedicated to EV to have EV line up which would require investment. With the current sales number of EV in India, I am not sure it will be easy & viable for Hyundai & Kia to increase their production capacity with significant investment on EV.



The entire issue is with infrastructure. No.one in India has the capability and ecosystem to develop EV infrastructure except the government or private players like TATAs, Ambanis or Adanis. They are the exclusive companies who are into power generation and distribution in private sector. Either Hyundai, Mahindra or Maruti should have tied up with either of the power gen companies to start their first steps towards EV adoption but were reluctant. Due credit to Tata Motors, who took the first step and collaborating within their group companies like Tata Power, Tata Elxis and other Tata companies that lead to the EV revolution in India and others like Hyundai were mere spectators who sat on the wall and were just watching the developments.



Everyone should understand that Indian market is still not ready today for exclusive EV only cars and hence Hyundai and KIA too is adopting Tata Motors strategy of Gen 2 EVs that are derived or jointly made for ICE platforms.



Maruti Suzuki is expected to export most of their EVs to UK/European market and hence aggressive on Gen 3 platform for e Vitara. If Mahindra doesn't push exports of it's new launches XEV e9 and BE e6, then it will be tough to make profits. That is a very valid question. But the whole point is that the EV plunge was not in their hands or plates for Hyundai/Kia nor Mahindra or Maruti.The entire issue is with infrastructure. No.one in India has the capability and ecosystem to develop EV infrastructure except the government or private players like TATAs, Ambanis or Adanis. They are the exclusive companies who are into power generation and distribution in private sector. Either Hyundai, Mahindra or Maruti should have tied up with either of the power gen companies to start their first steps towards EV adoption but were reluctant. Due credit to Tata Motors, who took the first step and collaborating within their group companies like Tata Power, Tata Elxis and other Tata companies that lead to the EV revolution in India and others like Hyundai were mere spectators who sat on the wall and were just watching the developments.Everyone should understand that Indian market is still not ready today for exclusive EV only cars and hence Hyundai and KIA too is adopting Tata Motors strategy of Gen 2 EVs that are derived or jointly made for ICE platforms.Maruti Suzuki is expected to export most of their EVs to UK/European market and hence aggressive on Gen 3 platform for e Vitara. If Mahindra doesn't push exports of it's new launches XEV e9 and BE e6, then it will be tough to make profits.
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Audi launches a new EV brand "AUDI" in China in partnership with SAIC; Unveils estate concept



The new "AUDI" brand is said to offer products aimed towards younger and much tech-oriented Chinese EV buyers. Alongside the launch of the new brand, the company also revealed its first concept vehicle, the AUDI E - an electric estate.







As per reports, the Audi-SAIC joint venture will make use of Audi's reputation for design & engineering while pairing it with SAIC's speed-to-market capabilities & local expertise. The first AUDI model is said to have been developed in just 18 months - half the time taken for a traditional Audi model.







Gernot Dollner, CEO, Audi, stated that their partnership with SAIC provides a foundation for a "new generation of advanced, intelligent vehicles, which will be exclusive to China." He further added, "The joint platform allows us to address a promising yet demanding segment with state-of-the-art connected vehicles."



The new AUDI E doesn't feature the iconic four-ring emblem. The estate concept measures 4,870 mm in length, 1,990 mm in width and 1,460 mm in height. It has a wheelbase of 2,950 mm ensuring plenty of interior cabin space. Other features include four-wheel steering, air suspension, a single free-standing curved touchscreen and individual seating for all four passengers; among others.







The AUDI E estate gets an 800V architecture with dual electric motors producing a combined power output of 754 BHP and 800 Nm. The electric motors are paired with a large 100 kWh battery pack, offering up to 435 miles (700 km) on a single charge (CLTC cycle). It has fast charging capabilities, allowing up to 300 km in just 10 minutes.



Source:



Link to Team-BHP news German luxury carmaker, Audi, has launched a new brand for EVs in the Chinese market. The new brand, simply called "AUDI", is said to be a joint-venture operation with the brand's long-term partner SAIC.The new "AUDI" brand is said to offer products aimed towards younger and much tech-oriented Chinese EV buyers. Alongside the launch of the new brand, the company also revealed its first concept vehicle, the AUDI E - an electric estate.As per reports, the Audi-SAIC joint venture will make use of Audi's reputation for design & engineering while pairing it with SAIC's speed-to-market capabilities & local expertise. The first AUDI model is said to have been developed in just 18 months - half the time taken for a traditional Audi model.Gernot Dollner, CEO, Audi, stated that their partnership with SAIC provides a foundation for a "new generation of advanced, intelligent vehicles, which will be exclusive to China." He further added, "The joint platform allows us to address a promising yet demanding segment with state-of-the-art connected vehicles."The new AUDI E doesn't feature the iconic four-ring emblem. The estate concept measures 4,870 mm in length, 1,990 mm in width and 1,460 mm in height. It has a wheelbase of 2,950 mm ensuring plenty of interior cabin space. Other features include four-wheel steering, air suspension, a single free-standing curved touchscreen and individual seating for all four passengers; among others.The AUDI E estate gets an 800V architecture with dual electric motors producing a combined power output of 754 BHP and 800 Nm. The electric motors are paired with a large 100 kWh battery pack, offering up to 435 miles (700 km) on a single charge (CLTC cycle). It has fast charging capabilities, allowing up to 300 km in just 10 minutes.Source: Autocar Last edited by RahulNagaraj : 9th November 2024 at 16:22 .
US hopes river pact with Mexico will reduce water scarcity



Mexico City, Nov 9 (AFP) Nov 09, 2024



The United States and Mexico said Saturday that they have signed an agreement aimed at preventing water shortages in parched southern US states with more reliable Mexican deliveries of river water.

The accord -- the result of more than 18 months of negotiations -- comes amid growing water scarcity on both sides of the Rio Grande river, which forms part of the shared border, the countries' boundary and water commission said.

The United States is consulting with Mexico about securing water deliveries as soon as possible during the current rainy season, the statement said.

"The last 30 years of managing over-stretched water resources in the Rio Grande basin have produced broad agreement that the status quo was not acceptable," said Maria-Elena Giner, US representative to the boundary and water commission.

Under a treaty dating back to 1944, Mexico supplies water to the United States from the Rio Grande in five-year cycles.

In return, the United States delivers water from the Colorado River.

The new agreement provides Mexico with "tools and flexibility" to provide water earlier in a five-year cycle to reduce or prevent shortfalls, the statement said.

The decades-old treaty has been the focus of diplomatic frictions in the past over delivery delays, as well as protests by Mexican farmers worried about the impact of drought on their crops.
CORRECTED: 2024 'virtually certain' to be hottest year on record: EU monitor



Paris, Nov 10 (AFP) Nov 10, 2024



This year is "virtually certain" to be the hottest in recorded history with warming above 1.5C, EU climate monitor Copernicus said Thursday, days before nations are due to gather for crunch UN climate talks.

The European agency said the world was passing a "new milestone" of temperature records that should be a call to accelerate action to cut planet-heating emissions at the UN negotiations in Azerbaijan next week.

Last month, marked by deadly flooding in Spain and Hurricane Milton in the United States, was the second hottest October on record, with average global temperatures second only to the same period in 2023.

"Humanity's torching the planet and paying the price," said United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a speech on Thursday, listing a string of calamitous floods, fires, heatwaves and hurricanes across the world this year so far.

"Behind each of these headlines is human tragedy, economic and ecological destruction, and political failure."

Copernicus said 2024 would likely be more than 1.55 degrees Celsius (2.8 degrees Fahrenheit) above the 1850-1900 average -- the period before the industrial-scale burning of fossil fuels.

This does not amount to a breach of the Paris deal, which strives to limit global warming to below 2C and preferably 1.5C, because that is measured over decades and not individual years.

"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," said Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) Deputy Director Samantha Burgess.

"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."



- Wild weather -



The UN climate negotiations in Azerbaijan, taking place in the wake of the United States election victory by Donald Trump, will set the stage for a new round of crucial carbon-cutting targets.

Trump, who has repeatedly called climate change a "hoax", pulled the United States out of the Paris Agreement during his first presidency. While President Joe Biden took the United States back in, Trump has threatened to withdraw again.

Meanwhile, average global temperatures have reached new peaks, as have concentrations of planet-heating gases in the atmosphere.

Scientists say the safer 1.5C limit is rapidly slipping out of reach, while stressing that every tenth of a degree in temperature rises heralds progressively more damaging impacts.

Last month the UN said the current course of action would result in a catastrophic 3.1C of warming this century, while all existing climate pledges taken in full would still amount to a devastating 2.6C temperature rise.

And in a report on Thursday, the UN warned that the amount of money going to poorer countries for adaptation measures was barely one-tenth of what they needed to spend on disaster preparedness.

In a month of weather extremes, October saw above-average rainfall across swathes of Europe, as well as parts of China, the United States, Brazil and Australia, Copernicus said.

The United States is also experiencing ongoing drought, which affected record numbers of people, the EU monitor added.

Global warming is not just about rising temperatures, but the knock-on effect of all the extra heat in the atmosphere and seas.

Warmer air can hold more water vapour, and warmer oceans mean greater evaporation, resulting in more intense downpours and storms.

Copernicus said average sea surface temperatures in the area it monitors were the second highest on record for the month of October.

C3S uses billions of measurements from satellites, ships, aircraft and weather stations to aid its calculations.

Copernicus records go back to 1940.

But other sources of climate data such as ice cores, tree rings and coral skeletons allow scientists to expand their conclusions using evidence from much further in the past.

Climate scientists say the period being lived through right now is likely the warmest the Earth has been for the last 100,000 years.
Two strong quakes jolt Cuba



Havana, Nov 10 (AFP) Nov 10, 2024



Two powerful earthquakes rocked southern Cuba in quick succession on Sunday, US geologists said, sending Cubans running into the streets as authorities said no tsunami alert was issued and no deaths immediately reported.

The US Geological Survey put the second, more powerful tremor at a magnitude of 6.8 and 14.6 miles (23.5 kilometers) deep, some 25 miles off the coast of Bartolome Maso, in southern Granma province.

It came just an hour after a first tremor, which the USGS put at a magnitude of 5.9, with the epicenter some nine miles beneath the ocean roughly 22 miles off the municipality of Bartolome Maso.

The state-run newspaper Granma said no deaths had been immediately reported, but that the quake had been felt throughout eastern and central provinces of the Caribbean island nation.

"Here people quickly took to the streets because the ground moved very strongly," Andres Perez, a 65-year-old retiree who lives in downtown Santiago de Cuba, told AFP via telephone of the first quake.

"It felt very strong really, my wife is a bundle of nerves," he added.

"There are houses with cracked walls, others had walls falling down and some had their roofs collapsed," Karen Rodriguez, a 28-year-old hairdresser, told AFP from Caney de las Mercedes, a small town in Bartolome Maso.

Residents in Bayamo, a city of some 140,000 people near Bartolome Maso, described street poles swaying. "People did get scared, everyone came running out of the houses very scared," 24-year-old welder Livan Chavez told AFP.

The US tsunami warning system said no tsunami warning had been issued.

The tremor shook the island as it recovers from Hurricane Rafael, which hit the country's west as a Category 3 storm, leaving residents without power for two days.

A 5.1 magnitude earthquake was recorded in October 2023 in Santiago de Cuba, without causing any damage.

Another strong earthquake of magnitude 7.7 was recorded in January 2020 in the Caribbean and was felt in several Cuban provinces, causing the evacuation of buildings in the capital Havana, with no damage reported.
President-elect Donald Trump waves as he walks with former first lady Melania Trump at an election night watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Center, early Wednesday morning, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. Trump now faces organizing a new government and some Louisiana politicos may be in line for jobs.
Terry Holohan, the chief executive of Australian gold miner Resolute Mining, has been detained by the military-controlled government of Mali in West Africa, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Holohan and other company executives were taken by Malis junta over the weekend, said the people, who werent authorised to speak publicly.

Resolute Mining chief executive Terry Holohan has been detained in Mali. Credit: Resolute website

Perth-based Resolute Mining declined to comment. A Mali mining ministry official declined to comment when reached by phone. Holohans detainment was earlier reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP).

ASX and London Stock Exchange -listed Resolute, valued at over $1 billion, holds an 80 per cent stake in Societe des Mines de Syama S.A., which owns Syamas north-western gold mine. The Malian government controls the remaining 20 per cent.
Reverse Garbage CEO Kirsten Junor, IT manager Steve Junor, and children Henry, Pearl and Lucy.

An 1880s, double-fronted Italianate home, listed as being of heritage importance because of its original, ornate features and slate roof, in Sydneys inner west. It became a boarding house during the Depression and then a share-house featuring poky rear extensions. The Junor family purchased it in 2010.

This story is part of the November 10 edition of Sunday Life.

Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time.

There were five spacious bedrooms but no communal living spaces, says Steve. So we knocked down the 1950s lean-to bathroom and kitchen extensions and added 100 square metres of communal living space, bathrooms and a shed.

Favourite room

The new kitchen dining space, says Kirsten. Its light and spacious and looks out over the backyard.

The hood

We moved to Marrickville in 1996 for the vibrant mix of cultures and the high street with lots of little shops and restaurants, says Steve.

Future plans

Were repurposing a couple of bedrooms to accommodate creative interests such as sewing and jewellery making, says Kirsten.
Victoria privately lobbied the Albanese government to increase the age limit for working holidaymakers from 30 to 50 as a way to address critical job shortages in the states tourism sector.

A ministerial brief, released under freedom of information laws, shows Victorias Tourism Minister, Steve Dimopoulos, instructed his department to write to then-immigration minister Andrew Giles in July 2023, seeking to expand visa requirements to attract more overseas workers.

Tourism Minister Steve Dimopoulos, pictured with Premier Jacinta Allan, asked the Albanese government to tinker with the visa system to attract more older workers to the state. Credit: Jason South

Increasing the upper age limit to 50 years would help to alleviate workforce pressures due to the gradual return of international workers by creating a larger pool of potential workers, said the brief, signed by Dimopoulos.

The change was in line with repeated calls at the time from Australias peak tourism body for the working holiday visa age cut-off to be lifted to 50.
Last week, as the US election campaign ended, I felt buoyant. Kamala Harris had been brilliant in the 108 days between her unorthodox rise from vice president to Democratic presidential nominee. Having worked for Harris and Joe Biden, I was confident that her well-run, well-funded organising apparatus would be the difference in what experts had repeatedly told us was a close election.

As we know now, though, it wasnt close at all.

The majority of American men aged 18 to 44 voted for Donald Trump in 2024. Credit: NYT

As a young white man who grew up in Americas rural south, I understand the people Donald Trump was courting  because Im one of them. I grew up among a backdrop of the forever wars in the Middle East, the Global Financial Crisis and the opioid crisis.

I spent years travelling around the world with the Biden-Harris administration. I was lucky enough to see first-hand what politics should be  the vice president meeting with small business owners in Detroit and using the power of government to rebuild a community. First lady Jill Biden touting the work of USAID and PEPFAR to end the AIDS epidemic in Namibia. Attending dozens of COVID-19 vaccine clinics with second gentleman Doug Emhoff to thank nurses for saving lives. I saw an administration do its best to serve the people.
Collector discusses measures to stop child begging with NGOs





Staff Reporter

A meeting was organised focusing on prevention of begging, particularly child begging, with participation of representatives from non-government organisations (NGOs) at Collectorate Meeting Hall. Collector Deepak Saxena chaired a meeting while Additional Collector Misha Singh, District Programme Officer of Women and Child Development Department, Secretary of Red Cross, Chairman and members of the Child Welfare Committee, and representatives from various NGOs were present. During the meeting, the district administration provided information about ongoing campaign to curb child begging.

Collector Saxena instructed the representatives to create awareness among public about not giving cash to beggar children, but instead offering them food or goods. He also emphasised the need to identify shopkeepers who sell intoxicating substances to children and revoke their licenses. Further, it was directed that donations made by the public should be collected through the Red Cross or other eligible NGOs. Collector Saxena also instructed the Women and Child Development Department to set up open shelter homes to provide appropriate arrangements for children in need. Collector informed about importance of greater participation from NGOs in the anti-begging campaign and encouraged them to adopt busy intersections in their respective areas. NGOs were asked to organise awareness programmes at these locations to educate the public about not giving alms to children and the negative impacts of child begging. Besides this, officials from Women and Child Development Department were directed to create social media pages to spread awareness about the issue and to promote anti-begging messages. This initiative aims to involve the community and various organisations in curbing child begging and ensuring better protection and care for vulnerable children.
Congress believes in taking everyone along: Cong Party President Kharge





Amravati Bureau

AMRAVATI,CHIEF Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath, who recently visited Gurukunj Mozari, the pious land of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj from where he gave the message of national unity, unfortunately raised indecent and hurtful slogans like Batonge to katoge. He speaks the language of breaking while wearing saffron. Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, Ek ho to safe ho. But the Congressmen never think in this way. We believe in carrying everyone together, said President of Congress Party Mallikarjun Kharge, while addressing a public meeting at Gurukunj Mozari. He was campaigning for Adv Yashomati Thakur, Congress Party candidate from Teosa Assembly Constituency on Saturday. Interestingly, Kharge delivered more than half of his speech in Marathi, making quite an impression on the crowd. Indira Gandhi sacrificed her life for integrity of the country. Rajiv Gandhi fought for unity and also sacrificed his life.

Congressmen are fighting for unity. Congressmen follow and work as per the Constitution. The petty people would have had no rights. It was given to them by Congress Party through the Constitution. The opposition, on the contrary, speaks language of Manusmruti and against the Constitution, Kharge said. He also criticised the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) alledging that it did not even contribute to the freedom struggle of the country. On the one hand, farmers are worried due to fall in soybean, cotton prices in the state and on the other, the Central Government is importing edible oil and cotton. The government has imported 22 lakh bales of cotton. Narendra Modi speaks of doubling farmers income but does the opposite. If farmers are not able to grow foodgrains, we will not have anything to eat, Kharge said asking the government that if it really wants to benefit the farmers why import cotton? Kharge said that Narendra Modi always asks what has Congress done in 70 years of its rule. Congress has worked for maintaining democracy in the country and building the country. The country has a Constitution due to which a Narendra Modi is able to sit on the chair of the Prime Minister, Kharge said criticising Prime Minister Modi is trying to uprooted the Constitution on the basis of which he became a Prime Minister.
Day 2 of 83rd annual session of IRCSeveral technical sessions held





Staff Reporter RAIPUR,

Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Ajay Tamta visited the exhibition of new technical equipment at the Science College Ground on Saturday. The exhibition has been organised under the 83rd annual session of the Indian Roads Congress ( IRC). In this session, engineers and experts from the construction departments of the Central and State Government, who came from different states of the country, explained about the measures for road construction and their maintenance using innovative technologies. In the technical session of the second day of the convention, academicians, consultants and builders gave detailed information about the new equipment, machinery, materials and software used in road construction.

In the first technical session, research scholar Preeti Roy from IIT Roorkee, Professor duo Dr Praveen Kumar and Dr Nikhil Sabu gave their presentation. Similarly, the academicians, consultants, builders and rich scholars invited to the convention gave their respective statements regarding road construction and maintenance. Several technical sessions were held at Science College Ground in the state capital on the second day of the 83rd annual session of the Indian Roads Congress (IRC), on Saturday. Speaking to The Hitavada, IRC President K K Pipri and Secretary removal of body parts for commercial purposes. This incident is not isolated. Earlier in the year, on July 22, another tiger was reported dead in similar circumstances in the region. Although forest department officials have denied any indications of poaching, local speculation points to possible poisoning as the cause. Wildlife experts highlight that the death of these tigers raises urgent questions about predator protection measures in the area and the need for heightened vigilance, especially in forest corridors and buffer zones between human settlements and wildlife habitats. Wildlife activists have urged the department to release the findings transparently. Conservationists also emphasize the importance of mapping tiger movements in non-protected areas like the Koriya Forest Division to prevent future incidents and to reinforce protection for these endangered animals.
Fusion Expo to conclude today





Business Reporter

The two exhibitions Fusion Expos going on here at Reshimbagh Ground in the city will conclude on November 10. The expos are being organised by Best Enterprises and Indore Infoline Pvt. Ltd. The events have been receiving overwhelming response from the visitors. People of Nagpur are getting a business opportunity in food and industry sector both in this expo. Companies from other places are looking for dealers, distributors, logistics in Nagpur for their products to represent. Food Expo participants are from Nagpur, Raipur, Mumbai, Kanpur, New Delhi, Bengaluru and other cities. More than 100 participants are showcasing their products, masale, food processing machinery, bakery machinery and other items. The exhibition remains open from 11am to 7 pm and entry is free for all visitors.
HCG Cancer Centre launches mobile cancer screening vehicle





Business Reporter

HCG Cancer Centre has launched a mobile cancer screening vehicle to bring life-saving cancer detection services directly to the community. The vehicle was officially flagged off by Nagpur Divisional Commissioner Vijayalakshmi Bidari in a ceremony attended by eminent health professionals and dignitaries, including Dr Ajay Mehta, Director & Head Surgical Oncology, Dr Suchitra Mehta, and Venkateshwarlu Marapaka, COO HCG Cancer Centre. The mobile cancer screening unit is part of HCGs ongoing commitment to improving healthcare access in remote areas and to raising awareness about the importance of early cancer detection. The vehicle is equipped with latest diagnostic tools and will offer a range of services, including breast cancer, cervical cancer, and oral cancer screenings. The mobile cancer screening vehicle will travel across various districts in Nagpur, offering free screenings to communities and spreading awareness about cancer prevention.
Mayor, Municipal Commr ask officials to work on ground to maintain air quality





Staff Reporter

Under Swachh Survekshan 2024, Jabalpur Municipal Corporation is carrying out a special cleanliness and public awareness campaign across the city to improve air quality. Mayor Jagat Bahadur Singh and Municipal Commissioner Preeti Yadav have asked all concerned officials to work on-ground to maintain consistent air quality improvement. They issued strict orders to officials, emphasizing that all necessary measures must be firmly implemented to ensure that the citys air quality remains unaffected. Sambhav Ayachi, National Clean Air Program Nodal Officer along with Health Officer Sandeep Jaiswal continuously monitoring the CAQMS stations in different areas to improve air quality. They informed that the JMC is also using mechanized road sweeping machines in two shifts to reduce dust on roads and is making efforts along main roads with sanitation workers and litter pickers. To control airborne dust particles, water is sprayed using water cannons and citizens are also being urged not to burn waste or scatter debris on roads. These efforts are aim to enhance the citys Air Quality Index (AQI). The Municipal Commissioner has directed all concerned senior officials and employees to ensure these measures are executed consistently and smoothly.
Police intensify crackdown on criminal networks after encounter





Staff Reporter

BHILAI, Amit Jose,

a notorious criminal and the prime suspect in the Globe Chowk shootout in Bhilai, was killed after an exchange of about 17 rounds of gunfire near Jayanti Stadium in Bhilai. The police followed all legal protocols and have begun a comprehensive investigation and evidence collection at the scene, according to Jitendra Shukla, Superintendent of Police, Durg, who briefed the media on Saturday. SP Shukla stated that Amit Jose had been involved in a string of violent crimes, including an attempted double murder following a minor altercation in Bhilai last June. Known for seeking to expand his influence through intimidation and openly challenging law enforcement, Joses status as a fugitive was a topic of discussion at a recent Chief Ministers conference, prompting Durg Police to intensify efforts to apprehend him.

The Anti-Crime and Cyber Unit (ACCU) used active surveillance o track his movements, and based on intelligence about his presence near Jayanti Stadium, police set up roadblocks, urging him to surrender. Instead, Jose fired on the officers, sparking the gunfight. Deputy Superintendent of Police (Crime) Hemprakash Naik narrowly escaped injury in the exchange. SP Shukla further revealed that Jose had a criminal history and about 36 cases, including one murder, six attempted murders, and several armed robberies have been registered against him in different police stations in the district. A reward of Rs 40,000 was offered for his capture. Police are now thoroughly investigating his network to take action against those who may have supported or sheltered him. To ensure effective crime control, SP Shukla emphasized that all CSPs and SHOs have been instructed to regularly monitor known criminals. Monthly parades are to be conducted at police subdivisions and stations, with close oversight on the movements and financial sources of listed offenders.
Rebels have always won or prevented official party candidates from winning





By Vijay Pandey

Looking at the electoral history of the Ramtek Legislative Assembly constituency, one notable pattern emerges: whenever a leader has rebelled against their party or alliance and contested the election as an Independent candidate, they have either won or prevented the official party candidate from winning. A review of election history reveals the following: In 1995, Congress leader Ashok Gujar, from the faction led by the late Babasaheb Kedar, sought the Congress ticket to contest the elections. However, the party denied him the ticket and nominated Anandrao Deshmukh from the faction of former minister and Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Ranjit Deshmukh. In response, Gujar rebelled and contested as an Independent candidate. He won the election and defeated Congress candidate Anandrao Deshmukh by a margin of 12,523 votes. Gujar secured 52,428 votes (36.26%), while Deshmukh received 39,905 votes (27.06%).

The voter turnout in 1995 was 77.5%. In 2004, senior Congress leader and former minister Madhukarrao Kimmatkar, like Gujar, sought the Congress nomination but was instead denied, with the party opted to field Chandrapal Chouksey. In protest, Kimmatkar rebelled and contested as an Independent candidate. Though he did not win, Kimmatkars presence in the race ensured that the Congress candidate Chouksey lost as well. Chouksey received only 23,904 votes, and for the first time in the constituencys history. In 2019, an alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the undivided Shiv Sena resulted in the Ramtek seat being allocated to the BJP.

The BJP nominated D Mallikarjuna Reddy, an incumbent MLA, as its candidate. However, Ashish Jaiswal, an MLA from 1999, 2004, and 2009, rebelled after the Shiv Sena quota did not grant him a seat. Jaiswal contested as an Independent and defeated the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance candidate Reddy by a margin of 24,413 votes. Jaiswal secured 67,419 votes (36.54%), while Reddy received 43,006 votes (23.31%). Voter turnout in 2019 was 66.22%. In a repeat of past rebellions, the 2024 elections in Ramtek saw former Congress President and ex-minister Rajendra Mulaks protest against the seat-sharing arrangement in the Maha Vikas Aghadi. Mulak was upset that Ramtek was allocated to Shiv Sena (UBT) and entered the race as an Independent candidate. He faces competition from Shiv Sena (Shinde) candidate Ashish Jaiswal, Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Vishal Barbate, Congress rebel Chandrapal Chouksey, Congress rebel Sachin Kirpan (Chairman of APMC), and 13 other candidates. It remains to be seen whether Mulak can replicate the success of his predecessors after the vote count on November 23.
Suicide bombing at Balochistan rly station 27 killed, over 60 injured





By Sajjad Hussain ISLAMABAD

(PTI) Baloch Liberation Army claims responsibility for the attack 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 Pakistans restive Balochistan, 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. 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. 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 Balochistans resources while neglecting the provinces 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 platforms 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. Saturdays suicide bombing comes a week after a blast near a girls school and a hospital in Balochistans 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 1,534 in the first three quarters compared to 1,523 in 2023, the report said.
Tiger found dead in Koriya Forest Division





Our Correspondent Koriya,

A fully-grown tiger was found dead near Katwar village in the Koriya Forest Division, sparking concern and calls for action from conservationists and local authorities alike. Forest officials from the Koriya Forest Division and Guru Ghasidas National Park are currently investigating the cause of death, with a post-mortem examination slated to clarify the circumstances. Local villagers believe the tiger, a seven-year-old male, may have died two to three days ago. However, forest officials only became aware of the carcass when a strong odour was reported, emanating from an area close to a drain near the village. The location, informally known as the Orange Area, lies approximately 80 km from Baikunthpur and 1 km from the boundary of Guru Ghasidas National Park. This proximity has raised questions about the territorial range and movement patterns of tigers in the region, as no prior records confirm the presence of this tiger in the Koriya Forest Division or nearby national park.

Upon information, a team of officials, including the Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) from the Sarguja Forest Division, arrived at the site to conduct a preliminary inspection, while authorities from both the Koriya Forest Division and Guru Ghasidas National Park cordoned off the area to secure the site for further investigation. Initial observations reveal that the tigers body, although bearing a wound on its back, still had its claws and whiskers intact, suggesting a lower likelihood of poaching. However, some conflicting reports have emerged, alleging that the carcass was missing its eyes, teeth, and nails, a detail that often hints at illegal poaching practices or the removal of body parts for commercial purposes. This incident is not isolated. Earlier in the year, on July 22, another tiger was reported dead in similar circumstances in the region. Although forest department officials have denied any indications of poaching, local speculation points to possible poisoning as the cause. Wildlife experts highlight that the death of these tigers raises urgent questions about predator protection measures in the area and the need for heightened vigilance, especially in forest corridors and buffer zones between human settlements and wildlife habitats. Wildlife activists have urged the department to release the findings transparently. Conservationists also emphasize the importance of mapping tiger movements in non-protected areas like the Koriya Forest Division to prevent future incidents and to reinforce protection for these endangered animals.
Trudeau admits Presence of Khalistan supporters in Canada





OTTAWA,

(PTI) AMID the ongoing diplomatic row between India and Canada, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accepted the presence of Khalistani supporters on Canadian soil, adding that they do not represent the Sikh community as a whole in the country. His comments came during Diwali celebrations at Ottawas 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) Modis government in Canada, but they do not represent all Hindu Canadians, Trudeau said. The relations between the two countries came under severe strain following Trudeaus allegations in September last year of a potential involvement of Indian agents in Nijjars killing. New Delhi rejected Trudeaus charges as absurd. India expelled six Canadian diplomats and withdrew its high commissioner Sanjay Verma and other targeted officials from Canada after strongly dismissing Ottawas charges. India has been maintaining that 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.
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Stage set for Frontier Nagaland

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GUWAHATI, Nov 10 : The stage is finally set for the creation of a Frontier Nagaland Territory, an autonomous structure under Article 371 A of the Constitution, in Nagaland. The contentious issue of funding has been resolved.

Funds for the proposed politico-administrative structure will be technically channelised through the State but the State Government will have no discretion to divert it elsewhere and has to release the funds in a specified time frame, sources told Northeast Live.

Besides, the sources added, the FNT administration will be in the know of the funds position or allocation in real time through a transparent system.

The Eastern Nagaland Peoples Organisation, ENPO has been demanding direct funding from the Centre with no role of the State Government.

The Nagaland Government on November 6 sent its comments on the draft FNT agreement to the Ministry of Home Affairs after sitting on it for a long time. The non submission of its response to the draft agreement by the State Government had forced the ENPO to clamp October 31 as the deadline with a threat to start a vigorous agitation.

Sources said the Nagaland Government in its response did not have any major objection to the draft agreement prepared after rounds of negotiations between the MHA and the ENPO.

Now that the State Government has sent in its response, a tripartite meeting will be held soon between the Centre, the ENPO and the Nagaland Government to finalise the FNT agreement and sign the deal.

The proposed FNT will comprise six districts in eastern NagalandMon, Tuensang, Longleng, Kiphire, Noklak, and Shamator.

There are a total of 20 Assembly Constituencies in the eastern Nagaland districts which means one third of the legislators in the 60 member Nagaland Assembly come from this region. There has been a constant complaint that successive State Governments had neglected this area.

Meanwhile, on Friday the Nagaland Government issued a press release that stated that the State Government has submitted its feedback on the draft Memorandum of Settlement (MoS)-III regarding the proposed FNT/Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

The release stated that the comments were formally conveyed through a letter (No. CON-1/G/1/2011(Vol-I)) dated November 6, 2024, from Kohima. The feedback includes point-wise observations on the proposed FNT/FNTA, which covers six eastern Nagaland districts: Mon, Tuensang, Longleng, Kiphire, Noklak, and Shamator. The proposal had received approval from the State Cabinet in its meeting on October 30. NE Live
Sapam Sofia condoled

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IMPHAL, Nov 10 : Bharatiya Kisan Sanga has mourned the death of farmer Sapam Sofia (27) of Saiton Watham Lambi, Kumbi who was shot by Kuki narco terrorists while working at a paddy field.

Speaking to the media at Manipur Press Club, president of Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Nameirakpam Indubushan urged the Government to safeguard and protect the lives of the people.

He also condemned the heinous act of Kuki narco terrorists in the strongest term and condoled the demise of Sapam Sofia and shared the grief and sorrow of the bereaved family.

The organization further stated that it will hold a Sammelan on November 19 at Central Agriculture University, Iroishemba in a campaign to start cultivating Rabi crops on the empty fields of the State.

The organisation further urged the Government and relevant authorities to extend support to the campaign.

Rabi crop seeds will also be distributed during the Sammelan, said the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh.
There was much enthusiasm among Trinamul Congress leaders and workers when partys national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee went to Amtala, under Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha seat, after a gap.

Veteran party leader and MLA Ashok Deb and others welcomed Mr Banerjee. Mr Banerjee, sporting dark glasses, shook hands with people standing on two sides of the road and exchanged pleasantries.

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Mr Banerjee has remained indisposed for more than two months because of a problem in his eye. He developed eye problems after he met with a road accident some years ago. He had a major eye surgery abroad and is keeping well. He attended the Kali Puja at Mamata Banerjee house a few days back. It is learnt that the doctors have advised him of certain restrictions.

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Mr Banerjee has already submitted a report regarding performance of party leaders to Miss Banerjee. Though the party got 19 seats in the Lok Sabha election held in 2024, it was learnt that Mr Banerjee is not happy with the performance of some leaders. He has criticised the lackadaisical attitude of some leaders. Mr Banerjee has suggested change in leadership in certain municipalities in his report.

As the by-election is six Assembly seats will be held on 13 November, Mr Banerjee will not be able to take part in campaigning. By-elections will be held in Taldangra, Haora, Medinipore, Sitai, Madarihat and Naihati. The bypolls became necessary after the MLAs from these seats resigned to become MPs.

It is learnt that Mr Banerjee urged the leaders to bury their hatchets and fight together. He said there is no scope for complacency in the party. He is likely to begin Nabajoar Jatra in February 2025.
Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) social media convener for the Mathurapur constituency in South 24-Parganas, Prithviraj Naskar (33), was found murdered late on Friday night. Police discovered his mutilated body inside the BJP party office at Dipar More, under Usti police station jurisdiction.

Prithviraj, a resident of Atpara, had been missing for five days, prompting his family to file a missing person report at Usti police station on Thursday. Despite police efforts, they were initially unable to locate him, though his phone remained active, intensifying the mystery surrounding his disappearance.

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Family members, suspecting foul play, noticed something wrapped in cloth through the office window and immediately informed the police. Around 1 am, police arrived and found Prithvirajs bloodied body inside the locked party office. His body was wrapped in cloth, and it was taken to Diamond Harbour Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination. The site of discovery is approximately 1 kilometre from Prithvirajs residence, raising questions about how such a brutal act could occur unnoticed. Police are investigating whether he was killed elsewhere and his body later brought to the party office. Prithviraj was known for his close association with Ashok Purkait, BJPs former Mathurapur Lok Sabha candidate.

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The family alleged that he had been a target by Trinamul Congress (TMC) operatives due to his political affiliations, claiming that he was abducted and murdered in a planned attack orchestrated by TMC goons. BJP leaders in Mathurapur have echoed these accusations, pointing to Prithvirajs growing prominence within BJP ranks as a possible motive.

BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar condemned the incident, alleging that the TMC had been oppressing BJP workers across South 24-Parganas, particularly in post-election violence. He claimed that the murder reflected chief minister Mamata Banerjees fear of BJPs rising influence, vowing to ensure the safety of BJP workers in the state.

The Trinamul Congress however has denied allegations, rejecting any involvement in Prithvirajs murder.
Man-animal conflict continues to escalate in north Bengals forest region. Recently, several people have been killed or injured in elephant attacks. While local leaders and administrative representatives have been addressing the issue by providing immediate government assistance, top-level political leaders often visit the affected areas to offer condolences, especially when an elephant kills a person in areas where by-elections are to be held.

Today, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista visited the home of Shyam Munda in Uttar Khairbari, within the Madarihat Assembly constituency. Munda was killed last night in an elephant attack.

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The ministry of environment and forest allocates Rs 5 lakh in case of a death caused by an animal attack. I request the West Bengal forest officials to ensure that this compensation is provided to the family as soon as possible, Bista stated.

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In recent times, human-animal conflicts, particularly in the Dooars and Terai regions, have been on the rise. However, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista criticised the forest department for failing to address the issue comprehensively.
CPMs Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) today interrogated former CPM MLA Tanmoy Bhattacharya on harassment allegations by a female journalist.

A journalist had accused former Tanmoy Bhattacharya of harassment. The CPMs ICC is currently investigating these allegations. On Saturday, Mr Bhattacharya appeared at the partys Alimuddin Street headquarters to respond to questions from the committee. Wearing a badge of Tilottama, he faced around ninety minutes of questioning from the three-member investigation team. Following the session, Bhattacharya stated that he had answered all the questions asked of him and reiterated that a malicious campaign was being planned against him.

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After hearing Bhattacharyas account, the investigation committee members planned to meet among themselves to discuss the matter. A committee member stated, The ICC is an internal mechanism of the party. Today, we questioned Tanmoy Bhattacharya on various issues.

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A crucial meeting of the airfield environment management committee (AEMC) was held today, presided over by the state home secretary Nandini Chakraborty, to address pressing environmental issues impacting the airports surroundings.

The meeting, convened by Dr Pravat Ranjan Beuria, airport director at Kolkata Airport, brought together key representatives from various departments and municipal authorities from the five municipalities neighboring the airport. A primary focus of the discussion was on improving the cleanliness and hygiene of the areas surrounding the airport. Specific issues included the efficient removal of garbage, regular drain cleaning, and responsible tree management to reduce bird activity, which can pose a safety risk to aircraft.

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During the review, it was highlighted that Madhyamgram Municipality has taken significant steps to manage regular garbage cleaning, earning appreciation from the chairperson and other committee members. Encouraged by this success, the principal secretary advised other municipalities to adopt similar proactive measures to enhance the environmental standards around the airport.

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The AEMC meeting underscored the collaborative efforts needed to ensure a clean, safe environment around Kolkata airport, with committee members pledging their commitment to maintain best practices in environmental management for airfield safety. Key participants included Ms Nandini Chakraborty, principal secretary (Home & Hill Affairs); Ms Antara Acharya, secretary PWD; secretary urban development and municipal affairs Sharad Dwivedi, district magistrate, North 24-Parganas; Director of SUDA and many other senior officials. Officials from the DGCA also attended. The discussion primarily emphasised the need for maintaining cleanliness around the airport premises. The principal secretary highlighted the positive steps taken by the Madhyamgram Municipality in regular garbage removal and encouraged other municipalities to adopt similar initiatives.

This high-level meeting underscored the commitment of all attending departments to collaborative efforts aimed at upholding environmental safety standards around the airport.
In a unique move, Besohata Jagatdhatri Puja in Chandannagore has decorated their pandal with statues of freedom fighters.

The puja was virtually inaugurated by chief minister Mamata Banerjee from the podium of Jadadhatri Puja, which was organised by Postabazar Merchants Association.

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The pandal has been decorated with statues of Sri Aurobindo and Barin Ghosh, who were arrested in connection with the Alipore Bomb case. There is an image of Motilal Roy, who was close to Sri Aurobindo. After he was acquitted from the Alipore bomb case in 1910, he went to Channannagore and stayed in the house of Matilal Roy. Chandannagore was then a French colony and hot bed of revolutionary activities. Kanailal Dutta, a youth from the area, was given capital punishment. Rash Behari Bose, father of INA, had his base in Chandannagore, where he spent his youth. Chandannagore College is the only college in the country where there is a museum on revolutionary movement. The college had remained closed for two decades for the alleged involvement of the students with revolutionary activities.

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There are also clay images of Mahatma Gandhi and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Thousands of people are visiting the pandal daily.
One senior doctor must be there in the emergency ward of every government hospital during night shift for the safety and security of medics, nurses, health workers and patients of the concerned healthcare unit.

The National Task force (NTF) formed after the directive of the Supreme Court has recently proposed this move directing all government hospitals across the country to depute one senior doctor in every emergency ward during the night shift.

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The newly-formed NTF has already submitted a proposal in this regard to the apex court and Union health ministry. The proposal has also been conveyed to every state, directing them to take necessary steps for deployment of senior doctors in emergency wards in public sector hospitals.

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The apex court had directed the Union health ministry to form the NTF soon after the heinous incident of rape-murder at R G Kar Hospital on 9 August.

There had been country-wide peoples outrage demanding safety and security of medics, nurses, patients and other staff, inside hospitals and medical colleges after the incident.

The doctors, under the banner of the West Bengal Junior Doctors Front (WBJDF) have also been holding protest programmes demanding justice and end of threat culture.

The task force has also reportedly proposed that all vehicles used by government hospitals during night should be brought under GPS to ensure safety and security of patients, doctors and other employees.

An administrative officer of a premier government medical college hospital in the city said that deployment of one senior doctor in the emergency ward of every government hospital in night shift has already been decided in the state long ago but the move has not yet been strongly implemented.

I think the NTF proposal will be implemented strongly in hospitals this time, he said, requesting anonymity.
The out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) on healthcare in India is decreasing largely due to increased government investment and an improved public healthcare framework.

OOPE in healthcare refers to the money people pay directly from their own pockets for medical services, such as doctor visits, medicines, and hospital stays. In India, high OOPE has long been a significant challenge, especially for low-income families, as it forces many to spend a large portion of their earnings or savings on healthcare.

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The National Health Accounts (NHA) data for 2021-22 reveals a positive trend, OOPE on healthcare is decreasing, largely due to increased government investment and an improved public healthcare framework, said the Union Health Ministry on Sunday.

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As per the NHA data, between 2014-15 and 2021- 22, government health expenditure (GHE) as a percentage of GDP rose from 1.13 per cent to 1.84 per cent. Additionally, GHEs share of overall government spending grew from 3.94 per cent to 6.12 per cent, reflecting a robust commitment to public health, it said.

Informing that during the same period, per capita health spending tripled from Rs 1,108 to Rs 3,169, the Health Ministry said this increase allows the government to strengthen public healthcare infrastructure, making services more affordable and accessible to the public, thereby directly reducing OOPE.

This shift was further emphasised by the governments response to the Covid 19 pandemic, where investments targeted both immediate health needs and long-term health challenges, such as the rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), it said.

Besides the GHE, the other reasons for decline in OOPE are expansion of social security expenditure (SSE), growth of government-funded insurance schemes and focus on public health infrastructure and workforce, among others.

SSE on healthcare, including government-funded health insurance and social health programs, rose to 8.7 per cent in 2021-22 from 5.7 per cent of total health expenditure (THE) in 2014-15, as per the NHA data.

The Health Ministry said the decline in OOPE makes healthcare services more affordable, encouraging individuals, especially in rural areas, to seek medical care without financial worry. This leads to more equitable access to healthcare across various socio-economic groups.

Reduced OOPE allows the public healthcare system to cater to a broader population base, distributing healthcare resources more equitably and strengthening the overall system to handle increased demand, it added.
After a delightful Diwali in the Maldives, Bollywoods beloved couple Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan have returned to Mumbai, sharing a glimpse of their unforgettable vacation with their fans.

On Saturday, Kareena posted a series of stunning photos from the beach, embracing her natural beauty with a fresh, no-makeup look that captivated her followers.

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True to her signature style, she struck a few playful pouts, radiating effortless charm in each shot. The actress exuded a relaxed vibe, soaking in the sun and the serene coastal atmosphere.

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kareena Kapoor Khan (@kareenakapoorkhan)

Adding a personal touch to her Instagram feed, Kareena Kapoor also shared a picture of her husband, Saif Ali Khan, looking every bit the handsome man he is.

In the photo, Saif is seen sitting shirtless on a yacht, framed by the breathtaking turquoise waters of the ocean.

Meanwhile, on the professional front, Kareena has been making waves with her latest project, The Buckingham Murders. Directed by Hansal Mehta, the film delves into a gripping mystery, with Kareena playing the role of Sergeant Jasmeet Jass Bhamra. Her character is grappling with the emotional toll of losing her son while investigating the disappearance of another boy. The film, which released in September, also stars Ash Tandon, Ranveer Brar, and Keith Allen.

This Diwali, Kareena also made waves with her appearance in Singham Again, the highly anticipated action-packed sequel directed by Rohit Shetty. The film boasts an impressive ensemble cast, including Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, and Jackie Shroff.

On the other hand, Saifs recent role in Devara alongside NTR Jr and Janhvi Kapoor has been generating buzz. Looking ahead, the actor is going to star in Jewel Thief, further building anticipation for his upcoming projects.
Renowned Tamil actor Delhi Ganesh, celebrated for his versatility and unforgettable supporting roles, passed away on November 9, 2024, at 80.

The veteran actor succumbed to health complications late at night, leaving a deep void in Tamil cinema. His family confirmed the sad news, stating, We deeply regret to inform that our father, Mr. Delhi Ganesh, passed away on November 9 around 11 PM.

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Delhi Ganeshs body will lie in repose at his residence in Ramapuram, Chennai, where friends, family, and fans are gathering to pay their last respects. His funeral rites will take place on November 11.

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Spanning over four decades, Ganeshs illustrious career saw him appear in more than 400 films, securing his place as one of Tamil cinemas most beloved character actors. Known for his unmatched ability to adapt to various roles, he easily switched from comedy to drama, villainy to supportive characters. He shared the screen with industry legends such as Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan.

Ganeshs journey in film began in 1976 when he made his debut in Pattina Pravesam, a film by the iconic director K. Balachander, who also bestowed him with the stage name Delhi Ganesh. In 1981, he briefly took on a lead role in Engamma Maharani, yet it was his impactful supporting roles that made him a household name.

Among his most acclaimed performances were those in Sindhu Bhairavi (1985), Nayakan (1987), Michael Madana Kama Rajan (1990), Aahaa..! (1997), and Thenali (2000).

His legacy also includes a number of awards, such as the Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize for Pasi in 1979. In 1994, he was honored with the prestigious Kalaimamani Award, presented by then-Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa for his contributions to the arts.

Ganesh expanded his craft into television and short films later in his career, continuing to charm audiences with his distinctive talent.

In recent years, he made a memorable cameo as Alfred Pennyworth in the short film What If Batman Was from Chennai, and earned praise for his brief role in the 2016 thriller Dhuruvangal Pathinaaru. Ganesh was also a prominent member of the Delhi-based theatre group Dakshina Bharata Nataka Sabha, adding to his rich artistic portfolio.
The much-anticipated teaser of Game Changer, starring Ram Charan and Kiara Advani, dropped on Saturday, igniting excitement among fans.

The over-one-minute teaser showcases Ram Charans thrilling transition from academia to action-packed heroism. Viewers get a glimpse of him battling goons and sharing a romantic moment with Kiara Advani, setting the stage for an intense, high-stakes narrative.

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Set against the backdrop of politics, Game Changer revolves around Ram Nandan, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer who takes on corrupt politicians to ensure fair elections and reform the political system. The film promises to blend gripping action with a powerful social message.

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ram Charan (@alwaysramcharan)

The Game Changer teaser was launched in Lucknow at a grand event attended by the films team, including the lead actors and director S. Shankar. A noteworthy moment from the event was Ram Charans appearance barefoot, dressed in an all-black ethnic ensemble, including a kurta, pyjama, and stole.

His appearance was in line with his commitment to the Ayyappa Deeksha, a sacred vow hes currently observing, which involves adhering to strict rituals, including wearing only black attire and an Ayyappa Mala.

Produced by Sri Venkateswara Creations and Zee Studios, Game Changer is a Telugu-language political drama directed by S. Shankar, based on a story written by Karthik Subbaraj. The films star-studded cast includes Ram Charan as the resolute IAS officer Ram Nandan, Kiara Advani as his love interest Jabilamma, and a host of other talented actors such as Anjali, Samuthirakani, S. J. Suryah, Prakash Raj, and Srikanth, who plays the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

After starting principal photography in October 2021, the film faced several delays, but filming wrapped up in July 2024. Locations spanned across Hyderabad, New Zealand, Andhra Pradesh, Mumbai, and Chandigarh. The movie also boasts music composed by Thaman S, cinematography by Tirru, and editing by Shameer Muhammed.

Game Changer is ready for a theatrical release on January 10, 2025, coinciding with the Sankranti festival.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a scathing attack on the leadership of the Samajwadi Party during by-election rallies on Sunday. He accused the party of being a production house of rioters and criminals, calling it a breeding ground for mafia, criminals, and rapists.

CM Yogi said, Akhilesh Yadav served as the CEO and Shivpal Yadav the trainer of this production house, which was responsible for nurturing criminals, mafias, and rioters across the state to destroy people.

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Addressing rallies in Katehari, Majhawa, and Phulpur, CM Yogi appealed to voters to support BJP candidates Dharamraj Nishad from Katehari, Suchismita Maurya from Majhawa, and Deepak Patel from Phulpur.

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The CM pointed out that notorious criminals like Atiq Ahmed, Mukhtar Ansari, and Khan Mubarak were products of the SPs production house, and were involved in organised crime together. He cited the brutal murders of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai, Ramesh Patel, and Ramesh Yadav in Ghazipur, which were ignored by the SP government at the time.

He also mentioned the murder of BSP MLA Raju Pal by Atiq Ahmeds associates in Prayagraj. CM Yogi emphasised that justice for these families was only achieved after the double-engine government came into power.

Referring to the political environment a year ago, CM Yogi remarked that while the BJP celebrated National Unity Day in honour of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on October 31, the SP and its leaders were commemorating the birth anniversary of Jinnah, the architect of Indias partition.

CM Yogi accused the SP of harbouring a fondness for Jinnah due to his role in dividing the nation. He also highlighted the atrocities faced by Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes under SP rule, including the suspension of scholarships for these communities in 2015-16, a policy the BJP later reversed.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath warned that the INDI alliance partners, Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP), pose a threat to both the country and society. He pointed out that the people of Haryana rejected this alliance, giving the BJP more than two-thirds of the seats in a hat-trick victory, responding to PM Modis call. CM Yogi remarked that the people there understood the significance of Bate The Tou Kate The, just as Ayodhya had to wait 500 years for the Ram temple.

The Chief Minister accused some individuals of trying to turn Katehari into a stronghold of nepotism by running as SP candidates. He criticised their opposition when the Ram Lalla idol was being installed, highlighting that they had done nothing for the development of significant religious sites like Shivbaba Dham and Shravan Kshetra.

In contrast, the BJPs double-engine government worked on beautifying these sites and constructing the Ram temple. CM Yogi appealed to people to remove the SP, which was responsible for hindering the development of Ambedkar Nagars medical college.

CM Yogi reminded the public that this region is the sacred land of renowned socialist thinkers like Dr Ram Manohar Lohia, Jayaprakash Narayan, and others, who ran an ideal socialist movement. However, the scenario is different today. Aaj Dekh Sapai, Bitiya Ghabrayi, he remarked.

He highlighted cases where the SP had protected criminals, including SP leader Moid Khan, who was arrested in Ayodhya for serious charges, but the party continued to defend him.

He also referred to incidents in Lucknow, Kannauj, and Hardoi, including a case where an SP worker attacked a woman, which led to widespread protests from SP supporters, only to back down when the police intervened. CM Yogi warned that those who dishonour women would face severe consequences.

The CM also praised the BJPs commitment to honouring great figures like Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, pointing to the construction of the Panch Teerth for Ambedkar and the worlds largest statue of Patel in Gujarat.

He further mentioned the historical contribution of Maharaj Suheldev, who united Hindu kings and defeated foreign invader Salar Masood Ghazi. CM Yogi emphasised that the BJP had built a grand memorial for Suheldev in Bahraich, but the SP feared honouring him due to the potential loss of Muslim votes.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath highlighted the transformation of the Vindhya region, once notorious for mining and land mafia activities, into a hub of development. He pointed out that today, Mirzapur boasts a medical college, Maa Vindhyavasini University, and the grand Maa Vindhyavasini Corridor.

He also noted that PM Modi, alongside the Prime Minister of France, inaugurated the worlds largest solar plant in the region during the International Solar Alliance event.

The CM criticised the SP and Congress for their fake promises, saying that the people received nothing from their Khata Khat scheme, urging people to seek explanations from the two parties as to where the money went.

Despite being Chief Minister several times, the SP failed to bring any real change to Mirzapur  be it in terms of university development, medical facilities, or infrastructure like the Maa Vindhyavasini Dham corridor. The SPs focus is on family development, while the BJPs priority is the states progress, he remarked.

CM Yogi also announced that the Mahakumbh Mela will be held in Prayagraj from January 13 to February 26, 2025, and praised PM Modi for getting it recognised by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

He contrasted the current governments focus on development with the mismanagement of the past, where funds would go into the pockets of the Saifai family and their agents.

The CM assured the people that a permanent solution would be found for the flood-prone Kachhar region, highlighting that the governments role is to provide solutions, not create problems.

He also pointed out the anarchy and disorder during the 2007 and 2013 Kumbhs, contrasting it with the orderly, secure, and well-managed 2019 Kumbh, which set new standards for grandeur and sanctity. He credited the success of the 2019 Kumbh to the efforts of all public representatives in his team.

The CM also highlighted the steps taken for the welfare of martyrs and soldiers before addressing the SPs recent move to change election dates. He accused the SP of playing politics on issues like the Ram Mandir, Ganga Snan, Hindu identity, and national pride.

Referring to a recent resolution passed by the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly to reinstate Article 370, he made it clear that the new India, under PM Modis leadership, would not accept this. He firmly stated that India will have one leader, one Constitution, and one flag.
Taking on the Maha Vikas Aghadi directly, Union Home Minister Amit Shah Sunday said the opposition alliance is fighting the elections to Maharashtra assembly on schemes based on the greed of power and minority appeasement.

 We are contesting against Maha Vikas AghadiMaha Vikas Aghadis schemes are formed in the greed of power, it is appeasement and an insult to ideologies, Home Minister Shah said at the launch of BJPs manifesto launch for Maharashtra Assembly Elections to be held on November 20.

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Mr Shah said Congresss politics of casteism is dividing the society and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is alerting people of Maharashtra regarding this.

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He lashed out at the Congress, which brought in Waqf board law during its rule in 2013 and after that, he alleged, many villages in Karnataka were declared as Waqf property.

 PM Modi has brought a Waqf Amendment Bill in Parliament. The amendment that was brought in Waqf board law during Congress rule in 2013, its aftermath can be seen, in Karnataka, many villages were declared as Waqf property under the Waqf law. Farmers land, peoples houses and even temple properties were declared as Waqf property

Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar, Union Minister Piyush Goyal and other leaders of the party were present at the launch of BJPs Sankalp Patra for Maharashtra Assembly Elections.

Shah pointed out that reservation should not be based on religion.

An organisation of Muslim scholars demanded reservation for minorities and Congresss state chief Nana Patole acknowledged this memorandumI want to ask the people of Maharashtra, do agree with this plan of Congress?reservation should not be based on religion.., he said.

The senior BJP leader said people of Maharashtra should understand who is going to come to power  I want to ask Uddhav Thackeray from this stage, can he ask Rahul Gandhi to speak two good words about Veer Savarkar? Can any Congress worker speak positively for Balasaheb Thackeray? People of Maharashtra should understand those who have come out to form MVA government.., he said , lashing out at the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance of Congress, Sharad Pawars NCP, and Uddhav Thackerays Shiv Sena.

Shah further said,  I want to ask Sharad Pawar, for 10 years, you were a minister in the UPA government, from 2004-2014, what did you do for the development of Maharashtra?

The Maha Yuti  comprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP  has come out with a 10-point guarantee list titled kiya hai kaam bhariab aage ki taiyari, which was released in Kolhapur on Tuesday night by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the chief leader of Shiv Sena, in presence of Deputy Chief Minister Fadnavis.
Senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah released the BJP-backed Mahayutis manifesto called Sankalp Patra 2024 in Mumbai on Sunday for the Maharashtra assembly elections scheduled to be held on November 20.

The financial assistance component under the Mahayuti governments Ladki Bahin Yojana for women will be increased from Rs 1,500 per month to Rs 2,100, according to the ruling Mahayuri alliances manifesto.

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The manifesto promises an anti-conversion law to be enacted to provide for stringent action against forced and deceitful religious conversions. It also promises a skill census to find out the needs of the industry and upgrade skill training wherever necessary.

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The BJP has promised to make Maharashtra a USD 1 trillion economy by the year 2028 and turn cities like Nagpur, Pune, and Nashik into aerospace hubs.

The manifesto said Vision Maharashtra @2028 would be presented within 100 days of government formation with a goal to make the state a trillion-dollar economy.

The manifesto says it aims to make Maharashtra the capital of fintech and artificial intelligence (AI). It promises to provide opportunities in robotics and AI training through Marathi and Atal Tinkering labs. It promises a Vivekananda Youth Health Card to enable annual health check-ups for the youth and mentions a policy for senior citizens with Aadhar-enabled services and dedicated outpatient departments.

The Mahayuri has promised reimbursement of tuition and examination fees to the students from marginalised sections, including Other Backward Castes, Special Backward Castes, Economically Weaker Sections, and nomadic tribes, and give up to Rs 10,000 stipend to them every month besides creating 25 lakh jobs.

Interest-free loans of up to Rs 15 lakh have been promised to encourage entrepreneurship and establish a Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Aspiration Centre in every district.

According to the manifesto, low-income families will be provided free food items every month through the Public Distribution System (PDS), under the Akshay Anna Yojana.

The BJP has also planned to develop Maharashtra into an advanced robotic and Artificial Intelligence (AI) training hub with a promise to create 10 lakh new business leaders through Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Akanksha centres in each district.

The other promise included in the manifesto is the creation of 50 lakh Lakhpati Didis by 2027 for which one industrial cluster of 500 self-help groups will be formed and an initial corpus of Rs 1,000 crore will be provided.

If voted to power, the Mahayuti promised to develop Nagpur, Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nashik, and Ahilyanagar as modern aeronautical and space manufacturing centres.

The manifesto also promised that the SGST on the purchase of fertilisers would be returned to farmers as a grant, while the prices of essential commodities would be kept stable.

BJP Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, who led the manifesto drafting committee, said, We are committed to achieving a five-trillion dollar economy and will honour every promise in this manifesto after securing victory.

Speaking at the event, senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said, The vision of a developed India is also our roadmap for Maharashtra. We have prepared a report card of the BJPs achievements and ongoing projects. We are confident that the people of Maharashtra trust the BJP and the Mahayuti alliance. Among the 25 key promises, we have highlighted are Ladki Bahin Yojanas and farm loan waivers.

He elaborated on the Bhavantar Yojana, which aims to empower farmers by enabling them to purchase inputs at better prices, with funds being transferred directly to their accounts after the end of the model code of conduct. He also mentioned measures to regulate prices for life-saving medicines and medical devices to ensure affordability.
Amid growing tensions between political parties in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the assembly bypolls, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Sunday expelled three leaders from Meerut for alleged indiscipline. According to party sources, despite directives from the high command, these three leaders recently attended the wedding of Kamal, son of BSP leader and party in-charge Babu Munkad Ali, in Ghaziabad. Advertisement

Advertisement The leaders expelled include Prashant Gautam, in-charge of the Meerut division; district in-charge Mahavir Singh Pradhan; and Dinesh Kazipur. Munkad Alis daughter, Sumbul Rana, is contesting the by-election from Meerapur assembly seat on an SP ticket. Despite this, the BSP has taken no action against Munkad Ali himself, who hosted the wedding and extended the invitation to these leaders. Reacting to the expulsion, Dinesh Kazipur said, We have always been loyal to the party and Behanji. We are still committed to working with honesty. The allegations of indiscipline and anti-party activities are baseless.

He added, This situation happened before, but due to our work, Behanji called us back. We received no instructions from the party regarding Munkad Bhais sons wedding. He is a senior leader and a family friend, so we attended his sons wedding. Mahavir Singh Pradhan also voiced his discontent, stating, This decision is completely unjustified. We have served the party loyally. Opposition members are conspiring against us. Many party leaders from Meerut and Lucknow attended the wedding, but only we were singled out. Prashant Gautam noted, I did receive a call from party leadership advising against attending the wedding, but Munkad Ali is not the candidatehis daughter is. Munkads daughter has been married for years and now lives separately. We did not visit Sumbuls residence.
The Delhi government, in a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Atishi on Sunday, unanimously decided to reinstate Bus Marshals across the citys public transport system, sources said.

According to sources, Delhi ministers have unanimously agreed that the deployment of marshals is crucial for ensuring womens safety in citys buses. The cabinet has recommended an immediate reinstatement of bus marshals, said government sources noting that a report detailing this decision has been submitted to Chief Minister Atishi which will soon be sent to the Lieutenant Governor (LG) for approval.

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The decision also underscores the AAP governments commitment to safeguarding female commuters. Our party leaders stood shoulder to shoulder with marshals, facing every challenge alongside them, the government sources said.

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These marshals will also contribute to Delhis fight against pollution, marking another step in their dedicated service.

On Saturday, CM Atishi stated that the Delhi government had approved the appointment of these 10,000 marshals, who will play a significant role in the battle against pollution over the next four months. She said the marshals would be crucial for monitoring pollution hotspots, preventing open burning, and following up on complaints.

The Delhi government first introduced Bus Marshals during 2017-18 to safeguard passengers, particularly women, during their commutes.
Stung by the persistent criticism of AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS), Chief Minister MK Stalin said the Opposition party had been facing successive electoral defeats only because of his arrogance.

Welfare programmes and schemes are being named after Kalaignar. Should they be named after you, a cockroach that crawled to gain power, he asked, speaking after launching developmental projects and inaugurating new buildings at Virudhunagar.

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Your arrogance is the reason why people are handing you successive defeats in elections and they will continue to do so, he told the AIADMK leader.

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Slamming the Opposition party leader for his allegation that the DMK government is not allocating enough for capital expenditure, Stalin accused him of being a habitual liar. A person can be excused for telling lies, but not as huge in terms of acres. The old adage on a habitual liar will henceforth be made after EPS, he said.

The chief minister inaugurated the newly built District Collectorate at Virudhunagar,l. With six floors, it was constructed at a cost of Rs 77 crore.

Earlier, speaking to the media, Stalin announced that the Tamil Nadu government would henceforth bear the total educational expenses of the wards of the victims of accidents at cracker factories. The entire educational expenses of the children who have lost their parents in firecracker manufacturing units and factories will be borne by the State Government. A separate corpus has been set up for this purpose with an initial allocation of Rs 5 crore, he said.

This educational assistance will be extended throughout their studies from school education to higher education, he explained.

During his two-day visit to the district, Stalin, who on Saturday inspected the safety measures at the private fireworks factory, directed regular periodic checks. The rain shadow Virudhunagar district, known as the fireworks manufacturing hub of the country, is notorious for fatal accidents claiming lives at frequent intervals.
Putting the Kerala government in a spot, Agriculture Department Special Secretary N Prasanth, IAS, once again criticised Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) A Jayathilak. Prasanth alleged that Jayathilak has scuttled the careers of many IAS officers.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, Prasanth said a mere walk in the secretariat corridor can tell you how many honest people have been ruined by Jayathilak as they refused to write file/report/note as ordered by him(Jayathilak).

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Prasanth also said that some people are advising him in the form of threats to talk to Jayathilak and strike a compromise. To this, the IAS officer said in the post that he wanted to put an end to the list of IAS officers whose lives have been destroyed by Jayathilak.

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According to the IAS service rules, one should not criticise the government or government policies. Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India belongs to me just like any other citizen. Some are advising me in the form of threats to talk to Jayathilak and strike a compromise. It is better not to endanger yourself. If I point to the list of lives he has destroyed, I would not be afraid. My little obstinacy is meant to put an end to this and get justice for them too, Prashanth wrote in his post.

Understand that someone is taking a risk and stepping up as a whistleblower because justice only prevails under public scrutiny in todays unfortunate climate. As an IAS officer protected by Article 311 of the Constitution, I can be that whistleblower. Who else but me, for the time being? he said.

The squabble between the two IAS officers has come into the open, with N Prasanth, Special Secretary in the Agriculture Department, criticising his senior A Jayathilak, Additional Chief Secretary (Finance), in a Facebook post on Saturday.

Prasanth was provoked by a news report that said that Jayathilak had submitted an adverse report against him to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The report allegedly contained serious allegations against Prasanth during his tenure as Chief Executive Officer of Unnathi  Kerala Empowerment Society, an initiative for the welfare of scheduled castes and tribes.

He was accused of having taken government files under his personal custody. When queried on the issue, Prasanth returned only a part of the files to the ministers office, Jayathilaks report said. Further, the report said that Prasanth did not turn up at his office regularly. There were months when he was absent for up to 20 days, and he also manipulated attendance records, and other duty was claimed in the name of non-existent meetings, the report said.

Taking to Facebook, Prasanth likened Jayathilak to a self-proclaimed successor to the Chief Secretarys post. In his first post on the day, Prasanth explained his version of the allegations against him. He made another post saying that Jayathilak was serving as a special reporter to the daily which published the news report.

Im compelled to reveal some facts about senior IAS officer Jayathilak who prepares adverse reports against me and promptly submits them to the daily. I am forced to reveal some facts about him which the public should know, Prasanth said in the post.

Though I dont like discussion on government files in the public domain, I have no other option. I intend to reveal things that would be available under the Right to Information Act. He is a great person who himself proclaims that he would be the next Chief Secretary. So, one should have fear and respect towards him, he further wrote.

The rumble within the administration taking a public tone has not gone down well with the state government. Chief Secretary Sarada Muraleedharan said there will be action against Prasanth. There will be an inquiry into the whole episode, she added.

Meanwhile, Gopakumar, former Additional Private Secretary to ex-Finance Minister Dr TM Thomas Isaac, has accused Prasanth of misappropriating funds for personal use while serving as the Kozhikode Collector. Gopakumar alleged that Prasanth diverted funds meant for river conservation or a similar project to purchase a car.

In a Facebook post, Gopakumar accused Prasanth of using public funds for personal gain, a finding reportedly made by the Finance Departments Non-Technical Inspection Wing. The department conducted an investigation and filed a report on the matter, which was prepared under the leadership of an Additional Secretary.

Gopakumar further claimed that Prasanth threatened the Additional Secretary who authored the report. He alleged that the IAS officer pressured the official to suppress the findings related to the misappropriation of funds during his tenure in Kozhikode.
A Junior Commissioned Officer was among three Army soldiers injured on Sunday in a gunfight with terrorists, involved in the killing of two Village Defence Guards in the forest of Kishtwar in the Jammu division.

The Army had launched a massive search operation after the two VDGs were abducted and killed by terrorists on Thursday. Reports said that the soldiers were injured in an encounter with terrorists who were trapped in the Chaas area of Kishtwar.

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Special Forces of the Army were conducting the anti-terrorist operation, reports said.

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Additional DGP (Jammu) Anand Jain confirmed that an encounter took place at Keshwan Kishtwar between terrorists and Security forces. Three to four terrorists of the same group, which killed the two innocent villagers are believed to be trapped, he added.

However, sources said that after a brief exchange of fire the terrorists managed to flee into the deep forest and the security forces were combing the area.

The GOC of the White Knight Corps along with commanders visited Kishtwar and the general area of Bharat Ridge and reviewed the operations in progress.

The Army Chief, General Upendra Dwivedi on Saturday visited the forward units of the Rising Star Corps deployed in Kathua and was briefed on the existing security situation.

He interacted with troops and commended them for their high standards of professionalism and devotion to duty.

Another exchange of fire between terrorists and security forces was underway in the Srinagar district, police said.

According to Kashmir Zone Police, a joint operation was launched by the police and security forces in the Zabarwan forest area of Srinagar on Sunday morning.

A joint Police and security forces operation was launched in Zabarwan forest area of Srinagar based on specific intelligence about the presence of terrorists. An exchange of fire ensued during the operation, Police said in a post on X. Further details are awaited.

The search operation continued for the second day in north Kashmirs Baramulla district on Sunday, officials said.

According to Army officials, one terrorist was killed in the joint anti-terror operation on Saturday evening in the Sopore area of Baramulla. The operation was launched by police and security forces based on specific intelligence, they said.
A Junior Commissioned Officer of the Indian Armys Para Special Forces was killed and three soldiers were injured, two of them critically, on Sunday in a gunfight with terrorists involved in the killing of two Village Defence Guards (VDGs) in the forest of Kishtwar in the Jammu division.

In a post on X, the Nagrota-based White Knight Corps of the Indian Army announced the death of Naib Subedar Rakesh Kumar of 2 Para (SF), who was earlier critically injured in the encounter.

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Naib Subedar Rakesh was part of a joint counter-terrorist operation launched in the general area of Bhart Ridge, Kishtwar. We stand with the bereaved family in this hour of grief, the White Knight Corps said.

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The injured soldiers have been evacuated to a military hospital.

The gunfight broke out in the Keshwan forest as the terrorists holed up in the area indiscriminately fired at the troops who had launched a search operation following the brutal killing of the two VDGs, Kuldeep Kumar and Nazir Ahmad.

The encounter broke out around 11 am when joint search parties of the Army, CRPF, and J&K Police intercepted the terrorists in the Keshwan forest, a few kilometres from the spot where the mutilated and bullet-riddled bodies of the VDGs were found.

The Nagrota-based White Knight Corps of the Indian Army said in a post on X, Based on specific intelligence input regarding the presence of terrorists, a joint operation was launched by security forces in general area Bhart Ridge, Kishtwar. This is the same group which had abducted and killed 2 innocent villagers (village defence guards). Contact was established and a firefight ensued.

The Army had launched a massive search operation after the two VDGs were abducted and killed by terrorists on Thursday.

Special Forces of the Army were also conducting the anti-terrorist operation, reports said.

Additional DGP (Jammu) Anand Jain confirmed that an encounter has broken out at Keshwan in Kishtwar between terrorists and Security forces. Three to four terrorists from the same group that killed the two innocent villagers are believed to be trapped, he added.

However, sources said that after a brief exchange of fire, the terrorists managed to flee into the deep forest, and the security forces are currently combing the area.

The GOC of the White Knight Corps, Lt General Navin Sachdeva, along with commanders visited Kishtwar and the general area of Bhart Ridge to review the ongoing operations.

The Army Chief, General Upendra Dwivedi, on Saturday visited the forward units of the Rising Star Corps deployed in Kathua and was briefed on the current security situation.

He interacted with troops and commended them for their high standards of professionalism and devotion to duty.

Another exchange of fire between Pakistani terrorists and security forces was underway in the Srinagar district, police said.

According to Kashmir Zone Police, a joint operation was launched by the police and security forces in the Zabarwan forest area on the upper side of the Dal Lake in Srinagar on Sunday morning.

The Srinagar-based Chinar Corps of the Indian Army wrote on X; On 10 November, a joint operation was launched by security forces in the general area of Zabarwan Forest, Ishbar Nishat, Srinagar. Suspicious activity was observed by vigilant troops and on being challenged terrorists opened indiscriminate fire. Troops effectively retaliated. Operation is in progress.

Meanwhile, search operations continued for the second day in north Kashmirs Baramulla district on Sunday, officials said.

According to officials, one Pakistani terrorist was killed in the joint anti-terror operation on Saturday evening in the Rajpura Sopore area of Baramulla. The operation was launched by the police and security forces based on specific intelligence, they said.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge released the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadis (MVA) manifesto Maharashtranama for the Maharashtra assembly elections scheduled to be held on November 20, in Mumbai on Sunday.

Kharge outlined the MVAs vision for Maharashtra centred on five key areas, namely agriculture and rural development, industry and employment, urban growth, environmental protection, and public welfare, saying these areas are designed to drive progress and ensure sustainable development across the state.

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He stated that a health insurance scheme of Rs 25 lakh, originally implemented by Ashok Gehlot in Rajasthan, will also be implemented in Maharashtra, ensuring that every citizen gets access to quality healthcare services. Free medicines will also be provided under the scheme and this has been mentioned in the MVA manifesto.

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It has included a promise to provide a monthly stipend of Rs 4,000 to young job seekers. This stipend is intended to support youth while they search for employment, offering a financial cushion as they pursue career opportunities.

The MVA manifesto has committed to conducting a caste census, which Congress believes is essential to address issues of social justice. Additionally, it vows to remove the 50 per cent cap on reservations in line with Tamil Nadus policy, ensuring more equitable access to opportunities for marginalized communities.

We have decided to conduct a caste census and we will remove the 50% ceiling on reservation, in line with Tamil Nadu, Kharge asserted while unveiling the manifesto.

The Congress-backed MVA manifesto has a mention of five guarantees. Kharge said this would help uplift families who will get relief of around Rs 3.5 lakh in a year.

Under the Mahalakshmi Scheme, the MVA plans to provide each family in Maharashtra with an annual aid of around Rs 3 lakh. This initiative is designed to provide economic support to households, particularly low-income groups.

The manifesto promises to empower women financially through the Mahalakshmi Yojana. This will give all women in the state of Maharashtra Rs 3,000 per month through their bank accounts, in order to improve their financial independence and well-being. This MVA promise is believed to counter the BJP-backed Mahayutis Ladki Bahin Scheme.

The MVA manifesto has promised to introduce a free bus service across Maharashtra exclusively for women, making transportation more accessible and affordable.

It has promised Rs 50,000 to farmers who repay their loans on time. This initiative aims to support farmers and encourage timely repayment of agricultural loans.

Speaking at the release of the manifesto, Kharge criticised the BJP and its Mahayuti alliance saying, Mayahutis double-engine government has derailed and the MVA will restore the pride and dignity of Maharashtra.

The Congress president also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP for equating the Constitution of India with urban Naxalism and the red book. He said the PM gave a similar red coloured copy of the Constitution to then President Ram Nath Kovind in 2017. He (PM Narendra Modi) said this red book is an urban Naxalite book and is Marxist literature. He had gifted the same book to the then President Ram Nath Kovind in 2017. He even said this book contains blank pages, he added.

Kharge attacked PM Modi for his Ek Hain Toh Safe Hain remark. What does he mean by this? Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed their lives to keep the country united. CM Yogi Adityanath says Batenge Toh Katenge. PM Modi says Ek Hain Toh Safe Hain. I dont know which slogan will work. You (the BJP) are among the people who killed the one (Mahatma Gandhi) who got us independence, he said.
Expressing deep concern over the act of impropriety by a practicing lawyer who allegedly took money from a client on the pretext of offering bribe to a judge, the Orissa High Court ordered for a thorough inquiry by the State Bar Council saying that such conduct is unbecoming of an advocate.

The advocate enjoys the implicit faith of the court, each and every advocate practicing in a particular court not only as an officer of that court but also acts as an ambassador of the law to the society at large. Therefore, such conduct is unbecoming of an advocate:, a Single Bench Judge Justice Sibo Sankar Mishra observed while refusing to quash the FIR lodged against the accused lawyer.

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This Court is not inclined to do so (quash the FIR) as the allegations are not only at a nascent stage of investigation but also as quite serious in nature as the name of a former Judge of this Court has been soiled, Justice Mishra ruled in an order pronounced recently.

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The accused lawyer faced legal proceedings under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 after the client, wife of a man booked under Odisha Protection of Interests of Depositors (in Financial Establishments) Act lodged a complaint against him.

The accused lawyer had taken Rs 16 lakh, a gold chain, and a gold bracelet for the daughters marriage of the then judge of the high court on the plea that the cash and kind will be bribed to a judge of the high court to secure bail of her husband.

On requisitioning the return of their case file, original land documents and money by the client, the lawyer denied the same and threatened them that he will lodge false case against them and also threatened them that he would destroy their Court cases as he has good links with many Judges of the High Court and lower Courts.

The entirety of the truth of the matter can only be unearthed during the course of a detailed investigation, all that can be said that at this stage is that given the grave allegations of impropriety which touch upon the sanguineness of the judicial edifice, the present case needs a thorough and impartial investigation to get to the bottom of the matter, Justice Mishra stated in the order.

A strong action needs to be taken in order to maintain the faith of the litigant and the society at large. Provisions under Chapter-V of the Advocates Act, 1961 and the Bar Council of India Rules, 1975 provide for a mechanism of dealing with cases of professional misconduct on the part of advocates, the order noted.

The Disciplinary Committee of the Bar Council is directed to examine whether a case of professional misconduct is made out or not. This Court, therefore, directs the Bar Council of Orissa to hold an inquiry into the allegations. The Bar Council of Orissa shall hold Disciplinary Proceedings uninfluenced by any observations made above and by affording ample opportunity to all concerned to participate in the proceedings, the judgment concluded.
As Maharashtra gears up for upcoming elections, the Mahavikas Aghadi Alliance on Sunday unveiled its election manifesto, promising 5 Guarantees for Maharashtra, which spans across areas like women empowerment, equality, family health, agriculture, and youth support.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge unveiled the MVA manifesto for the Maharashtra assembly elections. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut and NCP-SCP leader Supriya Sule were also present at the manifesto launch event in Mumbai.

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At the event, Kharge exuded confidence in MVAs victory, saying that the assembly elections in Maharashtra will change the future of the country.

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Maharashtra election is a very important election for the country. This election will change the future of the country. We will form the Maha Vikas Aghadi government here, only then will the state progress. Every section of the state including farmers, women and youth will be prosperous, he stated.

The key highlights of MVAs manifesto for Maharashtra Assembly Elections are

1. Mahalakshmi Scheme: To support women, the Mahavikas Aghadi promised a monthly allowance of Rs 3,000 for women. Additionally, free bus services will be provided for them across Maharashtra.

2. Caste census and removal of 50 per cent reservation cap

The alliance pledged to conduct a caste census in Maharashtra, one of the key demands of the Congress and its allies. Additionally, they aim to remove the 50% cap on reservations.

3. Health cover up to Rs 25 lakh

To strengthen health support for families, Mahavikas Aghadi has guaranteed health insurance coverage up to Rs 25 lakh per family.

4. Loan waiver and reward for farmers

Focusing on farmers, the alliance has promised a loan waiver of up to Rs 3 lakh. To encourage prompt loan repayment, a reward of Rs 50,000 will be given to farmers who repay their loans on time, providing an incentive for responsible financial management in the agricultural sector.

5. Monthly allowance of Rs 4000 to unemployed youth

To address the issue of youth unemployment, the alliance has committed to providing a monthly allowance of Rs 4,000 to unemployed young individuals. This measure is expected to offer financial relief and support young people as they seek stable employment.
Expressed solidarity with Rahul Gandhi, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha is concerned over the monopolisation of the market by a few companies.

The chief minister said on Sunday that Rahul Gandhis stance is not just criticism but a call for significant and essential reforms. The Congress Partys ideology has always been rooted in providing equal opportunities to all citizens, ensuring fair distribution of resources, and prioritizing public welfare within the nations economic structure. Rahul Gandhi has raised this serious issue boldly and clearly, which resonates with the concerns of every citizen in the country, he elaborated.

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Sukhu further said that a healthy competitive market would not only keep prices in check but also improve the quality of services and products for consumers.

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The Union government needs to look at this sensitive issue from a perspective that transcends party lines and prioritises national interest, he contended.

He further stated that Rahul Gandhis questions regarding the monopolisation of the market by a few large corporate groups are crucial for the welfare of every citizen.

Rahul Gandhis comparison of such monopolistic practices with the East India Company highlights the potentially dangerous consequences for the nations economy and social fabric. Rahul Gandhi is the voice of the nation and his concerns are not only valid but also deeply aligned with the welfare of the common citizen. The Union government should adopt a positive approach and take necessary steps towards policy reforms that serve the public interest, CM Sukhu asserted.

The chief minister stressed that Rahul Gandhi is not merely raising objections but is advocating transformative change.

His views and suggestions are an eye-opener for citizens across the country, he said, adding that if the Central government truly seeks to work in the publics best interest, it should seriously consider these suggestions and adopt robust policies to reduce economic disparity.

The chief minister also added that such issues warrant a nationwide discussion so that people remain aware of their rights and benefits, ensuring equitable economic empowerment for all.
A day after the recovery of mutilated bodies of two Village Defence Guards, tortured and killed by terrorists, a fierce encounter broke out on Sunday between a group of terrorists and security forces in the forests of Kishtwar.

The Army had launched a massive search operation after the two VDGs were abducted and killed by terrorists. Reports said that the terrorists have been trapped in the Chaas area of Kishtwar. Special Forces of the Army were conducting the anti-terrorist operation, according to them.

Additional DGP (Jammu) Anand Jain confirmed that an encounter has broken out at Keshwan Kishtwar between terrorists and Security forces. Advertisement

Advertisement Three to four terrorists of the same group which killed the two innocent villagers, are believed to be trapped, he added.

However, sources said that after a brief exchange of fire, the terrorists managed to flee into the deep forests and the security forces were combing the area.

The GOC of the White Knight Corps along with commanders visited Kishtwar and the general area of Bharat Ridge and reviewed the operations in progress.

Army Chief, General Upendra Dwivedi on Saturday visited the forward units of the Rising Star Corps deployed in Kathua and was briefed on the existing security situation.

He interacted with troops and commended them for their high standards of professionalism and devotion to duty.

Another exchange of fire between terrorists and security forces was underway in the Srinagar district, police said.

According to Kashmir Zone Police, a joint operation was launched by the police and security forces in the Zabarwan forest area of Srinagar on Sunday morning.



The search operation continued for the second day in north Kashmirs Baramulla district on Sunday, officials said. A joint Police and security forces operation was launched in Zabarwan forest area of Srinagar based on specific intelligence about the presence of terrorists. An exchange of fire ensued during the operation, Police said in a post on X. Further details are awaited.The search operation continued for the second day in north Kashmirs Baramulla district on Sunday, officials said.

According to Army officials, one terrorist was killed in the joint anti-terror operation on Saturday evening in the Sopore area of Baramulla. The operation was launched by police and security forces based on specific intelligence, they said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a blistering attack on the INDIA alliance, saying those who opposed the creation of Jharkhand will never work for the development of the state.

Stating that the BJP has one mantra that we have created Jharkhand and we will develop it, Modi pointed out that the wind blowing is in favour of the saffron party.

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Addressing a public rally in Jharkhands Bokaro, the prime minister said, BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has only one mantra  we have created Jharkhand, we will develop Jharkhand. People who opposed creation of Jharkhand will never develop the state.

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Accusing the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre of discrimination against the state, Modi said, From 2004 to 2014, the Congress government was there at the Centre. Madam Sonia (Gandhi) ji used to run the government, and Manmohan Singh ji was made the PM. At that time, the Central government in 10 years gave Rs 80,000 crore to Jharkhand. People of Jharkhand should remember this.

He contrasted the UPAs allocation with more than Rs 3 lakh crore given to Jharkhand by the BJP-led NDA government in the last 10 years. He said the BJP gave the state four times more money than the previous Congress government.

We gave more money because we have created Jharkhand, he added.

The PM accused the ruling JMM-Congress of creating paper-leak and recruitment mafias and vowed to send them to jail if the BJP came to power in the state. We have buried both kharchi-parchi in Haryana. We will do the same in Jharkhand. Here, the paper leak and recruitment mafia created by JMM-Congress will be targeted and sent to jail, Modi said.

He said earlier in Haryana, people had to pay a huge sum of money and wait for a letter from leaders to get a job. After the saffron party formed the government in the state, it made the kharchi-parchi system disappear.

The wind is in favour of the BJP. Now, you have decided to form the BJP-NDA government. I promise you that after forming the government, we will ensure that these corrupt people get the harshest punishment. Your money will be spent on you only, he said exuding confidence of BJPs victory in the assembly polls.

Attacking Congress, the PM said the unity of SC, ST, OBC, tribal and Dalit communities has always been an eyesore for the grand old party. He alleged that Congress and the JMM were attempting to create a divide between SCs, STs, and OBCs stating it enjoyed power by creating divisions.

He cautioned the people against the alleged conspiracy of both the parties, saying they (the ruling alliance) can do anything for power.

The PM also addressed a rally in Jharkhands Gumla, where he said, Congress-JMM leaders built palaces by smuggling sand. These people are taking bribes even for birth and death certificates.

The BJP-led NDA government is working on the mantra of Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas. By following this, Jharkhand will develop, he said.

The PM also held a roadshow in Jharkhands capital Ranchi to woo the voters.

Elections for the 81 Assembly seats in Jharkhand will be held in two phases. The polling for the first phase (in 43 Assembly constituencies) would take place on 13th November and second phase (in 38 seats) on 20th November.

The counting of votes will take place along with Maharashtra on 23rd November.
A tiger, poisoned to death in the orange zone of Chhattisgarhs Guru Ghasidas National Park, has left wildlife authorities in shock and raised serious questions about the ongoing conflict between villagers and wildlife. Forest officials, who discovered the carcass on Friday near the Sonhat forest range border, suspect the tiger had been dead for nearly five days before being found. According to Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) V Mateshwaran, postmortem findings suggest poisoning as the cause, though forensic tests will confirm the exact cause.

The area around the carcass was cordoned off immediately by forest officials, who conducted a thorough search with the help of a dog squad. The tigers whiskers, claws, and other body parts typically targeted by poachers were intact, leading authorities to believe it was poisoned by villagers angered by livestock predation. However, some locals claimed that the tigers claws and eyes were missing, adding weight to calls for a more in-depth investigation into potential foul play.

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Villagers from nearby areas reported having seen the tiger near a riverbank on November 5. The carcass was eventually found due to a strong odour, prompting them to notify forest authorities. Forest officials suspect the tiger wandered from the protected area into nearby village territories, leading to a tragic encounter.

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This incident marks the latest in a worrying trend for Guru Ghasidas National Park. Last year, a tiger in the region was fatally poisoned after eating buffalo meat laced with toxins, and four villagers were subsequently arrested. A similar poisoning occurred in 2018. These cases underscore the urgent need for human-wildlife conflict resolution strategies as Chhattisgarh prepares to expand the park. Plans are underway to merge Guru Ghasidas National Park with Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary to create one of Indias largest tiger reserves, a vital step to provide a safer, larger habitat for the regions tiger population.

Amid rising tiger sightings in nearby districts, including Surajpur and Balrampur, conservationists are advocating for stronger measures that address both conservation and community needs. Without such efforts, Chhattisgarhs tiger population may remain vulnerable to future human-wildlife conflicts. The state must act swiftly to implement effective policies that prevent further loss and foster coexistence between villagers and these endangered animals. The tigers death serves as a stark reminder of the fragile balance in the region and the need for immediate, proactive solutions.
As part of its ongoing campaign to promote eco-friendly transportation across the state, the Uttar Pradesh government is set to establish a robust network of electric vehicles (EV) charging stations in the state.

The Uttar Pradesh Renewable and EV Infrastructure Limited (UPREV), a dedicated entity focused on accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles and expanding charging infrastructure statewide, will carry out the project.

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Officials claimed here on Sunday that the expansive network of EV charging stations would make it more convenient for residents to transition to electric vehicles. This initiative not only aligns with the states goal of reducing carbon emissions but also supports a vision of a green and energy-efficient future for Uttar Pradesh.

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The state government has developed a detailed plan to build EV charging stations across Uttar Pradesh. Through UPREV, charging stations will be installed in key cities, along major highways, and in urban areas. The plan will use a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, which will encourage private investments and speed up infrastructure development.

Officials said state government land will be made available for these charging stations in collaboration with other government departments, allowing EV charging points to be set up at distribution company (discom) offices, substations, and public spaces.

Additionally, the UP government has lowered electricity rates specifically for EV charging. According to the new guidelines from the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC), public charging stations will now have reduced tariffs, even below the average electricity cost.

This move will make EV charging more affordable for vehicle owners, encouraging more people to switch to electric vehicles. The governments focus on providing better rates for EV charging is expected to boost the use of green energy in transportation and increase EV users across the state.

The state government is advancing Uttar Pradeshs EV infrastructure not only to protect the environment but also to generate new employment opportunities.

The establishment of EV charging stations is creating jobs for technical experts, engineers, and local residents, providing the states youth with job prospects and promoting economic growth.

Additionally, in partnership with the central government, UPREV is securing a Rs 2,000 crore subsidy through the Pradhan Mantri E-Drive Yojana to expand the network of charging stations.

This initiative aims to position Uttar Pradesh as a leading hub for electric vehicles, marking a significant move towards reducing carbon emissions and fostering self-reliance in transportation.

By promoting EV use, the UP government is setting the stage for a cleaner, greener, and more progressive future for the state. Under CM Yogi Adityanaths leadership, Uttar Pradesh is taking substantial steps in both development and environmental protection, making strides toward becoming a model of sustainable growth in India.
November 6 marks the beginning of a momentous chapter in American history, not only as the date when Donald Trump was elected as the 47th President of the United States but also as a symbol of a new era characterized by a resurgence of American glory and pre-eminence. Although such an overwhelming victory could not be forecast before, the widespread euphoria that the election outcome exudes signifies a discernible shift in the political landscape, where Trumps persona seems to have reemerged as a beacon of hope for many, particularly those disillusioned by both internal discomfiture and ongoing global crises intensified by Bidens shaky conduct.

Although it would be too early to say this, the implications of Trumps new inning undoubtedly extend beyond domestic borders, resonating with hope for a battered humanity across the globe, whether war-ravaged Eastern Europe or regions like the Middle East, where conflict has spilt over into broader supply-chain and security disasters. For marginalized communities, including Black and Asian populations within the U.S., Trumps election represents an opportunity to get their voice heard, positioning him as a potential pivot for bold change both at home and abroad. But how will a new administration under Trump respond to the pressure of huge expectations the demand already built up by his pledges. While the mandate favouring Trump is compelling and irrefutable, it is essential to analyze his leadership style critically. Unlike the model of statesmanship exemplified by thinkers like John Stuart Mill, who advocated for rational discourse and representative governance, Trump embodies a more impulsive approach. As noted by Sashi Tharoor, he is akin to an open book  a leader who articulates his thoughts candidly but often without the restraint associated with the conventional decorum of formalities.

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His communication style can be described as spontaneous and at times hysterical, which raises questions about his astuteness, not to speak of dexterity, in navigating complex international relations. Despite these traits, Trump adheres to a philosophy of benevolent authoritarianism and champions American exceptionalism  a belief that America holds a unique place in the world that justifies its leadership role. These characteristics present both opportunities and challenges for his transition team as it seeks to address pressing issues domestically and internationally. Trump, a septuagenarian often characterized as a showman, possesses keen political acumen that enables him to attract a diverse coalition of supporters, including moderates and those disenchanted with Democratic politics.

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His election campaigns have demonstrated an ability to connect with various segments of society by focusing on pragmatic issues rather than adhering to broader progressive ideals like climate. Unlike the Democratic Party, which emphasizes womens reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and climate change initiatives, Trump has strategically positioned himself as a champion of economic growth and national security. Although it is difficult to mend the system overnight, particularly when society is stuck in the blind alley of bipartisanship and when democracys inherent spirit gets stymied by elites and multiple divisions, it is notable indeed that Trumps pre-election meetings were designed to give a badly needed healing touch that appealed to ordinary voters alienated by the more progressive stances of his opponents.

By avoiding the pitfalls of the left-ofthe-centre stances associated with progressive agendas, he crafted a narrative that prioritized tangible outcomes over ideological commitments. Moreover, Trumps understanding of the political landscape is evident in his campaign strategies. He adeptly identifies key issues that resonate with his base while simultaneously reaching out to moderates who may prioritize economic stability over social justice initiatives. His rhetoric often emphasized themes such as job creation, and American exceptionalism elements that are designed to evoke a sense of nostalgia and pride among voters. This calculated approach not only solidifies his support among loyalists but also creates an inviting space for undecided voters. In this way, Trumps political tactics reflect a nuanced understanding of voter sentiment that transcends mere showmanship. Trumps election campaign team included many stars from the very unassuming Susie Wiles to tycoons like Elon Musk.

It is already being said that Musk is the architect of Trumps victory, hence credit goes to him for adeptly making new narratives of plausible change personified by Trump rather than restoration of Biden or Obama policies. Trump himself admitted the contribution of Musk in his victory speech. However, Musks entry into direct politics is not novel because many CEOs before him have ventured into politics, which shows how the political economy remains closely aligned with big business. It was obvious that most business tycoons including Amazons Jeff Bezos would quickly praise Trump. However, behind the story of Trumps win, a new star was born. That was Musk, who strategically used social media platforms to persuade a majority of voters with his rhetoric of change that means industry, business and profitability for companies.

Recently, Garrett Nelson, an analyst with CFRA Research, opined in a note, In our view, Tesla and CEO Elon Musk are perhaps the biggest winners from the election result, and we believe Trumps victory will help expedite regulatory approval of the companys autonomous driving technology. It clearly reflects that Trumps second innings is a facade behind which calculated steps were responsible for boosting the competition in the thriving auto industry thereby raising Teslas stock price. It was not big data or voter turnout models, but rather voters confidence in the authenticity of Musks propaganda that succeeded in fostering a palpable sense among the youth and veterans alike that a golden chapter was about to commence.

However, there are many challenges before Trump, first and foremost because reforming systems of governance and external relations within a four-year timeframe is simply absurd even though he could implement some transformative policies during the second innings of his presidency. However, the so-called epiphany effect stemming from these policy shifts, unless neutralised with sobering adjustment, might engender confusion both domestically and internationally, as citizens grapple with the contradictions between expectations for concrete benefits and the reality of fluctuating stances on critical issues. This dissonance is likely to demoralise voters who may have anticipated a clear trajectory towards improvement. Furthermore, the implications of such erratic policy changes might undermine the cohesion and resolve of security alliances like Nato, which remains predominantly defensive vis-a-vis increased Russian aggression.

The inability of the US leadership to adopt a more assertive posture against regional hegemons such as Iran might further complicate the quest for resolution of the humanitarian crisis in Palestine and Lebanon. This was evident when instead of engaging with Tehran, Trump withdrew impatiently from the nuclear pact in 2019 leaving the situation in unaddressed precarity. Even the potential for Trump to pivot towards less consequential matters raises concerns about wasted opportunities for substantive engagement on pressing challenges, especially political ecology or immigration. At the end of the day, can America be oblivious to the fact it is a nation of immigrants?

So why unduly securitise it while taking up superficial initiatives or ceremonial events like foreign visits or festive gatherings at the White House  that do little to address the underlying domestic discontent? This inclination towards focusing on petty issues not only risks alienating constituents seeking meaningful change but also diminishes US credibility on the world stage. As international relations become increasingly complex, American leadership must ponder over what Franklin Roosevelt said, The Presidency is not merely an administrative officeIt is pre-eminently a place of moral leadership.

(The writers are, respectively, Professor, Department of Political Science, Sidho-KanhoBirsha University, and Associate Professor (Retd.), Chandernagore Govt. College.)
Historical events through 2023 and 2024, and the shaping of politics and diplomacy, are providing intriguing insights into our world, bridging the past with a violent, volatile present. Widely reported in the global media is the mind-numbing, incessant and most intense bombing campaigns of Israel in Gaza. Israel said it struck at least 12,000 targets from 7 October to 1 November 2023, not sparing hospitals, schools, mosques, churches. Al Jazeera reported that by 25 October, just 19 days into the assault, Israeli attacks kill ed at least 7,028 people, including 2,913 children, in Gaza.

Residents, including children, who had taken shelter in the Church of Saint Porphyrius, were killed in the bombings. Saint Porphyrius in Gazas Old City is considered the third oldest church in the world. Built in 425 CE, it offered sanctuary to many Christian and Muslim residents of Gaza. Over the last 20 years, since 2003, the axis of destruction has been shifting when the Gulf War engulfed the entire region, with brief intense conflicts between Iraq and combined forces of the US and UK, and later, the US-led occupation of Iraq with the aim of dethroning Saddam Hussein. The mysterious weapons of mass destruction and the decadence of Saddams long reign became common knowledge; what is lesser known is the story of saving the cultural heritage in the aftermath of military actions in Iraq, once the ancient land of Mesopotamia, a rich and powerful civilization which flourished 5,000 years ago.

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The worlds first great cities emerged here, becoming major centres of knowledge, learning, trade and commerce. In The Burlington Magazine (December 2015), an editorial brings alive the role played by the British Museum during the traumatic Gulf War. Three weeks be  fore the war broke out John Curtis, then Keeper, Department of the Middle East, and Robert Springborg, of the Middle East Institute at the School of African and Oriental Studies, warned the Minister of Defence (Geoff Hoon) of the potential danger to the cultural heritage of military action in Iraq.

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Why had the Coalition not sought to protect Baghdads National Museum? These and other questions about Iraq dominated a British Museum press conference, on 15 April 2003. It was under the leadership of the Museum Director Neil MacGregor that the Prime Ministers office was contacted with a request for immediate protection of key historical sites. With remarkable alacrity, MacGregor announced that British Museum would play a lead role within an alliance of five world-class museums (the Hermitage, St Petersburg; the Louvre, Paris; the State Museums in Berlin, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York) in providing Iraqs National Museum with assistance.

MacGregors sense of urgency, as The Observer rightly pointed out on 8 June 2003 had moved antiquities up the political agenda. He also drew media attention to the universal sense that what was being lost or desecrated in Iraq were not distant artifacts but a heritage and history that belonged to the whole world. From this time on, MacGregor would repeatedly state his belief that we are all becoming world citizens. This magisterial ability to focus on world heritage and joining the dots between yesterday, today and-tomorrow makes MacGregors chapter titled Thy Kingdom Come (in Living with the Gods) a compulsive read. By the rivers of Babylon ~ there we sat down; and there we wept / when we remembered Zion.

He began with Psalm 137 which saw a Jamaican reggae band, the Melodians, turn the lament of the Jews for their lost Jerusalem into a Rastafarian song of hope. Initially the Jamaican government found it dangerously subversive, only later realising the words were straight from the Bible. When the popular Boney M performed this song, it topped charts across Europe. Remembering Zion, as MacGregor pointed out, has been a subject not just of a song but of political action for over 2,500 years. The idea of Zion, a place remembered or imagined where the people of God could properly worship their God free from the tyranny of the powerful, became an enduring strand of Jewish thought, and later of all the Abrahamic faiths, he explained referring to Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

World citizens of today who can stomach gut-wrenching details, imagery of devastation and death unleashed by Israel, do recall that 70 per cent of Gazas population is composed of refugees of the 1948 Nakba, when an estimated 750,000 Palestinians were forced out of their homes by Zionist militias. What the relentless bombings are reviving are not just the memories of the Nakba 75 years ago, but brutalities and destruction in thancient lands of the last 3,000 years. Jerusalem itself, the Zion of song and longing in Babylon, is perhaps the single most bitterly contested patch of land in human history, wrote MacGregor.

Through his words the long span of global history unfolds: The tragic conflicts of today are only the latest phase of a continuum that stretches back over thousands of years and includes British and Babylonians, Arabs, Crusaders, Persians, Egyptians and, most systematically brutal of all, Roman. He wrote: In 587 BCE, Nebuchadnezzar, one of the greatest Kings of the Chaldean dynasty of Babylonia, conquered Jerusalem. He destroyed and plundered the Temple, the supreme focus of Jewish faith and ritual sacrifice which had been built and embellished around 400 years earlier by King Solomon.

Many thousands of Jews were deported to Babylon, by whose rivers the canals of the Euphrates they dreamt of the day when might return to the land of their fathers and worship in a rebuilt Temple. Until then they would endure their exile, repeat the plaintive question of the psalmist: How shall we sing the Lords song in a strange land? Timelines of the next 700 years are significant. By 539 BCE, Cyrus the King of Persia conquered Babylon; he allowed the deported Jews to return in joy to Jerusalem, to re  build the city and the Temple where worship and sacrifice resumed.

It seemed a miraculous deliverance, commented MacGregor, adding the experience of exile left a deep mark, spiritual as well as scriptural. By 60 BCE when the Romans had effectively taken control of the area around Jerusalem, a strategic crossroads between Egypt and Persia, a puppet Jewish King was installed who bowed to the Roman Kings and Gods, sullying the Jewish faith in the heart of the Temple, besides imposing heavy taxes on the people. The test of endurance for Jews continued for almost hundred years. They were advised by Jesus to remain accommodative and comprising.

MacGregor explained: Jesus took a Roman coin, showed the Emperors head on it and told his antagonists to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesars and to God the things that are Gods. In 66 CE, a great revolt against Roman military occupation broke out resulting in defeat for the Jews, and the total destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem by 70 CE. Romes victory over the Jews became for decades a central part of imperial propaganda. By 131 CE, simmering hatred of Jews towards their Roman rulers exploded into another war, with rebels fighting for an independent state: the Jewish rebel leader was Simon bar Kokhba.

From the British Museum collection, MacGregor weaves together the narrative through a clumsily-minted coin dating to 132 CE. The coin became instrumental in understanding turbulent centuries when people were being massacred, just as they are being ruthlessly bombed today. The coin in question is a rough and powerful statement, with an image of the Temple destroyed in the first Jewish revolt: it also carried the rebel leaders name on its edge, Shim on.

On the other side, Prof Mary Beard of Cambridge University explained, there are palm branches and in Hebrew script the words, For the liberation of Jerusalem. Not just a coin, she felt it was an aggressively propagandist coin, minted by rebels of the second great revolt. For MacGregor the coin has a key message: the miracle of deliverance from oppression, and of restoring worship in the Temple. The promise of Shimon bar Kokhba and his coin was that it could happen again. The occupier could be driven out. Zion could be restored. The story of Shimon bar Kokh ba had its heroic but tragic end, even though he created a small State of Beth Israel before being decimated by the mighty Roman armies in 135 CE.

Emperor Hadrian wiped off buildings, culture and memories of the Jewish revolt, giving off the lands to the enemies of Jews, the Philistines. Jerusalem simply ceased to exist; at the Temple where Jehovah was once worshipped, now the Roman God Jupiter and the Emperor were celebrated. MacGregor ended the section, with prophetic words, For the Romans and for the Jews, it had become impossible to separate politics and religion. For world citizens today, after the attack by Hamas and Israeli invasion from October 2023 onw  ards, it has become impossible not to shed tears for the 40,000 killed in the Gaza Strip, as reported by UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

(The writer is a researcher author on history and heritage issues and a former deputy curator of Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya)
The Centres Department of Fisheries and the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Hyderabad are organizing a workshop on the application and demonstration of drone technology in fisheries and aquaculture at ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) in Keralas Kochi on Friday.

The NFDB, along with innovative startups, will deliver a presentation highlighting the transformative potential of drone technology in the fisheries and aquaculture sector.

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The event will conclude with a live drone demonstration on various Drone applications in fisheries like fish transportation, fish feed dispensing, and life jacket dispensing for rescue operations etc.

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The workshop will offer a distinctive platform to highlight innovative technological advancements, focusing on the pivotal role of drone technology in transforming the fisheries sector and maximising its potential. It is expected that more than 700 fishermen and fisherwomen will participate in the event.

The initiative is part of the Prime Ministers Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) which aims at fostering sustainable, economically viable and inclusive growth in the fisheries and aquaculture sector. Drones offer innovative solutions to a variety of challenges in the fisheries sector, with key applications in water sampling, disease detection, monitoring activities, feed management, and fish transportation. Additionally, drones support precision fishing and stock assessment.

The session will be preceded by the distribution of Cadalmin BSF PRO, a specially formulated fish feed designed to support sustainable aquaculture practices for fish farmers. In addition, a booklet, titled EG Sailas Center of Excellence, will also be launched, highlighting key advancements and contributions to the field.

Furthermore, the session will mark the official launch of the Marine Biological Association of India (MBAI) National Symposium, an event aimed at fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing among marine science professionals across the nation.

The Department of Fisheries with technical support of DG Shipping, Ministry of Shipping, Ports and Waterways, is also organising a One-Day Interactive Workshop on 8th November 2024 (9:30 AM) at Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training (CIFNET), Kochi, to deliberate upon the issues of registration, survey, and certification of Fishing Vessels. The major objective of the workshop is to provide handholding support to the Department of Fisheries of the coastal State/UTs, to function as the Registrar of Fishing Vessels, and the required expertise to undertake the technical fitness assessment of the fishing vessels which is a prerequisite for the grant of registration or renewal of registration of fishing vessels.
In a major development, Canadian Police have arrested the main organiser of the violent Khalistani protest in connection with the November 3 attack on a Hindu temple in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

According to a statement from the Peel Regional Police (PRP), the arrested individual has been identified as 35-year-old Inderjeet Gosal of Brampton. He was allegedly involved in the attack. The police said Gosal has been charged with Assault with a Weapon.

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Investigators from the 21 Division Criminal Investigations Bureau and Strategic Investigation Team (SIT) have arrested and charged another individual involved in the violent demonstration at a Brampton Mandir the individual has since been identified as 35-year-old Inderjeet Gosal of Brampton. On November 8, 2024, he was arrested and charged with Assault with a Weapon. He was released on conditions and is to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton at a later date, the statement said.

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The PRP further stated that Investigators continue to analyze hundreds of videos of the incidents and are working to identify additional suspects involved in criminality and anticipate further arrests.

Gosal is believed to be a close aide of Khalistani extremist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. He reportedly replaced Hardeep Singh Nijjar as the so-called Khalistan Referendums main organiser in Canada. Nijjar was killed by unidentified gunmen in June last year.

The arrest comes days after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau admitted the presence of Khalistani supporters in Canada. Trudeau, who has accused the Government of India of involvement in Nijjar killing, said that there are supporters of Khalistan in Canada but they dont represent the entire Sikh community in the country.
In a major development, Canadian Police have arrested the main organiser of the violent Khalistani protest in connection with the November 3 attack on a Hindu temple in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

According to a statement from the Peel Regional Police (PRP), the arrested individual has been identified as 35-year-old Inderjeet Gosal of Brampton. He was allegedly involved in the attack. The police said Gosal has been charged with assault with a weapon.

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Investigators from the 21 Division Criminal Investigations Bureau and Strategic Investigation Team (SIT) have arrested and charged another individual involved in the violent demonstration at a Brampton Mandir the individual has since been identified as 35-year-old Inderjeet Gosal of Brampton. On November 8, 2024, he was arrested and charged with Assault with a Weapon. He was released on conditions and is to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton at a later date, the statement said.

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The PRP further stated that Investigators continue to analyze hundreds of videos of the incidents and are working to identify additional suspects involved in criminality and anticipate further arrests.

Gosal is believed to be a close aide of Khalistani extremist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. He reportedly replaced Hardeep Singh Nijjar as the so-called Khalistan Referendums main organiser in Canada. Nijjar was killed by unidentified gunmen in June last year.

The arrest comes days after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau admitted the presence of Khalistani supporters in Canada. Trudeau, who has accused the Government of India of involvement in Nijjar killing, said that there are supporters of Khalistan in Canada but they dont represent the entire Sikh community in the country.
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.

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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.

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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.
Security was stepped up outside the High Commission of Canada in New Delhi on Sunday as a group of Hindu Sikh Global Forum staged a protest near the place, opposing the attack on a Hindu temple in Canada.

The protestors who took to streets in the Chanakyapuri, were headed towards the Canadian Embassy, but were stopped by the police.

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Those who staged the protest represented the coalition of Hindu and Sikh communities, marching together to show their displeasure at the recent attack, and have demanded stringent action against perpetrators of such incidents.

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President of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Sewa Dal, and a known social worker Jitender Shunty who was also part of the protest, raised concerns about such incidents, allegedly targeting the Hindu and Sikh communities.

He strongly objected to separatists ideology and said that, we are here to tell that we are all together, and a true Sikh wants the tricolor and our country to be respected always.

Shunty said, Indias Sikhs stand with India and do not support Khalistan.

Meanwhile, there have been a series of incidents targeting Hindu temples in Canada, while the latest one took place in Brampton on November 4, which was heavily criticised.

Canadian Hindus had also recently held a massive rally against attacks by Khalistani extremists on temples, pressing Canadian politicians and law enforcement agencies not to give further support to Khalistanis.
The face of modern Britain keeps changing. Last time, the Tory prime minister of Great Britain had an Indian face. Now, the Tory party leader has a Nigerian face. Kemi Badenoch, 44, is the new leader of the Conservative Party, which Rishi Sunak led to its worst defeat in British parliamentary history. A spectacular blow by a descendant of a former colony on Winston Churchills party.

Born in London to Nigerian parents, Badenoch rose from obscurity to become a combative believer in conservative values: anti-immigration, anti-woke, pro-family, lower taxes, and small state. Conservatives advocate small governments that dont regulateuntil they want governments to become big and bail out businesses too big to fail. She was business secretary in Sunaks government. Badenoch says Britain is not a dormitory for migrants to come here and make money. In his unauthorised biography of Badenoch, author Michael Ashcroft says she became radicalised into rightwing politics as a reaction to English university students whom she described as spoiled, entitled, privileged, metropolitan elites-in-training. Some call her the saviour of conservatism.

A self-proclaimed straight-talker who tells hard truths, Badenoch declared, I never have gaffes, I never have to clarify. She criticised excessive maternity pay and contended 50,000 civil servants should be in prison because they are very, very bad, leaking documents and undermining ministers. She had to clarify her gaffe was a joke.

Illustration: Deni Lal

Still, Badenoch has more allure than the other Tory leadership contestants. The moderate, uncontroversial Tom Tugendhat was knocked out early. Indian-origin former home minister Priti Patel was described as a piranha by her own husband. Former foreign minister James Cleverlywhose mother is Sierra Leoneanmade an unclever joke about using the date rape drug Rohypnol. Another aspirant, Robert Jenrick, a diehard Margaret Thatcher fan, gave his daughter the middle name Thatcher. But now, Thatchers Tories is a shambles.

Badenoch must reunite a fractious, weakened party, crushed from 365 MPs to 121 in the July elections. Tories are ignored by media, their press releases unread, their speeches unreported. Commentators say the Conservative campaign headquarters now resemble a ghost ship. As opposition leader, Badenoch will be in the limelight criticising the Labour government, which is battling several self-inflicted woes. But her biggest challenge is to regain public trust after 14 years of Tory misrule, scandals and outrageous silliness. She must attract young voters and stop Nigel Farages rightwing Reform UK party from stealing Conservative voters and agenda.

As an engineer, Badenoch says she knows how to fix problems and get stuff done. Nobody expects the diminished Tory party to return to power anytime soon to be fixing problems, mostly created by their own incompetence. Badenochs streak of independencedefying Brexit hardliners or shunning sycophancy, has won her respect. But she is also seen as scrappy and thin-skinned, getting embroiled in trivial quarrels, divisive on gender politics, vague on details with a penchant for policy-light speeches. A senior Tory member described her as high reward but high risk.

Badenoch believes only some migrants should be allowed into Britain because not all cultures are equally valid. British xenophobes agree. Badenoch, who spent her formative years in Nigeria, faces racism, disdain and condescension that Sunak didinsinuations that they dont get British culture. And yet, here they are. Brexiteers championed Britain going global by resurrecting visions of the empire. Instead, the face of Britain goes Asian and African. This is not what the Tories meant when they coined the Brexit sloganGlobal Britain.

Pratap is an author and journalist.
What with all the apps delivering straight to ones doorstep, the supermarkets, the food halls and even the occasional (super-expensive) pop-up thela (cart) offering the woke from field-to-fork option, the good old veggie-market/mandi has fallen off my regular beat. But I love the energy and the atmosphere of a hardcore street market, and I have many fond memories of being my mothers packmule, trotting back loaded down with fresh yummy veggies (spread evenly into two plastic baskets to balance the weight) while she strutted ahead, bright-eyed and flushed with the joy of a good bargain.

So, this Diwali, I, along with an NRI pal, visited the weekly market that is held fairly close to our home outside Bengaluru to soak up some of those old-school vibes. It was more crowded than we remembered, and more exotic (lots of dragon fruit and rambutan happening), and, of course, nobody was giving away chillies and coriander bunches for free. But what really made us do a double-take was the cries of the street vendors.

At first glance it was the same familiar scene, men standing next to their carts calling out prices and describing the virtues of their goods as shoppers walked by. Sometimes they hail the passing throng to get a laugh, calling hey, college-going akka to flatter you, or tomatoes as red as your cheeks, amma or oye, stylish guy on the phone, and so on. The old hassi toh phassi (if I can make the person laugh, I have hooked him/her) really applies at vegetable markets, indeed at all street markets. But, then, we realised that the street market had discovered artificial intelligence (AI).

Illustration: Deni Lal

Sure, there were energetic cries coming thick and fast from the knot of carts heaped high with apples, but nobody was actually mouthing them. Instead, there was a speaker attached to every cart, blaring a recorded chant at passing crowds while the vendors themselves lounged about on folding chairs, avoiding eye contact, and pulling on cigars. My friend chose to look at this development optimistically, marvelling at Indian innovation and how it made complete sense for the vendor to not strain his voice needlessly at the market. Besides, this levels out the playing field for those who are not so extroverted, she said, after all, it is not the street vendors job to put on a colourful performance and flirt with every passing aunty in need of an ego boost!

What to even say? Maybe Im just an aunty in need of an ego boost, but I didnt like the averted gazes of the vendors and the robotic, impersonal street cries. I felt they had robbed us bothvendor and buyerof a moment of human connection, where we would meet, chat, sass a bit back and forth, come to an agreement that suited us both, and close by wishing our families a happy Diwali. Arrey, maybe he cant be arsed yelling all day and chatting with you, my friend said, He would rather sell his stock quick, go back home and hang with his fam.It is alienation, I stuck to my guns, We are being forced into silos. A wedge is being driven between him and me, thanks to this stupid, recorded aapal-aapal-aapal. My friend replied tartly, You should have thought of that before you succumbed to the convenience of shopping app deliveries and left the market men high and dry. Now, dont cry me a river about the pleasures of slow-living and the sorrow of sundered connections!

Which is also a good point. So I dropped the subject, switched on my electric candles, banged out my stencil rangoli, played my aarti off YouTube, and ate my store-bought mithai. Happy Diwali.

editor@theweek.in
Access to quality health care is a fundamental right enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution. But, in a country as vast and diverse as Bharat, ensuring equitable access to health care for all remains a formidable challenge.

Government hospitals, which for the economically disadvantaged are generally the only option for treatment, are burdened by overwhelming number of patients, leading to longer wait times and overextended staff. On the other hand, while private hospitals offer advanced medical care, their services remain out of reach for many, mainly due to the high costs.

The Ayushman Bharat Scheme, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, on September 11, 2018, has been a transformative initiative aimed at bridging the health care gap. By providing a comprehensive health insurance coverage of up to Rs5 lakh annually to the economically disadvantaged individuals, the scheme ensures that even the poorest citizens have access to quality medical care, in government or private hospitals, without the burden of exorbitant costs.

An Ayushman Bharat centre in Jharkhand | Shutterstock

In the past six years, the Ayushman Bharat scheme has made remarkable progress in expanding the access to health care. Over 35.4 crore Ayushman cards have been issued across 33 states and Union territories, bringing crucial health insurance to millions. By September 2023, over 7.8 crore hospital admissions have been approved, providing financial coverage exceeding Rs1 lakh crore. More than 30,000 hospitals, both private and government, have been empanelled across the country.

In a historic announcement, on October 29, Modi ji extended the benefits of the Ayushman Bharat scheme to all senior citizens above 70, regardless of their economic background. This announcement, made on the auspicious day of Dhanteras, promises to support over six crore senior citizens across 4.5 crore families. With this announcement, the scheme now addresses the critical need for accessible health care among a vulnerable age group that often faces complex health issues and higher medical expenses.

Despite the widespread adoption and success of the scheme across Bharat, including in non-BJP governed states, the people of Delhi and West Bengal remain unfairly deprived of its benefits. The AAP government in Delhi and the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal have chosen to oppose the implementation of the scheme without any sound or valid justification, driven solely by political animosity towards Modi ji. The refusal of these two state governments, motivated by partisan agendas, denies their citizens the same rights and protections that are enjoyed nationwide, thereby clearly violating their right to equality under Article 14 of the Constitution.

It is a striking irony that while people from across Bharat can come to Delhi and receive treatments under the scheme, the very residents of Delhi are denied the same rights. The people of Delhi are being denied equitable access to health care in their own city.

The decision to deny Ayushman Bharat in Delhi and West Bengal is not merely an oversight, it is a blatant disregard for the health care rights of its citizens. By withholding this life-changing/life-saving support, the governments of these states have created a scenario where political differences are placed above the wellbeing of the very people they are meant to serve.

Every Bharatiya deserves the right to an affordable and quality health care, irrespective of where they live or who governs their state.

Bansuri Swaraj is Lok Sabha MP from New Delhi.
Aastha Arora, Indias one-billionth baby, turned 24 on May 11. The world's eight-billionth babies will turn three on November 15. There were two claimantsone born in the Philippines, the other in the Dominican Republic.

All these are guess work. We have no real count of the people breathing at this moment on the Indian earth. A guesstimate is, there are close to 1.5 billion.

Thats the statisticians nightmare. It took several millennia for us to number one billion. Now in a quarter century we have added half a billion. We will be two billion in still shorter time.

Our last headcount was in 2011, and the next due in 2021 when Covid came in the way. Covid has since gone; we celebrated three more Diwalis, Eids, Guru Purnimas, Christmases and a G-20 summit, held a general election and several assembly rounds but are yet to hold the headcount. Now the home office tells usstand up, and be counted next year.

Imaging: Deni Lal

That will be a Malthusian nightmare. The way things are going, headcount 2025 could be nastier and noisier than even the 1961 round. That was when the Akalis, seeking a separate Punjab, asked their people to respond to census queries in Punjabi, while the Arya Samajis and the Jan Sanghis asked all and sundry on the Indus plains to speak in Hindi.

Language is no longer an emotive issue except occasionally when some of our Delhi rulers forget that Hindi is not the national language but only an official language of the Union along with English. Last week Union Minister Ravneet Singh wrote to Rajya Sabha member John Brittas in Hindi and received a reply in Malayalam. Brittas was taking a page from the book of his departed comrade E.K. Nayanar. As CM of Kerala in 1990, Nayanar received a letter in Hindi from his UP counterpart Mulayam Singh Yadav. He replied in Malayalam.

The north-south rift these days is less over the tongue, and more over the heads. The head-count, rather.

It has been the endeavour of all those who ruled or led India since the days of Sanjay Gandhi that we should make fewer babies. Sanjay used the surgeons scalpel to spread his message; others have been gently urging and nudging. Now two southern rulers are sayingenough of this! North, you have been cheating!

Many political economists have been dreading this momentwhen the population issue would become a political hot potato.

What is the population issue? Simple. Couples in the south had been listening to the urges and nudges of family welfarists and making fewer babies, whereas northern couples were carrying on regardless.

Now, Andhras Chandrababu Naidu and Tamil Nadus M.K. Stalin fear that there will soon be fewer boys and girls in their schools, fewer hands in their farms and factories, and fewer whiz-kids in their cyber labs. Kerala is already on its way towards becoming a land of aged couples who made few babies when they could. Most of those few kids, now into their youth, have left seeking better colleges and jobs elsewhere. To avoid Keralas fate, Naidu and Stalin want their people to make more babies.

Their fears are two-fold. One, they see the northern states cornering more of the development funds citing they have more people to care for. Two, next years headcount will be followed by a long-frozen delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies in 2026. With more people to be represented, northern states will gain several more seats and the south none or few. North will dominate governance.

Indias rulers assure things will be fair. But how? No one has a suggestion, let alone an answer.

prasannan@theweek.in
Indian readers have long known William Dalrymple as the chronicler nonpareil of India in the early years of the British raj. His latest book, The Golden Road, is a striking departure, since it takes him to a period from about the third century BC to the 12th-13th centuries CE. What Greece was first to Rome, then to the rest of the Mediterranean and European World, argues Dalrymple, so at this period India was to southeast and central Asia and even to China. That this argument is not commonly associated with a foreign scholarand has been assumed, wrongly, to be the sole domain of the vishwaguru school of hindutva historymakes it all the more compelling reading.

It is fair to say that conventional wisdom tends to focus on ancient Indiathe glories of the Vedas and the Puranas, the flourishing of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, and the triumphs of a handful of emperors, notably Chandragupta, Ashoka, Kanishka and Vikramadityafrom a fairly insular perspective, confining their impact to the subcontinent and largely omitting their influence on the rest of the world. It is also widely assumed that by the sixth or seventh century CE a national decline had set in, leaving India vulnerable to the Islamic conquests that began with the invasion of Sind by the youthful Arab general Mohammed bin Qasim in 712 CE.

Dalrymple transforms this narrative by focusing on Indias external relations. And rightly so: trade between the Roman Empire and India was so considerable that, he says, customs revenues generated perhaps a third of the total income of the Roman treasury. Roman senators debated the fondness of their women for Indian muslins, jewels and spices, lamenting that Romes fortunes were largely sunk in Indiaindeed, Indian museums contain more Roman coins than any country outside the Roman Empire. Recent excavations of Roman amphorae and artefacts at Pattanam in Kerala point to extensive trade relations between Rome and the southern tip of India well before the birth of Christ.

William Dalrymple | PTI

So what is the Golden Road? Dalrymple conceives of it not as a land route but a number of sea lanes, which Indian sailors used, aided by strong seasonal monsoon winds, to cross westwards to the Arab world or eastwards to Sumatra and Java in todays Indonesia. They took with them goods, intellectual discoveries like mathematics, philosophy and astronomy, and, of course, religion and spiritual ideas. Their travels spread Buddhism to Sri Lanka, Tibet, China, Central Asia and beyond, and Hinduism to southeast Asia, where its impact is still to be found, not just in the Hindu island of Bali, but in cultural practices and references in countries that today practise other faiths.

So to this day, the kings of Thailand are crowned in the presence of Brahmin priests, and are named Rama in continuation of the Ramayan tradition; the current monarch, Vajiralongkorn, is styled Rama X. Similarly, the Muslims of Java still bear Sanskritised names, despite practising Islam; Garuda is Indonesias national airline, and the Ramayana its best-selling brand of clove cigars; the largest Hindu temple in the world, Angkor Wat, is in Cambodia; and even the Philippines has produced a pop-dance ballet about Ramas quest for his kidnapped queen.

If the world speaks of Arabic numerals, it is because the Golden Road took Indian mathematical concepts to the Caliphs in Baghdad, from where Europeans got them. Dalrymple quotes the Qazi of Toledo, in then-Islamic Spain, writing in an intellectual history of the world in 1068: Over many centuries, all the kings of the past have recognised the ability of the Indians in all the branches of knowledge. The Indians are the essence of wisdom the Indians have made great strides in the study of numbers and geometry they have surpassed all in their knowledge of medical science.

These are points I have often tried to make, while arguing that there is much to be proud of in the accomplishments of our ancestors without needing to buy into hindutva delusions about pushpak vimans and other fantasies. Theres much more in The Golden Road to reward the Indian reader; this column barely skims a fraction of Dalrymples findings. It is a must-read.

editor@theweek.in
Different retirement ages for pilots of Air India and those of Vistara could be a potential issue, with reports suggesting that a section of the flying officers are unhappy as the merger between both carriers gets underway this week.

Formerly owned by the government, Air India came under the Tata fold in 2022. The latest merger with Vistara, which is supposed to be concluded later this week, has also raised questions regarding the confusion about the retirement of pilots.

As of now, the retirement age for pilots and staff is 58 years at Air India and 60 years at Vistara. Current DGCA regulations allow pilots to fly up to the age of 65. Reports say that management has yet to provide a statement regarding the same to clear any brewing discord.

"While the management was prompt in bringing parity in terms of salary structure and other working conditions of the employees of the two airlines as part of the merger process, it is yet to address the issue of two different retirement age limits," an anonymous source told PTI.

ALSO READ | Air India Express muses new international flights to Bangkok, GCC from tier-2 cities

Will Singapore Airlines' investment help transform Air India?

Singapore Airlines recently announced that it would invest Rs 3,194.5 crore in the merged Air India entity.

This adds to the merger consideration of 49 per cent interest in Vistara and Rs 2,058.5 crore in cash from Singapore Airlines (SIA) in exchange for a 25.1 per cent stake in the merged carrier.

ALSO READ | Kerala GST body slaps taxes on Adanis Thiruvananthapuram airport pact

"SIA's additional capital injection is expected to be Rs 3,194.5 crore (about SGD 498 million), based on Tata's funding to Air India to date. This will occur after the completion of the merger and within November 2024 through subscription to new Air India shares," read a statement by Singapore Airlines.
The Kerala bench of the GST Authority for Advance Ruling (AAR) ruled that the concessionaire agreement between the AAI (Airport Authority of India) and Adani Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Ltd is liable to GST since it is not a transfer of business but supply of services.

This ruling is in direct conflict with rulings passed by the Appellate Authority for Advance Ruling (AAAR) in Rajasthan and Gujarat regarding the transfers of Jaipur and Ahmedabad airports, respectively. These state bodies exempted GST on almost identical transfers.



Back in March 2023, the Rajasthan bench of AAR said that the considerations received from the transfer of running business of whole airport operations are a tax neutral supply, which could persuade similar transfers in other locations in India. However, the almost identical agreement between Adanis airport arm and AAI is now treated differently.

ALSO READ | GST Collection: Which Indian states collected the most tax in the festival month of October?

The 2021 handover of the Thiruvananthapuram airport was met with strong political opposition from both the ruling left LDF and opposing UDF alliances. However, it garnered local support in Thiruvananthapuram when social media groups, including IT professionals and residents, actively lobbied for better amenities, which, according to them, were allegedly absent in the capital city airport when compared to the PPP facilities at Cochin International Airport.

According to GST law, the transfer of a business as a going concern, as a whole or an independent part thereof, is considered a service, and such supplies are exempt from the goods and services tax. The Rajasthan AAR ruled in 2023 that the 2021 Jaipur Airport pact was a transfer of going concern and, therefore, GST exempt.

Did Thiruvananthapuram get the short end of the stick?

In 2021 and 2022, both Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh benches of AAR also ruled that business arrangements between AAI and airport proceeds in a similar manner were covered under transfer of going concern.

However, the invoice raised by AAI for reimbursement of salary and staff cost on Adani Jaipur International Airport Ltd fell under supply of services and hence taxable at 18% under GST, as per the Rajasthan AAR ruling.

In contrast, the Kerala ruling for Thiruvananthapuram International Airport by the state AAR said that the deal did not constitute a transfer of business and, therefore, will not be treated as a transfer as going concern. It also noted that assets have not been transferred, and GST is payable on the amounts received as a consideration for leasing or supply of assets to the concessionaire, that is, Adani Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Ltd. These leased assets include critical aeronautical items required to operate the airport.

The Kerala AAR bench went even further and slapped GST on the annual concession fees charged by AAI from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Ltd as well.

Will the Kerala GST ruling hamper the development of Thiruvananthapuram International Airport?

Last month, Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL) announced a Rs 1,300 crore investment into the expansion of Thiruvananthapuram International Airport under the name Project Anantha.

With an aim to do a significant overhaul of the infrastructure by 2027, the expansion includes an extended renewal of the terminal, with a focus on Keralas culture and heritage. It remains to be seen what will happen to the plan now that there are tax implications in the mix.

AMRG & Associates Senior Partner Rajat Mohan noted Kerala AARs contrasting stance, saying, this discrepancy highlights the need for clearer guidance at a national level to ensure uniformity, as businesses navigating such transactions could face inconsistent tax treatment. The only similarity with the GST bodys treatment of the identical Jaipur deal was the 18 per cent GST levied on the invoices raised by AAI for reimbursement of salary and staff cost since they come under supply of services.
A top French army official hinted his country is interested in India's coveted Pinaka rocket system.

French Army Brigadier General Stephane Richou told ANI that they are in need of a multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) like the Pinaka system and are evaluating it.

The official said the French army is comparing Pinaka with similar systems offered by other countries.

The brigadier general, who was on a visit to India as part of bilateral meetings regarding the defence sector, said the ties between New Delhi and Paris is more than just a business partnership and it is a common future together.

This comes after Pinaka rocket system was discussed during CDS General Anil Chauhan's visit to France.

Pinaka rocket system, developed by DRDO, can reach a target that exceeds 75 km. It is manufactured by various companies, including Solar Industries, Larsen and Toubro, Tata and Ordnance Factory Board. One Pinaka MBRL can fire 12 rockets in 44 seconds.

Armenia has already ordered Pinaka rockets from India to defend itself against neighbouring Azerbaijan. Other nations have also expressed their interest.

Frace is the second largest importer of Indian defence equipment after the US. Earlier this year, French President Emmanuel Macron visited India and finalised a dealk to jointly produce defense equipment like helicopters and submarines for the Indian armed forces.
Controversial YouTuber Johnny Somali, whose real name is Ramsey Khalid Ismael, could face a ten-year jail term in South Korea as he is being investigated for drug abuse in the country. The incident comes after he sparked a public outrage for kissing a statue that represented Korean women who were victims of sexual slavery during the Japanese occupation of the country.

Sending shockwaves across South Korea, 24-year-old Johnny Somali made inappropriate dance moves in front of Seoul's Statue of Peace in Itaewon. The video that was streamed on October 9 also showed him kissing the statues. The 'Comfort Women' statue stood in honour of thousands of young Korean women who were forced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese military in the early decades of the 20th century. Mocking such a sensitive memorial was not taken lightly by the South Koreans.

Johnny Somali's controversial Asian tour

A serial offender, Somali had earlier created a similar row in Japan when he mocked random people at public places including metro trains by talking about the US dropping nuclear bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It had led to Japanese people openly confronting the YouTuber.

In another incident, the American reportedly broke into a hotel under construction and recorded himself repeatedly shouting Fukushima to construction workers. According to the Guardian, he was rearrested for filming without permission inside a restaurant in Osaka and playing loud music.

Johnny Somali faces the heat in South Korea

Several unverified Twitter images showed him being pushed and attacked in Seoul for disrespecting the statue. Making things worse, Somali is unable to leave South Korea as he is entangled in a drug-use investigation. If found guilty, he could face up to ten years in prison.

Intimidated by the gravity of the situation, Johnny Somali gave a public apology in Korean language with the help of a translator. Standing next to the statue and bowing as per the Korean culture dictates, Somali reportedly on November 7 said, Im a young person, and I want to grow. I made a mistake I apologize and will no longer talk about or touch the statue.
In its first, Canada has detected a presumptive human H5 bird flu case in British Columbia. Health authorities confirmed that a teenager tested positive for avian influenza caused by the H5 influenza virus.

The confirmation of the virus came after healthcare officials sent samples to the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg.

The health officials are identifying those who had been in contact with the infected teen to "assess for symptoms and provide guidance on testing and prevention measures".

As per the statement, the source of exposure is "very likely to be an animal or bird." However, the health department has launched an investigation to find the source of the exposure.

The expert team involves Fraser Health, BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), the BCCDC Public Health Laboratory, BC Children's Hospital, the Office of the Provincial Health Officer, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

Dr Bonnie Henry, B.C.'s provincial health officer said in a statement that the incident was a "rare event".

According to the World Health Organisation, the H5N1 virus remains an animal virus that primarily infects animals. So far, around 900 human infections have been reported since 2003, of which more than half were fatal.

What is H5N1?

H5N1 is one of several influenza viruses that causes a highly infectious respiratory disease in birds called avian influenza (or "bird flu"). Infections in mammals, including humans, have also been documented.

H5N1 influenza virus infections were also reported among humans and can cause a range of diseases, from mild to severe. It can even be fatal.

The goose/Guangdong lineage of H5N1 avian influenza viruses first emerged in 1996 and has been causing outbreaks in birds since then. Since 2020, a variant of these viruses has led to an unprecedented number of deaths in wild birds and poultry in many countries.

Since 2022, there have been increasing reports of deadly outbreaks among mammals also caused by influenza A(H5)  including influenza A(H5N1)  viruses.

Symptoms of H5N1

The symptoms of H5N1 infection include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, conjunctivitis and other non-respiratory symptoms. The infection may progress quickly to severe respiratory illness and neurologic changes.

Is a vaccine available to prevent human infection with H5N1 viruses?

As part of their influenza pandemic preparedness work, some countries have developed vaccines that could be used for avian influenza viruses, including H5N1. Currently, human infections of H5N1 are limited and vaccines are not recommended.
The Mumbai Police on Sunday apprehended one of the shooters of Maharastra NCP leader Baba Siddique from Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich. Shiv Kumar, who allegedly pulled the trigger on Siddique, was arrested from Nanpara while he was trying to escape to Nepal.

The accused has been absconding since the murder last month. The Crime Branch of the Mumbai team also arrested four others for sheltering him and assisting him to escape to Nepal. Police identified Shiv Kumar's aides as Anurag Kashyap, Gyan Prakash Tripathi, Akash Srivastava and Akhileshendra Pratap Singh.

There are also unconfirmed reports that Shiv Kumar confessed to having worked for Lawrence Bishnoi's gang. He reportedly told police that he acted on the instructions of Anmol Bishnoi, who is said to be in Canada.

The Mumbai police said the probe team has six officers and 15 personnel. Shiv Kumar and the other accused are being brought to Mumbai, the officials added.

The Crime Branch team reached Lucknow last month after learning that Shiv Kumar Gautham had been contacting his girlfriend who lives in the city. The police also checked her call records to get hints about the whereabouts of Shiv Kumar. However, it later became evident that Gautham had stopped contacting her after he destroyed his old SIM card. The duo last met in August 2023.

The police had also cleared the woman's name, stating she had no role in the crime.
The decades old Naga insurgency appears to be at crossroads, particularly with the NSCN(IM) threatening to revive an armed struggle if core demands of a separate flag and Constitution are not met by the government. What is also gaining force is the demand of the Naga National Political Groups to ink a peace deal with the government in 2025 based on their charter of demands that largely rests on enduring, inclusive and peaceful co-existence.

While the NSCN(IM) is making desperate attempts to consolidate its lost strength in erstwhile base in Myanmar taking advantage of the internal strife with the help of some of its cadres, who slipped into Yunnan province of China in 2019, its isolation within Nagaland might put pressure on the outfit to either continue its talks with the government or break away from the peace talks to consolidate its lost strength to revive an armed struggle.

Senior government officials said the latter does not seem a high possibility as the numbers within are few and the outside support will need a local support base. At the moment, smuggling of arms and ammunition, targeted attacks on security forces and fuelling unrest in ongoing protests has been the modus operandi of armed insurgent groups in the northeast.

Over last one year, the threat from the NSCN(IM) has become more challenging for security forces who are aware of the presence of various cadres of the outfit camping close to the India-Myanmar border ever since talks between NSCN(IM) general secretary TH Muivah and then Nagaland governor and interlocutor RN Ravi picked up steam with the latter making it clear that any solution or peace accord will be within the framework of the Indian Constitution and demands like a separate flag and Constitution cannot be accepted.

With Naga interlocutor AK Mishra trying to chalk out a roadmap based on the proposals submitted by the NNPGs as well as the recommendations of the Nagaland government to make a possible headway next year, the reiteration of the government's stand by former Nagaland chief minister SC Jamir recently triggered a response by the NSCN(IM) warning a revivial of armed struggle.

Muivah, 90, is the chief political negotiator of the outfit as well and the chief architect of the framework agreement signed with the government in 2015. At a time when his health condition has taken him away from New Delhi to Hebron camp in Nagaland, the hardening of the outfit's stand is seen as the handiwork of the Myanmar-based cadres led by former Naga army chief Phunting Shimrang.

But back home, what Muivah and his aides are also staring at a generational change that has taken over the Naga insurgency movement that might bring more violence today but does not hold the grip it once had on the Naga people where children of some of the old generation leaders have moved to the hinterland for education and jobs rejecting the idea of violence and unrest.

When the government sits down to talk to the rebel group in coming days, it is this realisation of contemporary political realities" that may hold the key to thrashing out details of a political resolution as demanded by the outfit.

The complex relationship may have begun with the NSCN defending and protecting the Nagalim unique history, sovereignty and freedom, but slowly there is also a realisation that the common Naga interest lies irrespective of state boundaries, said a senior Naga leader.

Presently, Naga people and their lands lie in different administrative areas across states. There is a thinking among a wide range of Naga outfits, especially those represented by the Naga National Political Groups, that the Naga identity, heritage, culture must be allowed to flourish in all ancestral domains in Manipur, Assam or Arunachal Pradesh through concrete political processes. The need to build bridges with their neighbouring communities in these states may well override the sentiment of division, which once united the Naga groups, said a senior official of the NNPG.

The NNPG is a conglomerate of seven Naga outfits- GPRN/NSCN. NSCN Reformation, Naga National Council/FGN; NNC/Parent Body; NNC/GDRN; NNC/NPGN; NSCN-K and Zeliangrong United Front. The "agreed position" signed by the government and the NNPGs on November 17, 2017 paved the way for several rounds of negotiations. It said,"..the government of India recognises the political and historical rights of the Nagas to self determine their future in consonance with their distinct identity... the two entities agreed to work out the details of a relationship that is enduring, inclusive peaceful co-existence with due regard to contemporary political realities".

The challenge now is to bring other Naga outfits who are not part of the working committee of the NNPGs to support the peace talks in coming days and months. And the biggest insurgent outfits among these are the NSCN(IM); NSCN Niki; NSCN Khango; NSCN Akato; NSCN K Yung Aung and NSCN K Aung Mai.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address two rallies in poll-bound Jharkhand on Sunday and lead a mega roadshow in the capital city of Ranchi.

Modi will address a public rally in Bokaro at 10.30 am and another in Gumla at 1.00 pm. The 3-km roadshow from OTC Ground to New Market Chowk in Ranchi will be held at 3.15 pm, the state BJP said.

"PM Modi will hold a historic 3 km roadshow in Ranchi, where a large number of people are expected to show up. It will be a historic moment," Assam chief minister and BJP in-charge of Jharkhand polls told news agency ANI.

Prohibitory orders have been imposed in Ranchi from 6 am to 11 pm. The traffic police has issued an advisory, restricting entry of all small and big goods vehicles in the city between 2 pm and 8 pm.

Authorities have also declared a 'no flying zone' in the 200-meter radius of the stretch between Birsa Munda airport and Sahjanand Chowk in view of the roadshow.

In Bokaro, Modi will campaign for the Leader of the Opposition in the assembly Amar Kumar Bauri. He will seek votes for BJP candidate Sudarshan Bhagat in Gumla.

On November 5, Modi had addressed two rallies in Chaibasa and Garhwa, where he focused his campaign speech mainly on the alleged infiltration of Bangladeshi migrants into the state.

On Saturday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP president JP Nadda and other senior leaders of the party addressed multiple rallies. ongress leader Rahul Gandhi also addressed several rallies over the last two days.

The 81-member Jharkhand assembly goes to polls in two phases on November 13 and November 20. The votes will be counted on November 23.
With the first phase of polling set to take place on November 13 in Jharkhand, the war of words has escalated between the Congress and the BJP leaders. At root of the campaign by both the groupings, lies the tribal identity. The JMM-Congress alliance claims to represent it and protect their rights, the BJP is accusing the ruling dispensation of changing the demography of the state with outsiders settling here.

The campaign for the first phase polling on 43 seats will end on Monday evening. Both sides deputed their senior leaders to last minute impact. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP chief J.P. Nadda led the charge from the BJP, while Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Hemant Soren have gone into attacking mode.

Addressing rallies in the state, Home Minister Amit Shah accused the JMM-Congress government of corruption citing a number of cases against their leaders in the state. As Rahul Gandhi has been insisting on holding a caste census to give all the communities their due, Shah said the Congress was against the OBC and was dividing the society, instead wanted to give reservations to Muslims by cutting down on quota for the dalits, tribals and the OBCs.

In Maharashtra, a group of Ulemas sent a memorandum to the Congress party demanding 10 per cent reservation for Muslims, and the state president of the Congress party said that we will help you in this. I ask the people of Jharkhand that if Muslims get 10 per cent reservation, then whose reservation will be reduced?, Shah said during a rally in Jharkhand on Saturday.

Shah said Rahul Gandhi has insulted Baba Saheb Ambedkar and the Vidhan Sabha by waving a fake Constitution.

Gandhi who is leading the campaign from the INDIA Bloc side accused the BJP of trying to usurp the tribal identity. They call you (tribals) Vanvasi instead of Advasi so that you will be termed as residents of the forests with no rights over them, " Gandhi said.

The leader of opposition said that as OBCs, Dalits, tribals and minorities constitute 90 per cent of the population, yet their representation was less in the administrative, judicial, other wings of the government and even media. We will conduct a caste census to bring out the truth. We will increase reservation for all, be it OBCs, Dalits and tribals.

The tribal reservation will be increased from 26 per cent to 28 per cent, SC reservation from 10 per cent to 12 per cent and OBC 14 per cent to 27 per cent, Gandhi promised.

The election campaign has also become a competition in promising freebies. The BJP is promising to give Rs 2,100 to all the women every month, along with a gas cylinder for Rs 500, the Congress is promising Rs 2,500 and health insurance for Rs 15 lakhs.

BJP also promised to give Rs 2,000 per month to every youth. 5 lakh jobs will be created in 5 years and appointments will be made in a transparent manner on 2 lakh 87 thousand posts, Shah said.

Shah said the stamp duty will be reduced to Rs 1 on purchasing property up to Rs 50 lakh in the name of mothers and sisters and rehabilitation will be ensured before resettlement. Ten new medical colleges will be built and Jharkhand will be made corruption free. The monthly pension of old, widow and disabled people will be increased to 2,500 and internship and skill training centers will also be built in Jharkhand.

Rahul countered the BJP offer by saying that their government is going to give Rs 3,200 per quintal MSP to the farmers for paddy. Gas cylinder for Rs 450. College in every block and professional college at district level, 500 acre industrial park in every district and we are promising to give employment to one million youth here.

The competing narrative in the election campaign may have an impact on the polling percentage, one getting the benefit may form the government after November 23.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge came down heavily against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for their poll slogans and charged the BJP leaders are with those who killed the one who got us independence, referring to Mahatma Gandhi's assassination. Kharge released the Maha Vikas Agadis poll manifesto for the Maharashtra Assembly polls on Sunday.

Addressing presspersons after releasing the manifesto, Kharge slammed Adityanaths Batenge toh katenge (If divided, we perish) slogan. Kharge said, What does he (Adityanath) mean by this? 'Aap kisko kaatangey?'... Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed their lives to keep the country united.

Lashing out at the prime minister, Kharge said, Modi Ji says 'ek hain toh safe hain'. I don't know which slogan will work... You are among the people who killed the one who got us independence.

The Congress president also accused the BJP of spreading falsehood against Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi over the concise Constitution copy with red cover he carries and said PM Modi gifted a similar copy to former president Ram Nath Kovind in 2017.

Recently, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was trying to seek support from urban Naxals and anarchists by holding a red book in his hand.

However, Kharge said the red handbook was only used for reference and it was not the entire Constitution. Even Narendra Modi gave a similar copy to then President Ram Nath Kovind on July 26, 2017, the Congress leader said displaying a picture of the two leaders, PTI reported.

Taking a dig at PM, Kharge also displayed a red book of the Constitution, saying it was not blank as was being projected by Modi and the BJP. It is necessary to enroll him in a primary school again, the Congress leader said.
Protesting against the attacks on temples in Canada, the Hindu Sikh Global Forum members took out a march on Sunday to the Canadian High Commission in Delhi. Police stopped the protesters at the Teen Murti Marg, while they climbed up the barricades and gathered outside the Canadian embassy.

#WATCH | Delhi: People of the Hindu Sikh Global Forum on their way to the High Commission of Canada, Chanakyapuri, to protest against the attack on a Hindu Temple in Canada, were stopped at Teen Murti Marg by Police. pic.twitter.com/ONaXu46gJi  ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2024

Security was heightened outside the Canadian High Commission, in the Chanakyapuri area, in the wake of the protests.

According to police, barricading was done to ensure there was no breach of law and order. The visuals that circulated on social media platforms showed the protesters trying to scale the barricading.

ALSO READ | Sikh For Justice coordinator in Canada arrested for Brampton temple attack

"We have deployed additional forces and barricaded outside the High Commission of Canada following a protest march call. No one will be allowed to breach law and order," a senior police officer said.

#WATCH | Delhi: Security heightened outside the High Commission of Canada in Chanakyapuri as members of the Hindu Sikh Global Forum march towards it to protest against the attack on a Hindu Temple in Canada. pic.twitter.com/SvAT3iFoOJ  ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2024

The Hindu Sikh Global Forums protest comes after the temple attack in Brampton. On November 3, Hindu devotees, including women and children were attacked and assaulted with sticks outside the Hindu Sabha temple in Canada's Brampton by Khalistani extremists.

ALSO READ | For first time, Justin Trudeau admits presence Khalistani elements in Canada

There has been a series of violent incidents targeting Hindu temples in Canada.

The Hindu Sikh Global Forum, a coalition of Hindu and Sikh communities, organised the march demanding action against the rising temple attacks.

"An entire generation had been destroyed during militancy. They were either killed or they migrated to other countries. Then they introduced drugs to ruin the life of our young generation," Tarvinder Singh Marwah, President of the Hindu Sikh Global Forum told ANI.

He further added that additional efforts were made to disrupt the community's unity, including attempts at forced religious conversions.

"And now this new thing of attacking temples has started. This is wrong and unfortunate," he said.

Marwah said that a true Sikh can never be a Khalistani. If they want a separate nation, they should keep it limited to themselves. We want our tricolour and our country to be respected at all times.

Tensions between India and Canada worsened after Justin Trudeau's administration alleged Indias role behind the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Recently, Ottawa named Indian High Commissioner in Canada, Sanjay Verma and five other diplomats as "persons of interest" in the case. Canada had said that it has evidence to show Indias involvement in the Nijjar killing. However, India refuted Canadas claims and criticised Ottawa for ignoring Delhis warnings and welcoming people from India with links to organised crime.
Khalistan extremist Arshdeep Singh Gill alias Arsh Dalla, designated as a terrorist by India, has been arrested by Canadian police following a shooting incident.

Reportedly, Dalla has been wanted over the incident that took place on October 28 in Milton.

ALSO READ | Who is Inderjeet Gosal? Khalistani protest organiser arrested in Canada is a Gurpatwant Pannun ally

The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) had on October 29 said that it had arrested two men on charges of "discharging firearm with intent" following an investigation after the duo had come to a hospital, with one seeking treatment for a non-threatening gunshot and later discharged, reported PTI.

Dalla is considered a close aide of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar, a designated terrorist by India, was shot dead in Surrey city of British Columbia in June last year.

The sources told PTI that one of those arrested is believed to be Canada-based gangster Arsh Dalla.

"The HRPS Major Crime Bureau is now investigating and both males have been arrested. A 25-year-old male of Halton Hills and a 28-year-old male of Surrey BC have both been charged with Discharging Firearm with Intent," a Halton police statement said, adding they were actively investigating the incident.

Who is Arsh Dalla?

Born in Ludhiana, Arsh Dalla was designated as a terrorist by India in 2023. According to a gazette notification by the Home Ministry, Dalla is associated with the banned terrorist outfit Khalistan Tiger Force. He ran terror modules on behalf of Nijjar.

Dalla is accused of multiple charges including murder, extortion, terror financing, targeted killings, and cross-border smuggling of drugs and weapons.

According to the MHA notification, Dalla is an accused in various cases registered and investigated by the National Investigation Agency including disturbing communal harmony and creating terror among the people in the state of Punjab.

Notably, Punjab Police on Sunday announced the two shooters of Arsh Dalla's gang, who were allegedly involved in the murder of a Sikh activist last month, from Kharar in Mohali.

Gaurav Yadav, Director General of Police, said the arrest came in a joint operation of the state special operation cell, the Anti-Gangster Task Force and Faridkot Police.

The arrested were identified as Anmolpreet Singh alias Vishal, a resident of Bhadorh in Barnala and Navjot Singh alias Neetu, a resident of Nijjar Road in Kharar.

According to the police, Dalla tasked Navjot to target Gurpreet Singh Hari Nau, who runs a YouTube channel under the name of "Hari Nau Talks".
Accusing Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray of siding with those who insulted Hindutva leaders Veer Savarkar and Bal Thackeray, Union Home Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Amit Shah on Sunday said parties in the Maha Vikas Agadi are ideologically opposed to each other. Releasing the BJP's poll manifesto for Maharashtra Assembly polls, Shah challenged Thackeray whether he would ask Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to speak good words about Hindutva leader Veer Savarkar.

#WATCH | Mumbai: During the BJP's manifesto launch for #MaharashtraAssemblyElections2024, Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, " I want to ask Uddhav Thackeray from this stage, can he ask Rahul Gandhi to speak 2 good words about Veer Savarkar? Can any Congress worker speak 2 good pic.twitter.com/ROGIwXbFhH  ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2024

The Shiv Sena had earlier criticised Rahul Gandhi for his strong words against Veer Savarkar and had reportedly asked the latter to avoid speaking about the ideologue in such a derogatory manner.

Releasing the poll manifesto, Shah said, "I want to ask Uddhav Thackeray if he can request Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to say two good words for Veer Savarkar. The union minister asked can any Congress leader say a few words in honour of Balasaheb Thackeray. It would be good if the people of Maharashtra get to know those who have come out with the dream of forming an alliance government amidst such contradictions, PTI reported quoting Shah.

Shah said the BJP will not allow religion-based reservation to be implemented in the country and added it was against the Constitution. Criticising Congress leader Nana Patole for allegedly accepting demands of Ulemas leaders, Shah said, "An organization of Ulemas has demanded reservations for minorities, and the state Congress president Nana Patole acknowledged this. Are the people of Maharashtra in favour of giving their right of reservation meant for the SCs, STs and OBCs to the Muslims."

Releasing the poll manifesto, Shah said the BJP's resolutions are etched in stone and the party has fulfilled its promises wherever it has formed governments. Shah charged the opposition Congress and its allies have reneged on pre-election promises.

The union minister also criticised Nationalist Congress Party-SP leader Sharad Pawar and said he should tell the people of Maharashtra what was his contribution to them while he was a minister for 10 years in the UPA government.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday confirmed that he approved the pager attack in Lebanon targeting the Hezbollah group.

The pager attacks killed nearly 40 people and injured over 2,500 in Lebanon.

ALSO READ | Why did Netanyahu's confidant secretly visit Russia? Major breakthrough likely in ceasefire with Hezbollah

"Netanyahu confirmed Sunday that he greenlighted the pager operation in Lebanon," the Israeli PM's spokesperson Omer Dostri.

Netanyahu's admission comes days after Beirut lodged a complaint against Tel Aviv at the United Nations over the pager attacks.

The remotely triggered explosions that hit pagers and walkie-talkies carried by Hezbollah members in September were widely blamed on Israel, which till now did not confirm or deny involvement.

Lebanese labour minister Moustafa Bayram and other officials travelled to Geneva and formally filed a complaint against Israel at the International Labour Organisation.

This method of warfare and conflicts may open the way for many who are evading international humanitarian law to adopt this method of warfare, the minister said.

Its a very dangerous precedent, if not condemned, he said.

Meanwhile, with Republican leader Donald Trump winning the US presidential election, Netanyahu is hopeful of improving and further strengthening ties between both nations.

Netanyahu called Trump the "best friend Israel has ever had in the White House". In a statement Israel's PM said that he and Trump "see eye to eye" on the "Iranian threat" and the "danger posed by it".

Netanyahu said that the duo have spoken three times "in the last few days" - calling them "important conversations that were designed to build on the relationship between the two countries.
Qatar has stalled its efforts as a key mediator for Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas, the foreign ministry said on Saturday.

The Gulf country, however, asserted that it will resume those efforts when the two parties show their willingness and seriousness to end the war and the ongoing suffering of civilians in Gaza Strip.

There were reports that Qatar, which has been working alongside the United States and Egypt for months on fruitless talks between the warring sides in Gaza, had withdrawn from the median efforts.

Denying these reports, Dr Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari, Spokespoerson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Qatar will be at the forefront of making every good effort to end the war if the two sides show their willingness.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs @majedalansari : Qatar's efforts to mediate between Hamas and Israel are currently stalled #MOFAQatar pic.twitter.com/pvHFKuxqA2  Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) November 9, 2024

He said Qatar had informed both Israel and Hamas 10 days ago during the last attempt to reach an agreement, that it would stall its efforts of mediation if an agreement was not reached in that round.

The State of Qatar will not accept that mediation be a reason for blackmailing it, as we have witnessed manipulation since the collapse of the first pause and the women and children exchange deal, especially in retreating from obligations agreed upon through mediation, and exploiting the continuation of negotiations to justify the continuation of the war to serve narrow political purposes, Al Ansari said in a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA).

The spokesperson reiterated Qatar's commitment to supporting the Palestinian people until they obtain all their rights, foremost of which is their independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Al Ansari also dismissed media reports that it had warned Hamas that their Doha office no longer serves its purpose. He said the main goal of the office in Qatar was to be a channel of communication between the parties concerned, and this channel had contributed to achieving a ceasefire in previous stages.

On Friday, media reports said that the US had asked Qatar to expel the Hamas and that Doha had passed this message on to the group. Qatar has hosted Hamas political leaders since 2012 as part of a deal with the US.
The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, joined the rest of the British royal family at the annual Festival of Remembrance on Saturday evening, signalling a significant return to her public appearances.



Middleton joined other royals, including King Charles and her husband, Prince William, in the annual event hosted by the Royal British Legion to honour the nation's servicepersons and remember the ones who lost their lives in the line of duty.



Kate Middleton arrives at the event | AFP

The princess, who recently announced her cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy, arrived in an elegant black dress in her first high-profile event in weeks. Earlier, her husband told the media that the year had been the "hardest" one in his life.



The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance occurs every year on the Saturday evening of Remembrance weekend. Earlier last week, William spoke to the media, saying that 2024 has "probably been the hardest year in my life". Middleton, in September, revealed her cancer diagnosis to the world, saying that she will do what she can "to stay cancer-free." However, she is expected to make more public appearances in the coming months.



Visuals of Kate Middleton at the Remembrance event | AFP

The 42-year old was subject to abdominal surgery in January and later diagnosed with cancer. Last month, she made a surprise appearance to meet the victims' families of the Southport knife attack.



Kate Middleton, apart from being a major public figure in the UK, is an avid photographer and, quite surprisingly, a beekeeping enthusiast. She occasionally gifts people a jar of homemade honey.


Canada police have made the fifth arrest in connection with the Brampton temple attack that took place on November 3.

The arrested individual has been identified as 35-year-old Indrajeet Gosal, a resident of Brampton, Canadas Peel Regional Police said in a release.

According to reports, Gosal is the coordinator of the Sikh For Justice in Canada, a group which India has declared as a terrorist organisation.

For first time, Justin Trudeau admits presence Khalistani elements in Canada

The Peel Police said Gosal was arrested on November 8 and charged with assault with a weapon. He, however, was released on conditions and is to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton at a later date, they said.

Police said a Strategic Investigative Team has been formed to probe the violent incidents. Investigators continue to analyze hundreds of videos of the incidents and are working to identify additional suspects involved in criminality and anticipate further arrests, they added.

Footage shared by the Toronto-based Hindu Canadian Foundation showed men holding Khalistani flags and banners clashing with devotees at the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton, some of whom were holding Indian flags.

What happened at Brampton temple? MP says Canadian Khalistanis 'crossed the red line'

The incident, that came amid a long-standing diplomatic tension between India and Canada, drew strong reaction from New Delhi, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserting that such acts of violence will never weaken Indias resolve.

Reports said Gosal is a lieutenant of SFJ general counsel Gurpatwant Pannun. He was made the organiser of the referendum after Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed in June last year.

Modi condemns attack on Hindu temple in Canada, says such acts will never weaken Indias resolve

Canada has alleged the potential involvement of Indian agents in Nijjars killing, though New Delhi has dismissed the charges as absurd.

India, meanwhile, has been maintaining that Ottawa is giving space to pro-Khalistan elements operating from Canadian soil with impunity.
Donald Trump has already won the elections but as a cherry on the top now the US president-elect has brought home Arizona, a key battleground state, to the Republican fold.

With Arizona win, Trump now has 11 more electoral votes, taking his total in the Electoral College to 312. This is 42 more than the half-way mark of 270 votes. His Democrat rival and US Vice President Kamala Harris has 226 votes.

In 2016, when Trump won against Hillary Clinton, he bagged 306 votes, making his latest victory even more remarkable.

There are seven swing states and with a victory in Arizona, Trump has bagged all of them to seal his presidency.

Besides Arizona, the swing states or battleground states include Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. In 2020, he had lost all these states except North Carolina.

Pennsylvania has 19 electoral votes, while Georgia and North Carolina has 16 each, Michigan 15, Wisconsin 10 and Nevada six.

The victory in Arizona also reflects the support for Trump among Hispanic voters as well as among the conservatives. He campaigned by emphasising on issues like border security and economy to target the Biden administration and rival Harris.
The Ukrainian defence ministry has confirmed its soldiers engaging North Korean troops who have arrived to fight alongside the invading Russian forces. In what was officially described as a "small engagement" by defence minister Rustem Umerov, North Korean soldiers in Kursk were forced to run for cover after their positions were struck by artillery fire. However, the incident was "not isolated", he added.

This was the first direct attack on the Asian soldiers after their arrival to join the Russian war efforts, Kyiv reportedly said.

ALSO READ | Russia boosting North Korea's nuclear arsenal? What's Pyongyang getting in return for supplying troops for Ukraine war?

North Korean soldiers were deployed in Kursk Oblast where Russia and Ukraine are fighting a key battle. Kyiv launched an assault on Russian-held Kursk on August 6. This later proved to be instrumental in slowing down Russia's advancement and victory in the region holds the key to the future plans of both sides. It is in this background that Moscow decided to send 11,000 North Korean soldiers in the southern Kursk region.

How Ukraine ambushed North Korean-Russian alliance with shells

North Korean soldiers in Kursk are using Russian military uniforms, Kyiv has said. They are pressed into service after a few weeks of training. They are being taught to operate mortars, rifles, machine guns, and anti-tank missiles, the Ukrainian intelligence has reportedly learnt. Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy himself had said that the North Korean troops were being trained to use reconnaissance and strike drones, Business Insider said in a report.

According to the Ukrainian defence minister, it is usual for his forces to conduct reconnaissance missions in Kursk to locate Russian positions. In such missions carried out to locate targets for future strikes, scouts of the rivalling factions may spot each other, leading to brief engagements. It was one such "ordinary combat engagement" that happened to be Ukraine's first direct conflict with North Korean troops, Umerov said.

ALSO READ | Ukraines Zelenskyy urges allies to take action before North Korean troops reach the frontlines

Learning about various Russian locations where North Koreans were getting battle-ready were identified and struck with artillery, Business Insider quoted him as saying.

North Korean soldiers in Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday signed a treaty on the country's strategic partnership with North Korea which includes a mutual defence provision, enacting it into law.

The accord, announced 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. The decree making the partnership law appeared on an official website outlining legislative procedures. The treaty was ratified by Russia's parliament.

ALSO READ| What's Donald Trump's master plan to end Russia-Ukraine war?

"We have numerous reports of North Korean soldiers preparing to participate in combat operations alongside Russian Forces," Ukraine's top military commander Oleksandr Syrskyi wrote on Facebook on Saturday. Syrskyi said the situation in front-line sectors of the more than 2-1/2-year-old war with Russia remained "difficult and show signs of escalation".
Even before winning the US presidential election, Republican leader Donald Trump has repeatedly said that he has a peace plan that would end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

Reportedly, Trump's peace plan involves British and European troops.

By sweeping all the seven swing states, Donald Trump beat his Democratic rival Kamala Harris in the US presidential election.

Before assuming office in January 2025, Trump had said that he would kickstart the peace talks. Three of his camp's staffers drew an outline to the Ukraine peace plan, The Telegraph reported.

Whats Trumps master plan?

As per Trump's massive peace plan, ending the Russia-Ukraine war might see him calling on European and British soldiers to put in place an 800-mile buffer zone between Moscow and Kyiv's troops. His staffers noted that this would freeze the front line of the war at present.

Also, the plan would require Kyiv to set aside its NATO ambition for 20 years. In return, America will load up Ukraine's armoury to help the country dissuade Russia from reigniting the war.

Though the US will provide training, it made clear that it will not make any contribution towards troops for patrolling and enforcing the buffer zone. The US will not be providing financial assistance for this.

"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 Wall Street Journal quoted a Trump camp member as saying.

After Trump's election win, both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Trump.

Putin on Thursday extended congratulatory greetings to the Republican and said that he was "ready" to hold discussions with him.

"He turned out to be a courageous person. People show who they are in extraordinary circumstances. This is where a person reveals himself," Putin said referring to Trump's Pennsylvania assassination bid.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's Zelenskyy recalled the discussions the two leaders had in-depth to put an end to "Russian aggression against Ukraine". He added that he is hopeful of putting the discussed ways to action in ending the war.
A week after the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton was attacked by pro-Khalistani agitators on November 3, the principal organiser of the Khalistan referendum in Canada was arrested on Friday.

Identified as Inderjeet Gosal, the accused was arrested by Peel Regional Police in connection with the attack on the temple and devotees at The Gore Road in Brampton.

The attacker was slapped with assaulting with weapon charge and later released under certain conditions.

Who is Inderjeet Gosal?

Inderjeet Gosal, who is reportedly a lieutenant of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, succeeded Hardeep Singh Nijjar as the Khalistan referendum's chief organiser in Canada.

The 35-year-old has to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton on a later date.

New Arrest Following November 3 Incident at Brampton Mandir



Read more: https://t.co/eCQGLRea2D pic.twitter.com/2BdZ8sjF74  Peel Regional Police (@PeelPolice) November 9, 2024

Peel Regional Police said they are probing several offences of which many are seen in viral videos.

Some of the attackers used flags and sticks to attack the devotees. The investigators are examining hundreds of videos of the assault in order to identify other suspects.
Tzachi Braverman, who is the chief of staff to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, allegedly blackmailed a military officer in order get the minutes of a wartime meeting changed, according to local media reports.

Braverman allegedly blackmailed the Israel Defense Force (IDF) officer with a sensitive video that was collected from the security cameras in the Prime Minister's Office, reported KAN public broadcaster. Other PMO employees were reportedly allowed to watch the video.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met today, at the Kirya in Tel Aviv, with IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi.



Also participating in the meeting were the Prime Minister's Military Secretary, Maj.-Gen. Roman Gofman, and his Chief-of-Staff, Tzachi Braverman. pic.twitter.com/4bjv6tuUdr  Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) September 24, 2024

However, the accused official has termed the allegations as "false and defamatory". Braverman also claimed that he did not collect any such recording or blackmail him. Calling it a lie from start to finish, he said the goal is to harm him and the PMO.

Who is Tzachi Braverman?

Born on March 7, 1959, Tzachi Braverman studied at Bar-Ilan University. In June 2021, he was appointed the government secretary following Netanyahu's recommendation. He was responsible for liasing between the government and the Israeli parliament Knesset.

This is not the first time Braverman is sparking controversy. Earlier he allegedly threatened to advance bills to weaken the justice system if the members of Israel's judicial section panel did not promote his wife, who is a judge.

Regarding the latest allegations, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has authorised authorities to go ahead with the investigation related to Netanyahu.

Earlier, KAN public broadcaster reported that classified information was leaked deliberately to influence the public perception about the hostage negotiations.

However, the PMO earlier claimed that the leaked document did not reach Netanyahu's office from the military.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's confidant and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer made a covert visit to Russia last week to secure a ceasefire with Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, said reports.

Dermer, who was in Moscow last week, has not officially confirmed the visit, according to Israeli Army Radio. The top diplomat is also scheduled to fly to the US to hold talks with the Biden administration to finalise a deal.

Russia is a key player in the region as it has a strong base in Syria, an ally of Iran. The weapons from Iran reach Hezbollah in Lebanon via Syria. Naturally, Russia's intervention is expected to keep Hezbollah from rearming.

Speculations are also rife that there is a significant breakthrough in the ceasefire efforts between Israel and Hezbollah. The current deal is said to highly favour Israel, reported Israel-based newspaper Israel Hayom. Though the progress is very substantial, the final agreement has not been reached yet.

Despite the pact, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will retain operational freedom in Lebanon to respond to any security threats. Israel would also end military operations only after it achieves a satisfactory settlement.

US special envoy Amos Hochstein is also likely to arrive in Lebanon, according to the Lebanese politicians. Israel also wants to ease pressure from the Biden administration during the transition period as President-elect Donald Trump takes charge in January.

However, many Knesset members are unhappy with Israel reaching a deal with Hezbollah with many stating that "Israel must force Hezbollah to beg for a ceasefire."

Israelis want an end to the war in the North?

Over 46 per cent of Jewish Israelis think the country should enter into a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah, according to a survey. However, 45.8 per cent of people think the war against Hezbollah should continue. When it comes to Arab Israelis, 88 per cent think a diplomatic solution is the best.

The poll was conducted by the Israel Democracy Institute.

Over 56% of those polled said that Israel should adopt a more flexible stance to reach a deal with Hamas to release the 101 hostages. Only 36 per cent vetoed any deal with Hamas.
The educated criminal is the most dangerous kind.

John G. Diefenbaker

Wharton dropout Nirav Modi embezzled Rs6,498 crore from the Punjab National Bank through fake documentation. Former ICICI Bank CEO Chanda Kochhar was arrested for misusing Rs1,700 crore for personal gain. Yes Banks Rana Kapoor spent four years in prison for bank fraud.

A study of MBA students in India found that while bribing causes internal conflict, employees are more likely to resort to it when their welfare is at stake.

These incidents illustrate white-collar crimesfinancially motivated offences by educated individuals in positions of trust. Such crimes encompass deceit, hiding information and violating trust through activities like fraud, money laundering, cybercrime and insider trading. White-collar criminals know the potential consequences, and are often driven by greed. Alarmingly, the National Bar Association reports a 15 per cent annual increase in white-collar crimes in India.

Society views modern managers as savvy, affluent and impressive. For many Indian families, b-school is the ticket to this lifestyle. MBA graduates from top schools join a privileged class, shouldering major responsibilities and earning hefty pay checks. White-collar crime happens when graduates misuse their education. The relentless focus on profit creates immense pressure and opportunities for quick, unethical gains. This leads to financial traps that can ruin both themselves and others.

This trend stems from intense focus on profit and a drive to outshine others. It is unclear if these traits draw students to b-schools or if schools foster them. Professor Janet Walker at Portland State University says that students attracted to the MBA program are self-interested utility maximisers who believe that the degree enhances their employability and future prospects. Researchers Simmering & Wilcox find that MBA aspirants are self-directed and expect fruitful careers. Aspirants expecting competence development from the programme aim to make a mark in society, while those expecting career benefits desire wealth. Wharton psychologist Amy Wrzesniewski believes that aspirants aim for personal power, prestige, social status and esteem. Meanwhile, leadership expert Venkat Krishnan finds that the two-year MBA enhances self-oriented values like comfort, intellectualism, independence and status while reducing other-oriented values like loyalty, family security, friendships and respect for elders among Indian students.

A study of 5,000 b-schools reveals that MBA students cheat more than their non-MBA peers, with Columbias William Bowers finding that two-thirds admit to cheating through methods like copying and plagiarism. Research from the American Economic Association indicates honesty declines after just one economics course. At Cornell, students assessed their ethical decision-making before and after a course, reporting a 40 per cent decrease in the likelihood of correcting a billing error and a 21 per cent drop in returning lost cash. Those exposed to game theory show even less honesty, as a focus on self-interest promotes moral muteness. Wharton professor Adam Grant finds that exposure to economic terminology diminishes compassion, especially among business students. Cheating can lead to unethical management, tarnishing reputations across the board. This aligns with former Stanford professor Hal Leavitt's view that business education warps students into critters with lopsided brains, icy hearts and sunken souls.

The ethical orientation of business students is central to navigating ethical dilemmas. This foundation should include an understanding of social control and the consequences of unethical choices. Research indicates that unethical behaviour is often calculated, driven by an internal cost-benefit analysis rather than impulsive actions. A study of MBA students in India found that while bribing causes internal conflict, employees are more likely to resort to it when their welfare is at stake. In cultures where bribery is normalised, managers may feel pressured to comply, but they are less likely to engage in such practices when facing potential customer backlash or legal consequences.

This behaviour may stem from pluralistic ignorance, where individuals mistakenly believe their ethical views diverge from the majority. For instance, a student opposed to alcohol might think everyone else supports it. Within organisations, these misconceptions can lead ethical employees to expect unethical behaviour from others, ultimately justifying their own misconduct. By enhancing students sense of social responsibility through focused ethics education, b-schools can better prepare future managers to make ethical and legal decisions. Fostering a sense of purpose and community is essential for aligning student ambitions with ethical standards.

Incorporating ethics into business curricula has ignited intense debates, particularly in India. In Managing India: The Idea of IIMs and Its Changing Contexts, Profs Rajiv Kumar and Vidyanand Jha highlight that the integrity issues among b-school students reflect failures in foundational education. Others, like Prof S.K. Chakraborty, advocate for ethics courses, noting that many parents lack the knowledge to teach about complex issues like corporate wrongdoing.

XLRI pioneered India's first compulsory business ethics course in the 1980s, and while IIMs and other institutions have followed, efforts remain scattered. Besides a few courses and resources, there is a noticeable absence of cohesive nationwide initiatives to embed ethics in MBA programmes. Chakraborty also points out the limited collaboration between Indian businesses and academia on ethical research and consultancy.

Incorporating ethics into MBA programmes through scattered course segments is a start, but it is not enough to fully instil ethical orientation. A culture of ethics must start with administrators and faculty. For example, Duquesne University in Pennsylvania requires standalone ethics courses for both BBA and MBA programmes, and even offers an MBA specialising in business ethics. They involve students and faculty in co-creating a code of ethical conduct, and the dean appoints ethical advocates to monitor student behaviour informally. Students engage with local communities by serving the infirm and the elderly, and they regularly interact with business leaders known for their ethical behaviour. Similarly, the University of Colorados MBA programme includes mandatory courses on the social impact of business, day-long professional ethics seminars, social responsibility awards and required participation in ethics-focused case competitions.

Studies show that starting MBA programmes with mandatory courses on ethical principles and business sustainability, then weaving these topics throughout the curriculum, is effective. Parallel to professionalising business education and improving rankings, b-school effectiveness must be evaluated on parameters broader than securing lucrative employment offers for students. Instead of reinforcing self-interest, academics must discuss scepticism and critical thinking. For instance, in statistics classes, professors may highlight how data might be misrepresented. Harvards leadership and corporate accountability course places ethics at the core of the MBA experience, extending discussions through case studies on leadership, governance and legal responsibilities. Columbia University takes a dramatic approach with Scenes from the Slippery Slope, where actors portray scenarios like an investment banker asked to falsify accounts, prompting students to evaluate the ethics of the bankers decisions. Locally, educators could draw lessons from the Tata Groups culture. The Tata Code of Conduct, reflecting J.R.D. Tatas vision, guides the groups operationsfrom installing water dispensers in factories to handling crises involving employees lives. For over a century, the Tata Group has been Indias leading business house, renowned for its stellar reputation.

As businesses globalise, so do white-collar crimes, prompting calls for enhanced ethics training. Education experts suggest that programmes should include cognitive skills to identify dilemmas, behavioural skills for making ethical choices, and managerial skills for guiding others. Engaging methods like debates and case studies are essential, as moral reasoning thrives on interaction. Given MBA students' packed schedules, educators could introduce one credit or condensed courses and graded seminars. With half of the top 50 US MBA programmes now requiring ethics training, it is clearly a priority. As Amartya Sen wisely noted, a purely economic focus risks making one a social moron.

The writer is associate professor of practice (organisational behaviour and human resources) at IIMK.
New Delhi, Nov 10 (PTI) To enhance transparency in market disclosures, Sebi is looking to broaden the scope of Unpublished Price Sensitive Information (UPSI) by including proposed fundraising activities, restructuring plans, and one-time bank settlements.

In its consultation paper, Sebi has proposed that only agreements, including shareholder, joint venture and family settlement, that affect the management and control of the firm and are known to the firm should be considered price-sensitive and included in the illustrative list of events under the definition of UPSI.

Additionally, key developments in corporate insolvency proceedings, such as initiation or approval of resolution plans by the tribunal, should be disclosed as potentially price-sensitive.

If a forensic audit is launched or concluded for issues like fund misappropriation or financial misstatements, it should be disclosed as price-sensitive.

The proposed changes to Sebi's definition of UPSI are aimed at increasing regulatory clarity and consistency.

In the constitution paper, Sebi suggested including fundraising proposed to be undertaken in the definition of UPSI.

Currently, the decision concerning fundraising proposed to be undertaken is not included in the definition at present.

The regulator has proposed the inclusion of restructuring plans, one-time bank settlements and other significant financial restructurings as UPSI.

Sebi has also proposed that actions by regulatory or judicial bodies against a company or its key personnel if involving significant enforcement, fines, penalties, or other sanctions, should be considered price-sensitive and classified as UPSI.

Among others, the regulator suggested that outcomes of major litigations or disputes that could affect a company's operations or finances, along with any major contracts or orders awarded to the company (or significant amendments or terminations) outside regular business activities, should be disclosed as UPSI due to their potential impact on financial performance.

Further, the granting, withdrawal, or suspension of essential licenses or approvals should be disclosed, as such events could significantly affect company operations.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has sought public comments on the proposals by November 30.
New Delhi, Nov 10 (PTI) India's export of fuels like diesel to the European Union jumped 58 per cent in the first three quarters of 2024, with a bulk of them likely coming from refining discounted Russian oil, according to a monthly tracker report.

The EU/G7 countries in December 2022 introduced a price cap and an embargo on the imports of Russian crude oil in a bid to cripple Kremlin's revenue and create a vacuum in its funding for the invasion of Ukraine.

However, a lack of a policy on refined oil produced from Russian crude meant that countries not imposing sanctions could import large volumes of Russian crude, refine them into oil products and legally export them to the price-cap coalition countries.

India has become the second biggest buyer of Russian crude oil since the invasion, with purchases rising from less than one per cent of the total oil imported in the pre-Ukraine war period to almost 40 per cent of the country's total oil purchases.

The rise was primarily because Russian crude oil was available at a discount to other internationally traded oil due to the price cap and the European nations shunning purchases from Moscow. Fuel exports were, however, at full price.

"Capitalising on the refining loophole, India has now become the biggest exporter of oil products to the EU. In the first three quarters of 2024, exports to the EU from the Jamnagar, Vadinar (in Gujarat) and new Mangalore refinery - which are increasingly reliant on Russian crude - saw a 58 per cent year-on-year rise further," the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) said its latest report.

Reliance Industries Ltd has oil refineries at Jamnagar while Russia's Rosneft-backed Nayara Energy has a unit at Vadinar. Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) is a subsidiary of the state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).

This, it said, amplified "the fact that EU Member States continued imports are expanding the refining loophole and Russian revenues from crude exports to third countries".

Europe typically imported an average of 1,54,000 barrels per day (bpd) of diesel and jet fuel from India before Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This has almost doubled.

While CREA did not give an absolute number for imports, the European think tank had in a previous report stated that Euro 8.5 billion of price cap coalition countries' imports of oil products in 13 months to December 2023 were made from Russian crude.

These imports in 13 months were equivalent to 68 per cent of the EU's annual commitment to aid Ukraine between 2024 and 2027.

"In the 13 months since the oil price cap took effect (in December 2022), over one-third of India's exports of oil products to sanctioning countries was derived from Russian crude (EUR 6.16 billion or USD 6.65 billion)," the Finland-based CREA had said in the previous report.

While there are no restrictions or sanctions on buying/using Russian crude oil and exporting fuels like diesel derived from it, the Group of Seven (G7) rich nations, the European Union and Australia - called the price cap coalition countries - first set a crude price cap of USD 60 per barrel starting December 5, 2022, and later on products like diesel to keep the market supplied while limiting Moscow's revenue.

CREA in the latest report said India, the world's third largest oil-consuming and importing nation, in October bought Euro 2 billion worth of crude oil from Russia, down from Euro 2.4 billion in the previous month.

"China has bought 47 per cent of Russia's crude exports (in October), followed by India (37 per cent), the EU (6 per cent), and Turkey (6 per cent)," it said.

"India was the second-largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels in October, contributing 19 per cent (EUR 2.6 billion) to Russia's monthly export earnings from its top five importers. An estimated 77 per cent of India's imports (valued at EUR 2 billion) comprised crude oil."

In September, India contributed 21 per cent (EUR 2.8 billion) to Russia's monthly export earnings from its top five importers. Almost 85 per cent of India's imports (valued at EUR 2.4 billion) comprised crude oil.

"From December 5, 2022, until the end of October 2024, China purchased 46 per cent of all Russia's coal exports, followed by India (17 per cent), Turkey (10 per cent), South Korea (10 per cent), and Taiwan (5 per cent) to round off the top five buyers list," the agency said.

India is more than 85 per cent dependent on imports to meet its crude oil needs.

In October, the discount on Russian Urals grade crude oil increased 77 per cent to an average of USD 5.14 per barrel compared to Brent crude oil. The discounts on the ESPO grade narrowed by 5 per cent and traded at an average discount of USD 4.58 per barrel, while that on the Sokol blend widened by 8 per cent to USD 6.77 a barrel.

According to CREA, 34 per cent of Russian seaborne crude oil and its products in October were transported by tankers subject to the oil price cap. The remainder was shipped by 'shadow' tankers and was not subject to the oil price cap policy.

Cargoes of Russian crude can access western services like insurance and shipping only if sales are capped below USD 60 a barrel.

To circumvent this, a dark or shadow fleet of oil tankers emerged. The shadow fleet consists of second-hand decrepit oil tankers with opaque ownership structures that make it difficult to ascertain who controls them or forces them to follow Western laws.

CREA said, "83 per cent of the total value of Russian seaborne crude oil was transported by 'shadow' tankers, while tankers owned or insured in countries implementing the price cap accounted for 17 per cent of the total value of Russian crude exported in October".

There have been calls given for preventing growth in 'shadow' tankers that are immune to the oil price cap policy.
Mumbai, Nov 10 (PTI) A section of Air India pilots is unhappy in the run-up to the Vistara merger over different retirement age limits for pilots of the two Tata Group-owned airlines as the management is yet to address the issue, according to sources.

At Air India, which was owned by the government since the 1950s and came into the Tata fold in 2022, the retirement age for pilots and other staff is 58 years, whereas at Vistara it is 60 years.

Vistara -- jointly owned by Tata Group and Singapore Airlines -- is set to be merged with Air India on November 11 as part of the salt-to-steel conglomerate's consolidation of its aviation business.

The sources said resentment is brewing among a section of Air India pilots as the management is yet to formulate a common superannuation age for the integrated entity.

Air India did not comment on the issue.

"There is a lot of resentment among a section of Air India pilots ahead of the Vistara merger over the retirement age limit.

"While the management was prompt in bringing parity in terms of salary structure and other working conditions of the employees of the two airlines as part of the merger process, it is yet to address the issue of two different retirement age limits," a source said on the condition of anonymity.

The sources said the anomaly puts the Air India pilots at a "disadvantage" vis-a-vis their Vistara counterparts, who will be getting two more years of service.

Under the current DGCA regulations, a pilot can serve up to the age of 65 years.

In August this year, Air India announced a policy stating that it will retain select pilots on a contract basis for a period of five years after retirement with provision to extend it till the age of 65 years.

"Air India management needs to fix this anomaly by raising the retirement age limit of its employees also to 60 years.

"Air India pilots have already got a raw deal with the common seniority list, where many pilots have become junior in the seniority list compared to the Vistara pilots despite being more experienced and having more years in service," the source claimed.

In January 2022, Tata Group took control of Air India, along with its international budget subsidiary Air India Express.
New Delhi, Nov 10 (PTI) Interarch Building Products, a leading player in the pre-engineered building industry, is planning to double its turnover to Rs 2,500 crore by 2028, Managing Director Arvind Nanda has said.

The company, which got listed recently, clocked a turnover of Rs 1,293 crore in FY24.

Interarch Building Products, which raised Rs 600 crore through the initial public offering (IPO), is planning to use the proceeds for capital expenditures, system upgrades, and general corporate purposes.

"In our existing three plants, we are also trying to enhance capacity by spending some money there and increasing the capacity utilisation," he said.

He further said by building its fourth fully integrated plant in Andhra Pradesh, the company plans to further ramp up its capacity.

"We have also bought land in Gujarat, which is going to be a our fifth fully integrated plant, probably starting next year," Nanda said.

The company had in September announced the acquisition of 51,926 sq mt land in Gujarat, procured at an investment of Rs 7 crore.

The move was part of the company's vision to expand its national footprint and meet the increasing demand for high-quality pre-engineered buildings across the country.

The company said it is poised to capitalise on these opportunities.

Interarch has executed several large projects in Gujarat for customers like Asian Paints, Timken, Micron (through Tata Projects Ltd), Asahi Glass, and MG Motors.

The company has four fully integrated state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Athivaram, Andhra Pradesh; Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu; Pantnagar in Uttarakhand; and Kichha in Uttarakhand.

The company's total order book stood at Rs 1,303 crore as on October 29.
Colombo, Nov 9 (PTI) 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 President's 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.

The Chinese financial assistance totaling 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.
London, Nov 10 (PTI) A UK-based charity has raised around GBP 85,000 at its inaugural Diwali Ball in London towards impactful projects to benefit disabled and disadvantaged children.

Inochi, which in ancient Japanese means the power of living, is geared towards addressing the urgent needs of children who are grappling with challenges such as ill health, disability, financial hardship, or other forms of social and economic disadvantage.

Its first Diwali fundraising initiative on Friday will go towards projects led by partner organisations such as childrens charity Variety and Kartik Prabhu Foundation.

We were overwhelmed by the support from corporates and attendees, said Anjanish Shekhar, chairman of Inochi.

The event not only celebrated Diwali in its full diverse splendour, but also embodied the spirit of inclusion and solidarity, showcasing the very essence of Inochi  bringing communities together to Celebrate Life, Give Hope. All proceeds will go to Variety, the children's charity, and the Kartik Prabhu Foundation, ensuring that more disabled children and young people receive essential equipment, support, and opportunities for a brighter future, he said.

The London Diwali Ball at Hilton London Syon Park included an array of performances and a keynote by celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor. A silent auction lot offering a chance to join a televised cookery show with Kapoor went under the hammer for GBP 2,500.

We were delighted to have partnered with Inochi on such a prestigious event that brought together diverse audiences around Diwalis themes of light, hope, and kindness, while directly furthering the positive impact Variety brings to the lives of disadvantaged children, said Laurence Guinness, CEO Variety.

The funds will significantly bolster our educational initiatives, including programmes like WriteSpace, which fosters creativity and self-expression among young students, said Tushar Prabhu, Chairman of the Kartik Prabhu Foundation.

These contributions will help us continue empowering disadvantaged youth by providing them with the skills and opportunities needed to thrive in their personal and academic journeys. Through this support, we can inspire the next generation to overcome challenges and achieve their full potential, he said.

The foundation was set up to commemorate the spirit of Kartik Prabhu, who died at the age of 19 while studying at the University of Cambridge. The charity has since been focussed on a diverse range of projects geared towards young people, including an up-skilling initiative named ReFAB in the UK and India.

Following the success of the inaugural initiative, backed by several organisations such as Sutherland, ICICI Bank, Data Inc, Hindustan Institute of Technology, Envision Consultants, Technology Transformation Group, Inochi and its partners are geared towards building upon their fundraising drives and projects for the benefit of disadvantaged children and young people.
Lahore, Nov 10 (PTI) A plan to rename Shadman Chowk in Lahore city after Bhagat Singh and install his statue there has been scrapped in light of an opinion by a retired military official, the district government of the capital of Pakistan's Punjab province has told the high court here.

In a written response submitted to the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday by Assistant Advocate General Asghar Leghari, serious allegations were levelled against the freedom fighter.

"A proposed plan of the city district government Lahore to name Shadman Chowk after Bhagat Singh and place his statue there has been scrapped in light of an observation submitted by Commodore (retd.) Tariq Majeed," the Metropolitan Corporation of Lahore said in a reply to a contempt petition filed by Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation Pakistan Chairman Imtiaz Rasheed Qureshi in the LHC.

It said Majeed, engaged by the government in a committee to rename Shadman Chowk after Singh, in his observations claimed that Singh "was not a revolutionary but a criminal, in todays terms he was a terrorist, he killed a British police officer, and for this crime, he was hanged along with two accomplices".

Majeed recommended to the government that the Shadman Chowk must not be named Bhagat Singh Chowk and his statue should not be installed there.

The report further says Singh was influenced by "religious leaders hostile to Muslims and the NGO -- Bhagat Singh Foundation -- is working against Islamic ideology and Pakistani culture, (and) it should be banned".

"Don't the officials of the foundation, who call themselves Muslims, know that it is not acceptable to name a place after an atheist in Pakistan and that Islam prohibits human statues?" it asked.

In response to the report, Qureshi told PTI on Sunday that Bhagat Singh was declared a great revolutionary, freedom fighter and martyr undisputedly.

"I will send a legal notice to retired Commodore Majeed for levelling serious allegations against the Bhagat Singh Foundation and contest his stance on Bhagat Singh," he said.

Qureshi has made the district government, DC Lahore, Chief Secretary Punjab and Administrator City District Government parties in a contempt of court petition filed through Advocate Khalid Zaman Khan Kakar, in which it was said that LHC Justice Shahid Jamil Khan had issued instructions to the concerned authorities on September 5, 2018, to take steps to name Shadman Chowk after Bhagat Singh, but the court order has not been implemented yet.

LHC Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza adjourned the hearing of the contempt plea until Jan 17, 2025, due to the unavailability of the petitioners counsel.

Singh was hanged along with his two comrades - Rajguru and Sukhdev - by British rulers on March 23, 1931, at the age of 23 in Lahore, after being tried under charges for hatching a conspiracy against the colonial government and allegedly killing British police officer John P Saunders.
Islamabad, Nov 10 (PTI) Pakistan on Sunday announced an expansion in intelligence-based operations across restive Balochistan province to tackle the escalating threat of militancy.

The announcement comes a day after a suicide bomber targeted a crowded railway station in the provincial capital Quetta, killing 27 people.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi chaired a high-level meeting on Balochistans security situation along with provincial chief minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti. Senior officials, including Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan, Additional Chief Secretary Home Shahab Ali Shah, police chief Moazzam Jah Ansari, and Quetta Division Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat, participated in the meeting to strategise on enhancing security and responding to recent attacks.

Naqvi said during the meeting it was decided to take decisive steps with "full force to crush the terrorists and expand intelligence-based operations to thwart the nefarious designs of anti-state elements".

He also said the federal government would provide all possible support to the Balochistan government to combat terrorism.

Naqvi said measures would be taken to provide training and strengthen the professional capabilities of police, counter-terrorism department (CTD), Levies and other forces of Balochistan.

Paying tribute to the recent blast victims, Naqvi said, This fight against terrorism is a collective responsibility, and victory against our enemies is our only option.

Chief Minister Bugti in his remarks reaffirmed that the provincial government was committed to improving law and order. A small group of elements is responsible for these attacks, and we are determined to eliminate them completely, he stated.

Pakistan has been battling against a low-level insurgency in the province led by the ethnic Baloch extremists who have grievances against the federal government.
Singapore, Nov 10 (PTI) A Catholic priest was stabbed during a mass performed by children at a church, police said.

Members of the congregation, including the Archdiocesan Emergency Response team, helped subdue the 37-year-old assailant, reported Channel News Asia.

The attack happened during communion at the parishs monthly children's mass on Saturday, when children perform duties, usually undertaken by adults, according to the Channel report.

Father Christopher Lee, who is the parish priest of the church, was stabbed by the man during evening mass. The 57-year-old Father Lee is currently warded at National University Hospital. The police said he is in a stable condition.

Expressing shock and sadness, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said he hoped parishioners would heal from this "traumatic event".

"Violence has no place in Singapore. Most of all, we must uphold the safety and sanctity of our places of worship - places where people seek peace, solace, and community," Wong wrote in a Facebook post.

The accused will be charged in court on Monday with voluntarily causing grievous hurt by a dangerous weapon, following the stabbing of the priest.

If found guilty, the man, who was not named by the police in a media briefing in the early hours of Sunday, faces a jail term of up to 15 years, as well as a fine or caning.

The police will seek a court order to remand the man to the Institute of Mental Health for psychiatric evaluation.

"He has past antecedents for serious hurt and misuse of drugs offences," the Channel had the police saying.

"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," police said.

The police said there is currently no evidence to suggest that it was a religiously motivated attack.

Two men who helped disarm the assailant were awarded the Singapore Police Force's (SPF) Public Spiritedness Award after the media briefing at the Jurong Police Division Headquarters.

We saw our priest being attacked. It was very instinctive that we had to go and disarm this person, said Richard Tan Chai Boon, one of the two who subdued the assailant.

The other award recipient, Damien Liew Khee Rui, said, "I needed to do something to make sure that no one else gets hurt, or (that) nothing bad further happens."

Let us stay calm and united, supporting each other in the spirit of harmony and resilience that defines us as Singaporeans," Rui said.

Cardinal Goh, the head of the Catholic Church in Singapore, said he was "shocked and deeply saddened that violence has been committed against one of our beloved priests in the house of God while he was celebrating Mass".

"I am also very concerned about the psychological impact this incident may have had on our children and all who witnessed this attack," he said on his social media accounts.

AMP Singapore, a non-profit organisation serving the Muslim community, wished Father Christopher a swift recovery and said violence of any kind is "unacceptable and should not be tolerated".

The Sikh Advisory Board expressed a similar sentiment, noting that places of worship are sacred spaces. It also urged people to remain calm and not speculate about the incident.

LoveSingapore, a Christian movement, also condemned the attack and said, "We stand with our brothers and sisters in the Catholic church denouncing violence in any place of worship."

Calling the attack "senseless", "unprovoked" and "appallingly heinous", the Singapore Buddhist Federation said it would join those from all faiths to pray for the quick recovery of Father Christopher.

The Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO), which aims to promote harmony between the different faiths, urged the public to show support for the Catholic community in the multi-ethnicity city-state.
Colombo, Nov 10 (PTI) Sri Lankas bid to join BRICS has not ended and its application to join the grouping is still pending, the Foreign Ministry here said on Sunday.

It said that Sri Lanka had applied for membership and the foreign minister Vijitha Herath had written to his counterparts expressing Sri Lankas interest to join BRICS.

Pending requests for membership from many countries, including Sri Lanka, will be considered by BRICS member countries in due course," the statement added.

The statement came after local media reports said Sri Lankas application to become a member in the BRICS has been rejected.

Meanwhile, the statement also said Sri Lankas intention to join the New Development Bank (NDB) was welcomed by the president of the NDB.

The New Development Bank is a multilateral development bank established by the BRICS states.

BRICS founded by Brazil, Russia, India and China welcomed South Africa in 2011 and has now expanded further with the addition of four new members.
Deir Al-Balah (Gaza Strip), Nov 10 (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 Turkiye, 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.

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 US 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 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 taken in Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel 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.

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 Israel's military said it struck command centers and other militant infrastructure in Beirut's 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.

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 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.

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.

And an Israeli strike hit tents in the courtyard of central Gaza's 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.

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 U.S. deadline demanding that Israel improve aid deliveries across Gaza or risk losing access to U.S. weapons funding. The US 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.

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 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% 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.

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. It's so sad, said Eial Tiskim, who attended the latest protest in Tel Aviv on Saturday night to demand a cease-fire deal. (AP)

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London, Nov 10 (PTI) Some British Hindus have taken to social media to voice their objections over a lack of proper consultation ahead of a Diwali reception hosted by Prime Minister Keir Stramer at 10 Downing Street in London, where reportedly non-vegetarian snacks and alcohol were included on the menu.

While community organisation Insight UK questioned the appalling lack of understanding of the spiritual aspect of the Hindu festival, others pointed out that greater dialogue is required ahead of such religious events.

Diwali is not just a time for festivity, but also holds a deeply religious meaning. The sacred festival of Diwali emphasises purity and devotion and hence traditionally involves vegetarian meals and strict avoidance of alcohol, Insight UK stated in a post on X.

The choice of menu at the Diwali celebration hosted by the Prime Minister himself displays an appalling lack of understanding or respect for the religious traditions associated with the festival of Diwali. It also raises the pertinent question of whether Hindu community organisations and religious leaders were consulted for greater cultural sensitivity and inclusivity, it said.

The group urged greater consideration at future celebrations intended to promote multiculturalism and inclusivity, mindful of the cultural and religious practices of the communities they seek to honour.

Pandit Satish K. Sharma, author and Dharmic speaker, noted: The complete lack of sensitivity and simple consultation, at any level, is of great concern. If accidental, it's still disappointing.

Others have commented on these posts expressing their surprise over the move. Some British Hindu groups have also flagged their lack of invitation to the reception, held regularly over the years at Downing Street and last hosted by Conservative leader Rishi Sunak  the first British Hindu prime minister of Britain.

Downing Street did not comment on the menu at the event held on October 29  the first Diwali reception since the Labour Party won a landslide at the July general election.

Government sources indicated that the reception was a cross-community gathering, which involved a wide range of representatives and also included Sikh celebrations of Bandi Chhor Divas. It brought together British Indian community leaders, professionals and parliamentarians and included Starmer lighting candles on the doorstep of 10 Downing Street, following in the footsteps of predecessor Sunak.

We value and respect your heritage and traditions, and recognise the strength of our shared values and the celebration of Diwali  a time of coming together, of abundance, and welcome it is a time to fix our eyes on the light which triumphs over the darkness, read excerpts released from Starmer's address at the event last week.
Dhaka, Nov 10 (PTI) Bangladesh's interim government on Sunday said it will seek Interpol's assistance in repatriating deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina from India, and other "fugitives", to face trial for alleged crimes against humanity.

Hasina and her party leaders face accusations of ordering brutal suppression of the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement, resulting in numerous casualties during the July-August protests. The movement later intensified into a large-scale uprising, forcing Hasina to secretly flee to India on August 5.

According to the interim government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, at least 753 people were killed and thousands injured during the protests, which it termed crimes against humanity and genocide. Over 60 complaints of crimes against humanity and genocide have been filed against Hasina and her party leaders with the ICT and the prosecution team till mid-October.

"A Red Notice will be issued through Interpol very soon. No matter where in the world these fugitive fascists are hiding, they will be brought back and held accountable in court," Law Affairs adviser Asif Nazrul told reporters here after inspecting the status of renovation at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), which is housed in the Old High Court building on the Supreme Court premises.

Officials said a Red Notice is not an international arrest warrant, but rather a global request for law enforcement agencies to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. Interpol member countries enforce Red Notices according to their own national laws.

The ICT was originally formed by the Hasina-led Awami League government in March 2010 to try the perpetrators of the crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Liberation War. It later formed ICT-2, and at least six Jamaat-e-Islami and leaders of Hasina's arch rival Khaleeda Zia's BNP party were executed following the judgments of the two tribunals. The tribunal remained dormant since mid-June after its chairman retired.

The interim government reconstituted the tribunal on October 12.

On October 17, the tribunal issued arrest warrants against Hasina and 45 others, including her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and several of her former cabinet members.

The interim government had earlier said that Hasina and several of her cabinet colleagues and Awami League leaders will be tried in this special tribunal.

However, Chief Adviser Yunus in an interview with the UK-based Financial Times newspaper last month said his government would not immediately seek Hasinas extradition from India, an approach seen as preventing diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
Dhaka, Nov 10 (PTI) Members of an influential Bangladeshi students' group that played a key role in toppling Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government prevented Awami League supporters from staging a planned rally here on Sunday, chasing and assaulting the party activists.

The development came a day after the interim government-led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Saturday said it will not permit Hasinas party to hold the planned rally.

Eyewitnesses said activists of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and several other political groups assembled at Noor Hossain Chattar, or Zero Point, near the Awami Leagues central office. The Awami league's rally was set to be the party's first such demonstration since the ouster of the Hasina government on August 5.

Despite a visible police presence, demonstrators reportedly assaulted at least seven people believed to be Awami League activists. Police attempted to calm the situation and detained some alleged supporters of the ousted regime, the eyewitnesses said.

Television footage showed members of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement rallying at the scene with chants against fascist Hasina and her party, demanding their trial for alleged mass killings.

The counter-protest at the Zero Point caused significant traffic disruptions in the area.

Chief Adviser Yunus' press secretary Shafiqul Alam in a Facebook post on Saturday said that the interim government won't tolerate any violence or any attempt to break the law and order situation in the country.

The Awami League in its current form is a fascist party. There is no way this fascist party will be allowed to hold protests in Bangladesh, he said.

Alam further cautioned that anyone who would try to hold rally, gathering and processions by taking orders from the mass murderer and dictator Sheikh Hasina will face full force of the law enforcing agencies.

The protest venue, Shaheed Noor Hossain Chattar, holds historical significance, as it was where Awami League youth leader Noor Hossain was killed on November 10, 1987 during a demonstration against the autocratic rule of the then military dictator General HM Ershad.
Kyiv, Nov 10 (AP) A massive drone strike rattled Moscow and its suburbs overnight into Sunday, injuring several people and temporarily halting traffic at some of Russia's busiest airports, officials reported. Meanwhile, a huge nighttime wave of Russian drones targeted Ukraine.

This came after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a pact with North Korea Saturday night, obliging the two countries to provide immediate military aid using all means if either is attacked. The agreement marks the strongest link between Moscow and Pyongyang since the end of the Cold War.

Earlier this week, Ukraine reported that its troops engaged for the first time with North Korean units. US officials earlier confirmed the deployment of at least 3,000 North Korean troops to Russia, while Kyiv has repeatedly said the number is far higher. This has fuelled concerns of a marked escalation in Moscow's war on Ukraine, and tensions spilling over into the Asia-Pacific.



UK estimates Russian troop losses at 700,000

Both Moscow and Kyiv have kept a tight lid on casualty figures since the start of the full-scale war despite regular reports of Russian forces taking huge losses following human wave attacks that aim to exhaust Ukrainian defences.

However, the chief of the UK defence staff, Tony Radakin, told the BBC that Russian forces had suffered their worst month of casualties in October since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. He said Moscow's troops suffered an average of 1,500 dead and wounded every single day, bringing their total losses in the war to 700,000.

According to Radakin, ordinary Russians were paying an extraordinary price for the war, even as a gruelling, months-long Russian offensive in Ukraine's industrial east continues to eke out gains. He did not say how UK officials had calculated the Russian casualty figures.

There is no doubt that Russia is making tactical, territorial gains and that is putting pressure on Ukraine, he said. But he added that they were tiny increments of land", and Moscow's mounting defense and security spending was putting an increasing strain on the country.

Radakin insisted that Ukraine's Western partners should stand by it for as long as it takes to beat back Russian aggression, even as allies of US President-elect Donald Trump have signalled that Kyiv may have to cede territory to seek peace.



Russia is cautiously optimistic about Trump's forthcoming presidency

On Sunday, the Kremlin's official spokesman voiced cautious optimism about Trump's upcoming presidency, saying: At least he talks about peace.  He does not talk about confrontation.

The signals are positive. Trump, during his election campaign, said that he perceives everything through deals, that he can make deals that will lead everyone toward peace, Dmitry Peskov told reporters at a briefing.

He does not talk about a desire to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, and this favourably distinguishes him from the current (US) administration, Peskov said.



Continuing fighting causes damage and casualties on both sides

Fierce fighting has continued near the eastern Ukrainian cities of Toretsk and Kurakhove, Ukraine's General Staff reported Sunday. Between 700 and 1,000 residents remain in Kurakhove, a front-line city surrounded on three sides and battered into ruin. Most of them live underground with no running water, heating or electricity.

Meanwhile, Russia's Defence Ministry said a total of 84 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight in Russian territory, following what it called a mass strike on civilian infrastructure".

A man died under rubble after drones struck his apartment block in Russia's Belgorod region, just kilometers from the Ukrainian border, local Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov reported.

Five other people were injured in the Moscow suburb of Ramenskoe and a nearby village, according to local officials. Russian channels on the messaging app Telegram carried eyewitness reports of drone debris setting fire to suburban homes.

Russia's aviation authority said flights were briefly grounded at major international airports including Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo. At least 14 flights bound for Moscow were rerouted to Nizhnyi Novgorod, a city over 490 kilometers (300 miles) east, airport representatives there reported.

Ukraine's General Staff claimed on Sunday that Ukrainian drones caused a fire at an arms depot in Russia's southern Bryansk region, near Ukraine and Belarus. The online update featured a photo showing thick plumes of reddish smoke rising into the night sky. The AP could not verify the circumstances in which it was taken, and there was no immediate comment from Russia.

Separately, Russia's emergencies ministry on Sunday said that a major fire broke out at a warehouse outside of Moscow. There were no immediate reports of casualties, and it was not clear whether the blaze was linked to the Ukrainian drone strikes.

Russia overnight launched a record 145 drones at Ukrainian territory, according to Ukraine's air force, 62 of which were shot down. A further 67 were lost, the air force said, a likely reference to electronic jamming that caused the drones to veer off course.

At least one person was injured as Russian drones struck residential areas in Ukraine's southern port of Odesa, local Gov. Oleh Kiper reported. And at least five civilians, including a 17-year-old girl and 10-year-old boy, were injured by falling drone debris and shelling in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region Sunday, its Gov. Oleh Syniehubov and local prosecutors said. (AP) PY

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Deir al-Balah (Gaza Strip), Nov 10 (AP) Israeli strikes killed dozens of people including children on Sunday in Lebanon and isolated northern Gaza, as the world watched for signs of how the US election might affect the war against Iranian-backed militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has spoken three times with Donald Trump since Tuesday's election and they see eye-to-eye regarding the Iranian threat and all of its components. Israel's president Isaac Herzog is scheduled to meet with US President Joe Biden on Tuesday.

The Israeli airstrike in Lebanon killed at least 23 people including seven children in Aalmat village north of Beirut, far from the areas in the east and south where Hezbollah militants have a major presence. Lebanon's Health Ministry said another six people were wounded. There was no Israeli evacuation warning. There was no immediate Israeli comment.

Hezbollah began firing rockets, drones and missiles into Israel after war broke out in Gaza, in solidarity with the Palestinians and Hamas. Israel retaliated, and a series of escalations have led to all-out war.

In northern Gaza, an Israeli strike on a home sheltering displaced people in the urban refugee camp of Jabaliya killed at least 17 people including nine women, according to Dr Fadel Naim, director of Al-Ahly Hospital in Gaza City.

Israel's military said it targeted a site where militants were operating, without providing evidence. It said the details of the strike are under review.

A separate strike hit a house in Gaza City, killing Wael al-Khour, a minister in the Hamas-run government, as well as his wife and three children, according to the Civil Defence, first responders who operate under the government.



Israel strikes deeper into Lebanon



Israel has struck deeper inside Lebanon since September, when it killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah as well as most of his top commanders. Hezbollah has expanded its rocket fire from northern to central Israel. The fighting has killed over 3,000 people in Lebanon, according to the Health Ministry, and more than 70 people in Israel.

After Israel's strike in Aalmat, some 40 km (25 miles) north of Beirut, legislator Raed Berro denied that any Hezbollah personnel or assets were in the building that was hit, adding: The important people are on the front line resisting...It is impossible for them to be among people in civilian life."

Hassan Ghaddaf, who lived next door and was lightly wounded, said displaced people were in the house that was struck.

I had seen them and got to know them the other day, Ghaddaf said. They were peaceful. On the contrary, they had someone from the Lebanese Internal Security Forces that works for the state, and we saw their garb and clothes in the rubble.

In Syria, an Israeli airstrike hit a residential building in the Damascus suburb of Sayyida Zeinab, state news agency SANA reported. Britain-based opposition war monitor The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least three people were killed and suggested Hezbollah was targeted. Israel did not immediately comment.



Fears of famine in northern Gaza



The mid-month deadline is approaching for an ultimatum the Biden administration gave Israel to allow more aid into Gaza or risk possible restrictions on US military funding.

Israeli forces have encircled and largely isolated Jabaliya and the nearby northern Gaza towns of Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun for the past month, allowing only a trickle of humanitarian aid. Experts from a panel that monitors food security say famine is imminent or may already be happening.

The northern third of Gaza, including Gaza City, has suffered the heaviest destruction of the 13-month war that was triggered by Hamas' attack into southern Israel. Israel has sent forces back in after repeated operations, saying Hamas has regrouped.

Israeli strikes often kill women and children. The military says it only targets militants, whom it accuses of hiding among civilians.

Also Sunday, Israel's military released what it said was video footage of Hamas abusing detainees. The soundless footage, dated from 2018 to 2020, appears to show hooded detainees chained in stress positions. In some clips, men beat or poke them with batons.

It was not possible to independently verify the videos, which the military said it recovered during operations in Gaza.

Rights groups have long accused the Hamas-run government in Gaza and the Western-backed Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank of abusing detainees and violently quashing dissent. Israel has been accused of similar abuses, especially since the start of the war. Israeli prison authorities say they follow relevant laws and investigate any allegations of wrongdoing.



The toll of war



The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct 7, 2023. They killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, about a third believed to be dead.

Israel's offensive has killed over 43,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities who do not distinguish between civilians and militants in their count but say over half the dead were women and children.

Israeli bombardment and ground invasions have left vast areas of Gaza in ruins and displaced around 90% of the population of 2.3 million people, often multiple times. Hundreds of thousands of people live in tent camps with few if any services.

Cease-fire talks mediated by the United States, Qatar and Egypt have repeatedly stalled, as have parallel efforts by the US and others to halt the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

Qatar, a key mediator with Hamas, said Saturday it had suspended its efforts and would resume them when the parties show their willingness and seriousness to end the brutal war. (AP) SCY

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Islamabad, Nov 10 (PTI) Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in a high-level meeting on Balochistans security situation on Sunday discussed the strategy to enhance security and combat the threat of militancy, a day after a suicide bombing at a crowded railway station in the provincial capital of Quetta killed 27 people.

The security forces in Pakistan's Balochistan province will expand their intelligence-based operations to tackle the escalating threat of militancy, Naqvi said following the high-level meeting with Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti and other senior officials.

Naqvi said it was decided during the meeting to take decisive steps with "full force to crush the terrorists and expand intelligence-based operations to thwart the nefarious designs of anti-state elements".

He also said the federal government would provide all possible support to the Balochistan government to fight the threat of terrorism.

Naqvi offered condolences to the victims' families and said: This fight against terrorism is a collective responsibility, and victory against our enemies is our only option.

Bugti in his remarks reaffirmed the provincial government was committed to improving law and order. A small group of elements is responsible for these attacks, and we are determined to eliminate them, he said.

Pakistan has been battling a low-level insurgency led by ethnic Baloch extremists in the mineral-rich province who target civilians as well as security forces in the province to push the government to meet their demands.
Washington, Nov 10 (PTI) President-elect Donald Trump ruled out two of his previous Cabinet members -- former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former envoy to the United Nations Nikki Haley  to be part of his upcoming administration.

Trump, 78, was elected as the 47th president of the United States. He defeated Vice President Kamala Harris, 60, in the elections held on November 5. In the first term, Trump served as the 45th president from January 20, 2017, to January 20, 2021.

"I will not be inviting former Ambassador Nikki Haley, or former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to join the Trump Administration, which is currently in formation, Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

Pompeo served as the CIA Director and Secretary of State in his first term, while Haley served as his ambassador to the United Nations in the first two years of his presidency. Both his cabinet-ranking officials later entered the presidential race against him in the Republican primaries.

While Pompeo dropped from the race early, Haley was the last challenger against Trump till February this year. Later on, the two endorsed his campaign. Haley announced her support for Trump during the Republican National Convention in Wisconsin in July this year.

However, in his post, Trump thanked his two former Cabinet officials for their service.

"I very much enjoyed and appreciated working with them previously, and would like to thank them for their service to our Country. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Trump said.
Kolkata, Nov 9 (PTI) Concerned over the rising incidents of bird hits at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport here, its Airfield Environment Management Committee (AEMC) has asked the local authorities to take measures so that such incidents can be minimized, an official said.

During a meeting held on Saturday under the chairmanship of West Bengals Home Secretary Nandini Chakravorty who is also the chairperson of the AEMC, strategies were discussed to enhance airspace security.

The meeting was convened by the Director of Kolkata airport, Dr Pravat Ranjan Beuria.

According to Beuria, the total number of bird hits that occurred at the Kolkata airport from January 1 to November 7 this year has been 18, which is a cause for concern.

The airport area is surrounded by five municipalities and all the civic bodies have been asked to carry out garbage cleaning on a regular basis.

Garbage dumps, open drains, butcher shops, fish stalls and waste food are major sources of attraction for birds.

The AEMC chairperson suggested that municipal authorities sensitise people and create awareness among those living near the airport, Airports Authority India (AAI) sources said.

Discussions were held on environmental issues pertaining to the airport such as maintaining cleanliness of the areas surrounding the airport by removal of garbage, cleaning of drains, trimming of trees to curb the activities of birds in the airport area endangering aircraft safety, the airport director told PTI.

During the review, it was found that Madhyamgram Municipality has taken prompt action in regular cleaning of garbage and iIt was appreciated by all members and Chakravorty.

She advised all other municipalities to follow the same, the airport director said.

"Ensuring safe skies! The Principal Secretary, West Bengal Govt. chaired the Airfield Environment Management Committee (AEMC) meeting at #KolkataAirport to address bird activity concerns. Effective strategies were discussed to enhance airspace security, the Kolkata airport posted on X.

In addition, the committee also held discussion on interference caused by laser lights around the airport area. It was decided that the police will take action against such activities.

Laser lights cause problems for pilots while operating flights during operations. Eight to nine such incidents were reported by pilots in 2023.
Bhopal, Nov 10 (PTI) The Madhya Pradesh police on Sunday saved a businessman from being looted by cyber criminals who had put him under digital arrest in Bhopal, an official said.



Vivek Oberoi, a resident of Arera Colony in the city, received a call around 1 pm on Saturday from individuals posing as officials of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), an MP police cyber cell release said.

The scammers connected Oberoi to people who identified themselves as CBI and Mumbai crime branch officials, it stated.

They trapped Oberoi by claiming that several bogus bank accounts were opened using his Aadhaar, which they said was also used for purchasing SIM cards for unsolicited marketing, the release said.

Digital arrest is a type of online fraud where scammers impersonate law enforcement or government officials to convince victims that they are under arrest.

The cyber crooks told Oberoi to download the Skype video app and asked him to stay in a room. During that time, the businessman alerted the MP cyber police and cops reached his home amid his digital arrest.

When police demanded ID verification of the fake law-enforcement officials, the fraudsters disconnected the video call, the release said.

While the conmen had got the businessmans bank details during his digital arrest, he didnt transfer any money, the release added.
Indore, Nov 9 (PTI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Saturday tried his hand at swordsmanship at an event here where hundreds of women demonstrated their mastery of the traditional art of sword-fighting.

Besides Yadav, Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur and former MP Jaya Prada attended `Shaurya Veera' event at Nehru Stadium, organised by Anmol Muskaan Welfare Society.

"Women in Indore today have demonstrated their extraordinary skills with swords. We will never forget this demonstration of women's valour," CM Yadav said, announcing a reward of Rs 5 lakh as encouragement for the organisers.

Kamal Yadav, a member of the organising committee, claimed that about 5,000 sari-clad women participated in the demonstrations.

At the function, CM Yadav also transferred Rs 1,573 crore in the bank accounts of 1.29 crore women as the monthly instalment of the Ladli Behna Yojana.



Under the scheme, eligible women are paid Rs 1,250 per month.
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nov 10 (PTI) The ruling alliance in Maharashtra must be removed from power as it is not concerned about the suffering of farmers due to drop in prices for crops, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar said on Sunday.

Addressing a rally in Gangapur in Aurangabad district, he said prices for crops like sugarcane, soybean and jowar have plummeted.

"Farmers who quench the hunger of the country are in distress, but the ruling parties are not concerned. Such people have no right to be in power. They must be unseated. In the last nine months 950 farmers have committed suicide. This is because they cannot recover capital investment, leading to burden of loans," he said.

When the NCP-Congress was in power in Maharashtra, farm loans of Rs 71,000 crore were waived, and there was need for another round of waiver urgently, he said.

But the Union government is not bothered, Pawar asserted.

In Gangapur, BJP's sitting MLA Prashant Bamb is pitted against NCP (SP) candidate Satish Chavan.

Maharashtra assembly polls will be held on November 20, while votes will be counted on November 20.
Chakradharpur (Jharkhand), Nov 10 (PTI) Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Sunday said the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has a long history of defending "jal, jungle, jameen" and the rights of adivasis and moolvasis, and emphasized that the efforts of his government over the past five years were aimed at effectively implementing these ideals.

Addressing a public meeting at Char Mode Maidan in West Singhbhum's Chakradharpur assembly constituency in support of party candidate and MLA Sukhram Oraon, Soren said, "Our government has taken cognisance of the problems being faced by the people here."

Emphasising the significance of his government's programme, 'Aapki Sarkar, Aapke Dwar,' Soren said, "The objective was to ensure that government officials visit door-to-door and resolve people's issues in remote villages, even setting up tents to reach inaccessible areas."

"We organised various programmes in Kolhan region, which consists of East and West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharswan districts, and told people that our government will function from villages, not from Ranchi," Soren said.

Attacking the BJP-led NDA government, which had been in power for the majority of Jharkhand's existence, Soren said, "The lotus and double-engine government made the state poorer and pushed it into backwardness. However, our government has pulled the state from the quagmire and set it back on the path of development."

"The people of the state are very poor. They had to mortgage their jewelry or sell it just to pay school fees for their children or clear electricity bills. But our government has shouldered their burden by implementing various welfare schemes," Soren said.

Referring to the 200-unit free electricity quota, Soren took a dig at the previous government, saying, "We were never sure whether people used to get electricity or not under the BJP government, but the bills certainly kept coming. Today, people are getting uninterrupted power supply, and no electricity bills, thanks to the 200-unit free power scheme."

Soren also spoke about the 'Mainya Samman Yojana,' saying, "The amount provided under this scheme will be increased from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,500 per month starting December. If our government is voted back to power, we will send Rs 1 lakh into the accounts of beneficiaries."

He questioned why the BJP government had not implemented such schemes during its 20 years in power, saying, "Why did the BJP not bring in the old age or widow pension schemes, waive electricity bills, or offer loan waivers for farmers during its rule? The BJP snatched away post-retirement pension benefits, but our government reintroduced the old pension scheme..

Criticising the BJP for bringing in leaders from across the country to campaign for the elections, Soren remarked, "Senior BJP leaders have been flying around in 50-60 helicopters like vultures."

He cautioned the people, saying, "Be alert to their venom. These frauds come here making false promises. They will try to break the party, destroy your homes, communities, and the state itself. Be careful of such forces."

Soren also lashed out at certain community leaders from the Ho, Munda, Santal, Kharia tribes, accusing them of becoming BJP agents and brokers. "They carry BJP flags and divide society," he said.
Berhampur (Odisha), Nov 10 (PTI) Two persons, including a minor boy, drowned in separate ponds in Odishas Ganjam district on Sunday, police said.

The incidents took place at Gunturbandh under Berhampur Sadar police station and Deogaon under Kabisurya Nagar police limits.

The deceased were identified as Babu Nayak (30) and Rajbir Nahak (2), police said.

Around 10 am, Rajbir, along with his elder sister, was playing near the pond in their village at Deogaon. He accidentally fell into the pond and drowned. "The villagers rescued him and rushed him to Kodala hospital, where the doctors declared him dead," a police official said.

"We have registered an unnatural death case and started an investigation," said Sudhir Kumar Sahoo, inspector-in-charge of Kabisurya Nagar police station.

Similarly, Babu Nayak of B. Turubudi, who had been staying at his father-in-laws house in Gunthubandh for the past few days, went missing on Saturday evening. On Sunday, his body was recovered from a nearby pond, police said and added that they have started a probe.
Kolkata, Nov 10 (PTI) A person was killed in a cylinder blast while filling gas balloons in West Bengal's Birbhum district on Sunday, police said.

The victim, identified as Bipadtaran Bagdi, had gone to the residence of a civic volunteer, Durgaprasad Bhattacharya, at Binse village near Sainthia to fill balloons where the explosion took place, police added.

The blast severely damaged the house and left Bagdi's body badly mutilated.

Soon after, angry villagers attacked and ransacked Bhattacharyas house, blaming him for the incident. They also assaulted the civic volunteer, demanding his immediate arrest, police said.

Police launched an investigation but have not made any arrests yet, as they continue to probe the role of Bhattacharya, who allegedly started the gas balloon filling business and had called Bagdi for the task.

"We have not made any arrests yet as the investigation is in the initial stage. We are looking into the role of the civic volunteer," a police officer told PTI over the phone.

Trinamool Congress block president Saber Ali Khan expressed condolences, assuring the deceaseds family that justice would be sought.

"This is a very sad incident. We are talking to the family members and trying to pacify them. The culprit must be punished," he said.
New Delhi, Nov 10 (PTI) The NHRC in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) will host the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) executive capacity building programme for senior officers of the National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) of various countries of the Global South from November 11 to 16.

The participants from NHRIs of eight countries -- the Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Jordan -- will attend the programme, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said in a statement on Sunday.

This six-day customised programme for senior officials of NHRIs of the Global South aims at enhancing the promotion, protection and strengthening of human rights across diverse regions.

The NHRC in collaboration with the MEA is organizing the six-day Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Executive Capacity Building Programme for senior officers of the National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) from November 11-16, it said.

"It also provides participants with valuable insights into various aspects of human rights including NHRC, India's extensive experience over the past three decades and its civilisational ethos of empathy and compassion,' the statement said.

The programme will enrich the participants' knowledge by offering a platform for sharing best practices, experiences, and ideas related to the promotion and protection of human rights.

"The participants will engage in technical sessions covering various aspects of human rights, including NHRC's comprehensive online complaint management system, advanced investigation mechanisms, emerging human rights issues, and the influence of business, technology, and sustainable development on human rights, among others," it added.
New Delhi, Nov 10 (PTI) As world leaders and climate negotiators converge on Baku for COP29, beginning Monday, India is set to bring renewed focus to the urgent need for climate finance, accountability, and protection for vulnerable communities.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend the conference, and Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav may also be absent, with Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh leading the 19-member delegation instead.

India's national statement is scheduled for November 18-19.

India's key priorities at the conference are likely to focus on ensuring accountability of developed nations on climate finance, strengthening resilience for vulnerable communities, and achieving an equitable energy transition, experts anticipate.

Dr. Arunabha Ghosh, CEO of the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), emphasised that COP29 must go beyond promises, pushing developed nations to accelerate their paths to net zero and meet their financial commitments.

"The climate COPs are about raising ambition, enabling action, and, most importantly, holding everyone accountable. While COP28 resulted in many promises, it let developed countries off the hook. COP29 must be about accountability," said Ghosh.

"The largest historical emitters must move faster and raise their ambition. Climate finance should be consistent, convenient, catalytic, and credible, and COP29 must ensure it delivers real resources and capacity to protect the most vulnerable."

This year's negotiations are anticipated to tackle the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for climate finance, a critical benchmark that could reach trillions of dollars annually, a figure many developing nations insist is essential to combat climate change effectively.

Ali Mohamed, Kenya's Climate Change Envoy, reinforced the urgency for a "Finance COP" that prioritises financing without deepening debt burdens for nations already struggling to adapt to climate impacts.

"For Africa, it is important that the final goal agreed in Baku should not worsen our debt situation," Mohamed said. "The Framework on Global Climate Resilience needs to translate into real actions that support agriculture, water, health, biodiversity, infrastructure, and human settlements."

Dr. Frances Colan, Senior Director for International Climate Policy at the Center for American Progress, highlighted the conference's importance following the re-election of Donald Trump in the US, who is anticipated to adopt policies favouring oil and gas expansion.

In a departure from past conferences, India will not host a pavilion at COP29.

This absence also comes as India balances its role as a developing nation with rising energy demands and a focus on economic growth, particularly as the world looks to emerging economies for leadership in reducing emissions.

The release of the Global Carbon Budget on November 13 will provide a detailed assessment of current emission trends and the global trajectory toward meeting the Paris Agreement targets.

Linda Kalcher, Executive Director of Strategic Perspectives, underscored that the EU must step up its efforts in response to shifting U.S. climate policies.

"The EU is one of the most reliable partners on climate finance for developing countries, but it cannot hide from the moment," Kalcher noted.

Li Shuo, Director of China Climate Hub at the Asia Society Policy Institute, described COP29 as a test of multilateralism.

"I'm not worried about whether multilateralism will prevail. I know it will," said Li Shuo. "But in light of the US election outcome, China and the EU will have to take a leadership role. Financial commitments and action on loss and damage are critical to keeping the global economy afloat."

India's approach at COP29, while moderate in terms of attendance and scale, is grounded in a commitment to pragmatic climate action, focusing on accountability, fair financing, and incremental goals for its developing economy.

India's COP29 strategy is expected to challenge developed nations on the gaps in fulfilling climate pledges and drive conversations toward more transparent, reliable climate finance.
New Delhi, Nov 10 (PTI) Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will jointly hold here on November 12 a key session of the intergovernmental Russian-Indian commission on trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation during his "working visit" to India.

As part of the visit, he will take part in the plenary session of the Russian-Indian Business Forum in Mumbai on November 11, the Russian Embassy said in a statement on Sunday.

The event in Mumbai is aimed at expanding cooperation and ties between the entrepreneurs of the two countries, the statement said.

There will be thematic sessions on current areas of interaction, including industrial cooperation, transport and logistics, finance, digital technologies, and interregional ties.

It is being organised by the Business Council for Cooperation with India and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

On November 12, in New Delhi, First Deputy Prime Minister Manturov jointly with External Affairs Minister Jaishankar will hold the 25th Session of the Intergovernmental Russian-Indian Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation, it said.

As part of his visit, the First Deputy Prime Minister also has a number of bilateral meetings planned, the embassy said in the statement.
Jaipur, Nov 10 (PTI) The Rajasthan College Education Commissionerate has directed 20 government colleges to get the front facade of their buildings and entry halls painted orange under the Kayakalp scheme

According to the Commissionerate, the move is to ensure a positive environment in the education institutes.

The Kayakalp scheme is a national initiative by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to promote cleanliness, hygiene, and infection control in public healthcare facilities in India

The opposition Congress slammed the move as an attempt to politicise educational institutions.

Joint Director (Planning), College Education Vijendra Kumar Sharma issued the order last month regarding the paint of front facade and entry halls of colleges under the scheme.

In the first phase, a total of 20 colleges, two colleges in each division level, have to be painted, the order said.

"The colleges are the main centres of higher education. The educational environment and scenario of the college should be such for the students that they feel positive as soon as they enter the college," the order stated.

A good message about higher education should be sent to the society and therefore, the colleges have to be rejuvenated to create a positive, clean, healthy and educational environment in the colleges.

The joint director further said in the order that in the first phase of the scheme, two government colleges of each division have been included and the front facade and entrance hall of the 20 colleges' buildings should be phase painted with "Asian Paints White Gold 8292 and Asian Paints Orange Crown 7974".

Targeting the BJP government over the matter, PCC general secretary Swarnim Chaturvedi said that it was an attempt to politicise education in colleges.

"The BJP government has failed to deliver on promises made to people. The government has nothing to highlight as its achievements and in order to divert attention; it is resorting to such moves," he said.
New Delhi, Nov 10 (PTI) The "Delhi Nyay Yatra" of the Congress on Sunday covered four assembly constituencies in the national capital on its third day.

Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav in a statement said that he was delighted to see the smiling faces of thousands of common people everywhere when the yatra passed through four assembly segments on Day-3 as people now feel reassured that his party would return to power.

The Yatra covered four assembly segments of Sadar Bazar, Tri Nagar, Moti Nagar and Wazirpur.

The Yatra began from the Inderlok Police Station after the Congress workers, volunteers and public assembled at Milan Cinema, Moti Nagar, and concluded at Wazirpur Village chaupal, it said.

Yadav appealed to the people to associate with the Congress to bring change.

Thousands of common people willingly joined the yatra in all the four assembly constituencies on Sunday to drive home the point that people want change now and they feel that their future would be safe and secure only under a Congress government, he claimed.

The month-long "Delhi Nyay Yatra" was kicked off from the Rajghat on Friday to put pressure on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the city on various issues in the run-up to the assembly polls due early next year.

The "Delhi Nyay Yatra" will pass through all 70 assembly segments in the national capital and conclude at Timarpur on December 4. It would be held in four phases.

Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi launched the over-4,000-km Kanyakumari-to-Srinagar "Bharat Jodo Yatra" on September 7, 2022. It went on for 145 days, covering 12 states and two Union territories, and culminated on January 30, 2023.

The Congress also organised a Manipur-to-Mumbai "Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra" between January and March this year.
New Delhi, Nov 10 (PTI) Delhi-based Assamese, including academicians, students and people of all walks of life, have celebrated the conferment of Assamese as a classical language by the Central government.

An event was organised at the Assam Bhawan here on Saturday as part of the Assam government's initiative to celebrate the recognition of Assamese as 'Bhaxa Gaurav Saptah' or a week of hail the language, a release issued by the state government said.

Delhi-based Assamese organisations, including All Assamese Students' Association, New Delhi, participated in the event.

As part of the week-long programme, organised by the Assam Bhawan authorities, several academicians, individuals and students hailed the Centre's decision to confer upon Assamese the classical language status and pointed out that it would lead to further growth and development of the language.

Some even suggested setting up a library in the national capital with a stockpile of Assamese books.

Resolution tracing the genesis of the Assamese language dating back to the 4th Century and heaping praise on the Narendra Modi led government was signed by the participants, the release said.

It will be forwarded to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) by the Assam Bhawan authorities here. Poems were recited and a book was released on the occasion.

Joint Secretary and OSD, Assam Bhawan, Ranadip Kumar Dam, Deputy Resident Commissioner, Assam Bhawan, Kamal Borah, Mridusmita Baruah, Assistant Professor, DU, Deepsikha Mahanta Bortamuly, Assistant Professor, Daulat Ram College, Dr Chandan Bortamuly, Dr Dipjyoti Konwar, Researcher, Sasakawa Peace Foundation, among others, attended the event, the release said.
Lucknow, Nov 10 (PTI) Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday lent support to aspirants demanding that the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission conduct the RO-ARO and the PCS preliminary examinations on the same date, saying his party stood shoulder to shoulder with their "legitimate demand".

Aspirants of various competitive examinations conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) have warned of a protest in front of its Prayagraj office on Monday in this connection.

The UPPSC announced on November 5 that the Review Officer and Assistant Review Officer (RO-ARO) preliminary examination would be held in three shifts on December 22 and 23. The Provincial Civil Service (PCS) preliminary examination will be held in two shifts on December 7 and 8.

In a statement issued by the Samajwadi Party headquarters, Yadav said the BJP did not recruit candidates but indulged in "chhalav (cheating)". "When one (act of) cheating is caught, the BJP introduces another (form of) cheating."

Yadav claimed the aspirants had understood the BJP's "conspiracy" to conduct the examinations in two shifts.

"That is why they are agitating against it and the Samajwadis stand shoulder to shoulder with their legitimate demands," the Samajwadi Party chief said.

Yadav also alleged that this was a trick by the BJP to ensure that youngsters did not get government jobs and remained unemployed, which would eventually force them to work as cheap labourers.

"This will keep filling the coffers of the BJP's profiteers and they will keep donating to the BJP, which will keep misusing it to win elections," the Kannauj MP said.

He claimed that the unemployed youth had understood this vicious electoral cycle and the BJP's intention. "That is why they are now taking a pledge to defeat the BJP in the elections."

Explaining the logic behind their calls for a protest, UPPSC aspirant Ramakant Yadav said that conducting the examinations on multiple days was against the rules.

The students are demanding that the examinations be conducted in a single day, like before.

Another student said that if the commission did not change its decision, they would be forced to start a protest from Monday.
Bengaluru, Nov 10 (PTI) The Karnataka government has warned that disciplinary action will be taken against those officials who change the land mutation records and serve eviction notices to farmers under the Waqf Act.

In a letter, the Revenue Department Principal Secretary Rajender Kumar Kataria reminded all regional commissioners and deputy commissioners in the districts that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah recently had a meeting following complaints about certain land properties being made in favour of the Karnataka Board of Waqfs.

In the meeting it was decided that all the directions issued previously by any government office or authority to change the mutation records has been withdrawn, the letter said.

It added that all the notices served in the past have also been withdrawn and no action should be taken against the farmers who are cultivating on the said land.

On the directions of the chief minister, the previous letters and the latest reminders served on November 7 to the farmers and land owners have been withdraw, the letter said.

"The officials who served reminder-2 despite the chief minister's direction will face appropriate disciplinary action," Kataria said in his letter.

He said he has been instructed to strictly implement the chief minister's direction.

The fresh direction was issued in poll-bound Karnataka, where bypolls to three crucial assembly segments are due on November 13.

Some farmers in Honwad village in Vijayapura in north Karnataka had alleged last month that they were served eviction notices as the Waqf Board claimed rights over it.

Subsequently, complaints started in pouring in from some other parts of the state.

BJP leader Tejasvi Surya on October 25 alleged that Karnataka Waqf Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan directed the deputy commissioners and revenue officials to register lands in favour of the Waqf Board within 15 days, which resulted in confusion.

On Surya's request, the Chairman of the Joint Committee of Parliament on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Jagdambika Pal visited Karnataka on November 7 and met farmers in Hubballi, Vijayapura and Belagavi districts who had alleged that their lands were marked as Waqf properties.
Bengaluru/Hubballi, Nov 10 (PTI) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said the investigation into the COVID-19 pandemic related irregularities will start after the cabinet approval.

He said the sub-committee was examining the report given by the Justice Michael D' Cunha Commission of Inquiry which investigated alleged irregularities in the purchase of equipment and medicines during the Covid 19 pandemic when the BJP was in power.

"It has not come before the cabinet. The sub-committee is examining the report. Once the sub-committee submits its report, we will discuss that in the cabinet," Siddaramaiah told reporters in Hubballi.

Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao had said on Saturday that the Commission has recommended for the prosecution of Yediyurappa and former minister B Sriramulu in connection with the alleged irregularities in purchase of equipment and medicines during the pandemic.



The Karnataka government on October 11 decided to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and a Cabinet sub-committee to take further action on the D' Cunha commission report. In the "partial" report submitted on August 31 in 11 volumes, the Commission examined the expenditure to the tune of Rs 7,223.64 crore.



Yediyurappa had said there was no question of getting scared by "these threats".

The government was trying to create confusion by digging into the past and this will not serve any purpose, he added.

Reacting to Yediyurappa's comments, Siddaramaiah said, "These are not empty threats. We have formed a Commission headed by Justice Michal D'Cunha. Based on his report criminal action will be taken."





"Let's see what he (Yediyurappa) will do after the criminal action is initiated," Siddaramaiah added.





"Judiciary is meant for delivering justice. Isn't it for punishing those who have committed wrong," he sked.



Home Minister G Parameshwara too hinted at prosecuting former Yediyurappa and others based on the report. He too said the state cabinet will decide the next course of action.



"It has been said (in the report) that in this (PPE kit) purchase alone there was a loss of almost Rs 15 - Rs 16 crore. Naturally, the government will take the next steps. The cabinet will decide on it," Parameshwara told reporters.





Meanwhile, Karnataka Information Technology Minister Priyank Kharge alleged that the PPE kits that were locally available at Rs 333.40 apiece during the COVID-19 pandemic were purchased from a Chinese firm and a Hong Kong firm at Rs 2,100 per kit.

Addressing reporters, Kharge said that on March 17, 2020 the then BJP government in Karnataka approved the purchase of drugs, chemicals, medical equipment, and consumables for Rs 416.48 crore.



The Need Assessment Committee of the health department had decided to purchase 12 lakh PPE kits. This was at a time when 18 lakh kits were available in the state, he explained.



To purchase 12 lakh PPE kits, a rate of Rs 2,117.53 was fixed based on an email from the Commerce and Industry Department, the Minister said. He cited the email to state that there were names of two companies: a Chinese one and a Hong Kong firm.



The government did not negotiate with the vendor, did not invite tender nor did verify the prevailing market rate but whatever rate the vendor had proposed was agreed upon, the Minister alleged.

He added that the officials told Yediyurappa and the then Health Minister that three quotations had come and asked them to call for a short-term tender.



"But the Chief Minister and Health Minister termed that to be an emergency situation and asked the officials to prepare the files and they would look into them," Kharge alleged.



On April 2, 2020, the file was submitted to the government. The CM gave a direct order to purchase one lakh PPE kits and this cost the government approximately Rs 21.18 crore, he said. In all, the PPE kits were purchased for a total cost of Rs 62.57 crore.
Mandya (Karnataka), Nov 10 (PTI) Tension prevailed in a village in Mandya on Sunday after the district authorities made way for the Dalits to enter the temple and worship the deity 'Kalabhairaveshwara' for the first time.



The upper caste people, mostly Vokkaligas, allegedly took away the 'Utsava Murthy', the metallic festival idol of the deity for performing rituals outside the temple in Hanakere village.



Heavy police force has been deployed in Hanakere in view of the prevailing tension.



According to sources, there was an old Kalabhairaveshwara Swamy temple in the village and Dalits were never allowed to enter it.



About three years ago, the old dilapidated structure was demolished and a new temple was built. Recently, the shrine came under the control of the Religious Endowment Department of the state government.

Soon, Dalits decided to enter the temple but the members of the upper caste communities did not agree.



The Dalits complained to the district administration about the discrimination done against them. Subsequently, two peace meetings were conducted but they failed.



On Sunday, the Dalits entered the temple amid police security. The upper caste members who were upset with the development took away the festival idol.



"Let them keep the temple, we will take the deity with us," one of them was heard saying.


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The Defense Department will appeal a military judges 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 Austins 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.

(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.

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.

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.

Afghanistans Foreign Ministry also condemned the bombing and expressed its condolences to the families of the victims, as did the Russian Embassy in Islamabad.

Saturdays 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.

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.

(AP)
The Democratic Party faces existential questions after Donald Trumps resounding victory. One of the first: Who will lead it?

Democratic National Committee chairman Jaime Harrison is not expected to seek a second term, opening a job that must be filled by March 1, according to the partys bylaws. Who takes the position will speak volumes about how the party wants to present itself going forward and what issues members believe hampered Democrats against Trump in 2024.

The incoming chair will also oversee the partys 2028 nominating process, a complex and contentious exercise that will make that person central to the next presidential election. Harrison was derided for having backed President Joe Biden even as many Democratic voters questioned whether the president should run again. He was accused after Bidens disastrous debate performance of pushing for a virtual roll call before Biden chose to withdraw.

The early debate over Harrisons replacement appears to be set on a clear dividing line: Do Democrats need an operative with clear skills and experience in reshaping the partys infrastructure? Or does the party need a communicator who can respond to everything the Trump administration plans to do and can sell Democratic ideas to a public that rejected them at the ballot box?

They have to find someone from outside Washington who understands politics at the grassroots level, said Howard Dean, a former chair who took the position after George W. Bush won a second term as president. Dean said he has received calls from members urging him to run, but he has no plans to do so. The DNC is often a creature of Washington, which is a major problem.  You have to have a DNC that is big enough to include the whole country.

Top Democrats are scheduled to meet privately in Scottsdale, Arizona, in mid-December. Already, there is speculation among attendees that serious candidates would attend the meeting or at least be announced by then.

In the wake of Tuesdays thrashing, there is a sense, at least among some of the DNCs rank-and-file, that the committees 440-plus voting members may be more likely to embrace an outsider with strong ties to the partys formal establishment. Some also would want the new chair to fill a full-time role, which would present challenges to a current officeholder.

As the party looks to the future, we must be positioned for the important work of unifying and strengthening Democrats at all levels, and holding Trumps Republican Party accountable for the harms it will inflict on the American people, said Rosemary Boeglin, a spokesperson for the committee. In the coming weeks, we will lay out a process for electing a new Chair to guide us on that path forward.

The potential candidates, from Beto to Buttigieg

The more high-profile leaders on the minds of multiple top Democrats include Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, former Georgia lawmaker Stacey Abrams, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, former Texas Rep. Beto ORourke, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg; and Martin OMalley, the former Maryland governor and current commissioner of the Social Security Administration.

The lower-profile route features state party chairs Ken Martin, chairman of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and a vice chair of the national party; Ben Wikler, chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin; and Michael Blake, a former vice chair of the party.

Murphy and OMalley have already been having early discussions with DNC members and donors over the last day or so, according to people with direct knowledge of the outreach. It is unclear whether they will enter the race.

ORourke, said a person familiar with his thinking but granted anonymity to speak openly, is being asked to run by donors and operatives.

Beshear, a 46-year-old two-term Democratic governor in a state Trump twice carried by more than 25 points, has no interest in the chairmanship, according to a person close to him granted anonymity to share internal discussions.

Buttigieg, who unsuccessfully ran for chair in 2017, is not exploring a run, said a person close to the secretary granted anonymity to speak openly about his thinking.

And a source close to Abrams, granted anonymity to speak openly, said she was not interested in becoming chair.

Martin, who reached out to every state party chair, vice chair and executive director the day before the election, began a new round of temperature-taking phone calls on Friday.

People have approached me about running, Martin told the Associated Press. I have not decided at this point.

Wikler did not respond to questions about the position, but in the wake of losses across the country for Democrats, he touted what he and his team in Wisconsin accomplished.

The red wave hit this year: a (tilde)6% national swing to Trump, from 2020 margins, Wikler posted on X. In Wisconsin, thousands of heroes pulled the swing down to 1.5%. More D votes statewide & in 46 counties. Tammy Baldwin won. Huge wins in the state legislature.

He added: Deeply grateful to all  it mattered.

Blake told The Associated Press on Friday that he is seriously considering a run.

When we came in eight years ago, we built something that was successful and won, Blake said, invoking his time as vice chair. Its impossible to see what happened Tuesday and not think significant change is called for. Blake, who once served in the New York State Assembly, also said he is weighing running for DNC chair against running for New York City mayor.

The power brokers

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent who excoriated party leaders earlier in the week for abandoning working-class people, is expected to play an active role in the DNC pick  at least behind the scenes. Sanders did the same in the wake of the partys 2016 election loss when he privately worked to boost former Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison, although Ellison ultimately lost to former Labor Secretary Tom Perez.

Sanders allies believe that the party is taking his concerns more seriously in the wake of Tuesdays drubbing.

Presidential losses regularly force parties to ask sweeping questions about everything from their message to their infrastructure to their core beliefs, and this loss will be no different for Democrats. After Hillary Clintons loss in 2016, the committee was lambasted as an unprofessional organization. Those issues were central to the committee chair fight in 2017, and led the committee to rebuild during Trumps first term in office. That has created a quandary for the party now: The national committee has not garnered the kind of blame that it did after the first loss to Trump, but that also means the answers Democrats are searching for are far less clear.

Many committee members believe this is not a time for the party to focus on one specific skill set in a chair at the expense of others. Instead, this group argues, you need someone with a broad range of skills.

It needs to be someone who can raise money. It needs to be someone who is a good communicator. And it needs to be someone who can look towards modernization, said Maria Cardona, a longtime Democratic operative and DNC member who is against the chair being a current elected official.

As opposed to Trump, we believe in the peaceful transfer of power, Cardona said. But we are not going to concede the fight.

(AP)
The judge overseeing Donald Trumps 2020 election interference case canceled any remaining court deadlines Friday while prosecutors assess the the appropriate course going forward in light of the Republicans presidential victory.

Special Counsel Jack Smith charged Trump last year with plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and illegally hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. But Smiths team has been evaluating how to wind down the two federal cases before the president-elect takes office because of longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.

Trumps victory over Vice President Kamala Harris means that the Justice Department believes he can no longer face prosecution in accordance with department legal opinions meant to shield presidents from criminal charges while in office.

Trump has criticized both cases as politically motivated, and has said he would fire Smith within two seconds of taking office.

In a court filing Friday in the 2020 election case, Smiths team asked to cancel any upcoming court deadlines, saying it needs time to assess this unprecedented circumstance and determine the appropriate course going forward consistent with Department of Justice policy.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan quickly granted the request, and ordered prosecutors to file court papers with their proposed course for this case by Dec. 2.

Trump had been scheduled to stand trial in March in Washington, where more than 1,000 of his supporters have been convicted of charges for their roles in the Capitol riot. But his case was halted as Trump pursued his sweeping claims of immunity from prosecution that ultimately landed before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court in July ruled that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, and sent the case back to Chutkan to determine which of the the allegations in the indictment can move forward.

The classified documents case has been stalled since July when a Trump-appointed judge, Aileen Cannon, dismissed it on grounds that Smith was illegally appointed. Smith has appealed to the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, where the request to revive the case is pending. Even as Smith looks to withdraw the documents case against Trump, he would seem likely to continue to challenge Cannons ruling on the legality of his appointment given the precedent such a ruling would create.

(AP)
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 on 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 on 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 Bidens 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 Musks presence on the Trump-Zelenskyy call.

(AP)
Russia is open to hearing 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 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 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.

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 Im 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 Unions 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 Ukraines 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 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.

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)
The election of Donald Trump returns an ally of school choice to the White House, this time with a Republican-controlled Senate  and potentially House  that could be more supportive of proposals that fizzled during his first term.

Although proposals to expand private schooling suffered high-profile defeats in several states, Trumps victory has brought new optimism to advocates of supporting school choice at the federal level. One of their main priorities: tax credits for donations to organizations that provide private school scholarships.

Jim Blew, who served as an assistant secretary in the U.S. Education Department in the first Trump administration, said hes hopeful the new Congress will greenlight ideas like tax credits for scholarships.

The new members are all very clearly supportive of school choice, and I think thats going to change the dynamics, said Blew, who co-founded the conservative Defense of Freedom Institute.

Private school choice comprises several ways of using taxpayer money to support education outside of traditional public schools, including vouchers, education savings accounts and tax-credit scholarships. The idea of giving this option to all families regardless of income  known as universal private school choice  has soared in popularity in recent years and is now enshrined in law in a dozen states. Nearly three dozen states have some form of private school choice.

Yet the concept has faced pushback  and not just from groups like teachers unions that have long advocated for keeping public money in public schools. Some conservatives in states with large rural communities have questioned the programs merits, citing the lack of private schools in sparsely populated areas. In those areas, public school districts are often the largest employer.

In Tuesdays election, voters in Kentucky rejected a measure to enable public funding for private school attendance, and Nebraska voted to partially repeal a law that uses taxpayer money to subsidize private education. A proposed constitutional amendment in Colorado that wouldve established schoolchildrens right to school choice also was defeated.

Concerns about diverting money from public education appeared to gain traction in deep-red Kentucky and Nebraska. Ferial Pearson, the chair of an organization in Nebraska that advocates for public education, said it would continue working to provide public schools the support and resources they need to thrive.

In Kentucky, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear said Thursday that voters sent a clear message that taxpayer money should go to public schools.

This should end any and all debate. And this should end any attempts to take money away from our public schools to send them to unaccountable private schools, Beshear said at a news conference. He renewed his pitch for larger pay raises for public school teachers and other school personnel, along with his plan to establish universal pre-K across Kentucky.

To some observers, it was unsurprising that even states that voted for Trump took a stand against school choice.

Especially in the wake of the pandemic, with all the school closures and learning loss and chronic absenteeism, parents want something different  but they also like their public schools, said Liz Cohen, the policy director at FutureEd, a nonpartisan research center at Georgetown University. People want something new, but it doesnt mean they want to get rid of everything.

Cohen, who has studied private school choice expansion across the country, emphasized decisions on a ballot measure feel a lot more local and specific than who youre voting for for president.

During his campaign, Trump touted school choice as a form of greater parental rights, aimed at countering what conservative critics describe as leftist indoctrination in classrooms and promoting a free-market approach to education.

One of his platform pledges is to serve as a champion for Americas homeschool families and to protect the God-given right of every parent to be the steward of their childrens education. He proposes allowing homeschooling families to use 529 college savings plans for spending on their childrens educational expenses, an option he advanced for private-school families during his first term.

In that term, Trump tapped Betsy DeVos  a fervent supporter of school choice  as his education secretary. That administration, however, struggled to get its school choice pitches off the ground. An effort to provide federal tax credits for scholarship donations flopped, as did proposals to slash federal public school programs by billions of dollars.

With a more favorable Congress, those initiatives could have a better shot. U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican and the frontrunner to chair the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, has supported tax incentives for scholarship donations. And Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has said he will focus the next Congress on maximizing school choice for parents and holding woke university administrators accountable.

Some conservatives argue there would be benefits to leaving the issue to states.

I  worry that were going to return to the political dynamics of Trumps first term, which were very bad for the charter schools sector in blue states, said Michael Petrilli, the president of the Fordham Institute, a right-leaning think tank. Because Trump strongly supported school choice, including charter schools, he made those issues radioactive on the left, so reform-oriented Democrats were sidelined or silenced.

In other races around the country, preliminary results show victories for school board candidates in Los Angeles and Chicago were concentrated among candidates who promoted traditional public education over alternatives such as charters.

In Texas, various pro-voucher legislators endorsed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott won their races. Abbott had sought to unseat GOP legislators whod voted against a plan to subsidize private school tuition with public money. The newly elected candidates could give Abbott the votes needed to pass that voucher legislation.

(AP)
The election of Republican Kelly Ayotte as New Hampshires governor means 13 women will serve as a states chief executive next year, breaking the record of 12 set after the 2022 elections.

Governors hold powerful sway in American politics, shaping state policy and often using the experience and profile gained to launch campaigns for higher offices.

It matters to have women in those roles to normalize the image of women in political leadership and even more specifically in executive leadership, where theyre the sole leader, not just a member of a team, said Kelly Dittmar, director of research at the Rutgers Center for American Women and Politics.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was floated as a potential Democratic nominee for president after President Biden exited the race. Republican South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem was thought to be in the running for President-elect Donald Trumps vice presidential post.

Ayotte, a former U.S. senator, defeated the Democratic nominee Joyce Craig, a former mayor of Manchester, New Hampshires largest city.

Still, 18 states have never had a woman in the governors office.

This is another side of political leadership where women continue to be underrepresented, Dittmar said. Thirteen out of 50 is still underrepresentation.

With two women vying for governor in New Hampshire, a new record for female governors was inevitable. The state has a long history of electing women. As a senator, Ayotte was part of the nations first all-female congressional delegation. It was also the first state to have a female governor, state Senate president and House speaker at the same time, and the first to have a female majority in its Senate. Ayotte will be the states third woman to be governor.

Being a woman isnt really that critical to her political persona, Linda Fowler, professor emerita of government at Dartmouth College, said of Ayotte.

Both Ayotte and Craig said their gender hasnt come up on the campaign trail although reproductive rights often took front and center.

In her campaign, Craig attacked Ayottes record on abortion, and both candidates released TV ads detailing their own miscarriages. Ayotte said she will veto any bill further restricting abortion in New Hampshire where it is illegal after 24 weeks of pregnancy.

When Ayotte is sworn in, five Republican women will serve as governor at the same time, another new high. The other eight are Democrats.

New Hampshires was one of the few competitive gubernatorial races among the 11 this year. More inroads or setbacks for womens representation could come in 2026 when 36 states will elect governors.

Most voters tend to cast their ballots based on party loyalty and ideology rather than gender, Dittmar said. However, she noted female candidates often face layers of scrutiny that male counterparts largely avoid, with voters judging such things as a womans intelligence, appearance and even dating history with a sharper lens.

The small gain for women in governors offices comes as Vice President Kamala Harris failed in her effort to become the first female president.

I would not suggest to you that Kamala Harris lost a race because she was a woman, because she was a Black and South Asian woman, Dittmar said. We would also fail to tell the correct story if we didnt acknowledge the ways in which both gender and race shapes the campaign overall, and also had a direct effect on how Kamala Harris was evaluated by voters, treated by her opponents and even in the media and other spaces.

Executive roles, especially the presidency with its associations like commander in chief, often carry masculine stereotypes that women must work harder to overcome, Dittmar said.

Experts say women confront these perceptions more acutely in executive races, such as for governor and president, than in state legislatures, where women are making historic strides as leaders, filling roles such as speaker and committee chairs.

Sexism, racism, misogyny, its never the silver bullet. Its never why one voter acts one way or another, said Erin Vilardi, CEO of Vote Run Lead, a left-leaning group that supports women running for state legislatures. But we have so much of that built in to how we see a leader.

(AP)
Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell, who was sworn in as the chief of the Los Angeles Police Department on Friday, will draw one of the highest police chief salaries in the U.S. for a major city.

Before the ceremony, the city council approved McDonnells base salary of $450,000, which the LA board of police commissioners requested. That is down from the boards initial proposal of $507,509  which was a jump of more than $150,000 from the previous chiefs salary.

The salary range for the position was set at $408,475 to $507,509 during the search process.

The previous chief, Michel Moore, who announced his retirement in January, made a base salary of $391,268 in 2023, according to city controller data.

McDonnell, 65, will take charge of a force of nearly 9,000 officers that has been led by Interim Chief Dominic Choi.

The New York Police Department commissioner, who oversees the largest police department in the country with more than 30,000 officers, makes around $243,000, according to city records for the last two commissioners. Chicagos Superintendent of Police, Larry Snelling, makes $275,748, according to city records posted online.

McDonnell will also make more than the current LA County sheriffs salary of $397,340, according to county records.

The city council confirmed McDonnells appointment in a 10-2 vote Friday, with city councilmembers Hugo Soto-Martinez and Eunisses Hernandez opposing.

Some have criticized the decision to pay McDonnell what they call an exorbitant salary while the city council faces budget issues.

Why wouldnt we start him at a lower rate? Given the situation that the city is in, said police commissioner Maria Lou Calanche during a meeting Tuesday.

Chuck Wexler, executive director of Washington-based nonprofit think tank Police Executive Research Forum, said West Coast police chiefs generally earn more than their East Coast counterparts, according to a 2021 survey of more than 300 departments across the country.

And he said LA traditionally ranks among the highest, though McDonnells pay is $100,000 more than the previous chiefs salary.

Salaries for police officers across the country have been significantly impacted by a high number of resignations and retirements, Wexler said. With the increase in entry-level salaries, executive compensation has increased also.

The $450,000 salary does not include benefits or potential bonuses. McDonnell will also be allowed to continue receiving pension payments from his previous roles.

Im honored to get what the commission felt that this job was worth, I competed for the job, I was fortunate enough to be the one appointed, McDonnell said on his compensation, which he described as somewhat midrange of the salary range and reflective of his experience and education.

The vote came at the end of a lengthy and tumultuous public comment period and questioning from city councilmembers, during which several people were thrown out of council chambers. McDonnells appointment was heavily opposed by immigration advocates, who say he allowed federal authorities to operate freely while he was sheriff and shared information with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Maria Estrada, a worker with the Service Employees International Union, said at the council hearing Friday that she remembers when McDonnell was sheriff and her coworkers reported crime committed against them.

Some of these coworkers were deported, she said. Thousands of us members here in this community are scared for this man to take office.

McDonnell addressed these concerns during his confirmation hearing.

I want to be unequivocal. LAPD will protect L.A.s immigrant community. We will not cooperate with mass deportations and on an individual level, officers will not take action to determine a persons immigration status and will not arrest them for that status, McDonnell said. Los Angeles is a city of immigrants, and my job is to protect this city. Thats exactly what Ill do.

He acknowledged the fears brought on by President Donald Trumps victory on Tuesday and his campaign promises of mass deportation. McDonnell said he would not work with federal agencies on immigration enforcement issues.

Mayor Karen Bass picked McDonnell out of three candidates selected by a civilian board of Los Angeles police commissioners, which included Deputy Chief Emada Tingirides and former Assistant Chief Robert Bobby Arcos. Both were reported by the Los Angeles Times as finalists for the position. Bass met with hundreds of LAPD officers and community leaders before making her decision.

McDonnell was elected LA County Sheriff in 2014 to oversee the largest sheriffs department in the U.S. Before that, he spent 29 years in the LAPD and served as Long Beachs police chief for almost five years.

(AP)
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 to obscure their origin, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said Thursday morning.

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown said his office is fielding multiple reports of racist text messages being sent to Black residents, including children. 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, Brown said in a statement.

Brown said in an interview that its disturbing that children were targeted, sometimes by name, in mass texts that typically rely on datasets 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. He said investigators will 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, the Canada-based company said in a statement Friday.

Major providers AT&T and Verizon both said it was an industry-wide problem and referred comment Friday to the CTIA, a wireless communications trade group.

The U.S. wireless industry has been working in recent days to block thousands of the texts and the numbers sending them, said CTIA spokesperson Nick Ludlum. An industry group initiative is working with law enforcement and has identified platforms bad actors used to send these messages, he said.

These racist text messages span the entire country, predominately targeting Black Americans, and more specifically Black children as young as middle schoolers.

Nicole, a mother in North Carolina who asked not to use her last name because of her profession, said she was disturbed and concerned by the messages her high school daughter showed her Thursday night. The texts instructed her to get ready to go back to the plantation. This was her daughters first real experience with this type of racism, Nicole said, and as a parent she didnt want to have to have these conversations with her kids.

Its like a slap in the face and it shows me that it is still an issue that has not changed at all, she said.

Nicole said her daughter didnt really say much after the text, deleted the message, and went to bed. As for Nicole, she said she had to sit and process her feelings. She said the situation was so shocking that it didnt feel real, and she felt sad for her daughter.

She has a lot of friends of different races. Shes the one that doesnt see color and she doesnt see a difference. So, I feel like for her, it really showed her that everyone isnt like her, Nicole said. Racism is still a very prominent thing in our country right now.

Nicole said that parents have to be vigilant, especially with older children, and have the tough conversations, even if you dont want to or feel like you have to.

Whatever way it makes your child feel, approach it with open arms and be very receptive to it and just take it day by day.

Several historically Black college students received a message with a similar tone but varied wording. Dr. 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.

(AP)
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, of the Southern District of Illinois, issued a permanent injunction he said applies universally, not just to the lawsuits plaintiffs. He decided, however, that the injunction would not take effect for 30 days.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul responded speedily, filing a notice of appeal Friday evening.

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 an assortment of attachments largely in response to the 2022 Independence Day shooting at a parade in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park.

The opinion drew heavily from recent landmark Supreme Court rulings expanding on the definition of the Second Amendments guarantees.

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 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 said he remained confident the laws supporters would prevail. Fellow Democrat Raoul filed a notice of appeal with U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit seeking reversal of the lower courts order and a permanent injunction.

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. The governor is confident the constitutionality of the Protect Illinois Communities Act will be upheld through appeal.

The law, written by Democrats who hold supermajorities in the General Assembly, came six months after a lone gunman perched atop a building fired into the Highland Park parade with a weapon similar to an AR-15, killing seven people and injuring more than three dozen.

It drew immediate scorn, not only in the form of lawsuits from gun owners and advocates, but from scores of county sheriffs who said they refused to enforce what they considered an unconstitutional law.

McGlynn, who was appointed to his post in the Southern District of Illinois by President Donald Trump during his first term, drew closely on U.S. Supreme Court rulings from the past 15 years that have solidified and more recently expanded interpretation of the Second Amendments guarantees.

He rejected state officials argument that the Protect Illinois Communities Act withstood constitutional tests because it addresses a new phenomenon  mass killings  and new technology  semiautomatic guns.

While mass shootings and firearm-related deaths are universally tragic and senseless, the government has not met its burden to prove that the history and tradition of firearm regulations supports PICAs expansive sweep, covering hundreds of models of weapons, magazines, and attachments used by tens of millions of law-abiding United States citizens, McGlynn wrote.

Erich Pratt, senior vice president of the Gun Owners of America, which represented one of the plaintiffs in the case, said of Pritzker and Illinois lawmakers, We warned them to fall in line, but they chose to do the opposite.

While this case took time, we are thrilled with the victory and for the citizens of Illinois, Pratt said. We the people deserve the right to decide how best to protect ourselves and our loved ones, not anti-gun tyrants.

(AP)
The House is expected to try to pass a Social Security-related bill to ensure benefits for workers who are also eligible for other pensions despite a surprise move by hard-right Freedom Caucus leaders to derail the effort.

Its a quick turnaround to salvage what had been a bipartisan effort to pass the bill during whats now the lame-duck post-election period of the Congress.

Heres whats going on:

WHAT DOES THE BILL DO?

The measure that would repeal the so-called government pensions offset has been gaining support in the House  a robust 300 lawmakers, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, have signed on to it.

The bill summary says the government pensions offset in various instances reduces Social Security benefits for spouses, widows, and widowers who also receive government pensions of their own.

The bill would repeal that provision and reinstate full Social Security benefits.

HOW WAS THE BILL ADVANCING?

To force the legislation forward, the sponsors of the bill, Republican Rep. Garrett Graves of Louisiana and Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia used a rarely successful process called a discharge petition.

They collected the minimum 218 signatures needed from House lawmakers to dislodge the bill from committee and send it to the floor for a vote.

The move is often seem as an affront to House leaders, particularly the House speaker and the majority leader who determine the floor schedule.

But Spanberger and Graves  who both did not seek reelection  had little to lose. Besides, Johnson backed the bill before becoming speaker.

HOW DID CONSERVATIVES BLOCK IT?

Two leaders of the conservative House Freedom Caucus intervened when the rest of Congress was away from Capitol Hill, mostly in home states for Election Day.

The Freedom Caucus chairman Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., and former chair Rep. Bob Goode, R-Va., used a routine pro forma session of the House on Tuesday to swiftly table part of the measure.

The Freedom Caucus tends to block new spending. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated the bill would add some $196 billion to the federal deficit over a decade.

Graves said thats the amount people are missing out on without reinstating full Social Security benefits.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

In tabling the legislation the conservatives actually set back its procedural rule, but not the bill itself.

The legislation is expected to move forward with a House vote anyway, possibly in the week ahead.

That said, passage will now be tougher, requiring a supermajority threshold rather than a simple majority as had been planned under the rule that the Freedom Caucus leaders turned back.

WHO WOULD BENEFIT IF THE BILL PASSES?

The summary says the legislation, if approved, would repeal the provisions that reduce Social Security benefits for individuals who receive other benefits, such as a pension from a state or local government.

It says the bill also eliminates the so-called windfall elimination provision that in some instances reduces Social Security benefits for individuals who also receive a pension or disability benefit from an employer that did not withhold Social Security taxes.

If it passes the House, its unclear if the bill has enough support to clear the Senate. But the wide margin in the House indicates potentially broad support.

It would then go to President Joe Bidens desk. If signed into law, the summary says the changes are effective for benefits payable after December 2023.

(AP)
What led Qatar to make the dramatic decision to oust Hamas officials from its territory and announce that it will no longer mediate between the Hamas terror group and Israel in efforts to reach a ceasefire/hostage deal?

Some Israeli sources say that Qatar took these steps ahead of President-elect Donald Trump entering office to avoid appearing as if it didnt adequately pressure Hamas.

Ynet reported that a security source said that Israel received an indication that Qatar was about to expel the Hamas leadership.

It seems that the Qataris are terrified of Trump. They understand that he will change the American direction toward them. They understand that they support terrorism. The Qataris are very afraid and want to appear as if theyre on the right side, the source said.

Other sources say the move was made due to intense pressure from the US. Kan News reported that the US demanded from Qatar to expel Hamas following the terror groups refusal of a new deal after the elimination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. According to the report, Hamas has not budged from its positions over the past several weeks and its unreasonable demands ensure its continued control over the Strip.

The US demand for the expulsion of Hamas leaders from Qatar is also the result of its Justice Departments indictment against Khaled Mashal, who currently resides in Qatar.

Additionally, US pressure on Qatar significantly intensified following the murder of American-Israeli citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Hyd.

According to Israeli reports, the Goldberg-Polin family had personal contact with senior Qatari officials and Qatar specifically demanded that Hamas ensure Hershs safety.

The report added that the US conveyed a message that they will also not tolerate Turkey accepting Hamas officials. A US official told Kan that Hamas leaders are not welcome in any country that is a partner of the US.

Israel is very pleased with the decision and both Israeli and US officials believe that ousting Hamas political leaders from Qatar will place them under significant pressure that could lead to a breakthrough on a hostage deal and other important issues.

Moreover, according to the report, this is the first time that Hamas political leaders will be forced to recalculate regarding its future as many other Arab states will also not be willing to host Hamas leaders.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Newly appointed Defense Minister Yisrael Katz spoke with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for the first time on Friday, during which the latter conveyed a sharp message regarding aid to Gaza, Channel 12 News reported on Motzei Shabbos.

According to the report, Austin issued an ultimatum to the new Defense Minister, stating that Israel needs to significantly increase humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

Austin threatened that if Israel doesnt increase aid to the innocent Gazan civilians, the U.S. will limit arms shipments to Israel.

Katz responded by clarifying that Israel wishes to increase aid but Hamas repeatedly steals it and sells it for high prices. Since Israel wants to ensure that the aid is reaching the local populationwithout intermediariesit is working with Arab countries to facilitate this.

The Biden administration has insisted on repeatedly forcing Israel to feed its enemy, despite its awareness that Hamas steals the humanitarian aid, with its own efforts to provide aid ending in a colossal failure and even the death of one of its soldiers.

(YWNs Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis haShabbos in Israel)
The Biden administrations partial arms embargo on Israel is putting the lives of IDF soldiers at risk in Gaza and Lebanon and affecting the battlefield, Ynet reported on Sunday.

In addition to freezing shipments of munitions to Israel months ago, the Biden administration more recently froze a large shipment of 134 D9 bulldozers which Israel ordered and paid for, two security sources told Ynet on the condition of anonymity.

The bulldozers are mainly used for flattening buildings in the Gaza Strip, the majority of which have been booby-trapped by Hamas terrorists. Sadly, many IDF soldiers have lost their lives in explosions in the Gaza Strip.

Despite that tragic fact, the Biden administration succumbed to the pressure of pro-Hamas protesters in the US and froze deliveries.

The effect on the battlefront is already apparent in both Gaza and Lebanon. Ynets inquiry revealed that many of the existing D9 bulldozers, which have been heavily used in Gaza for months, require maintenance. The launch of a second front in Lebanon exacerbated the shortage.

At the height of the fighting in Gaza, about a year ago, battalion commanders were fighting between them over D9 bulldozers and now they need maintenance, IDF commanders in Gaza say.

The IDF hesitates to directly and officially link the deadly results of the raid in Jabalia in Gaza  21 soldiers were killed in this operation alone within about a month, many of them from explosive devices  to the number of D9 bulldozers allocated for operations. These operations are usually preceded by the bulldozers entering the area ahead of the combat troops and safely clearing contaminated areas from explosive devices that are rigged to detonate on the soldiers. Nevertheless, it is clear that the bulldozers are not only operationally effective against tunnels and in built-up areas but also aid in saving soldiers lives.

In Lebanon, forces must clear thousands of acres of dense forest which Hezbollah took advantage of to hide arms depots and bunkers near Israeli communities to actualize its plan to carry out an October 7-style assault of the Galil.

The halt of the D9 shipments will also likely delay another important IDF operation in Gaza, establishing a one-kilometer-wide buffer zone between the Gaza Strip and the western Negev, which requires the leveling of hundreds of Gazan buildings and agricultural areas. Many of the buildings have already been razed but the operation is not yet complete. The Biden administration is vehemently opposed to the operation.

The fact that there are videos of American D9 bulldozers demolishing homes in Gaza isnt helpful but its a necessity, IDF sources said. These buildings are used by terrorists.

Apart from using bulldozers, the IDF uses several other means, some of which are more costly, including controlled blasts with thousands of tons of explosives as well as targeted airstrikes to demolish buildings, though more rarely due to the need to preserve munitions for other fronts.

Israel is forced to use its munitions sparingly because the Biden administration is also still freezing the shipment of about 1,300 munitions purchased by Israel from Boeing [paid in shekels rather than with US aid], claiming that the IDF might harm innocent Gazan civilians with them.

Half of the shipment, which the Biden administration froze in May, was released and shipped to Israel, but the other half is still in US warehouses.

In addition to the stalled deliveries of the bulldozers and heavy munitions, the Biden administration refused Israels urgent requests for Apache attack helicopters earlier this year and later also opposed diverting some of the hundreds of new helicopters ordered from Boeing for the U.S. Army to the IDF, as is sometimes done in such cases.

Not all U.S. defense officials are completely on our side. While the administration has significantly increased aid by billions of dollars, sending tens of thousands of munitions and various armaments to the IDF, theyre still giving us a penalty in the form of these embargoes, Israeli defense sources explained.

On Friday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin threatened newly appointed Defense Minister Yisrael Katz with an arms embargo  it is unclear if he was referring to continuing the already existing embargo or to new restrictions.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Prime Minister Netanyahu has announced that he has spoken with US President-elect Donald Trump three times since the election, emphasizing their shared perspective on the challenges posed by Iran.

In a video message, Netanyahu said that these conversations aimed to deepen the robust Israel-US alliance. He noted that they see eye-to-eye on the Iranian threat and the risks it presents. Netanyahu also highlighted promising opportunities for Israel in advancing regional peace and cooperation.

He described the discussions as productive and highly significant.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
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.
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.
Women's Aid has launched an independent evaluation report by the Centre for Effective Services, of its three-and-a-half-year pilot maternity project.

The national domestic violence organisation is pioneering this project today in an effort to raise awareness and increase understanding of coercive control among maternity staff so that they are better equipped to help create a safer space for disclosures from pregnant patients who are victims of domestic abuse.

Speaking on this project, Laura*, a victim of domestic abuse who was supported by the Womens Aid maternity outreach explained: I had never spoken to anyone about what was going on, but I knew it wasnt right. My outreach and medical social workers supported me throughout my pregnancy, which was a really hard time, emotionally and physically.

READ MORE: 'It's unbelievable' - Kyle Hayes victim's mother slams All-Star award as 'disgusting'

"They helped me understand that it wasnt my fault, and I had options. The outreach worker supported me to apply for a domestic violence order and accompanied me to court. She helped me to get a solicitor. I got the order, but my husband kept breaching it, we were still living in fear.

Laura continued: "She encouraged me to call the Gardai and even came to the station with me to make a statement. Despite everything, I had a healthy baby boy and although, I am still dealing with the ongoing abuse from my husband, I feel stronger, and I know the shame is not mine.

The project is a pioneering collaboration between Womens Aid, the Rotunda, the National Maternity Hospital, the Coombe Hospital and Cork University Maternity Hospital.

The pilot maternity project has developed and delivered specialist training to nearly 350 maternity care staff. In parallel, regular specially designed hospital-based awareness campaigns have increased visibility of the issue and built understanding of the signs of domestic abuse during pregnancy.

READ MORE: ALERT: Gardai issue urgent appeal for missing 13-year-old boy

A dedicated one to one support service in the three Dublin maternity hospitals also provided same day support upon referral to 379 victims of domestic abuse. As part of the independent evaluation of the project, a survey with pregnant women subjected to domestic violence found that most said that fear, shame and concern about having children taken away, stopped them from asking maternity staff for help.

Most women were also in favour of regular screening for domestic abuse during a womans journey throughout pregnancy. The independent evaluators found that the model of co-designed training and awareness addressing domestic abuse needs funding to be replicated and expanded across maternity settings and potentially other areas of the health service.

The evaluation also provided important analysis and recommendations for participating hospitals to support improvements in data collection and tracking of enquiries about abuse, as well as disclosures and referrals of abuse survivors-victims internally.

Sarah Benson, CEO of Womens Aid said: The impacts of domestic abuse during the perinatal period can be devastating. Perinatal abuse and in particular targeted assaults aimed at the abdomen increase the risk of maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality. Essentially, both mother and baby are victims of domestic abuse during pregnancy.

Ms Benson continued: This unique project emerged from years of Women's Aid work with maternity hospital staff and with survivors of domestic abuse. The maternity project provided a unique three-pronged approach of training, awareness raising and outreach support.

"We know that pregnancy can be a time when women are thinking more about the future, presenting an opportunity for intervention and support. Regular, ongoing healthcare appointments in pregnancy not only offer multiple opportunities for disclosure and space to build trusting relationships, but also provide a situation where women can access services without arousing suspicion from an abusive partner.

Dr. Jennifer Hanratty, Centre for Effective Services evaluator, says: Our independent evaluation has found that the project has had a positive effect on awareness of domestic violence and abuse for both staff and women using services. This pilot project demonstrated great potential for improving maternity services response to domestic violence and abuse.

"The evaluation also uncovered major challenges for maternity services in the recording and monitoring of Domestic Violence and Abuse screening and referrals offered to women. These issues need to be addressed at both local and national level to enable the project to have impact at scale.

Fiona Hanrahan, Director of Midwifery, The Rotunda Hospital:

"Going forward The Rotunda want to continue empowering our staff and our patients to recognise the signs of abuse, so women can receive appropriate supports within the hospital and through Womens Aid.

Laura Harrington, Head Medical Social Worker, The National Maternity Hospital says;

Our partnership with Women's Aid over the last three and a half years has enhanced the service that we offer women attending The National Maternity Hospital during their pregnancy.

"We look forward to continuing to work together to support women and their babies who are exposed to domestic violence and abuse.

Kate Burke, Acting Principal Medical Social Worker, The Coombe Hospital says:

As a hospital dedicated to women and infants, our priority at the Coombe Hospital is to offer an environment in which pregnant women feel safe and comfortable to disclose abuse.

"As Medical Social Workers, we have been working with pregnant women to provide the emotional and practical support that they need to ensure their safety and wellbeing, for many years. However, the number of affected women is growing, and more resources are required to meet this need.

"We value this partnership with Womens Aid and the progress we have made, a lot has been done but there is much more to do

Maria Leahy, Manager of Social Work Services Cork University Maternity Hospital within Ireland South Women & Infants Directorate says: Ireland South Women & Infants Directorate are committed to listening, supporting and believing any woman who may be experiencing domestic violence.

"We have been proud to collaborate with Womens Aid on the Maternity Project as we continue to raise awareness of our staff and respond to the needs of pregnant women experiencing domestic violence both locally and nationally."

Womens Aid 24hr National Freephone Helpline 1800 341 900 www.womensaid.ie

National Male Adviceline 1800 816 588 Male Advice Line - Men's Development Network
Ryanair boss Michael OLearys endorsement of Fine Gael was offensive to teachers, a Fianna Fail minister has said.

It comes after the airline chief announced his support for a Fine Gael candidate in the General Election, adding it was important to elect a government that gets shit done.

Mr OLeary endorsed Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke in the LongfordWestmeath constituency, adding that he would give his second preference to Fianna Fail candidate Robert Troy.

The multimillionaire based part of his endorsement on Mr Burkes background in the private sector, as he criticised TDs who were teachers in the past. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin is among those who has a background in teaching.

The Dail is full of teachers  nothing wrong with teachers, I love teachers, but I wouldnt generally employ a lot of teachers to go out and get things done, he said.

Reacting to the comments, Fianna Fail Minister of State James Browne said the remark was offensive, adding that he was the chair of a board of management of primary school.

One of the most effective things you can do with your life is being a teacher, he said.

Fianna Fail candidate for Dublin Bay South Jim OCallaghan added: As the son of a primary school teacher, I can tell him hes absolutely incorrect  teachers are very effective at getting things done.

In an apparent reference to Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach Simon Harris, Mr OCallaghan added: We need people from different backgrounds in Dail Eireann, teachers, all walks of life  it cant be the case that everyone just decides at 19 years of age that Im going to be a politician and stay in politics for the rest of their lives.

Elsewhere, Labour leader Ivana Bacik said it was very disappointing to hear someone in public life taking snipes or sneers at teachers, as she called on Fine Gael to distance themselves from the comments.

She said: Were all conscious of the enormous contribution that teachers have made.

She added: Its particularly disappointing at a time when we know theres a crisis in education, the recruitment and retention of teachers.

Mr Burke later distanced himself from Mr OLearys remarks, telling RTE radio that he absolutely disagreed with the businessman about teachers.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said Mr Harris should clarify his partys position, adding: For teachers to be jeered and demeaned in this way is unacceptable.

She also said the public were exhausted with Fine Gael, after Simon Coveney claimed that Mr Harris was exhausting the opposition

Speaking at Mr Burkes campaign launch in Mullingar, Mr OLeary also took aim at Sinn Fein and continued a long-running feud with the Green Party.

Mr OLeary, who grew up and lives in Mullingar, said the November 29 vote would be one of the most seismic elections within the next three decades because of the expected population boom.

He added: So it is vital this time that we elect a government that delivers.

We need a government that delivers for enterprise, that creates jobs. We need a government that delivers infrastructure that fixes the problems we face today, and above all, its vital that we elect a government that gets shit done.

Because, frankly, Im fed up with the left-wing politicians telling us that if they tax us more and spend more, all will be well.

Mr OLeary urged the crowd to also support Fianna Fail candidates but urged them not to vote for the Green Party or Sinn Fein.

I would also urge everybody to give your number two to somebody in Fianna Fail as well, he said.

Its important, I think, in this election that Fine Gael and Fianna Fail supporters transfer to each other.

Ryanair has repeatedly criticised the Green ministers for transport and tourism, Eamon Ryan and Catherine Martin, over what the airline sees as a lack of action on the Dublin Airport passenger cap.

What is most important in this election is we weed out the Greens. Weve learned after five minutes that the Greens are just weeds, Mr OLeary said.

They poison enterprise. Theyve destroyed transport.

He added: Please dont vote for Sinn Fein. I would ignore Sinn Fein. If you cant run your own party, you havent much chance of running a government or a country either.
There is an over-concentration of support services for drug users in Dublin, Fianna Fail has said.

The party launched its urban communities policy document for the general election on Sunday by promising to increase garda numbers to 20,000.

Elsewhere, it states that Fianna Fail is committed to a health-led approach to drug use, rather than a criminal one.

However, the policy paper does not include any proposals on drug-related healthcare or addiction services and instead calls for increased sentences and a tougher garda response.

Fianna Fail Senator Mary Fitzpatrick said the document focused on urban communities, and such proposals would instead fall under health and justice.

The policy document makes recommendations in the area of justice which would cost hundreds of millions of euros.

The programme includes a 175 million euro urban development fund and 236 million euros to expand the garda force by 5,000, up to approximately 20,000.

It also includes a dedicated transport police unit and pledges to strengthen garda powers to tackle anti-social behaviour, including dispersal orders and public-space protection orders.

Junior justice minister James Browne said urban communities are facing challenges of urban decay, crime, and increasingly transient populations.

Asked about the absence of health-led measures under the drugs subheading, Ms Fitzpatrick said the party has endorsed a health-led approach recommended by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on drugs.

She said the party supported safe injection centres, adding that it is hoped that one would open in the city this month.

Ms Fitzpatrick added that additional centres do not have to be in the city, and should be located to ensure greater access for services.

She said: We have an over-concentration already of support services  a clustering, I would say.

We need to ensure that people who have an addiction can access services and supports in their communities.

Asked if he would support one opening in Enniscorthy in his constituency, Mr Browne said: Wherever theyre needed, they should be.

Fianna Fail said further housing and investment proposals, along with specific measures for Dublin, will be announced later in the campaign.

The Social Democrats also used Sunday to launch a 200 million euro plan for Dublin city centre, and said between 5-10,000 households could be opened up above shop units.

Dublin Central representative Gary Gannon accused Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach Simon Harris of extreme cynicism when the Dublin City Centre Taskforce report was released after the Budget.

He said: We have, too often, a scenario where the Taoiseach becomes more of a commentator about the city, rather than someone who stands forward, who will deliver a plan.

Discussing the plan, Mr Gannon said: Dublin has not been a priority for the outgoing government. Under their watch, Dublin is decaying  and it has been in decline for many years.

From increased anti-social behaviour, filthy streets and chronic vacancy and dereliction  Dublin needs more than empty political platitudes. It needs a plan backed up by significant resources.

He added: Included in the plan is ring-fenced funding of 200 million euro to restore and revive the city; a practical plan to make above-the-shop living a reality; the use of a streamlined CPO process to buy vacant and derelict sites and buildings; an increased garda presence in the capital; and the creation of a Cultural Corridor from Henrietta St to St James Gate.

There are other initiatives too: A higher rate of vacancy tax in strategic areas of the city, where dereliction and vacancy are creating eyesores; Dublin City Council taking back control of waste collection; a new tourist bed tax with revenue ring-fenced for amenities and to keep the city clean; a reduced 9% VAT rate in hospitality for food and beverage businesses; and an increase in playing pitches and sporting amenities for children and young people.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald attended a rally for the preservation and regeneration of Moore Street in the city.

Ms McDonald strongly criticised Fine Gael and Fianna Fail for failing to intervene and prevent a private developers plan which would demolish buildings in the historic area, which served as a key battleground in the 1916 Rising.

She said: This election is an opportunity for people to come out now and vote for Sinn Fein to change the government and to have a government that actually appreciates and remembers our history, our tradition, how our freedom was won, but also a government that realises the real value of Irish culture.
Kansas City tempers flare tonight and result in the latest local fatality.

Here's the first report . . .



Homicide 2700 Blk of Garfield



Tonight right at 6pm officers were dispatched to the 2700 block of Garfield on a shooting call.



On arrival officers were directed into a residence on the block there. Inside that residence officers located an adult male shooting victim unresponsive. Officers summoned EMS into the scene who declared the victim deceased.



There were multiple individuals at the scene when officers arrived. One of those, an adult male, was detained as a subject of interest for further investigation.



Detectives are not searching for any additional suspects at this time.



Preliminary investigation indicates that the victim was inside the residence when he had an interaction with a suspect that escalated and led to gunfire and the victim was struck.



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. . .

Suspect detained following Garfield Ave. homicide Saturday evening The Kansas City Police Department reports a homicide has taken place in the 2700 block of Garfield Avenue today, November 9.

Police respond to homicide Saturday evening in KCMO Police in Kansas City, Missouri, are investigating a homicide Saturday evening. Police said the incident happened in the 2700 block of Garfield Avenue.

Developing . . .


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We sit down with Paula Muto, a vascular surgeon, who discusses the challenges shes faced in a health care system on the brink of collapse. From hospital closures driven by private equity to network restrictions that limit patient access, Paula shares her candid insights on how we can rebuild a better system. She advocates for banning network restrictions, restoring physician authority, and increasing financial transparency. Drawing on her years of experience, she highlights the urgent need for change and calls on fellow physicians to take the lead in transforming health care.

Paula Muto is a vascular surgeon.

She discusses the KevinMD article, A physicians perspective on the crisis in Massachusetts health care.

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Transcript

Kevin Pho: Hi, and welcome to the show. Subscribe at kevinmd.com/podcast. Today, we welcome back Paula Muto. Shes a vascular surgeon. Todays KevinMD article is A Physicians Perspective on the Crisis in Massachusetts Health Care. Paula, welcome back to the show.

Paula Muto: Oh, its great to be here, Kevin.

Kevin Pho: So before talking about the article, lets start with what led you to write this particular one in the first place.

Paula Muto: So, as you know, Im pretty talkative about whats happening in health care, but Im living it firsthand in Massachusetts, and I think that its a cautionary tale. You know, somebody had referred to me recently as being a prophet, and I said, no, Im more like Cassandra telling the Trojans story. Bring that horse in. And so now its sort of coming to fruition. And I think that people have to spend this time understanding the reasons and how we got here, so we can get ourselves out of this and perhaps prevent other places from following.

Kevin Pho: All right. Coincidentally, my high school daughter is studying ancient Greece. So that metaphor certainly rings true. So talk about that article itself and tell me about the warning signs that youre seeing.

Paula Muto: You know, again, put it in contextMassachusetts, Steward Health Care. Steward Health Care was one of the larger consolidated groups. It was a for-profit group that came in. It started in Massachusetts out of a group of Catholic hospitals that came together. And then back in 2010, the hospital network partnered with Cerebus, which is a large private equity organization. And interestingly, about three days after the inking of Obamacarewhich makes it all sort of, makes us all scratch our heads, right?because Obamacare followed RomneyCare, which was a Massachusetts-born entity, which was also created by Bain Capital, Mitt Romney, and Bain Capital. Four years before, they had actually invested in HCA, which is now one of the biggest companies on earth right now. I think they just announced. So, if you go back to sort of who thought of all of this, it really did come up from that model. So, Steward Health Care expanded in the state, expanded across the country through a series of deals with leveraged debt, utilizing hospital beds, actually, as currency and then sort of got caught with their pants down in some ways, you know, because that debt didnt get paid. And it got paid out to investors, and there was actually nothing left behind to pay vendors at the hospitals.

Kevin Pho: Yeah.

Paula Muto: And so now the hospital network in Massachusetts had broken up. Steward went and filed for bankruptcy. And the hospitals went to a variety of different fates, my own hospital included.

Kevin Pho: So tell us how that is directly affecting patients and the clinician staff today.

Paula Muto: When youre living it right over the years, going down this slope, you kind of, every day, every day you see where youre going, but you have to do your work, right? You dont pay attention; you do your work, and you trust. And theres a lot of trust here that your leadership will draw the line in the sand somewhere, right? At some point, theyre going to draw a line in the sand. Like, you know, when all else fails, were all going to show up and do whats right for the patient. You know, no ones ever going to put a profit ahead of a patient. No ones ever going to tell us that the oxygen delivery isnt happening. But when the oxygen delivery literally didnt happen to the operating room, you know, how does it affect people? Its a very scary place for physicians and nurses and patients to be, right? I mean, I think youve talked about this endlessly on your podcast when people talk about moral injury.

Kevin Pho: Thats moral injury.

Paula Muto: So, in my article, I kind of referenced back to a different day when I was in training, which is, I imagine, probably the same time you were in training. I dont know. Did you train in the 90s and, you know, 80s and 90s?

Kevin Pho: I finished training in 2002.

Paula Muto: Oh, so youre a little younger than me. I finished in 96, 97.

Kevin Pho: 96.

Paula Muto: So when I was at Tufts New England Medical Center, our CEO was actually our chief of surgery and chief of vascular surgery. The person who ran the hospital, the one who literally was in charge, was operating with me as a chief resident. And then hed go and put out fires. Why was that important? Because when we were at Tufts, something very impressive was that they started these network restrictions, right? Harvard Pilgrim decided that no patient could go anywhere in Boston but a Harvard hospital. And you had people at New England Medical Center on cancer protocols. And Tom ODonnell, who was my mentor, went to the statehouse and said, No. Absolutely not. This is not safe. This is inappropriate. Its bad patient care. And guess what? They believed him. Why? Because he was a doctor. And it carried a lot of weight with the legislators and politically. And it was simply reversed.

Kevin Pho: Right.

Paula Muto: Right now, our hospitals are run by doctors. Only 10 percent of the boardroom are doctors. Physicians dont own hospitals. Theyre not allowed to. Physicians arent even in the boardrooms, so we dont even have that position anymore. And I think that has had a huge impact on why the Steward saga occurs. Everyone says, Well, Steward was run by a doctor, but it was really run by private equity. The hospitals themselves had no physicians really involved. It was quote physician-led only in name. The person in charge of the trajectory was really private equity from the moment he stepped out of the operating room. But when we had a surgeon operating every day, running a residency program, and solving problems, communication could be instant, and trust was there. We have lost that in a major way. Its not just the autonomy of a doctor; weve lost leadership, and so weve lost a voice.

Kevin Pho: So how did the evolution of that occur over the past few decades? How did physicians lose their voice in the boardroom?

Paula Muto: I think its economics. We go into practice, and you always want to be your own boss. Theres not a doctor out there who didnt dream about just scheduling themselves, right? Except for academics, which is a totally different world. The number of academic surgeons and doctors has remained constant for a century. Lets put them over here. The rest of us, who have always been running small businesses, essentially became employees, not for academic reasons but because it became harder and harder to run a practice. We had more restrictions, regulations. If you werent part of a network, it became really difficult. And the state of Massachusetts should 100 percent put a bill that bans network restrictions because access is at a crisis level. Patients simply cant get in. Massachusetts has the longest wait times to see a doctor in the country. And thats a disgrace because we train so many doctors.

Kevin Pho: Right.

Paula Muto: These network restrictions made it hard to make a living. You had to be part of a group. If you werent with them, you were against them.

Kevin Pho: How is your hospital, caught up in the Steward saga, affecting you professionally?

Paula Muto: Weve lost a lot of good nurses and doctors. During the transition, salaries were protected, but they forgot people on medical leave. Those on maternity leave or recovering from surgery lost health insurance overnight. People panicked and left, uncertain about job security. The uncertainty continues, affecting everyone.

Kevin Pho: Network restrictions are foundational in our health care systems issues. What first steps should be taken to reverse this?

Paula Muto: A state-level moratorium on network restrictions is crucial. If a patient and doctor are in the same network, nothing should prevent them from connecting. Legislative action could relieve systems pressure. We also need to understand why young doctors cant start practices. Massachusetts provides tax breaks for movies; why not for doctors serving Medicaid patients?

Paula Muto: And its not just about relief for tuition or loan forgiveness; its about providing real, tangible tax breaks that enable young doctors to stay in practice and serve their communities. This support would help them set up independent practices and encourage more of them to stay in the field, which is ultimately beneficial for patient care and access. The more young doctors we can keep in practice, the more we can distribute the patient load and reduce the burnout thats so prevalent now.

We need to look at the economic factors that push doctors out of private practice and into hospital employment or even out of medicine entirely. Consolidation and the power of large health care systems play a huge role in this. When individual doctors cant make a living on their own and have to rely on big networks, we end up in a situation like the one with Steward. Its a vicious cycle of consolidation that leads to less competition and fewer options for both patients and doctors.

Kevin Pho: Right. And as we touched on earlier, private equity is a significant part of this problem. It has seeped into so many areas of health care. You mentioned that private equity is likely here to stay. What strategies can we adopt to put guardrails around it and protect our health care system?

Paula Muto: Its going to be tough to untangle private equity from health care because its already deeply embedded in the system. From hospitals to outpatient facilities, to the very medications we prescribeprivate equity has a stake in all of it. But I think there are a few measures we can take to mitigate its negative impact.

First, we need clear regulations that ensure the profits made in health care stay within the community it serves. When tax dollars come into a system for patient care, those dollars should be reinvested locally, not siphoned off to fund investments overseas or in unrelated industries. This idea of reinvesting in the community could be a fundamental step in controlling how private equity operates in health care. Guardrails can be set up that specify how profits are spent and reinvested, ensuring that the quality of care and resources for patients are maintained.

Kevin Pho: Thats an important point. Its about keeping the focus on the community and reinvesting locally. What about the political aspect of this? How do we encourage our lawmakers to take this seriously?

Paula Muto: It comes down to advocacy and awareness. Physicians need to be more involved in policy discussions. We need to band together and present a unified front. Theres power in numbers, and if doctors can agree on certain key issueslike price transparency, access to care, and responsible management of health care fundswe can make a difference.

We also need to work on educating the public. Patients often feel powerless, as if they have no say in the health care they receive. While its true that the system is complex, patient awareness and grassroots movements can influence change. Patients need to be informed about the importance of choosing health care providers who prioritize patient care over profit and understand what private equity involvement means for their care.

Kevin Pho: So, its not just about physicians making noise; its about empowering patients to understand whats at stake and pushing for change alongside the medical community.

Paula Muto: Exactly. Patients need to realize that these arent abstract policy issues; they have real impacts on wait times, access to specialists, and the quality of care they receive. And as physicians, we need to guide them. We should be proactive about discussing options with our patients, whether thats recommending a cost-effective imaging center or explaining how network restrictions limit their choices. By educating patients, we build a collective voice that can push for better health care policies.

Kevin Pho: Were talking to Paula Muto, a vascular surgeon. Todays KevinMD article is A Physicians Perspective on a Crisis in Massachusetts Health Care. Paula, as always, lets end with some of your take-home messages for the KevinMD audience.

Paula Muto: My main message is that we need to take ownership of the state of health care. We cant sit back and think that these problems are too big or too complicated to address. Theyre not. The crisis in Massachusetts should be a wake-up call for all of us. If it can happen here, it can happen anywhere. It disrupts patient care, undermines trust, and leads to burnout for medical professionals. We need to reclaim our leadership roles, push for regulations that benefit both doctors and patients, and maintain a focus on the good stufftraining residents, practicing medicine with passion, and making sure patients are well taken care of.

And we have to be louder. Join organizations, get involved in advocacy efforts, and make your voices heard. There are opportunities, like Call on the Mall in Washington, D.C., where physicians can gather, talk to lawmakers, and push for the changes we need. We need to stay engaged and united, for ourselves and for the next generation of doctors and patients.

Kevin Pho: Paula, thank you so much for sharing your perspective and insight. And thanks again for coming back on the show.

Paula Muto: Thank you, Kevin.
Re-posted only because there's a vague connection to Kansas here even if the dude resides in the Beltway and now just uses the Sunflower State as part of his origin story . . .



"I will not be inviting former Ambassador Nikki Haley, or former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to join the Trump Administration, which is currently in formation," the president-elect posted on Truth Social early Saturday evening.



Despite the harsh nature of the announcement, Trump added that he enjoyed working with them.





Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
In this post we notice that your boss might be an election denier . . . And begs the question:

Pick one: Capitalism or American Democracy . . . Because, tragically, it looks like we can't have both in Missouri.

Here's the reasoning that puts some conservative voters in a tough position . . .

Its just too broad, said Buddy Lahl, CEO of the Missouri Restaurant Association, in an interview with the Post-Dispatch Friday. The language of the proposition is misleading to voters.  It affects the little people. Were going to stand up for small business owners.



Opponents include the Associated Industries of Missouri, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Missouri Grocers Association, the Missouri Restaurant Association, the Missouri Retailers Association and the National Federation of Independent Business.



The group is exploring all available options, including possible legal action, to ensure that unemployment rates and cost of living are not adversely impacted by this proposition, their statement said.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Actually . . .



There has been a lot of speculation in Missouri about politicos joining White House at the dawn of the next MAGA era.

However . . .

Locals conservatives pushing AG Bailey were mostly just helping out one of their buddies.

Also . . .

If we were REALLY sensationalist hack blog, the post title would've been something like . . .

MAGA CONTEMPLATES GRAVES FOR MAYO PETE POSITION!!!

Hint: We reserve the right to use that one later.



Meanwhile . . .



This Kansas City metro congressman LOW-KEY CONFIRMS that he has been talking with MAGA in a recent interview . . .



(Congressman) Graves told Missourinet affiliate KFEQ in St. Joseph that he is talking with Trumps people.



I have been talking to Trumps transition team, he said. You know, they have informed that theyve got me on a short list for that. So, Im obviously taking a very hard look at it and, you know, see what happens. But it is certainly something that is very intriguing to me.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
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IIT Kanpur JEE Main 2025 free online prep course from Nov 11

IIT Kanpur, the exam conducting authority for this year's JEE Advanced, has launched a free online course for students who are appearing for JEE Main 2025

Sunday November 10, 2024 7:52 PM , ummid.com News Network

JEE Main 2025: IIT Kanpur, the exam conducting authority for this year's JEE Advanced, has launched a free online course for students who are appearing for JEE Main 2025.

As per the JEE Main 2025 Notification, the NTA will conduct JEE Main Session 1 between January 22 to 31, 2024.

Online registration for JEE Main 2025 (Session 1) is underway. The last date to apply is Nov 22, 2024.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) also provides online course material for students who appear for the JEE Main exam.

"SAATHI"

However, to make JEE Main preparation easier, IIT Kanpur has launched a free 45-day course for the students.

The JEE Main preparation course by IIT Kanpur "SAATHI" will be held online via the website "sathee.iitk.ac.in".

The IIT Kanpur JEE Main crash course comprises of daily live session from 03:00 PM to 06:00 PM.

Along with the daily live sessions, the course includes daily practice questions to reinforce students' learning and help them apply concepts in a practical context.

"JEE Main Mock Test"

A specially curated Mock Test series will also be available, allowing students to simulate the real exam environment, assess their readiness, and gain confidence, IIT Kanpur said.

The program, introduced in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MoE), is set to begin tomorrow, November 11, 2024.

More course details can be found on the website sathee.iitk.ac.in.

The candidates should note that like previous years JEE Main 2025 will be held in 13 languages including Urdu. A candidate can either appear in both sessions or either of the two as per his/her convenience.

The candidates who are applying for JEE Main 2025 can in the meanwhile download the information brochure for JEE Main syllabus, eligibility criteria, exam fees, cut off, answer sheet and OMR sheet release date, JEE Main score validity and other exam related details.

In a related development, IIT Kanpur has also released new Eligibility Criteria for JEE Advanced 2025 .

Top 250,000 candidates who appeared in the JEE Main 2025 are eligible to appear for JEE Advanced 2025.

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Joint Arab-Islamic Summit 2024 Monday, a year after last one failed to deliver

Saudi Arabia is hosting a Joint Arab-Islamic Summit on Monday November 11, 2024 to discuss the Israeli war on Gaza and other occupied Palestinian territories, and Lebanon exactly a year after the last one failed to deliver

Sunday November 10, 2024 10:47 PM , ummid.com News Network

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia is hosting a Joint Arab-Islamic Summit on Monday November 11, 2024 to discuss the Israeli war on Gaza and other occupied Palestinian territories, and Lebanon exactly a year after the last one failed to deliver.

The escalating violence in the Palestinian and Lebanese territories, including the brutal Israeli aggression, has compelled Arab and Islamic leaders to take urgent action, a statement released a day before the summit by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

This requires solidarity among Arab and Islamic nations to confront these challenges and mitigate their consequences, SPA added.

A Foreign Ministry statement released October 30, 2024 had said the planned summit will be a follow-up of a previous summit held in Riyadh on 11 November, 2023, to discuss the Israeli war on Gaza.

A year ago, the leaders of Arab and Islamic Countries had met in the Saudi capital more than a month after Israel started bombarding Gaza on October 07, 2023.

The summit last year , had ended with statements condemning the Israeli aggressions in Gaza and West Bank, miserably failing to agree on any real action to pressure the Zionist regime in the Occupied Palestine, or its supporter the United States.

As a result, the Israeli occupation forces have massacred more than 43,000 civilians according to the official records whereas close to 300,000 as per unofficial figures, since Oct 7, 2023.

A UN probe the result of which was released three days ago had found more than 70% of those killed in Gaza and other occupied Palestinian territories are women and children.

The Riyadh Summit last year was a joint meeting of 22-member Arab League and 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The same lot of leaders are expected to attend the 2024 summit.

Amidst this all eyes, especially of the Muslim world, is on these leaders if they will come out with any concrete step to check Israeli aggression called genocide by various world forums and end Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands deemed illegal by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and UN General Assembly .

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Muslimization of The AMU Minority Character

Religious instruction or symbolism, which the Fraternity Movement fancily labels as Muslim Subjectivity, isnt and should not be the core of any minority institution including Aligarh Muslim Univeristy (AMU)

Sunday November 10, 2024 12:49 PM , Yanis Iqbal

On November 8, 2024, a seven-judge bench of the Supreme Court overruled the 1967 S. Azeez Basha vs Union of India case, which had held that Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) could not be considered a minority institution. The factual determination of the minority character of AMU has now been left to a smaller bench.

The AMU unit of the Fraternity Movement  the students wing of Jamaat-e-Islami Hinds (JHI) political outfit Welfare Party of India (WFI), has released a curious statement entitled AMU Will Remain a Muslim Institution. It says:

"Aligarh Muslim University was/is a clear manifestation of Muslimness in India. It had an intrinsic history of being the holistic representation of the Muslim Community in the country. The establishment of this Institution was solely focused on enforcing Muslim Subjectivity and widening the scope of the Islamic Knowledge system for the people. "Regardless of the colonial project to delimit the political horizons, Aligarh as a movement broke the frames that were instilled by orientalist time sense. The question of Muslimness in this particular juncture plays a very crucial role while the earlier legal challenges were orchestrated to curtail Muslimness in the historical formation of AMU."

What first catches the eye is the remark that AMU Will Remain a Muslim Institution, not a minority institution. The adjective Muslim is embedded in a chain of capitalized terms: Muslimness, Muslim Community, Muslim Subjectivity, and Islamic Knowledge.

The capitalization is meant to convey the resplendent importance that attaches to these words. This importance is characterized in a theological manner:

We believe that the legal reasonings and argumentations on the minority status have a lacuna of articulating theological notions which should be taken forth by the futural fights bounding to this.

In other words, the legal discourse of minority should be replaced by the capitalized, theological discourse of Muslimness.

The theological outlook of the Fraternity Movement isnt surprising. Given its linkage with JIH, it is natural that it will borrow the religious vocabulary of the latter. According to JIH:

Reducing religion to just a private matter is unwanted audacity. The position of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind is that this concept is not only antithetical to Islam but also would be quite oppressive for people of India, the vast majority of who believe in spiritual and religious values, to prohibit them from following the guidance offered by religion and impose irreligiousness on them instead.

Here, we once again encounter the grandiloquent voice of the religious practitioner, who regards any breach of their theological domain as an exercise of unwanted audacity.

Religion is naturalized as a desirable good, whose possession has to be maintained at all costs. In fact, when Muslims are in a dominant position, Syed Jalaluddin Umri, former president of JIH, advised them to establish an "Islamic state" and be governed by the laws of Sharia.

But is religion really that desirable?

This question is not explored by self-assured theologians. This same sentiment of self-assuredness is to be found in the AMU Fraternity Movements declaration that there exists a unified and capitalized Muslimness requiring prioritization.

Does the issue of minority status really concern the ability of students to protect their Muslim Subjectivity, or Islamic Knowledge?

Put in more mundane terms, this would mean that the entire debate over AMUs status pertains to the Muslim youths right to recite Quranic verses in the university premises. This seems more like the theologians dream, rather than a socially and economically disadvantaged students wish.

The Supreme Courts judgment is correct in noting that what is primary in the determination of the minority character of an institution is not the existence of a religious place for prayer and worship or the existence of religious symbols but the objective of providing benefit to a religious or linguistic minority community. This means that educational institutions could be established for minorities to provide secular education without imparting any lessons on religion.

What the above demonstrates is that religious instruction or symbolism, which the Fraternity Movement fancily labels as Muslim Subjectivity, isnt the core of a minority institution. AMU can benefit Indian Muslims without teaching theology. It is incumbent upon theologically minded entities to show why religious knowledge is a necessary part of empowerment.

Instead of regarding Indian Muslims as a theological category, one should follow BR Ambedkar in analyzing religious affiliation solely in terms of the intense degree of social separation and discrimination that it effects upon the minority groups.

What matters is not the doctrinal distinction between different religious groups but the actual social discrimination that marks their relationships. Insofar as Muslims in India are characterized by social separation, they are entitled to demand special measures from the government that can alleviate their oppression.

According to senior advocate Mihir Desai, since the founding of the Indian Republic, the Supreme Court has adopted a religion-centric criteria for determining the minority status, or otherwise, of an institution. The determination of the minority status of an institution should be based on whether it is being run for the benefit of the minority, and not whether it is established and administered by a minority. This concern with an institutes identitarian origins rather than substantive policy dynamics has attached the question of minority status to the political principle of protecting cultural identity, to the exclusion of the social principle of backwardness related to issues of justice and equity.

The obsession with cultural identity leads to a regressive politics. Once an individual has their mind trained on the sanctity of Muslimness, it becomes difficult for them to comprehend the social inequalities that accrue due to this fixation. The JIH, for instance, declares:

Homosexuality strikes at the very root of family and society. It is an immoral and unnatural act of perversion, which not only prevents procreation and progress of human race, but also destroys the family system and social relations.

While reading this confident, clear-cut declaration, one cant help but remember the case of Ramchandra Siras, a poet and Professor of Marathi Literature at AMU, who faced murderous persecution due to his homosexuality. On February 8, 2010, two individuals broke into Siras home and filmed him in bed with another man. Following this incident, Siras was suspended from his position for gross misconduct. However, the courts ruled against the university. Tragically, on April 8 of the same year, Siras died under mysterious circumstances at his residence, just a day before he received the official letter cancelling his suspension.

When it comes to women, the JIH thinks that co-education should be abolished and proper education facilities meant for only women only should be available at all level of education. While they are segregated from men, they should wear clothes that are sober and dignified.

Faced with reactions that this amounted to moral policing, Umri clarified that the organization merely wanted women to wear dresses that cover the body. The inane logic governing this argument isnt hard to spot: since female flesh incites male lust, women should be caged in segregated spaces where their entire body is draped in the holiness of modesty.

Faithfully following the patriarchal script, JIH never questions why men get aroused so easily that they start raping women. All the responsibility is placed on the female victim. Given the hierarchical attitudes that religious consciousness leads to, the AMU Fraternity Movement needs to consider if it really wants to pigeonhole the issue of minority status into the rusty confines of theology.

[The writer, Yanis Iqbal, is an undergraduate student of political science at Aligarh Muslim University, India. He is the author of the book Education in the Age of Neoliberal Dystopia.]

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Udta Malegaon takes 2024 Malegaon Central Elections by storm

Drugs addiction has become a major issue in the 2024 Malegaon Central Assembly elections with candidates from the rival political parties blaming each other for the menace which if not checked now will turn the Textile City into Udta Malegaon

Monday November 11, 2024 11:24 AM , ummid.com Staff Reporter

[(Clockwise) Asif Shaikh Rasheed, Mufti Ismail, Ejaz Baig and Shan e Hind are four key candidates contesting the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly Elections from Malegaon Central Assembly seat.]

Malegaon Central Election 2024: Drugs addiction has become a major issue in the 2024 Malegaon Central Assembly elections with candidates from the rival political parties blaming each other for the menace which if not checked now will turn the Textile City into Udta Malegaon.

It all started when sitting MLA and AIMIM candidate Mufti Ismail Qasmi in the partys very first election rally at Khayaban-e-Nishat Chowk in Qilla in October accused Asif Shaikh , former Congress MLA and EX Mayor who is contesting the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly Election as Independent, of hobnobbing with drug pedlars.

Other AIMIM leaders, including former Mayor Abdul Malik, too joined in. They in fact went a step further and accused Asif Shaikh of pushing the youth of the city into drug addictions and ruining their families.

From then on, Mufti Ismail and other AMIM leaders built their campaign around drug additions, and in every party rally asked people of Malegaon to choose between Acchai and Burai (Good and Evil).

Drugs addiction was now a major issue for other candidates too, including Shan e Hind of Samajwadi Party and Ejaz Baig of Congress, who repeatedly urged the voters to support the candidates who will save the City, famous for its textile produce, Masajid and Madaris, from becoming Udta Malegaon.

Sensing that the issue is generating a chord with the people of Malegaon, when Akbaruddin Owaisi - senior AIMIM leader, younger brother of AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Telangana MLA, visited the Powerloom City on November 06 to campaign for Mufti Ismail, the focus of his speech was choosing between Acchai and Burai (good and evil) and Nasha Mukt Malegaon (drug free Malegaon).

Our primary aim should be defeating the BJP and its allies. In case you dont have such a candidate around then you have to choose between acchai and burai, and cast your vote for Nasha Mukt Malegaon, Akbaruddin Owaisi said addressing the AIMIM rally in Malegaon Wednesday Nov 6, 2024 in a veiled reference to Asif Shaikh who is contesting as Independent.

From the Malegaon Central Assembly Constituency which has more than 80% Muslim voters, some 13 candidates, including from Congress, Samajwadi Party, SDPI and independents, are contesting the 2024 Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha Chunav. The BJP and its allies have not fielded their candidates in Malegaon.

Ummid.com had raised the issue in a detailed article published on October 07, 2024  about a week before the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly Election Notification, highlighting that the drug menace in Malegaon that was limited to a small section of powerloom sector till recently has penetrated deeper among the labour class and the so called elites simultaneously knocking the doors of schools and colleges.

In its article, ummid.com also detailed how cannabis, marijuana and antidepressant drug Alprazolam - a scheduled drug sold illegally by the code names kutta goli, button etc, are slowly and quietly being replaced by Mephedrone or MD.

"Diversionary Tactics"

Meanwhile, Asif Shaikh said the accusations against him are "diversionary tactics" by his political rivals, especially sitting MLA Mufti Ismail Qasmi who, he said, is trying to hide his failures of the last five years by levelling such allegations.

At the same time, Shaikh Asif also accused Mufti Ismail of hobnobbing with two beer bar owners of the City and taking from them huge amount of money in return of plum civic posts in Malegaon Municipal Corporation.

How can he talk about acchai and burai when he sold civic posts in Malegaon Corporation to beer bar owners? Asif is asking in his rallies.

On the other hand, ex-Corporator Javed  Asif Shaikhs close aide, while talking to ummid.com admitted that the drugs addiction is indeed a serious matter but refuted the involvement of political leaders.

This of course is a serious matter. But, neither Asif bhai nor any other political leader is involved. Illegal drugs are being sold directly from medical stores and pharmacy shops, he said.

Away from politics, a concerned citizen told ummid.com that he can easily identify those involved in drug trafficking on the stages of all political parties.

It is a matter of probe who is involved in the spread of drugs in the City and who is not. But, the people who are said to be involved in drug peddling and some of whom who were arrested in such cases are seen in the rallies of the political parties that are blaming each other for the menace, he said.

While ummid.com was working on its earlier article on the issue , a number of people, including a top police official, had pointed out the connection between drug mafia and politicians. The way the issue has taken center stage in the 2024 Malegaon election, the alleged nexus seems to be having some credence.

Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates.

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LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Nov, 2024) Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Chairman Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi has stressed the need for joint efforts to restore peace and harmony in the country.

At a joint press conference, along with religious scholars and leaders from various schools of thought, here on Sunday, he said all religious leaders issued a unanimous fatwa, declaring the perpetrators as terrorists and condemning their act of killing innocent civilians. He called on the government to take decisive action at all levels against such elements. He pointed out that the roots of terrorism in Pakistan were linked to Afghan soil and urged Afghanistan to become a good neighbour, eliminating terrorist hideouts within its borders. He emphasised that the state, government, military, and people of Pakistan were united in the fight against terrorism, just as they were in the year 2000, and that terrorists and their facilitators would be defeated again.

Addressing the situation in Parachinar, he urged the local population to maintain peace, respect, and brotherhood, and to not let violence divide them. They stressed that mutual respect and tolerance were essential for a prosperous future.

Regarding the recent tragedy in Quetta, the PUC chairman expressed deep sorrow over the killing of 27 innocent people by terrorists. They also affirmed that the entire nation was united in the fight against terrorism and its facilitators. He also expressed concern over the role of certain individuals who attempt to portray terrorists as missing persons while later being involved in suicide bombings. They called for these facilitators to be held accountable.

Ashrafi urged Afghanistan to take responsibility for its role in curbing terrorism and to eliminate terrorist safe havens within its borders. He also called for mutual peace and cooperation between the two nations. He reminded Afghanistan that peace in Pakistan is integral to peace in Afghanistan, stressing that terrorism is a shared enemy and no country should support terrorists.

Maulana Maqbool Ahmad, Asadullah Farooq, Muhammad Aslam Siddiqi, Qari Abdul Hakim Athar, Mubashir Rahimi, Mufti Naseem-ul-Islam, Qari Hafeezullah, Ibrahim Hanafi, Muhammad Ahmed Maavia, and others were present.
Beirut, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Nov, 2024) Israel struck an apartment belonging to Hezbollah in a stronghold of pro-Iran groups south of Damascus on Sunday, killing nine people including a commander, a war monitor said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said one of the dead was a Lebanese commander of the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Syria.

Israel has increased strikes on Syria since an all-out war with Hezbollah in Lebanon erupted on September 23.

Rami Abdel Rahman, who heads the Britain-based monitor, told AFP that the commander "was active in Syria and held Lebanese nationality". The man's name is not yet known.

The monitor, which has a network of sources inside Syria, said that "nine people lost their lives -- four civilians (a woman and her three children) of Syrian nationality, and five others, including a Hezbollah commander."

It said the strike hit "an apartment in a building in the Sayyida Zeinab area" south of the Syrian capital.

According to the monitor, 14 others were wounded in the strike which "targeted individuals in an apartment inhabited by Lebanese families and Hezbollah members".

Some of thos killed in the strike "remain unidentified", the Observatory said.

Syria's official SANA news agency reported an "Israeli aggression targeting a residential building in the Sayyida Zeinab" area, home to a major Shiite shrine.

It later reported a death toll of "seven civilians, including children and women", and 20 wounded.

On Saturday, four pro-Iran fighters were among five people killed in Israeli strikes in north and northwest Syria, the Observatory reported.

Since Syria's civil war broke out in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria, mainly targeting army positions and fighters including from Hezbollah.

Israeli authorities rarely comment on the strikes, but have repeatedly said they will not allow arch-enemy Iran to expand its presence in Syria.

lk/ami/srm
London, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Nov, 2024) Manchester United signed off Ruud van Nistelrooy's temporary stint in charge with a 3-0 win over Leicester on Sunday as Ipswich stunned Tottenham 2-1 for their first Premier League victory in 22 years.

Third-placed Nottingham Forest's fine run came to an end in a 3-1 home defeat to Newcastle.

Arsenal are aiming to kickstart their faltering title challenge later away at London rivals Chelsea.

Ruben Amorim will be in charge for the first time when United return from the international break.

But Van Nistelrooy was able to hand over the reins with a four-game unbeaten run since stepping up to replace the sacked Erik ten Hag.

Bruno Fernandes marked his 250th United appearance in style by smashing in his fourth goal in four games after a neat interchange of passes with Amad Diallo.

Fernandes' burst into the box also created the second goal as his glancing touch deflected off Leicester defender Victor Kristiansen and in for an own goal.

Diallo's two-goal showing in a 2-0 Europa League win over PAOK on Thursday earned the Ivorian a start over Alejandro Garnacho.

The Argentine, though, came off the bench to show what he is capable of with a stunning strike into the top corner to round off the scoring.

United remain down in 13th but are now just three points off fifth in a congested table.

- Ipswich off the mark -

Ipswich will play host to Amorim's first match in two weeks and go into that game buoyed by their first win since ending a two-decade wait to return to the top flight.

Spurs were finally made to pay for their slow starts at home as they went behind for the 13th time in 15 Premier League games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2024.

Sammie Szmodics took advantage of statuesque Tottenham defending to open the scoring with an overhead kick on 31 minutes.

Liam Delap doubled the visitors' lead in far less spectacular fashion as he lashed in from point-blank range after Radu Dragusin directed a cross towards his own goal.

Spurs had come back to win in eight of the previous 12 matches they conceded first at home this year but this time left themselves with too much to do.

Rodrigo Bentancur reduced the arrears with a powerful header from Pedro Porro's corner but they fell to a fifth league defeat in 11 games.

Ipswich move out of the relegation zone at Crystal Palace's expense, while Spurs slip to 10th.

Forest had won three games in a row to sit just behind Liverpool and Manchester City at the top of the table and their dream run looked set to continue at the City Ground.

Murillo's towering header from Anthony Elanga's free-kick opened the scoring.

But Newcastle hit back strongly after half-time.

Alexander Isak's fourth goal in as many games began the fightback.

Joelinton then curled in a sensational strike from the edge of the box before Harvey Barnes sealed the three points that lifts the Magpies into eighth.

Arsenal and Chelsea both start the day 10 points behind leaders Liverpool and in desperate need of a win if they are to challenge for the title.

Captain Martin Odegaard starts for the first time in two months for Arsenal, who are aiming to snap a three-game winless streak in the Premier League.

kca/mw

Manchester United

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
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Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Nov, 2024) Donald Trump's first White House term saw a bruising trade war with China that left a lingering impact on farmers -- and many are bracing for further fallout as the President-elect threatens higher levies on Beijing.

Trump tariffs since 2018 hit some $300 billion of Chinese imports, sparking retaliation that targeted key farm products like soybeans and caused such exports to fall.

US farmers relied on subsidies to get by at the time and say China has since reduced its reliance on American agriculture products.

Trump has suggested tariffs on all imports this time -- with an especially high rate on China -- making many farm owners jittery of a return to trade tensions.

But this comes even as Trump's Republican party saw wide support in rural areas during this year's election, with many farmers supporting him despite the financial hit in the trade war. The hope is for economic conditions to improve.

- 'No money' -

"There was no money to pay the bills, no money to actually have a living out of the operation," said Ted Winter, whose farm in Minnesota grows corn and soybeans.

Retaliatory tariffs on the United States caused more than $27 billion in US agricultural export losses from mid-2018 to late-2019, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) found.

China accounted for around 95 percent of value lost.

Soybeans in particular made up nearly 71 percent of total trade loss, with Brazil gaining most of the lost trade.

Michael Slattery, who grows crops like corn, soybeans and wheat in Wisconsin, added: "I view this second term with tremendous trepidation."

Between 2017 and 2018 for example, his soybean income fell by over $25,000 -- and government payouts to alleviate the pain made up for just over half the shortfall.

The USDA estimates agriculture and related industries contributed a 5.6 percent share to GDP in 2023, while direct on-farm employment made up 2.6 million jobs as of recent years.

- Lasting hit -

"What is more frightening is the breakdown in commercial order that has taken decades to establish," Slattery said.

While US farm exports to China rebounded after Washington and Beijing reached a trade war truce in 2020, a year after the deal, American market share remained lower than levels seen before the retaliatory tariffs were enacted.

"The tariffs that were imposed upon China drove them to find other sources for their food needs," said Winter.

And without foreign buyers like China to absorb excess farm production, the market becomes oversaturated, in turn driving down prices and farmer incomes, said Slattery.

Federal payments may have been helpful to farmers during the trade war, but trade ramifications extended long beyond it, said Scott Gerlt, chief economist at the American Soybean Association (ASA).

- 'Prime targets' -

Soybeans and corn will again be "prime targets for tariffs" in a potential trade dispute, according to a National Corn Growers Association and ASA report last month.

Both commodities account for about one-fourth of the country's agriculture export value.

The report cautioned that many tariffs China imposed on US farm products have been given a waiver but could be reinstated -- triggering an average drop of 51.8 percent in US soybean exports from expected levels.

Similarly, corn exports to China would also slide.

Brazil and Argentina, meanwhile, are expected to gain global market share with higher exports.

If the United States was not a reliable trade partner, other nations would turn to other countries, said ASA's Gerlt.

"We saw some other buyers step in to some extent, like Egypt did for a while, but there is no replacing the size of the Chinese market," he told AFP.

Among tariff proposals Trump floated on the campaign trail, he warned that the United States should be careful with trade policy, especially when it comes to countries that are major buyers of US agriculture.
An Afghan delegation will attend the upcoming United Nations climate change summit in Azerbaijan, the foreign ministry spokesperson told Agence France-Presse 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 spokesperson, 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 recognized the Taliban authorities since they swept to power in 2021, ousting the Western-backed administration.

Officials from the country's National Environmental Protection Agency have repeatedly said climate change should not be politicized 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 recognized the Taliban government.
The CEO and two executives of Australian gold mine Resolute in Mali have been arrested while in Bamako to discuss ongoing disputes with authorities, the company confirmed Sunday.

CEO Terence Holohan and his two colleagues "were in Bamako to discuss with mining and tax authorities the company's business practices in Mali generally and to make progress on ongoing claims against Resolute, which continues to claim they are unfounded," Resolute said in a statement posted on its website.

"Unexpectedly, the three employees were arrested after the end of these meetings on Friday," she reported.

The three executives were taken the same day to the unit specializing in the fight against corruption and economic and financial delinquency  and were placed in police custody in a case of alleged forgery and damage to public property, AFP learned Saturday from a judicial and industrial source.

Four employees of the Canadian company Barrick Gold, also in dispute with the Malian authorities, were detained for several days at the end of September, then released. Foreign mining companies are subject to increased pressure from the junta that came to power by force in 2020 and pays particular attention to the juicy revenues of the mining industry.

"Resolute is working to reach an agreement with the Malian government that secures the long-term future of the Syama gold mine; at the same time its top priority remains the safety and well-being of its employees," the company said.

The executives benefit from the support of the embassies and consulates of the United Kingdom and other countries present in Mali, she said.

Resolute holds 80% of the shares in the subsidiary that owns the Syama mine, with the remaining 20% in the hands of the Malian state, according to the company's website.

The Malian authorities have made the fight against corruption and the restoration of national sovereignty over natural resources their mantras.

Mali, one of the poorest countries in the world, faces jihadis and a multidimensional crisis, and is also one of the leading gold producers in Africa. Gold contributes to a quarter of the national budget and three quarters of export revenues.

The increased pressure on foreign companies coincided with the junta's strategic pivot toward Russia.
U.S. President Joe Biden will discuss top domestic and foreign policy priorities with President-elect Donald Trump when the two meet Wednesday, and will urge him not to abandon Ukraine, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday.

Republican Trump will take office on Jan. 20 after defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in the Nov. 5 presidential election. Biden invited Trump to come to the Oval Office on Wednesday, the White House said.

In an interview on CBS News' "Face the Nation" show, Sullivan said Biden's top message will be his commitment to ensure a peaceful transfer of power, and he will also talk to Trump about what's happening in Europe, in Asia and the Middle East.

"The president will have the chance to explain to President Trump how he sees things, where they stand, and talk to President Trump about how President Trump is thinking about taking on these issues when he takes office," Sullivan said.

While Sullivan did not specify which topics the two would discuss, their conversation will almost certainly feature Ukraine's war with Russia, which Trump has pledged to end swiftly, although he did not say how.

"President Biden will have the opportunity over the next 70 days to make the case to the Congress and to the incoming administration that the United States should not walk away from Ukraine, that walking away from Ukraine means more instability in Europe," Sullivan said.

When asked if that means Biden will ask Congress to pass legislation to authorize more funding for Ukraine, Sullivan deferred.

"I'm not here to put forward a specific legislative proposal. President Biden will make the case that we do need ongoing resources for Ukraine beyond the end of his term," Sullivan said.

Ukraine funding

Washington has provided tens of billions of dollars' worth of U.S. military and economic aid to Ukraine since it was invaded by Russia in February of 2022, funding that Trump has repeatedly criticized and rallied against with other Republican lawmakers.

Sullivan's comments came as Ukraine attacked Moscow on Sunday with at least 34 drones, the biggest drone strike on the Russian capital since the beginning of the war.

Trump insisted last year that Russian President Vladimir Putin never would have invaded Ukraine if he had been in the White House at the time. He told Reuters Ukraine may have to cede territory to reach a peace agreement, something the Ukrainians reject, and Biden has never suggested.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday he was not aware of any details of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's plan to end the Ukraine war quickly and that he was convinced a rapid end would entail major concessions for Kyiv.

According to the Government Accountability Office, Congress appropriated over $174 billion to Ukraine under Biden. The pace of the aid is almost sure to drop under Trump with Republicans set to take control of the U.S. Senate with a 52-seat majority.

Control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the next Congress is not yet clear with some votes still being counted. Republicans have won 213 seats, according to Edison Research, just shy of the 218 needed for a majority. If Republicans win both chambers, it will mean most of Trump's agenda will have a significantly easier time passing through Congress.

Republican U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty, a Trump ally who is considered a top contender for secretary of state, criticized U.S. funding for Ukraine in a CBS interview.

"The American people want sovereignty protected here in America before we spend our funds and resources protecting the sovereignty of another nation," Hagerty said.

The 2-1/2-year-old war in Ukraine is entering what some officials say could be its final act after Moscow's forces advanced at the fastest pace since the early days of the war.

Any fresh attempt to end the war is likely to involve peace talks of some kind, which have not been held since the early months of the war.

Moscow's forces occupy around a fifth of Ukraine. Russia says the war cannot end until its claimed annexations are recognized. Kyiv demands all of its territory back, a position that has largely been supported by Western allies.
Firefighters on two U.S. coasts were making progress Saturday on wildfires in California and New Jersey.

Southern California firefighters were gaining ground on a wildfire that destroyed more than 130 structures as gusty winds subsided Saturday with favorable weather conditions expected through the weekend.

The Mountain Fire in Ventura County was held at about 83 square kilometers and was 17% contained, Fire Operations Section Chief Clint Swensen said. The fire broke out Wednesday and exploded in size thanks in part to the arrival of dry, warm and gusty northeast winds, forcing thousands of residents to flee and threatening 3,500 structures in suburban neighborhoods, ranches and agricultural areas around the community of Camarillo.

Red flag warnings indicating conditions for high fire danger expired in most of the region Thursday. Smoky air hung over the area Saturday thanks to light winds, the very conditions that were aiding firefighters, said Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.

"It's very favorable for the weekend," Kittell said. "Good for firefighting efforts but not great for air quality."

Some forecasts showed winds returning to the area Tuesday but not to the extent seen last week, Kittell said.

The region northwest of Los Angeles, California, has seen some of the state's most destructive fires over the years.

Across the country in New Jersey, firefighters were reporting "substantial progress" against a wildfire that was threatening dozens of structures, one of a number of forest fires they are fighting in the state.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Forest Fire Service said Saturday afternoon that the fire in the Pompton Lakes area of Passaic County had been 50% contained.

The blaze is burning more than 65 hectares and is threatening 55 structures, although no evacuations have been ordered. Earlier, the blaze prompted closure of the right lane of northbound Interstate 287, officials said.

The Forest Fire Service was battling the blaze with fire engines and ground crews and a helicopter capable of dropping 1,325 liters of water, officials said. Structures were being protected by local fire companies, they said.

Officials also reported fighting a new wildfire that has ignited across more than 728 hectares near the New York-New Jersey border in Passaic County's West Milford and Orange County, New York. The Jennings Creek wildfire was threatening two homes and eight buildings in the Long Pond Ironworks Historic District.

An earlier wildfire in the Bethany Run area on the border of Burlington and Camden counties in Evesham and Voorhees townships was reported 90% contained.

A blaze along the Palisades Interstate Parkway in Englewood Cliffs in Bergen County, across the Hudson River from New York, was reported 40% contained and threatened no structures.

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning, saying gusty winds and low humidity could help spread fires quickly.

New Jersey has not received measurable precipitation in over a month, the weather service said, setting a record.
Gunmen in a truck pulled up to a bar in central Mexico and opened fire, killing 10 people, authorities said, in an area that had been spared the worst of the country's raging criminal violence.

Security camera footage published by local media showed the perpetrators leaping from the vehicle and bursting into the venue as terrified customers fled or dived to the floor.

The attack late Saturday on Los Cantaritos bar in Queretaro's downtown district left 10 people dead and at least seven injured, according to the city's public security department chief Juan Luis Ferrusca.

"Emergency services arrived at the scene and confirmed that at least four people armed with long weapons had arrived on board a pickup truck," Ferrusca said in a video on social media.

One suspect was detained and the vehicle used in the attack was found abandoned and set on fire, he said.

The victims included three women, according to the Queretaro state prosecutor's office, which said forensic experts were examining the scene of the attack and the vehicle.

Queretaro, the capital of Queretaro state, is considered one of the safer cities in Mexico, which has been plagued by years of drug cartel-related violence.

"The entire security system of Queretaro is mobilized to find the criminals" behind the attack, state governor Mauricio Kuri said on social media platform X.

"We will continue to shield our borders and maintain the security of our state," he said, adding, "Those responsible for this brutal act will be punished."

Queretaro, a city known more for its colonial architecture than for its crime, is around 200 kilometers northwest of Mexico City.

Across Mexico, spiraling violence, much of it linked to drug trafficking and gangs, has seen more than 450,000 people murdered since 2006.

Tackling the murders and kidnappings that are a daily occurrence is among the major challenges facing President Claudia Sheinbaum.

The former Mexico City mayor, who became the country's first woman president on October 1, has ruled out declaring "war" on drug cartels.

Instead, she has pledged to continue her predecessor's strategy of using social policy to tackle crime at its roots, while also making better use of intelligence.

The northwestern cartel stronghold of Sinaloa has seen a surge in violence since the July arrest of drug lord Ismael Zambada in the United States unleashed a wave of gang infighting.

There has also been a spike in bloodshed in the southern state of Guerrero, the scene of long-running gang turf wars.

Authorities said Thursday that the bodies of 11 people, including two minors, were found abandoned in a pickup truck in the state capital Chilpancingo.

They were part of a group of 17 people -- reported to be traveling merchants -- who were declared missing last month.
A militant attack near the Pakistani border with Iran left five Iranian forces dead, the state-run IRNA news agency reported Sunday.

The report said the dead were ethnic Baluch members of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard's volunteer Basij force and were killed in Saravan city in Sistan and Baluchistan province. Saravan is some 1,400 km (870 miles) southeast of the capital Tehran.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

Earlier in the day, state TV reported that Revolutionary Guard forces killed three terrorists and arrested nine others in a military operation. The report did not specify which group the suspects belonged to.

Last month, unknown gunmen killed four people, including the chief of the Revolutionary Guard in the province.

In September, gunmen killed four border guards in Sistan and Baluchistan province in two separate attacks. The militant group Jaish al-Adl, which seeks greater rights for the ethnic Baluch minority, claimed responsibility for one attack in which one officer and two soldiers were killed.

The province, which borders Afghanistan and Pakistan, has been the site of occasional deadly clashes involving militant groups, armed drug smugglers and Iranian security forces. It is one of the least developed parts of Iran. Relations between the predominantly Sunni Muslim residents of the region and Iran's Shiite theocracy have long been strained.
Four pro-Iran fighters were among five people killed in overnight Israeli strikes in north and northwest Syria, a war monitor said on Saturday.

"Four Syrian pro-Iran fighters were killed in Israeli air strikes on the scientific research center and warehouses near Safira east of Aleppo," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The Britain-based monitor said two other raids further west targeting Saraqeb in Idlib province killed a fifth person.

Israeli authorities rarely comment on such strikes but have repeatedly said they will not allow archenemy Iran to expand its presence in Syria.

The Observatory said the strikes targeted two headquarters of Syrian regime forces frequented by members of the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.

Late Saturday, the Observatory reported "two Israeli strikes" targeting a Syrian army radar position in the southern province of Suweida, without immediately giving further details.

Since Syria's civil war broke out in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria, mainly targeting army positions and fighters including from Hezbollah.

The monitor said the Idlib raids took place near the front line of the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the main rebel organization active in the area.

HTS controls swaths of the Idlib province and parts of neighboring Aleppo, Hama and Latakia.

Syria's official SANA news agency also reported the raids, citing a military source.

"The Israeli army launched an air attack from the direction of southeast Aleppo, targeting a number of sites in the Aleppo and Idlib region," it said.

Several soldiers were injured and there were "material losses," SANA added.

It said the strikes took place at 12:45 a.m. local time, (2245 GMT Friday).

Such strikes have intensified since the escalation on September 23 of Israel's war against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Targets for attack have included border crossings between Syrian and Lebanon, which Israel said have been used as supply routes to rearm Hezbollah.
Israeli protesters expressed concern for the hostages in Gaza on Saturday, after Qatar said it was pausing as a key mediator for a cease-fire that would help bring the captives home.

Thousands of people rallied in Tel Aviv holding signs reading "400," the number of days since the hostages were taken when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

Efforts to broker a truce in the ensuing war between Hamas and Israel have proven fruitless, and on Saturday Qatar put its mediation on hold until the two sides showed "willingness and seriousness" in talks.

Protester Ruti Lior said she was unsure how much sway Qatar had, but was still "very, very worried" by their decision to pull back from negotiations.

"This is further proof for me that there really is no seriousness, and these deals are being sabotaged," the 62-year-old psychotherapist told AFP.

Saturday's rally featured an installation of masks representing Netanyahu along with signs bearing the word "Guilty."

Other placards read "Hostage deal now" and "Drop your weapon, stop the war."

"How many more tears must fall and how much more blood must be shed before someone does what needs to be done and brings our children home?" Niva Wenkert, mother of hostage Omer Wenkert, was quoted as saying in a statement released by campaign group Hostage and Missing Families Forum.

In the October 7, 2023, attack, Hamas militants killed 1,200 people and captured about 250 hostages, sparking the war in Gaza. Israel says it believes Hamas is still holding 101 hostages, including 35 the military says are dead.

Hamas has been designated a terror group by the United States, the U.K. and other Western countries.

Israels counteroffensive in Gaza has killed more than 43,000 people, according to the territory's health ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count.

Israelis have been protesting weekly to pressure their government to do more to secure the captives' release.

Qatar, which has hosted Hamas's political leadership since 2012 with U.S. blessing, has been involved in months of protracted diplomacy aimed at ending the war in Gaza.

But the talks, also mediated by Cairo and Washington, have repeatedly hit snags since a one-week truce in November 2023 -- the only one so far -- with both sides trading blame for the impasse.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Sunday that he would be willing to call a vote of confidence in parliament before Christmas, a move that would pave the way for snap elections following the collapse of his three-way governing coalition.

The timing is earlier than the January date he had proposed last week and follows increasing pressure from politicians and the public for a quicker vote.

Europe's largest economy was thrown into disarray last week with the collapse of Scholz's coalition and disagreements over how much money the government should spend to encourage growth and support Ukraine.

"I'm not clinging to my job," he said in an interview on ARD television.

Scholz had suggested holding a vote of confidence in his government on Jan. 15, with a snap election in March, but the conservative opposition led by Friedrich Merz wants an election in January. A confidence vote is a necessary precursor to an election.

Earlier Sunday, Scholz came under increasing pressure to bring forward the vote of confidence.

Two leading members of the Green party, which is sharing power with Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD) in a minority government, told Bild newspaper that the confidence vote should be held in December.

The Green party's Anton Hofreiter and Irene Mihalic were the most prominent voices so far from the two parties still in power to back an earlier vote.

Scholz said in the ARD interview that an earlier confidence vote would depend on SPD party official Rolf Mutzenich and the opposition's Merz reaching an agreement on timing.

"It is not a problem at all for me to call a vote of confidence before Christmas," he said.

Scholz on Friday demanded a calm debate among Germany's squabbling factions on setting a date for the snap election to pull the country out of its political crisis.

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 an election.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a treaty on the country's strategic partnership with North Korea which includes a mutual defense provision, according to a decree published 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 Saturday on a government website outlining legislative procedures.

The treaty galvanizes 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 Zelenskyy said Thursday that North Korea has sent 11,000 troops to Russia and some of them suffered casualties in combat with Kyiv's forces in Russia's southern Kursk region.

Russia has not confirmed the presence of the North Korean troops.
The Church of England covered up "horrific" abuse by a lawyer who volunteered at Christian summer camps in the 1970s and 1980s, and the ceremonial head of the Anglican Communion failed to report him to authorities when he learned of the abuse in 2013, according to an independent review released Thursday.

John Smyth, who died in South Africa in 2018 at age 75, physically, sexually, psychologically and spiritually abused about 30 boys and young men in the U.K. and 85 in Africa over five decades, the 251-page report commissioned by the church found. Smyth is believed to be the most prolific serial abuser associated with the church.

"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," said Keith Makin, who led the review. "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 coverup."

The church said it was "deeply sorry for the horrific abuse," adding "there is never a place for covering up abuse."

Smyth, who was an accomplished lawyer and charismatic speaker, was a volunteer leader at the Iwerne camps. The camps held in several locations were associated with the church and were developed to prepare young men from leading schools for high offices in the church and other parts of society.

14,000 strokes of the cane

Smyth used a cane to punish campers for "sins" that included "pride," making sexual remarks, masturbation or, in one case, looking at a girl too long, according to the report. The victims and Smyth were at least partly, if not fully, naked during the savage beatings.

"The scale and severity of the practice was horrific," the report noted. "Beatings of 100 strokes for masturbation, 400 for pride, and one of 800 strokes for some undisclosed 'fall' are recorded."

Eight of the victims received about 14,000 strokes of the cane and two reported 8,000 lashes over three years. Eight men said they often bled from the whippings and others reported bruising and scarring.

A secret report of the abuse was compiled by a minister in 1982 and other church officers were aware of it, but police were never contacted.

"I thought it would do the work of God immense damage if this were public," the now-deceased Rev. David Fletcher told people who worked on the new report.

Smyth was strongly encouraged to leave and ended up moving to Zimbabwe with this wife and children, the report said. He received financial help from church officers.

"Church officers knew of the abuse and failed to take the steps necessary to prevent further abuse occurring," the report said.

Church officials, including Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the ceremonial head of the church, had another opportunity to report Smyth  and prevent any potential further abuse  when they learned of it in 2013, but didn't do so, the report said.

Welby, who attended Iwerne camps and had known Smyth, said he was unaware of the 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," Welby said.

The report said that if Smyth had been reported to police at that time, it could have uncovered the truth and led to a possible criminal conviction.

"In effect, three and a half years was lost, a time within which John Smyth could have been brought to justice and any abuse he was committing in South Africa discovered and stopped," the report said.

Word of his abuse was not made public until a 2017 investigation by Channel 4, which led Hampshire Police to start an investigation. Police were planning to question Smyth at the time of his death and had been prepared to extradite him.
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 Britain's 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.

"It's a great privilege for me to do this," said Woods, a mechanic who kept Lancaster bombers flying during the war. "And I suppose I'll 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, 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 didn't 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 U.K., the charity that has helped him with his macular degeneration and glaucoma.

He felt it was time to remember the men who didn't 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.

"It's very, very upsetting when a Lancaster takes off and it doesn't return," Woods told The Associated Press.

"I couldn't forget it if I wanted to," he added. "It's just imprinted on your mind, you know."

The RAF's 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 Center. Some 55,573 of the 125,000 who served on the aircrews died during the war.

Adrian Bell, CEO of Blind Veterans U.K., said he's met many World War II veterans who describe themselves as mere cogs in a massive machine. But that's 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 won't use a wheelchair because he has never used one before and isn't 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. "That's the embodiment of something that I think is really important."
A Virginia museum has nearly finished restoring the nation's oldest surviving schoolhouse for Black children, where hundreds of mostly enslaved students learned to read through a curriculum that justified slavery.

The museum, Colonial Williamsburg, also has identified more than 80 children who lined its pinewood benches in the 1760s.

They include Aberdeen, 5, who was enslaved by a saddle and harness maker. Bristol and George, 7 and 8, were owned by a doctor. Phoebe, 3, was the property of local tavern keepers.

Another student, Isaac Bee, later emancipated himself. In newspaper ads seeking his capture, his enslaver warned that Bee "can read."

The museum dedicated the Williamsburg Bray School at a large ceremony on Friday, with plans to open it for public tours this spring. Colonial Williamsburg tells the story of Virginia's colonial capital through interpreters and hundreds of restored buildings.

'An amazing mirror'

Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie Bunch told the crowd outside the refurbished school that it was one of the most important historic moments of the last decade.

"History is an amazing mirror," Bunch added. "It's a mirror that challenges us and reminds us that, despite what we've achieved, despite all our ideals, America still is a work in progress. But, oh, what an amazing work it is."

The Cape Cod-style home was built in 1760 and still contains much of its original wood and brick. It will anchor a complicated story about race and education, but also resistance, before the American Revolution.

The school rationalized slavery within a religious framework and encouraged children to accept their fates as God's plan. And yet, becoming literate also gave them more agency. The students went on to share what they learned with family members and others who were enslaved.

"We don't shy away from the fact that this was a pro-slavery school," said Maureen Elgersman Lee, director of William & Mary's Bray School Lab, a partnership between the university and museum.

But she said the school takes on a different meaning in the 21st century.

"It's a story of resilience and resistance," Lee said. "And I put the resilience of the Bray School on a continuum that brings us to today."

To underscore the point, the lab has been seeking descendants of the students, with some success.

They include Janice Canaday, 67, who also is the museum's African American community engagement manager. Her lineage traces back to the students Elisha and Mary Jones.

"It grounds you," said Canaday, who grew up feeling little connection to history. "That's where your power is. And those are the things that give you strength  to know what your family has come through."

Franklin's idea

The Bray School was established in Williamsburg and other colonial cities at the recommendation of founding father Benjamin Franklin. He was a member of a London-based Anglican charity that was named after Thomas Bray, an English clergyman and philanthropist.

The Bray School was exceptional for its time. White leaders across much of Colonial America forbade educating enslaved people, fearing literacy would encourage them to seek freedom.

The white teacher at the Williamsburg school, a widow named Ann Wager, taught an estimated 300 to 400 students, whose ages ranged from 3 to 10. The school closed with her death in 1774.

The schoolhouse became a private home before it was incorporated into William & Mary's growing campus. The building was moved and expanded for various purposes, including student housing.

Historians identified the structure in 2020 through a scientific method that examines tree rings in lumber. Last year, it was transported to Colonial Williamsburg, which includes parts of the original city.

The museum and university have focused on restoring the schoolhouse, researching its curriculum and finding descendants of former students.

The lab has been able to link some people to the Jones and Ashby families, two free Black households that had students in the school, said Elizabeth Drembus, the lab's genealogist.

But the effort has faced steep challenges: Most enslaved people were stripped of their identities and separated from their families, so there are limited records. And only three years of school rosters have survived.

They 'weren't considered people'

Drembus is talking to people in the region about their family histories and working backward. She also is sifting through 18th-century property records, tax documents and enslavers' diaries.

"When you're talking about researching formerly enslaved people, records were kept very differently because they weren't considered people," Drembus said.

Researching the curriculum has been easier. The English charity cataloged the books it sent to the schools, said Katie McKinney, an associate curator of maps and prints at the museum.

Materials include a small spelling primer, a copy of which was located in Germany, that begins with the alphabet and moves on to syllables, such as "Beg leg meg peg."

Students also received a more sophisticated speller, bound in sheepskin, as well as the Book of Common Prayer and other Christian texts.

Meanwhile, the schoolhouse has been mostly restored. About 75% of the original floor has survived, allowing visitors to walk where the children and teacher placed their feet.

Canaday, whose familial roots include two Bray School students, wondered on a recent visit if any of the children "felt safe in here, whether they felt loved."

Canaday noted that the teacher, Wager, was the mother of at least two kids.

"Did some of her mothering bleed over into what she showed those children?" Canaday said. "There are moments when we forget to go by the rules and humanity takes over. I wonder how many times that happened in these spaces."
A senior Somali official insisted Saturday that Ethiopia will not participate in a new African Union peacekeeping mission starting in January.

The two nations remain deadlocked over a Memorandum of Understanding that Ethiopia signed with the breakaway region, Somaliland, earlier this year.

I can say that Ethiopia is the only government we know of so far that will not participate in the new AU mission because it has violated our sovereignty and national unity," Somalia Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur said Saturday in a government-run television interview.

African Union troops from several countries have been operating in Somalia since 2007. They started with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) before changing the mission and its name on April 1, 2022, to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). Its mandate ends at the end of this year.

For 17 years, the African Union mission helped Somalia combat al-Shabab, a violent extremist organization that threatened to overthrow the government and impose a strict interpretation of Islamic law.

The aim of past and upcoming missions is to hand over security responsibility to the Somali National Forces.

The nation is preparing for a third peace support operation, set to begin January 1, 2025, when a new mission, the African Union Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), replaces ATMIS.

According to a United Nations report in August, ATMIS has been drawing down troops from about 20,000 to less than 13,000. The new mission is expected to number at least 12,000. AUSSOM is scheduled to operate until the end of 2028.

It is not the first time Somalia has rejected the involvement of Ethiopian troops in a peacekeeping mission in the country.

In August, Somalia Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said Ethiopian forces would only join AUSSOM once Addis Ababa withdraws from the MoU with Somaliland.

Mogadishu, which sees Somaliland as a part of Somalia, has described the agreement as an assault on its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Analysts say Somalias repeated demands that Ethiopia withdraw from the MoU have fallen on deaf ears, which further alienates Somalia.

Professor Sonkor Geyre, a former director of the defense ministry, said Somalia has a right to choose the countries it wants and rejects others.

Somalia has national sovereign rights to exclude Ethiopia from the upcoming AU mission because it sees Ethiopias actions, including its MoU with Somaliland, as a national threat, Geyre told VOA Somali.

Last month, the leaders of Somalia, Eritrea, and Egypt signed a security cooperation deal seen as an anti-Ethiopia front, and Mogadishu has also boosted its military ties with Cairo, which has offered troops for the new AU mission.

There is an ongoing procedure that we will share and announce when the time comes regarding the new governments that will join and the previous ones who will not be part of the new mission," Nur, the defense minister, said.

Under the current AU mission, at least 3,000 Ethiopian soldiers officially operate as part of an African Union peacekeeping mission fighting al-Shabab. Another 5,000 to 7,000 Ethiopian soldiers are stationed in several regions under a bilateral agreement.

Other countries contributing to the current AU forces in Somalia include Burundi, Djibouti, Kenya, and Uganda.
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 week's 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 pressure after his administration failed to issue flood alerts to citizens' cellphones until hours after the flooding started on the night of October 29.

Many marchers held up homemade signs or chanted "Mazon Resign!" Others carried signs with messages such as "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 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 Valencia's 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 didn't receive sufficient warnings from central authorities.

But Spain's 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 Mazon's administration to send out alerts to people's cellphones.

Mazon was with Spain's 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.

"It's shameful what has happened," Sanchez said. "They knew that the sky was going to fall and yet they didn't warn anyone. They didn't 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 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.
It's Friday night in Santiago, and 15 people gather around a table, sharing a bottle of wine as the smell of tobacco and incense fill the air. Black candles burn on top of an altar decorated with chalices and knives. The members of the Temple of Satan are about to start a ritual.

Five years after the Satanic Temple of the United States made headlines  and unleashed a wave of panic  when it was designated a church, a similar organization in Chile, a conservative country where half of its population of 18 million identifies as Catholic, is asking the government to be recognized legally as a religious association.

Scholars, believers and residents consulted by The Associated Press note that Chile, where a long-lasting tradition of Catholicism has played a leading role in public discussions, is experiencing a crisis of faith, following revelations of multiple sexual abuse scandals within the Catholic Church over the years.

"These types of organizations now feel that they have greater support to challenge what was virtually impossible before," said Luis Bahamondes, a professor at the Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Chile. And that's because, "until very recently, the Catholic Church enjoyed an unprecedented power. It had an opinion on everything: politics, economics, geopolitics, sexuality and education."

No sacrifices, devil worship

Despite its name, the Temple of Satan: Satanists and Luciferians of Chile does not embark on sacrifices nor ask its congregants to worship the devil. Among its 100 members are people who work as publicists, firefighters, police officers, lawyers and psychologists, and who have found in the organization a way to defy moral norms, dogmas and religious impositions.

While they embrace the term Satanist, they don't revere or believe in Satan. Instead, they worship rationality, individualism, pleasure and the mundane life.

Rather than gods, they praise humankind.

"You are the owner of your present and future, there is no God that makes decisions for you," said Haborym, a spokesperson for the group, during a walk through tombs and mausoleums at the General Cemetery of Santiago. He noted that the figure of Satan is purely symbolic and their rituals are performed "to bring out the emotions and leave the intellect aside."

Haborym and other members of the Temple of Satan in Chile spoke on condition their real names not be used, particularly with many holding public-facing jobs, citing growing threats.

While Hollywood movies like "Rosemary's Baby" and TV series such as "True Detective" helped to portray the idea of Satanists as linked to sacrifice, evil, pain and death, modern groups like Chile's Temple of Satan are strongly against animal abuse, prohibit the affiliation of people with criminal records, see pleasures as a delight rather than a sin, and do not express their opinions unless asked.

"We don't want people killing in the name of Satan," said Haborym.

How to join

In order to join Chile's Temple of Satan, applicants are requested to go through a lengthy process that includes filling out a form, showing proof of not having a criminal record, being interviewed by a special commission and, finally, being evaluated by a psychologist.

Once they are accepted, members can choose a new name  normally that of a demon or fallen angel  with which they will be identified inside the temple and among other associates.

Founded in 2021, Chile's Temple of Satan has 100 members, and more than 400 people applied to join in the past few weeks, said Haborym. The interest spiked at the end of July, when the group formally requested that the country's Ministry of Justice legally recognize it as a religious association.

A media frenzy followed, unleashing a heated debate and causing a stir among Chile's main religious denominations.

"The history of Satanism is well known [and] it has often been the cause of tragedies," the leaders of several churches in Chile, including the Catholic, Anglican, Jewish and Evangelical, said in a joint statement.

Following in the steps of the Church of Satan, founded in 1966 by Anton Szandor LaVey, modern Satanists praise skepticism and logic over celestial or supernatural beings. Its followers are free to formulate their own beliefs, rites and spiritual practices.

Many self-described Satanists and Luciferians are atheists. Others say they are witches or believe in the power of magic.

"We do accept that there are certain bases, both academic and esoteric, that give meaning to our existence and reality," said Azazel, who quit Judaism four years ago and, one year later, founded the Temple of Satan of Chile.

His words resonate in the darkness of the chamber and are interspersed with chants, clapping, mantras and readings of passages from the Satanic Bible and the Bible of the Adversary, the main guidelines of the group.

Disappointed worshippers

Just like Azazel, others have turned to the Temple of Satan out of disappointment with traditional religions. The new congregants include not only occultists and esotericists, but also Catholics, Jews, Protestants and Evangelicals.

"In Satanism there are no solutions or absolute truths. You are your own god and you create your own reality," said Kali Ma, a dentistry student who was born and raised in a Jehovah's Witness family. "If we compare both, Jehovah's Witnesses are the real sect," she said. "They don't let you do certain things, they tell you how to dress, what to do, how to behave, whether or not to grow a beard."

Nestor da Costa, an expert in secularism and religion at the Catholic University of Uruguay, said the influx of people seeking answers through different perspectives might be linked to the search for less dogmatic approaches.

"It may be a readjustment of the religious side of people who leave Catholicism but continue to believe in something," he said.

It is unclear if the Chilean government will legally recognize the Temple of Satan as a legitimate religious association, but its very existence has already helped to spark a discussion that until recently was unthinkable in this conservative society.

Demanding recognition is the ultimate expression of everything praised by Satanic aesthetics: the rebellion against the status quo and the breakup with deep-rooted traditions.

"We comply with everything that is requested of us as a religious entity," says Haborym. "So there would be no reason to reject us beyond the fact that we're a controversial figure."
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 to search for 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.

"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 Israel's siege. "We will die here in our homes."

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 militants, 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.

U.S. State Department spokesperson 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. "It's not just sufficient to open new roads if more humanitarian assistance isn't going through those roads," he said.

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, speaking from Gaza City.

The Israeli 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 spokesperson for the U.N.s World Food Program, 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 entire 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.

"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 don't eat at all," he said.

Dr. Rana Soboh, a nutrition specialist at Gaza City's Patient Friend Benevolent Hospital, said she sees about 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."

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.

"We are suffering, facing the ghost of famine that is hovering over Gaza," Soboh said.

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."
Mexico and the United States said they have reached an agreement they hope will help Mexico to be timelier with its water-sharing payments in the Rio Bravo watershed, also known as the Rio Grande.

The agreement announced Saturday provides Mexico with tools and flexibility to deliver water earlier in a five-year cycle under the 1944 U.S.-Mexico water treaty, according to the bilateral International Border and Water Commission.

The proposed tools include better coordination on water conservation, re-use, alternative water sources and other measures.

The treaty moves in five-year cycles and allows Mexico to run a water debt in the first four years, if it can make it up in the fifth. That has led Mexico to fall behind, hoping a hurricane or other heavy rains will dump water in the border area.

That has frustrated Texas farmers, who need a predictable supply of water. When a hurricane or tropical storm hits the region, Mexico can play catch-up but at that point, the water isn't needed, and that doesn't always happen. Mexico has long used that wait-and-hope strategy, but it has led to problems in the past, both at home and in the U.S.

Mexico is obliged to deliver 430 million cubic meters of water per year, or about 2.15 billion cubic meters over five years. An acre-foot of water is enough to flood a one-acre field with one foot of water. The United States, in return, gives Mexico even more water from other water sources farther west.

But in the current cycle, which began in 2020, Mexico has so far delivered only about 525 million cubic meters overall, or about one-quarter of what it owes for the five-year period, which ends in October 2025.

Mexico has to release water from dams on tributaries feeding into the Rio Grande but that angers Mexican farmers, who want it for themselves and call it "our water." The treaty gives the United States rights to one-third of the flows from six Mexican tributaries.

In 2020, a dispute over water payments to the United States boiled over into violence, with angry farmers pushing back National Guard troops guarding a dam, because Mexico had fallen behind on payments in that cycle and had to deliver water quickly to the United States.

Mexico dispatched National Guard officers to protect the La Boquilla dam, but hundreds of farmers pushed them back hundreds of yards in a failed bid to take over the dam's control room.

Before that, farmers took over another dam near the border town of Ojinaga. Both dams are near the Texas border, west of the Big Bend area.

During the 2020 conflict, Mexican farmers also burned vehicles and blocked railway lines. In the end, the United States allowed Mexico to transfer rights to water held in joint international reservoirs, in a face-saving solution.
Vietnamese authorities arrested a pro-democracy activist, state media said, the latest in a crackdown on political dissidents in the southeast Asian country.

Tran Khac Duc, 29, was held on charges of "creating, storing, distributing or disseminating information, documents and items aimed at opposing the Socialist Republic of Vietnam," according to the publication Safeguarding the Law.

He was arrested in September, but authorities only announced his detention through state media on Saturday.

Duc is affiliated with the Assembly for Democracy and Pluralism organization, whose website says it aims to "establish a multi-party democratic system" in the communist nation.

Its website praised Duc as an "intelligent, wise, dynamic and gentle young man" who "firmly believes that Vietnam should progress towards a pluralistic democracy," maintaining that he is an "informal member" of the group.

It reposted state media's announcement of Duc's arrest but did not directly comment on it.

The ADP was founded in 1982 and is led by Nguyen Gia Kieng, an intellectual and former official of the U.S.-allied South Vietnamese government before the end of the Vietnam War in 1975.

Kieng -- who lives in exile in France -- told Radio Free Asia Saturday that ADP members had previously been harassed and beaten by police, but that Duc's arrest was "unusual."

It comes less than two weeks after a Vietnamese court sentenced a blogger who criticized the government to 12 years in jail on the same charges.

The country ranks 174th out of 180 countries in the Reporters Without Borders campaign group's World Press Freedom Index.
Editor's note: Here is a look at immigration-related news around the U.S. this week. Questions? Tips? Comments? Email the VOA immigration team: ImmigrationUnit@voanews.com.

What to expect on immigration under a new Trump administration

President-elect Donald Trump put immigration at the front of his campaign agenda, pledging to bring what he calls unprecedented order to the southern border and launch the nations largest mass deportation operation of undocumented immigrants on his first day in office. VOA immigration reporter Aline Barros has more.

US judge rules against Biden legalization program for immigrant spouses

A U.S. judge in Texas ruled Thursday against President Joe Biden's program offering a path to citizenship for certain immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens, a blow that could keep the program blocked through Biden's final months in office. U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker found the program exceeded Biden's executive authority. The program offers a path to citizenship to about 500,000 immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally if they are married to U.S. citizens. Reuters reports.

After election, Kenya-born legislator heads to Minnesota Capitol

Huldah Momanyi Hiltsley made history November 5 by becoming the first Kenya-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. Produced by Abdushakur Aboud.

Families separated by US-Mexico border reunite for a few precious minutes

Nearly 200 families gathered Saturday along a stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border for heartfelt but brief reunions with loved ones they had not seen for years because they live in different countries. Tears flowed and people embraced as Mexican families were allowed to reunite for a few minutes at the border with relatives who migrated to the U.S. Adults and children passed over the Rio Grande to meet with their loved ones. The Associated Press reports.

Immigration around the world

Migrant caravan of 3,000 heads north in Mexico

A caravan of approximately 3,000 migrants set off Tuesday from southern Mexico, headed toward the United States on the day when U.S. voters were deciding between U.S. presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. Immigration has been a key issue in the U.S. election campaign. Before heading northward, the migrants gathered in Tapachula, the capital of the southern Chiapas state, carrying banners with messages such as "NO MORE MIGRANT BLOOD" and images of the Virgin of Guadalupe, an important religious and cultural symbol in Mexico, according to witnesses. Reuters reports.

Ukrainian physicians find homes  and jobs  in Latvia



More than 160,000 Ukrainians fled their home country and headed to the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania since the Russian invasion. Physicians were among the 50,000 or so refugees who went to Latvia. Vladislavs Andrejevs spoke with some of them in Riga. Anna Rice narrates his story.

Israel notifies UN it will not cooperate with UN agency for Palestinian refugees

Near-universal concern and condemnation have followed Israels formal announcement to the United Nations that it will not cooperate with the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, after Israels parliament voted to cut ties last week. In Washington, at the U.N. and on the ground, officials and residents are raising alarms over the disintegrating humanitarian situation in Gaza and elsewhere. VOA White House correspondent Anita Powell reports from Washington.

News brief

 Former U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer Leonard Darnell George, 42, of San Diego was sentenced in federal court Oct. 25 to 23 years in prison for accepting bribes to allow unauthorized migrants and vehicles containing methamphetamine and other illicit drugs to pass through the border into the U.S.
By Abdushakur Aboud

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA 

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.
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.
CAPE TOWN, South Africa  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.
Photo: Warner Bros

What musical bars is director Paul King cooking for Timothee Chalamet for the upcoming Wonka sequel? Theres nothing everlasting gobstopping him, not even travel visas. Were very early, I mean we have about half of a draft, King explained to HeyUGuys at the premiere of Paddington in Peru. Weve got a story that we like and we know where we want to take him and try to get some international travel in it. Is he taking the Oompa Loomas back to their home country instead of keeping them in a factory to pull pranks on little brats? Or what if hes going to show us where he got those expanding blueberries? Vulture reached out to Warner Bros for some answers, but since the film is still in the writing stages, there might not be a lot to confirm beyond its existence. Maybe King is looking for some inspo; All we ask is if he could include less giraffe milking.
Move follows record high visitor numbers.

The Pompeii archaeological park is to cap its daily number of visitors at 20,000 in a bid to ease pressure on the ancient Roman site amid a surge of tourists in recent months.

The change takes effect from 15 November in parallel with the launch of a new ticketing system which will see tickets issued with the names of visitors, similar to the system in place at the Colosseum.

In a statement, the park's director Gabriel Zuchtriegel said that in addition to reducing human pressure on Pompeii's "unique and fragile" heritage, the move is designed to make the UNESCO site safer for people visiting, "for example in the event of an earthquake".

Zuchtriegel also said that efforts are being made to expand the visitor experience to other areas of Pompeii and to develop other ancient sites in the area, including Boscoreale, Torre Annunziata, Villa dei Misteri, Civita Giuliana and Stabia, with the aim of fostering a slower and more sustainble tourism model.

The decision to cap visitor numbers comes after Pompeii registered a record-high 36,480 visitors on the first Sunday of October, as part of the monthly free entry scheme to Italy's state-run museums and archaeological sites.

This figure was double the number of people who visited Pompeii on the free-entry Sunday in September, according to Italian culture ministry data.

The 20,000 cap is likely to only curb tourist numbers on a handful of the busiest days of the year, including free-admission Sundays, a park spokesperson told Reuters.

More than four million people visited Pompeii last year, which works out at an average of around 11,200 visitors per day.

Pompeii was followed in October's free-Sunday ranking by the Colosseum (21,423 visitors), the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill (14,098), and the Pantheon (10,076).

Photo credit: wjarek / Shutterstock.com.
Tomas Doherty

Ireland's rapidly growing population is one of the driving forces behind the key social issues facing the country.

Housing, healthcare and education are all impacted by the rising number of people living in the Republic.

The country has experienced a surge in migration numbers in the last two years, in large part due to tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees.

There has also been an increase in the number of asylum seekers arriving from elsewhere in the world.

This, coupled with pre-existing housing shortages, has placed unprecedented strain on State accommodation provision, leading to tensions and disputes in some areas over plans to repurpose hotels and other buildings into facilities for international protection applicants.

Here, we provide a breakdown of the latest facts and figures related to migration in Ireland.

The most recent population figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) showed an increase of close to 100,000 in the year to April 2024, bringing the total number of people living in the State to 5.38 million.

Population growth was helped by 79,300 more people immigrating than emigrating in that period, according to the CSO.

The number of immigrants in the 12 months to April 2024, at 149,200, was the highest since the year to April 2007.

Of those immigrants, 30,000 were returning Irish citizens, 27,000 were EU citizens and 5,400 were UK citizens, while the remaining 86,800 immigrants were citizens of other countries, including Ukraine.

Meanwhile, more than 69,000 people emigrated in the same period, an increase of 5,000 when compared to the same period in 2023 and the highest emigration figure since 2015.

In line with trends across Europe, the number of people arriving in the State to claim asylum has soared in recent years to reach record levels.

There was a 415 per cent increase in the number of applications in 2022 compared to 2021, and a 186 per cent increase from 2019.

In 2022, there were 13,651 applications for international protection, while 2023 saw 13,277 applications.

Those numbers have already been exceeded before this year has finished, with more than 14,037 applications made by the end of August.

In August alone, 1,692 people made applications for asylum, up from 1,160 in August 2023.

At the start of the year Minister for Integration Roderic OGorman predicted an annual total of 15,000 asylum seekers arriving would be the new normal the State could expect.

Between January and the end of October this year, more than 15,000 people arrived in the Republic, compared to about 9,200 during the same period in 2023.

About 35 per cent of these arrivals are men who travelled alone, but the numbers also include children, couples, women and single parents.

This years figures are driven by a fourfold increase in people from Nigeria seeking asylum.

In 2023, a total of 2,084 Nigerians tried to claim asylum; this year the figure up until August is 3,325. Nigeria accounts for almost 24 per cent of all asylum seekers to the State this year, by far the greatest number from a single country.

All of this has put pressure on the already strained accommodation system for international protection applicants.

The system is run by the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS), part of the Department of Integration. IPAS manages reception centres, emergency accommodation, the Citywest Transit Hub and tented accommodation.

The number of people living in the IPAS system has more than tripled since 2021, when about 7,000 people were being accommodated. Now more than 32,000 people are in State-provided shelter.

This sharp rise amid the ongoing housing crisis led the Government to say last year it could no longer provide accommodation to all asylum seekers. In practice, this means men without children are not prioritised for accommodation.

Some of these men ended up living on the streets. In May more than 200 asylum seekers who had been living in tents outside the International Protection Office in Dublin were moved from the area to facilities at Citywest and Crooksling in Co Dublin.

The country has also seen a spike in the number of arson attacks on buildings rumoured or earmarked to provide accommodation for people seeking international protection.

Reception centres and emergency accommodation are located in all parts of the State, with asylum seekers living in every county.

Galway City is the local authority with the most asylum seekers relative to its population, at about 2.1 per cent, followed by South Dublin (1.4 per cent) and Donegal (1.2 per cent). Kilkenny and Cavan have the fewest housed asylum seekers as a percentage of their populations (0.2 per cent).

In contrast, the number of weekly arrivals from Ukraine has fallen significantly since the beginning of this year.

It comes after the Government slashed the allowances for newly arrived Ukrainian refugees, dropping from 220 to 38.80 per week, the same rate that asylum applicants receive.

New arrivals from Ukraine now also have a 90-day limit on the time they can remain housed by the State.

More than 100,000 Ukrainians have arrived in Ireland since the onset of the Russian invasion in February 2022.

Many of them have settled in rural and western areas of the country. Kerry, Leitrim, Donegal and Clare are the counties with the highest share of Ukrainian refugees relative to the population.

According to Central Statistics Office data based on PPSN registrations, there are 12 Ukrainian refugees per 100 residents in Ennistymon, Co Clare.

Irelands rising population presents significant economic and social challenges, particularly the need to construct more housing and expand public services to accommodate growing numbers.

Earlier this year Taoiseach Simon Harris said inward migration was a good thing but warned there was a need to build various systems to respond to the population growth.

Theres no doubt the Government that I lead will now need to do a better job in terms of forward planning, preparing for population growth, wondering what that means for public services, what that means for investment, what that means for staffing levels.

But we need to be very clear that actually the growth that were seeing in our population, much of that growth are actually people coming to assist our country  either Irish people coming back home, maybe after a number of years abroad, maybe coming back home to a job or to have a family or to care for a relative, and also people coming to Ireland to work in job vacancies that havent been able to be filled within Ireland.
By Cillian Sherlock, PA

There is likely to be a very significant increase in deportations in the coming years, Taoiseach Simon Harris said as he set out his partys immigration policy for the general election.

The Fine Gael leader also said his party would implement a means-tested, income-linked contribution towards State accommodation for international protection applicants with jobs.

Speaking on the campaign trail in Cork, Mr Harris said common sense had to be implemented in the immigration system.

Taoiseach Simon Harris while canvassing in Limerick (Fergal Phillips/Fine Gael/PA)

He said: The next step we must take now is around a contribution model for people in international protection.

Now, let me be really clear: Im talking about people who are earning money.

People who come to our country do have a right to work after six months so this would be a means-tested contribution.

Mr Harris said deportation orders had increased over the last 12 months.

He added: It is a statement of fact, though, as we move forward with Europe and have a better policy over the next few years in terms of working at a European level on migration, that its likely well see a very significant increase in the number of returns to other countries.

It makes sense now to have an availability to call on a chartered plane should that need arise.

Of course, many people leave the country of their own volition. Many people leave on commercial flights, but it is sensible now to put the infrastructure in place should a charter flight be needed.

Asked if this would involve deporting someone to a third country, Mr Harris said: No. This is about returning people to the country of origin or to a country where they may have already sought asylum.

Its not in any way comparable with policies that the UK have had in place in relation to Rwanda, policies that I in the past have described as despicable and stupid.

At Labours candidate announcement, party leader Ivana Bacik said she was disappointed with Fine Gaels position.

Ms Bacik accused the party of populist pandering to anti-immigrant feeling.

She added: Im very disappointed to see it coming from a Government party and I think its particularly shameful when we see it being trotted out now alongside a whole range of issues that some of the Government parties are going to be putting forward during the campaign.

Speaking in Dublin, Fianna Fails Jim OCallaghan said the policy was surprising given that Fine Gael has held the Department of Justice portfolio for almost 14 years.

He said: When you look at my constituency (Dublin Bay South) at tents, and you look at barriers, its not a system thats working very effectively.

Fortunately, Minister (Helen McEntee) listened to Fianna Fail when we suggested that she needs to designate further countries as safe countries, when we said you need to increase the fines on airlines.

Mr OCallaghan added: It sounds to me that if it was a proposal they were serious about, they would have implemented it over the past 13 years.

Fianna Fail Minister of State James Browne at the Department of Justice said his party wanted to introduce a Department of Domestic Affairs to manage immigration issues.
Kenneth Fox

The first opinion poll of the general election campaign has shown Fine Gael is narrowly the most popular party in the country.

Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein all placed within four per centage points of each other.

Online and telephone polling of more than 1,200 people by Red C for the Business Post shows things are tight at the top.

They surveyed people between the 1st and 8th of November in the run-up to the election being called.

The results show Fine Gael unchanged as the most popular party in the country at 22 per cent support.

Fianna Fail is marginally behind at 21 per cent;

While Sinn Fein rises one point to 18 per cent support;

15 per cent of people support independents;

Social Democrats up 1 to 6 per cent;

Aontu up 2 to 5 per cent;

Green Party are up 1 to 4 per cent;

Labour Party are down 1 to 3 per cent;

Independent Ireland is down 2 to 3 per cent;

People Before Profit/Solidarity are down 1 to 3 per cent
The owner of one of Perths best loved indie bookshops has put out a public distress signal, saying the citys small businesses are doing it tougher than during COVID.

Rabble Books & Games Maylands shocking pink presence on hipster high street Eighth Avenue is known for going further than welcoming browsers and gift hunters, representing a haven and events hub for Perths queer, First Nations and disability communities.

Natalie Latter and Sam Baker with their daughter Pip. Credit: Stevie Lane

In only 6 years of operating it has amassed a whopping online following thats helped it become one of Perths most significant bookshops, but thats not been enough to stop financial bruising  to the point that it on Friday announced online that something had to change, as Rabble was no longer sustainable.

Natalie Latter, who works in the bookshop alongside partner and co-owner Sam Baker, is also a City of Bayswater councillor and further works another job to keep the family afloat financially as the shop is barely breaking even.
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This story is part of the November 10 edition of Sunday Life. See all 16 stories .

Architect Francesca Venturonis latest project is a residence within a historic building, where every corner of the house seems to tell a story. We are in Milan, on Via Archimede, a semi-central residential area that has become increasingly vibrant while maintaining a romantic and authentic atmosphere.

The design of this 140-square-metre home was commissioned by a couple, Andrea Magnaguagno and Francesca Pedrazzi, who had lived outside Italy for a long time. After moving between New York and Paris, they settled in Milan, where they started a family: first little Allegra, then Pietro. There are also two pets, Boston terrier Matcha and a cat called Gustavo, who coexist in perfect harmony.

The process was straightforward and shared from the beginning, says Venturoni. As [Magnaguagno and Pedrazzi] work in the fashion and cosmetics industry, they had no resistance to taking risks. In fact, they explicitly asked us to play with colours and create a space that could accommodate elements of modernism, harmonising different styles and eras.

Art deco motifs, such as the chequered tiles and arched seating area surrounded by storage, are repeated throughout the home. Credit: Helenio Barbetta/Living Inside

The owners are also collectors and, while they wanted to respect the classic and significant character of the building, they asked to avoid the blank canvas effect. The space distribution respected the previous layout, which was already functional, while adding a second bathroom and a small utility room. The corridor and entrance, usually considered transitional spaces in a home, became the focal points around which everything revolves.

In this sense, the colourful chequered patterns that extend from the floor to the walls, and the regular geometry that define the rooms, are an attempt to use the existing art deco atmosphere as a palette for mixing Milanese design, postmodernism and Fornasettis figurative graphic approach.

Venturoni explains: We wanted to create a grid that would fit the different worlds of an extended and colourful family into its patterns.
The November 10 Edition

In our special Homes edit, the gorgeous Italian house on the cover will surely inspire you to think about introducing some bold colour and a bit of European flair to your place.
When acclaimed designer Collette Dinnigan decided to step back from her fashion career, she redirected her passion into interior design and homewares. For this, she draws inspiration from her second home, Casa Olivetta in Puglia, where she retreats two to three times a year to embrace the Italian way of life.

Mimi Thorisson and Collette Dinnigan in Turin, Italy. Credit: Earl Carter

In 2019, she struck up a friendship with French cook and author Mimi Thorisson when she signed up for one of Thorissons tours of northern Italy. Its a friendship that continues to build, and one that sees the two powerhouses come together best at the kitchen table, bonding over plates of pasta, rich passata and refreshing negronis. Now Thorisson has contributed recipes to Dinnigans latest book, Bellissima.

Collette, tell us about meeting Mimi for the first time.

Id heard that Mimi had moved to northern Italy from France and was hosting vineyard visits in Turin and peony farm stops as well as cooking classes. It felt right up my alley, so I signed up and brought my daughter, Estella, along. Mimi and I hit it off and laughed so much; we ended up spending five days together. She got me right away, and we became friends instantly.

How does Mimi inspire you?

Everything Mimi does in the kitchen looks easy and breezy. It takes me back to when I used to do Paris Fashion Week: its so complicated, but Id try to make it look effortless. Mimis incredibly organised, measured and diligent when putting her recipes together. Shes a little aloof, and it comes across as nonchalance, but thats the beauty in her delivery. It makes people feel at ease and very welcome. Its like a spiritual thing; not religious, but a gentle pursuit of inclusion, as opposed to a superiority that puts people at a different level.
CFMEU members will rally in Sydney tomorrow against the federal governments administration of the union.

A Fair Work Ombudsman spokesperson said it was aware of the plan to stop work, and warned demonstrators to not engage in unprotected industrial action.

Please be aware that if an employee fails to attend the workplace or stops work without authorisation from their employer, this conduct may be unprotected industrial action in contravention of the Act, they said in a statement.

The strike is one of a series of actions to be taken in NSW this week, including by nurses and the Rail, Tram and Bus Union, while the police union has recommended members accept one of the biggest pay rises in the NSW public sector.

Meanwhile in Victoria, police are threatening to walk off the job for the first time in 25 years as a pay dispute with the state government heats up.
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.
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.
My America PAC massively improved the Republican ground game in the swing states, Musk told right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson in an interview at Mar-a-Lago. Arguably even more influential than Musks ground game was his online game. In 2022, Musk bought Twitter and turned the platform, which is still the worlds most politically influential social media destination, into a haven for right-wing memes and propaganda. Joe Rogan (right) interviewed Donald Trump for three hours for his podcast. Credit: AP Trumps convincing election victory has cemented Musk as one of the most influential figures for not just young white American men but also disillusioned working-class voters everywhere. Forget Lachlan, or James. The real heir to Rupert Murdoch is perhaps not one of his own family members but Musk and the podcasters, including Joe Rogan, Andrew Huberman and Ben Shapiro. They are now more relevant than any legacy media outlet and have become essentially the new media.

Millions of Americans are no longer reading The New York Times or watching CNN. Theyre not plugged into mainstream media and they are often outright proud of the fact. Theyre listening to Rogans three-hour-long podcasts on the train and during gym sessions, and theyre listening to Hubermans Huberman Lab podcast, dissecting neuroscience and discussing how to live longer via biohacking. Rogan, who had Trump on his show in the lead-up and endorsed him the day before the election, posted a video on X of himself watching Trumps victory speech with the caption WHOLE. LEE. SHIT. WHOLE. LEE. SHIT is one way to put it. Musk might be a character or even a super genius, depending on whom you ask, but somewhat perversely, hes one of the least charismatic people to command an army of millions of ardent followers. He spoke on stage in Adelaide in 2017 at the International Astronautical Congress, promising interplanetary travel between Earth and Mars. For a super genius, his performance was halting, his laptop faltered more than once, and the crowd of thousands of Australians was left largely underawed. Musk was just as awkward at this years Republican National Convention and on stage at Trumps boisterous rallies.

But that lack of in-person charisma doesnt matter to Musketeers, who have latched on to the entrepreneurs abrasive online presence, and many of whom can perhaps see themselves in his awkwardness. Loading And just as countless pundits have wrongly written off Trump over the years, many have also written off Musk, who has proven remarkably resilient despite countless controversies and setbacks, legal and otherwise. The current situation can perhaps be traced back years, to a snub by President Joe Biden. Musk was not invited to an electric vehicle summit hosted by Biden in 2021, despite Tesla in that year accounting for three-quarters of electric vehicle sales in the US. He complained at the time that it was odd he wasnt invited while executives from companies including Ford and General Motors were warmly welcomed.

That saga has shades of the infamous 2011 White House Correspondents dinner, in which Trump was the butt of jokes by president Barack Obama and comedian Seth Meyers. Donald Trump has been saying he will run for president as a Republican, Meyers said. Which is surprising, since I just assumed he was running as a joke. Trump sat stony-faced throughout the ordeal and successfully ran for president five years later. That humiliation, and Musks snub a decade later, could well have set in train the events before us today. But whatever the case, Trump and Musk are now each part of a mutually beneficial political alliance that should last for a long time, despite how unpredictable and impulsive Trump and Musk are as individuals. But what happens next, and how does Musk use his super genius skills? And how does Trump exploit them?

Musk can never be US president, given he was born in South Africa. But he is now at the centre of Trumps political orbit and he is likely to hold a key role in his administration, previously promising to lead a new government efficiency commission and working to slash as much as he can from the $US6.75 trillion federal budget. The figure of $US2 trillion has been bandied about. Box chief executive Aaron Levie has known Musk for years. Credit: Bloomberg Musk also vowed on Tuesday night that his super PAC, America PAC, would continue to operate after the election. The US political machine is built around money and will allow Musk, for as long as he is one of the worlds wealthiest individuals, to wield an outsized influence. Aaron Levie, chief executive of Box, a multibillion-dollar US cloud storage company, has known Musk for years and says the incoming Trump administration will be vastly different to the last due to the number of tech leaders in its orbit. I feel more confident in this Trump administration than the first one, due to people like Elon being involved and around the president, Levie tells me. Id be hopeful that his ideas can get lodged in there, and that he can be actively engaged in a number of key areas.

Elon and others around him tend to believe in free markets, and letting consumers decide, and not using the government to sway the direction, to sway these things. Loading The tech industry is lucky to have Elon be a part of whatever this new administration is. It will be a far better outcome than if he wasnt involved. Musk is also likely to hold on to his business interests while pushing the Trump government towards fewer regulations and fewer regulators. The entrepreneur has been openly critical of a federal review of his SpaceX rocket business, and he is likely to want to tear up red tape slowing the rollout of Teslas fully autonomous vehicles, which have been promised for years. Trump has also promised to repeal Bidens executive order on AI signed in October 2023, which had put safeguards on the nascent technology. Deregulation of AI is crucial for Tesla to get its autonomous vehicles up and running, and would also benefit Musks AI start-up, xAI.

Crypto has hit all-time highs over the past week and it is likely to continue to boom with Musk so close to the president. Vice President-elect J.D. Vance is also a crypto believer. He was heavily backed by Silicon Valley powerbrokers such as Peter Thiel and David Sacks. Trump himself has pledged to be a crypto president and is tipped to quickly replace Securities and Exchange Commission chair Gary Gensler, who has long opposed crypto and who has sued many of its companies, including Coinbase and Kraken. In September Trump launched crypto trader World Liberty Financial, backed by his familys money, and it has since launched its own cryptocurrency. The long-term impact of a Trump presidency on Tesla is more uncertain: while Trumps proposed tariffs might benefit the company by limiting competition from Chinese EV makers, Tesla relies heavily on China as a key production hub. Also, China is the companys largest market outside the US. Its not hyperbolic to say the Musk-Trump partnership will be consequential not just for Earth but also for other planets. Musk consistently says his guiding force is to make humanity an interplanetary species, and Trump will soon preside over the first manned lunar landing in more than 50 years. The astronauts will be carried on a SpaceX Starship rocket. Musk earlier this year declared that Kamala Harris would doom humankind to an earthbound existence, while Trump would put humanity on Mars. The second Trump presidency is likely to bring with it a new era of space travel.

Loading Back on Earth, Musk, along with libertarians close to him such as Sacks and Thiel, will continue to push for the US government to be run like a technology start-up, with Trump at its helm. Despite their differences, Musk and Trump are more similar than one might assume. Both are constantly aggrieved, seemingly never happy, and are constantly striving to prove themselves right to their millions of acolytes. Their shared vision for America is a complicated mix of ideas that are in varying degrees forward-looking and retrograde. An America free of the woke mind virus; that rewards technological innovation; and yet is threatening mass deportations of its illegal immigrants, of which Musk was once one. The pair now find their fates intertwined, along with the fate of the worlds most powerful economy and its millions of citizens.
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.
The three (3) individuals arrested and detained as part of an investigation into burglaries in Mayo, Sligo and Roscommon have been released without charge.

Files will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

As part of an ongoing investigation into organised criminal activity and burglaries in Mayo, Roscommon, Longford, Westmeath and Sligo, Gardai arrested three males in the Dublin Metropolitan Region last Tuesday.

The operation involved the search of four properties in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) where North Western Region personnel were assisted by members from the Armed Support Unit, DMR West and DMR South along with DMR Regional support and members from Athlone.

It was part of an investigation into 29 burglaries in Mayo, Roscommon, Longford, Westmeath and Sligo.

During the course of the searches, property was seized which is believed to be the proceeds of organised criminal activity, which included:

 A Rolex watch

 Designer handbags and shoes

 Substantial amounts of cash

Other property recovered included mobile phones, multiple car keys and log books of vehicles.
Reading, PA (19601)

Today

Cloudy, breezy, and warm with occasional showers developing, especially in the afternoon; a gusty downpour or strong thunderstorm possible in the afternoon and evening. .

Tonight

Cloudy, breezy, and mild with showers and a few gusty storms or downpours in the evening; drying out late at night.
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.

The document, comprising 92 rules in eight chapters, focuses on combat readiness and aims for effective fulfillment of the missions and tasks of the armed forces in the new era, according to an official statement on Saturday.

The regulations make improvements to the mechanism and procedures of supply, management and repairing of military equipment, which are expected to promote the work of supporting military equipment in an innovative way, reads the statement.

(Source: Xinhua)

Editor: Cui Rui
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]

(Source: Xinhua)

Editor: Cui Rui
Firefighters work at a damaged site, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, in Beirut's southern suburbs on November 9.
Anyone who watches, reads or listens to the true crime genre knows the JonBenet Ramsey case. The 1996 murder of the six-year-old beauty pageant queen became instantly notorious, not only because of its gruesome nature, but also because no one has ben able to solve it. Even now, nearly 30 years later, the internet is still fascinated by what happened to that little girl on Christmas night in Boulder, Colorado.

This November, the search continues in the form of Netflix's new docuseries Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey? The limited series, which will have three parts, is the latest in a string of true-crime productions that can be found on the streaming platform. But how does Cold Case differ from previous JonBenet Ramsey projects? And will it get us any closer to uncovering the identity of her killer?

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Heres everything we know about the project so far, including where the Ramsey case stands today.

What is the release date for Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey?

Netflixs new docuseries on JonBenet Ramsey will launch Nov. 25, 2024, with all parts of the series arriving on the platform at once.

How to watch Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey

All episodes of Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey will be streaming exclusively on Netflix starting on Nov. 25, 2024.

How many episodes is Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey?

The new Netflix miniseries will consist of three episodes.

What happened in the JonBenet Ramsey case?

For those who dont know, JonBenet Ramsey was a 6-year-old girl who lived in Boulder, Colorado, with her parents and siblings in the 1990s. On the morning after Christmas in 1996, her parents woke to discover JonBenet missing and a ransom note downstairs. Later the same day, her father discovered her body in the basement, where shed been sexually assaulted and murdered.

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Because the murder happened in the familys home, Boulder police began investigating family members as potential perpetrators. The fact that JonBenet was a young pageant queenher mother, Patsy, a former beauty queen herselfonly served to raise national interest.

This case would have lasted in regional newspapers for one week if not for two elements, Lawrence Schiller, author of a leading biography on the Rasmey case, told the New York Post in 2016. Its the release of videos of JonBenet in beauty pageants, and the release, days later, of still photos of her in hair and makeup. The tabloids latched on to that. What sustained it? Very simple: The police department said, The parents did it, and a DA who said, Im not going to prosecute.

To this day, the case still remains unsolved.

Related: Beware! These 50 Strangest Unsolved Mysteries of All Time Are Seriously Spooky

Whats happening now with the JonBenet Ramsey case?

Now, nearly 30 years after the murder, the JonBenet Ramsey case remains unsolved. Why? According to an analysis by the Los Angeles Times in 2016, at least part of the reason is missteps made by the Boulder police early in the investigation. Another part is the intense media coverage and the pressure it placed on police to come up with a quick answer.

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In 2008, then-District Attorney Mary Lacy publicly exonerated JonBenets parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, after they found new DNA evidence that suggested an unidentified male may have committed the crime.

The exoneration cleared the whole Ramsey family of wrongdoingincluding JonBenets brother Burke, who was only nine years old at the time, but had previously been a prime suspect. But that didnt change the fact that police didnt know who killed JonBenet. The Ramseys still dont know the circumstances that led to the ransom note or how the assault and murder happened in her own home.

The DNA discovered in 2008 does add another layer to the case, but the police have not discovered a confirmed match for the DNA. And even if they did, that wouldn't immediately solve the case.

I dont think the case is entirely a DNA case, former District Attorney Stan Garnett told the L.A Times. To be able to put together a coherent theory of prosecution, youre going to have to explain the cause of death, explain the garrote, explain the ransom note, explain the circumstances in which the body was found [and] youre going to have to account for the DNA that was found.

Related: Oscar Nominees Announced to Play JonBenet Ramsey's Parents in New Limited Series

Who is the director of Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey?

Joe Berlinger is the director of Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey? He aims to examine all elements of the Ramsey case in his new three-part docuseries.

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Berlinger was behind Netflixs Conversations with a Killer, which looked at famous serial killers like Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy and Jeffrey Dahmer. He also directed Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills, which is credited with helping to exonerate the West Memphis Three and aiding in their release from prison.

How is this different from other JonBenet Ramsey coverage?

The murder of JonBenet Ramsey is one of the most publicized cases in recent history. Its been the focal point of books, podcasts, multiple docuseries and TV specials that have aimed to unearth the truth of what happened that day in 1996. Netflix even already has one series about the case, Casting JonBenet, a dramatization of the story that was released in 2017. Paramount+ also recently ordered a new limited series based on the case.

So what sets apart Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey? According to Deadline, Berlingers take on the Ramsey case will revisit the case with fresh eyes and look at key details related to how law enforcement and the media initially mishandled the investigation. It will also feature interviews with people involved in the case including JonBenets father, John Ramsey. (Her mother has since passed away.)

Many people think they know the JonBenet Ramsey story and have played armchair detective for three decades, often callously pointing a finger at the very people who suffered such an unthinkable loss, Berlinger said. Through unprecedented access and a comprehensive multi-year investigation, we reveal the deep flaws in how the case was originally handled, resulting in a sea of conspiracy theories that nearly destroyed the Ramsey family for a second time.

Netflix subscribers can watch Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey? when it premieres on the streaming platform on Nov. 25.

Related: 50 Best True Crime Podcasts
The words turkey and Thanksgiving seem synonymous to many this time of year. Actually, National Turkey Lovers Day is observed on the third Sunday of June.

In my more than 60 years of managing a kitchen, I can probably count on my fingers the number of turkeys I have prepared. I don't like to smell them cooking and I don't like to deal with the carcass. However, I don't mind sitting down to a nice turkey dinner.

Historically the first Thanksgiving in America was in 1621. The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts, in December 1620 and suffered severely that first winter from cold, disease and starvation. According to the writings of Gov. William Bradford, with the help of the Wampanoag people and a man named Squanto, the Plymouth Plantation in 1621 had an especially good harvest and then had a feast to celebrate. The Wampanoag people and Chief Massasoit came to the celebration. The feast included deer, wildfowl, fish and vegetables, plus what the Wampanoag people brought. There was no mention of turkey or pumpkin pie.

Iris Eppley

President George Washington called for a day of Thanksgiving in 1789, President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 and President Franklin Roosevelt and Congress made the fourth Thursday in November the day for the Thanksgiving holiday in 1941. President Harry Truman received a turkey from the Poultry and Egg Board for his Thanksgiving. President John Kennedy pardoned the turkey meant for his table and that tradition continues.

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture has some turkey statistics. Turkey production in the U.S. was 4.11 billion pounds in 2023. Minnesota, North Carolina and Arkansas are the top three states in turkey production. Ohio is ninth. The USDA estimates 46 million birds will be eaten at Thanksgiving. About 88% of us will have turkey at Thanksgiving. The per capita yearly consumption of turkey is 14.6 pounds. This figure has doubled since 1970, possibly due to the promotion of ground turkey as a leaner source of protein than ground beef. Also, turkey is a popular deli meat.

There was some debate in 1782 about selecting a national bird. The bald eagle was a symbol of strength, courage, freedom and immortality. Ben Franklin defended the choice of the turkey as the national bird as being more respectable. The bald eagle was named the national symbol in 1782. It is protected under the National Emblem Act of 1940.

The tradition of eating turkey began during the colonial era when people chose to eat turkey rather than a useful animal. Just think, if the turkey was the National Bird and protected, what would we be eating for Thanksgiving?

Iris Eppley is a member of the Farm Bureau Council.

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Time to talk turkey for Thanksgiving
The sale ends November 11.

a_Taiga/Getty Images Panoramic view of the historic city center of Amsterdam Panoramic view of the historic city center of Amsterdam

Singles Day, on November 11, has become an international shopping holiday and now travelers can get in on the deals.



PLAY Airlines is offering 25 percent off flights throughout their route network in celebration of singles. The Iceland-based low-cost carrier operates flights from the Boston, New York, and Washington metropolitan areas to various destinations in Europe.



As an example, travelers can score a flight from Boston to Reykjavik, Iceland from $268, or Baltimore, MD to Amsterdam, Netherlands from $388.



PLAY Airlines network includes Athens, Amsterdam, Berlin, Dublin, London, Marrakech, Paris, Prague, and more. Travelers can also add a stayover up to ten days on each leg, at no cost. This means that instead of a small layover or connection, travelers can leave the airport, explore Iceland for a few days, before resuming their journey.



Whether practicing the art of traveling solo or bringing a buddy along to enjoy the trip, travelers can now book discounted flights to explore Icelands breathtaking landscape or take their journey further to some of Europes most charming cities, a spokesperson for PLAY Airlines shared in a statement to Travel + Leisure.



The lowest price fares are in the "PLAY basic" level of service, which does not include a checked bag or carry-on bag. These additional amenities can be added separately, or through the purchase of a "basic plus" or "value" ticket.



The discount promotion is available while supplies last through November 11, 2025, and is valid on travel throughout the winter and early spring. The departure airports include Baltimore (BWI), Boston Logan International Airport, New York Stewart Airport (which is located 1 hour and 30 minutes north of New York City), and Washington Dulles (IAD). There are several restricted dates for travel, so customers should carefully review the sales terms before booking.



As an added bonus for the holiday, the airline is also offering a unique promotion where subscribers to their newsletter will be randomly selected to receive a free round-trip flight to any destination that the airline serves.


From theme park treats to a Dolly Parton dinner show, this Ozark city is the perfect spot for those in search of delicious eats.

Getty Images A nighttime view of Highway 76 in Branson, Missouri, A nighttime view of Highway 76 in Branson, Missouri,

A southwest Missouri town nestled in the Ozark mountains, Branson is known for its dinner shows and 1880's-themed theme park, Silver Dollar City. But as the town continues to grow as a tourist destination, its restaurant landscape is expanding, too.

Branson, Missouri, is home to everything a foodie could hope for in a vacation, from celebrity chef-owned restaurants like Guy Fieri's Branson Kitchen and Bar to The Pie Safe, a small but mighty bakery serving up fresh baked goods and coffee in Branson's historic downtown area. In fact, Linda Cherry, a local business owner who's been active in the town's growth for the last 40 years, says she's got a standard reply when people ask her about the food scene in her hometown.

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"I ask them what theyre looking for because I can point them to exactly what they want," says Cherry. Among Cherry's favorite Branson eats? "Local fish out of our lakes," she says, "Or barbecue and smoked meats. I can't eat enough."

As a food and travel writer who's visited Branson, Missouri, twice in the last two years, I also can't get enough of the delicious offerings in the Ozark town. From dinner shows to theme park treats to classic breakfast spots, Branson is a must-visit for foodies. Here are five types of foods you should try if you visit Branson, Missouri.







Meet Our Expert

Linda Cherry has been a business owner in Branson for over 40 years. Cherry owns both an interior design business and a gift boutique.







Terri Peters A barbecue sampler plate at Danna's BBQ and Burger Shop in Branson, Missouri. A barbecue sampler plate at Danna's BBQ and Burger Shop in Branson, Missouri.

Barbecue

There's some really good barbecue to be found in this Ozark destination. Cherry says smoked meats are "indigenous" to Branson, as the practice started as a way to preserve food without ice and electricity. "Smokehouses were a big deal here for preservation of meats," she says. "Today, you get into how they are smoking it: Are they smoking it with oak? Are they smoking it with pecan? Are they smoking it with another hard wood? Are they adding some apples? Are they mixing in peaches? You really start to see things here that you didnt know existed."

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In Branson, everything's on the barbecue menu, from smoked sausages to pulled pork and chicken. Cherry says it's not uncommon to find specials on the menu as well, like smoked lamb chops or alligator.

Terri Peters Warm pull-apart cinnamon bread at Branson's Silver Dollar City theme park. Warm pull-apart cinnamon bread at Branson's Silver Dollar City theme park.

Theme Park Treats

If you're visiting Branson, you cannot miss the chance to spend a day immersed in spirit of the 1880's at Silver Dollar City, the area's theme park. I live in Central Florida and spend plenty of time at foodie-friendly parks like Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World, and I'd travel to Branson just for the theme park food.

Not only have I had some delicious barbecue inside Silver Dollar City, but the park is home to treats like cinnamon bread, whoopie pies, and some of the best root beer floats around. Every snack inside this unique theme park is crave-worthy and it's nearly impossible to resist carrying a take-home loaf of cinnamon bread out of the park with you at the end of the night.

Terri Peters Coffee, muffins, biscuits and gravy, and other breakfast items at Branson's Steamy Joe Cafe. Coffee, muffins, biscuits and gravy, and other breakfast items at Branson's Steamy Joe Cafe.

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Diner Food

Cherry says some of the first restaurants to pop up in Branson were the "blue plate special-serving" kind. Today, diners and cafes abound, including Branson Cafe, the oldest restaurant in town, which opened in 1910. "In the beginning," says Cherry, "we didn't really have many restaurant chains, so you still have that homegrown feel today."

Whether you've got a hankering for some biscuits and gravy for breakfast or a pot roast dinner, Branson's mom-and-pop, diner-style restaurants have you covered. When in Branson, having a big breakfast is a must-do, whether it's oversized pancakes at the iconic Billy Gail's Restaurant or unforgettably delicious homemade muffins at Steamy Joe Cafe, a quaint little breakfast spot with long lines and stunning views of the mountains.

Terri Peters While performers and live animals entertain, guests are served a four-course dinner at Dolly Parton's Stampede Dinner Attraction. While performers and live animals entertain, guests are served a four-course dinner at Dolly Parton's Stampede Dinner Attraction.

Dinner With a Show

Branson is known as the live music show capital of the world. Up and down Highway 76, there are theaters offering everything from rock and roll covers to pyrotechnics and acrobatics. And, of course, there are plenty of shows in Branson that offer up a heaping helping of delicious food along with a performance.

At Dolly Parton's Stampede Dinner Attraction, for example, guests are treated to a four-course meal of barbecued meats, country-style side dishes, soup, and dessert, all served while horses roam a show arena and actors and performers roll out a "North versus South" tournament, complete with a chicken chasing contest and miniature pig races. If eating while you watch isn't your style, Cherry says pre-show visits to Branson's best restaurants are a great way to avoid the crowds. "I took a friend [to a show] recently and we had dinner at 4 p.m. when it wasn't busy, then saw a show at 7 p.m.," says Cherry. "It wasn't crowded and it was nice, so sometimes those off-hours are the best time to go."

Terri Peters Pot roast, mashed potatoes, creamed corn, chicken and dumplings, and other Southern delights served family-style at Paula Deen's Family Kitchen in Branson. Pot roast, mashed potatoes, creamed corn, chicken and dumplings, and other Southern delights served family-style at Paula Deen's Family Kitchen in Branson.

Celebrity Chef-Owned Spots

In addition to a historic downtown area full of independently-owned restaurants, a snack-filled theme park, and an entire highway loaded with dinner shows, Branson is home to Branson Landing, a newer stretch of town that runs along the Taneycomo Lakefront and is home to tons of shopping and dining options.

Among those dining options are two celebrity chef-owned spots, perfect for fans of Food Network and other cooking shows. Guy Fieri's Branson Kitchen and Bar serves up eats like burgers and nachos, and Paula Deen's Family Kitchen is all about family-style Southern food in a beautifully-decorated dining room, complete with a shop selling Paula Deen merchandise and kitchen items. Both restaurants are perfect dinner locales for fans of the television chef personalities, and the food is delicious to boot.
America is facing a loneliness epidemic, and theres a new public conversation about how to fill the void for older adults and people living with disabilities. Weve idealized growing old in their longtime home, but mobility and health challenges can lead to fewer occasions for socializing, leaving older adults living on their own, feeling lonely and isolated.

Brian Doherty is president and CEO of the Massachusetts Assisted Living Association.

As U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy highlighted last year, loneliness can lead to worsening physical and mental health.

Dr. Murthys advisory was urgent and shocking: Lacking social connection may be a greater risk factor than smoking, drinking or a sedentary lifestyle, increasing risk of premature death by more than 60%.

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The physical health consequences of poor or insufficient social connection include a 29% increased risk of heart disease, a 32% increased risk of stroke and a 50% increased risk of developing dementia for older adults. When older adults describe themselves as lonely, a study showed theyre 59% more likely to suffer cognitive decline and are at a 45% greater risk of a fatal injury or unexpected death, according to a University of California San Francisco study. And chronic loneliness may raise older adults risk of stroke by 56%, according to research led by Harvards T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

For older adults who could use a helping hand with their daily necessities but dont need a full-service skilled nursing facility, assisted living residences offer not only support but community, friendship and fulfillment. These social connections, often a struggle to reach when living at home, can result in better health and emotional well-being. A recent study showed that older adults in senior housing communities live longer, receive more home health services and benefit from greater rehabilitative and preventive care.

Right now, theres a gap in Massachusetts policy to support older adults. Massachusetts Medicaid waiver only allows qualifying older adults to choose between staying at home and receiving care services, or going into a full-service skilled nursing facility. Unlike most other states, it does not provide them with the option between those ends on the continuum of care thats become increasingly popular: to live and receive care in assisted living, through whats known as the frail elder waiver.

In Massachusetts today, most people pay privately for assisted living. There are three programs that support lower-income residents access to assisted living  Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, Senior Care Options and Group Adult Foster Care  which facilitate personal care services in assisted living. None of these programs were designed as a reimbursement rate, instead they pay for a portion of the services residents receive, at rates that most residences cannot afford to accept. If we introduce the waiver, as other states have, more lower-income older adults will have access to assisted living.

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Massachusetts policymakers can make the option of assisted living available to more older adults by extending the frail elder waiver. There are two ways our elected officials could act. Gov. Maura Healey could issue an executive order expanding the frail elder waiver to include assisted living. The Legislature could also pass legislation that would lead to research and a report from the Executive Office of Health and Human Services on how to implement such a waiver.

By extending the frail elder waiver to assisted living, we could create a more cost-effective approach to both save the commonwealth dollars and provide independence and quality of life to older adults. This assisted living reimbursement program with a known, reasonable, daily rate could even spur a new generation of assisted living residence developments that are designed around a lower cost point. Additionally, modifying the frail elder waiver would create a way for elders to stay in their assisted living homes if theyve run out of their own private funds.

Strengthening our support for residents in assisted living is an opportunity to improve the lives of older adults who just need a little help to remain active and independent in the communities they love.

Brian Doherty is president and CEO of the Massachusetts Assisted Living Association.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Opinion/Guest column: Rx for epidemic of elder loneliness
All United States State Department travel advisories are not created equally. The agency, for example, has given Haiti its highest-level travel advisory, a Level 4 "Do Not Travel" warning.

It spells out what that means on its website.

"Since March 2024, Haiti has been under a State of Emergency. Crimes involving firearms are common in Haiti. They include robbery, carjackings, sexual assault, and kidnappings for ransom. Kidnapping is widespread, and U.S. citizens have been victims and have been hurt or killed...Kidnapping cases often involve ransom requests. Victims families have paid thousands of dollars to rescue their family members," it shared on Sept. 18.

Related: Royal Caribbean offers 3 new Black Friday drink packages

That warning has led to a lot of Royal Caribbean passengers being concerned when they see Labadee, Haiti on their cruise itinerary. The reality, however, is that Labadee is a fenced-in, guarded section of Haiti that's nowhere near a population center.

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There are no excursions outside the protected area in Labadee, and if an angry mob did decide to head toward Royal Caribbean's private beach destination, the cruise line would have plenty of time to evacuate passengers and staff safely.

So, just because the State Department issues a warning about a destination, that does not mean you should not go there. It is, however, important to read exactly what the U.S. government agency is worried about so you can follow that advice.

Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise.

What each State Dept. travel warning means

The U.S. State Department uses a four-level warning system and only destinations it only tells travelers not to visit a location when it issues a Level 4 warning. The four levels are:

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Level 1 - Exercise Normal Precautions. This is the lowest advisory level for safety and security risk. There is some risk in any international travel. Conditions in other countries may differ from those in the United States and may change at any time.

Level 2 - Exercise Increased Caution. Be aware of heightened risks to safety and security. The Department of State provides more advice for travelers to these areas in the Travel Advisory. Conditions in any country may change at any time.

Level 3 - Reconsider Travel. Reconsider travel due to serious risks to safety and security. The Department of State provides additional advice for travelers in these areas in the Travel Advisory. Conditions in any country may change at any time.

Level 4  Do Not Travel. This is the highest advisory level due to greater likelihood of life-threatening risks. The U.S. government may have very limited ability to provide assistance, including during an emergency. The Department of State advises that U.S. citizens not travel to the country or to leave as soon as it is safe to do so. We advise that you write a will prior to traveling and leave DNA samples in case of worst-case scenarios.

All four are warnings, but you can see that Level 3 and Level 4 are very severely worded. In nearly all cases, cruise lines would not stop in those ports.

Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter.

Exercise increased caution in these 3 cruise ports

On Nov. 7 and Nov. 8, the State Department issued new or revised warnings for three destinations that major cruise lines call on. That includes one, El Salvador, where the warning has been downgraded from Level 3 to Level 2.

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While crime remains a concern in El Salvador, there has been a significant reduction in gang-related activity and associated crime in the last two years. This includes drops in violent crimes and murders. U.S. government employees may travel throughout the country during daylight hours. Largely due to infrastructure concerns, U.S. government employees may not travel between cities or departments after dark, except for the route between San Salvador and El Salvadors international airport and between San Salvador and La Libertad. Government employees are also restricted from using public buses.

Carnival's Holland America Line and Princess Cruises stop in El Salvador on Panama Canal crossing sailings, as do Norwegian's Oceania and Regent Seven Seas brands.

ALSO READ: Top travel agents share how to get the best price on your cruise

Located on Africa's west coast, Togo may not be the first place Americans think of when cruising, but it's a popular stop that's called on by Regent Seven Seas, Oceania, and Carnival's Seabourn brand.

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Its level has been downgraded from a Level 1 warning to a Level 2 due to "terrorism, crime, civil unrest, and kidnapping, according to the State Department.

Criminals and terrorist groups are active in Togo, particularly in areas bordering Burkina Faso and Northern Benin. Attacks in these areas can occur with little or no warning, and could target shops, markets, hotels, places of worship, restaurants, bars, schools, government buildings, transportation hubs, and other places where crowds gather. Violent attacks are far more likely in the northern areas of Togo than in the southern and coastal areas.

Lastly, the State Department has added some more information to its Level 2 warning about travel to South Africa to reflect new information on kidnappings.

Violent crime is common and includes armed robbery, rape, carjacking, and mugging. There are also "smash-and-grab" attacks on vehicles. Violent crime is more common in the downtown areas of big cities, especially after dark...There is a threat of kidnapping across South Africa. In the past, kidnappers have targeted U.S. citizens and other foreign travelers.

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Cape Town, South Africa, is a port for Norwegian Cruise Line, Seven Seas Voyager, Seabourn, Princess, MSC Cruises, and a number of niche cruise lines.

Related: Carnival Cruise Line asks passengers a key question
Nov. 10 (UPI) -- One person is dead and at least 16 injured following a shooting at Tuskegee University as the school marked its 100th homecoming anniversary Sunday.

The shooting happened on campus early Sunday morning, leaving an 18-year-old dead, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. A dozen people were injured by gunfire during the incident.

The victim who died did not attend the university, Tuskegee University spokeswoman Thonnia Leea said in a statement.

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"Several others, including Tuskegee University students were injured and are receiving treatment at East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika and Baptist South Hospital in Montgomery," she said.

Officers with the ALEA were notified about 1:40 a.m. of multiple shooting victims on the campus, ALEA spokesman Sgt. Jeremy Burkett said.

"There's going to be two shooters at this time, maybe more," one officer said, according to local media reports.

No arrests had been made as of Sunday afternoon. The school canceled Monday classes.
A person has been arrested in connection with a shooting at Tuskegee University that killed one person and injured at least 16 other people on the Alabama school's homecoming weekend.

Jaquez Myrick, 25, was arrested and charged with possession of a machine gun, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, or ALEA, said in a statement. Officials said Myrick had a handgun with a machine gun conversion device and was found leaving the scene.

In a statement, ALEA said that special agents were notified that multiple people had been shot on the universitys campus around 1:40 a.m. and that it is still gathering information about the events that led to the shooting.

The campus of Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Ala., on March 28, 2019.

An 18-year-old was pronounced dead on the scene, the agency said. Tuskegee University said the victim was "a non-university individual."

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A total of 16 people were injured, including 12 who were shot and taken to local hospitals for treatment. "Four other individuals sustained injuries that were not related to gunfire over the course of the incident," ALEA said.

The university canceled all classes scheduled for Monday, when grief counselors will be available for students in the chapel.

ALEA asks anyone with information to get in touch with the FBI, which is investigating.

A nearly minutelong video on social media appears to show a person sheltering behind a car as gunshots ring out almost continuously.

Another witness, Alyssa, who asked to be identified by only her first name, told NBC News she was visiting a friend at Tuskegee this weekend.

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She said there was a big gathering, almost like one big party, in the parking lot of the west end campus, where she was staying.

She said that though easily over 1,000 people were there, everything was calm, and people were dancing and mingling. Alyssa and her friend were walking around and recording TikTok videos near a truck playing music when she saw people running. Then, she said, she heard the first gunshots.

"I grabbed my friend immediately, and that's when I heard the shooting," said Alyssa, 21, of Atlanta. She said she and her friend were pinned on the ground between two cars with a group of other people as the shooting occurred.

Video Alyssa posted to social media shows the group on the ground, hiding behind a vehicle. They tell one another to "get down" as rounds of gunfire ring out in the background.

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"It was nearby. You could hear the bullets hitting glass and whistling past us," Alyssa said. She said she heard people running by and yelling that they were going to pull their guns out and start shooting back, adding that there were multiple shooters.

"We were pinned down for a few minutes because they wouldn't stop shooting," she said. "It would be five-second breaks and they started right back up."

Alyssa said she is OK.

Unfortunately this isnt the first time Ive been through something like this. Its the new norm for America, she said, adding that after the shooting ended, the party continued.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
UPDATE: All lanes of traffic along Montana east have reopened, TxDOT said.

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  One person was injured in a rollover crash in Central El Paso on Saturday evening, Nov. 9, El Paso Fire dispatch said.

The crash happened at about 6:40 p.m. at eastbound Montana and Gateway South and involved a single vehicle. One person was transported to the hospital Code 1 (minor injuries), dispatch said.

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All lanes of traffic are closed at the crash site, according to TxDOT. Clearing time is until further notice. No backup is being reported.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Michelle Castillo thought her house was on fire Sunday morning.

My grandmothers screaming, she said. Shes saying fire, the fire.

The fire she was referring to was actually a couple of streets away -- where Castillos extended family, including two small children, woke to an inferno.

Medford Fire Department Deputy Chief William Young said the fire broke out before dawn -- perhaps around 5:30. When crews arrived flames were pouring from the two upper floors.

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Castillo and her grandmother rushed over -- to find all ten occupants of the building huddled outside -- including a three and six-year-old.

It was super cold, she said. We brought blankets and everything we could.

Despite the morning chill, neighbor Iliana DePena said she could feel the fires heat.

It was around 5:30, she said. I heard a scream.

Depena rushed to the window and shot video of the fire as it consumed the upper floors of the structure.

Thankfully, it did not spread, she said. That was my main concern.

Medford FD Deputy Chief William Young said the current dry-spell did not threaten to spread the fire -- perhaps because foliage in the neighborhood is relatively sparse -- and healthy. He said they even managed to get the familys pet cat out safely.

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Carlos DePena, Ilianas Dad, warned neighbors the house was on fire. He was grateful for the outcome -- though saddened to see so many displaced.

The house can be replaced, he said. But the lives you cannot replace. You cannot replace a life.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  2025 will mark the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing.

We remember and honor those 168 who lost their lives on April 19, 1995, when a bomb went off in front of the Murrah building in downtown Oklahoma City.

168 Days Campaign: Remembering Pamela Cleveland Argo. Image courtesy Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum.

We want to remember Pamela Cleveland Argo, while honoring those who survived and thanking those changed forever.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 father and son duo, associated with the Triglav Historical and Research Association, unearthed a hoard of rare 16th and 17th century coins valued at over $120,000 (500,000 zotys) near Pomiechowek, Poland. Sawomir and Szymon Milewscy came across 17 silver coins while on an expedition.

The discovery took place during an exploration led by the Polish 'Husaria' Treasure Hunters Association. Initially, the team aimed to discover a Roman-era trade route, but turned their attention towards the coins from the 16th and 17th centuries.

Rare European thalers

According to archaeologist Piotr Duda, this find is a matter of disbelief. This is probably one of the largest finds of its kind ever discovered in Poland, and certainly in Mazovia. The historical significance is beyond measure, and its estimated material value is half a million zotys," he said.

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"In recent years, coin deposits have been found from various historical epochs, but not from the 16th and 17th centuries. Their present historical value is indescribable," Duda added.

Polish news agency PAP noted that the treasure consisted of coins from Saxony, Brandenburg, and the Netherlands, dating back to the tumultuous period of the Thirty Years' War.

The unearthed coins include a 1630 Sigismund III Vasa thaler minted at Torun in Poland. A similar one was recently auctioned for approximately $20,000. Another coin of importance is the John II thaler, from the Duchy of Palatinate, produced in 1623. This mint was only in currency for two years, making it nearly impossible to determine a precise numismatic value.

Additionally, coins from Spanish Netherlands, including those of Albert and Elizabeth, along with pieces from Saxony featuring Leopold V, Frederick I, Rudolf II, and Johann Georg I were part of the find.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVQG2f2eJng

Treasure tied to war

The rare discovery of the treasure has led to speculations about its origins. According to Duda, "In 1655 there was a battle at Nowy Dwor Mazowiecki. The Swedes clashed with the Polish Crown troops of the First Polish Republic." He believes that someone involved in the Thirty Years' War and later took part in the battle of 1655 could have hid the treasure. Duda noted that both sides had mercenaries, mostly of German descent.

Another possibility is that a wealthy merchant buried his valuables to protect them from theft. "An inn once stood here," Duda added. "Perhaps something happened, and the person couldnt return for the deposit. These are all just assumptions."

The treasure will now be transferred to the Mazovian Voivodeship Conservator of Monuments. However, the Triglav Association opined that the finds should be accessible to public and called for their display at the September Campaign Museum or the Modlin Fortress Museum.

According to experts, some of the coins discovered, specifically the Sigismund III Vasa thaler, are exceptionally rare, with their value surpassing previously auctioned specimens owing to its pristine condition.
Georgia State University detectives are searching for two suspects involved in an armed robbery and aggravated assault.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

According to officials, it happened on Oct. 30. Detectives said the suspects assaulted and robbed two GSU students in the Piedmont Central dorm.

The lighter-complexioned suspect was allegedly armed with a gun. He also has a tattoo on the right side of his neck.

TRENDING STORIES:

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The darker-complexion suspect has a tattoo over his left eye. The duo was last seen leaving the area in a black Toyota Camry.

Tipsters can submit information anonymously by calling the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line at 404-577-8477, online or by texting CSGA and the tip to CRIMES (738477).

You do not have to give your name or any identifying information.

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BROOKSVILLE, Fla. (WFLA)  Two dogs died, and several residents were displaced Saturday night after a mobile home in Brooksville went up in flames.

The fire broke out around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9 on Jayson Drive, according to Hernando County Fire Rescue.

Polk deputy fatally shoots man using hammer to attack wife: PCSO

As firefighters arrived in the area, they said heavy smoke and flames could be seen coming from the double wide mobile home.

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Crews launched an aggressive offensive strategy and were quickly able to extinguish the fire, officials reported.

(Credit: Hernando County Fire Rescue) (Credit: Hernando County Fire Rescue) (Credit: Hernando County Fire Rescue) (Credit: Hernando County Fire Rescue) (Credit: Hernando County Fire Rescue) (Credit: Hernando County Fire Rescue)

All five of the residents were able to safely evacuate. However, firefighters said their pets didnt make it out in time.

The Red Cross was assisting the residents Saturday night as they were unable to return inside their home.

As of Saturday, Nov. 9, the State Fire Marshalls Office was still working to determine the cause of the fire.

No further information was immediately available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
CHICAGO  A Chicago fire truck lost a tire on the citys Northwest Side Saturday, damaging two vehicles in the process.

Officials said the incident happened in the 5200 block of North Northwest Highway in Jefferson Park.

The President of the Chicago Firefighters Union, Pat Cleary, said the tire hit a vehicle heading northbound as well as a parked car.

According to Cleary, the incident did not come as a surprise as many CFD trucks are not in good shape. The one involved in Saturdays incident has been in service since 2005, and Cleary said most fire trucks should only be used for 10-15 years.

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2 killed, 4 injured in wrong-way crash along Lake Shore Drive in Hyde Park

[The truck] is approximately 20 years old. We should not be using 20-year-old rigs as assigned rigs in the Chicago Fire Department. They should be maintaining their rigs and using new rigs, not using old broken-down rigs, Cleary said.

He added the truck involved came from the fire station located in the 4600 block of North Milwaukee Avenue. The firefighters on board were heading back to the station from drill when the tire fell off.

No injuries were reported.

CFD did not issue any information on a possible replacement vehicle, which could mean longer service times for areas like Jefferson Park as other stations help out.

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WGN News has reached out to CFD for comment and is waiting to hear back.

The mayors office, however, sent WGN News the following statement on the matter:

This truck has been repaired and is back in service. 2FM Fleet Operations and the Chicago Fire Department will continue to work together to provide a more sustainable equipment replacement plan.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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A South Carolina woman was killed Saturday in an early-morning crash, according to the Sumter County Coroners Office.

Meagan Hudson, a 22-year-old Sumter County resident, died in what Coroner Robbie Baker termed an accident.

The single-vehicle crash happened at about 1:30 a.m. at the intersection of Pinewood and Wedgefield roads in Sumter, Baker said in a news release. Further information about the wreck was not available.

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Hudson was taken to Prisma Health Tuomey hospital, where she died, according to the release.

No other injuries were reported.

There was no word on whether Hudson was the driver or a passenger. Information about seat belt use was not available.

Both the coroners office and the Sumter Police Department are continuing to investigate the accident. An autopsy will be performed Tuesday at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, Baker said.

Through Nov. 3, at least 817 people have died on South Carolina roads in 2024, according to the state Department of Public Safety. Last year, 1,030 people died in crashes in South Carolina, DPS reported.

At least 19 people have died in Sumter County crashes in 2024, according to DPS data. There were 30 deaths reported in the county in 2023, DPS said.
Veterans Day is being celebrated throughout the Greater Sacramento region with parades in different sectors.

According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, the holiday originated during World War I after the Allied nations and Germany temporarily agreed to stop fighting on Nov. 11, 1918. Seven months later, the war officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919.

Veterans Day is a day of celebration to honor Americas veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good, the Department of Veteran Affairs.

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In celebration of the countrys current and former military servants, there are parades happening in surrounding cities throughout Sacramento and Yolo counties.

These Sacramento-area cities are hosting events on Monday that could include street closures and detours:

Sacramento WWII Veteran Joe Ortiz, 99 rides with his granddaughter Kimberly Lyons during the Veterans Day Parade in Sacramento on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022.

When and where is Elk Grove Veterans Day parade?

Elk Groves Veterans Day Veterans Day parade beginning at 11:11 a.m.

The parade starts at the Cosumnes Community Services District Administration Building at 8820 Elk Grove Blvd.

The parade route will travel east on Elk Grove Boulevard, then turn right and head south along Elk Grove-Florin Road.

The parade will end after making a right turn into Elk Grove Park.

Which roads will be closed?

There will be street closures and detours throughout Elk Grove due to the Veterans Day event.

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According to a city news release, Elk Grove Boulevard will be closed to all eastbound and westbound traffic from Williamson Drive to Elk Grove-Florin Road.

Additionally, traffic from Colton will be directed westbound on Elk Grove Boulevard to northbound Williamson, the release said.

Elk Grove-Florin Road will be closed to all southbound traffic from Sierra Street to Park Meadows. All intersecting roads will be blocked.

Robert Hipwell, an Army Veteranwaves to the crowd as he drives veteran Leroy John Adams during the Veterans Day Parade in Sacramento on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022.

Where are detours?

Vehicles traveling eastbound on Elk Grove Boulevard, approaching Williamson Drive, will be rerouted to the north.

Drivers going westbound on Elk Grove Boulevard, approaching Elk Grove-Florin Road, can take a detour northbound to Elk Grove-Florin Road.

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Commuters coming southbound on Elk Grove Florin Road will have to go eastbound on Sierra Street.

All northbound traffic on Elk Grove Florin Road approaching the entrance to Elk Grove Park entrance flagged to go eastbound to Park Meadows.

Motorists are encouraged to use alternative routes throughout the city. Those traveling east or westbound in Elk Grove should use Bond, Sheldon or Grant Line andKammerer Roads as alternate routes during the closure.

When does Folsom Veterans Day Parade start?

Folsom is hosting its 24th annual Wayne Spence Folsom Veterans Day Parade on Monday, starting at 9 a.m.

More than 2,000 participants are expected to take part in the 2024 parade, which features floats, classic cars, horseback riders, color guards and a variety of community groups.

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Although its expected to rain in parts of the Sacramento area on Monday, the Folsom event will continue rain or shine, the citys website said.

Where is the parade route?

According to the city, the parade will begin on East Bidwell Street near Montrose Drive.

The route travels westbound on East Bidwell Street, northbound on Coloma Street and will proceed to Natoma Street, the citys website said.

The event will conclude with a brief ceremony to honor local veterans at the Veterans Memorial in City Lions Park.

Which streets will be closed in Folsom?

The Folsom Police Department will coordinate a temporary closure of all lanes of traffic on East Bidwell Street from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

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Natoma Street from Coloma Street to Wales Drive will close from approximately 9:15 to 11:15 a.m.

Closures will be lifted immediately after the parade ends, the city said.

There will be marked detours around the parade; motorists are encouraged to take Riley and School streets as alternate routes.

When and where is Sacramento Veterans Day Parade?

The Veterans Affiliated Council is holding its Veterans Day Parade in the heart of downtown Sacramento on Monday.

The event will include marching the streets around the State Capitol building, a parade of old school cars and motorcycles and a ceremony featuring guest speakers that represent military veterans and government officials.

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Pedestrians and horse riders will lead the parade onto Capitol Mall, and vehicles will follow shortly after.

The parade route begins west on Capitol Mall, heads east back to 10th Street.

Then the route loops down Capitol Mall making a right on Ninth Street, takes a left on N Street and concludes with a left on 10th Street.

Whats planned in West Sacramento for the holiday?

The city of West Sacramento is hosting a Veterans Day parade that starts at 11 a.m. Monday at 1100 Clarendon St.

The parade will then go to West Acre Road and end at Park and Stone Boulevard, according to the West Sacramento Veterans of Foreign Wars website.

Following the parade, there will be the Heroes Lunch at 905 Drever St. with free meals served to veterans with an ID, accompanied by soothing jazz tunes.

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Plates will be available to the public for $12.

What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  The Ronald McDonald House of Springfield is excited to announce the 4th Annual Trees of Hope holiday celebration today at Gary Rome Hyundai in Holyoke.

The event will also include Cookies and Milk with Santa and Mrs. Claus. There will also be a Student Night on Friday, November 15th, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., and a Holiday Craft Fair on Sunday, November 17th, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., all hosted at Gary Rome Hyundai.

Sundays event will run from noon until 2 p.m. All events are open to the public and free of charge.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
Police believe a Minnesota man killed two of his exes, as well as his 7-year-old and 15-year-old sons

Christa Lawler/Star Tribune via AP Police investigate the scene where five people were found shot to death inside two homes in Duluth, Minn., on Nov. 7. 2024 Police investigate the scene where five people were found shot to death inside two homes in Duluth, Minn., on Nov. 7. 2024

Three adults and two minors were found dead across two Minnesota homes in what police believe is a quadruple murder-suicide.

According to a Duluth Police Department press release, officers arrived at a home on the 6000 block of Tacony Street in Duluth around 2 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7, after one of the resident's coworkers reported she had not shown up for work. Erin Abramson, 47, and her 15-year-old son Jacob Nephew were found dead inside from gunshot wounds, police said.

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Authorities quickly identified 46-year-old Anthony Nephew  Abramson's ex and Jacob's father  as the suspect and set up surveillance at his home, located on the 4400 block of West 6th Street, about one mile away from the original crime scene.

Duluth Police Chief Mike Ceynowa said at a Friday, Nov. 8 press conference that police used a drone to enter the home, where they found the bodies of Anthony's ex-wife Kathryn Nephew, 45, and his 7-year-old son Oliver Nephew. They were also dead from gunshot wounds, police said.

Anthony was also found dead in the second home "from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound," according to police.

Duluth Police Department/Facebook Duluth Police Department vehicle (stock image) Duluth Police Department vehicle (stock image)

Authorities have not yet confirmed a motive for the shootings.

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Ceynowa explained that Anthony had a history of mental health issues and that police had been called to the house on West 6th Street multiple times in the past. He also added that investigators were still in the process of using cell phone data to establish when the shootings took place.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends and loved ones of the four victims in this tragic incident," the chief said. "We also want to send our condolences to both the Duluth community and Superior community as this is a senseless and tragic event."

Police said there is no threat to the public, and the investigation is ongoing.

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Minnesota Public Radio reported that Duluth public schools  where Oliver was a first-grade student  have sent out a message to parents about the incident and are providing students with crisis resources.

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"This is not something that happens often in our community," Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert said, per Minnesota Public Radio. "It's been a couple years since weve seen something like this, and we're going to grieve, but we're also going to make sure that we support those families and support our public safety team."

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
The New York Times has reported that 50,000 Russian and North Korean soldiers are preparing to launch a large-scale counteroffensive in Russias Kursk Oblast.

Source: The New York Times, citing Ukrainian and US officials

Details: According to US officials, Russian troops are carrying out missile strikes on Ukrainian positions in Kursk Oblast and deploying artillery against them, but they have not yet launched a large-scale offensive.

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Ukrainian officials said they expect a large-scale attack involving North Korean troops in the coming days.

North Korean troops are currently training with Russian forces in the west of Kursk Oblast.

The NYT reported that some US military and intelligence officials have become more pessimistic about Ukraines overall prospects, noting that Russia is steadily gaining ground in both Kursk Oblast and eastern Ukraine. Officials say these setbacks are partly the result of Ukraines failure to address the critical issue of a shortage of troops.

One Western official said that Ukraines surprise invasion of Kursk Oblast in August had weakened its forces across the battlefield in Ukraines east, leaving Ukrainian troops vulnerable to a Russian offensive. But the official, as well as other several US officials, said Ukraine still has strong defences in Kursk Oblast and may be able to retain control over the area they currently hold, at least for a while.

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Western and Ukrainian officials said that the arrival of North Korean troops was a serious escalation after more than two years of war.

According to US officials, North Korea has sent more than 10,000 soldiers to fight alongside Russian forces in Kursk Oblast. These troops are wearing Russian uniforms and have been equipped by Moscow, but are likely to be fighting in their own separate units.

Ukrainian officials said that Moscow had supplied North Korean troops with machine guns, sniper rifles, anti-tank missiles, and rocket-propelled grenade launchers.

According to US officials, Russia has trained the North Koreans in artillery fire, basic infantry tactics, and, most importantly, trench clearing. This indicates that at least some of the North Korean forces will be engaged in frontal attacks on Ukrainian forces dug-in defences.

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A Ukrainian official said that North Korean troops were divided into two groups, an assault group and a support group, which would help secure the territory recaptured from Ukrainian forces.

Meanwhile, US officials believe that Ukrainian troops will be difficult to dislodge, and that Russian and North Korean forces are likely to suffer heavy losses similar to those Russia has suffered in Ukraines east. US and British military analysts estimate the current number of Russian troops killed and wounded at an average of more than 1,200 per day.

The North Koreans will fight as light infantry, without the use of armoured vehicles. And the current Ukrainian tactics of artillery shelling and drone attacks have proven devastating for unprotected Russian troops, the NYT reported.

Nevertheless, if Russia gains momentum, it may not stop at its border, but try to push Ukrainian troops even further. According to representatives of the US Department of Defense, it is unclear whether the North Korean government will authorise its troops to conduct long-term operations in Ukraine or whether they are intended only for a counteroffensive in Kursk Oblast. Some US officials believe that North Korea may order its troops to stop at the border while Russian forces advance deeper into Ukraine.

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US defence officials also said they did not know whether North Korea would send additional reinforcements. According to a senior Ukrainian official, Ukrainian intelligence predicted that North Korea could send up to 100,000 troops.

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In a rare find, the Japanese Mint Bureau has acquired 15 boxes containing 500,000 ceramic coins. Previously thought to have been destroyed, these coins offer a unique opportunity to study wartime manufacturing processes during World War II.

The coins were discovered in August 2023 by representatives of Shofu Inc., who unexpectedly found them in a warehouse used to store dental equipment. Amongst ordinary ceramic items, they located 15 boxes filled with these rare coins. This discovery has generated considerable interest among historians and numismatists.

These "phantom coins," a hidden treasure for decades, were believed to have been destroyed after the war. Their rediscovery makes the 500,000 coins now held by the Japanese Mint incredibly valuable. While they no longer hold monetary value, they serve as important historical artifacts from World War II.

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A representative from the Mint stated that they can now investigate the manufacturing of ceramic coins during that period. The coins were never issued because the war ended, rendering them worthless. But soon, they will be brought to life in a new exhibit as a rediscovered hoard.

500,000 out of 15 million ceramic coins recovered

During the war, metal was scarce and prioritized for military use. Subsequently, officials authorized the production of 15 million ceramic coins in Kyoto, Seto, and Arita, renowned centers of the pottery industry. However, when Japan surrendered, the need for these coins vanished and they were ordered to be destroyed.

But somehow, by a stroke of luck, fifteen boxes of these rare coins were saved, stored away, or simply forgotten. For 80 years, the wooden boxes remained undisturbed in a warehouse. The reddish coins inside might resemble gaming chips, but they are official coins that were manufactured but never circulated.

There are unexpected things in expected places, a Shofu representative commented.

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According to a press release, the Mint acquired approximately 500,000 1-sen ceramic coins after Shofu representatives discovered fifteen wooden boxes filled with this unique wartime currency.

The coins have the same diameter as a DVD, 15 millimeters, and feature a cherry blossom on one side and Mount Fuji on the other  two iconic symbols of Japan.

The Mint considers this a valuable acquisition, even though one sen is worth less than a cent.

The coins will soon be on public display

The Mint issued an official statement acknowledging the acquisition and thanking Shofu for turning over the coins. In return, Shofu received one hundred of the coins as a token of appreciation.

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"We hope that the recent discovery of so many ceramic coins will lead to new discoveries about the circumstances surrounding currency manufacturing at the end of the Pacific War," they stated.

"In the future, we plan to conduct a detailed investigation into the condition of the discovered ceramic coins while also referring to materials remaining in the Mint's collection, which we hope will shed more light on the manufacturing conditions at the time."

Soon, the coins will be exhibited at the Mint Museum and will even go on tour to its Saitama and Hiroshima branches.
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 shook eastern Cuba on Sunday, after weeks of hurricanes and blackouts that have left many on the island reeling.

The epicenter of the quake was located about 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of Bartolome Maso, Cuba, according to a report by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Rumbling was felt across the eastern stretch of Cuba, including in bigger cities like Santiago de Cuba, as well as Holguin and. Guantanamo. Local media in Jamaica also reported that the island felt the tremors.

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There were no immediate reports of major damage or injuries in Cuba.

Residents in Santiago, Cubas second-largest city, were left shaken on Sunday. Yolanda Tabio, 76, said that people in the city flocked to the streets and were still nervously sitting in their doorways. She said that she felt at least two aftershocks following the quake, but that among friends and family she hadnt heard of any damages.

You had to see how everything was moving, the walls, everything, she told The Associated Press.

Others reported hearing screams, adding that the quake was strong and stretched on. On social media, residents in the small town of Pilon reported minor damage, posting photos of crumbling roofs and cracks on building walls, not uncommon in Cuba where many structures are older and in need of repair.

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The earthquake comes during another tough stretch for Cuba.

On Wednesday, Category 3 Hurricane Rafael ripped through western Cuba, with strong winds knocking out power island-wide, destroying hundreds of homes and forcing evacuations of hundreds of thousands of people. Days after, much of the island was still struggling without power.

Weeks before in October, the island was also hit by a one-two punch. First, it was hit by island-wide blackouts stretching on for days, a product of the islands energy crisis. Shortly after, it was slapped by a powerful hurricane that struck the eastern part of the island and killed at least six people.

The blackouts and wider discontent among many struggling to get by has stoked small protests across the island.

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This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).

Hiking trails can test you in so many ways  walks can be gruelling if the terrain is rocky and precarious; gentle ascents will exhaust you if the ground is sodden, and thats before youve factored in a heavy backpack and the doubts that will dog the duller moments of the day. Meanwhile, the quitter that lurks in everyone will tempt you with thoughts of hot baths and your favourite meal back home.

But thats the whole point  youre there to prove yourself, so here are six magnificent journeys on which you can do just that.

1. Walkers Haute Route, France and Switzerland

This spectacular, 132-mile hike is generally regarded as tougher than the Tour du Mont Blanc, which also starts in Chamonix. But its challenges are not as relentless as some on this list. On route, youll hike gravel tracks and even asphalt roads, as well as gingerly pick your way over High Alpine trails and  at the Pas de Chevres near Arolla  climb fixed steel ladders. Theres plenty of variety when it comes to accommodation, too. Hostels, campsites and mountain huts are all on offer and can be supplemented by the odd night in a comfy mountain-town hotel. Even so, this is serious undertaking, with 46,000ft of climbing to be done, often in thin, high-altitude air. Most people take two weeks to reach Zermatt at the far end.

2. Kamnik-Savinja Trail, Slovenia

Of course, you dont have to take tackle the full trail. Cherry-picking sections of longer paths is standard practice, and for anyone in search of a short, sharp challenge the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, the Slovenian mountain range closest to Ljubljana, offer a tempting bite out of the epic 370-mile Slovenian Mountains Trail. You will, however, need to be fit, agile and equipped for via ferrata (a protected route with fixed cables and ladders) ascents and descents. This limestone massif is a place of vertiginous climbs, unnerving drops and paths not much wider than your boots. Book the Kamnik Saddle, Cojzova Koca and Ceska koca mountain huts to be sure of a place to stay each night  and then take a very deep breath. A hair-raising  and life-affirming  long weekend awaits.

3. The Adlerweg, Austria

The Tirol is an extraordinary, relentlessly mountainous place, but its not as high as Alpine regions further west, and the landscape is a more benign mix of soaring peaks, sheltered valleys and serene Alpine meadows. Its tourist infrastructure is well-developed, too, so youre never far from a well-run mountain hut or a village peppered with cute, family-owned hotels. As a result, the regions signature long-distance path  the Adlerweg  is a place to stretch your legs and test your stamina. The main section runs from St Johann to St Christoph am Arlberg, over about 200 miles, and while some sections are tricky and exposed (notably the the Eppzirlerscharte pass, the Grossbergspitze ridge walk and the ascent of the Griesslscharte), youll also hike plenty of broad tracks and grassy slopes. If youre alert, match-fit and experienced, its possible to walk the lot in 16 days though it would be sensible to plan a couple of rest days along the way.

The Tirol hike in Austria is an extraordinary, relentlessly mountainous place, and the landscape is a more benign mix of soaring peaks, sheltered valleys and serene Alpine meadows. Photograph by Remke Luitjes, Getty Images

4. Cape Wrath Trail, Scotland

This two-week walk through Scotlands moody and magnificent north west, running along the west coast of Scotland, sets an unusual range of challenges. Route-finding is the most obvious. Even though its been hiked for nearly 30 years, its both an unofficial and unmarked trail (though there are guidebooks and plenty of online advice available). It will also test your expedition-planning skills, as many of its stages end with a basic bothy or a night of wild camping. And then theres the small matter of the weather. Dont go anywhere near it without a storm-proof jacket and trousers. In other words, its a mouthwatering mix of thrilling wild and remote landscapes. It has a target worthy of its 240-mile length, too  the lonely Cape Wrath lighthouse, atop its towering corner of cliffs. Up there you really are teetering on Europes northwestern edge.

5. Arctic Circle Trail, Norway, Finland & Sweden

Its called the Nordkalottruta in Norwegian, the Kalottireitti in Finnish and the Nordkalottleden in Swedish, and because its entire, 500-mile length from Kilpisjavri in Finland to Kautokeino in Norway lies beyond the Arctic Circle, few people attempt the whole thing. But even short sections will test you  not least because theyre so remote. Yes, there are huts scattered along the route, but on plenty of stages youll need to pitch a tent. Youll also need to prepare for wild swings in the weather, as well as extensive bogs, biting insects and rivers without bridges. In other words, this can be a mind-bending and totally wild challenge.

Huts for travellers to spend the night at are scattered along the 500-mile Arctic Circle Trail. Photograph by Robert Haasmann, Getty Images

6. GR20, Corsica

Its not the 112-mile length of this Grande Randonee (a network of long-distance walking routes) trail that makes it so intimidating. Nor the 40,000ft of climbing youll do as you pick your way along Corsicas mountainous spine. Its the challenge presented by its unremittingly rocky terrain  and by its famous Alpine variants. These sky-scraping detours are marked by yellow blazes of route-marking paint, and if you try them you must be prepared to scramble rather than walk, sometimes with the help of fixed chains. Pack light, bring a climbing helmet and bear in mind that up to 30,000 people attempt the route each year so book your accommodation well in advance  even if youre carrying your own tent, youll need to reserve a pitch.

To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  On Veterans Day weekend, the 9th Annual Gunnery Sergeant Thomas J. Sullivan Remembrance Run and Walk honored a fallen hero.

Runners and walkers lined up at Nathan Bills in Springfield to honor Gunnery Sergeant Sullivans legacy on Sunday morning.

Sullivan gave his life while defending his country in July of 2015, during an attack on a Naval Reserve Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was a three-time Purple Heart recipient, Navy and Marine Corps Medal recipient, and Iraq veteran.

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Since tragedy struck, the Sullivans have focused on embodying the fallen heros devotion to the greater good.

We want to keep his memory alive, expressed Joseph Sullivan, the brother of Thomas J. Sullivan and the owner of Nathan Bills. So, we started the run within a year after, and we linked up with the local Marines and tried to do some good around here.

Registration for Sundays run began at 8 a.m., with a ceremony and the National Anthem at 9:25, and runners took to the starting line at 9:30. Walkers in the 2-mile walk stepped off at 9:45.

All proceeds raised will benefit the Gunnery Sergeant Sullivan Scholarship Fund, which supports an incoming Pope Francis Prep School Student who lives in Springfield, demonstrates solid moral character, and has prioritized community service.

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Some proceeds will also go to the Marine Ball. Many of their active duty and reserve staff joined the community along with local leaders, to support the Sullivans, a gold-star family.

Staff Sergeant Alexander Stover told 22News, To us, thats sacred. That means theyve lost someone to the service of our country, and for us to be out here, you know, this is how you keep their memory alive, and this is how you honor someone.

There was also an afterparty following the race with live music, food, and drinks. If you would like to join in honoring Gunnery Sergeant Sullivan, you can still donate to his scholarship fund here.

As this Veterans Day approaches, take the time to thank all the brave men and women who choose to serve our country, and those like Gunnery Sergeant Sullivan, who gave their life in ultimate sacrifice.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  The Miami Valleys own GenCon returned to the Dayton Convention Center this weekend.

AcadeCon organizers say they saw an increased interest in the event this year. Running from Friday, Nov. 8 to Sunday, Nov. 10, the convention focuses on tabletop gaming and roleplaying games.

Officials urge action to prevent vacant house fires this winter

This is the 12th year for the local convention, and the events ninth year on E. Fifth Street at the convention center.

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If youve never been to anything, this can be overwhelming, its a full tabletop convention. So we have all the things you would expect from a really big convention, said Michael Ross, lead organizer. So we have games, roleplaying games, game demos. We had a charity raffle, a costume contest on Saturday. We even have karaoke Friday night and Saturday night.

Attendees can visit on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
British health officials say they have identified four cases of the new, highly infectious version of mpox that first appeared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The announcement marks the first time the variant has caused a group of illnesses outside of Africa. Scientists said the risk to the public remains low.

Officials announced the first case of the new form of mpox in Britain last week. Officials said the person who was being treated at a London hospital had recently travelled to countries in Africa with ongoing outbreaks.

This week, the British Health Security Agency said it had now identified three additional cases. All of them lived in the same household as the first patient. The new cases are also being treated at a hospital in London.

Susan Hopkins is chief medical advisor of the British Health Security Agency. She said, Mpox is very infectious in households with close contact and so it is not unexpected to see further cases within the same household."

The new variant of mpox was first reported earlier this year in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or the DRC. Scientists believe it causes milder symptoms that are harder to notice. As a result, it might be easier to spread because people may not know they are infected. Its spread in the DRC and in other parts of Africa caused the World Health Organization to declare the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern in August.

Britain recorded more than 3,000 cases of another version of mpox during a 2022 outbreak that affected more than 100 countries.

The new variant of mpox has also caused outbreaks in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. Single cases in travelers have also been reported in Sweden, India, Germany and Thailand.

To date, there have been about 43,000 suspect cases of mpox in Africa, including more than 1,000 deaths, mostly in the DRC.

On Wednesday, the WHO said it had given about 900,000 vaccine doses to nine African countries struggling with mpox epidemics.

Im John Russell.

John Russell adapted this story from an Associated Press report.

_____________________________________________

Words in This Story

variant  n. something that is different in some way from others of the same kind

symptom n. a sign that disease might be present

dose n. the amount of a medicine that is needed to cure or treat a health problem
Afghanistan will participate in the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, the country's National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) announced on Sunday.

This marks a significant development for Afghanistan, as it will be the first time an Afghan delegation has been invited to a COP summit since the Taliban's return to power in August 2021.

The NEPA added that the Afghan delegation will advocate for increased international cooperation in addressing climate change and seek access to financial mechanisms to support the country's efforts in mitigating and adapting to climate change.

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Despite being one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, while making minimal contributions to global greenhouse gas emissions, Afghanistan had been excluded from international climate discussions in recent years.

According to experts, the country faces severe climate-related challenges, including devastating droughts, deadly floods and desertification, leading to widespread displacement.

The conference, which will take place from November 11 to 22, will bring together world leaders, climate experts and activists to discuss and address pressing climate issues.
NEW YORK CITY (PIX11)  Air quality is still poor in New York City Sunday morning as fires rage on in New York and New Jersey, according to the National Weather Service.

An air quality alert remains in effect in New York City and the Hudson Valley through Sunday night, according to the NWS.

Commonsense steps: NYC bans grilling, adds measures to prevent fires during drought

The Department of Environmental Conservation says New York Citys air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups, like people with heart or lung disease, older adults and children. These people are encouraged to minimize strenuous outdoor activities.

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There is still an elevated risk of wildfire in the area on Sunday. New York City, Long Island and the Hudson Valley were all warned that any fires can quickly spread with dry conditions.

Fires are still burning in parts of New York and New Jersey, including a fire in West Milford that has spread to New York. As of Saturday evening, the fire had burned 2,000 acres and was not contained at all, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.

Another fire burning in Pompton Lakes was 75% contained Saturday evening after breaking out on Friday.

A large brush fire started in Brooklyns Prospect Park Friday, burning about two acres of the park, fire officials said.

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Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter who has covered New York City since 2023 after reporting in Los Angeles for years. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
(NewsNation)  Retired Lt. Col. Jim Lorraine joins Morning in America with Hena Doba to discuss the organizations mission in helping prevent veteran suicide and helping veterans transition back to civilian life. Lorraine served as a flight nurse in combat zones for 22 years and went on to found the nonprofit Americas Warrior Partnership.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
By Andrea Shalal

DEARBORN, Michigan (Reuters) - Democrat Kamala Harris lost Michigan by more than 80,000 votes amid a nationwide shift to Republicans, as union workers, Black voters, Arab Americans and Muslims either failed to show up at the polls, or cast their ballots for Donald Trump.

It was a bracing loss, given the state is run by a high-profile Democratic governor who expanded voting rights and it had only backed a Republican president once before in the past 22 years - Trump in 2016, and then by fewer than 11,000 votes.

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What happened in Michigan highlights issues that ail the Democratic Party nationwide, community leaders, voters and political experts say. Working class voters, people of color and immigrants voted in lower numbers or moved to Trump, high grocery and housing prices loomed large, and national party leaders ignored local organizers.

Exit polling offered some insights about challenges Harris faced in her three-month campaign:

The economy was the top issue in Michigan, as across the country, said Ameshia Cross, a Democratic strategist, but the Arab American and Muslim vote, immigration concerns and a high concentration of Black voters also played a big role.

"There's only so much you can do in 107 days," Cross said, referring to the amount of time Harris' campaign had after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race. "However, I do think that there should have been more time spent in Michigan."

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Harris visited the state 11 times, and high profile Democrats campaigned here, including both Barack and Michelle Obama.

Cross faulted the "consulting class" of the Democratic Party for relying too much on polling instead of local organizers.

"Listening to people on the ground is always going to be more vital than the modeling and the projections that we've seen," she said.

Local opposition to U.S. support for Israel's wars in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon also loomed over the campaign.

The Harris team said the vice president held closed-door meetings with some Arab American and Muslim leaders, and pointed to outreach efforts in Michigan that included a large ground presence with 52 offices and over 375 staff.

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TRUMP WINS OVER MUSLIMS

Michigan is home to at least 300,000 Arab Americans and Muslims, who overwhelmingly supported Biden in 2020.

Both Green Party candidate Jill Stein and Trump spent considerable time in Dearborn, the biggest U.S. city with a majority-Arab population. Harris never visited.

Harris did meet privately in August outside the city with Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, a Democrat who later declined to endorse any candidate, and with selected community leaders who did endorse her.

Dearborn backed Trump by 42% to Harris' 40%, with Stein receiving over 15%, city data showed. In 2020, Biden won 69% of the city's vote to Trump's 30%.

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The issues may have reverberated in other states too. The Council on American-Islamic Relations, the largest U.S. Muslim advocacy group, said Stein won 53% of the vote in an exit poll of 1,575 verified Muslim voters. Trump won 21% and Harris 20%.

Trump's campaign blasted text messages and mailers to a list of 100,000 mostly Democratic-leaning Arab Americans in Michigan in the last months, portraying Trump as a "president of peace" and linking Harris with the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine.

They seized on Harris' town halls with former Representative Liz Cheney, whose father former Vice President Dick Cheney played a large role planning the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and they sent a mobile billboard truck with the words "Stop Kamala, Stop the Wars" driving around Dearborn.

Harris did not meet "Uncommitted" organizers who mobilized 101,000 votes during the Democratic primaries, and Democrats did not allow a Palestinian speaker at the August party convention, angering these groups and progressives.

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"We have failed leadership. It's exhausting, it's daunting, it's frustrating, because it didn't have to be this way," Lexis Zeidan, a Democrat and co-founder of the Uncommitted National Movement told reporters in Dearborn.

BEGGING FOR YARD SIGNS

In Detroit, the largest majority-Black city in the U.S., where the Harris campaign had hoped to offset expected losses among Arab and Muslim voters, city data showed turnout fell to 47% from just under 50% in 2020, despite new laws on early voting and absentee ballots.

Hazen Turner, a 24-year-old Black auto worker who canvassed for Harris in Detroit, said many of his friends and co-workers felt defeated by rising costs and their inability to get ahead.

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A lot of the young Black universe, they don't really have faith in the system," he said. "The more we work, we really don't have anything to show for it."

Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, a Detroit school board member and former Democratic member of the Michigan House of Representatives, said officials with the coordinated party campaign were dismissive of her concerns. She said she had to beg for yard signs to help energize voters in the city who were less inclined to vote.

"I'm telling them we're getting 20 to 30 pieces of mail from Trump daily, and we've heard nothing from Harris," she said. "And then you see on TV they're raising a billion dollars. Like, what the hell?"

Michigan's voters without a college degree make up 62% of the state's total, and they remained skeptical of Democrats.

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The campaign also failed to address concerns including around electric vehicles that were raised by many United Auto Workers, a growing number of whom backed Trump even though Biden and Harris supported their strike last year against General Motors.

Isaiah Goddard, 24, a white UAW member, said he met Trump when he visited a non-union shop during the strike. He said he trusts him to protect his job and keep out illegal immigrants.

We were better off when President Trump was president," said Goddard, who attended two rallies with Trump and his running mate JD Vance before the election.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Heather Timmons and Daniel Wallis)
In still incomplete returns, Roger Wicker, the states senior U.S. senator, likely will have garnered the votes of more Mississippians in his reelection campaign than did Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

That fact holds some significance since Wicker, a Tupelo Republican, was criticized by some Trump supporters for voting in his official capacity to certify the election results in 2020 when Democrat Joe Biden handily defeated Trump in his reelection effort. Trump and many of his ardent supporters, arguing false claims of election fraud, did not want Congress to certify the Biden victory.

Wicker was the only Republican member of the Mississippi congressional delegation  including junior Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith  to courageously follow the U.S. Constitution and certify the results.

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For that effort, Wicker was the subject of scorn by many Trump supporters. That is why his election results, apparently outperforming Trump, is of note.

That said, Wickers refusal to adhere to the presidents wishes in 2021 and not vote to certify the election did not prevent the Mississippi senator from being an ardent supporter of Trumps election campaign this year.

Wickers campaign messaging aligned him with Trump, and he touted that support for the Republican president just days before the Nov. 5 election at the annual Mississippi Economic Councils Hobnob political speakings.

But there is a possibility that Wicker and the president will again butt heads during the next four years. Wicker has been one of the nations most forceful supporters of Ukraine as the country attempts to beat back Russian aggression.

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Trump has at times argued that Ukraine was more at fault for the ongoing war than Russia. Russian leader Vladimir Putin did not attempt to hide the fact he supported Trump in his effort to win the election and return to the White House.

The president-elect has said he would quickly end the war. Many speculate the only way to quickly end the war is for the United States under Trump to cut off financial aid to Ukraine and force the country to secede a significant portion of its land to Russia.

It is hard to envision Wicker supporting such an effort by Trump and Putin.

U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker speaks before a crowd of military members at the 41st annual Salute to the Military breakfast at the Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. This was the first time the event was hosted since the pandemic began.

Under the Trump administration and the newly Republican-controlled Senate, Wicker will be one of D.C.s most powerful politicians as chair of the influential Armed Services Committee. He will carry incredible weight in matters of wartime spending and focus.

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But in recent years, even Republican politicians who carry such weight often have yielded to the wishes and whims of Trump  often even against their personal beliefs and better judgment  because of his influence over the Republican electorate.

Wicker, who was first appointed to the Senate on New Years Eve in 2007 by then-Gov. Haley Barbour to fill an abrupt vacancy left by powerful U.S. Sen. Trent Lott, is in a unique position to provide guardrails to Trump when he believes it is necessary.

Wicker, age 73, is beginning a new six-year term and will still be in the Senate when Trumps second and final term ends.

Trump, as he is wont to do, can call the senior senator from Mississippi bad names, but in reality he cannot do much to hurt him.

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And Trump would probably never admit it, but Roger Wicker embraced him earlier in the 2016 cycle than many Republican politicians, at a time when many were still skeptical of the wild-tongued New York real estate developers candidacy.

In 2016, Wicker came to the political speakings at the Neshoba County Fair to voice support for Trump in his November election against Democrat Hillary Clinton. It is hard to believe now, but in that summer of 2016, many Republican politicians were staying at arms length from Trump after the combustible GOP primary where he ran a torched-earth campaign  among other things calling the wife of Republican opponent Ted Cruz ugly and saying Cruzs father might have been involved in the assassination of John Kennedy.

At the Neshoba County Fair, Wicker explained why he was supporting Trump, saying: I dont think (Hillary Clinton) is trustworthy enough.

Wicker was not on the ballot in 2016. He had come to the fair solely to tout Trump. Wicker made that trip to Neshoba County even though he was busy heading up the National Republican Senatorial Committee that was working to elect Republicans to the Senate. A few days before touting Trump at the fair, he had done the same at the Republican National Convention before a nationwide television audience.

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Even in the summer of 2016, Trumps cozy relationship with Putin already was being discussed. Wicker, who had written a commentary earlier that year that was carried by national publications proclaiming Russia was Americas greatest threat, was asked about Trumps relationship with Putin and Russia.

He refused to answer, saying he was not going to address every issue surrounding Trump.

If Trump tries to force Ukraine to give up a portion of its country to Russia in the coming years, perhaps Wicker might want to discuss that issue this time.

This analysis was produced by Mississippi Today, a nonprofit news organization that covers state government, public policy, politics and culture. Bobby Harrison is Mississippi Todays senior Capitol reporter.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Anti-abortion advocates say there is 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 Joe 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, the Susan B. Anthony List, the powerful anti-abortion lobby, said in a statement Wednesday. President Trumps first-term pro-life accomplishments are the baseline for his second term.

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The group declined to release details about what, specifically, they will 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.

Trump unlikely to require emergency abortions from hospitals

The Trump administration is expected to pull back Bidens controversial directive that requires emergency rooms to provide abortions when necessary to stabilize a womans health or life. The Biden administration had argued that the decades-old federal law, which requires hospitals to provide stabilizing treatment for patients in exchange for Medicare funding, also applies in cases where an abortion might be needed.

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.

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Were seeing the lives of pregnant people be put in jeopardy, Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Womens Law Center, said Wednesday. Were seeing women who have become infertile, who have been subject to sepsis and were now hearing reports with death.

Even if a Trump administration abandons the guidance of the law, Goss Graves said advocacy groups like hers will continue a legal fight for the Biden administrations interpretation of the law.

Some doctors and hospitals also have said the federal guidance offered a protection for them to perform emergency abortions in states like Idaho and Texas, where threat of prosecution for performing an abortion hangs over their decision-making.

Trump has said he supports exceptions for rape and incest cases, as well as when a womans life is at risk. But he has not gone as far as saying he supports exemptions when a womans health is on the line.

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Abortions might be necessary to prevent organ loss, significant hemorrhage or dangerous infections for pregnant women in rare but serious scenarios. In cases like ectopic pregnancy, premature rupture of membranes 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.

In Idaho, for example, one hospital resorted to airlifting women out of the state after a strict abortion ban, which only allowed for abortions to prevent a womans death, was enacted.

The Biden administration sued Idaho, arguing its state law conflicted with federal law requiring hospitals to provide stabilizing treatment, which might include abortions, for patients. The state amended its law to allow abortions for ectopic pregnancies, but other dangerous scenarios still remain unaccounted for. The Supreme Court declined to address the issue earlier this year, issuing a limited order that cleared the way for hospitals to provide emergency abortions while the case worked its way through lower courts.

Enforcement of the federal law, however, is on hold in Texas, which challenged the Biden administrations guidance on emergency abortions.

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A patchwork of state laws governing abortion will remain in place under the Trump administration. Voters in Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota on Tuesday defeated constitutional amendments, leaving bans in place.

In Missouri, however, voters approved a ballot measure on Tuesday to undo one of the nations strictest bans. Abortion rights amendments also passed in Arizona, Colorado, Maryland and Montana. Nevada voters also approved an amendment, but theyll need to pass it again in 2026 for it to take effect.

Challenges to abortion pill access will continue under Trump

The ease with which women have been able to get abortion pills could also be up for reconsideration under Trump.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Food and Drug Administration made it easier to obtain abortion pills, including mifepristone, allowing women to access the medication over telehealth. The agency has approved the drugs safety through 10 weeks of pregnancy, saying that adverse effects happen for .32% of patients.

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Anti-abortion advocates have challenged that, arguing the medications are not safe and at the very least not fit for eased access without in-person supervision by a doctor.

Although the Supreme Court preserved access to the drug earlier this year, anti-abortion advocates and conservative states have renewed their challenge in lower courts.

Some women are worried. Telehealth company Wisp saw an immediate spike in abortion pill orders between Election Day and the following day, with a 600% increase. In states like Florida and Texas, where the medication cannot be legally shipped, the company saw a nearly 1000% percent increase in orders of so-called morning after pills, also known as emergency contraception.

The company fills about tens of thousands of orders monthly for reproductive products including birth control pills and abortion pills, CEO Monica Cepak told the Associated Press.

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Right now women typically take a two-step regimen of mifepristone and misoprostol to complete a medication abortion. Cepak said the company will keep a close eye on mifepristone under a Trump administration and is prepared to shift to a misoprostol-only regimen should restriction to mifepristone be implemented.

But Trump could be a wild card on the issue, said Mary Ziegler, a law professor at the University of California, Davis who is an expert on reproductive health issues. In the final months of the campaign, he backed away from a more rigid stance on abortion  even saying he would not sign a national abortion ban if it came across his desk.

Although he has enjoyed firm backing from anti-abortion groups, he is willing to break with allies when he wants.

I dont think we have a clear sense from him about what he would do, Ziegler said.

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___

Associated Press writer Lindsay Whitehurst contributed to this report.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV.
The NYPD wasnt playing around with a group of anti-Israel protesters who brought their children Saturday to demonstrate outside Sen. Chuck Schumers Brooklyn home.

About 60 people gathered for what was billed as a rage playdate outside Schumers Prospect Park West building, where they had coloring pages about Zionist bullies and plead for President-elect Donald Trump to defund the Jewish state.

Families gathered Saturday near Sen. Schumers Brooklyn residence for a rage playdate, coloring and writing letters for him in support of Palestine. Kevin C Downs for NY Post

Attendees gathered on the other side of barricades set up to block off Schumers residence. Kevin C Downs for NY Post

But the NYPD quickly moved the protesters away and blocked off the street because the agitators had not gotten a permit.

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Parents clashed with officers, calling them dictators and yelling KKK NYPD.

I will sue the st out of you, one organizer told an officer.

Others chanted, Schumer, Schumer you will see, Palestine will be free and held signs that read, Israel kills Palestinian children.

Chuck Schumer enables genocide, one an organizer claimed.

A crowd of about 40 adults and 20 kids gathered at the event Saturday. Kevin C Downs for NY Post

Schumers office did not immediately respond to an inquiry from The Post.

A childrens activity book featuring a character created by the Palestinian cartoonist Naji al-Ali was handed out on Saturday amid speeches from organizers who refused to identify themselves.

Children like me keep having their homes taken by the Zionist bullies, it quotes the character, Handala, as saying.

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The workbook was created by the Palestinian Feminist Collective, one of the radical organizations highlighted in a recent report by the Network Contagion Research Institute and the advocacy group New York City Public School Alliance.

The report outlined the PFCs pushing of resources allegedly linked to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a US-designated terrorist organization.

Chants of Schumer, Schumer you will see, Palestine will be free rang out and signs read, Israel kills Palestinian children. Kevin C Downs for NY Post

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Who we is

The United States has been an aspirational democracy since our founding. We the people didnt include women, the enslaved or Native Americans. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness was defined by and granted to white men. Over decades, we the people fought for the fulfillment of the promise of America for all Americans.

We made things better within the system, despite roadblocks that dilute the will of the people. Its been a tedious march, but determined leaders have made progress.

We have never before elected as president an immoral narcissist who is guided and supported by billionaires and who befriends and admires autocrats. He has duped people into believing he is their champion.

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Its unsettling at best, terrifying at worst. Good people in Congress  hopefully from both parties  are more important than ever. Will they stand up for us?

- Beth Llewellyn McLaughlin, Fort Worth

For us all

So, weve voted, and now we all have work to do to manage these new hires and rehires in January, monitoring the federal, state and local levels to see if these employees meet our expectations. Contacting these folks with feedback is important. Elected officials must listen and act on what the citizens want or explain why they couldnt or didnt.

Change comes with opportunity. Good government requires work, and every citizen can participate in it.

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- Marilyn Kepner, Fort Worth

Listening needed

I appreciate Mark Davis optimism, dismissing concerns about democracy, but media freedom or policy unpredictability might overlook genuine anxieties many feel about preserving democratic norms. (Nov. 8, 9A, Some things Democrats might like in Trumps second term) These fears are rooted in experiences, not just media portrayals, and acknowledging them thoughtfully can lead to healthier dialogue.

Davis mentioned that some of Trumps policies, especially on abortion and media, are misunderstood. Misinformation is a problem, but trust in leadership goes beyond policy details  its also about how these issues are communicated. Bridging divides requires recognizing these nuanced concerns.

Progress on shared goals such as a strong economy and stable governance will come not by downplaying differences but by engaging in honest discussions. By recognizing shared values and legitimate concerns, we can work toward a more constructive conversation.

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- Jeff Cook, Tyler

Who really votes?

While at a local voting location, I observed as a person who was obviously the parent or caretaker of an impaired adult cast that persons ballot. The voter was clearly not voting; the parent or caretaker made the selections with no audible input from the voter.

Is being cognizant of ones vote a requirement to vote? I felt sad for the impaired person but had to wonder about the integrity of the parent or caretaker. How often has such happened elsewhere? And are mail-in ballot addressees actually the ones doing the voting?

- Mark Swanson, Mansfield

Jolie and Sonny

Once again, Fort Worths blue-roofed gem, Cook Childrens Health Care System, is ahead of the curve. Reading a recent article on music as medicine, I immediately thought of our Cook Childrens Pied Pipers of musical healing, Jolie and Sonny Burgess. They are country stars in their own right  Sonny is in the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame.

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Luckily for us, Sonny and Jolie have been dedicated to improving the lives and well-being of children and families at the hospital for almost 25 years. They have sung to patients, taught the ukulele and worked with children to write and record songs. More important, they have brought comfort, hope and happiness to thousands of families facing challenging times.

You dont have to look to Harvard for innovative care. We have it right here under the blue peaks.

- Eric H. Hubli, Surgeon-in-chief, Cook Childrens Health Care System, Fort Worth
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Huber Heights police were called out to a shots fired complaint on Saturday.

Officers with the Huber Heights Police Department were dispatched to the area of Mount Charles Drive around 10:30 p.m. on Nov. 9. Initial reports said an individual was shooting a firearm.

Man arrested in Dayton after suspicious vehicle call

Upon arrival, police discovered that two men had gotten into an argument which led to a physical fight over a firearm. Shots were fired during the altercation.

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One man was taken into custody and the other was transported to a local hospital for unrelated non-life-threatening injuries.

The firearm was recovered from the scene, and detectives are currently investigating.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.

Laws help to keep society running smoothly. They help to keep things in order.

So, when we talk about law and order , we are talking about how crime should be kept under control and how society should run.

The term law and order includes how police enforce laws and how the judicial system deals with criminals.

Law and order also describes a situation where most people respect and obey laws. They want to feel safe and to have a sense of public order.

Sometimes people use the term to describe a political candidate. For example:

If a city has problems with crime, candidates for public office might run a law and order campaign. They promise to put policies in place that reduce crime.

Now, when we talk about catching criminals, we can use another expression: the long arm of the law. This describes the ability of police to find and catch people who commit crimes. It further describes the power of law enforcement and the legal system to punish criminals and carry out justice.

So, the long arm of the law is the far-reaching power of police and the legal system. For example:

Criminals who are on the run are unlikely to escape the long arm of the law forever. If they make one mistake, they might get caught.

Now, lets talk about non-criminals. Sometimes people might do things that they do not know are illegal. For example,

A prank or practical joke played on a friend might seem harmless. But in the eyes of the law, it might actually be illegal.

When we say in the eyes of the law , we mean what a law actually says and how people who enforce the law understand it.

That leads us to another expression: ignorance of the law is no excuse . If we are ignorant of something, we dont know about it. However, simply not knowing if an action is illegal doesnt matter in the eyes of the law.

The long arm of the law will still reach out and uphold the law. Then we might find ourselves on the wrong side of the law . And thats a bad place to be. Being on the wrong side of the law means we have broken a law, or worse, laws.

So, if we want to be upstanding, law-abiding citizens and avoid the long arm of the law, we should stay on the right side of the law!

And thats the end of this Words and Their Stories.

Until next time, Im Anna Matteo.

Anna Matteo wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English.

____________________________________________

Words in This Story

prank n. a trick or joke that is played on a person

practical joke n. a trick or joke meant to cause the subject embarrassment or public discomfort

ignorance n. lack of knowledge, education, or awareness

uphold v. to give support to

upstanding adj. someone who is honest and respectable and is able to stand upright without shame or embarrassment

abide v. to accept or live by a belief, rule or principle

Do you have a similar expression in your language? Let us know in the comments. Our comment policy is here. Or send us an email at LearningEnglish@voanews.com.
Proposition 314, the legislatively referred ballot measure that would criminalize unauthorized border crossings and allow Arizona and local law enforcement to arrest and deport migrants, easily passed as ongoing vote tallies continued to pad a sizeable Yes lead.

But arrests and prosecutions under the new state crimes established by the ballot measure are unlikely to begin anytime soon.

Even after election results become official, language in Proposition 314 bars its immediate implementation as U.S. federal courts determine whether states can enforce immigration laws. That question could end up before the Supreme Court.

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Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen told The Arizona Republic that Republican Donald Trumps reelection lessened the immediate need for state laws such as the ones Arizona voters overwhelmingly backed under Proposition 314.

"Now with the new president, it's kind of irrelevant because we now have the federal government that's going to enforce the law, Petersen said. As long as the federal government is enforcing the law, we don't need state government to be spending resources on this.

Although election results in Arizona are not yet final, voters appeared set to approve Proposition 314, also known as the Secure the Border Act, by a two-to-one margin.

In addition to criminalizing crossings and allowing local police to arrest migrants, the ballot measure also requires the verification of immigration status to access public benefits and stiffens penalties for smuggling fentanyl that results in another persons death.

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The immigration enforcement provisions within Proposition 314 are based off Texas Senate Bill 4, and the two share similar language. But the latter is blocked from taking effect as the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans determines whether the law violates the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution.

The U.S. Department of Justice sued Texas in January, claiming the federal government has sole jurisdiction for enforcing immigration laws. But under a Trump administration, the DOJ could amend or drop its legal challenge, paving the way for laws like Proposition 314 to take effect.

Petersen said they added language that allows Proposition 314 to take effect only if federal courts clear Texas Senate Bill 4 to ensure that its constitutional. But the Senate president added that lawmakers would have had to wait two more years before they had another chance to get a measure on the ballot, so this was their window of opportunity.

"Now we have this tool in case we ever needed, if the federal government ever fails to follow the law, he said. Now we have something to fall back on and where we can protect our citizens.

Arizona voters shift right on immigration, border

The wide margin with which Proposition 314 passed indicates a rightward shift on immigration among Arizona voters. It mirrors nationwide attitudes that culminated with the reelection of Trump, who made immigration and the border a central campaign issue.

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The yes vote maintained healthy leads in almost all of Arizonas 15 counties, according to unofficial results from the Secretary of State.

But others credit misleading and misguided ballot language plus the lengthy number of races and propositions on the ballot for contributing to the ballot question's approval.

Opinion: Republicans strengthen their grasp on Arizona. What that means for you

Reyna Montoya, the founder and CEO of Aliento, a group that assists undocumented and mixed-status families in Arizona, said both of those things made it harder to fight the measure. Aliento called or knocked on the doors of over 50,000 voters during the campaign cycle hoping to sway them to vote against Proposition 314.

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The most emphasized part in the description was about border security and fentanyl, kind of making a correlation that undocumented immigrants are the ones to blame for the fentanyl crisis which is disheartening, Montoya said.

Most fentanyl coming into the United States is smuggled by U.S. citizens crossing through ports of entry in Arizona, federal data shows.

Critics vow to defend immigrant communities

Opponents of Proposition 314 argued that allowing state and local law enforcement to arrest and deport migrants in Arizona will deepen mistrust between immigrants and police, create the potential for racial profiling, and cost taxpayers millions to detain, jail and remove migrants.

"Proposition 314 will not fix the flaws in our immigration system, nor secure the border in the way its proponents have represented," said Noah Schramm, the border policy strategist for the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona. The group said it was considering all legal options.

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The Phoenix-based community group Living United for Change in Arizona, or LUCHA, knocked on more than 612,000 doors of Latino voters this election cycle. Executive director Alejandra Gomez called the approval of Proposition 314 was a dark moment moment for Arizona.

If implemented, the ballot measure would "bring racial profiling, family separations, and a climate of fear targeting Arizonas Latino and immigrant families," Gomez said. "Our communities, and our economy, will suffer. Immigrant-owned small businesses, a cornerstone of Arizonas economy, could be crushed."

Greisa Martinez Rosas, the executive director for United We Dream, an advocacy group for younger undocumented immigrants and Deferred Action recipients, said the ballot measure is meant to make immigrants feel unsafe in the communities they grew up and live in.

"It is intended to make our neighborhoods zones of harassment and intimidation, where our communities and our neighbors could be stopped, questioned, and deported," she said. "No matter what the circumstances are, our people refuse to be driven into the shadows."

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Montoya said that regardless of the results and whether Proposition 314 takes effect, Aliento will continue their work advocating for undocumented and mixed-status families.

We mightve lost a battle, she said. But well continue to push forward until we build a state that continues to honor the contributions of immigrants.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Border proposition easily passes, but will not take effect immediately
FORT JACKSON, S.C. (AP)  Index cards taped to a large board on the wall at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, reveal the sometimes blunt and gritty reasons that new recruits took a chance at a last-ditch program to get into the Army.

Eviction notices motivate me, one said. Others talked about getting free college, a good job and a way to better themselves.

Known as the Why Wall, the board is meant as an inspiration for the recruits who could not meet the Army's physical and academic test standards, so they went into the Future Soldier Prep Course. It provides weeks of instruction to help them bring up their scores.

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Started as a trial program two years ago to help boost dismal recruiting numbers, the prep course is fueling the Armys enlistment comeback. Recruiting has suffered for all the military branches in recent years coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, amid low unemployment and stiff competition from private companies able to pay more and provide similar or better benefits.

By the end of this budget year on Sept. 30, the Army had made its recruiting goal of 55,000, and service leaders said more than 13,000 of those recruits  or 24%  came into active duty through the prep course.

Army leaders increased the goal to 61,000 for this year and are relying on the prep course to provide a significant chunk again.

During a recent visit to Fort Jackson, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth spoke with recruits and program leaders to see how the course is going and what changes may need to be made. She said the successful program, which more than 31,000 trainees have gone through since it started, deserves to be made permanent.

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Wormuth said the Army may make adjustments based on a long-term study on the recruits coming out of the course, including looking at how well they did in their first enlistment and whether there were behavioral or disciplinary problems.

"We really want to see what kind of soldier kind of comes out at the back end of that first term, how do they do in terms of discipline," Wormuth said.

Drill sergeants have expressed concerns that they are seeing more discipline issues, disrespect and complaints from trainees in the academic course. And they say trainees whose first language is not English have a more difficult time understanding orders and dealing with computers.

While they see fewer discipline issues from recruits in the fitness section, they do see more injuries, including ankle, knee and hip problems. Those trainees, they say, may need to be brought along even more slowly, to increase their strength and conditioning, rather than moving them to basic training the minute they hit the minimum level of requirements.

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Commanders told Wormuth that the fitness program aims to give trainees a healthy foundation in eating and working out. Instructors said they do not want to break the recruits before they get to basic training, so they do a lot of yoga, stretching and other exercises to help avoid injuries.

In the classrooms, they are learning basic math, English and other academic skills. The bulk of recruits going through the program are in the academic course.

So far, Wormuth said, the data does not reflect some of the concerns expressed by drill sergeants and commanders. Instead, she and other Army leaders said that on average, the graduation rate from basic training is a bit higher  about 94%  for those who went through the program versus those who did not, which is about 92%.

But so far, they are taking inspiration from the thoughts scrawled on the Why Wall."

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Company commanders came up with the idea last year, to let recruits lay out their goals in their first few days so they can go back every week to get motivated or see their progress.

A bright yellow sign atop the board tells recruits: Your WHY will keep you going even when you want to QUIT the most. The answer for many was they had something to prove  to themselves and others.

I joined the Army because my family thought I couldnt accomplish anything in life. So I had to prove them wrong, one said. Another wrote: I wanna show my family Im worth something.

Others said they wanted to be a better man, gain my independence and prove to myself that I can accomplish something and I'm not a quitter.

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One recruit was blunt: "To prove to her Im not gonna turn into who she said Id become.

Recruits lined up near the wall told Wormuth that the physical fitness program is working for them.

Couper Godleski, from Pennsylvania, said that in 10 weeks he had lost 20 pounds.

Britney Vaughn, from Louisiana, said she had lost 30 pounds in six weeks. And while she said she is missing her 3-year-old daughter, I feel like everything will be worth it.

On the academic side, recruits told Wormuth that even as they struggle with math or English comprehension, they are getting help from instructors while learning the structure and discipline of the Army. A key goal, said one female recruit, is to be a role model to my nieces and nephews and get money for college so she doesn't have to be in debt.

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For Wormuth, the visit confirmed Army leaders' intention to keep the program going.

Recruiting challenges are not going to end, she said.

I think were going to probably continue to see pretty low unemployment. Were still going to see 60% go to college. Its a more competitive labor market, she said. So were going to have to keep fighting hard for our new recruits.
Phoenix police were involved in a shooting on Saturday in central Phoenix.

Police reported that an arrest was made in connection with the incident near 12th Street and Osborn Road.

"One suspect is in custody. No one is outstanding," read a police statement.

Police did not specify whether the shooting was fatal or if the person shot was an officer, a suspect, or a bystander, nor did they disclose how many individuals were injured.

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The incident occurred in a residential area near the Phoenix Country Club, just three to four blocks from where Phoenix police fatally shot a man the morning of Nov. 5, following a call from a woman reporting that he was attempting to jump over her fence.

That was the second fatal Phoenix police shooting within 14 hours as police shot and killed a break-in suspect following a brief chase in south Phoenix the night before.

Saturday's incident marks at least the third police-involved shooting this week. According to Phoenix police spokesperson Sgt. Mayra Reeson, the shootings earlier in the week were the department's 15th and 16th of 2024.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arrest made in police shooting near Phoenix Country Club
Embattled Austin real estate developer Nate Paul was ordered Friday to report to the Travis County Jail later this week to serve a 10-day criminal contempt-of-court sentence.

State District Judge Jan Soifer instructed Paul to begin serving the sentence Nov. 15 related to the contempt finding she first handed him last year, saying he "continuously refused" to comply with a court order in a civil case in which he is accused of defrauding a nonprofit.

The sentence had been delayed as Paul sought an appeal of Soifer's order. U.S. District Judge David Allan Ezra on Thursday cleared the way for Soifer to order Paul to jail.

Nate Paul arrives at the U.S. Courthouse in downtown Austin for an Oct. 30 hearing.

The civil case is separate from federal charges against Paul, who was once featured in Forbes magazine for building a real estate investment firm that had amassed a $1 billion portfolio in 17 states of office buildings, retail centers, apartments and student housing. Some of his big initiatives include founding Great Value Storage, a large player in self-storage facilities, and buying the KPMG Tower in downtown Dallas.

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More: Why Nate Paul was back in court, and what his lawyers are saying about evidence in the case

Paul's trial in connection with an eight-count indictment on federal financial crimes handed up in June 2023 and a follow-up four-count indictment announced in November is scheduled to begin early next year.

In a court hearing late last month, a federal investigator testified that one of Paul's former employees had told him that he witnessed Paul alter bank documents in an effort to obtain a real estate loan.

The disclosure came during a hearing in which Paul's attorneys argued that the federal investigatory process used to build the case against the developer was flawed and should be inadmissible at trial.

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Paul was also part of the backstory to last year's impeachment of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, for whom the state House overwhelmingly approved 20 charges in which they accused the state's top attorney of improperly accepting gifts and other favors from the developer. Paxton was later acquitted of the allegations by the Texas Senate in a vote that was mostly along party lines.

This story has been updated to add video.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin real estate developer Nate Paul ordered to jail. Here's why.
Two major countries approach to climate change has turned upside down Down Under.

Australia and New Zealand, whose governments both changed hands in their most recent national elections, have undergone a role reversal of sorts when it comes to climate change, with consequences for their own populations as well as the South Pacific region, where they are the dominant players.

According to the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific is the most disaster-prone region in the world, with nearly 80% of the worlds climate-induced displacement taking place there.

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Rising sea levels, ocean warming and acidification, unpredictable rainfall patterns and prolonged droughts have an especially big impact on tiny Pacific Island nations such as Palau, Tuvalu and Kiribati, threatening their socioeconomic viability, tourism industries and very existence as the ocean swallows more of their land.

Australia, long known as a climate laggard, has taken a more aggressive stance under the Labor government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

New Zealand, meanwhile, has been accused of pulling back on its climate goals under the Conservative government of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who succeeded former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern last year.

Luxon told Radio New Zealands Morning Report last month he rejects such criticism and that his government is deeply committed to net carbon zero 2050 and prioritizing the development of renewable energy. His office did not respond to a request for comment.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during a visit to Samoas tsunami-affected Lalomanu beach in August.

Though the country of 5 million is a relatively small greenhouse gas emitter on a global basis, it has one of the highest per capita emissions rates among the 38 major countries that make up the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

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Were not the poster country that we used to be, said Ralph Sims, a professor of sustainable energy at Massey University in New Zealand.

Critics argue that both countries are falling short as they head to this years United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP29, which starts Monday in Azerbaijan.

I dont think they have a great image for what theyre doing in the region, Sarah Clement, an associate professor in environmental policy at the Australian National University, said of Australia.

Australia: Big promises from a fossil fuel giant

When Albanese came to power in 2022, he vowed to lead the country out of the climate naughty corner. His foreign minister, Penny Wong, said the new Labor government would stand shoulder to shoulder with our Pacific family in the fight against climate change.

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The government legislated higher emissions reductions targets, introduced a safeguard mechanism that would act as a carbon cap for the countrys biggest emitters and negotiated a vehicle efficiency standard aimed at disincentivizing the use of high-polluting cars.

But critics including the Climate Action Tracker say the Australian government has failed to deliver on its climate promises.

We have seen a positive change in terms of rhetoric and announcements since the 2022 election. Whether that is translated into actual action and outcomes is another story, said Polly Hemming, director of the climate and energy program at the Australia Institute, an independent public policy think tank.

Standing shoulder to shoulder with Pacific Island nations seems not to mean doing anything Pacific Island leaders have asked, Hemming said.

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Albaneses office and the office of his minister for climate change and energy, Chris Bowen, did not respond to requests for comment.

Australia came in for special criticism last month at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in the Pacific Island nation of Samoa. Senior officials from Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Fiji pointed to a report that found Australia, Canada and Britain are responsible for 60% of emissions generated by fossil fuel extraction across the 56 members of the Commonwealth since 1990, despite representing only 6% of the Commonwealths population.

Wong responded that Australia cannot be held responsible for emissions from coal and gas it exports to other countries.

The coal-fired Loy Yang Power Station in Traralgon, Australia, in November 2023.

Critics argue that the Albanese government, like its conservative predecessor, is more wedded to fossil fuel interests than tackling climate change in any substantive way.

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Australia is the worlds third-largest fossil fuel exporter after Russia and the United States. Researchers at Climate Analytics, a global climate science and policy institute based in Berlin, found that Australia is responsible for about 4.5% of global carbon emissions, with 80% of those emissions coming from its fossil fuel exports.

Theyre just not giving the same amount of money or legislative support to renewable energy or green manufacturing as they are to fossil fuels, Hemming said.

According to the Australia Institute, in the 2023-24 budget, the Australian government provided about 11.8 billion Australian dollars ($7.9 billion) in subsidies to fossil fuel producers and major consumers.

Its just a really antiquated way of looking at economic development, Clement said.

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It would take a lot of courage to remove those subsidies, but that right there would be a huge source of income that you could use to invest in renewables.

Although the International Energy Agency says all unabated coal and oil power plants must be phased out by 2040 to limit the effects of global warming, this year the Australian government allowed three coal mines in the state of New South Wales to extend their operations for another three to four decades.

Pacific Island nations have long urged Australia to phase out fossil fuel production. This will be a key sticking point as Australia lobbies to co-host the U.N. climate change conference in 2026 alongside its Pacific neighbors.

A freight train transporting coal through the Australian state of New South Wales in 2020.

New Zealand: Faltering climate leadership

By contrast, New Zealand has long had a global green image.

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But it is now run by its most conservative government in decades, which aims to reverse a ban on offshore oil and gas exploration, double mineral exports by 2035 and establish a fast track for major development projects that bypasses environmental approvals and conservation concerns.

The country no longer offers subsidies for electric vehicles and delayed the introduction of world-first agricultural emissions pricing to the next decade, despite almost half of the countrys emissions coming from agriculture.

In a statement to NBC News, New Zealand Climate Change Minister Simon Watts said the government was focusing on a technology-led approach to managing agricultural emissions and had committed more than $400 million to that effort over the next four years.

Sims said New Zealand will be required to buy billions of offshore credits if its going to reach its Paris Agreement goals of reducing emissions to 30% below 2005 levels by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2050.

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Its going to be very challenging for New Zealand to meet its obligations without being much more stringent on reducing its domestic emissions, Sims said.

Dairy cows grazing on a farm near Oxford, New Zealand, in 2018.

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Watts said the New Zealand government was focusing on a technology-led approach to managing agricultural emissions and had committed more than $400 million to that effort over the next four years. He said the government was committed to meeting its climate change goals and is on track to achieve net zero by 2050.

Nathan Cooper, an associate professor and convenor of international engagement at the University of Waikato, said the government was prioritizing adaptation over mitigation, a strategy that has been criticized as relying too heavily on technology that may never materialize.

Its a big risk, Cooper said.

With its climate leadership perceived to be weakening, New Zealand may get a cooler reception at COP than in previous years, especially from Pacific Island nations, Cooper said.

High on the agenda in Azerbaijan will be a global climate finance goal for after 2025, when the current goal of $100 billion per year expires.

In August, a coalition of Australian and New Zealand NGOs called on the two countries to declare their support for a new goal of $1 trillion a year to help Pacific Island and other lower-income countries mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change.

The power and leadership that Australia could bring to multilateral negotiations would be absolutely extraordinary, Hemming said, especially in conjunction with these small island developing states that Australia likes to call family.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Staff at Australia's parliament made 30 complaints of serious workplace offences such as sexual assault over nine months, the Sydney Morning Herald reported on Sunday, as the legislature struggles to address a wave of scandals.

The Parliamentary Workplace Support Service opened in October 2023 as a confidential service for federal parliament workers. It received 30 reports of serious wrongdoing out of 339 total cases in its initial nine months of operation, October 2023 to June 2024, the newspaper said.

The claims of serious wrongdoing included sexual assault, stalking and intimidation, the newspaper said. It did not say whether any of the cases had been referred to police or were being prosecuted.

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The service was established after a 2021 government report found one in three people working in Australia's parliament, located in the capital Canberra, experienced sexual harassment.

In 2023, an Australian senator said she had been followed, aggressively propositioned and inappropriately touched by another senator.

The service did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside of business hours.

In April, an Australian judge found that a former government adviser raped a colleague in a Parliament House office, dismissing a defamation suit in a case that gripped the nation, which experienced a wave of #MeToo allegations in 2022.

(Reporting by Sam McKeith in Sydney; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
GRAND HAVEN, Mich. (WOOD)  Authorities say one person was pulled from Lake Michigan Sunday afternoon at Grand Haven State Park.

It happened at 1001 S Harbor Dr., according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard told News 8 that the person was found clinging to an upside-down kayak that was a few hundred yards south of the pier.

The person was rescued by the Coast Guard around 2 p.m., according to the Ottawa County Central Dispatch Authority.

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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 WOODTV.com.
PHILIPPI, W.Va. (WBOY)  Veterans Day is just around the corner, but communities across West Virginia have already been celebrating their veterans. Including the old Alderson Broaddus campusnow called Battlers Knobwhere Barbour County veterans were honored on Saturday.

1,011 flags were place on the ground to honor all the veterans who call Barbour County home. Including 90-year-old Korean War Army veteran Earl Reed, who said he did not know how many veterans were in Barbour County until he saw all the waving flags.

(WBOY image)

I think it shows that people still have a respect for veterans, just like they should, said Reed.

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Saturday was filled with festivities including a 5K early in the morning and songs performed by the Belington Elementary School Chorus. The event also saw a special visit from Barbour County native, and veteran himself, West Virginia Secretary of State, Mac Warner.

Its humbling to think what service means not just to the veteran but to the families and the loved ones, and thats again, what all of these 1,011 flags represent, said Warner.

A local girl scouts troop also distributed hand-made letters to veterans, thanking them for their service.

(WBOY image) (WBOY image) Belington Elementary School Chorus (WBOY image). (WBOY image) (WBOY image) (WBOY image)

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CNNs Dana Bash and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) sparred over the 2020 and 2024 presidential elections, and what a second Trump administration plans to do.

Jordan joined CNNs State of the Union on Sunday morning after President-elect Trump won the election and Republicans flipped the Senate and continued to perform well in the House.

Bash asked Jordan why Trump and his allies believe this recent election was free and fair but maintains the 2020 election he lost was rigged and stolen.

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In the run-up to the election, even on election night itself, Donald Trump baselessly accused Democrats of cheating. Soon as the results started to come in and showed them going his way, he stopped, Bash said. I havent seen you or your colleagues claiming any election irregularities, no rampant voting fraud this time. It seems to me that Republicans claim voting fraud and election integrity when you lose and not when you win.

Jordan disagreed, noting that the 2024 election was the greatest political comeback. The Ohio Republican began talking about the Trump administration versus the Biden administration before Bash jumped in to press him on election integrity again.

Jordan then said Democrats have to ask themselves why Vice President Harris received far fewer votes than President Biden.

Bash interjected, asking if he believes the 2024 election was free and fair.

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I do, Jordan responded.

Why was it different from 2020 when he lost? Is that the only difference? Bash questioned.

Jordan argued that in 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic, there were concerns about mail-in voting. He said there wasnt voting fraud this time because Democrats had no vision and no vision to run on.

Turns out, when you  tell people, Oh youre fascist, racist, deplorable garbage, they dont like that, he said.

Bash used the remaining seconds of the show to say for the record that there is no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 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 The Hill.
It is a grey, misty morning in Twyford, Buckinghamshire, and the mood is as downcast as the weather. The villages residents have endured more than a decade of disruption and delays due to the High Speed 2 project. A stretch of the railway is planned to run just north of the village, which has a population of about 550. They are used to tense community meetings and news of spiralling costs. However, last week brought a new low: news that the building of a giant shed nearby to protect rare bats from HS2 trains will cost taxpayers 100 million.

I think weve all gone batty, says Joan Sinclair, 69, who runs the village pub. Spending 100 million on a bat house Its a bats--- bat house.

Its just a waste of money  but anything to do with HS2 is, she mutters from behind the bar. She suggests that, at this point, the bats are getting a better deal than the residents themselves, some of whom will receive compensation from HS2 if the line reduces the value of their homes.

An artists impression of the half-mile-long bat shed - HS2

The creature in question is the Bechsteins bat, one of the UKs rarest bat species, which thrives in a local patch of mature woodland that the HS2 route will bisect.

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Last week, Sir Jon Thompson, who took over as HS2 Ltd chairman last year, revealed that in order to protect the bat colony, the government-owned firm is building a just over half-mile-long bat shed along a stretch of the route in Sheephouse Wood, at the eye-watering cost of 100 million. Thompson, who was initially parachuted into the troubled project after leading HMRC, said the bat mitigation project was just one of 8,276 consents HS2 needed to secure to construct the first phase of the railway between London and Birmingham.

The 33ft-high structure  which looks more like an airport terminal than a bat box from the artists impression  is designed to protect the bats from the 225mph trains. All bats are legally protected in the UK and the structure will allow bats to cross the line without being harmed by passing trains, according to the HS2 website.

The 33ft-high structure will come at an estimated cost of 100 million - Kim Birtwistle

The design is based around a series of arches. Although not technically classed as a tunnel, this structure has been carefully chosen as being the most effective solution to match our design considerations, it continues. The design is durable and requires little maintenance, reducing overall costs and materials. However, according to Thompson himself, the project, previously set to cost 40 million, is his favourite example of why we cant build infrastructure in this country.

Rae Sloan, also from Twyford, has been involved in a local campaign against HS2 from the start. Every meeting it was bats, bats, bats, she says. Theyve been working on it solidly for more than a year now... The first thing they suggested was a couple of bridges, to which my facetious comment was, Are you going to signpost it as well, so they can find where these bridges are?

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However, she concedes, The environmental impact [of HS2] is absolutely horrendous, and my opinion is [that] the whole thing is a waste of money, so we might as well protect what we can.

Villager Rae Sloan thinks the HS2 project is a waste of money - John Lawrence for The Telegraph

Even those in favour of environmental protections strongly criticise the overspending that has dogged the project as a whole, which eventually led to it being dramatically scaled back by the Conservatives. Roger Landells, 79, the chairman of Twyford parish council, has been told that the enormous structure is world beating and the first of its kind. He will be 400 yards from the HS2 line when it is completed. The figure of 100 million is about the aggregate value of all the houses in Twyford, he says.

There are very few people [here] who have a good word to say about HS2, if for no other reason than that it is highly destructive of the land, its stopping a lot of people from using the countryside because footpaths are closed, and everything takes at least 50 per cent longer than they say it is going to.

To an extent, we feel they are making it up as they go along. The plans change considerably. At the moment, its going to be a railway to nowhere, he adds.

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Thompson confessed to an industry conference that there is no evidence the bats are at risk from the trains. The bat is generally pretty available in most of northern Europe, western Europe, he added. But nevertheless, under the Wildlife Act 1981, its deemed to be a protected species in the UK, this bat, even though theres lots of them.

He suggested that Buckinghamshire County Council and Natural England disagreed with HS2 about measures to protect bats living on the planned route of the line, resulting in hundreds of thousands of pounds being spent on lawyers and consultants.

Roger Landells, 79, the chairman of Twyford parish council, will live 400 yards from the HS2 line when it is completed - John Lawrence for The Telegraph

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However, Natural England said these claims were inaccurate. Natural England has not required HS2 Ltd to build the reported structure, or any other structure, nor advised on the design or costs, it said in a statement.

Daniel Whitby is an ecologist who specialises in the research and conservation of bats, and argues that the Bechstein is getting a bad press. It is one of the much rarer bats in Europe and in the UK, he says, and is rightfully in need of protection. However, I cant see how any structure could cost that much, he says. This is a half-mile-long tunnel. So thats, what, 100,000 a yard?

Those who live in its path have just about had enough. Its a lot of money, is the mild assessment from Shirley Whittemore, who lives in a nearby village. Her husband, Jim, puts it less delicately. Its disgusting, he says. Of all the billions of pounds we need elsewhere and not one party has the guts to stand up and cancel it.

The construction of HS2 has caused a litany of issues in the village, according to its residents, and to lavish 100 million on a glorified bat box is, perhaps, the final straw. The Government keeps saying theres a black hole, says Sinclair. [And] the people who live here get nothing. When you look at the state of everything  the roads for a start. The roads around here are atrocious.

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People stopped buying houses in the villages when HS2 was first mentioned, because they didnt know what it was going to be, she continues. The house prices went stagnant, and even now it takes a long time to sell.

The bats may, indeed, have a better deal.

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Bernie Sanders has doubled down on his scathing remarks about the Democratic party having abandoned working-class voters, despite criticism from longtime friend and allyNancy Pelosi.

The veteran Vermont senator reiterated that the US working class is angry but rejected the idea that the issue this election cycle had been with party messaging.

In a statement after Donald Trump sailed to victory over Kamala Harris, Sanders wrote 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.

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Speaking to The New York Times, former House speaker and Democratic powerhouse Nancy Pelosi then slammed his remarks, saying she did not agree or respect them.

Sanders was asked about his comments  and Pelosis reaction to them  on the Sunday politics shows, where he said he absolutely stood by what he had said.

Speaking to MSNBCs Meet The Press about Pelosis remarks, he said: Nancy is a friend of mine, and weve worked together on many issues, but here is the reality, I have to say to Nancy, in the Senate, in the last two years, we have not even brought forth legislation to raise the minimum wage to a living wage, despite the fact that some 20 million people in this country are working for less than $15 an hour.

Bernie Sanders appeared on Meet the Press on Sunday where he doubled down on his remarks (Meet The Press)

Bottom line, if youre an average working person out there, do you really think that the Democratic party is going to the mat and fighting for you? I think the overwhelming answer is no. And that is what its got to change.

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In a separate interview on CNNs State of the Union, Sanders said that President Joe Biden had kept his word to working class people but that, as a whole, the demographic is angry, and they have a reason to be angry.

Sanders highlighted the current economic reality in the US, stating that 60 percent of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck and 25 percent of elderly people are getting by on $15,000 or less per year.

What Donald Trump did is he provided an explanation, he said, also rejecting the claim that messaging and communication with the working class had been the problem for the Democrats.

Sanderss remarks drew heavy criticism from former House speaker Nancy Pelosi (AP)

Its not messaging Its a fundamental understanding of saying, look, the Biden administration has done a lot of good things, period. We should all be proud of that, but it has to be put in the broad context of the reality of the American economy today, he said.

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Sanderss remarks come as the upper echelons of the Democratic party become further embroiled in a blame game following the Harris campaigns crushing defeat.

A gamut of reasons have since been offered for the cause. Some Democrats think swapping Biden for Harris was the mistake. Others have blamed Biden himself, saying he took far too long to drop out.

Progressives, like Sanders, have pointed to the Biden administrations stance on Israel and the Harris campaigns attempts to appeal to moderates and anti-Trump Republicans.
In response to the election loss, Bernie Sanders is blaming Democrats, not Joe Biden.

Democrats didn't get enough support from the working class, Sanders said.

He said Donald Trump did a better job on economic issues.

Sen. Bernie Sanders isn't playing the blame-Joe-Biden game.

In the aftermath of Donald Trump's win in the presidential election, Sanders said the Democrats' loss was the result of losing touch with the working class  a statement that put Democratic leaders on the defensive.

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"The working people of this country are extremely angry. They have a right to be angry," Sanders said on "Meet the Press" on NBC News on Sunday. "You got an economy today doing phenomenally well for the people on top. It is not working for the working class. All right? How do we address those issues?"

Comments like these from Sanders have drawn the ire of Democratic leaders like former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who told The New York Times last week that the election outcome may have been different if Biden had left the race sooner and the party had an open primary. In response to Sanders's criticism, Pelosi told the Times that she didn't "respect him saying that the Democrat Party has abandoned the working-class families."

Sanders said that Democrats have failed to pass legislation to support workers, especially on issues like raising wages and Social Security benefits.

"In the Senate, in the last few years, we have not even brought forth legislation to raise the minimum wage to a living wage, despite the fact that some 20 million people in this country are working for less than $15 an hour," he said. "If you're an average working person out there, do you really think that the Democratic Party is going to the mat, taking on powerful special interests and fighting for you? I think the overwhelming answer is no, and that is what has got to change."

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Sanders also said that Trump responded more strongly to Americans stressed about the economy, even if he gave a "pretty crazy explanation."

"What Trump did in this election is to say, 'I know that you're hurting and the reason is you've got millions of people coming across the border illegally. They're eating your dogs,'" Sanders said. "The Democrats need an explanation, and that explanation is corporate greed and the power of the billionaire class. I know that's uncomfortable for people in the Democratic Party, some people, but that is the issue we have to address."

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Until the end of his presidential term, Joe Biden will advocate for the necessity of supporting Ukraine, amid the arrival of the Donald Trump administration in the US.

Source: Jake Sullivan, the Presidents National Security Advisor, in an interview with CBS News, reported by European Pravda

Details: Sullivan stated that the current US administrations approach in its final days "remains the same as it's been for the last two and a half years, which is to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position on the battlefield, so that it is ultimately in the strongest possible position at the negotiating table".

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Biden's advisor confirmed that the administration, up to the end of its term, intends to use all resources allocated by Congress for military support to Ukraine.

Quote: "And of course, President Biden will have the opportunity over the next 70 days to make the case to the Congress and to the incoming administration that the United States should not walk away from Ukraine, that walking away from Ukraine means more instability in Europe."

Sullivan declined to specify whether a particular legislative proposal on funding is under discussion.

"President Biden will make the case that we do need ongoing resources for Ukraine beyond the end of his term, because the threat to Ukraine will remain no matter what exactly happens on the battlefield or at the negotiating table," Bidens National Security Advisor noted.

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Background: Earlier, media outlets reported that the US plans to send hundreds of interceptor missiles for Patriot and NASAMS air defence systems to Ukraine, expectedly enough to last until the end of the year.

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Bill Maher has urged Democrats to engage in self-reflection following Kamala Harris' loss to Donald Trump in the presidential election.

The comedian claimed it was a misstep for the party not to anticipate a possible second-term win for Trump while confirming that he voted for the outgoing vice president.

Bill Maher had previously predicted that Harris would emerge victorious but later voiced concerns that the results might not be in her favor because support for her among Black male voters had waned.

Bill Maher Tells Democrats To Self Reflect After Kamala Harris' Loss

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During his "Real Time" monologue on HBO Friday night, Bill Maher joined the ranks of celebrities weighing in on the presidential election outcome, which went in favor of Trump and the Republican Party.

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The show host, who stated he voted for Harris, was unapologetic in emphasizing that Democrats needed serious self-reflection to understand where things went wrong.

"My message to the losers: losers look in the mirror," Maher told his audience about Trump's presidential election win, per the New York Post.

"No? Well, maybe you should. Well, that's my feeling. Losers look in the mirror. For months, Democrats have been saying, 'How is this even close?' and they're right, it wasn't."

Maher also mentioned that it was a huge mistake that the Democrats didn't account for the possibility of Trump winning, which might have helped them prepare better to thwart it if they had done so.

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He added, "They could not conceive of a second Trump term, but they should've. When does America ever turn down second?"

The Comedian Said Donald Trump 'Ran The Table' During The Presidential Election

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In his monologue, Maher also pointed out that Trump's victory was comprehensive even across swing states, saying that the incoming president "ran the table."

He also seemed to explain that this victory was due to Trump performing far better in every voting demographic, especially in minority groups like Latinos and Asians, as well as with Black male voters.

This surge in support for the billionaire mogul across these demographics earned him nearly 9 million more votes than he received in 2016, which came as a shock for the Democrats.

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Meanwhile, Maher had earlier mentioned that with the election now decided in favor of the Republicans, it was time to watch how they handle the power they have been given.

"We had an election," Maher remarked. "I did not vote for the winner; we'll see what the winners do now. They won, now they have reality they have to deal with. We'll see what they do."

Bill Maher Voiced His Concerns About Kamala Harris' Poor Support Among Black Men

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Maher had previously voiced concerns that earlier polls weren't showing Harris would secure the full support of Black male voters.

According to the comedian, Harris's black heritage should have guaranteed her full support from that demographic, and it was disappointing that it wasn't the case at the time.

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"This is not a good sign, you know  when you have an African American candidate, you probably shouldn't be having to shore up your support among black men, but that's what's going on," he said during an episode from last month.

Eventually, 78% of Black Men voted for Harris, a figure which was lower than the 80% President Joe Biden had in 2020, per the NBC News National Exit Poll.

Donald Trump Said His Win Was The 'Most Incredible Political Thing'

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Before the election was called in his favor, Trump gave his victory speech from a stage in West Palm Beach, Florida.

"We've achieved the most incredible political thing," the billionaire mogul told the supporters who gathered as part of a campaign watch party, per the New York Times. "This was the greatest political movement of all time."

He also thanked his VP candidate, JD Vance, and billionaire Elon Musk for their support throughout the campaign and called the election a "historic realignment" of American interests.

Trump added, "I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe, and prosperous America that our children deserve. This will truly be the golden age of America."

Kamala Harris Has Conceded The Election

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The vice president has since conceded the election and urged her supporters to accept Trump's victory while encouraging them to continue to "never give up" their ideals.

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Speaking to a crowd at Howard University, her alma mater, Harris said that "the outcome of this election is not what we wanted," however, she emphasized the importance of a peaceful transfer of power.

The vice president declared passionately, "Hear me when I say the light of America's promise will always burn bright. As long as we never give up, and as long as we keep fighting."

Harris also took time to thank her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, as well as her campaign staff, supporters, and the many election officials and poll workers who made the election possible. The audience was visibly emotional, with many wiping away tears.

With a small smile, Harris acknowledged the mood, saying, "I know folks are experiencing a range of emotions right now. I get it. But we must respect the results of this election."
Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic (Getty Images)

The nation is divided. One half of America is in mourning while the other half is sleeping peacefully in victory after electing former President Donald Trump back into office. And although the Black community showed up and out for Vice President Kamala Harris, most other demographics contributed to four more years of Trump.  Phenix S Halley

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Photo: FG Trade (Getty Images)

News of former President Donald Trumps election victory is hitting the Black community hard. The reactions have been a combination of sadness, anger and fear for the future. But its hard to think about the future without thinking about our children  who might be living in a world in which they have fewer rights than their parents and grandparents.  Angela Johnson

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Photo: Dia Dipasupil (Getty Images)

In the wake of Kamala Harris defeat in the 2024 presidential election, countless TV pundits and political analysts are weighing in on what went wrong with the Democrats campaign. Well, rest easy because Stephen A. Smith knows exactly who to blame.  Stephanie Holland

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Photo: Tom Williams (Getty Images)

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The other day I told you in the event of a Trump win, there would be shock, sadness and grief. I only wish I was wrong about that. Not only did we go through those emotions, but there was a collective nausea in the 24 hours after because we realized what well be facing for the next four years.  Madison J. Gray

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Martin Luther King Jr., left; Toni Morrison, and James Baldwin. - Photo: Ernst Haas/Ernst Haas; James Keyser; Anthony Barboza (Getty Images)

As the reality of the 2024 presidential election starts to sink in all over the countryspecifically, the fact that Donald Trump will be returning back to the White Housemany Black people are looking for what to do next. Theyre also looking for something or someone to make sense of this present moment and the times to come.  Shanelle Genai

Read More

Photo: Kevin Banatte/AfroCHuBBZ (JSTOR), @MsPeoples (X)

Black women on social media are reeling after finding theyve been bamboozled by all the white self-proclaimed anti-racist cat ladies who claimed to be giving Vice President Kamala Harris their ballot.  Kalyn Womack

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Photo: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS (Getty Images)

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

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Democrats hoped Vice President Kamala Harris could win the White House with the "blue wall."

But once again, Donald Trump made inroads in three key states and flipped them into the GOP column.

Harris would have secured the presidency if she had won Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

Shortly after Vice President Kamala Harris launched her presidential campaign, one of her first stops was in West Allis, Wisconsin. The Milwaukee suburb made up a small piece of the electoral puzzle in a state where elections are decided by the slimmest of margins.

Harris repeatedly made stops in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania during her campaign. These states were part of the "blue wall," or the set of states that Democratic presidential nominees all won between 1992 and 2012.

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In 2016, Donald Trump breached that wall, winning all three states and blocking former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton from the White House. Joe Biden won all three states in 2020 with Harris as his vice-presidential running mate.

This year, Harris was shut out. Trump won all three, securing the Oval Office once again.

Here's why Harris ultimately faltered in the trio of blue-wall states.

Navigating a difficult path

Harris and her running mate, Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, campaigning in Pennsylvania. ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images

Ultimately, Harris lost Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin by narrow margins.

To secure the presidency, candidates must win at least 270 Electoral College votes, and Harris won 226 to Trump's 312. She came up short by 44 electoral votes, which she could have earned had she won Michigan (15 votes), Pennsylvania (19 votes), and Wisconsin (10 votes).

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Trump defeated Harris in Michigan by 1.4 points (49.7% to 48.3%). According to the latest results, the president-elect won Pennsylvania by 2.1 points (50.6% to 48.5%). And in Wisconsin, Trump defeated Harris by a 0.9-point margin (49.7% to 48.8%).

These weren't blowouts, but the small shift was enough to hand Trump the election.

Also, Harris didn't win any other major swing states this year, which made it mathematically impossible for her to get to 270 electoral votes after the blue wall fell and GOP-leaning states stayed true to form.

Donald Trump was a frequent visitor to Michigan during his 2024 campaign. AP Photo/Alex Brandon

Harris' suburban performance wasn't strong enough

Democrats went into the election hoping to make historical gains with suburban voters. The party believed those voters would continue to reject Trump's political brand, as they did in 2018, 2020, and 2022.

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However, unlike in 2020, when Biden won the suburbs by 2 points (50% to 48%) nationally, Trump this year won suburban voters by 4 points (51% to 47%), exit polling conducted by Edison Research found.

In the blue wall, Harris performed well in many key counties, including Oakland County, just outside Detroit; Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, an affluent county adjacent to Philadelphia; and Dane County, which includes the Wisconsin capital of Madison and its surrounding areas.

But it wasn't enough to offset Trump's rural and exurban strength, as well as his better-than-expected retention of support in critical areas like Waukesha County, Wisconsin, a suburban jurisdiction close to Milwaukee, and Bucks County, Pennsylvania, a crucial swing county near Philadelphia. Harris also had to overcome Trump's increased vote share with minority voters  notably Black men and Latinos  which cut into her margins in many cities.

For example, Harris won Oakland County by 10 points. But Biden won it by 14 points in 2020. In a populous county filled with the sort of college-educated independents and disaffected Republicans that the Harris campaign was targeting, the vice president's margins had to be higher to counter Trump's gains in places such as Saginaw County, Michigan  a politically competitive jurisdiction that he won this year after losing it to Biden four years ago.

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Harris was also hurt by anger over Biden's handling of the conflict in Gaza. Many Arab American voters in Dearborn  a city just outside Detroit  flipped to Trump.

Harris spent considerable time campaigning throughout the "blue wall" states, but her 107-day candidacy was a sprint. EVELYN HOCKSTEIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The union vote wasn't united behind Harris

After Biden stepped aside as the Democratic presidential nominee in late July, Harris was tasked with running a 107-day campaign. This involved broadening her profile and forging relationships with leaders accustomed to the president.

While Harris was enthusiastically backed by myriad public-sector union leaders and large shares of their members, she had to contend with nonendorsements from the Teamsters and the International Association of Fire Fighters. Within the latter set of unions, many rank-and-file members backed Trump, despite Biden's strength with many of these members just four years ago.

Organized labor is crucial for Democrats in the blue wall, and Harris' support wasn't deep enough to eclipse Trump's inroads.

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In Wisconsin, Trump won 51% of union households, compared with Harris' 49%, Edison Research found.

Harris won union households in both Michigan (58% to 40%) and Pennsylvania (54% to 45%), the research firm found, but it wasn't enough to win those states.

She sought to craft her economic message around the needs of working- and middle-class Americans  which included union workers  but Trump had an advantage on the issue that lasted through Election Day.

CNN's exit polling found that the economy was the most important issue for 32% of voters and that those voters broke for Trump by an overwhelming margin of 80% to 19%.

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The opaque plumes of noxious smoke billowing out of a Georgia chemical plant are long gone. But the relentless effects of the BioLab fire in Conyers are still visible, residents say  from exacerbated rashes to mounting bills to nagging symptoms and piles of prescriptions.

My vision still aint like it should be, said Kisha Reid, a nurse who said shes visited at least three doctors since the blaze propelled chlorine smoke for miles. I dont know if the chemicals had burnt it so bad.

CNN spoke with several Conyers residents over the past week who said they still have blurry vision, shortness of breath, throat irritation or chronic headaches since the September 29 chemical plant fire. But they say their doctors havent been able to prove whether their ailments are directly linked to the BioLab inferno.

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Reids husband, Akeno, said he still suffers shortness of breath and chronic headaches that wont go away with medication.

When a headache comes on, you cant function because its just too intense, he said.

Conyers residents Kisha and Akeno Reid say they have suffered ongoing symptoms since the BioLab fire more than a month ago. Kisha Reid has been prescribed about a half dozen medications. - Holly Yan/CNN

The personal trainer said he also had to drain savings and run up his credit cards due to the BioLab catastrophe. I have dozens of clients that I train. Obviously, they didnt want to actually come outside.

His two other businesses  running a transport company and managing a local Airbnb  came to a halt when a chemical haze filled the air for days. Airbnb reservations got canceled. Two of his personal training clients left him permanently.

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The BioLab disaster has cost the Reids at least $20,000 in lost income, hotel stays during their evacuation, medical bills and cleaning equipment to get smoky residue off their home, Mr. Reid said.

A BioLab spokesperson said the company has supported residents by helping with claims, reimbursement requests and debris removal from private properties. It has also fielded tens of thousands of calls to our 24/7 call center, opened an in-person assistance center and appointed a liaison to listen to the communitys needs.

But the Reids and other residents say no amount of money or support can compensate for all the harm caused  and the constant trepidation of possible long-term consequences.

Thats our biggest fear, Mr. Reid said.

A veteran of BioLab fires says she has symptoms again

This is the second major fire at BioLab to upend Brandy Conners life.

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Twenty years ago, Conner had to evacuate from her workplace after a noxious plume from BioLab filled the sky. She went home  only to discover her house was in the path of the billowing smoke.

I went from going right beside the toxic fire to the direct path of the toxic cloud that was being emitted into our county, she recalled. Everybody in the county was affected.

Darryl Brown, 32, and his 5-month-old daughter Alicia evacuated from the Richfield Lodge in Conyers after a massive fire at the BioLab facility on May 25, 2004. - Curtis Compton/AP

The 2004 fire prompted mass evacuations due to the release of over 12.5 million pounds of chemicals, Rockdale County officials said in a recent lawsuit after BioLabs latest fire.

Conner recalled that 2004 smoke plume was visible for one to two days and said she suffered nausea for about a week.

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But she believes this years disaster was a far greater catastrophe.

The pre-dawn fire started September 29 at a BioLab warehouse storing raw materials.

BioLab produces pool and spa water sanitization products. The warehouse that caught fire contained trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA)  a chemical used to make chlorinated tablets to control bacteria and algae  and dichloroisocyanuric acid (DCCA), which is used to make swimming pool shock  a treatment used to help break down contaminants.

Its not clear what sparked the initial fire, which remains under investigation by the US Chemical Safety Board. But the blaze turned into a raging inferno after it activated a sprinkler system that malfunctioned and doused water-reactive trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) inside the building, Rockdale County said in its lawsuit.

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When TCCA touches a small amount of water and doesnt dissolve, it can experience a chemical reaction, generating heat and causing the decomposition of the chemical, which in turn produces toxic chlorine gas and can produce explosive nitrogen trichloride, a 2023 report by the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board said.

The federal report came after a 2020 incident at another BioLab facility in Westlake, Louisiana. After the buildings at the Bio-Lab facility were damaged by Hurricane Laura winds, rainwater contacted the TCCA stored inside, initiating a chemical reaction and subsequent decomposition of the TCCA, the report said.

The heat produced from the reaction and decomposition initiated a fire, and the decomposition released a large plume of hazardous gases (sic), including toxic chlorine, into the air.

Four years after that, Conner found herself caught in the haze of another BioLab fire in Conyers.

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I work from home, which is again  in the direct path of that toxic cloud, she said.

Even after the blaze was snuffed out, a chemical haze shrouded neighborhoods more than a dozen miles away.

For days, shifting winds swept the chemical haze back and forth in multiple cities, including parts of Atlanta  about 30 miles away. Rockdale County issued a shelter-in-place advisory for 90,000 residents, and about 17,000 residents had to evacuate.

The health effects of chlorine exposure depend on the duration of exposure and exposure concentration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in an email to CNN.

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Exposure to low levels of chlorine can result in nose, throat, and eye irritation. At higher levels, breathing chlorine gas may result in changes in breathing rate and coughing, and damage to the lungs, the CDCs Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry said.

The Environmental Protection Agency set up air quality monitors the day of the fire and tested the air for almost three weeks, EPA On-Scene Coordinator Bryan Vasser said.

We had between eight and 10 fixed location air monitors that were set up from between about a quarter mile of the site out to about a mile of the site, focusing on residential areas, Vasser said.

Once there had been three or four days of essentially only low-level detections  and after officials believed the plant would no longer emit uncontrolled releases into the air  then the county made the decision to lift the shelter-in-place and the evacuations, based on the data that the EPA provided, Vasser said.

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But the air quality monitors were set up outdoors  not inside any homes.

The EPA did not do any indoor air monitoring. The advisement of the health officials was that chlorine is typically non-persistent, meaning it tends to dissipate easily, Vasser said.

If people are concerned about it, theyre advised  to open doors and windows now that the outdoor air has normalized, he said. Running your air conditioner is (also) an effective way to have air exchanges inside of your house.

But Conner wonders if toxic chemicals may have collected in her home when she followed the countys shelter-in-place advisory, closed all the windows and turned off the air conditioning. We all know that our houses arent airlocked. Air gets in. So thats a big source of anxiety, she said.

Three days after the BioLab fire, a chemical haze lingered in Conyers, Georgia, residents say. - Kisha Reid

Conner believes intense chlorine exposure triggered her now-daily headaches  which can be pounding and resistant to medication, she said.

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To this day, I wake up with a headache, and I go to bed with a headache, she said last week. I have had a recent MRI and an eye exam. And there is nothing going on that the doctors are attributing to the daily headaches.

It may be difficult to prove whether the chlorine exposure might have caused long-term damage to Conners body and resulted in chronic headaches even after the smoke has disappeared.

There are no medical tests to determine whether you have been exposed specifically to chlorine, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry said.

Chlorine is transformed in the body into chloride ions, which are normal components of the body. An enormous amount of chlorine has to be inhaled or ingested in order to detect a significant increase in chloride ions in the blood.

Many symptoms and no answers

Kisha Reid laid out about a half dozen prescription bottles, creams and an inhaler for various symptoms since the fire.

Kisha Reid said she was prescribed medications to help with her burning eyes, increased psoriasis and shortness of breath after the chemical fire. - Holly Yan/CNN

These are things for my skin  it flared up my psoriasis, she said while holding two handfuls of medications.

These are the things I went to the eye doctor to get. My eyes wouldnt stop burning. I got this (inhaler) from the urgent care for the breathing, the shortness of breath.  Hydroxyzine, for the itching and burning. They gave me that, too, because it affected my skin so bad.

She said the burning sensation in her eyes was unbearable and ended after three weeks. But her vision is still blurry.

I dont know what was in the chemicals, but it affected my vision and my eyes so bad, she said.

Ms. Reid has preexisting psoriasis, an autoimmune disease that can cause itchy, scaly rashes. She and her husband said her psoriasis was almost completely controlled until the BioLab smoke drifted toward their house.

What used to be a minor rash over some parts of her body before the fire turned into a head-to-toe rash after the BioLab explosion, she said.

Kisha Reid said her preexisting psoriasis typically resembled mild, sporadic rashes, like those seen on her lower left calf in this photo. But since the BioLab fire, she said her psoriasis has flared significantly, covering her upper legs. - Holly Yan/CNN

My skin was just peeling  far more severely than before, Ms. Reid said. She said she conceals the rash on her face with makeup.

A dermatologist recommended she stand in front of a full body-length UVB lamp to help minimize the rashes. But Ms. Reid worries about whether such exposure to UV rays will cause long-term damage to her skin.

Her husband said hes also visited a doctor to get relief for his symptoms, but to no avail.

Im still having the headaches, Mr. Reid said last week. Shortness of breath and headaches (are) long-term effects. Right now, theyre telling me that they want to monitor the situation and see how it progresses.

BioLab did not directly address the residents complaints of lasting ailments, other than to advise anyone with ongoing symptoms to consult a healthcare professional.

Mr. Reid said he knows BioLab is offering reimbursement for residents directly impacted by the fire. But at this point, I dont know how you repay stress and anxiety.

Despite living in one of Conyers more affluent neighborhoods, the Reids say theyre considering moving.

I dont want to live next to a chemical plant, Mr. Reid said. Thats not the type of chance that I want to take.

Weeks of missed income and school

Some of the disasters impacts are less tangible and affected some of the youngest residents.

A chemical haze envelops part of Conyers, Georgia, the day after a BioLab plant fire spewed chlorine and smoke into the air. - Peter Zay/Anadolu/Getty Images/File

About 15,000 students from Rockdale County Public Schools couldnt go to school for three weeks and had to learn remotely.

In the interest of prioritizing the safety and well-being of our students and staff, it was prudent to activate our independent and virtual learning protocol while we continuously monitored the environmental impact of the BioLab incident, Superintendent Terry Oatts said in a statement last month.

The announcement came the same day Rockdale County lifted its nightly shelter-in-place advisory, which lasted for weeks.

Students returned to school October 21. But by then, parents like Ms. Reids daughter had already lost weeks of income because she had to stay home while her child was out of school.

She had to miss time from work  unpaid, Ms. Reid said. She didnt have a choice.

The grandmother also worries about how much in-person learning her granddaughter missed. She cant get that time back in school, Ms. Reid said.

County tries to oust BioLab from Conyers

Almost one month after the disaster, Rockdale County sued BioLab and its parent company, KIK Consumer Products, seeking a court order to shut down the plant to prevent any further emissions of harmful chemicals into the environment.

The complaint, filed October 28, says BioLab and KIK failed to properly secure and manage hazardous materials stored on-site, and to properly install and maintain fire suppression systems adequate to quickly and effectively extinguish fires that are volatile and reactive.

Rockdale County is also seeking damages such as expenses associated with emergency response efforts, evacuation procedures, and public health measures necessitated by the explosion at the Bio-Lab plant, the lawsuit states.

The damages also encompass economic losses due to business interruptions, decreased property values, and the long-term impact on community health and safety, which collectively represent a substantial financial burden on the city. These damages are directly caused by Defendants pollution.

When asked whether BioLab plans to shut down its facility in Conyers, the companys spokesperson declined to comment. But he said employees are back at work.

BioLabs Distribution Center at Conyers was cleared by relevant authorities and regulators to reopen on November 4 and resume fulfilling customer orders for finished products, the company said in a written statement Saturday.

We are grateful that our Conyers team members have returned to work at the Distribution Center and appreciate their continued support and dedication. At this time, the Conyers plant has not resumed manufacturing operations, and any resumption of operations will only be undertaken with approval from authorities and regulators.

The most asinine part of this whole situation

Just like the county officials, Conner and the Reids also want BioLab out of Rockdale County.

Accidents are going to happen. But an accident like this, in my opinion, was 100% preventable in the fact that you have a water fire sprinkler system over chemicals that react badly to water, Conner said.

Thats the most asinine part of this whole situation  You didnt put foam over something that acts badly in the water?

BioLabs spokesperson did not directly answer repeated questions about why the company had a water sprinkler system over water-reactive materials. But he said finding the root cause of the fire is critical.

We recognize the importance of determining what caused this incident, and are conducting a thorough review, collaborating closely with the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB), as it performs its review, as well as with other state and federal health and safety agencies, the spokesperson said in an email to CNN.

The damage is already done

One month after the disaster, Christine Smith said the only way she can feel relief from her throat irritation is to escape Rockdale County.

Several members of her family  including her dog  felt symptoms shortly after the chemical fire erupted near her home, Smith said.

My eyes were itching and watering. My throat was irritated  its scary, she said.

Shes haunted by the memory of looking out her front door and seeing something out of a movie  thick clouds of black and red smoke.

Conyers resident Kisha Reid shot this photo of multicolored smoke erupting from the BioLab plant. - Kisha Reid

It was just the scariest thing Ive ever seen, Smith said. The smoke turned from black to red to gray.

She rounded up several family members and drove to Texas to stay with relatives for a few days. But before doing so, she let her dog Cairo outside in the backyard one more time.

On the drive to Texas, My dog started throwing up and defecating on himself, Smith said. I (had) let my dog outside in the backyard  and I let him use the bathroom. And of course, hes sniffing all on the ground. So I wasnt even really thinking until after it happened.

When she returned four days after the fire, The smell of bleach was still so heavy, Smith said.

When I got back, my symptoms returned. My throat was still kind of itchy the whole time we were gone, but it seemed like it got worse when I got back here.

Christine Smith said she and her dog, Cairo, were both sickened by chemical smoke from the BioLab fire. Smith has driven to Texas twice to get away from Conyers, but said her throat irritation flared up after returning to Rockdale County. - Holly Yan/CNN

Smith said the stench of chlorine stayed heavy for two weeks. She believes the chlorine also damaged her car, leaving white specks on the exterior and eroding parts of the paint before she drove to Texas.

Weeks later, Smith said she still cant shake the throat irritation. Now, the BioLab fire has forced her to consider selling the beloved house that she helped design in 2006.

If the opportunity to leave arises  and I feel that is the choice for our family  because of this incident, by all means, we would move in a heartbeat, she said.

But right now, because of my situation and finances, I have no choice but to stay in Conyers.

If Rockdale County succeeds in getting the BioLab plant shut down, the outcome still might not be enough to make Smith want to stay.

Even if they take away BioLab, it doesnt take away what happened, she said. The damage is already done.

Like other residents, Smith worries about her property value plummeting and possible long-term hazards to her family.

Right now, I feel safe, she said. But am I safe? I dont know.

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EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU) The Casey campaign released a statement regarding the ongoing vote count for the Pennsylvania Senate Race on Saturday morning.

The AP has called the race in favor of McCormick meaning they do not think there is a plausible chance that Casey can win the race with the remaining votes left to count.

This does not mean the state race is officially over unless the state certifies the results, or the Casey campaign concedes the election.

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The Casey campaign released this statement on Saturday morning:

Each day, counties across the Commonwealth are confirming there are more ballots that need to be counted. We know there are more than 100,000 ballots left to be counted including tens of thousands of provisional ballots in counties favorable to Senator Casey, and the McCormick campaign has acknowledged these provisional ballots could impact the outcome of the election while pursuing unsuccessful lawsuits to get them thrown out. Pennsylvanians deserve to have their voices heard, and as state officials have made clear, counties across Pennsylvania need more time to tabulate remaining votes. spokesperson Maddy McDaniel

This comes after Republican challenger Dave McCormick had his victory speech on Friday claiming victory citing Casey does not have a clear path to victory.

The McCormick campaign also filed a lawsuit on Friday requesting an injunction against the Philadelphia Board of Elections in an attempt to isolate some provisional ballots from being counted.

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The Case campaign states that there over 48,060 provisional ballots, 3,800 military ballots, and 2,500 uncounted mail-ballots remaining throughout Philadelphia, Allegheny, Montgomery, Chester, and Bucks County. All of which Casey has won.

McCormicks lead has grown to over 40,000 votes with 99% of the vote in, according to the AP.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
Since Americans around the country exercised their right to vote on Election Day, a couple of ballot processing centers have been forced to evacuate.

In both Orange and Riverside counties, bomb threats prompted their registrar of voters to evacuate for a short period as ballot processing was taking place.

According to the Orange County Registrar of Voters, their bomb threat took place on Tuesday. The evacuation lasted about 15 minutes before the threat was determined non-credible.

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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. We are working diligently to address this incident and keep all staff and members of the public who visit our office safe, said Bob Page, Registrar of Voters.

In Riverside County, the building was evacuated on Friday after receiving a bomb threat. The building was checked by the countys sheriffs department and bomb squad, with no explosives found.

Trump tears into Newsom over special legislative session

That evacuation lasted about 5 minutes.

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According to the Riverside County Registrar of Voters, ballot processing continued on Saturday.

The County of Riverside Registrar of Voters remains committed to the safety of the public and our staff. We continue to prioritize transparency and encourage the public to observe all processes as we ensure a fair, accurate, and transparent election, the Riverside County registrar said.

The two bomb threats came alongside several across the country. On Tuesday, the FBI said that many appeared to come from Russia.

As of Saturday, its unclear if the threats to the California sites originated from Russia.

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RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazil announced details of its new climate change pledge late on Friday night that sets a target to lower the country's greenhouse gas emissions by 2035, which it will present during the United Nations climate summit COP29 in Azerbaijan, according to a government statement.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Brazil is the largest country in Latin American and one of the world's biggest emitters of climate-warming carbon dioxide.

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The U.N. has said countries must do more if the world is to keep within reach of the Paris Agreement target to limit global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit), in order to avoid catastrophic climate change. The international body had requested new pledges by February of 2025.

BY THE NUMBERS

The new target aims to reduce emissions by 59% to 67% by 2035, as compared to 2005. Brazil had previously set a target of a 53% reduction by 2030.

KEY QUOTE

"This commitment will allow Brazil to move towards climate neutrality by 2050, the long-term objective of the climate commitment," said the government in the statement.

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CONTEXT

The government says its target aligns with the global 1.5C goal, but Brazilian lobby group Climate Observatory said that it is not ambitious enough to match up with the global target.

It said, however, that a full analysis of the pledge will only be possible when Brazil's government makes the formal documentation of the climate pledge - known as a Nationally Determined contribution - available.

(Reporting by Fabio Teixeira)
Since President-elect Donald Trumps political comeback on Tuesday, Brazils former President Jair Bolsonaro and his supporters have celebrated his victory as their own.

In many ways, nowhere has Trumps political strategy been more rigorously mirrored than in Brazil. Reenergized, Bolsonaros base has set its sights on the 2026 election, seeing Trumps resurgence as evidence that a similar return could unfold in Brazil.

Although barred from running until 2030, Bolsonaro congratulated Trump in a series of videos and posts drawing comparisons between their paths and saying he hoped Trumps return to power would inspire Brazil to complete our mission.

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Over the years, Bolsonaro has leaned into the nickname of Trump of the tropics, and both men have built parallel legacies  each facing legal and personal trials, including assassination attempts and indictments, and both elevating their families to roles of political prominence.

At the Trump watch party in Mar-a-Lago on election night, Donald Trump Jr. posed for a photo with his Brazilian counterpart, former first son and congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro. On Wednesday, Eduardo told CNN Brasil, as goes the United States, so goes Brazil.

A linchpin of Bolsonaros strategy has been his alliance with prominent US conservatives, a task led by his son Eduardo. Since at least 2018, Eduardo has frequently traveled to the United States, cultivating relationships with figures like former Trump adviser Steve Bannon and American Conservative Union chair Matt Schlapp.

His initial meeting with Bannon, who later served as an adviser to Bolsonaros campaign, cemented an enduring alliance that granted Bolsonaros movement access to tactics tested in the US.

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What Bolsonaro stands for is what the people of Brazil stand for, Bannon said in February. He won his second term just like President Trump. It was stolen from Trump. It was stolen from Bolsonaro. And the reason hes got momentum is he stands for what the people believe in.

As Eduardo expanded these connections, other Brazilian lawmakers began to join him on US tours, attending meetings with Republicans like Marjorie Taylor Greene and George Santos. Other visits included a conservative summit at the United Nations and meeting with the Organization of American States, where rising Brazilian congressman Nikolas Ferreira addressed the overstepping of the courts and political and judicial revenge against Bolsonaro supporters following Brazils January 8 insurrection.

Eduardo Bolsonaro, member of the Brazil Chamber of Deputies, speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference at the National Harbor, in Oxon Hill, Maryland, on Feb. 24, 2024. - Jose Luis Magana/AP/File

Some of this alignment strategy is already working. In September, Florida Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar (R) called for any visa requests by Brazils Supreme Court Justices to be denied on the basis that their decisions violate protections on free speech in Brazil of US citizens like Elon Musk.

Bolsonaros movement has extended beyond rhetoric, attempting to build durable political infrastructure to support the movement. Eduardo spearheaded the creation of CPAC Brasil, a Brazilian adaptation of the US Conservative Political Action Conference. With appearances from US conservatives like Bannon, Donald Trump Jr., and Gettr founder Jason Miller, CPAC Brasil amplified themes of nationalism, family values, and opposition to globalism, solidifying these tenets within Brazilian conservatism. The God, gays, and guns issues and talking points are easily translated to a Brazilian audience already used to hearing it from US politicians.

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Eduardo also co-founded the Conservative-Liberal Institute in 2019, an organization that has mostly co-sponsored events but states their goal is to become the countrys leading institute for political education. Separately, Eduardo himself offers online courses for first time political candidates and local leaders. For $50, you can learn the basics of political theory, how to win an election, and how to grow your social media following.

The influencer politician model has taken off in Brazil, and the hard right has expertly developed a rich tapestry of conservative media personalities who amplify their message on various platforms, often dismissing critical media as fake news. Much like Trumps base, Bolsonaros supporters created a self-sustaining media ecosystem.

Questioning democratic institutions

Bolsonaros skepticism toward democratic institutions has been another hallmark of his alignment with Trumps tactics. Throughout the 2022 election cycle, he cast doubt on Brazils electronic voting integrity, igniting tensions that erupted in the January 8 insurrection, when his supporters stormed Brazils Supreme Court, Congress, and presidential offices  a stark reflection of the January 6 Capitol riot in the United States.

The confrontation with Brazils judiciary only escalated from there. In recent years, the Supreme Court expanded its powers, drawing on precedents set by the January 8 investigations to broaden its authority over cases involving political extremism, disinformation, and threats to democratic order. While some view this as essential to protecting Brazils democracy, Bolsonaros allies decry it as judicial overreach aimed at curtailing conservative voices.

Supporters of Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro protest against the inauguration of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brasilia on January 8, 2023. - Evaristo Sa/AFP/Getty Images/File

For Bolsonaros supporters, the courts increased authority amplifies their narrative of political revenge. In November 2023, Ferreira and other Bolsonaro allies spoke out against these perceived judicial excesses while in Washington, describing the judiciarys actions as a crackdown on free speech and political freedoms.

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Casting the Supreme Court as a political adversary has become central to Bolsonaros narrative, energizing his base with calls for international oversight as they look ahead to 2026.

But that road is rife with challenges: Bolsonaro is still barred from office, so unless a court reverses that decision, its a moot point. Institutions have tightened regulations on misinformation, limiting his online influence. Investigations into the attacks on Brasilia are also still ongoing, bringing legal pressure upon him, his family, and his allies.

In February, police seized his passport, for example, and despite Bolsonaro telling CNN Brasil he hopes to see Trump soon, his defense team is only expected to request to recover it if and when an invitation to Trumps inauguration arrives.

Though Bolsonaro may not be returning to the Planalto Palace himself anytime soon, he is still campaigning as if his name were on the ballot  and, in a sense, it is. His chosen successor could inherit much of his base, carrying Bolsonaros influence into the race against a wide left coalition.

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Whether this path will lead to the resurgence they envision  or fade with shifting public sentiment and legal pressures  remains uncertain. But for now, they are poised to test the limits of a comeback inspired by their most influential ally.

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Arkansass Educational Freedom Account (EFA) program has seen a dramatic rise in interest this school year, with more families turning to state-funded vouchers to cover private and home-schooling expenses.

The 2023-2024 annual report released on Oct. 29 is the second issued since Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and lawmakers expanded the taxpayer-funded school voucher program under Act 237 of 2023.

Increase in voucher applications

Applications for Arkansass taxpayer-funded EFA vouchers more than tripled from the 2023-2024 to the 2024-2025 school year, rising from 6,495 to 20,190 applications.

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This increase includes 3,111 home-schooled students. The program, which is part of the 2023 LEARNS Act, provides state funding to help cover private and home-school costs, like tuition, for a limited number of students.

More than 20K school choice applications submitted in Arkansas in 2024

Program growth and waiting list

For the 2024-2025 school year, 14,297 students are using EFA vouchers, up from 5,548 in the previous year.

An additional 3,318 students are currently on the waiting list. The number of approved private schools accepting EFA funds increased from 97 to 128, with more than 400 providers eligible for the funding.

Funding and financial impact

The LEARNS Act raised the voucher amount for the 2024-2025 school year to at least $6,856 per student, up from $6,672 in 2023-2024.

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Students with disabilities who were previously part of the Succeed Scholarship program now receive $7,618 in tuition assistance, up from $7,413.

In the 2023-2024 school year, the program used $34.92 million, primarily for tuition, fees and supplies.

New lawsuit claims Arkansas LEARNS Act vouchers violate state constitution

Whos participating?

For the 2023-2024 school year, the program had these characteristics:

18% of applicants had previously been enrolled in public schools.

57% of participants were students with disabilities.

30% were first-time kindergartners.

7% were foster care students, and 1% attended F-graded public schools.

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Voucher students represented an average of 39% of enrollment in participating private schools, ranging from 8% to 100%.

Testing and performance

Private schools receiving EFA funding must test voucher students and report the results to the state.

In the 2023-2024 school year, voucher students averaged around the 50th percentile in English and math, although comparisons with public school students were not possible due to different testing methods.

Expanded eligibility

For the 2024-2025 school year, eligibility for EFA vouchers has expanded to include students from D- and F-rated public schools, children of military veterans and emergency responders and home-schooled students, who are now eligible for funding for supplies and other educational costs.

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What are the Arkansas LEARNS Act Education Freedom Accounts?

By the 2025-2026 school year, all Arkansas students will be eligible for vouchers.

Impact on public schools

Public school districts will not receive the full effect of the EFA program until the 2025-2026 school year, as state funding is determined by the previous years enrollment.

When fully implemented, the programs vouchers will cover 90% of the states foundation aid for each public-school student, which is projected to be $7,618 for the 2024-2025 school year.

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Class AA final: (2) Brighton 3, (1) Penfield 2

Brighton and Penfield battled through five sets for the Class AA title with the Bruins taking the last set 15-13 for the victory.

Brighton took the first set 25-19, but Penfield rallied back to win the second set 25-14.

The Patriots opened the third set with a 5-0 run, but the Bruins responded with 12 unanswered points to pull back in front. Brighton took the set 25-20.

Penfield forced a fifth set after taking the fourth one 15-13.

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The teams battled in the fifth as Brighton led 8-7 midway through the set. The Bruins kept the momentum led by MVP Lucrezia Pavan to take the 15-13 set victory and win the match 3-2. Pavan had 18 kills, 10 digs, 3 blocks, and a 100% server rating in the match.

The win marks the first sectional title in program history for the Bruins.

Brighton (19-2) will face Williamsville North on November 16th in regionals. Penfields season closes with a 14-5 record.

Class A final: (1) Sutherland 3, (2) Mendon 1

After a second-set rally from Mendon, Sutherland held off the Vikings to win the Class A girls volleyball title 3-1.

The Knights took the first set 25-22. The Vikings fought back to take the second set 25-22.

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Sutherland was in control during the third set, outscoring Mendon 25-13. The Knights held the momentum in the fourth set to take the 25-13 victory and win the match 3-1.

Sutherland (18-2) advances to regionals and will face Williamsville South on November 16th. Mendon ends its season 16-4.

Class AAA final: (1) Fairport 3, (3) Rush-Henrietta 0

Fairport defeated Rush-Henrietta in straight sets on Saturday to take the Class AAA title.

The Royal Comets put up a fight in the first set, but the Red Raiders held them off to take it 25-21. Fairport won the next set 25-12 and ended the day with a 25-14 set victory to take the win.

Kiera Cornman was named MVP, leading Fairport to its third straight sectional title.

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Fairport (18-1) advances to regionals where it will face Lancaster on November 16th. Rush-Henrietta ends its season 6-15.

Class B final: (4) Aquinas 3, (2) Hornell 0

Aquinas defeated Hornell in straight sets to win its first sectional title since 2010.

The Lil Irish took the sets 25-21, 25-22, and 25-22.

Abbie OMeara was named MVP with 22 assists, two aces and two digs. Haley Bennett had 18 digs and two aces, and Savannah Hinchcliffe totaled 16 digs, seven kills, four blocks and two aces. Addison Bardwell put up seven kills with six blocks, Natalie Campbell totaled five kills and six blocks, and Addison Bardwell has seven kills and six blocks.

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Aquinas (15-7) will face Fredonia in regionals on November 13th. Hornells season ends with a 16-3 record.

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BRISTOL, Tenn./Va. (WJHL)  Bristol, Virginia and Tennessee hosted a joint Veterans Day Parade Saturday morning on State Street.

Families lined up to see marching bands from Sullivan East High School and Tennessee High School as they played patriotic music to honor those serving in the United States Military.

Several Boy Scouts of America groups, local veterans and the giant Food City shopping cart participated in the parade.

Many veterans were among those in the crowd, including Korean War Navy veteran Bobby Parker, who told News Channel 11 that joining the military was one of the best things hes ever done.

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When you get out of high school, if you dont know what youre going to do, you should join the military for at least two years, he said. Itll give you a chance to serve in the Navy, Army, whatever; I think its a good thing.

After the parade, the cities held a Veterans Day program at Cumberland Square Park. On Sunday, a Veterans Day church service and lunch will occur at Victory Baptist Church, 11101 Island Road.

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Britains wind generation is set to plummet to virtually zero this week as Ed Miliband presses ahead with plans to increase the nations reliance on renewable energy.

Much of the UK has seen zero hours of sunshine this month, and the first part of this week will see already-light winds hit fresh lows in many areas, according to Met Office forecasters.

The dark and windless weather comes as Sir Keir Starmer and Mr Miliband, the Energy Secretary, fly to the UN climate talks in Baku, Azerbaijan, to pledge massive cuts in UK greenhouse gas emissions.

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They are expected to pledge to cut CO2 emissions by 240m tonnes, or 60pc of their 2022 levels, by 2035.

They will also confirm plans to decarbonise the UK electricity system by 2030, by ending the use of the UKs 32 main gas-fired power stations.

Sir Keirs speech, expected on Tuesday, coincides with a record dunkelflaute spell of low winds and sunshine that have already slashed output from renewables.

Wind speeds are expected to fall again this week, making gas more essential than ever to keep the lights on.

Many of our weather stations have recorded zero sunshine so far this month, said a Met Office forecaster. Its very unusual.

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Those weather stations are spread across the southern UK, with zero sunshine readings from Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, Ross on Wye, near the Welsh borders, St Athan, west of Cardiff, Liscombe in Devon and Wittering, near Peterborough.

The Met Office said: Monday and Tuesday will see unusually light winds. Theres an area of high pressure across the UK and Europe which makes for very settled and calm weather.

Weather readings and forecasts have become increasingly important for UK power generation because of growing reliance on wind and solar.

Over the last week solar generated just 0.7pc of the nations electricity and wind just 10.6pc, according to grid data.

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By contrast, on sunny and windy days renewables have generated more than 87pc of UK power needs.

Neso, the UKs National Energy System Operator, which runs the grid, expects the UK to have its first periods of complete decarbonisation, when no gas is needed, in 2025.

However, such data also underscore the problem of intermittency, with the grid needing some means of supplying low carbon power all the time, not just when the wind is blowing.

Mr Miliband said the UKs willingness to pledge such massive cuts in greenhouse gas emissions was a sign of climate leadership.

He said: The only way to protect our children and future generations is by leading global climate action. At the Cop29 climate talks, we will work with other countries to step up ambition on tackling the climate crisis.

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The British ambassador to the United States said Sunday she hopes President-elect Donald Trump won't abandon Ukraine when he becomes president again, but acknowledged there is no way of knowing what will happen.

"I don't think it's for any single European leader to say what President Trump might do," Dame Karen Pierce said on CBS' "Face the Nation." "I think we need to hear from President Trump after inauguration on what the new administration's plans are."

Speaking to host Margaret Brennan, Pierce was responding to comments made by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a Trump ally who has made it clear he'd prefer Europe not support Ukraine in its war with Russia.

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The situation on the front is obvious, theres been a military defeat. The Americans are going to pull out of this war, Orban said Friday in Budapest.

Trump has repeatedly said he expects to be able to end the Russia-Ukraine war as soon as he takes office, which has led to speculation he's inclined to side with Russian President Vladimir Putin when it comes to occupied Ukrainian territory.

But the ambassador said she believes Trump has not yet committed to a specific course of action.

"In my experience," she said, "President Trump is his own person. He'll listen to a lot of advice, some of it solicited, some of it unsolicited, and he'll weigh the pros and cons, and he'll come to his own decision. But I have always found him and his team very willing to listen to our point of view."

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Pierce said that when the United States and Europe see eye to eye on foreign policy, the results are positive.

"When America and Europe work together, that's when you get success. That's when you get coherence in policy," she said.

Pierce also said she doesn't think it is a problem that David Lammy, who is now Britain's foreign secretary, has called Trump a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathizing sociopath. Among other things, Lammy has also called Trump "deluded, dishonest, xenophobic, narcissistic" and "a fragile, bigoted and cowardly disgrace."

"In my experience," Pierce said to Brennan, "politicians kind of absorb those sorts of comments as part of the wear and tear of political life. What's important is the relationship now."
A soldier from the International Legion, 22-year-old UK citizen Callum Tindal-Draper, was killed in action in Ukraine. [The International Legion is a military unit of the Ukrainian Ground Forces composed of foreign volunteers  ed.]

Source: European Pravda, citing Sky News

Details: Tindal-Draper is reported to have been killed on 5 November while defending an observation post, though no further details about the circumstances of his death have been disclosed.

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Prior to joining the resistance to Russian aggression in Ukraine, Tindal-Draper graduated from a military college and worked for the UK's National Health Service.

Callum Tindal-Draper.

Photo: social media

Tindal-Draper's mother shared that his platoon described him as a "hero" and "as brave as they come".

"22 is a young age. But you lived and died following your heart, soul and morals. May you rest in peace and help watch over those who have passed," she added.

The UK Foreign Office stated that it was ready to provide the family of the deceased with the necessary assistance.

Background: About 10 UK citizens are known to have been killed in action since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

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Brigitte Romoleroux proudly wears her I Voted sticker after voting at the Main Library in Salt Lake City on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

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.

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.

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.

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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, president and CEO of Verified Voting

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

The good news is we have much more cross-sector support, she said.

Ballots whiz through a processing machine 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)

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.

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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).

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and X.
If ever a U.S. president needed the checks and balances that the founders established, its law-breaking, oath-violating Donald Trump.

Yet those checks by Congress and the Supreme Court will hardly be a check at all once Trump is back in power. The former and future president has shaped each of those institutions in his image.

Hes already benefited. The Supreme Court, where Trumps first-term appointees are half of its six-member far-right supermajority, ruled in July that presidents are virtually immune from criminal prosecution for official acts. The courts dilatory deliberations and then its stunning decision had the effect of delaying past the 2024 election any federal trial for Trumps alleged first-term crimes: plotting to overthrow Joe Bidens election and then high-tailing it to Mar-a-Lago with government secrets.

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Now that hes headed back to the White House, those cases will be dropped . It remains to be seen whether Trump, as president, will exploit the license for wrongdoing that the court gave him. If past is prologue, the odds are good. Even better are the chances that the receptive court will rule in Trumps favor when opponents challenges to his future presidential acts inevitably reach it.

But its Congress where Trump will have real pull  at least for the two years until the 2026 midterm elections.

Read more: Litman: Will Trump launch a reign of terror against his list of enemies? There's little to stop him

Just as at the start of his earlier term, both the Senate and House likely will be under Republicans control, if only narrowly, thanks to Trumps coattails. (The House majority wont be officially determined until perhaps later this week, but Republicans are favored.) Their tie to Trump is stronger than it was in 2017-18. Republicans then were deferential; come January, theyll be obsequious. The founders will spin in their graves at the bowing and scraping were about to see from the supposedly independent Congress.

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Republican Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, House speaker in 2017 and 2018, broke with Trump in 2016 over the grab em by the pussy" tape , but became accommodating enough once Trump was president. But contrast Ryans ambivalence with the zealotry of current Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, whos sure to be chosen as the Republicans leader again when they meet this week. Dubbed MAGA Mike by approving right-wingers when he got the speakership last year, Johnson has since made repeated pilgrimages to Mar-a-Lago, campaigned with Trump and at every chance stood like a bespectacled bobblehead beside him.

As Punchbowl News reported : Now Trump gets a congressional leader who will back his agenda  for better or worse. Worse, Ill wager.

Read more: Granderson: There's no mystery. White women handed Trump the election

In Ryans time, a novice President Trump didnt have much of an agenda or even concepts of a plan beyond talk of building a wall, banning Muslims and repealing Obamacare; he didnt fully realize any of those goals. Credit Ryan and other Republicans for the 2017 tax cuts law thats counted as first-term Trumps singular legislative achievement  if you can count a budget-busting giveaway to the richest Americans and corporations as an achievement.

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Next year theyll do it again. The House will extend the Trump tax cuts at a cost of about $1 trillion annually in debt, according to the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, and add to those breaks, including with the promises Trump made on the campaign trail: Just plow it through, as a Republican lobbyist said .

But this time Trump has a sprawling agenda beyond tax cuts: Project 2025 , compiled by scores of his most far-right first-term advisors with his public blessing , but so unpopular that he disavowed it during the campaign. No surprise: That disavowal was just one lie among many.

Read more: Abcarian: Don't fall into total despair, Harris supporters. There was some good election night news

Now that the election is over, I think we can finally say that, yeah, actually Project 2025 is the agenda. Lol, conservative podcaster Matt Walsh cynically tweeted last week. To which Trump whisperer Steve Bannon, fresh out of prison for contempt of Congress, responded on his podcast: Fabulous!

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Look for Trump to issue executive orders and seek legislation from Congress to do much that's in Project 2025: Blow up the civil service and reestablish a 19th-century-style spoils system. Make the Justice Department his vengeful law firm. End the federal role in education and mount culture wars. Abandon clean energy efforts, though that Trump promise could run up against the reality that Bidens historic climate investments have brought good jobs, mostly to Republican districts .) Support for Ukraine is all but doomed, just as Trump desires.

In the Senate, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is stepping aside after a record run as party leader, leaving either Sen. John Thune of South Dakota or Sen. John Cornyn of Texas to become leader of the new majority. Each has had differences with Trump, but neither will likely defy him going forward, especially now that the Senate will include more Trump toadies.

Read more: Column: Why it's wrong to blame Trump's victory on Latino men

Dont look for much Senate resistance to Trumps nominees for his Cabinet, other high posts and federal judgeships, as there was on occasion in his first term.

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With Republicans likely to have a slightly larger Senate majority than in 2017-18, relatively moderate Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska wont be the decisive naysayers they sometimes were before. Apparently, even anti-vax conspiracist and brain-worm carrier Robert F. Kennedy Jr. isnt off-limits as a Cabinet possibility: I think the Senate is going to give great deference to a president that just won a stunning  landslide, Floridas Republican Sen. Marco Rubio said when asked about the likes of Kennedy getting a role in the administration.

Heres a silver lining: Trump, a dictator wannabe with a pliant Congress, will all but certainly overreach. We know that much of his agenda is unpopular . But with Republicans controlling all the levers in Washington, they can nonetheless impose it  and own the result.

The reckoning will come in two years. Midterm elections for almost a century have nearly always gone against the party holding the presidency. May 2026 be no different.

@jackiekcalmes

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Canada Post workers rallied at several locations across the country Thursday, as the threat of a strike between the Crown corporation and its unionized employees looms.

"There are a lot of worries on postal workers' minds right now, from the present moment into the future," said Wesley Bartlett, a letter carrier who attended the rally in Ottawa.

Bartlett, who has worked with Canada Post for about six years, said job security is something postal workers are "going to have to fight for."

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The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) and Canada Post have been in contract talks for nearly a year. Those talks continue. Last month, workers voted overwhelmingly in support of a strike if a deal could not be reached at the bargaining table.

Numbers reported by the union show 95.8 per cent of urban workers and 95.5 per cent of rural workers voted to back the strike mandate.

So far, neither Canada Post nor the union has provided the minimum 72 hours' notice of their intent to start a labour dispute.

But earlier this week the union said in a written statement it "won't shy away from taking the next step" if no progress is made during negotiations.

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At the rally in Ottawa on Thursday, CUPW national president Jan Simpson reiterated that position, adding the rally was intended to signify the union's desire to negotiate a contract without going to arbitration.

Wesley Bartlett, a Canada Post mail carrier, attends a Canada Union of Postal Workers rally outside the Prime Minister's Office in Ottawa on Nov. 7, 2024.

Wesley Bartlett, a Canada Post mail carrier, said he attended the rally in Ottawa out of solidarity with his co-workers. (Nick Persaud/CBC News)

'Fair wages, safe working conditions'

In a news release announcing the rallies, CUPW said it has been bargaining with Canada Post for "fair wages, safe working conditions, the right for all workers to retire with dignity and the expansion of public postal services for all communities.

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"Throughout this process, Canada Post has not dropped its proposed rollbacks and is asking for many of our major issues to be resolved through arbitration," the news release read.

Jan Simpson, national president of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, attends a rally outside the Prime Minister's Office in Ottawa on Nov. 7, 2024.

Jan Simpson, national president of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, says she would like to see Canada Post expand its services to increase revenues. (Nick Persaud/CBC News)

In an email Thursday, Canada Post stressed what appears to be a key sticking point in the negotiations: a desire to move toward seven-day-a-week parcel delivery.

"This new delivery model is essential for the future of the company, and critical to our ability to afford the offer we've put forward for current employees," the statement read, adding the company is also seeking more competitive pricing.

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"We've offered wage increases and additional paid leave, while protecting their defined benefit pension and stringent job security provisions."

The mere threat of a strike has been enough to rapidly erode Canada Post's revenue, the Crown corporation said Monday. Customers are switching delivery services out of concern that a service disruption may prevent holiday packages from arriving, it added.

Canada Post pointed to its deteriorating financial position as a key reason why the company must revisit proposals to the union.

The Crown corporation has lost $3 billion since 2018, including $490 million in the first six months of 2024.

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It has also spent big on infrastructure investments in recent years, including the building of a new Toronto processing plant and the greening of its delivery fleet.

Core business 'dissolving,' prof says

At the same time, Canada Post's core products are "literally dissolving underneath [its] feet," said Ian Lee, a business professor at Carleton University.

Lee, who has published extensively on Canada Post, said there isn't enough business to support the current workforce of mail carriers.

"The revenues are declining year after year after year," he said. "Their situation is very, very grim. But it's getting worse and worse."

Ian Lee, associate professor at the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University, said downtown areas will need to adapt because "the idea that everybody is going to be returning to work five days a week is gone."

Ian Lee, a business professor at Carleton University, says Canada Post's core business is 'dissolving.' (Alexander Behne/CBC)

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In its most recent annual report, Canada Post said it will fall below its required operating and reserve cash requirements by early 2025 if it does not add additional borrowing and refinancing.

As for parcel delivery, Lee said private industry offers the service for much less, further diminishing Canada Post's share of that market.

Bartlett said he extends his "full solidarity" to the gig workers he encounters each day he's out on his own route  especially those who are doing the job without the protections of a union. But he believes he has a responsibility as a member of an organized labour force to "get these unorganized, organized."

"These people are out there working without job protections for very low wages, and a lot of these private companies are offloading a lot of these costs  onto the workers' back," he said.

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Lee argued Canada Post should instead downsize and pivot to focusing on so-called "last mile delivery," a service which the private market does not adequately fulfil.

Such a service would see Canada Post complete the final leg of a parcel's journey, including to far-flung addresses where private services won't ship.

Simpson said the union would rather see Canada Post go the other direction  instead expanding its operations to bring in more revenues by introducing services such as postal banking and senior check-ins.

"We want to expand services at Canada Post to help them to bring in money," she said.
MURRAY, Utah (ABC4)  On Saturday, Nov. 9, the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree made a stop in Utah as part of its 4,000-mile journey from Alaska to Washington, D.C.

The tree made a stop at Wheeler Historic Farm in Murray, from about 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Nov. 9, as part of the 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Whistlestop Tour.

The Capitol Christmas Tree is coming to Utah as part of its 4,000-mile trek  Heres how its staying alive

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The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree initiative is a 54-year tradition in which one of Americas 154 national forests provides a tree for the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol for the holiday season, the U.S. Forest Service said in a press release.

The Capitol Christmas Tree  also called the Peoples Tree  for 2024 comes from the Tongass National Forest, and the Forest Service said the only other Capitol Christmas Tree that came from Alaska was chosen in 2015 from the states Chugach National Forest.

Callista Pearson, Salt Lake County Parks and Rec Communications Manager, told ABC4.com that people began showing up for the event on Saturday more than two hours before the tree showed up.

The Capitol Christmas Tree stops at Wheeler Historic Farm in Murray, Utah, on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (KTVX/Jeff Rawson)

Its really exciting to have this tree stop here at a Salt Lake County location, and to be part of this, Pearson said. Everyone here is super excited to see the tree, were excited to have the tree here, and we hope it has a safe journey the rest of the way to the Capitol.

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Jeff Schramm with the U.S. Forest Service told ABC4.com on Saturday that the tree was put on a barge from Alaska to Seattle, and is now on a truck to make its way across the country. Schramm said the tour helps people have a great holiday time to kick off the holiday season.

This is something that we very much appreciate doing with our sponsors, Schramm said. Everything is donated, and helps us get this tree across the country.

Officials said the visit on Saturday was the first time a Capitol Christmas Tree has stopped at Wheeler Historic Farm. After the tree arrives in D.C., the Architect of the Capitol will decorate it (and other smaller companion trees) with more than 10,000 handmade ornaments.

About the tree  and how its staying alive

Forest Service personnel remove soil from the roots of the 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree in preparation for harvesting and transferring it to a trailer for transport. The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree initiative is a 54-year tradition in which one of Americas 154 national forests provides a tree for the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol for the holiday season. The project is made possible with support from partners, including Society of American Foresters and Alaska Geographic, cash and in-kind contributions from small businesses and large corporations, and volunteers throughout Alaska and across the United States. (Courtesy: U.S. Forest Service)

The 2024 tree is an 80-foot-tall Sitka spruce, which is native to (and the official tree of) Alaska, the Forest Service said. The tree is being transported across the country in a custom 82-foot trailer.

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To keep it green, and in good shape during its voyage, were taking all of these fine roots, weve developed a watering system to water it while its underway, and hopefully thatll lead to a very bright, fresh tree going into the lawn at the Capitol, Thomas Roland, a silviculture forester with Chugach National Forest, previously said.

Roland said this method of harvest is used for shorter trips in private industry but has never been used for a Capitol Christmas Tree.

Other tour stops

The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree is scheduled to make seven more stops before arriving in Washington, D.C. The remaining tour stops are as follows:

Grand Junction, Colorado

Loveland, Colorado

Omaha, Nebraska

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Columbus, Ohio

Hagerstown, Maryland

Joint Base Andrews, Maryland

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More details about the tour stops and locations are available online. The Forest Service said the dates and locations are subject to change.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  The tree for the Christmas at the Capitol arrived earlier this week in Pierre.

The Colorado Blue Spruce was donated by Deb Lutz of Mobridge, according to the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources post on its Facebook page.

Lutzs daughter Carrie planted it when she was in fourth grade 30 years ago. She received the sapling at an Arbor Day event at school.

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Deb Lutz and her late husband visited the Capitol each year for the Christmas at the Capitol. He often said how wonderful it would be to have their daughters tree as the main tree for the Christmas at the Capitol.

Discounts, free meals at restaurants for Veterans Day

The DANR said Stone Rock and Sand Inc. and the South Dakota Department of Transportation transported the tree to Pierre.

Christmas at the Capitol starts on Nov. 27 and continues through Dec. 26. According to the Christmas at the Capitol Facebook page, the opening lighting ceremony as at 7 p.m. CT on Nov. 26. After that the tree event area will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week including on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day through Dec. 26.

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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 KELOLAND.com.
GOP U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick speaks at an election night party in Pittsburgh Nov. 5, 2024 (campaign photo)

After the Associated Press called the race in his favor, GOP U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick gave a victory speech in Pittsburgh on Friday, thanking incumbent Sen. Bob Casey for his service to Pennsylvania and urging him to concede.

I also recognize what its like to lose a close election, McCormick said Friday, pointing to Pennsylvanias 2022 GOP U.S. Senate primary, where he lost to Mehmet Oz by less than 1,000 votes. We knew on election night we had won, because the math was clear and theres no way for Senator Casey to win, and the AP certainly recognized that yesterday by calling the race.

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But on Saturday morning, as ballots continued to be counted that could determine whether he would be Pennsylvanias next U.S. Senator, McCormick flew to Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Casey hammered McCormick for his Connecticut connection throughout the campaign, repeatedly pointing to an August 2023 AP article which maintained that the former hedge fund CEO continued to live in Connecticut even as he sought to represent the people of Pennsylvania.

Flight records show a private plane previously connected to McCormick left Pittsburgh the morning of Nov. 9 bound for Bridgeport. As Vanity Fair reported last year, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records show McCormick is part owner of four Platius PC-12 planes as part of PlaneSenses PC-12 fractional ownership program. PlaneSense provides people who purchase one of its planes access to a fleet of private planes.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported in March that after launching a statewide bus tour of Pennsylvania, where he said he would live on the bus McCormick flew back to Connecticut that same day. McCormick has said that the reason he travels to Connecticut is because his youngest daughter from a previous marriage lives there, and he visits frequently.

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Elizabeth Gregory, communications director for the McCormick campaign said in a social media post Sunday that McCormick went to his daughters soccer game  the first he was able to make it to this season. Like her dad, she won! Dave was back in PA that night. Please stop with this unseemly desperation.

The Associated Press, which calculates election outcomes based on a number of factors, including votes remaining, called the race for McCormick on Thursday. But the Pennsylvania Secretary of State noted not long afterward that there were at least 100,000 ballots remaining to be adjudicated, including provisional, military, overseas, and Election Day votes. And Casey has not conceded.

I have dedicated my life to making sure Pennsylvanians voices are heard, whether on the floor of the Senate or in a free and fair election, Casey said in a statement Thursday evening. It has been made clear there are more than 100,000 votes still to be counted. Pennsylvania is where our democratic process was born. We must allow that process to play out and ensure that every vote that is eligible to be counted will be counted. That is what Pennsylvania deserves.

PBS NewsHour correspondent Lisa Desjardins reported Friday that the AP told her it had estimated 109,000 ballots were still outstanding. Up from 91,000 the day before. That is  they stress and I stress  an estimate. And they adjust it as they get more information.

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In a post from its decision team on Friday, the AP said McCormicks lead grew on Friday as more Election Day votes were added to the count in Republican-leaning Cambria County and some smaller counties completed the process of assessing and adding provisional ballots to the count. That lead may shrink over the coming days, however, as provisional ballots from more Democratic-leaning areas are reviewed by election officials.

Other news outlets, including DecisionDesk HQ and NBC News, have not yet called the race as of Sunday morning.

And, when the tally is calculated, if the margin of votes is 0.5% or lower, it would trigger a recount under Pennsylvania law.

McCormick was apparently not invited to participate in U.S. Senate orientation since the race remains close. A spokesperson for U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the Senate Majority Leader told States Newsroom on Sunday, With over 100,000 ballots left to be counted in Pennsylvania, the race has not been decided. As is custom, we will invite the winner once the votes are counted.

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On Friday in Philadelphia, the same day McCormick held his victory rally in Pittsburgh, a Common Pleas Court judge rejected McCormicks request to increase the number of GOP observers in the counting of provisional ballots. McCormick withdrew a second lawsuit seeking a global challenge to provisional ballots.

Each day, counties across the Commonwealth are confirming there are more ballots that need to be counted, Casey campaign spokesperson Maddy McDaniel said in a statement. We know there are more than 100,000 ballots left to be counted including tens of thousands of provisional ballots in counties favorable to Senator Casey, and the McCormick campaign has acknowledged these provisional ballots could impact the outcome of the election while pursuing unsuccessful lawsuits to get them thrown out. Pennsylvanians deserve to have their voices heard, and as state officials have made clear, counties across Pennsylvania need more time to tabulate remaining votes.

As of Sunday, unofficial results showed Casey with 3,330,514 votes, or 48.43%, to McCormicks 3,370,659 or 49.01%.

Jennifer Shutt of States Newsrooms Washington, D.C. bureau, contributed.

This article was updated Nov. 10, 2024 at 12:18 p.m. with a comment from the McCormick campaign, and again at 3:30 p.m. with a comment from Schumers spokesperson.

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Catherine, Princess of Wales, joined other members of Britains royal family at a Remembrance Day event in London on Saturday  the latest public appearance by the princess since she underwent preventive treatment for cancer earlier this year.

Catherine, also known as Kate, was shown in a photograph attending the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall, along with King Charles and her husband, Prince William.

The festival is an annual commemorative concert which honors all those who have lost their lives in conflict.

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Queen Camilla was originally set to attend but pulled out due to a chest infection, Buckingham Palace said on Saturday.

Kate, 42, announced that she had completed chemotherapy in September but cautioned that the road to recovery was still long. She said she would undertake more public engagements when possible as she continues to recover.

In October, she made her first public appearance since her cancer treatment to meet the bereaved families of three children killed in a knife attack in Southport, northwest England.

Kate is also set to attend a Remembrance Day service on Sunday, Buckingham Palace said.

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CLEVELAND (WJW)  A special moment at halftime of Saturdays Cleveland Cavaliers game paid tribute to two local police officers who were killed in the line of duty earlier this year.

The families of Euclid police officer Jacob Derbin and Cleveland police officer Jamieson Ritter received special jerseys in recognition of their sacrifices, while a tribute video played on the big screen.

Heavy hearts: Tributes for Euclid officer killed in line of duty

Award named for Euclid Police Officer Jacob Derbin and Cleveland Police Officer Jamieson Ritter

Derbin, 23, was shot and killed in the line of duty while responding to a disturbance at a home on May 11. The 24-year-old man suspected of killing him was later found dead, after an 18-hour manhunt.

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Derbin served in the Army National Guard, which included a tour in the Middle East. He became a Euclid police officer just nine months before he was killed.

Who was Cleveland police officer Jamieson Ritter?

Ritter, 27, killed in the line of duty in the early hours of July 4, was a four-year veteran of the police department.

He served the National Guard with the 134th Field Artillery Regiment, before joining Cleveland police in November 2020. He and his unit deployed to Syria in 2022, according to the release. He then came back to the city police force in 2023.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
A man who worked for the Richmond Fire Department is facing federal charges related to child pornography.

A criminal complaint filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Lexington accuses Derek Morgan Hahn, 36, of production and attempted production of child pornography, receipt or distribution of a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct and possession of material depicting a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

According to an affidavit filed by a special agent with the Department of Homeland Security, the messaging account that was used to upload child sexual abuse material found on Hahns phone was logged into from IP addresses connected to Hahns home, as well as the Richmond Fire Department, where Hahn worked third shift.

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It is not clear where Hahn was when the material was uploaded.

A forensic examination of Hahns iPhone showed that it was used to produce videos of a child in a bathroom in which the victim does not appear to know he is being recorded. The affidavit states that the camera appears to have been recording from a hiding place such as a vent.

The recordings were made in Madison County between Nov. 19, 2023, and Sept. 18, according to the document.

The phone had more than 3,100 images and videos of child sexual abuse material on it, the affidavit states.

Hahns initial court appearance in the federal case is scheduled for Tuesday.

Hahn was charged last month in Madison District Court with two counts of distribution of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor over 12.

A hearing in that case is scheduled for Dec. 11.
In the aftermath of Kamala Harris' failed bid for president, Charlamagne Tha God called for unity and pointed to voters' economic frustrations and concerns over safety as decisive in Donald Trump's victory.

"I know it feels like the divided states of America over the last several years, but it is still the United States of America," said the influential radio host who supported Harris. "We've got to unify in some way, shape or form."

Charlamagne (ne Lenard McKelvey) co-hosts the popular iHeart Radio program "The Breakfast Club," which is heard by millions of monthly listeners, and is the author of the new book "Be Honest or Die Lying."

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MORE: Trump's political comeback is complete. What it says about American voters: ANALYSIS

Harris joined Charlamagne for an audio town hall in October, where she discussed how her economic plan would boost Black communities and cast a Donald Trump presidency in dark terms.

PHOTO: Jonathan Karl sits down with influential radio host Charlamagne tha God on 'This Week.' (ABC News)

In an interview with ABC News' Jonathan Karl on "This Week," Charlamagne said he's "optimistic" about America regardless of Harris' loss.

"I do believe in the future of this country because I have no choice but to," he said.

Following President Joe Biden's decision to drop out of the race and endorse Harris in August, Charlamagne applauded the vice president's candidacy for energizing the Democratic Party.

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MORE: Charlamagne tha God says Kamala Harris has 'super main character energy' but needs to 'do more interviews'

Charlamagne said there was "no life whatsoever" with the Biden campaign and had previously called for him to not run for reelection.

"The vice president made a lot of people sit up on the couch and pay attention and at least be curious," he said. "She has nothing to be ashamed of, she ran a great campaign"

In a stark demographic shift from 2020, Trump won one in three voters of color, notably gaining among Black and Latino voters. Charlamagne attributed part of this shift as "a backlash to race and gender and identity politics."

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Trump improved his 2016 and 2020 numbers in traditional Democratic strongholds, like New Jersey and New Mexico. Charlamagne said that "dinner table issues" were top of mind for voters.

MORE: Despite concerns about ACA and reproductive rights, health care was not a voting issue: Experts

"Every day people wake up and all they want to do is have more money in their pocket and they want to feel safe," he said. "I don't care if you're black, white, gay, straight, whatever religion you are, those are the two things that you're thinking about every day."

He also said that Democrats "didn't know how to message" their stance on immigration, including the bipartisan border bill that Trump and his allies effectively killed.

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"It's not like the Democrats didn't want border security. They just didn't know how to message it right," Charlamagne said. "'Build the wall' may sound elementary, but you know what that signals to people? Border security."

When asked if Harris should have done more to separate herself from Biden, Charlamagne said, "I think that if she wanted to go in a different direction, she should have expressed that."

He also pointed to Harris' appearances on "The View" and her interview with Fox's Brett Baier, where she gave mixed answers on how she would be a different leader than the current president.

Even as an outspoken critic of Trump, Charlamagne said he's choosing to have a positive outlook on the next four years.

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"We just got to hope for the best," said Charlamagne. "Like, I'm not wishing for America to fail. Why would I want that?"

Charlamagne Tha God: 'Dinner table issues' were at the top of voters' minds originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Guest Opinion. About 7,000 identified rare diseases impact approximately 1 in 10 Oklahomans. The Cherokee Nation's first Rare Disease Summit on Nov. 21 marks a crucial step toward addressing the too often overlooked health care needs of this population. The summit embodies the tribes deep commitment to helping our citizens with complex health challenges.

Cherokees deserve help, treatment and hope  especially those whove long felt unseen by the health care system due to their unique conditions. This summit is particularly significant to me and First Lady January Hoskin, who has openly shared her own journey in battling a rare disease. We understand the profound physical and financial impacts of rare diseases  not only on individuals, but on their families trying to navigate what can be expensive and unclear health care decisions.

Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning.

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This informative gathering, organized by Cherokee Nation Health Services, aims to close gaps in health care access and ensure that every patient at Cherokee Nation Health Services feels seen and heard, no matter how rare their condition may be. Participants will hear from medical experts in neurology, rheumatology, and infectious diseases in both panel discussions and question-and-answer sessions as they discuss multidisciplinary approaches for tackling rare health conditions.

First Lady Hoskin and I, along with the Committee on Rare Diseases formed in 2020, hope to bring individuals out of isolation and into a supportive community. No one is alone, and we stand together every step of the way.

Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr.

According to the National Institutes of Health, any disease affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the United States is considered rare, and more than 90% lack FDA-approved treatments. Cherokee Nations health care system, the largest and most effective in Indian Country, is committed to finding solutions and increasing resources for people with the conditions. We are raising awareness, advocating for policy change, and building a growing support network.

The Nov. 21 summit represents a powerful step forward in health equity and community support within the Cherokee Nation Reservation. I encourage anyone interested in or affected by rare diseases to participate in the summit. Sign-up is free, with lunch and a resource fair provided from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Register at cherokee.org/rare-disease-summit, where additional details are available.

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Cherokee Nation believes no one should feel overlooked or marginalized, and with this summit in place, we have a real opportunity to amplify the voices of those who struggle with a rare disease.

Chuck Hoskin, Jr. is the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation.
LONDON (AP)  A children's book written by British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has been withdrawn from sale after it was criticized for causing offense to Indigenous Australians.

The Guardian newspaper reported Saturday that the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation blasted Billy And The Epic Escape, which was published earlier this year, for employing a series of tropes and stereotypes about Indigenous Australians, including their relationships with the natural and spiritual worlds.

The group criticized one of the fantasy novel's subplots, which tells the story of an Indigenous girl living in foster care, for contributing to the erasure, trivialisation, and stereotyping of First Nations peoples and experiences."

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In a statement, Oliver, 49, said he was devastated to have caused offense and apologized wholeheartedly.

It was never my intention to misinterpret this deeply painful issue," he said. "Together with my publishers we have decided to withdraw the book from sale.

Indigenous campaigners were particularly aghast that neither Oliver nor his publishers, Penguin Random House, had consulted with them before the novel was published.

It is clear that our publishing standards fell short on this occasion, and we must learn from that and take decisive action, the publisher said. "With that in mind, we have agreed with our author, Jamie Oliver, that we will be withdrawing the book from sale.

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Oliver, who is in Australia promoting his latest recipe book, is among a long list of celebrities to have put their names to children's books, a trend that has been criticized by many children's authors, who say they are being crowded out of their market.

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.

Oliver, who rose to fame in 1999 with his book and television show The Naked Chef, has long campaigned on childrens food and nutrition and caused a furor in 2005 when he hit out at the nutritional content of some school dinners in the U.K.
BEIJING (Reuters) -China rejected Philippine maritime claims on Sunday, saying new legislation "severely infringes on" Beijing's territorial sovereignty and rights in the South China Sea, and vowing to protect its own interests.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marco Jr signed two laws on Friday to define the country's maritime entitlements and set designated sea lanes and air routes to reinforce sovereignty.

"China firmly opposes this and will continue to take all necessary measures in accordance with the law to resolutely defend China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests," the foreign ministry said.

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Beijing claims sovereignty over nearly all of the South China Sea, including areas claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam. China rejects a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague that its sweeping claims were not supported by international law.

The United States, a Philippine ally, backs the court's ruling in the case, which was brought by Manila.

The Chinese ministry's statement on Sunday defined a baseline of "territorial waters" around the Scarborough Shoal, which China claims as its territory and calls Huangyan Island. The shoal is a major point of contention over sovereignty and fishing rights.

China 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.

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With an armada of coast guard ships to assert its claims, Beijing routinely accuses vessels of trespassing in areas of the South China Sea that fall inside the exclusive economic zones of its neighbours, and has clashed repeatedly with the Philippines in the past year.

China's coast guard issued a statement on Sunday saying the Philippines has frequently sent military and police warships and aircraft to "intrude" into the waters and airspace near the Scarborough Shoal. It accused Manila of instigating "illegal fishing" in the area.

(Reporting by Ella Cao in Beijing and Marius Zaharia in Hong Kong; Editing by Tom Hogue and William Mallard)
China has unveiled HQ-19 missile system to bolster defense against ballistic missile threats. The system is mounted on an 8x8 high-mobility truck and has a six-missile launcher setup.

Using a cold-launch at a steep angle, it effectively intercepts incoming ballistic missiles. Its radar, including the 610A information radar, can detect targets up to 2485 miles (4,000 kilometers) away, covering regions from northern South Asia to Chinas Tibetan Plateau.

The command-and-control system integrates radar data to improve tracking and interception capabilities.

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The HQ-19 was developed in the late 1990s under Chinas 863 Program, which focused on high-tech defense advancements.

It uses an infrared guidance system with side windows to reduce atmospheric interference, allowing for accurate targeting at high altitudes, Army Recognition reports.

Powered by a two-stage solid rocket engine with carbon-fiber construction and N-15B solid propellant, the missile achieves a specific impulse of 260 seconds, enabling it to maneuver effectively to intercept moving warheads.

Surface-to-air missile achieves 1864 miles intercept range

The missiles engine has a double-pulse design, boosting its range and increasing kinetic impact during interception. Built with advanced composite materials, this design allows the missile to maneuver at forces up to 60g. The HQ-19s intercept range is reportedly up to 1864 miles (3,000 kilometers), enabling it to target ballistic missiles, including reentry warheads, within this range.

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China was an early adopter of kinetic kill technology, reportedly completing a successful test flight in 1999, becoming the second nation after the US to develop this capability. Multiple tests have confirmed the HQ-19s performance, including interceptions above 200 kilometers in altitude and at speeds of up to 10,000 meters per second.

In February 2021, Chinas Ministry of National Defense reported that the HQ-19 met all performance expectations. Since 2010, China has conducted several tests, emphasizing their defensive purpose and clarifying that the system is not aimed at any specific country.

However, developing an advanced ground-based exo-atmospheric missile defense system could lead to future versions being deployed on Chinese navy destroyers. This would enable China to intercept missile threats in distant seas, similar to the capability the SM-3 provides for the US, Japanese, and South Korean navies.

Chinas interest in wider defense export markets

The systems comparison to the US THAAD and SM-3 has drawn attention, and its reported capabilities could influence regional security dynamics. Furthermore, the HQ-19s appearance at the airshow also suggests it may be available for export, with potential interest from regions like the Middle East.

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Chinas defense industry seeks to broaden its customer base beyond core clients like Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, aiming to expand its reach in emerging markets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h6uPDmTak8

Chinas missile defense system includes the HQ-9, HQ-19, and HQ-26, creating a layered defense approach. The HQ-26, with a multi-pulse motor, extends its range and improves its impact on various missile threats.

The HQ-19s phased array radar provides early warning, enhancing coordination across these systems. Together, their coverage and intercept abilities offer defense against regional threats, including ballistic missiles from neighboring countries.
To be a conservative is to respect institutions. They constrain us and shape us, pass customs and knowledge through the generations, inspire loyalty and collective effort, and teach us to be social not solitary beings. To love the little platoon we belong to, Edmund Burke explained, is how we proceed towards a love to our country and to mankind.

What makes institutions a force for good, however, can also make them a force for ill. Their ability to constrain can stultify debate and silence dissent. Their custodians can, with their own agenda, attack customs and undermine an institutions very purpose. Sometimes devotion to an institution can trump decency, reason and even a commitment to the rule of law. Individuals can hide within an institution to avoid scrutiny and accountability.

From MPs expenses to bankers bonuses, cancel culture on campus to the capture of the National Trust, there are many such examples. Scandals such as Hillsborough, the mistreatment of postmasters and the long failure to compensate those whose blood was contaminated all make the point. Even the best institutions can err, and none should be untouchable. This is why pluralism, free enquiry and expression, and good laws and governance are so important.

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When moral leadership is the purpose of an institution, or an institution has stepped beyond its remit to condemn others, but has been found to be hypocritical, the failure is all the greater. Unfortunately, so it is with the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Justin Welby says he considered resigning over an independent report, published last Thursday, which detailed how a leading Anglican evangelical had physically and sexually abused at least 115 children and young men, unchallenged, over decades. The Church of England had identified abuse by John Smyth, a barrister who ran Christian youth camps, but covered it up in the 1980s.

The report confirmed that Welby had known Smyth in the 1970s. He was overheard by a contributor to the review having a grave discussion about him with Rev Mark Ruston in 1978, four years before Ruston wrote a report detailing Smyths abuse. And Welby admits being warned to stay away from Smyth in 1981. But he continued to send him Christmas cards and made donations to his mission in Zimbabwe, where Smyth went to live after abruptly leaving Britain in 1984. In Zimbabwe, a 16-year-old boy died in mysterious circumstances at a holiday camp run by Smyth in 1992.

Welby was not ordained until that same year, and cannot be held responsible for the failures of the Church in the 1970s and 1980s. But the report found, from July 2013, the Church of England knew, at the highest level, about the abuse in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It said, Smyth should have been  reported to the police in the UK and to relevant authorities in South Africa, where he then lived, and that the failure to do so endangered children around him.

Welby was elected Archbishop of Canterbury in February 2013, and the report finds that he was aware of the allegations against Smyth by August of that year. Its conclusions about his response are damning. He held a personal and moral responsibility to make sure the case had been reported to the police and investigated by them, but did not do so.

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A commitment by Welby to meet abuse victims was not met until four years later. An eventual personal apology came too late to  offer any closure or relief to victims. And his promise to investigate all the clergy who had not acted on information about Smyth was not kept. Several victims, the report says, feel a sense of personal betrayal by Justin Welby.

We should be fair to Welby and acknowledge that under his leadership, the Church has introduced safeguarding policies to protect children and vulnerable adults with whom it comes into contact. But we should also remember the context of July 2013. Rolf Harris had been arrested in March. The crimes of Jimmy Savile and others had been known and discussed from 2011. The failure of institutions to respond to child abuse was a matter of national debate that led to a public inquiry announced in 2014.

We should also recall what Welby has said about other institutions and their response to allegations of abuse. In 2017, he attacked the BBC, saying, I havent seen the same integrity over the BBCs failures over Savile as Ive seen in the Roman Catholic Church, in the Church of England, in other public institutions over abuse.

In fact, Welby has been unembarrassed about involving himself in contentious political issues. Ignoring the possibility that there is more than one moral perspective in judging a problem, he attacked the last government for its asylum policies, saying they could not stand the judgment of God. He leapt into the Black Lives Matter controversy by inventing a dubious new doctrine of forgiveness based on inherited collective national guilt, saying there can only be forgiveness for the actions of past generations if theres justice: if we change the way we behave now.

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Within the Church, Welby has presided over declining congregations, the closure of thousands of churches, and pastoral reorganisations, which critics worry will kill off the local parish. He launched a divisive Archbishops Commission on Racial Justice, which last week accused some rural parishioners of racism. The Commission is chaired by Lord Boateng, a Labour peer, who has accused the Church of being rife with structural and systemic racism.

If Welby believes the Church he has led for more than a decade is systemically racist, perhaps he should take responsibility for that. More likely, he, like other liberals, has gone along with ideological fashion, knowing he will not be among those who suffer the purges and punishments that follow his decisions.

It was, perhaps, a similar carelessness that led to the personal and institutional failure to respond in 2013 to clear evidence of child abuse. Smyth, now dead, has escaped justice. But for the sake of his victims, and the Church itself, Welby should show the integrity he once said was missing in others  and resign.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  The Spirit of Springfield hosted its highly anticipated 2024 City of Bright Nights Ball on Saturday evening, bringing together more than 500 guests at MGM Springfield to celebrate the 30th season of Bright Nights at Forest Park.

This black-tie gala, sponsored by Charlie Arment Trucking, transformed MGMs Aria Ballroom with dazzling decor and festive lighting, creating an immersive experience themed Into the Forest.

The event kicked off with a cocktail reception and silent auction, where attendees mingled under centerpieces of lush greens and lit trees inspired by the famous Bright Nights displays. A massive 47-foot-wide video wall showcased scenes from Forest Parks holiday light extravaganza, adding to the evenings festive atmosphere.

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The ball is an annual gala where the most prominent members of the community gather from businesses leaders to politicians, to raise money for the Spirit of Springfield. Its a great night we get all dolled up and we have some fun and raise money for a good cause, adds Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno.

More than 500 guests enjoyed a gourmet dinner, played a 50/50 raffle, and bid on live and silent auction items. The ball has a different theme every year. This years theme, Into the Forest celebrates 30 years of Bright Nights at Forest Park.

Each centerpiece was adorned with lush greens and lit trees to replicate the magical atmosphere of Bright Nights. Its become a tradition now, you can see when people go through Brights Nights in Forest Park the twinkle in their eyes whether young or old, says Sarno.

With the continued support of the community, Spirit of Springfield will be able to continue its mission of creating memorable experiences for all within the city. The funds raised go to offset all the operating costs not only for Bright Nights but also the Star Spangled Springfield, the Worlds Largest Pancake Breakfast, and the September 11th ceremony.

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President of Spirit of Springfield Judy Matt told 22News, We started this many years ago right after we started Bright Nights because we wanted to light the downtown as well. And the first things we lit were the memorial bridge and then we continued to light all downtown all the lamp posts downtown, so it means a lot.

The City of Bright Nights Ball remains the Spirit of Springfields largest annual fundraiser, providing critical support for events that bring the Springfield community together year-round.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
CNNs Dana Bash pushed Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) to admit the 2024 election was free and fairthough questioned why the GOP could do so only after Donald Trump won while letting false claims of election fraud run rampant when he lost in 2020.

Bash asked the Ohio congressman on Sundays State of the Union to answer for his partys repeated suggestions of election fraud during the 2020 election, a thread that became a party focal point due to Trumps repeated false assertion that he won the 2020 election. Trump reiterated that claim even after his electoral victory last week when he claimed his incoming chief-of-staff Susie Wiles was an integral part of both my 2016 and 2020 successful campaignsonly one of which he won.

I havent seen you or your colleagues claiming any election irregularities, no rampant voting fraud this time, Bash said. It seems to me that Republicans claim voting fraud and election integrity when you lose and not when you win.

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Jordan, who repeatedly suggested malfeasance in the 2020 election, tried to deflect, bringing up various policy positions he said helped propel Trump to his win. But Bash pressed him further on the issue, noting that Republicans have abandoned all claims of voter fraud even after Trump claimed there was rampant cheating in Pennsylvania before results came in.

I think the Democrats got to ask, why did we go from getting 81 million to getting 70 million? Jordan responded. What happened to those 10 million people? Maybe they neededmaybe its not smart to run an election where you have no vision, no record to run.

Bash then posed the pivotal question: Do you believe the 2024 election was free and fair?

I do, Jordan said.

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And why was it different from 2020 when he lost? Is that the only difference? Bash shot back.

Jordan then tried to raise various issues, claiming there were all kinds of concerns with how the 2020 election was carried out, citing signature verification issues of mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania despite dozens of court cases and investigations affirming the 2020 election was free and fair. (The Pennsylvania Supreme Court also ruled ahead of the 2020 election that mail-in ballots could not be rejected over signature issues alone.)

Bash ended Jordans fact-light statements with a fact-based assertion: There was no evidence of widespread fraud in 2020.
MAGA Rep Jim Jordan stumbled over his words as he was confronted live on-air with a claim that Donald Trump and his supporters only cry election fraud when they lose.

The Ohio congressman appeared on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday where he was asked multiple times by host Dana Bash whether he thought that 2024 had been a free and fair election.

In the final stages of the 2024 race, Trump and his allies appeared to try to lay the groundwork for claims of voter fraud, with several lawsuits being filed in the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania.

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However, since the president-elects sweeping victory over Kamala Harris on Tuesday, such claims have instantly fallen away.

It seems to me that Republicans claim voting fraud and election integrity when you lose and not when you win, Bash confronted Jordan.

Jordan pushed back, insisting: No. As I said before, this election, I think, was the greatest political comeback weve ever seen. [Trump] did something that even Teddy Roosevelt couldnt do, for goodness sake and the country.

But you think it was a free and fair election? Bash pressed. Last time around, your leader claimed there were problems with fraud.

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The interview turned somewhat fiery, as Jordan then proceeded to speak over Bash, listing off several of the Trump campaigns policies as reasons for the victory.

Jim Jordan was confronted by CNNs Dana Bash on Sunday over GOP election fraud claims (CNN)

Thats totally fair, Bash said. But last time around, it wasnt so much about the policy differences, or the personality differences, there were false claims about election fraud when Donald Trump lost.

This time, Donald Trump won, and you think the election was free and fair. You see, theres a little bit of a disconnect there?

Jordan fired back: No I think the Democrats got to ask, why did we go from getting 81 million to getting 70 million?  Maybe its not smart to run an election where you have no vision, no record and just want to call people names.

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Bash continued to press him: Do you believe that the 2024 election was free and fair?

I do, Jordan replied, adding that one of the differences between the 2020 and 2024 elections was Republican concerns over mail-in voting. He then attacked the Democratic campaign again.

They had no vision, no record to run on, and they just wanted to call everyone names, he said. Turns out when you, when turns out when you tell people, oh, youre a fascist, racist, deplorable garbage. They dont like that.

Winding down the interview, Bash said: I just want to say for the record that there was no evidence of widespread fraud in 2020. It went through many, many different court cases and the name calling was very strong on the Republican side from the former president and you know that.
The CNN pundit Bakari Sellers suggested Sunday that Joe Biden should call on his ex-prosecutor vice president to replace Sonia Sotomayor as a justice on the Supreme Court.

That hypothetical would be quite the career whiplash for Kamala Harris, 60, who still isnt a week removed from a crippling election defeat that saw her lose in all seven swing states. Itd also require Sonia Sotomayor to abruptly call it quitssomething the Wall Street Journal reported Sunday she isnt interested in doing.

Still, its an ask that Sellers and a handful of liberal activists have floated amid fears that, should the 70-year-old progressive die during Trumps second term, shed be replaced with yet another uber-conservative justice.

Some have called on the 70-year-old Sonia Sotomayor to resign immediately.

Sellers, a former Democratic lawmaker from South Carolina, indicated hed be happy with a number of liberal replacements for Sotomayor, including Sri Srinivasan, 57; Robert Wilkins, 61; and Michelle Childs, who is 58.

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Most important to Sellers, he said, was that Sotomayorwho has diabetescall it quits and put to bed any risk she might die with Trump in office.

Sotomayor needs to resign, Sellers posted to X. The court is currently 6-3 [in conservatives favor]. This would limit Trumps ability to make it 7-2. Its silly to believe there is no difference.

Sellers said Sotomayor could very likely be another story much like RBG if she ignores calls to resign. Thats a reference to the trailblazing justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died during the final months of Trumps first term and opened the door for him to quickly appoint Amy Coney Barrett to replace her in 2020.

Amy Coney Barrett was quickly appointed and confirmed as a U.S. Supreme Court justice in late 2020 after the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

The conservative-majority Supreme Court has been blamed with overturning Roe v. Wade and eliminating the federal constitutional right to abortion. Its also ruled in Trumps favor regarding presidential immunity in his federal criminal cases that have since been put on ice by the special prosecutor Jack Smith.

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Politico reported Friday that some Democratic Senators have had discussions about pressuring Sotomayor off the court while they still have a majoritysomething Republicans will possess again in Januaryto confirm her replacement.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), 83, has indicated hes not a fan of a Sotomayor pressure campaign at the final hour of Bidens presidency.

I dont think its sensible, Sanders told NBC News on Sunday.
November, 2024 has come in with a real bonus, with 3-4 feet being reported at several resorts.



A system that provided moderate snow for much of Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado early last week stalled over the four corners. It cranked out impressive totals, with the highest resort snowfall in New Mexico favored by easterly upslope winds. Colorado was not far behind.

Snow Totals, Last 7 Days- November 3-10, 2024:

San Isabel (South of Colorado Springs): 54 inches



Cuchara (Southern Colorado): 46 inches



Pajarito: 41 inches



Angel Fire: 40 inches



Sandia Peak: 36 inches



Copper: 35 inches



Breckenridge: 33 inches



Wolf Creek: 28 inches



Taos: 26 inches



Vail: 17 inches



Denver Airport: 19 inches

Generally, totals were the highest in the New Mexico Ski Areas; however, a bonus burst of 2-3 inches per hour snowfall rates surprised both Copper and Breckenridge in Colorado with 15--20 inches mid-last week and another 5-10 late week.



The next barrage of moisture comes in two pieces for Canada and the Cascades. It will spread south over the Sierra and tease the Rockies as they weaken with their easterly progression.

Pikes Peak outside Colorado Springs was blasted with the departing storm over the eastern Plains. Photo: Powderchasers

FORECAST LOOKS DEEP FOR SOME AREAS OF THE WEST.



The upcoming week will be very active, with two wet systems moving into Canada and the Pacific Northwest. Temperatures will start relatively cool with snow levels in the 3500 range and rise by Wednesday to 4500 feet. It might be a bit cooler in northern Idaho and most of BC. Wet base-building snow is likely at many areas with some rain below 4,000 feet.

Expected Snow Totals Through Friday, November 15, 2024 (2 Storms):

Whistler Blackcomb Summits: 35 inches



Mt. Baker Ski Area- Mid to summit: 25-35 inches



Stevens Pass: Mid to Summit: 10-18 inches



Crystal Mountain: 12-20 inches



Mt Bachelor: 12-16 inches



Kirkwood: 8-10 inches

Storm #1 enters Canada and the PNW on Monday and pushes south into the Sierra with lighter snow (Monday PM to Tuesday). Photo: WeatherBell/Powderchasers

Total snowfall with storm #1 through Tuesday, November 12th. Many higher numbers will be confined to mid-mountain and upper elevations above 3500-4,000 feet in the Cascades. Photo: WeatherBell/Powderchasers

The short-term High-Resolution model (HRR) is bringing in 4-8 inches of snow for the Sierra Range, favoring the northern resorts from Monday PM to Tuesday AM (Storm #1). Photo: WeatherBell/Powderchasers

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Moisture decays somewhat as this storm exits the Sierra and moves over the Rockies midweek. Its northward track impacts central Idaho, the Tetons, Wasatch, and Colorado midweek (light to moderate snow).

Total snowfall in the west through late Tuesday night November 13th. Photo: WeatherBell/Powderchasers

A second storm enters the Pacific Northwest by Wednesday, November 13, with a slight warming trend for the Cascades.

Storm #2 enters the Pacific Northwest on Wednesday, November 13. Photo: WeatherBell/Powderchasers

Temps at 4800 feet in Celsius, rising by Wednesday (Storm #2 in the PNW) bring snow levels to nearly 4500 or 5,000 feet. This map is from Monday, November 11, ending Wednesday, November 13th (Date range in upper right corner). Photo: WeatherBell/Powderchasers

5-day totals in the Pacific Northwest, including Northern Idaho, continue to rise, with storm #2 adding to the ranges we forecasted above (2-4 feet combined from both systems). Lowland flooding is possible in Washington. Unfortunately, snow levels rise to nearly 4500-5,000 midweek before dropping late week. Snow totals might be very variable at lower elevations. Photo: WeatherBell/Powderchasers

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Total snowfall for the Sierra with 2-systems (Monday-Tuesday and Thursday-Friday) that could reach the 8-12 inch range. Photo: WeatherBell/Powderchasers

Total moisture is substantial in the Pacific Northwest through Thursday, with the models pushing out 3-5 inches of water in some areas. Upper-elevation snowfall might be significant. The interior of BC also does well (1-2 inches of water). The Sierra has some hope. Photo: pivotalweather/Powderchasers

7-day snowfall ending November 17th, highlighting the PNW, Canada, and Northern Idaho, followed by the Sierra and perhaps the Tetons (Wildcard). Photo: WeatherBell/Powderchasers

Please follow Powderchasers on Instagram @Powderchasers. Our next update on POWDER will likely come on Wednesday, November 13, 2024.

Related: Up to 30 Inches of Snow Forecasted for Colorado, New Mexico

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Adam Schiff  "sleazebag," "low life," "little pencil neck," to use some of the pungent ways Donald Trump describes him  is taking the high road, turning the other cheek and generally being the better man by ignoring all that and promising to do whatever he can to work and thrive in a MAGA-fied Washington, D.C.

Yes, California's newly elected Democratic senator requires bulked-up security to get through life, thanks to the animosity and violent threats stirred up by the vengeful president-elect.

No, his views of Trump and his rhetoric  "the hate and the division and the bile," as Schiff described it  haven't changed.

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Still, he insisted, he would "focus on getting done what my constituents elected me to do, which is try to bring down the cost of living. In particular, bring down the cost of housing and child care, build lots more housing, address homelessness, address rising food prices and just the struggle that working families and middle-class families are facing."

"They're the same issues, in part, that Republicans campaigned on and Trump campaigned on," Schiff said in his first interview since voters on Tuesday gave him a six-year lease on the seat once held by the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein. "Where they're serious ... they'll find a willing ally."

Read more: Schiff vs. Trump: The real head-to-head battle defining California's U.S. Senate race

Asked about Trump's threats to take aim at California, arguably the beating heart of anti-Trump resistance, Schiff vowed "to defend our state and our democracy and stand up to any efforts to punish California or withhold resources from California, or to diminish people's rights and freedom."

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"But," he said, "I'm going to begin with a hopeful expectation that there are broad areas where we can work together and move the state and the country forward."

There's a history of futility among California House members who tried to make a move from the lower chamber into the U.S. Senate. The state was simply too large and disparate  physically, psychically  for a lawmaker representing a tiny slice of the landscape to make the leap to statewide success.

That changed in recent years, with the advent of social media and, especially, cable TV and its political chat shows, which turned Schiff into a household name, not just in California but nationally.

It was, of course, his role as a leading prosecutor and Trump antagonist that made Schiff a hero among Democrats and led to his formal censure by the House  a political gift as he ramped up his Senate bid in a crowded Democrat field. The only thing lacking was shiny wrapping paper and a bright red bow.

Schiff had reason to smile after being formally censured by House Republicans, a move that gave a big boost to his U.S. Senate campaign. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

Schiff made no mention of Trump in his Tuesday night victory speech. (He did thank former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was extremely helpful pushing Schiff past fellow Democrats in the top-two primary, leaving him only to face the hapless Republican Steve Garvey in November.) During our conversation, Schiff spoke of the president-elect only when asked.

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Some have speculated Trump might use his second term as president to help mend the deep divisions he's created over the last tempestuous decade. In this rosy way of thinking, Trump won't ever stand for election again and has a legacy to consider  a fanciful notion that is plainly a triumph of hope over experience. Recollect the many anticipated "presidential pivots" that failed to materialize during Trump's first time in office.

Schiff, however, gave a rhetorical shrug.

"I don't think we really know," he said. Trump "doesn't have much ideology, except self, so probably it depends on what he thinks is in his self-interest."

Since there's no controlling what Trump does, Schiff went on, "my focus is on what I can do, and what I can do is seek out people on the other side of the aisle. Try to work the way Dianne Feinstein did. Develop relationships with people. Get to know the Central Valley and the far north and the far south of the state. Represent them well. Represent them aggressively."

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Schiff, freshly returned from California, spoke via Zoom from his home office in the Washington suburbs. Behind him, flanking a rolltop desk, were framed pictures of two sets of brothers: John F. and Robert F. Kennedy, and Schiff and his elder sibling, Dan.

He said Trump's victory, while obviously disappointing, wasn't shocking. It came down to deep-seated economy anxieties, he said, and a sense that Trump and Republicans offered voters a better solution than Democrats managed in the last four years.

Read more: Democrat Adam Schiff wins California's U.S. Senate race

"You probably heard me talk many times on the campaign trail about how the problem today is not that people [aren't] working. Unemployment is very low. The problem is that they are working and they still are struggling to get by," Schiff said. "This has been a problem decades in the making. I think it has certainly been aggravated by the pandemic, and you're seeing a global recoiling against the status quo and incumbents everywhere.

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"I think it's a frustration that, notwithstanding all the promises that are made, people's lives are still increasingly difficult and challenging."

Democrats' task in the next several years, he said, will be to find better ways to speak to and remedy those gnawing concerns.

Asked what his top priorities would be as senator, Schiff offered these:

"Housing, I think, is at the very top of my list. We need to build a lot more housing in California if we're ever going to make it affordable for people to pay the rent and buy their first home. And if we're going to solve the homelessness problem, we're going to have to be building a lot more housing."

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Next, Schiff said, "I also want to expand and make more accessible child care, and we'll be prioritizing the child tax credit as well as financial assistance for people who pursue a career in child care, creating incentives for employers and for the federal government to build child-care facilities in the workplaces."

He also mentioned "attacking food prices by going after some of these anti-competitive mergers ... attacking climate change by continuing our investment in renewable energy, and also really diving into the water issue. No pun intended."

Much of which is far easier said than done with Republicans controlling the White House and, quite possibly, both chambers of Congress.

Read more: Column: Trump wins and it's a dark night for America's soul

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But Schiff said he's not unaccustomed to working from a defensive crouch. Serving in Sacramento, in the state Senate, he said he "had a lot of my bills signed" into law by Republican Gov. Pete Wilson. "Had a lot of my bills signed by [Republican President] George W. Bush and advance in Republican Congresses as well," said Schiff, who has served in the House since 2001.

Considering a 2030 reelection bid  that was your friendly columnist's idea, not something Schiff is already contemplating  the soon-to be senator was asked what he thought a successful pitch would sound like six years from now.

"He really delivered for the state," Schiff replied. "Every part of the state. He got things done, found ways to work together in the minority and majority and delivered.

"And," Schiff added, "when the country needed, he was there to protect our democracy, our rights and freedoms."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
How did we allow a convicted felon, compulsive liar, adjudicated sexual abuser and wannabe dictator to be elected our nations president? Three words: Democrats botched it.

It shouldnt have been even close, running against a man with his disqualifications. And, in fact, it wasnt. Republican Donald Trump won with ease.

Heres my post-mortem on the political demise of Democrat Kamala Harris.

Just as Republicans themselves are at fault for allowing the California GOP to sink into irrelevance in state government  through years of bad positioning and ignoring moderate voters  top Democrats fumbled nationally leading up to the 2024 presidential election.

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It started with a betrayal by President Obama in 2016. The blame begins with him.

Read more: Trump blasts Newsom's plan to shield California from the next White House

Obama reportedly shoved aside his own vice president, Joe Biden, and backed Hillary Clinton for president. He dissuaded Biden from running.

Democrats thus missed their grand opportunity. Biden was at his peak back then and probably would have beaten Trump, nipping his political career in the bud.

Whyd Obama do that? We can only guess. But heres my assumption:

In 2008, after Obama had beaten Clinton in a bitter race for the partys nomination, he was desperate for her unifying support. They met face-to-face at California Sen. Dianne Feinsteins home in Washington, D.C. I dont know the precise deal they cut. But after his election, Obama gave Clinton the coveted secretary of state post and eight years later backed her for president over Biden.

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Clinton turned out to be a poor candidate.

Many Democrats believed she lost because America wasnt ready for a female president. But as New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd wrote recently:

Hillary Clinton did not lose because she was a woman. She lost because she was Hillary Clinton. She didnt campaign hard enough, skipping Wisconsin and barely visiting Michigan. She got discombobulated about gender 

Read more: Column: Harris' defeat opens a bumpy path to the White House for Newsom

So Trump was elected president the first time.

Then in 2020, Biden finally won the Democratic nomination but, in my view, fumbled his choice for running mate. He had pledged to name a female veep and was under heavy pressure to choose a woman of color.

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Look, its a mistake to lock yourself into a narrow field of potential selectees months before needing to make a decision.

And maybe its time for Democrats to ease up on identity politics. Whatever the policy merits are, it doesnt appear to be benefiting Democrats politically.

Anyway, Bidens preferred woman of color for vice president was Harris, the then-California senator whose own White House bid had bombed. She bowed out before any primary votes were cast, avoiding an embarrassing loss in her home state.

Biden was largely drawn to Harris because she and his late son, Beau, were close allies when both were state attorneys general.

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He probably would have been better off tapping then-U.S. Rep. Karen Bass of Los Angeles, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, who was likable, energetic and a goal-achiever. Bass later was elected L.A. mayor.

But the Biden-Harris ticket ousted Trump from the White House, with the scheming poor loser refusing to concede defeat and inciting a riotous mob at the nations Capitol in a failed effort to block certification of the election results.

As vice president, Harris eventually became less popular even than the fading Biden, according to polls, and was generally regarded as a drag on the presidents 2024 reelection prospects.

By far the biggest drag, however, was the 81-year-old Biden himself. And he shares significant blame for Harris loss last week. Thats because he reneged on his 2020 campaign promise to be a transitional president and pass the torch to a younger generation.

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He stubbornly refused to face reality and listen to Democratic voters who kept telling pollsters they desired a spryer candidate. It was only after Biden exhibited the worst TV debate performance in history that he bowed to party pressure in July and stepped aside.

But I also blame Democratic congressional leaders and large party donors for not leveling with the president much earlier and giving him a shove.

Bidens attempt to seek reelection kept Democrats from conducting a normal, competitive nominating process that is vital for any party standard bearer. It hones battle skills, tests voter messages and builds a national support base.

Harris may have been the voters choice in primaries. Well never know. She captured the nomination by default  without ever having won a single vote in a caucus or primary. There wasnt even a convention fight because other Democratic wannabes didnt have the stomach to contest her.

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Harris actually turned out to be a fairly good candidate, exceeding many peoples expectations, including mine. She clobbered Trump in their sole debate.

But it didnt matter much. Voters sought change and she represented the status quo.

She failed to adequately respond to working class voters major concerns about the economy and illegal immigration.

She overemphasized abortion rights, a winning issue for Democrats in the 2022 midterm elections that had played out by last week.

And voters didnt want to hear about Trump being a scumbag. They already knew that and didnt really care. A majority no longer have a standard of decency for a presidential candidate  or if they do, its lower than a rattlesnake.

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Mothers can still tell their children that in America anyone can grow up to be president. And now they can add that its true even if they lie, cheat and incite a deadly insurrection against the nations government.

Just dont be a California Democrat.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Parents and the community are invited to town hall meetings for the redistricting of Las Cruces Public Schools (LCPS) to help balance school populations with a new elementary school, the district said.

The first of three town hall meetings will happen at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14 in the Commons of Organ Moutain High School, located at 5700 Mesa Grande Dr.

LCPS said in a news release, The proposed changes coincide with the opening of the new Columbia Elementary School and are designed to balance school populations and overcrowding in the districts East Mesa schools. Redistricting could also help bolster enrollment at Mayfield High School.

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The discussions will be led by LCPS Superintendent Ignacio Ruiz and the districts contracted consultant, Colleen Martinez.

According to LCPS, spearheading the redistricting plan is the districts Chief of Student Services and Community Relations Sherly OBrien.

OBrien has brought together a community volunteer group to serve on the Redistricting Advisory Committee that represents students, parents and teachers from all four LCPS feeder patterns, according to LCPS.

12 parents to help redistrict LCPS campuses

The following dates are the other scheduled town meetings for the redistricting plan:

Nov. 14: Town Hall meeting at Organ Mountain High School, 5:30 p.m.

Nov. 15: LCPS Board of Education extended work session, including a presentation and discussion of proposed zone changes.

Nov. 19: LCPS Board of Education regular meeting, including a presentation and discussion of proposed zone changes.

Nov. 20, 2024: Town Hall meeting at Mayfield High School, 5:30 p.m.

Nov. 21  Dec. 10, 2024: Stakeholder survey will be open.

Dec. 5, 2024: Town Hall meeting for Spanish-speaking families at the Dr. Karen M. Trujillo Administration Complex, 5:30 p.m.

Dec. 17, 2024: LCPS Board of Education meeting, including a final presentation and a potential vote on adopting new school attendance zones.

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LCPS said any permanent school zone changes could be voted on by the Board of Education during their meeting on Dec. 17.

The process of redistricting is outlined in Policy JCAA, which gives the Board of Education authority to alter geographic attendance zones based on the opening of new schools or shifts in population, LCPS said.

For the outline of the redistricting plan or updates, you can visit LCPSs website here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
A busy hurricane season in Florida has forced the state's largest insurance company to reject a staggering percentage of residential claims.

What's happening?

NOTUS, short for News of the United States, reported that publicly funded Citizens Property Insurance has denied 77% of claims stemming from Hurricane Debby in August, per Newsweek.

Citizens spokesperson Michael Peltier explained that many of its customers who filed a claim related to Hurricane Debby reside in Tampa and the surrounding region.

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"That area received minimal wind damage but significant flood/surge damage. Since surge and flood are excluded, most of the claims have been denied or closed with no payment," Peltier told the outlet, adding that "it makes sense that Citizens' denial rate would be higher as we insure the riskiest and most flood-prone properties in Florida."

Why are the denied claims concerning?

Citizens is supposed to function as a contingency plan for residents who can't afford rising premiums or have been dropped by private companies. However, the increasing abundance and severity of storms and other extreme weather events  fueled by anthropogenic activities  have led the government entity to see a 130% spike in its active policies since 2019, jumping from 520,000 to 1.2 million as of October.

This overreliance has caused concern among government officials, including Gov. Ron DeSantis. "We can't have millions of people on [Citizens] because if a storm hits, it's going to cause problems for the state," he said, per Newsweek.

"Citizens  according to its own documents  is potentially one catastrophic storm or storm season away from finding itself with losses that exceed its immediate ability to pay by many billions of dollars," Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island told NOTUS.

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"Trying to recover billions of dollars from Floridians, who are already paying more than four times the national average for property insurance, is unlikely to be feasible economically or politically and raises serious questions about Citizens' ability to pay out claims in a timely manner."

Newsweek pulled data from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, which found that over 21,000 claims filed with state providers for residential properties damaged by Helene have been closed as of Oct. 18, and 65% were done so without payment. Meanwhile, 64% of the 20,335 settled claims related to Milton were closed without payment.

The combined worth of residential claims from both storms is estimated at nearly $2.8 billion.

What's being done about Florida's insurance crisis?

Mark Friedlander, the director of communications at the Insurance Information Institute, said we can learn from Hurricane Debby and that he expects a "similar scenario" for those affected by hurricanes Helene and Milton. He said residents without flood insurance must prove a denied claim in order to pursue a Federal Emergency Management Agency emergency grant.

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"Claims that are being closed without payment following Hurricane Debby are primarily flood claims that were submitted to a property insurer," Friedlander said, via Newsweek. "In order for a consumer to qualify for a FEMA emergency grant, they must submit a flood damage claim to their property insurer and prove that it was denied. This is specifically for consumers that don't have flood insurance."

Officials have tried to address skyrocketing home and auto insurance rates by passing new laws and regulations. The Florida Department of Financial Services recently released a new guideline for insurance adjusters to mitigate "unfair and deceptive acts" and "post-storm fraud."

Others have constructed disaster-proof homes equipped with hydrostatic vents and high-impact windows to limit the physical and financial repercussions caused by hurricanes.

It's also worth noting that, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, most homeowners insurance does not include flood damage. If you live in a flood-prone area, it's worth reviewing your policy and checking with the FEMA-operated National Flood Insurance Program to see if you're eligible for coverage.

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Editor's note: A previous version of this article mischaracterized Friedlander's statement as a concern that there would be similar denial rates. The article has been updated to provide his comments in full.

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WATERBURY, Conn. (WTNH)  The Connecticut Foundation for Dental Outreach hosted their 18th Connecticut Mission of Mercy Free Dental Clinic Saturday in Waterbury.

The free clinic, located at the Wilby High School Center on Bucks Hill Road, was staffed by 1,100 volunteers and was projected to serve more than 1,700 patients before the end of the weekend.

The need is huge, said Dr. Suzanne Lagarde, co-lead of medical triage at Saturdays event. A full third of people dont get routine dental care, in large part because of cost.

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There were 80 different dental stations that offered exams, x-rays, cleanings, extractions, fillings, root canals on front teeth and more.

Accessibility was a priority for those organizing the event, with some visitors even coming from out of state to be seen. Elderly and veterans were also given preferential treatment.

Dr. Legard told News 8, If youve ever had a toothache you know how miserable it can be and were here to help those folks.

Anyone who missed the first day of the CTMOM Free Dental Clinic will have another chance on Sunday, 6:30 a.m., at the Wilby High School Center in Waterbury.

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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 WTNH.com.
The Labour Governments House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill, which reaches its final stage in the Commons this week, is misguided for many reasons.

Not the least of them is that expelling hereditary peers from the House of Lords is a break with the principle on which our monarchy also depends.

No less wrong-headed, however, is an amendment to remove bishops from the Upper House, which has been proposed by Sir Gavin Williamson, the former Conservative Chief Whip.

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Sir Gavin is unashamedly out to make mischief. If his amendment is called, it will force Labour to whip its MPs, many of whom have no time for bishops or any other unelected peers, to vote against their own beliefs. Perhaps he hopes that a few will rebel and thereby embarrass the Government.

But this amendment would, in effect, abolish the very notion of Lords Spiritual, which goes back many centuries to the very origins of our parliamentary system.

The presence of bishops in the legislature serves to remind other members of both Houses that we should, in the words of Jesus, render unto Caesar the things that are Caesars, and unto God the things that are Gods.

Bishops bring a different, and often valuable, voice into the national conversation. They owe their role in Parliament to our constitutional settlement, as leaders of the Church as by law established. Our unwritten constitution is a seamless whole that has served us well. We unravel it at our peril.

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Those who do not belong to the Anglican Church should nevertheless welcome their role. As a Roman Catholic, I certainly do  and so do virtually all the leaders of other faiths in this country.

The fact that most of the present bench of bishops happen to lean to the Left is not the point: no great Tory statesman, from Peel and Disraeli to Churchill and Thatcher, would have denied the necessity and importance of an episcopal presence in the Lords.

Sir Gavin Williamson evidently agrees with none of this. What can justify the Church of England having the right to such legislative power? This is completely out of sync with any modern democracy, he fulminates. Its frankly wrong and its actually quite insulting.

Really, Sir Gavin? I have never met anyone who was insulted by the inclusion of bishops in the Lords  and I dare say neither has he. We may indeed be amused or annoyed from time to time by their utterances, but it is not only the right but the duty of Lords Spiritual to say things that might make us uncomfortable and them unpopular.

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This is all the more true in an era when fewer of us ever set foot in a church. As the pews empty, the voice from the pulpit is increasingly unheard. Yet how can we transmit the Judaeo-Christian foundations of Western civilisation from one generation to the next without preserving the function in public life that the Established Church has exercised since time immemorial?

It is true that no other parliamentary democracy has followed the British example in this particular respect. But our Parliament is unique in countless ways, in its antiquity and in its ability to respond to the demands of the day.

Britain may no longer be a nation of churchgoers, but it is still in important respects a Christian country: in our respect for the individual, for example, and the idea that every one of us is made in the image of God.

The Coronation reminded us that this Christian cultural legacy is wholly compatible with a multiethnic, pluralistic society. James I, who commissioned the King James Bible to which the English language owes so much, liked to warn: No bishop, no king.

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The final reason why the Tories should reject the Williamson amendment is a more practical one: it is the wrong approach to opposition. Such cynical, unprincipled tactics only serve to alienate the public.

People have a right to expect better from His Majestys Opposition. I am quite confident that with Kemi Badenoch, that is exactly what they will get.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Despite celebrating the passing of abortion-related ballot initiatives in seven states, abortion rights advocates warn that a second Donald Trump presidency puts nationwide access to abortion care in danger.

"An already harmful abortion access crisis will likely get worse," Kelly Baden, the vice president of policy at the Guttmacher Institute, told ABC News.

"The 13 states that currently ban abortion -- there are real consequences to that including death. Women are dying from these abortion bans," Baden said.

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Trump may have persuaded voters that there won't be a federal abortion ban, but experts warn nationwide access could be at risk.

"I don't think that people know that a federal abortion ban would preempt state constitutional protection. There could also be this sense that, 'I'm voting yes on this amendment, and that means my state is fine,'" Elisabeth Smith, the director of state policy at the Center for Reproductive Rights, told ABC News.

PHOTO: Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump gestures as he walks with former first lady Melania Trump at an election night watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Center, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Evan Vucci/AP)

MORE: Florida's pro-abortion ballot initiative projected to fail in first since Roe was overturned

"A federal abortion ban -- if the U.S. Supreme Court allowed it to take effect -- would preempt the policy of a state where abortion is legal and accessible," Smith said. "We don't yet know which party controls the House [of Representatives], but that is a possibility."

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The regulation of federal agencies could also impact access to abortion care. Medication abortion could come under fire if the Food and Drug Administration -- under a Trump presidency -- limits access to mifepristone, one of the pills used in the regimen to terminate pregnancy, or rolls back its approval, as anti-abortion groups have tried to do.

The Trump administration could also attempt to misuse the Comstock Act to try to prevent access to medication abortion, Smith warned.

PHOTO: With tears streaming down her face, a supporter of Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris applauds as Harris delivers a concession speech after the 2024 presidential election, Nov. 6, 2024, at Howard University in Washington. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

The 150-year-old law is an anti-obscenity law "makes it a crime to mail anything thats 'indecent, filthy, or vile' or 'intended for producing abortion,'" according to the ACLU.

Ballot initiatives

Missouri became the first state with a near-total abortion ban in effect to approve a pro-abortion rights initiative since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ending federal protections for abortion rights.

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)

If the ban is repealed as expected, Missouri could facilitate closer access to abortion care for women in the South. The state borders four states that have ceased nearly all abortion services -- Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

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But, there is not currently a single brick-and-mortar abortion clinic in Missouri which means that even when the law is repealed, it would still take time for access to care to resume, according to Baden.

"So, we'll continue to see people having to leave the state for clinician-provided abortion care or to find another way to get care in the meantime," Baden said.

The legal proceeding to overturn the state's ban under the new constitutional amendment could also take months to years, according to Baden.

PHOTO: A flock of birds fly in front of the White House at dusk, in Washington, Nov. 2024. (Graeme Sloan/epa-efe/shutterstoc/GRAEME SLOAN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstoc)

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The battlegrounds of Arizona and Nevada were also 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.

But, exit polling showed that some supporters of abortion still elected Trump in battleground states.

MORE: Abortion ballot initiatives could have helped Harris win, instead Trump overperformed

Advocates warn that while ballot initiatives have proved effective, they are not a universal solution.

PHOTO: Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump departs an election night event, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Win Mcnamee/Getty Images)

"They are just one tool in the toolbox. They are clearly not our silver bullet, both, because structurally they can't be. Not every state even allows for ballot measures like that, they're expensive and they also are not an immediate solution ... a series of litigation has to happen,"

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Advocates for abortion-care-related protections said they will continue to work to restore and protect access to abortion care under the incoming administration.

"It is our task to hold this incoming administration to its word that it will not work to further restrict or ban abortion and we will hold them to their insistence that they will invest in caregiving," Fatima Goss Graves, president of the National Womens Law Center Action Fund, told reporters during a press conference Wednesday.

What could abortion access look like under Trump? originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
As President-elect Trump sifts through options for his administration, he has ruled out previous officials Nikki Haley and Mike Pompeo for his foreign policy team. Former CIA Officer Marc Polymeropoulos explains what Americans can expect from Trumps foreign policy teams and how Ukraine may fare with the peace deal promised by Trump once he is sworn into office.
In September, a federal appeals court dealt a major blow to the Internet Archiveone of the largest online repositories of free books, media, and softwarein a copyright case with significant implications for publishers, libraries, and readers.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit upheld a lower court ruling that found the Internet Archive's huge, digitized lending library of copyrighted books was not covered by the "fair use" doctrine and infringed on the rights of publishers.

Agreeing with the Archive's interpretation of fair use "would significantly narrowif not entirely evisceratecopyright owners' exclusive right to prepare derivative works," the 2nd Circuit ruled. "Were we to approve [Internet Archive's] use of the works, there would be little reason for consumers or libraries to pay publishers for content they could access for free."

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Following the decision, Maria Pallante, president of the Association of American Publishers, said in a press release that the Archive "attempted to do what no one had done before, which was to call unauthorized distribution of entire books 'lending' without permission."

The Internet Archive is a nonprofit with a mission "to provide Universal Access to All Knowledge," with an online collection of 44 million books and texts. It also operates a digital lending library called the Open Library. The Archive owns a physical copy of every book in the Open Library, and it scans and uploads them. Except for a period during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Archive has allowed only one digital copy of a book to be checked out at a timea one-to-one owned-to-loaned ratio, just like a brick-and-mortar library.

In 2020, four publishersHachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, John Wiley & Sons, and Penguin Random Housesued the Archive, alleging copyright infringements. A federal court ruled against the Internet Archive in March 2023, and the nonprofit appealed the decision to the 2nd Circuit last September.

The Archive argued that its Open Library was protected by fair use doctrine and that scanning the books was a transformative use of the material done in the public interest.

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"Our take is that it's absurd that the Internet Archive is allowed to mail me a physical book it owns. The physical publishers can't stop that. But [the Archive] can't give me the same content in digital form," Cara Gagliano, senior staff attorney for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which is representing the Archive in court, told KQED in San Francisco.

The 2nd Circuit rejected that argument almost entirely, holding that the Archive's digitization didn't improve the efficiency of lending; that it didn't constitute transformative works, but rather "derivative" works; and that it directly competed with publishers by offering free versions of their entire product.

"True, libraries and consumers may reap some short-term benefits from access to free digital books, but what are the long-term consequences?" the court wrote. "If authors and creators knew that their original works could be copied and disseminated for free, there would be little motivation to produce new works."

The 2nd Circuit's reasoning fundamentally misunderstood several issues at the heart of the case. Publishers have steadily made e-licenses for books more expensive and subject to more and more frequent renewals, making it difficult for libraries to afford extensive online catalogs.

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The 2nd Circuit also claims to be protecting authors, but the typical users of the lending library are writers and researchers who need to briefly get their hands on an old book, not someone looking for the latest bestseller. (For example, when I was researching a story about the history of the Drug Enforcement Administration for Reason, I used the Archive's Open Library to check out a scan of Joe Eszterhas' Nark!, an out-of-print 1974 nonfiction book detailing the deadly misadventures of federal narcotics agents.)

While the rest of the internet becomes noticeably worse and more obnoxiousa process the author Cory Doctorow memorably calls "enshittification"the Archive remains an example of the radical digital freedom that the World Wide Web originally promised to users.

The 2nd Circuit's ruling is a gift to the "weary giants of flesh and steel," as John Perry Barlow's 1996 "Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace" called the industries and governments trying to regulate the early internet. The Internet Archive was founded the same year Barlow published his manifesto.

The nonprofit said in a press release that it was "reviewing the court's opinion and will continue to defend the rights of libraries to own, lend and preserve books."

The post Courts Are Coming for Digital Libraries appeared first on Reason.com.
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) said that officers responded to reports of a disturbance on Saturday, Nov. 9, around 11 p.m., involving a man attempting to set fires inside and outside his home.

According to CSPD, officers arrived on the 1500 block of South Corona Avenue, near I-25 and South Nevada Avenue, where 55-year-old Michael Alexander refused to answer his door. He then exited his home and set items on fire in front of it, prompting a response from the Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD).

Police said Alexander then went back inside and tried unsuccessfully to set items on fire. He allegedly yelled threats of violence at officers.

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The road was shut down during the incident, and around 1:15 a.m., Alexander came outside again, where officers were able to safely take him into custody. No injuries were reported, and Alexander was arrested for first-degree arson.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuban authorities said late on Saturday they would not tolerate "public disorder" as the island's emergency workers cleared debris and worked to restore power to parts of western Cuba still in the dark four days after the passage of Hurricane Rafael.

Rafael blew down hundreds of transmission lines and poles across the western Cuba, knocking out power to the entire country of 10 million people and sparking scattered protests.

Cuba's top prosecutor said it had pressed charges and "preventively" detained people in Havana, Mayabeque and Ciego de Avila provinces for "assault, public disorder and vandalism."

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"(Such crimes) contrast with the selfless and supportive attitude of all those who, in current circumstances, are dedicated to helping the country recover," the prosecutor said in a statement.

"Actions carried out in the territories to recover services must be accompanied by a climate of order, discipline and respect for authorities."

The brief note included no specifics about the arrests or the crimes committed.

More than 85% of the capital Havana had seen power restored by Sunday morning, Cuba's grid operator said. But some residents on social media reported scattered pot-banging in protest of continuing blackouts.

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Artemisa and Pinar del Rio provinces, harder hit by Rafael, were still largely without power on Sunday.

Rolling blackouts are expected to continue throughout the country, as Cuba's antiquated oil-fired generation plants fail to produce sufficient electricity to meet demand.

Protests in communist-run Cuba are exceedingly rare but have cropped up more often as tensions flare over hours-long daily blackouts and shortages of water, fuel, food and medicine.

Although Cuba's 2019 constitution grants citizens the right to protest, a law more specifically defining that right has for years been stalled in the legislature, leaving those who take to the street in legal limbo.

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Rights groups, the European Union and the United States critiqued Cuba's response to anti-government protests on July 11, 2021 - the largest since Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution - as heavy-handed and repressive.

(Reporting by Dave Sherwood; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
HAVANA (AP)  Cuban authorities said Sunday they arrested a number of people for disorderly behavior after protests over blackouts that stretched on for days broke out in recent weeks.

Cuba's Attorney General's office said it started criminal proceedings against people in Cuba's capital Havana, the province of Mayabeque and the city of Ciego de Avila for assault, disorderly behavior and damages imprisoning them in what it said was a precautionary measure.

The statement didn't provide details about how many people were detained, or the conditions in which they were arrested, saying only that aggression towards authorities" resulted in injuries.

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Cuba often levels such charges against citizens that protest on the island, including teenagers, fueling concerns by human rights groups, the European Union and the United States.

On the same day Cuban authorities announced the arrests, the organization Justicia11J posted on social media saying it confirmed that authorities had arrested at least three people protesting in Ciego de Avila on Nov. 7.

After the town was without electricity for more than 24 hours, the people of the town took to the streets banging on kettles and chanting turn on the power, the organization wrote in a post.

The arrests come after the island was slammed by two hurricanes in a matter of weeks, compounded by sometimes dayslong power blackouts due to the country's energy crisis and strong winds from the hurricane.

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Category 3 Hurricane Rafael barreled through the western half of the island, knocking out the entire country's power grid. While authorities have been able to restore some power in central hubs like Havana, many on the island are still without electricity and running water.

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake in eastern Cuba on Sunday morning only added to the country's woes.

On top of the natural disasters, frustrations on the island have simmered due to an economic crisis and soaring prices for gasoline and food, leaving average Cubans scrambling to buy even the most basic items like chicken and eggs.

The struggles have pushed hundreds of thousands of Cubans to migrate from the country in recent years and have also fueled protests, which have been met by similar crackdowns by the Cuban government.

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The most notable came in July 2021, when food shortages fueled mass anti-government demonstrations, the biggest in decades. Those protests, which were marked by a few cases of looting and violence by protesters, were met by a harsh crackdown by the Cuban government.

Though no official figures were provided, non-governmental monitoring groups reported that around 1,000 people were arrested, 700 of whom had to go to court. Charges like sabotage, violent robbery, assault and public disorder were leveled at many protesters, though many family members of those detained insist that their children were not involved in any violent crimes.

The protests were followed by smaller demonstrations in October 2022 and again in March this year.
After suspending his campaign for president, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. endorsed President-elect Donald Trump. For all his efforts on the campaign trail, RFK Jr. could be given a position as a health czar in the Trump White House. Dr. Kavita Patel, Stanford University professor of medicine, discusses the concerns she has over RFK Jr.s vaccine skepticism and potential Trump administration role.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Tuesdays election brought us surprises and tense moments locally and nationally. Dana Haynes, Director of Editorial Content at the Portland Tribune, has been a political insider in the city, including as a staffer for former Portland Mayor Charlie Hales.

On this weeks Eye on Northwest Politics, Haynes shared some key takeaways from election night, including Portlands election of Keith Wilson for mayor. Haynes recalled when Wilson first appeared on his radar when he was running for City Council several years back.

At the time, we thought although he is a newcomer, he will be back. And when he hit the ground running on this race, he was on message, Haynes recalled. Every time I saw him, the man had one message. It was homelessness, homelessness, homelessness. And he never veered off it so early on.

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Regarding the upcoming changes to the structure of City Hall, Haynes describes it as a vastly, entirely different creature from the current iteration.

First off, this fellow is not going to be the commissioner for the police department or any other bureau. Hes not going to be running a bureau the way the mayors have for 100 years, he said. Secondly, hes going to have to deal with the city manager. Weve never had one. We have one in every other city in Oregon, we just dont have one here. Secondly, theres going to be a City Council president that might be the most influential, important person in City Hall, which has always been the mayor. How are those two going to get along? I guess were going to find out.

The state of Oregon had Measure 117, which would have taken ranked-choice voting statewide. However, it was overwhelmingly voted down. Haynes believes this was due to the measure being not only poorly written, but poorly timed.

I think it was the wording of it and the fact that the legislature opted themselves out of it, he said. People thought, Oh, they dont want it, but they put it on the ballot. That seems odd to me. So I think the timing was poor. If they had let Portland and Multnomah County, in two years, run a few of these and then try it statewide, I think it might have succeeded.

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Meanwhile, Measure 118, which was also voted down, would have given $1,600 in free money. Haynes said this was likely due to this being a scam run by outsiders who are not Oregonians.

It would have blown a huge hole in the state budget. And I think that message coming from every stripe of Oregon politics was enough to convince voters that this was a con job, he noted.

Shifting to the national stage, Donald Trump going back to the White House come January and his victory was pretty decisive. Regarding what the media could have missed when it came to Trumps return to power, Haynes noted we need to stop believing in what the polls indicate.

My theory is that polling was a science in the 20th century and the 21st, I think polling no longer works, partly because of cell phones, partly because people just dont want to tell you how theyre going to vote. They dont think its any of your bloody business, he said. So I think theres going to come a time  and I was hoping it would have been a couple of years ago  when we just simply stopped believing the polls, because the polling science has failed in this century.

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Nationally, the Democrats leaned to abortion and protecting democracy as their core issues. Republicans focused on the border, the economy, as well as some transgender issues. Haynes believes this boils down to the messenger, not necessarily the message.

Donald Trump has some flaws as a human being, but hes an incredibly good messenger. He gets his message across to the people he needs to get his message across, he said. If another conservative Republican had tried to do that same message, he might have gotten slaughtered. So I think the messenger might be more important than the message. I think thats been the take-away for me right now, but I also think theres going to be doctoral theses and books written about this for the next 30 years, at least.

Watch the full interview in the video above.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Nov. 10 (UPI) -- On this date in history:

In 1775, the United States Marine Corps, then known as the Continental Marines, was formed by order of the Second Continental Congress. President Gerald Ford marked the 200th birthday of the military branch by laying a wreath at the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Va.

In 1871, journalist Henry Stanley found Scottish missionary David Livingstone in a small African village. His famous comment: "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?"

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In 1898, a mob of more than 2,000 people, angry over the election of a Fusionist white mayor and a biracial city council, went on a rampage throughout the city of Wilmington, N.C., targeting and killing African Americans.

In 1918, a Western Union Cable Office in Nova Scotia received a top-secret message stating that all fighting related the Great War (World War I) would cease on Nov. 11, 1918.

On November 10, 2003, U.S. Congress redesignated Congaree National Monument as Congaree National Park in South Carolina. File Photo by Direwolf73/Wikimedia

File Photo by Madeline Marshall/UPI

In 1942, Nazi troops entered previously unoccupied France, the de facto government of which was centered in Vichy state. The occupation was spurred by Allied forces teaming up with free French forces in North Africa to battle Axis powers. Germany already occupied northern France in 1940 and Vichy, led by Marshal Philippe Petain in the south, was considered to be a puppet of the Germans.

"Sesame Street" muppets Elmo and Grover stand on the red carpet at the Sesame Workshop's 13th Annual Benefit Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City on May 27, 2015. The PBS series debuted November 10, 1969. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

In 1951, area codes were introduced in the United States, Canada and parts of the Caribbean, allowing direct-dialing of long-distance telephone calls.

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In 1969, Sesame Street premiered on PBS with the lofty ideals aimed at being an "experimental laboratory to stimulate the educational development of preschool children via television."

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio is on the phone at the 2016 U.S. Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on September 11, 2016. On November 10, 1951, area codes were introduced in the United States, Canada and parts of the Caribbean, allowing direct-dialing of long-distance telephone calls. File Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI

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In 1975, the ore freighter Edmund Fitzgerald broke in two and sank during a storm on Lake Superior, killing all 29 crew members.

In 1982, Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev died at age 75 after 18 years in power.

Vichy, France, Marshal Philippe Petain (L) greets Nazi leader Adolf Hitler in 1940. On November 10, 1942, Nazi troops entered previously unoccupied France, the de facto government of which was centered in Vichy state. Vichy was seen as a puppet government controlled by Germany. File Photo courtesy the German Federal Archive

File Photo by Frank Cancellare/UPI

In 1983, Microsoft released its Windows computer operating system.

On November 10, 1994, the only privately owned manuscript of Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci was sold at auction at Christie's in New York for $30.8 million, the highest amount paid for a manuscript. Bill Gates, pictured in 1998, purchased the codex. File Photo by Roger Williams/UPI

In 2003, U.S. Congress redesigned Congaree National Monument as Congaree National Park in South Carolina.

In 2006, Mexico City lawmakers officially recognized same-sex civil unions.

Skyler K. Briggs takes her commissioning oath alongside fellow Marines in Annapolis, Md., on May 26. On November 10, 1775, the United States Marine Corps, then known as the Continental Marines, was formed by order of the Second Continental Congress. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI

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In 2009, John Allen Muhammad, convicted as the sniper who killed 10 people in a 2002 shooting spree in the Washington area, was executed in Virginia.

In 2020, Armenia signed a peace deal with Azerbaijan and Russia, bringing an end to fighting over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Microsoft CEO Bill Gates (L) plays a fake game of "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire" with Regis Philbin during the October 25, 2001, New York launch of Microsoft Windows XP. On November 10, 1983, Microsoft released its Windows computer operating system. File Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI

In 2022, the private art collection of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen sold for $1.5 billion, the largest single-owner collection ever sold at auction.
DEARBORN, Michigan  Arab American leaders for months warned Vice President Kamala Harris that she needed to separate herself from President Joe Bidens support of Israel in the war in Gaza  or face an electoral backlash from this influential community in a key battleground.

But those pleas went largely ignored.

Instead, Harris made strategic errors that deeply insulted Arab American voters reeling from intense grief as the death toll in the Middle East climbed. She refused to host a Palestinian American onstage at the Democratic National Convention. She curtly shut down protesters at campaign rallies who criticized her solidarity with Biden over the conflict. She dispatched pro-Israel surrogates to Michigan.

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Now, many Arab American residents in Dearborn feel like theyve been redeemed, said Michael Sareini, Dearborn city council president. They wanted to send a message and they did.



This stance on endless wars and killing of innocent women and children has got to end, he said.

In the initial days after the election, as Democrats despaired over the results, Dearborn residents felt unsurprised by President-elect Donald Trumps resounding win, according to interviews with nearly a dozen Arab American leaders in this densely populated Muslim city just outside Detroit. Adding to their sense that they were right, their protest vote was not limited solely to Arab Americans, who make up a fraction of the U.S. population. Their furor toward the Biden administration over Gaza spilled out onto college campuses across the nation and among progressives of all ages, amounting to the most significant anti-war protest in a generation.

While we dealt with that grief, we became much more politically mature, said Amer Zahr, a Palestinian American activist.

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Unofficial results show Trump received the most votes in Dearborn, with 42 percent, while Harris earned 36 percent  a 33 percentage point drop from when Biden won Dearborn in 2020. Green party candidate Jill Stein collected 18 percent.



Zoom into Arab American neighborhoods and youll find an even more dramatic crumbling for the vice president. Trump showed up big throughout the Eastern and Southern parts of Dearborn, where a high concentration of the community lives. In one of those precincts, Harris earned only 13 percent while Trump got 51 percent.

Multiple Dearborn leaders said that Trumps social conservatism and isolationist America First foreign policy made Arabs more comfortable with backing a Republican after the community fled from the GOP in the aftermath of 9/11. And, for a population that often feels targeted by the justice system, many identified with Trumps legal woes.

But those leaders emphasized that the dramatic move toward Trump does not mark a permanent realignment with the Republican party for this demographic historically part of the Democratic base but rather an explicit rejection of Biden and Harris. The top of the ticket was the exception: Democrats won Dearborn at every other level of the ballot, from U.S. Rep. Rashida Talib down to state lawmakers and school board members.

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They didn't vote for Trump because they believe Trump is the best candidate, said Osama Siblani, publisher of the Arab American News. No, they voted for Trump because they want to punish the Democrats and Harris.

I am speaking now

When Harris took Bidens place as the Democratic nominee in July, Arab Americans were hopeful. She had given some indications of a softer stance in the Middle East, and Dearborn residents were optimistic that she may be the president who would stand up against Israel. By that point, the war in Gaza had endured for nine months  and Biden repeatedly refused to order an arms embargo against Israel, despite pleas from the community for an end to the bombardment that according to Gaza health officials has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians.

But when Palestinian Americans were denied a speaking slot at the DNC convention a few weeks later, residents in Dearborn started to feel disgruntled. That resentment grew when Harris in August told a pro-Palestinan protester I am speaking now  a line that Arab Americans now point to as a difficult moment for Harris to overcome.

As the deaths increased in the Middle East  and images of dead bodies were shared widely on social media  the Arab community felt even more pushed aside by the Biden administration. It started to feel, they said, like a betrayal from Harris herself.

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When Israel launched a ground invasion into Lebanon in October, which they stated was in response to military attacks by Hezbollah, Arab Americans rage over the response by the U.S. reached its peak.

Opposition to Harris built up slowly but surely, as the war continued on, said Abed Hammoud, founder of the Arab American Political Action Committee. A large share of Dearborns population comes from South Lebanon, which has been devastated by the military action. Some Michigan residents have seen their entire families overseas killed.

I wake up in the morning, I turn on the news just to see which village was leveled to the ground and who was killed, said Sam Baydoun, Wayne County commissioner, who emigrated to America from Lebanon when he was 15. This is the daily routine we have here in Michigan.



In the final weeks of the campaign, the Harris campaign dispatched surrogates to Michigan who deeply offended the Arab community. Bill Clinton, speaking at a rally in late October, said Israelis were in the Holy Land first. Residents also grumbled about appearances by New York Rep. Richie Torres, a staunch Israel proponent.

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Adding to insult, the campaign touted the endorsement of former Vice President Dick Cheney, the mastermind behind the war in Iraq. His daughter, Liz Cheney, who was the former No. 3 Republican in the House and a staunch Trump critic, was featured as part of Harris closing message.

By that point, Harris repeated statements that she wanted to end the war in Gaza and return hostages felt hollow to this community. She had lost them.

An opening for Trump

The Trump campaign viewed the Arab communitys disdain toward Harris in the waning weeks before the election as an opportunity. Residents were inundated with anti-Harris texts and mailers, which played big among voters, said Ali Jawad, founder of the Lebanese American Heritage Club.

Then Trump paid a visit to Dearborn four days before the election. He stood in a restaurant surrounded by a crowd of Arab Americans and declared that under his presidency, were going to have peace in the Middle East  but not with the clowns that you have running the U.S. right now.

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Harris never personally visited Dearborn. Campaign staff and surrogates went in her place instead.

The Democrats did this, Zahr said. They created a situation where Donald Trump was walking around our city, putting his feet up, shaking hands, kissing babies and Harris didn't even enter our community. She was afraid.

Arabs in Dearborn were united in anguish but deeply divided on how to express it politically. Factions emerged. Conversations among themselves grew tense. The main PAC representing Arab American interests not only declined to make a presidential endorsement but urged residents not to vote for Harris or Trump. Some residents decided to skip voting in the presidential race entirely.

There was a split among the areas mayors. Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud emerged as a strong ally of the uncommitted movement, the Michigan-born coalition that galvanized antiwar sentiment on college campuses. Election results revealed that some big liberal college counties seemed to underperform for the Democratic ticket by at least a point.

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Hammoud refused to meet with Trump when he was in Dearborn, based on his disagreement with the former presidents enactment of the Muslim ban and arming of Saudi Arabia. But he also declined to endorse Harris.

The mayors in two neighboring cities with similarly large Arab populations, Dearborn Heights and Hamtramck, stumped for Trump throughout Michigan. Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi even appeared at Trumps final campaign rally held in Grand Rapids in the hours before Election Day.

But Trumps record  like the Muslim ban and his promises to deport millions of immigrants  was enough for some to push aside their misgivings for Harris, like for political organizer Ismael Ahmed, who said he held my nose and voted for her.

Yet in the end, Trump was able to say some things that made them think maybe hes really on our side, Ahmed said. Or maybe hell fix the economy in a way that no one else will. And it worked.


South Florida once was home to enough Democrats they could swing statewide elections and tallied multiple wins in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

No more.

There are still more Democrats than Republicans in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties, but their advantage is decreasing.

The region isnt, overall, Republican red. But its no longer bright Democratic blue. South Floridas purple, said Steve Geller, a Broward County commissioner and former Florida Senate Democratic leader.

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Democrats are really in trouble I think in South Florida, said Kathryn DePalo-Gould, a Florida International University political scientist. It looks like South Florida is also changing.

One of the most ominous developments for Democrats is Republican Donald Trumps victory in Miami-Dade, the first time a Republican presidential candidate has won the states largest county since the 1980s.

Trump won 55% of the vote in Miami-Dade County, 11 percentage points ahead of Democrat Kamala Harris.

In 2016, Democrat Hillary Clinton received 63% of the Miami-Dade County vote, 29 points ahead of Trump.

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Two years ago, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis also won the county, where Democrats still  slightly  outnumber registered Republicans.

Also in 2022, DeSantis won Palm Beach County, where Democrats significantly outnumber Republicans. This year Trump finished less than three-quarters of a percentage point behind Harris.

Only Broward is still reliably Democratic  but not nearly as strongly so as it once was.

Trump received 40.9% of the vote in Broward, a county where a statewide Republican winning more than 30% of the vote once was considered an achievement. Trump received 31.2% in 2016 and 34.7% in 2020.

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South Florida, by virtue of the large population in all three counties, has always been home to a large number of Republican voters, said Kevin Wagner, a Florida Atlantic University political scientist. Whats changing, he said, is that their numbers are increasing and their candidates are competing in, and sometimes winning races that historically they havent.

That is a sign of growing Republican strength, Wagner said.

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Broward

Harris received 507,057 votes in Broward, unofficial totals Friday showed, for 57.8% of the vote.

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Trump received 358,842 votes, or 40.9% in his third presidential contest.

The trajectory is striking. Trump has gone way up from the 260,951 votes he received in 2016 to 333,409 in 2020.

Harris had a huge falloff from the 618,752 votes Biden received in 2020. In 2016, Clinton received 553,320 votes in Broward.

Broward is still an overwhelmingly Democratic county. There is only one Republican in the county, state Rep. Chip LaMarca of Lighthouse Point, who holds a partisan office in which candidates run with Democratic or Republican party labels.

But the results, in many cases, are getting tighter.

Moskowitz district

U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Parkland, won a second term in the Broward-Palm Beach county 23rd District on Tuesday.

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Moskowitz received 52.42% of the vote, according to unofficial results Friday, to 47.58% for Republican Joe Kaufman, who had run for Congress many times before in another district.

Moskowitz margin of victory was the closest of all 27 congressional races in the state. (One district didnt have an election because no one came forward to challenge U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who represents another Broward-Palm Beach county district.)

Moskowitz is far better known in Broward, where he served in elected and appointed offices, and it was the Broward part of the district that carried him.

Moskowitz received 24,167 more votes than Kaufman in Broward. In Palm Beach County, Kaufman had a 6,092-vote advantage.

Southwest Broward

Voters in south and west Broward returned well known veteran elected officials to Congress, to the state Legislature, and to the County Commission.

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But their Republican opponents performed well, suggesting a reddening of that part of the county and a longer-term potential for Republican victories in a region long dominated by Democrats.

County Commissioner Nan Rich, who is currently serving a term as county mayor and a former Florida Senate Democratic leader, was reelected with 53% of the vote.

Her little-known Republican challenger Herbert E. Herb Vargas received 47%.

That to me speaks to having a Hispanic Republican running in a district that has a lot of Hispanic voters, said Richard DeNapoli, the elected state Republican committeeman for Broward and a former county Republican chair.

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U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston, the longest-serving Democratic member of Congress in the state, won her 11th term with 54% of the vote against Chris Eddy, a Weston city commissioner.

In the lower-turnout midterm election in 2022, Wasserman Schultz received 55% of the vote against a perennial candidate who had never held elected office. Before the district became all-Broward two years ago and the territory she represented changed, Wasserman Schultz had averaged 63% in her previous elections in Broward.

State Rep. Robin Bartleman, D-Weston, won with 54.16%. Barbara Sharief, a former county commissioner and Miramar commissioner, received 56% of the vote to win an open Florida Senate seat.

A factor in southern and western Broward is almost certainly the increasing number of Hispanic residents  and the political leanings of many.

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I think it is a function of Hispanic voters in particular in western Broward who were voting straight-ticket Republican, DePalo-Gould said, making a lot of these districts a lot closer than we really have ever seen.

Democrats are still winning. But, she said, going forward it may be something Republicans are going to look at to eat into that Democratic base in Broward County the way they have always tried for the last 20 years.

If the trend continues, she said the next time the Florida Legislature redistricts congressional and legislative seats to reflect population changes uncovered in the 2030 Census, Republicans are likely to look at creating districts more favorable to their candidates.

The Democratic margins, particularly in South Broward, are not what they once were. And a lot of it is attributable to a loss of Hispanic votes I think we (Democrats) can get back, Geller said.

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He said the Democrats havent done a good job of countering the Republican messaging  which he said is a lie  to Hispanics that Democrats are socialists. In South Florida, where many Hispanic residents fled socialist regimes, that message can resonate.

We are not socialists. But they have managed to convince too many Hispanic voters in Florida, Geller said. Thats going to have an effect, particularly in South Broward.

Cuban Americans have been more Republican for years. But other Hispanics voting for Republicans, and particularly for Trump, carries long-term implications in Florida, said Roger Stone, a decades-long Trump ally and informal adviser who lives in Fort Lauderdale.

Traditionally, for example, Hispanic voters beyond Cubans in this state were Democrats. Trump won among Puerto Ricans (Tuesday). He won among all ethnic Hispanic voters. Thats a realignment, he told reporters at Trumps election night victory party.

Palm Beach County

Harris received 372,230 votes in Palm Beach County, the unofficial tally showed Friday, for 49.76 % of the vote. Harris was down from 433,572 votes received by Biden in 2020 and slightly below the 374,673 votes that went to Clinton in 2016.

Trump had 366,686 votes, or 49.02%

Trump is up, from 334,711 votes in 2020 and 272,402 in 2016.

With Trump being that close, Palm Beach is now more of a competitive county. It looks more like Tampa in a lot of ways than the true blue county that Palm Beach was, DePalo-Gould said.

Two years ago, DeSantis won the county on the way to his landslide reelection, propelling the other statewide candidates to strong showings.

Palm Beach County is still heavily Democratic, but Republicans have had some victories and strong results.

This year, Republicans came close to winning an important office, state attorney, thats been held by Democrats for decades.

Democrat Alexcia Cox received 49.19% of the vote to 48.39% for Republican Sam Stern. Adam Farkas, running with no party affiliation, received 2.42%. We would have won that race if Farkas hadnt run, said Joe Budd, the elected Republican state committeeman for Palm Beach County.

Republicans badly wanted the state attorneys office. Three billionaires who support Trump gave $500,000 to Sterns political committee, reported the investigative newsletter Seeking Rents, which focuses on the way business influences public policy in Florida.

Republicans in Palm Beach County had major victories.

State Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman, R-Highland Beach, won a second term against a well-funded Democratic challenger, Jay Shooster in southeast Palm Beach County.

In western Palm Beach County, Republican Meg Weinberger, endorsed by Trump and given the nickname MAGA Meg, easily defeated Democrat Rachelle Litt to fill the seat being vacated by Republican state Rep. Rick Roth, who was prevented from running again by term limits.

And the most significant, Republican Anne Gerwig defeated Democratic state Rep. Katherine Waldron. A recount that finished early Saturday confirmed the result.

Terrie Rizzo, former chair of the Florida Democratic Party and the Palm Beach County Democratic Party, touted her sides many pluses, including holding the countywide elected offices.

Most significant was Democrat Joel Flores County Commission win. The former Greenacres mayor will become the first ever Hispanic Palm Beach County commissioner. He defeated Michael Barnett, a former chair of the Palm Beach County Republican Party, who had been appointed to the commission by DeSantis and was running for a full term.

DeSantis appointment of Barnett gave the Palm Beach County Commission a Republican majority. It will now revert to a Democratic majority.

Budd touted and Rizzo lamented the results in School Board District 5 where Gloria Branch defeated Mindy Koch in the officially nonpartisan race. Koch is also a former chair of the Palm Beach County Democratic Party.

Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com and can be found @browardpolitics on Bluesky, Threads, Facebook and Mastodon.
Several elected Democrats sounded off on their partys failure to present a coherent economic message to voters on Sunday as the post-mortem begins for the left in the wake of Kamala Harriss stunning defeat.

Though their warning is already meeting some resistance, Democrats including Chris Murphy, Ro Khanna and Bernie Sanders offered stern critiques of their partys accelerated losses with working-class voters of all races, especially men, as well as other constituencies once considered core parts of the Obama coalition, like Latino voters.

Khanna and Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats in the Senate and twice ran for president with the backing of a political movement that included some of those very same constituencies, were on the Sunday news show circuit this weekend.

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Bottom line, if youre an average working person out there, do you really think that the Democratic party is going to the mat and fighting for you? I think the overwhelming answer is no. And that is what its got to change, Sanders said on Sunday, adding: Its not messaging Its a fundamental understanding of saying, look, the Biden administration has done a lot of good things, period. We should all be proud of that, but it has to be put in the broad context of the reality of the American economy today.

Khanna, a California congressman representing the tech hub of Silicon Valley, tweeted on Saturday that his party failed to present a compelling economic vision for the working class.

In an interview with CBSs Face the Nation, the congressman expanded on his thoughts about the election. He blamed his party as a whole for becoming too insular: too willing to cancel people for opposing points of view, and more specifically this cycle unwilling to listen to a base of voters, mostly younger people, who were disgusted with the Biden-Harris administrations position on Gaza.

Bernie Sanders laid out his reasoning for accusing the Democrats of abandoning working-class voters in a pair of twin interviews on Sunday (Meet The Press)

I think she would have certainly won Michigan if there was more of a reckoning of the failures of the Biden administrations policies in the region, Khanna told Margaret Brennan. Beyond Michigan, this really was a concern for a lot of young people and a lot of progressives [around the country].

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Their concerns were shared by Murphy, another Senate Democrat. He laid out his diagnosis for the partys defeat in a Twitter thread on Sunday with one distinct remedy: abandon neoliberalism.

The left has never fully grappled with the wreckage of fifty years of neoliberalism, which has left legions of Americans adrift as local places are hollowed out, rapacious profit seeking cannibalizes the common good, and unchecked new technology separates and isolates us, wrote Murphy, who represents the northeastern blue bastion of Connecticut.

The problems, he continued, were obvious: stagnant economic mobility for many Americans and an erosion of social life.

But he went on to argue that the only way to shake up that dynamic was with real solutions that challenged the rich donors who support Democrats  wealthy interests who he said Democrats lacked the stomach to really challenge.

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[W]hen progressives like Bernie aggressively go after the elites that hold people down, they are shunned as dangerous populists, wrote Murphy. We cannot be afraid of fights - especially with the economic elites who have profited off neoliberalism...Those are hard things for the left. A firm break with neoliberalism. Listen to poor and rural people, men in crisis. Don't decide for them. Pick fights. Embrace populism. Build a big tent. Be less judgmental. But we are beyond small fixes.

Senator Chris Murphy emerged as a lead negotiator for his party in the Senate earlier this year, and is now delivering criticism of party leaders after a stunning defeat to Donald Trump (AFP via Getty Images)

It was as clear of a rebuke of the Democratic Partys leadership as any remotely mainstream figures have made since the 2016 primary, a traumatizing battle which left scars in the party that never healed and made many wary of a intra-party fight for the nomination this year. But its one that comes as Kamala Harris, having run a campaign that delighted #NeverTrump conservative pundits, failed to turn out voters who previously voted for Sanders, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden and Barack Obama. She is now $20m in debt and sitting in the losers column while Republicans appear poised to control both chambers of Congress and the presidency.

And while Harris and Bidens assorted spheres of influence in the Democratic Party have turned their fire against each other, its become clear that something went terribly wrong for the party. A stunning revelation was dropped by former Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau, host of Pod Save America, on his show Friday: Favreau told listeners that internal Biden campaign polling in the summer of 2024 showed the incumbent president losing re-election to his opponent by a truly stagggering margin. Donald Trump, in the Biden campaigns own internal poll, was supposedly set to win 400 of the 538 Electoral College votes.

For comparison: Donald Trump swept all seven of a group of swing states thought to be in play this cycle: Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, North Carolian, Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Even with Harris failing to win a single one, Trump was 88 electoral votes behind where the Biden campaigns internal polling supposedly said that hypothetical matchup would have turned out.

DNC chair Jaime Harrison has already announced that he will not seek another term as his partys leader early next year. With Harris and Biden gone, the partys leadership is hollowed out; Chuck Schumer, the incoming Senate minority leader, is now set to be the most prominent Democrat in leadership nationwide, followed by House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries. Neither has a significant national following of any kind.
ST. MARYS COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  Deputies said they are searching for a man after he was in illegal possession of 80 firearms, including multiple 3D-printed ghost guns in St. Marys County.

According to the St. Marys County Sheriffs Office, on Nov. 7 at around 9:20 p.m., deputies responded to a reported domestic assault at a home in the 20000 block of Goddard Road in Lexington Park.

The suspect, identified as 39-year-old Jerod Adam Taylor, allegedly fled the scene before deputies arrived.

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Deputies said they began investigating and learned that Taylor had multiple guns, which they found in plain view in the residence. Taylor is barred from owning firearms due to prior convictions. He is also wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant for theft.

Man shot in Lexington Park, sheriffs office investigating

The next day, detectives executed search warrants at the residence and nearby vehicles, in which they recovered multiple 3D-printed ghost guns (guns without serial numbers), semi-automatic rifles, handguns, shotguns, an assortment of firearm components and an AK-47 semi-automatic rifle, according to the sheriffs office.

They also found several large-capacity magazines, 74 auto sears (devices that convert semi-automatic guns to fully automatic), body armor, over 1,3000 rounds of ammunition and more.

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Overall, deputies said they recovered 80 firearms in the search.

(Officers seized several firearms and 3D-printed ghost guns in Lexington Park. (Courtesy: St. Marys County Sheriffs Office).

As a result, authorities charged Taylor with illegal possession of ammunition, second-degree assault, unlawful possession of an assault weapon with intent to sell, possession of a machine gun for an aggressive purpose and other related charges.

The sheriffs office has yet to locate Taylor. However, Deputies said that he should be considered armed and dangerous and that anyone who spots him should not approach him but should call 911.

A photo of Taylor from 2018. (Courtesy: St. Marys County Sheriffs Office).

Police also encourage anyone with information to contact detective David Lawrence at 301-475-4200, extension 8130, or at David.Lawrence@stmaryscountymd.gov.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
This story has been archived and will no longer be updated. For updates on this system, click here.

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  The new tropical wave continues to move westward, inching just below Florida.

The National Hurricane Center said the trough of low pressure is located a couple hundred miles east of the central Bahamas, producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms.

We have an egg in the nest: Southwest Florida Eagle Cam sees first egg of season

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Over the next 48 hours, it has a 10% chance of development, along with a 10% chance over the course of seven days.

Some slight development of this system is possible before it moves into unfavorable environmental conditions, the NHC added.

The disturbance will travel across the Bahamas through Sunday night.

The Florida Strawberry Festival announces artist lineup for 2025

WFLAs Max Defender 8 team will continue to monitor the system, although it is not expected to impact the Tampa Bay area.

Hurricane Rafael continues to rapidly weaken as it moves south, very slowly. The storm has maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and is expected to weaken even more with the wind shear and dry air.

Meteorologist Eric Stone said he expects the hurricane to weaken to a tropical depression either on Sunday or Monday. Rafael will become post-tropical, as its remnants move toward southern Mexico by the middle of the week.

Watch Tracking the Tropics on Tuesdays at 12:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. CT.

Be prepared with the 2024 Hurricane Guide and stay ahead of tropical development with the Tracking the Tropics newsletter.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Sean "Diddy" Combs' lawyers have disputed a claim made by federal prosecutors that the rapper trafficked a second victim.

The Bad Boy founder is currently facing a sex trafficking charge as part of an ongoing federal case related to a female victim with whom he was in a relationship for over a decade.

As for the alleged second victim, Sean "Diddy" Combs' lawyers are now asserting that this individual is "not a victim at all" and that federal prosecutors have yet to interview her.

Diddy's Lawyer Challenges Prosecutors' Claims Of A Second Sex Trafficking Victim

MEGA

Amid Diddy's ongoing federal sex crimes case, prosecutors have claimed that there may be a second victim whom the rapper trafficked as part of an alleged sex trafficking operation he orchestrated.

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In September, the authorities had arrested the rapper in part due to a sex trafficking charge involving a Jane Doe, who is now believed to be his ex-girlfriend, Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura.

While the sex trafficking charge will be contested fully when Diddy's trial is held in May 2025, the rapper's attorney has challenged the new claim about a second possible trafficked victim, per TMZ.

In a legal document filed on Friday, they claimed that the idea of a second victim was false, specifically noting that she is "not a victim at all."

They also mentioned that the woman wasn't a target of any obstructive conduct by Diddy, and the rapper didn't try to contact her, which would have obstructed the prosecutors' investigation.

Diddy's Lawyers Claim The Second Alleged Victim Has Not Been Interview By Federal Prosecutors

MEGA

As part of their latest petition, Diddy's lawyers argued that federal prosecutors have yet to interview the woman, suggesting they may not view her testimony as relevant to the case in the long run.

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The identity of the second victim remains unknown, as well as the details of her relationship with the rapper.

Diddy's lawyers' claim appears to have originated from a review of discovery materials that federal prosecutors provided them in preparation for next year's trial.

It is possible that the discovery materials also led Diddy's attorneys to claim in their filing that federal prosecutors misled the court and concealed crucial facts during Diddy's initial bail hearing following his September indictment.

They also attempted to poke holes in the sex trafficking case involving the first victim by claiming that she tried to extort $30 million from the Bad Boy founder to purchase the rights to a memoir about their relationship.

The Rapper's Attorney Made A Fourth Attempt to Secure Bail For Him

MEGA

Diddy's attorneys also requested bail for the rapper, marking the fourth attempt since his arrest.

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They argued that similar cases, such as Diddy's, have involved defendants being granted bail, and there was no reason his case should be treated any differently.

They also proposed a bail package similar to those previously offered in the rapper's other bail attempts. This package includes a $50 million bond and restrictions on the rapper's movements to prevent him from fleeing or obstructing the case by intimidating witnesses.

A decision on this bail attempt has yet to be made, but given the precedent set by the other denials, it is likely to be rejected.

The rapper remains in detention at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, where he was taken after his arrest.

Diddy Has Been Accused Of Multiple Sexual Assault And Rape Crimes

MEGA

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Apart from his federal case, Diddy has been involved in several high-profile lawsuits, keeping him firmly in the spotlight.

Most of these lawsuits were filed on behalf of some individuals from a group of 100 alleged victims represented by attorney Tony Buzbee. Among the accusations are claims that the rapper sexually assaulted multiple minors at the height of his fame in the music industry.

However, Diddy, through his attorneys, has denied these accusations and is ready to shut them down in court.

"Mr. Combs and his legal team have full confidence in the facts, their legal defenses, and the integrity of the judicial process," Combs' attorneys said in a statement in October, per Forbes.

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They added, "In court, the truth will prevail: that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted anyone  adult or minor, man or woman."

The Rapper Has Yet To Find A Buyer For His Beverly Hills Mansion That Was Raided By The Feds

MEGA

TMZ recently reported that Diddy's Beverly Hills mansion is still on the market and has been unable to attract a buyer after two months.

Sources told the news outlet that "only a few" potential buyers have checked it out or shown interest in the property.

One married couple reportedly looked at the house, but the woman was "creeped out" and couldn't wait to leave.

The mansion, which Diddy is asking $61.5 million for, was the subject of a massive Homeland Security raid back in March. It is rumored to have developed an "ick factor" because of all the allegations the rapper is facing.

Also, realtors are said to have been put off by the "ridiculous" price Diddy is asking for, as they say it's nowhere near the staggering sum.
The United States expressed strong support for the Philippines newly enacted maritime laws  the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act  and urged the international community to do the same and align its maritime claims with international law as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The United States values Philippine leadership in upholding international law, particularly in the South China Sea, and calls on all states to comport their maritime claims to the international law of the sea as reflected in the Convention, the US government said in a statement.

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The Maritime Zones Act aligns Philippine domestic laws with the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention and the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling. This law defines the Philippines internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone, and continental shelf in line with the Convention, Washington added.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano, for his part, said the two new laws 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.

The government will soon release a new official map that marks areas over which the country has sovereignty and sovereign rights, including the West Philippine Sea with specific coordinates and designations, the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority said after the signing of the two new laws.

NAMRIA administrator Peter Tiangco said the agency is just waiting for the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the new law.

We already have the maps prepared. We are just waiting for the IRR to make modifications according to whats needed. Once the IRR is issued, NAMRIA can move swiftly to release the map, he said.

Our maps will have the legal basis supported by existing laws, Tiangco added, implicitly referring to Chinas recent maps with its nine-dash-line over almost the entire South China Sea  a claim that was already rejected by the UN arbitral court in 2016.

China opposed the two newly-signed laws, claiming these illegal incorporated Bajo de Masinloc and the Kalayaan Island Group as part of the Philippines maritime zones.

China Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said: The law seriously violates the Declaration of the Conduct of All Parties in the South China Sea, which will lead to the complexity of the situation in the South China Sea. If the Philippines takes any infringement and provocative action in the South China Sea in accordance with the law, China will resolutely respond.

Mao urged the Philippines to stop taking any unilateral actions that may escalate disputes and complicate the situation, and to effectively maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.

The Philippine Maritime Zones Act or RA No. 12064 defines the maximum extent of the territorial sea (12 nautical miles), contiguous zone (24 nautical miles), EEZ (200 nautical miles), and continental shelf (beyond 200 nautical miles).

On the other hand, the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act or RA No. 12065 designates the sea lanes and air routes suitable for the continuous and expeditious passage of foreign ships and aircraft through or over the countrys archipelagic water and the adjacent territorial sea.

Editors Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline US supports new Philippine maritime laws.
Disgraced former Rep. Anthony Weiner has his eyes on another political run  this time setting his sights on the New York City Council.

Im thinking about it. Im wrestling with it, Wiener, 60, said on his weekly 77WABC radio show Saturday, City & State New York reported.

I love doing this job on the radio, but I want to be of service, he said.

Anthony Weiner is mulling a return to politics. Getty Images

Anthony Weiner served 21 months in prison for sexting a 15-year-old girl. AFP via Getty Images

Weiner hasnt held public office in more than a decade since he was ousted from his New York congressional seat in 2011 over a sexting scandal that involved several women and a minor.

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Two years later, he was caught up in another sexting scandal while running for mayor.

After serving 21 months in prison for sexting a 15-year-old North Carolina girl, he was released in 2019  and called himself a very sick man during his sentencing.

Weiner, who also went to rehab for sex addiction, was previously married to Huma Abedin, an aide to Hilary Clinton during her 2016 presidential run against Donald Trump.

When investigators searched his laptop over his sick messages  including selfies he sent when his then-4-year-old son was in the room, they discovered emails connected to the probe into the Democratic candidates email scandal.

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The discovery led the FBI to reopen the investigation of Clinton, just days before the 2016 election  a move Clinton blamed for her stunning loss to Trump.

Within about a week, the FBI declined to pursue their investigation into Clinton.

If the sex pest once known as Carlos Danger during his sexcapades does give politics another go, he would vie for the seat of Council Member Carlina Rivera, which will be open after her term ends in 2025.

Weiner did acknowledge Saturday that his personal baggage might hamper his odds.

The things in my past, the things about my addiction, the things about my acting out, the things about my background  its a lot, its a lot, he said.

But were at a moment that we Democrats, we seem like we come into knife fights carrying library books all the time.
One stormy Monday in March, 1827, the German composer Ludwig van Beethoven passed away after a protracted illness.

Bedridden since the previous Christmas, he was attacked by jaundice, his limbs and abdomen swollen, each breath a struggle.

As his associates went about the task of sorting through personal belongings, they uncovered a document Beethoven had written a quarter of a century earlier  a will beseeching his brothers make details of his condition known to the public.

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Today it is no secret that one of the greatest musicians the world has ever known was functionally deaf by his mid-40s.

It was a tragic irony Beethoven wished the world understood, not just from a personal perspective, but a medical one.

The composer would outlive his doctor by nearly two decades, yet close to two centuries after Beethoven's death a team of researchers set out to fulfill his testament in ways he would never have dreamed possible, by genetically analyzing the DNA in authenticated samples of his hair.

"Our primary goal was to shed light on Beethoven's health problems, which famously include progressive hearing loss, beginning in his mid- to late-20s and eventually leading to him being functionally deaf by 1818," biochemist Johannes Krause from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany explained in a press statement in 2023, when the results were unveiled.

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The primary cause of that hearing loss has never been known, not even to his personal physician Dr Johann Adam Schmidt.

What began as tinnitus in his 20s slowly gave way to a reduced tolerance for loud noise, and eventually a loss of hearing in the higher pitches, effectively ending his career as a performing artist.

For a musician, nothing could be more ironic. In a letter addressed to his brothers, Beethoven admitted he was "hopelessly afflicted", to the point of contemplating suicide.

It wasn't just hearing loss the composer had to deal with in his adult life. From at least the age of 22 he is said to have suffered severe abdominal pains and chronic bouts of diarrhea.

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Six years before his death the first indications of liver disease appeared, an illness thought to have been, at least in part, responsible for his death at the relatively young age of 56.

In 2007 a forensic investigation into a lock of what was believed to be Beethoven's hair suggested lead poisoning could have hastened his death, if not have been ultimately responsible for the symptoms that claimed his life.

Given the culture of drinking from lead vessels and medical treatments of the time that involved the use of lead, it's hardly a surprising conclusion.

This latest study, published in March 2023, debunks the theory, however, revealing that the hair never came from Beethoven in the first place, but rather an unknown woman.

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More importantly, several locks confirmed as far more likely to be from the composer's head demonstrate his death was probably the result of a hepatitis B infection, exacerbated by his drinking and numerous risk factors for liver disease.

As for his other conditions?

"We were unable to find a definitive cause for Beethoven's deafness or gastrointestinal problems," said Krause.

An authentic lock of Beethoven's hair, affixed to a letter dated 1827 and photographed in 2018 by American Beethoven Society member Kevin Brown. (Begg et al., Current Biology, 2023)

In some ways, we're left with more questions on the life and death of the famous classical composer.

Where did he contract hepatitis? How did a lock of woman's hair pass as Beethoven's own for centuries? And just what was behind his gut pains and hearing loss?

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Given the team was inspired by Beethoven's desire for the world to understand his hearing loss, it's an unfortunate outcome. Though there was one more surprise buried among his genes.

Further investigation comparing the Y chromosome in the hair samples with those of modern relatives descending from Beethoven's paternal line point to a mismatch.

This suggests extramarital sexual activity in the generations leading up to the composer's birth.

"This finding suggests an extrapair paternity event in his paternal line between the conception of Hendrik van Beethoven in Kampenhout, Belgium in c.1572 and the conception of Ludwig van Beethoven seven generations later in 1770, in Bonn, Germany," said Tristan Begg, a biological anthropologist now at the University of Cambridge in the UK.

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It could all be a little more than a younger Beethoven bargained for, considering the fateful request he put to paper.

Never would he have dreamed of the secrets that were being preserved as his friends and associates clipped the hair from his body in the wake of that somber stormy Monday night in 1827.

This research was published in Current Biology.

An earlier version of this article was published in March 2023.

Related News
Booze, a 4-year-old black labrador-bloodhound mix, is playing quietly on the side of the red boat when suddenly he sniffs hard and leans over, clearly frustrated to be above rather than in the water. He paws at the side of the boat and stares down intently.

Marie Ginman, his owner, knows exactly what the dog is doing.

Her husband, Dee Dillman, is working his two dogs from the shore: a pair of Majestic Tree Hound-Catahoula mix brothers, age 9. Coke starts swimming toward the boat, seemingly aiming for the spot that Booze pawed. Rhum stays on solid ground, but indicates he, too, has picked up a scent. Hes not a swimmer.

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Stop the boat, Ginman tells the driver. Hes down there. Get the divers.

They are looking for the body of a man who drowned.

Marie Dinmans search and rescue dog Booze paws the water after finding a drowning victim near Grantsville on Wednesday, Oct 23, 2024. | Dogs At Work

She gets off the boat near the shore with Booze, who swims to the spot that caught his interest just moments before and barks  his signal to tell Ginman hes found what hes been seeking. The dog only swims if he detects the scent of a dead body.

Search and rescue teams have been looking fruitlessly in this vast expanse of water for a man who disappeared under the surface a few days ago and never came up. Booze can tell hes right there, somewhere many feet below the surface.

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These are cadaver dogs, trained to find dead bodies. Because of that training, the mans family will, against what seemed like very long odds, be able to bring his body home.

Where are they?

More than 600,000 people go missing in the United States each year, according to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons database, funded by the U.S. Department of Justice. Often, officials know what happened to them, like the man who drowned but whose body had not yet been located, or they can figure it out. But people also get lost in nature, get sucked away in hurricanes to be buried in debris, die in wildfires or suffer debilitating accidents. Some just wander off or take their own lives. Others are victims of crime or perpetrators who disappear trying to elude justice. The vast majority of the missing are found, some alive, some dead. There are also about 4,400 unidentified bodies recovered in the U.S. each year.

Such stories have layers of tragedy. And sometimes, solving the where and why of how someone disappeared requires extra help. So cadaver dogs like Booze, Rhum and Coke, trained to seek the dead, join the search for answers.

Dee Dillman, with Dogs at Work, trains his dog to near Wanship on Sunday, July 14, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

The search begins

Ginman, 62, was born in Sweden and met Dillman, whos 65, while they were on separate travels in South America. Within months, they married and returned to his native Utah. They have a daughter and two sons, all in their 20s now.

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Married for 32 years, Dillman and Ginman didnt set out to find those who are missing. They still have jobs that pay  she works in real estate and has an online business, he has rental properties and is a skilled handyman who maintains them. But they are dog lovers and nearly two decades ago happened onto a striking breed called Louisiana Catahoula leopard dogs. The dogs were both delightful and destructive  an energetic set that needed lots to do or theyd get into major mischief. Ginman and Dillman started looking for hobbies for the dogs and someone said theyd be great at search and rescue.

The idea of helping others while working with their dogs had definite appeal. As a bonus, Dillman and Ginman love being outdoors.

Fast forward years and many search and rescue efforts later, and the two will tell you that the quest has ignited a passion, though some things havent changed.

They are still volunteers, devoting time and effort because they want to, without earning a dime for the searches. Thats true of most search and rescue teams that are not attached to a specific police agency as part of their employment. The two still have their other jobs. But they also now understand better what it means to help fill the person-shaped hole that has been carved by tragedy in too many families. They long to find what  or rather who  has been lost.

In what can be a world of pain, this is the bit of comfort the couple can offer. So they do.

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Over time, their search and rescue efforts evolved to focus more often on finding bodies, rather than people who are merely lost. Thats a different training process, they said.

Most people know vaguely about cadaver dogs, whether theyre called that or not. But they dont think too deeply about what that means or what these special dogs can do. Or how they learn to do it.

When a hurricane tore through a community, a roadway collapsed or an apartment tower fell, when an island in Hawaii caught fire, search and rescue dogs became an essential part of the aftermath. Most dogs search for survivors, but at some point theres also a need for a dog that can locate those who died. Search and rescue becomes a recovery process. That became important again recently for families as first responders accounted for the toll of Hurricane Helene or Milton.

Some rare dogs are cross-trained to find both the living and the dead. Booze, Rhum and Coke are among those, but Ginman said the practice is controversial. Many dog trainers think dogs, to be consistent, need to search either for survivors or search for the dead. Jager, the youngest of the Dillman/Ginman crew at a year old, will also be cross-trained.

Suzanne Tate sits by the headstone of her brother Reed Jeppson in Salt Lake City on Thursday, October 3, 2024. Reed has been missing since 1964. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

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The longing

Its hard to explain how important a cadaver dogs work is. But families who cant find a loved ones body can articulate it with heartbreaking clarity. Utahns like Suzanne Jeppson Tate of Holladay or Richard and Tamara Davis of Spanish Fork.

Reed Jeppson, Tates younger brother, would be 75 had he been allowed to grow up. To his siblings, hes 15 and cheerfully heading out the door to feed his two dogs while she puts the finishing touches on dinner for the then-boisterous Jeppson family. The date he disappeared was Oct. 11, 1964; hes perhaps Utahs oldest active missing person case. Dr. Edward Jeppson and his wife Elizabeth had 13 kids; one of them had died earlier of SIDS. Reed was in the middle of the flock, their ages ranging then from 7 to 29.

Be right back, he told her, then walked out the door and disappeared.

Sixty years later, the family thinks they know what happened to him. After many decades of looking into it, police are convinced he was kidnapped, assaulted and murdered. But his body has never been found, though theyve searched sometimes desperately through the intervening decades. Some of Reeds siblings are also gone now, as are his parents. His remaining siblings still long to bring his body home.

A photo of missing Kiplyn Davis is displayed at her parents home in Spanish Fork on Tuesday, Oct 1, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

For nearly three decades, mystery also shrouded the disappearance of Kiplyn Davis, who was coincidentally also 15 when she went to school and never came home on May 2, 1995. Officials, family and friends know that someone harmed her. One of her classmates was eventually convicted of manslaughter and is in prison. Others faced related crimes like perjury; its believed whoever hid her body might have had help.

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She has never been found, which has broken the hearts of her mom and dad, Tamara and Richard M. Davis.

Theyve been married 52 years and their other children are middle-aged now. Kiplyn would be 45, had she lived. In our hearts, we know shes OK but we need that body back. It feels like shes not in the right place, Richard Davis said.

Theyve never turned the porch light off in the 29 years shes been gone. It will always stay on until she comes home. We will never give up, he said.

He wrote a book about Kiplyn called When an Angel Leaves Your Life, the proceeds all donated to a scholarship fund for students at Spanish Fork High, where she was enrolled when she disappeared. The foundation named in her honor has funded 38 scholarships so far.

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If they would tell me where she is, I would be their mercy, Richard Davis said recently of whoever hid her body. I would seek justice, but also mercy. I would beg on their behalf and the judge would listen to me.

It deeply hurts her parents that Kiplyns body is where someone who hurt her decided her remains should rest. Theyve tried everything they can think of to bring her home, where Richard Davis believes at least her remains would finally be safe.

Richard and Tamara Davis, parents of missing daughter Kiplyn Davis, visit her headstone in Spanish Fork on Tuesday, Oct 1, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Call the police

There are dozens of teams of search and rescue dogs  cadaver dogs also bear that title  in Utah and many more in the West. A few are attached to specific law enforcement units, but most are, like Ginman and Dillman, volunteers. The husband and wife are certified by the National Association for Search and Rescue and also Tri-State-K9 and are sometimes called out to help with their searches. They also help train and certify others for the organizations. These days, they have their own operation, called Dogs at Work Search and Rescue, though they often partner with the other teams and groups.

They wont go searching without an invitation from law enforcement. If your uncle goes missing, you have to call the police. If you hope that dogs will join the search, you have to convince law enforcement to invite them. But in her years of searching for those who are lost, Ginman said shes only been unable to at least try to help out about three times. She always responds to official requests.

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Often, on weekends and evenings, with or without her husband, she takes her dog out to search. And when theyre not on an official search, they often go out to train. When shes too busy, he searches or trains without her, too.

They dont always find the person theyre looking for, but she and her canine partners have found more than a dozen people over the years, and her husbands close behind.

They sometimes call in other searchers theyve worked with, too  especially if they know the handler-dog teams have specific helpful skills that could make things easier as they search for a body.

Google Earth  something Dillman uses very well  can create maps to help them consider terrain and figure out who or what will be needed to craft a successful search.

Dr. Bryan Sonntag performs plastic surgery at his office in South Jordan Tuesday, July 9, 2024. The tissue will be donated to dog trainers to train their dogs to find humans. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Training body seekers

Just as youd use drugs to train a drug-sniffing dog, to train a dog to find someone whos dead, you have to have dead human tissue. But where do you get it? Even medical schools, which rely on cadavers to teach about anatomy and disease, use bodies that have been cleaned up. Cadaver dogs need to smell bodies in their natural, sometimes messy state.

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Ginman is a petite blonde, so its hard to picture the origin story she tells for the human tissue on which she and Dillman train their dogs. I used to be a very, very heavy person. I lost half my body weight and I had loose skin everywhere. I said, I have not lost all this weight and done all this work for that.

One plastic surgery at a time she had the extra skin removed from her stomach and her neck and arms. She told her cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Bryan Sonntag, that she was doing search and rescue and wondered if she could have her leftovers.

He had no problem with that, he told Deseret News. It was just going to be destroyed as biohazardous waste. Why wouldnt he want to contribute in this way to helping find someone who was missing and missed?

She couldnt train her dogs on her own flesh. So Ginman gave it to someone else who was training a cadaver dog. Since then, other people have donated their medical scraps, including a relative who asked his orthopedic surgeon for the bone removed when he got a shiny new artificial knee. Now she gets calls from plastic surgeons, dentists and others who provide teeth, bones, tissue, blood and other salvaged body parts that can be used to train the dogs to find bodies.

Dr. Bryan Sonntag performs plastic surgery at his office in South Jordan Tuesday, July 9, 2024. The tissue will be donated to dog trainers to train their dogs to find humans. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

When they have surgeries, they just call and I drive down to Draper or South Jordan or wherever and go pick it up. I have a little cooler. She transports it home, to a dedicated freezer she and Dillman keep where they can mark the date on the package and store the scraps until theyre ready to hide it for the dogs to find.

If that sounds macabre, its not. When its time to train, they use the body scraps, in various states of decomposition. They hide the material, which has ripened in ammo cases so it wont stink until its out in nature, in every conceivable place a body might be, from deep underwater to high in the hills, buried, out in the open, up in trees. Then they task their dogs with finding it.

For the dogs, its great fun. They absolutely love it. The gravity of the discoveries are not lost, however, on their human handlers, who recognize the loss of life and that families are hurting. But bringing them home, for Dillman and Ginman, is part of the gift to families that are bereft.

They might put a tummy tucks extra flesh in a metal cage and hang it from a tree in some obscure location, or bury decomposing flesh at least 5 feet deep. The ammo boxes seal so well they can drive with them in the car without having their eyes water or their neighbors complain during the decomposition process.

The dogs must be able to find bodies in any physical state, from bones picked clean by wild animals to freshly deceased.

There are other ways to get training material for search and rescue teams, all from legitimate sources with consent. And they sometimes share supplies with other teams. We are allowed to have body parts for certain rescue training of dogs.

Dee Dillman and Marie Ginman, with Dogs at Work, train their dogs with human remains near Wanship on Sunday, July 14, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

One Christmas, Dillman gave Ginman a skull. Hes sweet like that, she said demurely.

Can you just contact the medical examiner and do the paperwork before you die so your body can be gifted to this task? Maybe. Different states and jurisdictions have different processes and rules, she said, though she hasnt heard of it happening that way in Utah.

Surgery scraps are taken as is. So are teeth, the blood and tissue included. Thats important.

Its an interesting fact that a well-trained cadaver dog with an excellent nose can find a body buried 10 feet underground, or pick up scent from deep in the water, as Booze did after the man drowned. Ginmans old dog, Batman, who died a couple of years ago after an excellent search and rescue career, once helped locate the body of a fugitive whod frozen to death high in the mountains. Because he was encased in ice, several dogs walked right past him. Batman started making loops, like he was picking up a hint of something. But Ginman actually found the body. She started scanning the area slowly because her dog was clearly detecting something nearby. She spotted a bit of the missing mans clothing.

The man had been gone a week, but had been dead a few days, at most. There was little odor. If she hadnt noticed Batmans behavior, theyd have gone right past, too.

Marie Ginman, with Dogs at Work, shows frozen human tissue used to train her dogs in Salt Lake City on Monday, July 29, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

They could be anywhere

Searches can be very frustrating. A very recent one, for instance, involved a huge area that was hard to reach, because it has many drainage areas. There are pockets in the hillsides and its hard to even get into, Ginman said. Plus, theres no cell service. Dogs are the perfect seekers because they can use their super-sensitive, well-trained noses. But when you find something, you cant just make a phone call or ask an ATV to pick you up because youre done searching for the day. Its arduous.

Theyve investigated when someone got lost in a slot canyon or had an accident. Theyve looked for criminal cases  including cold cases. They were on the search not too long ago for a person missing at least 10 years. Its very important that you train the dogs for all the different scenarios, they said.

Recently, they found a body in a very mountainous area that teams of human searchers had scoured with no success. The dogs noses are extremely sensitive and the creatures can move quickly. Law enforcement knows that.

When the couple first started out, Ginman never looked at the bodies they found. Now she said she can, but shes far from indifferent to what the bodies represent. The search itself is a way of returning at least a bit of all thats been taken or lost from loved ones who long to know where someone is.

Often, the searchers know little about the circumstances that led to the search. They may piece the story together later from the news. But complicating the mix of emotions that burble with each search is the need to seem excited for the sake of the dogs, so theyll keep doing their job. The most heart-breaking discovery must be greeted with happy praise, but it doesnt quell the ache, Ginman said.

Marie Ginman, with Dogs at Work, rewards her dog during training near Wanship on Sunday, July 14, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Heartbreaking to watch

The Tooele County Sheriffs Office doesnt have its own search and rescue dog team. When they need dogs, they reach out to a local certified volunteer dog handler group, said Lt. Eli Wayman. Theyve had both successes and failures looking for people, but search dogs are a great way to cover a lot of country quickly, he said.

Theyre definitely an asset for us.

Others think so, too. In 2023, the West Valley Police Department and West Valley City Honorary Colonels Association named Dillman and his dogs Rhum and Coke, and Ginman and her dog Booze as citizens of the year, for work solving a missing person case that was part of a suspected crime. They searched a remote mountainous area in Utahs west desert, where their dogs signaled a find. They called officials and waited outside the scene as investigators confirmed theyd located human remains in what turned out to be a crime scene.

Suzanne Tate got to see cadaver dogs at work during a search for her brother Reed, though he wasnt found. It wasnt too surprising; neither family nor law enforcement have any clue where to search. Instead, they have been eliminating areas where he might have been left, looking at a gully behind a neighborhood church and in the area between where he disappeared and the suspect lived those many years ago. We really have never known where to look. But every shovel of dirt turned over had us hoping: Will this be the one? she said.

Tate said watching the dogs work is a strange and heartbreaking process, full of hope and, in their case, ultimately deep disappointment.

Marie Ginman, with Dogs at Work, shows human tissue used to train dogs in Salt Lake City on Monday, July 29, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Theres art and heart in every search, said Ginman. You have to know your dog and his signals really, really well. You have to be willing to hike and exert to cover ground. If the dog finds something, you alert authorities and then keep the dog away so it doesnt mess up the scene, which is always treated like a crime scene until its proven otherwise. You must be willing to stop and play a bit with the dog, so it keeps working.

The need for cadaver searches is sporadic, said Ginman, who notes there are sometimes long stretches without one. But that hasnt been true recently. Theyve had at least a couple of searches a month and each one can last a day or be much, much longer. They sometimes spend several days a month looking for bodies and even longer than that training the dogs, which is an ongoing process. It seems theyre always out in the field.

We have trained on water a lot. We also do a lot of training with other teams on finding bodies in water, Ginman said. Law enforcement usually calls in divers and often doesnt think about calling in dogs for water work. The advantage with having a dog before the diver is that then you can tell the diver where to dive. If you have a huge body of water and you can narrow it down, thats good.

Dee Dillman, with Dogs at Work, plays with his dogs in Salt Lake City on Monday, July 29, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

All over the West

Searches have taken them all over the western states and as far away as South Dakota. When they certify someone, its after training with them a little to be sure the dogs skill is true and that the dog and handler communicate and work well as a team. You dont want to certify a dog and handler who lucked into finding something, she said.

Their own dogs require a lot of work. As with human professionals, continuing education keeps skills sharp. Their dogs are all, by the way, comfortable flying in helicopters or working around ATVs. Not long ago, in a search covering a huge area of land, ATVs were essential. They just moved very slowly.

Booze, Rhum and Coke are well trained and have been working in real situations for a while. Little Jager needs training almost daily. Hes a work in progress. You do a few little things every day and then weekly, you do bigger things with them  bigger trainings, harder problems  and we still train pretty much weekly with our older dogs because it forms a really good relationship with the dogs, Ginman explained.

When trailing, the dog gets to smell an object that belongs to the missing person and follows the ground scent, but not just footstep to footstep. Thats tracking, like police work. In trailing, dogs use the ground disturbance but also wind-drifted scent. They catch a whiff and off they go. Thats live scent  or at least live when the person went that way. The other is air scent, which can be from whoevers sought, dead or alive.

When the wind is coming from the south, you might work the dog from the north and grid into the area where you think the person is or choose to have the wind at your back. Because wind changes direction, the contour of the search area matters much more. Being able to adapt and change approach depending on the dogs behavior, any obstacles that you encounter or clues that you find is vital. That can be footprints, articles of clothes, other things. A good handler uses all their own senses as well as the dogs.

They once searched an area for several months because it was so big, going out with the dogs several times a week. Finally they found their subject, once snow had melted somewhat.

Booze, a search and rescue dog, howls while being trained near Wanship on Sunday, July 14, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Usually their searches are overseen directly by law enforcement, which makes sure everythings handled properly to preserve evidence, but for this particular search, the lead detective wanted them to please keep looking even when he and other officials couldnt be there all the time. They called him the second they found human remains, then moved out of the area to preserve the scene so the medical examiner and police could do their work.

Its not easy to train for every version of a death. The couple suspect that whats most lacking in search and rescue is realistic training for bodies that are either buried or burned. They train for those hard. I actually put some of the training material in buckets and paint cans and burn it to different levels, she said. They sometimes burn other things, like a deer bone, to be sure the dogs are not being trained to respond to forestry. They may use decoys, like dead animals.

A cadaver dog is only useful if it finds human remains.

Because those remains may be buried deep when someone doesnt want them found, they have to bury the training material deep, as well. They also wait for some time after that so the scent of the burial itself and the person who did it is gone, so the dogs cant just follow our scent to it, because they are smart. They know somebody put something there, so they follow the scent, Ginman said.

A 1964 newspaper story on Reed Jeppson in Salt Lake City on Thursday, October 3, 2024. Reed is still missing. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Never-ending search

Jeppsons family and the Davis clan are still searching. It is a painful, hopeful process that depletes them at times.

Said Tate, Theres always hope that you can bring them home. Its just so warming inside to know that theyre near you and that theyre back where they belong. We were never able to do that.

She wanted her little brother to have a headstone, so they got one. She worried that as they all got older, hed be forgotten. It wont happen. On visits to the cemetery, where other loved ones are also buried, the adults tell the children in the family about Reed and the fun, loving man-child he was. He is alive in their memories and they fan that and pass it on.

Not finding him hurts. But the failed searches have also told them where Reed isnt. So they move on to new locations.

Tate will talk about and pine for Reed until she dies, hoping to keep the search alive. Every shovel, you hope therell be something to take hold of, to give us another hint. Every time a crime program comes up  Reeds case was featured on the Crime Junkies podcast, for instance  you hope its going to wake up somebody who has a little information. As they get older, maybe their heart is softening, she said.

Were so desperate to get an answer. Anything that might get his name out there. Maybe it will stir somebodys imagination or desire to tell something that they know.

After 60 years, she still sounds broken-hearted when she speaks of Reed. It hurts when someone asks why he left. He didnt. Police are absolutely convinced he was murdered and are sure they know who did it, though the suspect, too, is dead now.

Like the Davises, theyve also had attention-seekers over the years, including psychics whove had no better luck than law enforcement at finding where Reed or Kiplyn now lie.

The Davises never turn away anyone who wants to help. Searches for her body have involved hundreds of people, dogs, machinery, you name it. They are fairly sure they know where she was killed, but where her body was placed is a mystery still. Rumors have been rampant: Shes under the high school, in the mouth of the canyon under concrete, in Utah Lake. The person convicted of manslaughter has not led them to her body.

He claims he told us where she is, but we didnt find her there, said Kiplyns mom, Tamara.

Kiplyns death has brought the family closer, while breaking all their hearts, Richard Davis said. We took life for granted. We dont now. We serve more. So many people have tried to help us in our community and theres no way to pay them back. I am more spiritually active than I was a long time ago. I treat people nicer, love people more, am a better friend. I want to live like Kiplyn, a friend to everybody.

Searches are hard for Ginman and Dillman, too. They say theyre glad they are in it together so they can comfort each other. When theyre looking for someone the age of their children, its really poignant. Its hard not to project their kids faces and hoped-for futures on those whove been lost. Ginmans noticeably emotional as she recounts some of the stories of people theyve recovered. A childs death is always hard. And deaths because of a crime seem like such a waste  the murder of not just a human, but of hope and potential.

Richard and Tamara Davis, parents of missing daughter Kiplyn Davis, keep the porch light on for her at their home in Spanish Fork on Tuesday, Oct 1, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Time to go

Some missing people are never found. Ginman and Dillman understand that. That doesnt keep them from looking.

One wonders: Why would they get up before dawn and drive 100 miles to search in hot or freezing temperatures or rainstorms?

Sometimes I dont actually know myself, Ginman said. Like her dogs, she said she is a hunter to her soul, and this is a way to contribute that is really, really hard but also very meaningful. She shrugs. We dont want to leave something unsolved. We keep going.

They charge their cellphones on the drive home from each search, then throw their uniforms and dog vests in the laundry, replace GPS batteries, charge up the dogs GPS tracking collars and radios and restock fresh water. They gather all the gear that isnt already in their trucks, where the dog kennels stay. They can be out the door in 10 minutes.

It wont be long before they get a text or urgent phone call that their combined human and canine skills are needed.

Theyre ready.
On Wednesday morning, when Trumps victory became clear, I went into my local coffee shop and sat in the only seat available, next to a sombrely tearful woman and her terribly serious husband. They sat in silence while he held her hand and tried to look sufficiently sad in solidarity himself.

Instead of sympathy for her  she was American  I felt stony irritation. I saw it all day: Left-wingers and Americans crying in London over Kamalas defeat.

While I can understand the devastation at what appears, to some people, to be the end of all that the free world holds dear, there is something unforgivably childish about sobbing over an election result, especially if you werent in the top five people closest to the candidate.

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To all these performative cryers, I say: grow up. Elections are elections. Its not personal. This one was free and fair; its hardly as if the Taliban have been handed back the keys  as they were in Afghanistan by the outgoing US president.

Do  or learn  something constructive, and move on. Get back to your life. Youll soon see that the sky hasnt fallen in. I mean, I wasnt happy when Keir Starmer became Prime Minister, and he has proved just as bad as feared. I didnt cry though. I just carried on and, when possible, tried to forget.

Even when Trump got in first time round, I felt shocked, and scared, and aghast. Then cynical, then bored. But crying wasnt on the menu. What makes me cry is not the outcome of democratic elections, however disappointing, but arguing with loved ones, feeling fed up to distraction, or  and here I have to blame postnatal hormones  seeing a baby upset.

Everyone is different. But one thing we know is that indulgence cost the Democrats the election; and, in the tearful losers, that fatal flaw is on display.

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Donald Trump Jr said there is no place in his fathers administration for war hawks amid growing signs the president-elect will follow through on plans to bring a swift end to the conflict in Ukraine.

Mr Trump Jr, who has taken an increasingly prominent role in Republican politics, backed calls to keep neocons and war hawks out of the White House after his father earlier ruled out a return for two prominent pro-Ukraine voices.

Retweeting a post from a Right-wing comedian that said: We need maximum pressure to keep all neocons and war hawks out of the Trump administration he responded: Agreed... Im on it.

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The president-elect is in the process of selecting his Cabinet and hiring thousands of federal workers to staff his administration when he returns to power in January.

Donald Trump Jr has suggested he is already working to help keep neocons and war hawks out of his fathers Cabinet - Joe Raedle/Getty Images

On Saturday, Mr Trump announced that he would not appoint Mike Pompeo, the former CIA director, or Nikki Haley, his former UN ambassador, to his new Cabinet.

Both have expressed strong support for the US supplying Ukraine with the weapons it needs to hold off Russia.

Questions remain as to how the incoming president will address the conflict, with Mr Trump repeatedly insisting that he will end it in 24 hours.

He has not explained how he plans to do so, although he has surrounded himself with vocal critics of Americas support for Ukraine, including his running mate JD Vance.

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The incoming vice-president argued against Joe Biden providing billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine following its invasion by Russia in February 2022.

I gotta be honest with you, I dont really care what happens to Ukraine one way or another, Mr Vance said, shortly after the invasion.

In an opinion piece for the Financial Times earlier this year, he said Europe needed to stand on its own two feet with regards to defence of the continent.

As the American defence budget nears $1 trillion per year, we ought to view the money Europe hasnt spent on defence for what it really is: an implied tax on the American people to allow for the security of Europe, he wrote

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Nothing in recent memory demonstrates this more clearly than the war in Ukraine. There is frankly no good reason that aid from the US should be needed.

Credit: donaldjtrumpjr/Instagram

Mr Trump Jr, who successfully lobbied his father to select Mr Vance, could also have a major role in the Trump administration come January.

Over the weekend, he appeared to mock Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelensky, over losing his American allowance when his father returns to the White House.

In a post on Instagram on Saturday, Mr Trump shared a video of Mr Zelensky looking unhappy alongside Donald Trump with the caption: POV: Youre 38 days from losing your allowance.

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Mr Trump has previously suggested he could stop military aid being sent to Ukraine, complaining that Mr Zelenskys requests for assistance never end. He said in September: We continue to give billions of dollars to a man who refuses to make a deal.

Elbridge Colby, a Trump ally who is tipped for a return to the White House, said on Sunday that the incoming president would bring... an end to the Ukraine War and making sure our Nato allies step up.

Mr Colby, a former Pentagon official, posted a video on social media of Mr Trump speaking in July 2023, in which he declared it would be completely unhinged to allow Ukraine into Nato at this point.

Credit: TrumpDailyPosts/X

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Critics say Mr Trumps proposed end to the conflict would play into Russias hands.

Natos top military official has warned that Mr Trump will hurt America if he allows Vladimir Putin to win in Ukraine.

Admiral Rob Bauer said Ukraine was of strategic importance to the US, and warned that North Koreas entry into the war on Russias side was a problem for America.

Adml Bauer made an appeal for the US to remain engaged in the Ukraine war, saying: [The conflict is] connected to the rules-based international order [and to] the heart of Europe.

It is connected to the ambitions of Russia, and indirectly, the ambitions of China.

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I cannot imagine that it is in the interest of the United States to allow Putin to come out of this conflict as a winner.

Adml Bauer, who as chairman of Natos military committee is the main link between the alliances forces and its political leaders, commands no troops of his own, but is one of the most influential military officers in the alliance.

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In an exclusive interview with The Telegraph, he previously suggested that Mr Trumps idea of a 24-hour peace plan for Ukraine needed to be viewed through a wider aperture.

The fact that Russia and China have allowed North Korea to change from being the most isolated country in the world with a large set of UN Security Council resolutions against it  supported by Russia and China  they are now, suddenly, a player. That is a problem for the US.

The Kremlin has welcomed what it said was Mr Trumps openness to a deal that could bring an end to the war.

The signals are positive, said spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Trump during his election talked about how he perceives everything through deals, that he can make a deal that can lead to peace.

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Last week, it was reported that Mr Trump is considering a plan that would freeze the conflict on the current front lines, with European peace-keepers deployed to an 800-mile buffer zone.

In his first term, Mr Trump threatened to pull the United States out of Nato, calling on European nations to increase their own spending on defence rather than rely on the protection of America.

Russia has amassed some 50,000 troops including North Korean soldiers in an attempt to push Ukrainian forces out of its Kursk border region.

They have been attacking Ukrainian positions with missile strikes and artillery fire, but have not yet begun a major assault there, US officials said.

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Ukrainian officials say they expect an attack involving the North Korean troops in the coming days.

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Donald Trump Jr. posted a childish taunt aimed at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, suggesting his father will soon cut off U.S. support to help fend off Russias illegal invasion of the country.

President-elect Donald Trumps eldest son shared a video, originally posted by former GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, in his Instagram stories on Saturday, that includes a clip of a stoic-looking Zelensky standing next to Trump.

POV: Youre 38 Days from losing your allowance, reads a caption.

Trumps team has reportedly been considering cutting off Kyiv from military aid since the summer.

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During the election, the president-elect repeatedly claimedwithout offering specificsthat he would quickly end the conflict in Ukraine were he to regain office. He also insisted Russia never would have invaded in the first place had he been president.

Trumps running mate, Vice President-elect JD Vance, set off alarm bells when he laid out a supposed peace plan in September that essentially described a Russian victory, calling on Ukraine to cede territory captured by the Kremlins forces and pledge neutrality.

Those terms are not dissimilar from what the belligerent Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed.

And its not just Don Jr. who has slung insultsTrump himself has belittled the Ukrainian president, so its little surprise that his lapdog MAGA son would echo his rhetoric.

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I see Zelenskyy is here, Trump told a September campaign rally ahead of the United Nations General Assembly. I think Zelenskyy is the greatest salesman in history  every time he comes into the country, he walks away with $60 billion.

Before Trump takes office in January, the Biden administration is reportedly planning to rush billions in aid to Ukraine to give Kyiv a buffer before it has to deal with Trump.

Experts told Polish network TVP World that, despite his reams of confidence that he will end the war in a near-instant and without breaking a sweat, the president-elect is likely to find reality more complicated.

It is very unlikely that he will be immediately successful, said Sergiy Kudelia, a political science professor at Baylor University. So the big question is when he sees and realizes that Putin doesnt want to start negotiations with Ukraine and Putin wants to continue waging his war against Ukraine, what will be Trumps response then?
(Bloomberg) -- President-elect Donald Trump said he wont invite his former ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, or former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to join his new administration.

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I very much enjoyed and appreciated working with them previously, and would like to thank them for their service to our country, he said in a Saturday post on Truth Social.

Haley, a former governor of South Carolina, ran against Trump in the Republican primary this year, winning over billionaires on Wall Street while struggling to gain the support of Trumps base. Republicans of the old GOP guard saw her candidacy as a last chance to reclaim their hold on the party.

From Ken Griffin to the Koch Group to Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, high-profile conservatives on Wall Street and in Washington who had been turned off by the Trumps vindictive tone and the volatility of his first term had been willing to bet that Haley could cut off his path to a third consecutive nomination.

Pompeo, a Trump loyalist, also served as the Central Intelligence Agency director under him. Names being floated for secretary of state include Ric Grenell, Trumps former ambassador to Germany, and Steven Mnuchin, the former Treasury chief.

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Republicans are on track to win total control of government, having gained the White House and the Senate while leading in the race for the House of Representatives. That means Trumps nominees for 4,000 government posts, including more than two dozen cabinet officials, could sail through the confirmation process in the Senate.

Trump recently announced Florida Republican operative Susie Wiles would be his chief of staff. Wiles, who Trump has called the ice baby and said likes to stay in the background, was the first to get a prized post in the new administration as hordes of party loyalists jockey for cabinet positions in Washington.

President Joe Biden will host Trump at the White House on Nov. 13 for their first post-election meeting, setting in motion the US transition of power that will be completed in January.

Theyll convene in the Oval Office at 11 a.m. at Bidens invitation, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Saturday in a statement.

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The critical Sun Belt state has historically backed Republican presidential candidates, but Democrats' narrow victory in 2020 gave Kamala Harris' campaign hopes of reclaiming it

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Donald Trump speaks at an Oct. 24 campaign rally in Tempe, Ariz. Donald Trump speaks at an Oct. 24 campaign rally in Tempe, Ariz.

Donald Trump has won the battleground state of Arizona in the 2024 presidential race, completing his swing-state sweep over Vice President Kamala Harris, the Associated Press reports.

Trump was declared the victor of Arizona's 11 electoral votes on Saturday, Nov. 9, bringing his Electoral College total to 312 votes compared to Harris' 226 votes.

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Trump had already secured the presidency by the time Arizona was called, passing the winning 270-vote threshold when Wisconsin flipped red early on Wednesday morning.

Related: Donald Trump Defeats Kamala Harris in 2024 Presidential Election

Arizona was identified as one of seven key swing states that was expected to come down to razor-thin margins in the election. Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin were also given leading roles in deciding the next president.

Brandon Bell/Getty Vice President Kamala Harris arrives at an Oct. 10 campaign rally in Chandler, Ariz. Vice President Kamala Harris arrives at an Oct. 10 campaign rally in Chandler, Ariz.

Arizona has voted Republican in all but two presidential elections since 1948. The exceptions include 2020, when the increasingly purple state backed Democrat Joe Biden over Trump, and earlier in 1996, when it ultimately chose incumbent Democrat Bill Clinton over Republican Bob Dole.

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According to Ballotopedia, Arizona has voted for the winning candidate 78.6% of the time since its initial statehood. Since 2000, it has voted for the winning candidate 66.7% of the time.

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Arizona is near-evenly divided into Republicans, Democrats, and third-party or undeclared voters, according to a July statistic  they make up 36%, 29%, and 35% of the vote, respectively.


Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) said Sunday that President-elect Trump has no enemies list after Trump made headlines for referring to his opponents as the enemy within.

For the American people who have been listening to these lies from the Democratic left, I will tell you, this is not something that Donald Trump has ever spoken to, or hes committed to, whatsoever. Theres no enemies list, Donalds said on Fox News Sunday.

The Florida Republican admitted that there are people who are opposed to Trump and whom he dislikes, but he argued Trump is focused on the American people.

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Donalds said Trumps top priorities are securing the countrys southern border, deporting noncitizens and improving the economy and energy.

His focus is the American people, not some enemies list, he reiterated.

Trump previously made several vows to go after his critics and perceived enemies if he won the election. Concerns that he might follow up on his threats increased in the days leading up to the election and even more after he secured a second term.

Limitations remain on what Trump could do in terms of seeking revenge on his political foes upon retaking the White House.

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Five days after a disastrous election, Democrats on Sunday were still grappling with their increasing disconnection from working-class Americans.

The few Democrats who chose to hit the Sunday show circuit offered some answers, pointing to identity politics and an anti-Donald Trump message as ineffective, in addition to their dismissal of issues like the economy and border security.

The reason we didn't win, ultimately, is we didn't listen enough to people on the ground, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said on CBS Face the Nation on Sunday. People like [Reps.] Chris Deluzio [D-Pa.], Pat Ryan [D-N.Y.], who were saying, Talk about the economy, talk about people's economic struggles, convince people you have the better policies and better vision.

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There was a notable absence from prominent Democrats on the Sunday morning shows, which leaned on those with a history of intra-party criticism like Khanna, who joined Congress by ousting a longtime incumbent from his Silicon Valley seat.

Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.)  one of the few Democrats to run against President Joe Biden in the Democratic primaries  said Sunday that Democrats made a mistake focusing their whole argument on defeating Trump.

If that becomes our primary focus, we're going to lose perpetually because that's exactly, I think, what we've done wrong, Phillips said in an interview with Fox News Sunday. We've used condemnation of Donald Trump versus invitation to Donald Trump supporters. I've never known any industry, political or professional, in which a strategy of condemnation works better than invitation.



And around the same time as the Sunday shows, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) became one of the first Democratic senators to also offer his insight into what went wrong: We don't listen enough; we tell people what's good for them, Murphy said in a post on X. Like Phillips, he noted that the Democratic Party needs to be more inclusive of outside perspectives.

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Real economic populism should be our tentpole, Murphy wrote in the post. But here's the thing - then you need to let people into the tent who aren't 100% on board with us on every social and cultural issue, or issues like guns or climate.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who isnt a Democrat but often critiques the party from the outside, published an op-ed in the Boston Globe on Sunday, saying Democrats have to pick between the elites or the working class.

In my view, the Democrats lost this election because they ignored the justified anger of working class America and became the defenders of a rigged economic and political system, Sanders said in the op-ed.

Sanders doubled down on the claim on Sunday morning in an interview with NBCs Meet the Press, noting that many in the working class no longer feel like Democrats are fighting for them.

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Bottom line, if you're an average working person out there, do you really think that the Democratic Party is going to the mat, taking on powerful special interests and fighting for you? Sanders said in the interview. I think the overwhelming answer is no.

Exit polls and voter surveys show Donald Trump beat Kamala Harris among voters with lower incomes and lower levels of educational attainment. Among voters who never attended college, Trump won, 59 percent to 40 percent, according to AP Votecast. College graduates voted for Harris, 56 percent to 42 percent.

Similarly, voters who earn $100,000 a year or more  who made up about a third of the electorate  chose Harris by an 8-point margin, while those who make less than that titled slightly toward Trump.

Murphy, while offering his insights into how Democrats need to listen to more people, also noted the dismissal of Sanders criticisms may be pointed at a deeper issue within the partys current coalition.

When progressives like Bernie aggressively go after the elites that hold people down, they are shunned as dangerous populists, Murphy wrote on X. Why? Maybe because true economic populism is bad for our high-income base.
Its being called the coolest event in the northwest region.

Special Olympics Pennsylvania held its tenth annual Northwest Polar Plunge at Presque Isle State Park.

Dozens of brave souls took a leap into the chilly Lake Erie waters for a good cause.

Every dollar raised helps support vital programming for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Hundreds get into the holiday spirit at annual Holiday Craft and Gift Festival

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One speaker says the support from the community means the world to him and their organization.

Ill tell you, without them I dont know what we would do. We probably wouldnt be traveling a lot so when they come and new people come and keep on coming here and helping us out every year and thank you for coming out here, said Roy Kelley, speaker at the Northwest Polar Plunge.

Local schools, organizations and law enforcement participated in the plunge.

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Do names on a map matter? When they are in border territories, the answer is probably yes.

In 2023, Chinas Ministry of Natural Resources ordered that new maps must use the former Chinese names of its lost territories in what is now Russias Far East. Vladivostok, home to Russias Pacific fleet headquarters, became Haishenwai; Sakhalin Island became Kuyedao. Then in late August, the ministry released a map that showed the disputed Russian territory of Bolshoi Ussuriysky Island within Chinas borders.

These map moves came amid growing chatter and even calls in Western foreign policy circles for the disintegration of the Russian Federation into a multitude of smaller states. The thinking is, being split into smaller states would blunt Russias challenge to the West and its ability to carry on a war in Ukraine.

As a scholar of Russian regional identity and history, I believe the prospect of a broken-up Russia is unlikely, to say the least. But talk of Russias disintegration and the change in map names taps into themes worth exploring: Is there much appetite for independence in the far regions of the Russian state? And if there were to be breakaway regions in the Far East, would that be to the benefit of the West  or to China?

Rise of the breakup boosters

Those calling for, or predicting, the disintegration of the Russian Federation have grown in numbers since the start of the Ukraine war. In the book Failed State: A guide to Russias Rupture, political scientist Janusz Bugajski argues that the territories of the Russian Federation will in time declare independence  like during the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. This, he and others argue, would be good for everyone outside Russia. A rump Russian state would have reduced capabilities to attack neighbors, Bugajski argues.

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The Washington Posts David Ignatius has a gloomier view of Russian disintegration, writing in August that it would provide a devils playground that could pose a danger to the West.

Either way, a growing number of analysts are of a mind that, in the words of Russia scholar Alexander J. Motyl, it is time to start taking the potential disintegration of Russia seriously.

Having worked on the history of Russian regionalism for two decades, I see serious obstacles to territories declaring independence. It is certainly true that centralized authority has been to the detriment  both economically and culturally  to some of the Russian Federations 83 regions. But there is a lack of mass public support for autonomy  that is, the ability to decide local and regional matters within a larger state  let alone full-blown independence.

Not all regions in Russia are the same. In some, such as Tatarstan and Dagestan, autonomy has a genuine mass appeal.

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But most Russian regions that favor greater autonomy are in locations that would make it difficult for them to declare independence outright because they would still be surrounded by the Russian Federation.

Those in a locations more suited to independence  say, those that have borders with neighboring countries  often face other difficulties, such as being close to China.

In Russias Far East, there is concern among would-be breakaways that independence could lead to the possibility of an interventionist China either taking over or at least exerting its influence.

Problems of geography

Breakup boosters  the term I use to describe those advocating for Russias disintegration  assume that regions in the Russian Federation all have aspirations for independence.

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But an analysis of Russian regions by Adam Lenton of Wake Forest University found a highly variable level of support for autonomy across Russian regions.

The data shows that in many of the regions that have exiled independence leaders and are talked about of being potential breakaways, the public doesnt support that goal.

The data shows support for autonomy rather than independence. Autonomy would make the Russian Federation a real federation.

The region with by far the most support for autonomy is Tatarstan, a subnational republic led by Turkic-speaking Tatar people 447 miles south of Moscow. But arguing that this should lead to independence makes little sense  it would be completely surrounded by a hostile Russian Federation. An independent foreign and defense policy in such circumstances would be almost impossible.

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Some Tatars have themselves argued against independence on this ground.

The regions of the North Caucasus have some of the highest scores, plus a foreign border with Georgia making it potentially a better candidate for independence. But the region has a bitter experience with attempts to break away. Chechnyas attempt at independence failed after a long and bloody war.

In Siberia, the region of Tuva has high levels of support for autonomy. But it is in Chinas backyard  and this would make it geographically vulnerable.

Russias Far East, Chinas backyard

Russias Far East includes the Amur region along the border with China and Vladivostok. These were taken from China by Russia during the mid-19th century, when Russian general Nikolai Muravev-Amurskii used Russias greater firepower and more modern army to defeat China.

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But the status of territories in the region remained contentious. In 1969, China and the Soviet Union fought a seven-month undeclared war over border issues.

After 1991, China and Russia went through several rounds of talks and treaties to ensure that the border between them was ratified by both parties, with the last treaty taking place in 2004. Even so, not all groups within China accept the results.

Textbooks in China still mention the loss of 1.5 million square kilometers to Russia and note that Mao Zedong, the founder of the Peoples Republic of China, said he would present the bill, meaning that Russia would have to pay what Mao perceived as the theft of territory.

The fear among some Russians  and those in the West  is that China could turn Russias Far East into its satellite, using it as a source of raw materials such as diamonds and gold, as well as oil and gas. And with economic hegemony comes political influence.

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China faces challenges that make increasing its influence in Russias Far East particularly attractive now, including what experts see as a structural economic crisis and a rural education gap. Territorial expansion could provide economic growth while serving as a distraction from domestic issues.

But the breakup of the Russian Federation could also pose a security threat to China. The experience of Xinjiang serves as a warning. The region, which has been the focus of Chinas persecution of the Muslim Uyghur people, had twice been a breakaway region under the protection of former Soviet leader Josef Stalin.

Furthermore, the Chinese Communist Party will be fearful that any unrest in areas of the Russian Federation that are close to Xinjiang might spill over.

Given all this, the argument from breakup boosters that no one, other than President Vladimir Putin, would lose if the Russian Federation disintegrated is, I believe, simply not sustainable.

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And rather than hastening the disintegration of the Russian Federation, polls suggest that the war in Ukraine is having a unifying effect. Many Russians who were originally against the war have become reluctant supporters of it  in part because of propaganda that has emphasized the threat from the West to Russias territorial integrity. Since 2021, Russias military doctrine has highlighted this threat, stating that one of the main issues facing the nation was groups aimed at violating the unity and territorial integrity of the Russian Federation.

The calls in the West for the breakup of the Russian Federation might suggest to the Russian public that Putins territorial fears could become a reality. Moreover, dreams of a broken Russian Federation might distract those in the West from the very real problem of helping Ukraine protect its own territorial integrity.

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: Susan Smith-Peter, City University of New York

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Susan Smith-Peter receives funding from the Fulbright Program, SRCC, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I volunteer for Razom for Ukraine.
Multiple units with several law enforcement departments chased a driver and stopped him using a high-speed pit maneuver after he refused to pull over during a traffic stop in Thurston County early Friday.

According to a post from a sheriff with the Thurston County Sheriffs Office, early Friday, officers with the Yelm Police Department tried to stop a car for altered tabs. When they signaled the driver to pull over, the driver refused and sped off. The driver sped through the Nisqually Indian Tribe at speeds nearing 100 mph. The driver struck at least one other car and continued to speed away from police.

Officers with the Nisqually Tribal Police joined the chase and spiked the drivers car tires, causing two of the tires to fall off during the pursuit. But the driver continued to speed off and away from police. When the pursuit reached the City of Lacey, there was heavier traffic. Thats when deputies with the Thurston County Sheriffs Office joined the chase and conducted a high-speed PIT maneuver to stop the driver.

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Deputies used the maneuver to prevent a more serious accident from happening in the city and killing someone, according to the office. The maneuver caused the driver to crash into a tree.

Deputies provided the driver with first-aid until paramedics arrived at the scene. When medics arrived, the driver was taken to a local hospital for treatment and then face an arrest.

When law enforcement searched the drivers car, they found multiple guns inside, one of which police believed was stolen from Lacey in 2013. When they walked around the crash scene, they found another gun that had been thrown from the car during impact.

After treatment at the hospital, the driver was booked on multiple counts of attempting to elude, possession of a stolen gun and first-degree driving with a suspended - revoked license and a hit-and-run.




A central street covered in debris from destroyed residential buildings after a Russian bombing in Kurakhove, Donetsk region, Ukraine, on Nov. 7, 2024. Credit - Anton ShtukaAP

KYIV, Ukraine  A massive drone strike rattled Moscow and its suburbs overnight into Sunday, injuring several people and temporarily halting traffic at some of Russia's busiest airports, officials reported. Meanwhile, a huge nighttime wave of Russian drones targeted Ukraine.

This came after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a pact with North Korea Saturday night, obliging the two countries to provide immediate military aid using all means if either is attacked. The agreement marks the strongest link between Moscow and Pyongyang since the end of the Cold War.

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Earlier this week, Ukraine reported that its troops engaged for the first time with North Korean units. U.S. officials earlier confirmed the deployment of at least 3,000 North Korean troops to Russia, while Kyiv has repeatedly said the number is far higher. This has fueled concerns of a marked escalation in Moscow's war on Ukraine, and tensions spilling over into the Asia-Pacific.

U.K. estimates Russian troop losses at 700,000

Both Moscow and Kyiv have kept a tight lid on casualty figures since the start of the full-scale war despite regular reports of Russian forces taking huge losses following human wave attacks that aim to exhaust Ukrainian defenses.

However, the chief of the U.K. defense staff, Tony Radakin, told the BBC that Russian forces had suffered their worst month of casualties in October since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. He said Moscows troops suffered an average of 1,500 dead and wounded per day, bringing their total losses in the war to 700,000.

According to Radakin, ordinary Russians were paying an extraordinary price for the war, even as a grueling, monthslong Russian offensive in Ukraines industrial east continues to eke out gains. He did not say how U.K. officials had calculated the Russian casualty figures.

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There is no doubt that Russia is making tactical, territorial gains and that is putting pressure on Ukraine, he said. But he added that they were tiny increments of land, and Moscows mounting defense and security spending was putting an increasing strain on the country.

Radakin insisted that Ukraines Western partners should stand by it for as long as it takes to beat back Russian aggression, even as allies of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump have signaled that Kyiv may have to cede territory to seek peace.

Russia is cautiously optimistic about Trumps forthcoming presidency

On Sunday, the Kremlins official spokesman voiced cautious optimism about Trumps upcoming presidency, saying: At least he talks about peace.  He does not talk about confrontation.

The signals are positive. Trump, during his election campaign, said that he perceives everything through deals, that he can make deals that will lead everyone toward peace, Dmitry Peskov told reporters at a briefing.

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He does not talk about a desire to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, and this favorably distinguishes him from the current (U.S.) administration, Peskov said.

But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday insisted that strong decisions from Kyivs Western partners are needed to stop the terror of Russian drone and missile strikes, and secure reliable peace for Ukraine.

The killing of children, the loss of family members cannot simply be forgotten, Zelenskyy said in a post on the Telegram messaging app.

Without strong decisions, there is no security from terror, and this is equally clear in every country. There is no reliable peace without justice, he said.

Continuing fighting causes damage and casualties on both sides

Fierce fighting has continued near the eastern Ukrainian cities of Toretsk and Kurakhove, Ukraines General Staff reported Sunday. Between 700 and 1,000 residents remain in Kurakhove, a front-line city surrounded on three sides and battered into ruin. Most of them live underground with no running water, heating or electricity.

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Meanwhile, Russias Defense Ministry said a total of 84 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight in Russian territory, following what it called a mass strike on civilian infrastructure." A man died under rubble after drones struck his apartment block in Russias Belgorod region, just kilometers from the Ukrainian border, local Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov reported.

Five other people were injured in the Moscow suburb of Ramenskoe and a nearby village, according to local officials. Russian channels on the messaging app Telegram carried eyewitness reports of drone debris setting fire to suburban homes.

Russia's aviation authority said flights were briefly grounded at major international airports including Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo. At least 14 flights bound for Moscow were rerouted to Nizhnyi Novgorod, a city over 490 kilometers (300 miles) east, airport representatives there reported.

Ukraines General Staff claimed on Sunday that Ukrainian drones caused a fire at an arms depot in Russias southern Bryansk region, near Ukraine and Belarus. The online update featured a photo showing thick plumes of reddish smoke rising into the night sky. The AP could not verify the circumstances in which it was taken, and there was no immediate comment from Russia.

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Separately, Russias emergencies ministry on Sunday said that a major fire broke out at a warehouse outside of Moscow. There were no immediate reports of casualties, and it was not clear whether the blaze was linked to the Ukrainian drone strikes.

Russia overnight launched a record 145 drones at Ukrainian territory, according to Ukraines air force, 62 of which were shot down. A further 67 were lost, the air force said, a likely reference to electronic jamming that caused the drones to veer off course.

At least one person was injured as Russian drones struck residential areas in Ukraines southern port of Odesa, local Gov. Oleh Kiper reported. And at least five civilians, including a 17-year-old girl and 10-year-old boy, were injured by falling drone debris and shelling in Ukraines northeastern Kharkiv region Sunday, its Gov. Oleh Syniehubov and local prosecutors said.

Russia later on Sunday said that it had struck a large deployment of Ukrainian soldiers in the Kharkiv province with thermobaric rockets, but didn't immediately provide evidence.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
BASTROP COUNTY, Texas (KXAN)  A family is looking for answers and solutions to what they call a dangerous stretch of road in Bastrop County.

Oct. 13 is a day that the Davis family will never forget.

Grayson Davis, 29, was returning home from a trip to Florida, driving on FM 535 near Cedar Creek Drive. Around 8 p.m. that night, a drunk driver going the wrong way hit Graysons car head-on.

(Courtesy Davis family)

He was about a mile from home. Just about to his driveway when it happened, Ashley Davis, Graysons mother, told KXAN. [The crash] caused our sons truck to just be destroyed. It flipped. They had to pull my son out and airlift him to Austin.

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For three days, Grayson fought for his life in a coma.

We prayed that he would make it and God had other plans, his mother said. But I know him. And I know he gave it a good fight.

Screenshot

Authorities allege the drunk driver came from a bar that is especially popular on the weekends.

Meanwhile, the man accused of killing Davis is in the Bastrop County jail. Jorge Peralta, 35, faces a felony charge of intoxicated manslaughter with a vehicle. He is currently held at the Bastrop County Jail.

DPS said the crash investigation remains open and ongoing.

A really bad stretch

The Davis family, now left reeling with the fact Grayson is gone, said they hope this doesnt happen to anyone else.

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He was just a peoples person, his mom said. He loved everyone, and reach out to everyone, and it showed because they showed up for him.

The family said that FM 535 is plagued with problems.

A really bad stretch of road, said Todd Davis, Graysons father. Poorly paved. Poorly everything. No shoulder.

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) told KXAN it has stepped up patrols on this stretch of road.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Nov. 10 (UPI) -- A hologram of a sex worker who was murdered in Amsterdam more than a decade ago could help solve the cold case, investigators hope.

The sex worker, 19-year-old Bernadett Szabo, was born into poverty in the city of Nyiregyhaza in northeastern Hungary. She did well in school and was an accomplished violin player but fled to Amsterdam in pursuit of a better life.

"An entirely different life awaits her in Amsterdam. Betty starts working as a sex worker in the red-light district," Amsterdam Police said in a statement. "She has a striking appearance, with her friendly smile and a big tattoo of a dragon on her stomach and chest."

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Shortly after finding work, Szabo became pregnant. She continued to work throughout her pregnancy and her son was immediately placed with a foster family after his birth.

Szabo died on Feb. 20, 2009, just three months after the birth of her son. Her body was found with multiple stab wounds in a pool of blood in a prostitute's workroom on Oudezijds Achterburgwal in Amsterdam's red-light district.

"She had been brutally murdered. Alarmed by the unusual silence in her room, her fellow sex workers found her that night," investigators said. "The case has still not been solved."

Now, investigators have created a life-size hologram of Szabo that they hope will help trigger a lead in the investigation. The hologram sits on a stool in a window attempting to ask people who see it for help.

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Benjamin van Gogh, the coordinator of the wanted and missing persons team in Amsterdam, told The Guardian that officials were cautious before creating the hologram and launching the highly public campaign to find her killer.

"Before deciding to use a hologram for the campaign, we brainstormed with different parties both within and outside the police on whether we should go ahead with this and how we should set it up," he said. Her family purportedly signed off on the project.

Another investigator, Anne Dreijer-Heemskerk, noted that Szabo was killed at one of the busiest intersections in the Netherlands.

"It is really almost impossible that there are no people who saw or heard something unusual at the time. Or heard someone talk about the case, which doesn't even have to have been in Amsterdam," Dreijer-Heemskerk said. "After all, the red-light district gets visitors from all over the world."
EAST PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  East Peoria residents braved the rain and cold to support veterans. East Peoria VFW Post 2078 hosted its 93rd annual Veterans Day parade Saturday Afternoon.

The parade started at West Washington Street in East Peoria and ended at Fon Du Lac Library.

This year they added an air show to fly over the parade route.

East Peoria Veterans Day celebrations

Senior Vice Commander of VFW post 2078 Bryon Hasty said Its amazing to see people come out to support veterans, even in the rain.

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It means that everybody thinks about us and they actually thank us for doing this. And its a lot of fun, said Hasty.

He said its one of the longest-running Veterans Day parades in Illinois.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG)  The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating after Escambia County Sheriffs Deputies shot an armed suspect Saturday night.

According to a post, deputies responded to several reports of a man firing a gun in his front yard on the 800 block of Amberway Drive at approximately 10:37 p.m.

As deputies arrived, the suspect fired an AR-15 rifle at them. Deputies gave multiple commands to drop the weapon, but the suspect refused.

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Deputies then shot the suspect, who was taken to a hospital. Right now, there is no word on his condition. No deputies were injured during the incident. A pistol and the AR-15 rifle were retrieved from the front yard.

The involved deputies will be placed on administrative leave, per the Sheriff Offices policy.

We will keep you updated as we learn more.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
Ever since the Supreme Court took away the constitutional right to abortion in 2022, the people have been taking it back state by state.

Before last week's election, voters in six states had either enshrined abortion rights in their state constitutions or defeated ballot measures that would have restricted them.

On Tuesday, that number more than doubled. In seven of the 10 states where abortion rights measures were on the ballot, they prevailed. From the most liberal of those states (New York) to the most conservative (Missouri), and regardless of how they voted in the presidential race, voters asserted the right to control their own bodies. Even in Florida, where an abortion rights measure failed, it won a more decisive majority than Donald Trump. (More about that later.)

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Read more: Editorial: Don't be fooled by Trump's and Republicans' abortion myths

Ballot measures in New York, Maryland, Colorado and Montana enshrined abortion rights (and, in New York, other equal rights protections) in the constitutions of states where they are already substantially protected by law. Abortion is legal to the point of fetal viability in Montana, for example, but lawmakers there have repeatedly tried to restrict it.

These measures may be unnecessary in liberal states where abortion remains legal  and let's hope they are. But every state that codifies abortion rights in its constitution reinforces them against the whims of elected officials. California voters passed a constitutional amendment bolstering the state's already strong abortion protections in 2022.

The most important victories Tuesday were for measures in Arizona, which outlawed abortion after 15 weeks, and Missouri, where abortion was illegal with no exceptions for incest or rape. Missouri legislators have hardly missed an opportunity to attack abortion rights: One legislator floated a measure to make it illegal to help someone leave the state for an abortion.

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Both of those states now have constitutionally guaranteed rights to abortion up to the point of viability. Although legal or legislative efforts will be necessary to lift their now unconstitutional bans, it's astonishing progress for those states and the people who live in them.

Read more: Opinion: When I talked about my pre-Roe abortion, other women's stories poured out: 'You are the only person I've ever told'

These election results should send a powerful message to state and federal elected officials and the incoming Trump administration: Americans will not tolerate the trampling of their reproductive rights in blue, purple or red states. Federal officials should keep that in mind as conservative state attorneys general consider trying to block abortion medication from being provided by mail.

Three abortion rights measures did fail last week, all of them in states that could have desperately used constitutional amendments to ensure abortion access.

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In Florida, which bans abortion beyond six weeks  a point when most women dont even know theyre pregnant  Amendment 4 would have constitutionally guaranteed a right to an abortion up to the point of fetal viability, which is roughly 24 weeks. The initiative earned a healthy majority of 57.2% but fell 3 points short of the state's undemocratic 60% threshold for approval of constitutional amendments. Trump carried the state with a smaller majority, 56.1%.

A failed measure in South Dakota, where abortion is banned, would have allowed the procedure up to 12 weeks, which is considered restrictive in other states. Major reproductive rights groups such as the regional Planned Parenthood organization did not believe the measure would adequately restore abortion rights and refused to support it.

And in Nebraska, where abortion is banned after 12 weeks with some exceptions, the presence of two measures on the ballot made for some confusion. The one that failed, Initiative 439, would have guaranteed a right to abortion up to viability and was supported by advocates of abortion access. The one that passed, Initiative 434, bans most abortions after 12 weeks. Under this measure, abortion could remain legal up to 12 weeks, but the Legislature has leeway to further restrict abortion rights, up to a complete ban.

Advocates have more work to do to convince voters in states with abortion bans and restrictions that there is an electoral path to restore reproductive rights. "Every state that has a citizens' initiative constitutional process and restrictions on abortion is a place where we will be looking," said Kelly Hall, the executive director of the Fairness Project, which worked on the ballot measures in Missouri and elsewhere this election season.

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In states that don't allow citizens' initiatives, progress will be more challenging. But people in all kinds of states, liberal and conservative, have shown that they want to protect their right to control their own bodies.

If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Moroccos very impressive efforts and success in Africa offer considerable scope for triangular partnerships with France, Thierry Montbrial, Founding President of lInstitut francais de relations internationales (French Institute of International Relations  IFRI) said.

Over the years, Ive been lucky to observe Moroccos impressive efforts and achievements in Africa. Its a policy that has come a long way, that has borne fruit and is still bearing fruit, and not just in the Sahel region. It goes far beyond that, and I think there are considerable avenues to be explored here, the French expert told MAP.

I believe that France and Morocco are destined to be pillars of a stronger continental relationship, the IFRI President said, expressing his profound delight at the warming of bilateral relations and this shared desire to put the relationship between France and Morocco back on track from which it should never have strayed.

He said that the current geopolitical context requires us to work together, because we are also jointly responsible for the sustainability and solidity of our partnership.

I am of the ardent opinion that this renewed partnership must be a permanent, long-term one, the French expert noted.

He added that the two countries are now in a position to strengthen their partnership in terms of regional security, where we have manifestly common interests and complementarities, pointing out that Africas security necessarily depends on economic and social development, areas in which the two countries can work together.

The IFRI President also expressed his admiration for Moroccos cultural roots.

What I admire so much about you is this Moroccan-ness that is a real strength of your country, he stressed, adding that Moroccan culture has also left its mark on France and enriched its diversity.
Donald Trump won the 2024 election, notching a slew of swing-state victories.

Republicans won back the Senate, while the House remains undecided and may take days to call.

Investors rallied around the "Trump trade" for the rest of the week.

Former President Donald Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris after pivotal victories in four swing states.

In Congress, Republicans retook the Senate, though it could take days to know the outcome for the House of Representatives.

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CNN, ABC News, and NBC News, all called the race for Trump at around 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning, following a Fox News call hours earlier.

Victory in Wisconsin gave him the final Electoral College votes he needed.

Trump captured the swing states of North Carolina, Georgia, and Pennsylvania before reaching Wisconsin.

Taken together, the results spelled a crushing defeat for Harris.

On Wednesday morning, hours after the race had been called, Trump's lead widened when CNN and Fox News announced he'd won in Michigan, one of the remaining three battleground states. On Friday, the Associated Press and Fox News called the race for Trump in Nevada, and as the final presidential election results came in on Saturday, the Associated Press and NBC announced he'd swept the last of the battleground states by winning Arizona.

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Trump won with a final tally of 312 electoral votes to Harris' 226, per the Associated Press and NBC News.

Investors rallied around the "Trump trade" through the week as results came in.

Stock futures were up ahead of the open, with Tesla and Trump's social-media company making strong gains.

All three benchmark indexes rose in early-morning trading on Wednesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbing over 1,200 points, marking its biggest single-day increase in two years.

Bitcoin surged to a record high above $75,000 before dipping slightly. The US dollar gained against other major currencies.

Jubilation from Trump, silence from Harris

Harris did not address her supporters at a watch party at Howard University in Washington, DC, on Tuesday night. She was expected to speak sometime Wednesday.

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Trump spoke to a crowd of jubilant supporters at an election night event at his resort in Mar-a-Lago, Florida.

"America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate," he said. He went down a list of issues he hammered during his campaign, including border security and strengthening the economy.

His running mate, JD Vance, called Trump's electoral performance "the greatest political comeback in the history of the United States of America."

Trump's running mate, JD Vance, described his electoral performance as the "greatest political comeback" in US history. AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Trump also praised Elon Musk, one of his biggest backers this election. "We have a new star, a star is born," Trump said. "Elon. He's an amazing guy."

Business and world leaders congratulated Trump

Mark Cuban, the billionaire investor and a key Harris surrogate, congratulated Trump on winning the election.

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"You won fair and square," Cuban wrote, before any network had called the race. "Congrats to @elonmusk as well. #Godspeed."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Trump on his "impressive" victory early on Wednesday, saying his country will "rely on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States."

Trump has been notably more skeptical of US support for Ukraine than President Joe Biden.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel and a longtime Trump ally, also issued a statement saying his victory "offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America."

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Other world leaders followed suit, including France's Emmanuel Macron, Italy's Giorgia Meloni, the UK's Keir Starmer, and India's Narendra Modi.

Republicans have retaken the US Senate, but the House remains in play

Republicans are projected to win at least 52 seats in the US Senate, putting an end to four years of Democratic rule.

It comes after Republicans won Senate seats in Ohio, West Virginia, and Florida.

Republican Sen. Deb Fischer also held off a stronger-than-expected challenge from independent candidate Dan Osborn in Nebraska.

In Montana, Democratic Sen. Jon Tester was facing a hard fight from his GOP challenger.

It remains far from clear who will control the House of Representatives.

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Democrats picked up two GOP-held seats in New York's 19th and 22nd congressional districts.

Republicans, meanwhile, flipped Pennsylvania's 8th district, North Carolina's 6th, 13th and 14th districts, and Michigan's 7th district.

It could take days to know who controls the House, with several competitive races taking place in California, which historically takes a long time to count ballots.

Voters in line to cast ballots in Gwinnett County, Georgia, on November 1, 2024. Anadolu/Anadolu via Getty Images

Trump and Elon Musk were seen chatting at the Mar-a-Lago election night watch party

Billionaire Elon Musk posted a photo of himself huddled with Trump over a table at Mar-a-Lago, where the former president hosted his election watch party.

Musk has emerged as a key, if not the key, advocate for Trump's campaign.

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He has dumped millions into a super PAC supporting the former president, joined him at rallies, and campaigned loudly for him on X. The Tesla CEO tweeted as the results rolled in, celebrating Trump's performance.

The future is gonna be so   pic.twitter.com/x56cqb6oT5  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 6, 2024

States are voting on ballot measures, with abortion rights being defeated for the first time since Dobbs

Reproductive rights were a key issue this election, with voters deciding on issues around abortions in 10 states, including the battlegrounds of Arizona and Nevada.

Referendums to enshrine the right to have abortions passed in New York, Maryland, Colorado, Montana, Arizona, and Nevada. The measure also passed in Missouri, overturning a near-total ban in the first state to outlaw the procedure. Voters in suburban areas turned out to pass the measure in large numbers, propelling it to its anticipated victory.

In Florida, the effort to enshrine a constitutional right to abortion failed. Yet the referendum faced a heavier lift in the Sunshine State than is typical  it needed to garner 60% of votes rather than a mere majority, as in other states.

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The Florida abortion referendum's failure is particularly notable, given that abortion-rights advocates have racked up a string of unbroken victories in states around the country since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. As a result, Florida's ban on almost all abortions after six weeks will remain in place  one of the most restrictive policies in the country.

South Dakota's effort to protect abortion rights also failed, meaning its ban remains in place with no exceptions apart from when it would avert a woman's death. Nebraska, meanwhile, rejected a measure to expand abortion rights and instead enshrined the state's current 12-week abortion ban.

History made: Two Black women elected to the Senate, and Trump won Miami-Dade

Tuesday's elections also saw some historic results.

In just one election cycle, Democrats doubled the number of Black women who have won election to the US Senate.

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Prince George's County executive Angela Alsobrooks and Democratic Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester were both projected to defeat their Republican opponents in Maryland and Delaware, respectively. It will be the highest number of Black women to serve in the upper chamber at the same time.

Democratic Maryland Senate candidate Angela Alsobrooks was projected to win in Maryland's Senate race. AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel

Only three Black women have served in the Senate: former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Sen. Laphonza Butler.

Meanwhile, Trump made history in Florida. He's the first GOP presidential candidate to win Miami-Dade County since 1988, and his win there illustrates the phenomenal rightward swing of the Sunshine State.

In 2016, Hillary Clinton won Miami-Dade by 30 percentage points; in 2020, Biden won it by 7 percentage points. Trump is projected to win the county by double-digit margins, the Associated Press reported, with 95% of the vote counted.

There's a significant Latino population in the county, and the key demographic group has started to move toward Republicans. Harris' campaign didn't spend a lot of money in Florida, considering the state, once a battleground, out of reach.

Correction: November 6, 2024  An earlier version of this story misstated Volodymyr Zelenskyy's title. He is the president of Ukraine, not the prime minister.

Read the original article on Business Insider
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Election season may be over for grown-ups, but students in Oregon still have a chance to vote for their next Kid Governor.

Fifth-grade candidates created campaign videos outlining why they want to be Oregons Kid Governor in 2025.

Each made a three-point plan outlining how fifth graders can make a difference. The issues the kid governor candidates are addressing include bullying, climate change, preventing mental illness and homelessness.

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The candidates and their platforms are:

The classrooms who sign up to vote will fill out their ballots by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  An apartment fire caused by an electric motorcycle battery displaced nine people Thursday evening, authorities said.

Just after 7:30 p.m., crews from Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue and Lake Oswego Fire responded to an apartment building in the 6100 block of Southwest Bonita Road on reports that a fire in a lower unit was spreading to the unit above.

Accused Portland arsonist faces 5 counts of attempted murder

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On arrival, officials say crews found flames in the lower unit, as well as flames and smoke coming out of two other units. The fire had also spread to the buildings attic space.

Officials said no residents were injured, but one firefighter was taken to the hospital and has since been released.

Fire officials say they later found that an electric motorcycle in the lower unit had been popping and smoking from the battery pack. The battery eventually caught fire, causing the blaze.

Several units had smoke and water damage due to the fire. As a result, nine people were displaced.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP)  Brush fires in Massachusetts have become a common sight in the fall. Red Flag Warnings have been active multiple times this month because of the elevated risk.

First-generation college celebration at Bay Path University in Longmeadow

A Red Flag Warning is an alert for conditions that are unfavorable for prescribed burns and may lead to dangerous wildfire growth. For a warning to be issued there needs to be ten-hour fuels of 8% or less. This is for small vegetation where it will take ten hours to respond to dry/wet conditions or changes in those conditions.

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It essentially means that this vegetation is holding less than 8% water, so it ignites easier, and spreads quickly. Also, Relative Humidity must be less than 25% for several hours. This depicts how much water is in the air, relative to the temperature of the air.

Lastly, there will be sustained winds 20 feet off of the ground of at least 15MPH for several hours. Red Flag Warnings usually occur in the Spring and Fall seasons, between February 15th  April 30th, and October 1st  December 15th.

Lt. Tony Spear with the West Springfield Fire Department describes what precautions you should take under these circumstances.

What we want people to do is to stay vigilant as they should year round, explained Lieutenant Tony Spear of the West Springfield Fire Department. But, particularly right now, if youre going to be discarding smoking materials, if youre going to be burning anything inside in your indoor chimney, make sure its got something on the top to keep the embers and the ashes from going out.

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Massachusetts saw over 200 brush fires in the month of October, thats more than 11 times the average for this time of year. Dry vegetation throughout the Pioneer Valley quickly spreads the smallest fires.

The dry spell along with breezy conditions through the past couple of weeks make for fires that can consume 100 acres in a weekend. While many of these causes are accidents, they can be easily prevented.

Youll see mulch fires in shopping centers and things like that. Those are always going to be smoking materials and cigarettes, or whatevers being tossed out the window not fully extinguished, added Lt. Spear. So, yeah its definitely common and again thats just adding to the situation now.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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By Moira Warburton and Leah Douglas

(Reuters) -Businessman Elon Musk, an ally of President-elect Donald Trump, endorsed Republican Senator Rick Scott for U.S. Senate majority leader on Sunday as Trump pushed candidates for the influential post to help him make changes quickly after his party won control of the chamber.

Republicans are expected to hold at least 52 seats in the 100-member Senate after capturing three previously held by Democrats in West Virginia, Ohio and Montana in last Tuesday's election.

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Current Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who has led his party in the chamber since 2007, is not seeking election to the post.

"Rick Scott for Senate Majority Leader!" Musk, a tech billionaire who has emerged as a major backer of Trump in recent months, wrote in a social media post on Sunday.

Trump has not yet endorsed anyone in race for majority leader.

Musk is the world's wealthiest person. Scott, who represents Florida in the Senate, is a former healthcare executive and the wealthiest sitting senator.

In an interview on Fox News on Sunday, Scott said the Senate needs to implement real change.

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"We can't keep doing what we're doing," Scott said. "That's what Donald Trump got elected to do, to be the change."

In a tweet on Sunday, Trump said anyone seeking to be Senate majority leader must agree not to stand in the way of temporary presidential appointments being made when the Senate is not in session.

During Senate sessions, senators exercising their constitutional power to provide its "advice and consent" hold hearings and confirmation votes for presidential appointmees such as Cabinet heads of massive government agencies including the Defense Department and Department of Health and Human Services.

Scott responded on X that he agreed with Trump's demand, which would enable the incoming president to quickly fill posts, even if only temporarily. Two other Republican senators vying to lead the body - John Thune and John Cornyn - later posted their support for Trump's push to quickly fill appointments.

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Trump campaigned on promises, among other things, to deport immigrants who are in the United States illegally, cut taxes, impose tariffs on international trading partners and loosen fiscal policy.

Scott has the backing of several hard-right Republican senators, but it remains whether he can bring Republican moderates to his side.

Senate Republican leadership elections are scheduled for Wednesday, shortly after the chamber returns to work following a recess for the Nov. 5 elections.

The outcome of two Senate races - in Pennsylvania and Arizona - has not yet been called by Edison Research.

HOUSE CONTROL STILL UNCLEAR

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Control of the U.S. House of Representatives has not yet been decided. Republicans already have won 214 seats, according to Edison, just shy of the 218 needed to retain their current majority.

If Republicans lead both chambers, it would mean that most of Trump's agenda would have a much greater likelihood of winning congressional approval than if Democrats controlled one of them.

Partial results show Republicans have a narrow lead in nine of the remaining uncalled House races and Democrats in seven, according to a New York Times analysis, although many thousands of votes remain to be counted.

Most of the remaining House seats are in Western states, where vote tallying typically takes longer than elsewhere in the country.

(Reporting by Leah Douglas and Moira Warburton; Editing by Will Dunham and Lincoln Feast.)
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  The Boys and Girls Clubs of Rochester honored the ESL Federal Credit Union and its president Saturday night for the annual Lifetime Achievement Gala.

This years award was presented to Faheem Masood, the president of ESL Federal Credit Union.

(WROC/Melanie Sosa)

It means that I am doing justice to the opportunity given to me to help our community thrive and prosper, Masood said. Its a great feeling that the platform Ive been given, I have actually lived up to.

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Last years gala honored Marc Lacona, the co-founder of the Rochester International Jazz Festival.

We always feel like we want to award people who are, first off, selfless  just really interested in the impact that they can make in the community but dont really take a lot of credit for it, said Dwayne Mahoney, the executive director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Rochester. That kind of describes Faheem, hes really lowkey, but ESL and his team at the bank do an unbelievable job for our community in terms of the resources they put into organizations and to individuals.

According to Mahoney, the organization had worked closely with ESL in the past, making Masoon a perfect candidate for the award.

Power Her Forward conference in Rochester uplifts young girls, teaches empowerment

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A few years ago, we did Project Uplift. The ESL Bank gave out almost $2 million to not-for-profits that they could use with people that had problems paying rent or making a car payment  whatever we felt would make their lives easier for them.

The gala also featured an auction  with all the proceeds going towards the Boys and Girls Clubs.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The EU is readying its 15th package of sanctions against Russia, targeting foreign-made components found in Russian weaponry, the EU's chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, said in Kyiv on Nov. 9.

"We have to strengthen anti-sanctions circumvention measures because Russia cannot produce (weaponry) without imported parts, chips and other components," Borrell said at a news conference alongside Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. "We should use sanctions to isolate Russia's industrial capabilities from imports from other countries."

The European bloc has already adopted 14 packages in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, aiming to undermine Moscow's economic output and the ability to sustain the war. The most recent package, which passed on June 20, agreed to the first ever sanctions placed on Russia's gas industry.

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Borrell's comments come as President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to urge Western allies to apply more sanctions against the providers of components used predominantly in Russian drones.

Russia has increased its drone attacks on Ukrainian cities in recent months, with Zelensky reporting over 2,000 Russian Shahed-type drones launched at Ukraine in October.

According to Zelensky, the over 2,000 Shahed-type drones launched in October coincides with the "over 170,000 components that should have been blocked from reaching Russia," Zelensky said in his evening address on Nov. 2. "Microchips, microcontrollers, processors, and many other parts are essential for enabling this terror."

Russia continues to avoid sanctions through the use of sanctions evasion networks and shell companies. Russia is also aided in sanctions evasion through its allies, including China, Iran, and North Korea.

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In recent months, China's particular support for Russia's defense industry has played a significant role in shifting the battlefield momentum in Ukraine in Moscow's favor.

Reuters reported on Sept. 25 citing European intelligence sources that Russia has secretly established a development and production program in China for attack drones to be used in the war in Ukraine

On Nov. 6, the chief of Australia's intelligence agency warned Beijing's "massive provision" of dual-use goods, as well as diplomatic and economic support, allow Russia to continue its war against Ukraine.

The announcement on the sanctions package comes as Borrell, during a visit to Kyiv on Nov. 9, seeks to reassure Ukraine of the EU's "unwavering" support amid uncertainty about the level of U.S. support under President-elect Donald Trump's leadership.

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Read also: Faster deliveries and fewer red-lines  Borrell reassures Kyiv of EUs unwavering support following Trump victory









Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Once Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler announced that he would not seek reelection, things were in motion for a new mayor to assume the office.

But when the campaigns began, few thought businessman Keith Wilson would come out on top.

He did and beat three sitting Portland city commissioners in the process.

The owner of eco-friendly trucking company Titan Freight Systems and founder of the nonprofit Shelter Portland campaigned with a focus on solving Portlands unsheltered homeless crisis.

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Along the campaign trail, Wilson said he intends to end unsheltered homelessness in Portland within a year of taking office. He said it all starts with a simple 1-2-3 process of setting up a network of low cost nighttime emergency shelters, adding more services to existing day shelters, as well as enforcing community safety.

However, he stressed community involvement is critical in these next steps.

The election is a testament that the community is ready, the buy in. It was a significant win for the city and weve been very clear and transparent, Wilson said. We need to continue to message to the community to come together to care for those that are suffering. So it is not something simple. The buy-in is going to be critical, and were going to continue to message what were going to be doing in the transition, and certainly in those first critical first few months of my administration.

The current Portland City Council tabled an ordinance to consider pulling out of the Joint Office of Homeless Services. Wilson noted his appreciation of the commissioners who originally filed the ordinance taking a step back.

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Were in a crisis right now, we should not be in a room negotiating a contract. We need to be out on the street taking action, he emphasized. We can make discussion points while were actioning to care for our community. This election wasnt about us talking about a contract. It was our citizens saying they want the leaders to come together collaborate to get things done.

Wilson said he has even begun conversations with the county, as well as Portland Fire & Rescue and Portland Street Response to help bring the pieces together for services such as a field hospital.

But regarding the recent rollout of deflection centers in Multnomah County, he argued a sobering center should have been first priority.

The deflection center is good to address open drug use because we cannot have that in our community. But in the same respects, we have to get going on a sobering center and rapidly set it up, because we cannot have people on the street while were walking by and normalizing that behavior, he said. So its a one-two. Im sad that we went to the deflection center first when we were moving clearly forward on a sobering center. But now lets get both up and lets get both effective and running quickly.

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Wilson is the first Portland mayor elected by ranked-choice voting. But going into a brand new system of government, the mayor does not have a vote on the council. However, he would get to select a new city manager to run bureaus.

Wilson sees this as an opportunity to supercharge change.

The new mayor now doesnt and doesnt have to do the politics or the policy. I get to focus on delivering core services. I get to focus on a high standards, high performing organization thats running complex seven days a week. I get to focus on delivering the services that the citizens need, he said. Now, I will collaborate with the council, listen to all of them. But when they work on their policies, Ill help explain to them how thats going to fit into the city. But then Ill take those bills, well implement them well at the spirit and the intent of those bills as the relationship really is designed to be. Its an exciting time for us.

Watch the full interview in the video above.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
(This Nov. 10 story has been refiled to remove paragraph 14 to clarify Mayar's quote, which refers to G7+ member countries, including Afghanistan)

By Mohammad Yunus Yawar, Charlotte Greenfield and Gloria Dickie

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan Taliban officials will attend a major United Nations climate conference that starts next week, the Afghan Foreign Ministry said on Sunday, the first time they have attended since the former insurgents took power in 2021.

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The COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan's capital Baku will be among the highest-profile multilateral events attended by Taliban administration officials since they took control in Kabul after 20 years of fighting NATO-backed forces.

The U.N. has not allowed the Taliban to take up Afghanistan's seat at the General Assembly, and Afghanistan's government is not formally recognised by U.N. member states, largely due to the Taliban's restrictions on women's education and freedom of movement.

Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi said officials from the National Environmental Protection Agency had arrived in Azerbaijan to attend the COP conference. The Taliban took over the agency when they returned to power as U.S.-led forces withdrew.

Taliban officials have taken part in U.N.-organised meetings on Afghanistan in Doha, and Taliban ministers have attended forums in China and Central Asia in the past two years.

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But the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Changes Bureau of the COP has deferred consideration of Afghanistans participation since 2021, in effect freezing the country out of the talks.

Afghan NGOs have also struggled to attend the climate negotiations in recent years.

Host Azerbaijan invited the Afghan environment agency officials to COP29 as observers, enabling them to "potentially participate in periphery discussions and potentially hold bilateral meetings," a diplomatic source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Because the Taliban are not formally recognised within the U.N. system as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, the source said, the officials cannot receive credentials to take part in the proceedings of full member states.

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Azerbaijan's COP29 presidency declined to comment.

The Taliban has closed schools and universities to female students over the age of around 12. It also announced a set of wide-ranging morality laws this year that require women to cover their faces in public and restrict their travel outside the home without a male guardian.

The Taliban says it respects women's rights in accordance with its interpretation of Islamic law.

Afghanistan is considered one of the countries worst affected by climate change. Flash floods have killed hundreds this year, and the heavily agriculture-dependent country has suffered through one of the worst droughts in decades. Many subsistence farmers, who make up much of the population, face deepening food insecurity.

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"Afghanistan is one of the countries that is really left behind on the needs that it has," said Habib Mayar, deputy general secretary of the g7+, an intergovernmental organisation of countries affected by conflict.

"It is a double price that they are paying," Mayar said. "There is lack of attention, lack of connection with the international community, and then there are increasing humanitarian needs."

(Reporting by Mohammad Yunus Yawar and Charlotte Greenfield in Kabul and Gloria Dickie in London; Editing by William Mallard)
Its a word thats been gleefully co-opted by both sides of the political spectrum for their most basic rallying cries (F*** Joe Biden. F*** Trump), and its having a veritable heyday this week in the wake of US presidential election results  as Republicans and Democrats exclaim the expletive with polar-opposite emotion: F*** yes versus F*** no.

In Germany, one weekly newspaper even went so far as to run a Wednesday piece with a one-word headline featuring only the four-letter profanity. F***, Die Zeit wrote bluntly.

Luckily, as the world deems the swear word uniquely applicable in various capacities after an emotionally exhausting and far-reaching shift in US politics, theres a brand-new edition of a book dedicated to the definition, uses and etymology of the f-word.

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Originally published in 1995, lexicographer Jesse Sheidlowers The F-Word has a new fourth edition out this week with major revisions addressing rapidly changing attitudes towards f*** in public discourse, as well as pushing back by almost 200 years the known history of Englishs most notorious and colorful word.

Sheidlower  who also just happens to be distantly related to this reporter through marriage, a fact she found hilarious at age 13 as an only child in a household where swearing did not exist  has had an interest in the word since at least first grade, when he went up and asked the teacher what it meant.

The word f***, he tells The Independent, is something that everyone is interested in, but that, until fairly recently, we didnt actually know that much about  because really, until the last couple of decades, it was not considered appropriate for scholars to work on stuff like this.

There were academics who did study it but couldnt really publish it, and a lot more people who wouldnt work on it because it would be a career-killer.

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Attitudes have certainly changed in academia, media and society; as an expert studying the words history and evolution, Sheidlower confirms that its use in the political arena has indeed become increasingly common.

Lexicographer Jesse Sheidlower has been researching the history, uses and evolution of the four-letter vulgarity for decades; he first published The F-word in 1995 (Allan Amato)

There is a certain coarsening of discourse in the political spectrum lately, he says, and were willing to acknowledge that this is out there  whereas, in the past, politicians vulgarity would go unreported, considered unacceptable.

Sheidlower doesnt believe, however, that more muted attitudes towards the usage of f*** have eased the words bite.

Its still something that you dont want your young children to say or you dont say casually  because they still do have an impact, says the editor of the edition whose first definition explains absof***inglutely. The second-to-last entry is ZFG  an interjection defined as zero f***s given and used to express extreme indifference.

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Abbreviations ranging from AF to DILF have been added in between; Sheidlower cites everything from song lyrics to scripts from The Wire in his thorough lexicographical tome.

Researching the history of the word has been fascinating, he says  and, frankly, f***ing fun.

Thats one of the reasons I wanted to do it in the first place, he says.

After all, who doesnt want to know more about a word that, for many people and in many situations, simply seems to be the absolutely best summation of affairs?

It sounds good, Sheidlower says, musing on why the word has so captivated humans for centuries. It feels good to say  youve got a hard consonant in there, its short, its punchy, it sounds like its the right thing to say.

The fourth edition of The F-Word was published the day before the 2024 US presidential election; Sheidlower tells The Independent: There are a lot of people whove said, Boy, do I need this word this week' (Oxford University Press)

Its certainly been employed quite frequently in many communities across the country  particularly in the buildup and letdown around the presidential election.

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There are a lot of people whove said, Boy, do I need this word this week, Sheidlower says.

Here are a few juicy tidbits from The F-Word fourth edition and the lexicographer himself.

The word has been known and used for centuries  just not necessarily recorded officially

You might use the f-word in pain, despair or anger; maybe youre a fan of f*****g as a descriptor, such as when youre f*****g scared. But how often would you utilize that phrasing in a work email or college essay?

Things that are not written down are things like f*****g as an intensifier  its not sexual and its not threatening; it tends not to get written down, Sheidlower tells The Independent. One of the most common or most obvious uses of f*** is as an interjection, meaning damn or whatever. To express anger or regret or hatred or something like that, youre just saying f***  as many people have been saying this week.

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And the problem with that, thats not the kind of thing that gets written down much.

The first known appearance of the word in a dictionary came in 1598, he writes in The F-Word. Other clear evidence of the words utilization in society has been discovered in legal documents and, unsurprisingly, historical pornography and erotica.

Earlier and earlier written mentions of f*** are being found

Previously, the earliest clear example, the incontrovertible example, I would say, was from the late, late 15th century, Sheidlower tells The Independent  but now, a historian who worked on legal records found very clear examples from 1310 of a man with the name Roger Fuckebythenavele.

No, that isnt a typo.

The New York Times first usage of the vulgarity on the front page came in April 2019, Sheidlower writes in The F-Word: On being informed that Robert Mueller had been appointed as the special investigator to study Russian influence on the 2016 election, President Trump said, and the paper printed in full, This is terrible. This is the end of my presidency. Im f***ed (AP)

Its funny; its incredible, he says. It seems this has to be a joke or misreading or something, but in fact  it seems to be his actual name. His name appears seven different times over the course of almost a year in these records.

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The man was accused of a serious offense which is unclear, but Sheidlower says the name seems to refer to either an activity Fuckebythenavele had tried or hint the man was so stupid that he thought this is how you do it.

If this is true, well, thats great, he says. Its 150 years before the next earliest example of the words usage.

This is a recent discovery, he says. I mean, obviously, the records have been sitting there forever, since 1310, but someone going in and reading them  that pushes the history of the word.

Smart-asses have been using f*** to pull mischief for centuries

Sheidlower writes in The F-Word: Reporting a speech delivered by Attorney General Sir William Harcourt, the Times printed on January 13, 1882  The speaker then said he felt inclined for a bit of f***ing.

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It took the stunned editors four days to run an apology for what must have been a bit of mischief by the typesetter: No pains have been spared by the management of this journal to discover the author of a gross outrage committed by the interpolation of a line in the speech 

This malicious fabrication was surreptitiously introduced before the paper went to press. The matter is now under legal investigation, and it is hoped that the perpetrator of the outrage will be brought to punishment.

A telephone pioneer may have given us historical f*** clues

Alexander Graham Bell, of telephone fame, did a bunch of work on other kinds of audio technology  and there are recordings from 1885 that are retrievable, Sheidlower tells The Independent.

And in one of these recordings, someone is reciting Mary Had A Little Lamb, and its barely audible  and in the middle of it, theres some kind of technical glitch, and the speaker seems to say, Oh, f***.

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The utterance is very hard to hear, he admits, but seems likely to be the four-letter word  so thats really important, because  that was probably very common at the time, and it pushes it back 45 years before we knew the word was being used in such a frustrated interjectory context.

The 45th  and newly re-elected US president  has already made f*** history

The first appearance of the four-letter word on the front page of The New York Times came on April 19, 2019, Sheidlower writes in The F-Word.

On being informed that Robert Mueller had been appointed as the special investigator to study Russian influence on the 2016 election, President Trump said, and the paper printed in full, This is terrible. This is the end of my presidency. Im f****d, he writes.

It turns out that he wasnt, though  and its a safe bet that America will be hearing a lot more of the F-word from voters and officials alike as the country prepares for a second Trump White House.
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:

Blank canvas and discussing activity ideas, needs and requirements. Credit: Nurse Education in Practice (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.nepr.2024.104138

Normally a staple of the childhood toybox, new research has found that LEGO bricks can be an effective ice breaker between midwifery and medical students.

Led by midwifery teaching specialists Liz McNeill from Flinders University and Dr. Lyn Gum from the University of South Australia, the study found using the ubiquitous colored blocks made the students more comfortable working together and prepared them for later professional collaborations.

"In the past, I have always had a small box of LEGO pieces on my desk that was well used when people needed to debrief as it provided an alternative to needing to maintain eye contact when feeling vulnerable," says McNeill, a midwifery academic at Flinders University's College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

"By adapting the principles of LEGO SERIOUSPLAY during a series of workshops between midwifery and medical students, we wanted to see if we could incorporate the use of the blocks as a way of breaking the ice.

"In hospital settings, there are often challenging power dynamics that exist between midwives and obstetricians, but if we start early enough, we can set our students up for future constructive collaborations."

Developed in the 1990s by Swiss professors Johan Roos and Bart Victor, LEGO SERIOUSPLAY is a facilitated meeting, communication, and problem-solving method that uses LEGO bricks as a tool to encourage creative thinking and dialogue.

Across workshops held between 2018 and 2020 between Flinders University 2nd and 3rd-year midwifery students and 3rd and 4th-year medical students about to enter an obstetric rotation, the researchers tasked the students with collaboratively building a birthing room using LEGO pieces.

The task encouraged discussion and negotiation among the students, while they were also able to share and appreciate different perspectives on birthing care.

Pre and post-workshop surveys were then conducted to ask students about their experiences using the toys as a learning tool for communication and collaboration, with the results now published in the journal Nurse Education in Practice.

While the students expressed skepticism at the start, post-workshop feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

"We enjoyed listening to the myriad of conversations between the mixed groups of students, including the sharing of their professional birthing experiences, perspectives and scopes of practice while trying to prioritize the placement of equipment and characters," says Dr. Lyn Gum, who conducted the research while at Flinders University but is now Senior Lecturer in Nursing at UniSA.

"We saw immediate benefits of the icebreaker, noting that students continued to chat with each other during the meal breaks."

Feedback showed the students thought the activity helped to break down perceived barriers between the disciplines, facilitated open dialogue, and enhanced mutual understanding.

"The interactive nature of the LEGO exercise encouraged students to reflect on the various priorities in midwifery and medical care and this led to an improved appreciation of each other's roles," says McNeill.

"I have since had midwifery students throughout the year comment to me that they had seen 'their' medical students in the hospital and how they felt comfortable re-engaging in conversation with them."

The authors say the findings highlight that integrating LEGO into educational settings can be an effective strategy in teaching, especially for those destined for clinical settings.

"Interprofessional socialization is important for breaking down boundaries between professions, especially those who work in high-stakes medical fields," says McNeill.

"Our icebreaker is transferrable to other interprofessional contexts when wanting to break down the barriers between professions, and promote role clarity and collaboration, and what better place to start than with our students."

More information: Liz McNeill et al, "Removing the home court advantage": A qualitative evaluation of LEGO as an interprofessional simulation icebreaker for midwifery and medical students, Nurse Education in Practice (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.nepr.2024.104138
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Families across Little Rock gathered to walk in honor of their loved ones who have Alzheimers Saturday.

Director of the Alzheimers Association, Kristen Dickins said the Walk to End Alzheimers is something they do annually to spread awareness and bring people together who all have felt the effects of Alzheimers.

We have nearly 60,000 Arkansans that are living with Alzheimers or another type of dementia and the caregiver count is well over 150,000, Dickins said.

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The disease is also the fourth leading cause of death amongst Arkansans aged 65 and older, according to the Arkansas Department of Health.

Central Arkansas Walk to End Alzheimers being held in North Little Rock this weekend

Chris Pledger, a participant in the event says it affects not the one fighting it but also the entire family.

I got to walk with my mom as my mom was caring for my dad and my brother and I helped walk with her through that, Pledger said.

Pledger says hes walking in honor of his dad who lived with Alzheimers for 15 years, and says support and care are important for those fighting the disease.

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Continue to remind yourself of the love that you have for your family member and what youre doing, Pledger said.

Central Arkansas End Alzheimers Walk gets big turnout

After walking for miles, dozens of people made their way through the balloon arch that marked the finish line.

Lolette Henderson was one of the first to finish in honor of her mother.

She is 87 years blessed and she is dealing with Alzheimers and dementia, Henderson said. We are supporting her, and everything is going well.

She said the more support families have, the easier it is to get through.

Alzheimers Association invites Little Rock residents to join 2020 walk to end Alzheimers

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Dealing with someone with Alzheimers and dementia is a lot, Henderson said. Its stressful but if you stay prayed up and reach out to your support groups its all good.

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During a visit to Kyiv on Nov. 9, the European Union's chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, reassured Kyiv of the EU's "unwavering" support amid uncertainty about the level of U.S. support under President-elect Donald Trump's leadership.

"We need faster deliveries and fewer self-imposed red lines," Borrell said referring to his support of allowing Ukraine to strike deep inside Russian with Western-provided long range weaponry.

Borrell arrived in Kyiv earlier in the day for his fifth trip to Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

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Ahead of talks with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, 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.

"This support remains unwavering. This support is absolutely needed for you to continue defending yourself against Russia's aggression," Borrell said during a news conference with Sybiha after the meeting.

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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The Telegraph reported on Nov. 7, citing three Trump staffers, that 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. Under the plan, the current front line in Ukraine would be frozen.

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.

During the news conference in Kyiv alongside Borrell, Sybiha said President Volodymyr Zelensky will begin preparations for a meeting with Trump.

Borrell added that EU defense ministers will meet next week to discuss "boosting support at this critical hour," including both military and diplomatic support for Kyiv.

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A staunch supporter of Ukraine, Borrell's visit to Kyiv follows a visit to 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.

Read also: Trumps peace plan may include deploying European troops to buffer zone in Ukraine, Telegraph reports













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Western New York native Mackenzie "Kenzie" Michalski was killed in Budapest this week

GoFundMe Mackenzie Michalski Mackenzie Michalski

The father of the 31-year-old American nurse who was killed during a recent trip to Budapest is still overcome with emotion," he revealed during a vigil held for his daughter over the weekend.

Mackenzie "Kenzie" Michalski was reported missing by friends and family this week after she was believed to have disappeared from a local Hungary nightclub on Tuesday, Nov. 5, prompting a search. On Friday, Nov. 8, the Budapest Police Headquarters said in a news release that it had arrested a suspect in the case  a 37-year-old Irish citizen who "showed" authorities "where he hid the woman's body."

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The next day, police released further details about the man, who claimed the killing was an "accident."

Now, Mackenzie's father, Bill Michalski, has spoken out about the circumstances surrounding her death. During a candlelight vigil held in Budapest on Saturday, Nov. 9, Bill spoke with the Associated Press and claimed "there was no reason for this to happen."

Im still trying to wrap my arms around what happened," he said. "I dont know that I ever will.

Bill, who was wearing a cap that his daughter gifted him, added that Mackenzie had been to Budapest before, calling it her "happy place," per the AP.

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The history, she just loved it and she was just so relaxed here, he said. This was her city.

AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky People hold candles at vigil for Mackenzie Michalski in Budapest, Hungary on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 People hold candles at vigil for Mackenzie Michalski in Budapest, Hungary on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024

Related: American Nurse, 31, Who 'Dedicated Herself to Caring for Others,' Murdered While Vacationing in Hungary

Authorities have not released the name of the man arrested in Mackenzie's death. They said they had "caught sight" of him with Mackenzie in "several nightclubs" before identifying him.

Police added, per the release, that the suspect took the victim to his apartment, where they got "intimate," before he admitted to killing her.

Budapest Police, which arrested the man this week, explained that the suspect attempted to cover up the scene by cleaning his apartment, placing the woman's body in a wardrobe cabinet and later purchasing a suitcase which he put her body inside before driving to Lake Balaton with her in his trunk.

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He's also alleged to have made various internet searches about how to dispose of dead bodies and if pigs eat them, as well as the smell of decomposing corpses, the competence of Budapest police and missing-person case procedures.

A GoFundMe campaign noted that Mackenzie, a Western New York native, had last been spotted around 10 p.m. local time on Nov. 4 at Barack et Szilva Etterem in the Jewish Quarter of Budapest, before her friends discovered she was at bar Szimpla Kert.

The campaign has since surpassed its $35,000 goal, and the nurse practitioner's friends and family also launched a Facebook group dedicated to her search.

After the news of Mackenzie's death, page admin Mary Eustace, in a post signed off by her friends and family, expressed her "gratitude" for the "prompt attention, diligence, care, and consideration" of local police.

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She called Mackenzie  who worked as a nurse in Portland and was originally from the New York village of Fredonia  "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," Eustace continued. "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," she added. "Her wish for the world: fully embrace the present moment, be your authentic self, practice kindness, and always walk in the light."

Another vigil for Mackenzie was held by loved ones in her hometown of Fredonia on Nov. 9, according to local NBC affiliate WGRZ.

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Family friend Melissa Pietrkiewicz helped organize the vigil and told the outlet that she hoped loved ones would leave with "a little bit of peace" as they grieved with each other at the village's Barker Commons.

"That's what this is all about, you know, a small community. We look out for one another, we love one another and we grieve with one another when it's necessary," Freedonia Mayor Michael Ferguson told the outlet.


Much of the federal workforce is on edge and bracing itself for the likelihood its ranks will be purged when President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

Trump, who has derided civil servants as agents of the deep state, promised on the campaign trail to reinstate a 2020 executive order known as Schedule F, giving him the power to commence mass firings of nonpartisan federal employees who might spoil Trumps partisan plans.

The objective is to create space to put loyalists in what were, what are still, career civil service positions, former Trump appointee Ronald Sanders  who resigned over Trumps politicization of the federal workforce  told CNN. Sanders added it is problematic if schedule F is being used to reinforce and maintain political loyalty.

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Trumps loyalist vision is already having a profound chilling effect on career employees, some of whom told CNN they plan to stay into the new year  but dont know whats next beyond that.

Are you a federal worker? CNN would like to talk to you

I would say there is a general feeling of dread among everyone, one Energy Department employee told CNN.

In his first term, Trump sidelined and ridiculed civil servants and service members, silenced government offices and stifled scientific research. Many workers quit; others stuck it out, hopeful that the 2020 election would bring a new boss in the White House.

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Now they face another four years of Trump  a term that by his own account will be worse for the government workforce than his first.

We are absolutely having conversations among ourselves about whether we can stomach a round two, an employee at the Environmental Protection Agency said.

How Trump could gut the government

Trumps purge could be the biggest change to the federal workforce since the late 1800s, returning the federal government to the spoils system of 1883 when victorious political parties gave government jobs to their supporters, said Max Stier, the president and CEO of Partnership for Public Service. The spoils system was replaced by the current merit-based system where career employees serve multiple administrations, carrying out their jobs independent of politics.

Whats at stake here is the nature of our government, how it works and who it works for, Stier told CNN.

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A Trump transition team spokeswoman didnt respond to CNNs questions about when Schedule F might be put in place, or how many workers it could impact.

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, Trump transition spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. He will deliver.

Mass firings likely wont happen on day one. The Biden administration erected temporary roadblocks at the federal Office of Personnel Management  rules aimed at protecting federal workers from retaliatory mass firings.

But Bidens rule was never codified by Congress and could easily be reversed.

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Out of the more than 2 million federal employees working in the US and abroad, Schedule F could have a profound impact on the DC-Maryland-Virginia metro area, where nearly 449,000 federal workers live, according to a 2024 report. The District of Columbia itself has the largest individual chunk of federal workers in any state or territory, with more than 162,000.

But it could also be devastating to employment in states that went to Trump, where roughly 967,000 federal workers live.

Former President Donald Trump emerges to speak at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Wednesday, November 6, 2024. - Will Lanzoni/CNN

In addition to Schedule F, the new administration is expected to use several other tactics to excise federal employees, such as mass transfers of senior executives and relocation of agency offices. Trump did this in his first term, moving the Bureau of Land Management headquarters from Washington, DC, to Grand Junction, Colorado  prompting 287 employees to either resign or retire. In a 2023 campaign video, Trump promised to move as many as 100,000 government positions out of DC.

There were calls for the Biden administration to implement regulations that would have made it more difficult for a future Trump administration to relocate agency offices as a way to shed career staff, but the US Office of Personnel Management has not acted on the proposal.

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Some federal workers and their unions are also warily eying Trumps proposal for a government efficiency commission that would be headed by billionaire Elon Musk, who has pushed for such a task force and promised it could slash $2 trillion in government spending.

Other former Trump officials have suggested entire federal offices should be slashed in addition to individuals being fired.

If there are offices currently in operation that dont meaningfully contribute to agency missions under Trump, those need to go, said Mandy Gunasekara, the former EPA chief of staff.

Unions that represent federal employees are gearing up for the fight.

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Federal workers should be able to do their jobs without political interference, without violating their Constitutional oath, and without breaking the law, said American Federation of Government Employees national president Everett Kelley  whose union represents more than 800,000 federal employees.

EPA employees are concerned about what a Trump administration would do to their work, said Joyce Howell, executive vice president of AFGE Council 238, which represents the agency. Theyre concerned about all aspects of their work life at EPA.

EPAs union leadership told CNN its lawyers are crafting legal challenges against Schedule F, but some experts said they may not be enough to fend off mass firings. Legal advocacy groups like the American Civil Liberties Union and Democracy Forward that fought the first Trump agenda in court have also been considering ways to set up an infrastructure that would connect lawyers to career civil servants who are targeted with unlawful tactics.

The AFGE union at EPA recently finalized a contract that includes increased protections, safeguarding the science and facts career employees use to guide their work from political interference.

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If you have a scientist being told to sanitize their data, they can report that interference, said Marie Owens Powell, president of AFGE Council 238. We have to react if any of our rights as civil servants are infringed upon.

She said the message to EPA employees from the union has largely been, Keep your head down, get your job done.

Sunlen Serfaty and Tierney Sneed contributed to this report.

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A Federal Emergency Management Agency employee was fired after advising a survivor assistance team not to visit homes with yard signs that support President-elect Donald Trump during Hurricane Milton relief efforts in Florida last month.

In a statement on Saturday, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell called the incident "reprehensible."

"This is a clear violation of FEMAs core values and principles to help people regardless of their political affiliation," she said in the statement shared with NBC News.

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Criswell said FEMA's more than 22,000 employees are dedicated to helping those affected by disasters.

"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, adding that the employee in question was fired and the incident was referred to the Office of Special Counsel.

FEMA did not identify the employee.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he directed the state's Division of Emergency Management to launch an investigation into "the federal governments targeted discrimination of Floridians who support Donald Trump."

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"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.

Florida was severely affected by back-to-back hurricanes Helene and Milton weeks ago. The hurricanes left over 200 people dead in their wake, including in North Carolina and Georgia, and many structures destroyed.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) employee was terminated after advising her survivor assistance team to not go to homes with President-elect Trump campaign signs on them following the onslaught of Hurricane Milton in Florida, the agencys head confirmed.

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell described the incident as reprehensible, noting that 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.

But that recently, one FEMA employee departed from these values to advise her survivor assistance team to not go to homes with yard signs supporting President-elect Trump.

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This is a clear violation of FEMAs core values and principles to help people regardless of their political affiliation. This was reprehensible, Criswell said in a statement.

The employee, who FEMA did not name, was terminated and the incident was referred to the Office of Special Counsel, according to Criswell.

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 FEMA chief said.

The development comes after The Daily Wires report on Friday detailed the employee telling workers to avoid homes advertising Trump, citing internal correspondence between the workers and the employee. At least 20 homes were bypassed due to her guidance, multiple government employees told The Daily Wire. The workers were canvasing in Lake Placid, Fla.

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said that state officials are starting an investigation into 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 said in Friday post 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, he added.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) sent a letter to Criswell demanding answers following the report.

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I just took swift action for the American people, and Im demanding answers from @FEMA_Deanne on why Americans were discriminated against by their government based on who they support in an election. The findings are revolting, and we need accountability, Luna said in a post on X, adding that the FEMA chief has until Nov. 25 to respond.

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BEAUFORT, S.C. (WSAV) The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will reopen the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Beaufort County to provide in-person assistance to residents affected by Hurricane Helene.

Representatives from FEMA, the state of South Carolina, and the U.S. Small Business Administration will be available to provide assistance, with no appointment necessary.

The Disaster Recovery Center will be open at the Burton Wells Recreation Center, located at 1 Middleton Recreation Drive, from Sunday, Nov. 10 through Wednesday, Nov. 13, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. The DRC will be open on Veterans Day, but all other rooms at the recreation center will remain closed for the holiday.

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To apply for aid, go online to DisasterAssistance.gov. You may also download the FEMA App for mobile devices or call toll-free 800-621-3362.

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A Federal Emergency Management Agency supervisor was fired and is under investigation for allegedly asking team members to not inspect homes in a hurricane-ravaged Florida town that had signs supporting Donald Trump's campaign, the agency said.

The incident occurred when the unidentified FEMA supervisor was surveying damage from Hurricane Milton in Florida and allegedly instructed their members to avoid the homes that had the signs, the agency said in a statement.

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell called the incident "reprehensible."

PHOTO: In this Oct. 13, 2024, file photo, a FEMA truck is shown parked next to debris and damage from Hurricane Milton in St. Pete Beach, Fla. (MediaPunch/IPx via AP, FILE)

"This is a clear violation of FEMAs core values and principles to help people regardless of their political affiliation," she said in a statement.

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MORE: Florida's farmlands, iconic orange groves recovering following back-to-back hurricanes

The supervisor has been terminated and the matter has been turned over to FEMA's Office of Special Counsel, according to Criswell.

PHOTO: In this Oct. 7, 2024, file photo, a box of drinking water distributed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) sits on a counter in Treasure Island, Fla. (Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images, FILE)

"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," she said.

"I will continue to do everything I can to make sure this never happens again," Criswell added.

FEMA supervisor fired, under investigation after allegedly advising team to avoid homes with Trump signs originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
NEW YORK (PIX11) Local fire departments and the New York State Police are battling a forest fire raging across 384 acres of a mountainous area known as the New York City watershed, according to NYC Water.

According to NYC Environmental Protection, the fire is near the Catskill Water Supply System, one of the main water supplies vital to the water supply for millions of New York City residents.

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According to the NYC Water Supply, the watershed comprises 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes and is located in portions of the Hudson Valley and the Catskill Mountains.

The fire is currently raging in the Rondout and Ashokan reservoirs in western Ulster County, in the Catskills.

It remains unclear what started the fire in the reservoirs.

The fire comes as parts of New York are experiencing a record-breaking period of no rainfall.

Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.

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NOTE: A lawsuit represents only one side of a story.

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Richard Biff Williams, former president of Utah Tech University, is facing a lawsuit over a crude, sexual, vulgar, obscene, and damaging gift that was left on one employees porch and attributed to the three employees who are now suing Williams and the university.

Williams  who officially stepped down as president of Utah Tech in Jan. 2024  now serves as the president of Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. On Saturday, Nov. 9, Williams sent an email to the MSU community regarding the lawsuit, which was filed in Utah court on Nov. 7.

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Federal charges filed against Colorado residents for destroying historic site in Utah national park

In a screenshot of the email obtained by ABC4s sister station KOLR, Williams wrote to students that he initiated what [he] intended to be a humorous gesture toward a Utah Tech staff member.

This was a mistake. I regret my lapse in judgment, and I accept this as a learning moment, Williams wrote to MSU students. I apologize for the undue attention this has brought to the university.

Williams is one of 20 identified defendants  including Utah Tech University and the Utah Board of Higher Education  listed in the lawsuit. The plaintiffs  one male and two female employees  are suing for economic and non-economic damages associated with emotional distress, humiliation, pain and suffering, and retaliation.

Background

Each of the plaintiffs in the case worked, in some capacity, with Utah Techs Title IX office  for example, in a supervisory, advisory, or managerial role  and each of the plaintiffs joined the staff at Utah Tech between Jan. and Aug. 2020, according to the lawsuit.

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In Sept. 2021, the plaintiffs responded to the display of highly obscene and vulgar sexual comments in a public break room, after the display reportedly lasted for more than four years. The plaintiffs response in Sept. 2021 led to a hostile work environment and a poisoned well, the suit claims.

Utah Techs pattern of hostile and brazen misconduct, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation by the senior male administrators culminated in a crude, sexual, vulgar, obscene, and damaging display left on the porch of a Utah Tech administrator by the then-sitting University President Williams, and falsely attributed by him to the Plaintiffs, the lawsuit alleges.

The display was made up of vegetables arranged in a phallic shape on the porch of the universitys Vice President of Marketing and Communications, following a medical procedure.

Williams is accused of attributing the innately sexual display to the three employees who filed the lawsuit. Documents said the plaintiffs names were listed in a note that accompanied the display, which included sexual innuendo and misspelled names of two of the plaintiffs.

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Williams was caught on home security footage leaving the display and the note, though his face was obscured by his hoodie, the suit claims. Before the incident, Williams reportedly told his chief of staff that he intended to drop a gift off for the administrator after the medical procedure.

The suit claims, in part, that Williams misconduct was directed toward Plaintiffs in response to their execution of their duties during the incident addressed in Sept. 2021.

The images of the display and the note attributing it to the plaintiffs were shared in a group chat with 11 other staff members, and the images were also shown at a Board of Trustees meeting and a luncheon.

Prior to the luncheon, the lawsuit says none of the plaintiffs were made aware of their names being attached to the display, and no other staff members reported the incident to the proper channels.

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When confronted about the display and the note in front of members of the Board of Trustees, one of the plaintiffs was shocked, embarrassed, and humiliated, the suit says.

The lawsuit further alleges that the university did not provide the employees with a timely and adequate remedial process, according to the universitys policy.

The suit claims the university and the Utah State Board of Higher Education conducted a sham investigation and that their claims against Williams were dismissed after the former president announced his departure since the Utah Board of Higher Education would no longer have jurisdiction over Williams after he stepped down as President.

One of the plaintiffs was placed on involuntary leave in Feb. 2024 and was banished from the schools premises. That employee has not yet been able to return to their duties, the lawsuit said. Another plaintiff has reportedly been frozen out of duties and left out of other processes.

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The plaintiffs are suing over fourteen causes of action, including discrimination (based on sex, race, and national origin), retaliation, defamation per se, and breach of contract, among others.

This experience continues to remind me how important it is to always strive to foster a campus environment that is safe and welcoming to all students, faculty and staff, Williams wrote in the email to MSU.

ABC4.com reached out to Missouri State University for further comment, and received the following statement from the Board of Governors:

The Board of Governors of Missouri State University is aware of the pending lawsuit and continues to have confidence in President Williams ability to lead Missouri State University. We are committed to working alongside him to ensure that the university is a safe and welcoming environment to all students, faculty and staff. Board of Governors of Missouri State University

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The lawsuit can be read in its entirety below:

RICHARD-WILLIAMS-UTAH-TECH-LAWSUITDownload

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Former New York Gov. David Patterson (D) said the Democratic party needs to do a better job listening to voters during a Saturday appearance on John Catsimatidiss radio show, Cats Roundtable on WABC 770 AM.

Weve got to kind of tear up all the information that we have now and start going out and start listening to the people. Hearing what theyre saying, as opposed to lecturing, which I think the party has gotten into too often, Patterson said.

He slammed Vice President Harriss address at Howard University, describing it as a graduation speech rather than a concession.

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When she gave her concession speech, which I wouldve given the same night because all of your people followed you and just literally gave you all their energy to you. She gave it the next afternoon, said Patterson, a former New York Democratic party chair.

But it didnt even sound like a concession speech. It sounded like a graduation speech at Howard [University]  Naming topics, like we want to solve the problems of tomorrow. I heard her say that.

Exit pollsters have noted the disconnect.

I think shes a very intelligent woman. But theres such a communication problem that when she tries to address these issues, it just doesnt register with the public, he added.

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Lawmakers like California Gov. Gavin Newsom are preparing for President-elect Trumps second term with new statewide policies and protections.

Trump condemned Newsoms special legislative meeting earlier this week and has leaned on fellow Republicans such as Illinois former governor JP Pritzker.

Patterson said the commander-in-chief will enter new realms of power for the nation over the next four years. He encouraged Trump to govern judiciously.

The president has an immense opportunity because he has the House and Senate presumably behind him, and the Supreme Court. I dont think any president has ever had that kind of power. I hope he uses it judiciously, Patterson said. If he does, we might just look up in a couple of years and say, You know, things really arent that bad.

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FORT SMITH, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  The Fort Smith Police Department (FSPD) is investigating a shooting that occurred in the 3400 block of Northview Drive.

Officers responded to a call reporting gunfire in the area, though no injuries have been reported in connection with the incident, according to a news release.

Arkansas State Police capture internationally wanted El Salvadorian gang member

Authorities are currently seeking information on a suspect vehicle described as a white four-door passenger car, possibly a Dodge.

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Anyone with information that may assist in the investigation is encouraged to contact the Fort Smith Police Department at 479-709-5100 or call 911.

KNWA/FOX24 will provide updates as more information becomes available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
French Minister of National Defence Sebastien Lecornu has said that Paris will continue to provide military support to Ukraine following the election of Donald Trump as US president.

Source: Lecornu in an interview with Le Journal du Dimanche; European Pravda reports

Details: Lecornu said that France should support Ukraine on a long-term basis, "because it will also allow the Ukrainian authorities to consider political decisions when they decide to do so".

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"Military support is very important, and even when the war is over, we must continue to strengthen the Ukrainian army," he added.

Among other things, the French defence minister announced the extension of the training programme for Ukrainian soldiers. 2,000 soldiers are being trained under the guidance of French soldiers and on French equipment as part of the programme.

"Secondly, we will continue our support. As winter sets in, Russia's deep strikes on Ukrainian territory are likely to intensify. We will again supply Mistral missiles (for anti-aircraft missile systems  ed.), in particular to protect combat areas.

And in order to enable Ukraine to strike behind the line of contact, in the last few days, I have signed a decision on a new transfer of about ten SCALP missiles, as promised to Volodymyr Zelenskyy by the President of France," Lecornu added.

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SCALPs are long-range air-to-surface missiles, the transfer of which was first announced by France in early 2024.

Moreover, French media unofficially reported last month that France would hand over the first batch of three Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to Ukraine in early 2025.

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Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin health network are on pace to begin offering a next-level form of cancer treatment to patients as soon as August.

Earlier this month, a 2-year-long construction project to build a proton therapy clinic inside Froedtert hospital took a significant step toward completion when the final components of the cancer-treating system  an accelerator and two mechanical arms each weighing 15 tons  were dropped through the roof of the hospital and into a 28-foot tall by 37-foot wide, radiation-proof room.

The system provides precision treatment from every angle with 190-degree rotating mechanical arms that are mounted to an accelerator. The patient lies flat on a bed and the device moves to an angle that best aims proton beams at their tumor.

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The hospital partnered with Legion Healthcare Partners to develop the Mevion S250i Proton Therapy System and help assist with operations. The health network is not disclosing the cost of the project.

Mevion first brought its technology for compact, single-room therapy systems to market in 2017.

Froedtert will be the first hospital in Wisconsin to offer proton therapy, and the 15th hospital in the country to operate one of Mevion's proton system. To date, the Mevion systems have treated 12,000 patients worldwide, according to Curt Kienast, Mevion Medical System's chief operating officer.

"Bringing this technology to Wisconsin, and being the first to do it, is near and dear to me," said Kienast, a Beaver Dam native. "This will be a differentiator for the region."

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UW Health in Madison announced in 2022 that it also will be providing proton therapy at its Eastpark Medical Center. Still under construction, the clinic is expected to open in early 2026, meaning Wisconsin will have two hospitals in its two largest metropolitan areas offering proton therapy within months of one another.

The closest clinics offering proton therapy to Wisconsin cancer patients are Rochester's Mayo Clinic or Northwestern Medical Group in Illinois.

The accelerator is part of a proton therapy system that will be providing care to cancer patients at the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network as soon as August, according to hospital officials.

What is proton therapy

Proton therapy is an advanced form of radiation therapy that more precisely delivers radiation doses to tumors.

Similar to radiation treatments that use photons, or X-rays, proton therapy also treats cancer by breaking apart the DNA strands of cancer cells, making it difficult for new cancer cells to grow.

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The difference is a proton's maximal energy is absorbed at the point of contact with the tumor. Photons, or X-rays, deposit the treatment dose along the entire beam trajectory that can extend beyond the tumor, said Christopher Schultz, a radiation oncologist and chair of the Medical College of Wisconsin's Department of Radiation Oncology.

Because the proton beam largely stops once it reaches the cancerous tumor, it allows higher levels of radiation to be delivered to the tumor while not damaging adjacent organs or sensitive normal tissue, Schultz said.

"Protons go in so far and just stop on a dime," Schultz said.

Dr. Christopher Schultz is a radiation oncologist with the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Network and chairman of the Department of Radiation Oncology and professor with the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Here's why that is important: Consider a 6-year-old patient with a cancerous tumor next to their spinal cord or at the base of their skull.

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Because X-rays pass through the body, other organs and tissues are in the exit path of the decreasing level of radiation. The spinal cord and the brain are still growing, still developing. And while they are not the target of the radiation, they will still be exposed to some level of radiation, Schultz said.

"In some situations, you don't even want that lower level of exit dose to expose those adjacent, normal tissues to radiation, especially when treating little kids," Schultz said. "Radiation can lead to deformity or some other functional problems."

That means at some point X-ray based treatment may need to stop to prevent damage to the patient's healthy organs and tissue, Schultz said.

Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin already partner with Children's Wisconsin, treating 75 to 100 of its pediatric patients at its radiation clinic each year. That partnership will continue and expand with the proton therapy, Schultz said.

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Damaging adjacent tissue and organs is not an issue with proton therapy, since the radiation beam does not travel through the body, making it a beneficial form of treatment for patients who may not have had successful results with other forms of radiation treatment and whose nearby healthy organs and tissues can not be exposed to any more radiation.

"That is a big area of growth for protons - the ability to re-radiate people who are no longer progressing with their initial course of treatment," Schultz said. "You can essentially bring a (proton) dose in and put it right up to the critical, cancerous structure."

The accelerator of the Mevion S250i proton therapy treatment was dropped through the roof of Froedtert hospital earlier this month. It will calibrated before the proton therapy clinic begins treating patients as soon as August, according to hospital officials.

Opportunity for patients to participate in clinical trials

Schultz said clinical research suggests proton therapy is advantageous over other forms of radiation treatments when treating pediatric patients with solid organ cancers located next to growing tissues. Other studies in adults indicate proton therapy is beneficial when a tumor is located next to a critical organ.

But more research is needed into numerous types of cancers.

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For now, opting for proton therapy versus other forms of image-guided radiation therapies is a decision based more on "picking the right tool out of your toolbox."

"It is not an either, or, necessarily," Schultz said. "And some of the data is still unclear as to whether or not one is better than the other. When it makes sense and we don't know which is better  we will discuss options with the patient and put those patients on clinical trials."

Schultz said the proton clinic will reach capacity once it is treating roughly 350 patients each year. At that point, additional capacity will be added by building another room.

Jessica Van Egeren is a general assignment reporter with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She can be reached at jvanegeren@gannett.com.

This story was updated to correct inaccurate information.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Froedtert bringing proton therapy to cancer patients as soon as August
Editors Note: The video above first aired on November 1, 2024.

MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)  Fix West Texas is honoring Veterans Day with a pair of events that look to benefit veterans and their families.

The organization will be hosting its Veterans Day Donation Drive through the rest of the month of November. FWT will be accepting donations of items such as socks, slippers, pajama pants, underwear, and robes to benefit veterans at local VA hospitals.

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Those interested will be able to drop off donations at the FWT adoption center, located at 9507 West County Road 77, or at the PetSmart in Midland, located at 4206 West Loop 250 North. You can also donate money through the organizations Facebook page and the proceeds will go toward purchasing items for veterans.

Animal advocates, law enforcement speak on preventing animal abuse

Fix West Texas will also be offering free dog and cat adoptions, as well as free spay, neuter, and microchip services for all veterans until Monday, November 25. Participants will need to show military ID for this special.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP)  A gang coalition on Saturday reinforced its attacks on one of the few communities in the Haitian capital not under the control of criminal groups, seeking to take it over.

After a week of clashes with the police in the Solino neighborhood in Port-au-Prince, members of the gang coalition, Viv Ansanm, attacked once again, setting fire to several homes, as the national police union warned that the area was almost under total control of the gunmen.

As morning broke on Saturday, images from social media showed the neighborhood engulfed in smoke and flames. Many people were seen leaving the area with whatever they could carry. Security forces and armed individuals exchanged fire not far from Solinos police base.

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Solino and Nazon almost lost! said SPNH-17, a national police union, on X Saturday morning. It also demanded the resignation of authorities. Nazon, another neighborhood right by Solino, also came under attack.

Viv Ansanm, which means Living Together, formed in September 2023 as a coalition of two gang federations that were previously enemies. It was responsible for several attacks on critical government infrastructure in February which eventually led to the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

On Thursday, the gangs also opened fire and hit a U.N. helicopter, forcing it to make an emergency landing in Port-au-Prince, with one U.S. airline Friday temporarily cancelling flights to the capital. Since last week, residents in Solino have been calling radio stations pleading for help as they fled their homes.

In Solino, Garry Jean-Joseph, 33, blamed the police for the ongoing violence. I left with nothing, he said. The people of Solino do not understand last night, the conspiracy of the policemen and the Live Together (Viv Ansanm) soldiers."

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The resident described how at 2 a.m., a policeman in an armored car told residents to go home and that they would secure the neighborhood. However, shortly afterward residents could hear gangs invading. The police delivered Solino, he added.

Some officers with Haiti's National Police have been long accused of corruption and working with gangs.

The attacks have displaced more than 10,000 people in the capital in just one week, according to a report released Thursday by the U.N.s International Organization for Migration. More than half of those left homeless crowded into 14 makeshift shelters, including schools. The remainder are temporarily staying with relatives.

Gangs control 80% of Port-au-Prince, although communities like Solino have been fighting attempts by gunmen to seize control. As gang violence surges across Haitis capital and beyond in recent days, concerns have been raise that a U.N.-backed mission led by Kenyan police is struggling to contain the unrest. Thousands of people have been killed or injured this year, and more than 700,000 have been left homeless in recent years.

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U.S. and Haitian officials including interim President of Haiti Leslie Voltaire have said the Kenyan mission lacks personnel and funding and have requested that it be replaced by a U.N. peacekeeping mission.

Earlier this year, coordinated gang attacks forced the government to close Haitis main international airport for nearly three months.
The Scoop

Gannett, the publishing chain that owns the Des Moines Register, has launched an investigation into the apparent leak of Ann Selzers bombshell Iowa poll, two people familiar with the matter confirmed to Semafor.

Selzers Iowa poll was publicly released by The Des Moines Register/Mediacom on the evening of Nov. 2, making nationwide news and giving Democrats what would turn out to be false hope by showing Kamala Harris leading Donald Trump by three points in the state. (Trump ended up winning Iowa by 13 points.)

But roughly 45 minutes prior to the polls public release, a stray tweet predicted the polls findings. Its author said that Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a Duke University alumnus, had mentioned the not-yet-released poll during a Duke Democrats meeting that day. (A spokesperson for Pritzker did not respond to an inquiry about the apparent leak.)

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The Des Moines Register is legendarily careful with Selzers polls, which shape perceptions of crucial early caucuses in both parties, though it also now coordinates with Gannett flagship USA Today on high-profile national news.

Now, Gannett is investigating how Pritzker and possibly other political actors could have learned of the poll early, and is reviewing employees emails, one of the sources said.

A Gannett spokesperson declined to comment on internal matters.

Know More

The Des Moines Register is also conducting a thorough review of the Iowa poll to determine how there was such a wide disparity between its findings and the actual results. Carol Hunter, the publications executive editor, wrote in an opinion piece that the newspaper and Selzer would be looking into the polls methodologies and other factors to determine what may have impacted the difference.

In her own article about the polls big miss, Selzer suggested that perhaps its findings served to energize and activate Republican voters ahead of Election Day. Reached by Semafor, she declined further comment Sunday.
Russia has lost 708,890 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on Nov. 10.

This number includes 1,350 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.



According to the report, Russia has also lost 9,249 tanks, 18,726 armored fighting vehicles, 28,683 vehicles and fuel tanks, 20,280 artillery systems, 1,245 multiple launch rocket systems, 996 air defense systems, 369 airplanes, 329 helicopters, 18,619 drones, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.

Read also: Mediazona confirms identities of over 77,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
SALT LAKE, Hawaii (KHON2)  Most folks who are familiar with Genki balls immediately think of the Ala Wai Canal, but the microbial mud balls are helping to clean up more than just that.

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University of Hawaii students spent their morning at another Genki Ala Wai toss, where the project has been finding success since 2019. Their progress even inspired community members near the Salt Lake waterway to host their own tosses and cleanups.

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In two weeks were going to be tossing the balls, said Aliamanu-Salt Lake neighborhood board secretary Chandra Kanemaru. So bring your Shohei Ohtani, you know, arm pitch and, you know, come out over to toss the balls!

Genki balls vs. debris debacle: Struggle over Oahus infamous Ala Wai

The third and final Genki ball toss of 2024 in Salt Lake will be on Saturday, Nov. 23. Residents said the water clarity where they held previous events used to be terrible.

The green algae or whatever it is and after we did toss the genki balls between the two buildings here, the two high rises, Ive noticed that its a slow process, but slowly it started to clear, said Salt Lake area resident Claire Lubick.

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Feeling a bit subversive? Try this

Military members help out with some of the heavier lifting to clear overgrown brush and there is even a friendly competition to see which branch can bring out more volunteers.

Ala Wai debris is the worst Ive ever seen it after recent rain

I think we did better than Army this particular time around. Last count, we had we had more than 40 service members from joint base coming out, said Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam public affairs director Chuck Anthony.

Love is love, says Hawaii voters: LGBTQ+ commission responds

Cumulative, I would say the Army is definitely ahead, said 516 Theater Signal Brigade Deputy brigade commander LTC Donny Pratt. We move a lot in the military, so youre generally not any one location, any more than two or three years. But its important when youre in that location to be a part of the community.

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Over 1,000 Genki balls were made on Saturday, Nov. 9 to be thrown on Nov. 23 in Salt Lake. More Genki Ala Wai events are already in the works.

The algae is going away, Kanemaru said. And like I said, the water turbidity, everything you get actually see fish coming back and the water is clear, yeah, we can actually see the bottom!

Click here for more information about the Genki ball project.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
HK eyeing free trade agreement with Peru: TDC



Chankay, located about 80km north of Lima, used to be a remote fishing village and is frequented by locals for short getaways. Photo: RTHK

Raymond Yeung reports from Lima

The Hong Kong government is looking to finalise a free trade agreement with Peru, as Chief Executive John Lee heads to the South American nation to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) leaders meeting this week.



The Trade Development Council (TDC) also hopes a brand new port near the Peruvian capital of Lima will provide fresh impetus for cargo trade between the two regions.



According to the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, Peru is Hong Kongs fifth largest trading partner in Latin America, with over HK$5 billion worth of merchandise trade last year.



While Latin American nations are rich in natural resources, they rely heavily on imports for some daily necessities such as clothing and household appliances.



Economist Alice Tsang, who leads the global research team at TDC, expects more Hong Kong businesses to tap into the Peruvian market once a free trade agreement is signed.



From what we see in Peru, there is room to further boost spending among general consumers. After the Covid pandemic, there is demand for high-end products, she said in an interview with RTHK.



Tsang added that Peruvian department stores have been sourcing products in Hong Kong, mainland China and Southeast Asia. Some develop their in-house brands whose products are manufactured by SAR companies.



A free trade agreement can facilitate these exchanges by spelling out the legal framework and government regulations. I believe more Hong Kong companies will be willing to tap into this emerging market, she added.



According to a 2022 document published by the Trade and Industry Department, the proposed free trade agreement seeks to eliminate or reduce tariffs, facilitate customs procedures, as well as improve market access for both sides.



China is already Perus largest trading partner globally, with bilateral trade reaching some US$37 billion last year.



With a massive Pacific coastline, Perus strategic importance in cargo trade was recognised by China Ocean Shipping Company, or Cosco, a state-owned enterprise headquartered in Shanghai.



In a major undertaking, the firm in 2021 began the construction of Chankay port, located around 80km north of Lima.



Once a remote fishing village, Chankay has been transformed into a natural deep-water port and could serve as a crucial gateway for shipments in and out of Latin America.



The port began its soft launch this month, and a massive container ship was docked there during a visit by RTHK on Sunday.



Tsang explained that once the port becomes operational, the shipment time between Shanghai and Peru can be slashed by one week. The time savings also translate to a one-third reduction in operational expenses.



The cooperation between China and Peru is mutually beneficial. Many consumer goods in Peru arrive from China and Asia. Following the construction of Chankay port, a container ship will be able to reach Peru from Shanghai in 28 days, down from the current 35 days, she said.



That reduces costs by more than 30 percent, because less fuel is used and the insurance would be cheaper due to less time spent at sea.



The economist believes the project may not be necessarily linked to the trade tensions between China and the United States. She explained that after Covid, nations around the world realised the need to diversify supply chains to reduce risks and minimise disruptions.
Friedrich Merz, the head of Germany's opposition Christian Democrats (CDU), is discouraging voters from supporting the pro-business Free Democrats under the country's two-vote system, despite their potential as a coalition partner.

German ballots contain two votes, one for a directly elected local representative and another for a party list. Voters can split their votes between different parties for tactical reasons.

Speaking ahead of likely snap elections early next year, in which the CDU is the clear frontrunner, Merz said the party would not entertain giving assistance to the FDP, which is currently polling below the 5% hurdle to enter parliament.

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"The FDP is a political competitor, as are all the others in the democratic spectrum of the centre," Merz told the Stern magazine in an interview. If the liberal party ended up with just 4%, that would be "4% too much for the FDP and wasted votes," he added.

On Wednesday, the governing coalition of Chancellor Olaf Scholz collapsed after he fired his finance minister, FDP leader Christian Lindner, leaving just Scholz's Social Democrats and the Greens of Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck in government.

Scholz plans to table a vote of confidence in parliament, paving the way for new elections.

A poll published by the Sunday edition of the mass-circulation Bild newspaper put the CDU, along with its Bavarian ally, the CSU, on 32%, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD) in third place and trailing on 15%.

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Second place was taken by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) on 19%, but the CDU/CSU has rejected any possibility of a coalition with them.

Merz noted that votes wasted on parties that fail to clear the 5% hurdle could theoretically lead to a coalition being formed with less than 45% of the overall vote, even though this was unlikely.

Turning to the Greens, polling in fourth place on 10%, Merz said he found Habeck easy to talk to but that he saw difficulties in any coalition. "On a personal level, we get along, but politically, we are rather far apart," Merz said.

With the new populist BSW alliance, led by Sahra Wagenknecht, on 7%, and her former party, the hard-left Die Linke down to 4% - unlikely partners for the CDU  Merz may face difficult choices if tasked with forming a government.

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Scholz's unwieldy coalition has been beset by wrangling since its formation in December 2021. The need to agree a budget for next year finally ruptured the alliance.

Any coalition put together by Merz is likely to face similar difficulties.

Regarding campaign issues, Merz called for labour market reforms and simplification of the tax code in his remarks published by Stern magazine on Sunday.
German Election Commissioner Ruth Brand has rejected accusations of manipulation regarding the setting of a date for the new election to the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag.

The election commissioner is an independent electoral body, not bound by instructions, but by legal regulations, her spokesman explained. "There was also no directive or influence on the position of the federal election commissioner concerning new elections," he clarified.

It is her responsibility to ensure the proper preparation and execution of German federal elections and to point out risks, the spokesman said. Brand is said to have done this in a letter to Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

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In her letter to Scholz, Brand warned of "unforeseeable risks" due to shorter time frames if a snap election is called. According to Article 39 of Germany's Basic Law, as the constitution is known, the Bundestag must be re-elected within 60 days after the dissolution of parliament by the president. Brand wants to fully utilize the time frame, "to be able to take all necessary measures in a legally secure and timely manner."

The opposition conservative bloc - made up of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) - criticized Brand.

"I can therefore only advise the federal election commissioner not to allow herself to be manipulated by anyone," Thorsten Frei, parliamentary managing director of the conservative CDU/CSU faction in the Bundestag, told Sunday's edition of the mass-circulation Bild newspaper.

"We must be careful not to make ourselves look ridiculous internationally with a debate at this level," Frei said.

CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann called the statements by the election commissioner "scandalous and shameful." "A country like Germany must be able to conduct elections within 60 days," Linnemann told Bild.
Germany will not lack for paper in the event that snap elections are called early in the New Year, the head of the country's paper-producing industry has said.

Asked by ZDFheute.de, the online service of a national public broadcaster, whether there would be enough for election documentation should an election be called in January, Alexander von Reibnitz said: "Clear answer: Yes."

Provided that the order went in on time, all the paper needed for an early parliamentary election could be supplied, Von Reibnitz said in the article published on Saturday.

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On Friday, Federal Returning Officer Ruth Brand called on Chancellor Olaf Scholz not to be overly hasty in triggering an election, with the Christmas holiday season approaching.

This could be risky on organizational grounds, including the acquisition of paper and the commissioning of printing companies, she wrote in a letter.

Following the collapse of his three-party coalition, Scholz indicated he was open to discussing the date when parliament could hold a vote of confidence - a precursor to new elections - after initially indicating a preference for January 15.

Scholz wants parliament to pass some pressing laws by the end of the year, before the electoral process is triggered. But the conservative opposition is pushing for the vote of confidence to take place sooner.
Friedrich Merz, the head of Germany's opposition Christian Democrats, has said that if he were chancellor, he would seek deals with president-elect Donald Trump that place Germany on a more equal footing.

Merz is seen as the strongest contender to succeed Chancellor Olaf Scholz in snap elections expected early next year, after Scholz's three-way governing coalition collapsed on Wednesday.

"We need to go from being a sleeping midsize power back to being a leading midsize power," Merz told Germany's Stern magazine.

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"We have never really articulated and asserted our interests well enough in Germany, and we have to change that. The Americans are much more proactive in this respect," Merz said.

"It should not be the case that just one side benefits, but rather that we make good agreements for both sides. Trump would call it a deal," he added.

Merz gave the example of US fighter jet deliveries.

"We buy F-35 fighter jets from the Americans out of necessity, but then they should be maintained here, and we should also get the necessary facilities for this. That would be good business for both sides," the chancellor candidate noted.

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"I watch Trump and talk to a lot of people who know him very well. They tell me: You have to approach him with an upright gait and clarity."

Merz accused the German government of mishandling the US election, which Trump emerged from as a clear winner. He argued that Berlin should have been ready for this outcome, but had instead chosen to side with Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.

"Trump has a good memory. The current government will no longer be listened to by the new administration. Scholz is now also internationally a lame duck," Merz said.
Germany should stop seeing refugees as a general threat, the council chairwoman of the Protestant Church in Germany (EKD) said on Sunday, calling the political debate on asylum seekers "dangerous" for focussing on deterrence and deportation.

"It's about people, not numbers," Kirsten Fehrs said in the southern German city of Wurzburg, where the EKD's synod was convening for its annual meeting.

Speaking in the wake of both a US election outcome with global consequences and the crumbling of Germany's coalition, Fehrs said: "The world has been shaken and many people are experiencing growing insecurity and fear."

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"I hope that our country will regain its political footing," the theologian and Hamburg bishop said. "Democracy thrives on stable institutions."

The synod, the church parliament of the EKD, Germany's largest Protestant denomination, is holding meetings in Wurzburg until Wednesday. The main topic of this year's conference is "Flight, Migration and Human Rights."

In his welcoming address, the president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Josef Schuster, stressed the importance of the fundamental right to asylum for those who are politically persecuted.

The president of the synod, Anna-Nicole Heinrich, earlier said: "Every person has the same dignity  no matter where they come from."

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She said that this is frequently ignored in the heated debate around limiting and deporting migrants. "As churches, we will continue to protect the weak and stand up for the human rights of refugees."

On Monday, the agenda is expected to turn to the prevention and addressing of sexual violence.

Last year, the then EKD Council Chairwoman Annette Kurschus came under pressure during the meeting of the 128 synod members because she was alleged to have known many years ago that a church employee at the time was acting in a sexually offensive manner.

The theologian denied this but resigned as council chairwoman and president of the Westphalian Church to avoid creating headlines that might harm victims of sexualized violence through remaining in office, she said at the time.

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On Tuesday, the EKD council chair succeeding Hamburg bishop Fehrs for the remaining years of the current term until 2027 is due to be elected.

As an umbrella organization for 20 regional churches, the Hanover-based EKD represents 16.8 million Protestants in 12,500 congregations.
(Bloomberg) -- German opposition leader Friedrich Merz, whos dominating polls ahead of an expected snap election, said he would look to ink deals with incoming US President Donald Trump to boost his countrys international standing.

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In an interview with Stern magazine, Merz called Chancellor Olaf Scholz a lame duck and urged him to accelerate the timetable for an early federal election following the collapse of the three-party coalition government last week.

Scholz, a Social Democrat, lost his majority in the German parliament on Wednesday after he sacked Finance Minister Christian Lindner, leader of the business-friendly Free Democrats, in a dispute over debt-financed government spending. Merzs CDU/CSU-led conservative bloc has double the support of Scholzs party, and has focused on how to smooth over Germanys rocky relationship with Trump.

In Germany, we have never really articulated and enforced our interests well enough, and we have to change that, Merz said in the Stern interview. The Americans are much more on the offensive. It shouldnt end with only one side profiting, but rather with us making good arrangements for both sides. Trump would call it a deal.

Scholz is scheduled to give an interview to public broadcaster ARD later Sunday.

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Merz accused Scholzs center-left government of being wrong-footed by Trumps reelection after backing Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate. Trump has a good memory, Merz said. The current federal government will no longer be heard by the new administration. Scholz is now a lame duck internationally.

As an example of a potential deal with Trump, Merz cited the delivery of US military aircraft. The CDU leader said that since Germany has agreed to buy F-35 fighter jets from the US, they should be serviced in Germany, with support by the Americans. That would be a good deal for both sides, he said.

Merz, 68, said hes spoken to people who know Trump well, and that the US president-elect needs to be approached with upright posture and clarity.

Like Trump, Merz had a lengthy feud with former Chancellor Angela Merkel, his partys long-time leader. Frustrated by Merkels liberal policies, Merz left the political stage for some years and worked as chairman of the supervisory board of BlackRock Inc.s German asset management unit.

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What Bloomberg Economics Says...

Germanys political turmoil, together with Trumps US election victory, will add to the already very high economic policy uncertainty in the near term. This may prompt businesses to further postpone investment decisions and weigh further on the modest recovery we forecast in the coming quarters.

Martin Ademmer, economist. For full note, click here

Scholz is under growing pressure to schedule an early election without delay. He initially proposed to pull forward Germanys ballot from September to the end of March and lead a minority government with Economy Minister Robert Habeck and his Green party until then.

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But even Habeck, whos also Scholzs deputy, questioned his boss time plan and warned against formulating any conditions under which early elections could be held. The timing of a confidence vote in parliament shouldnt be mixed with pushing through certain political pet projects, Habeck said Saturday, Deutsche Presse-Agentur reported.

Faced with growing criticism from within his own camp, Scholz signaled on Friday that hed be willing to move up the election date if Merzs CDU helps move some legislation through parliament before its term ends.

Ballot Paper

German officials warned that holding elections as early as January may result in chaos. Ruth Brand, head of the Federal Election Commission, has warned of incalculable risks at all levels if the election is rushed and cited, among various problems, a potential paper shortage.

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CDU party general secretary Carsten Linnemann called Brands remarks scandalous and shameful. Theyre a reflection of what is going on in this country, Linnemann told the Bild newspaper.

Alexander von Reibnitz, the head of Germanys paper industry association, told broadcaster ZDF its clear that enough paper would be available to hold a nationwide election in January.

According to an Insa poll published in Bild, 35% of Germans back Merz for chancellor, 18% are for Scholz and 16% favor Habeck.

Scholz, who backed President Joe Biden for reelection, has made Germany a target of scorn for Trump and his ally Elon Musk.

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The Tesla Inc. chief executive officer and worlds richest person cheered the collapse of Scholzs governing coalition with a German-language message on his X social media platform that translates as Olaf is a fool.

I didnt even take notice of it, Scholz told reporters on Friday when asked about the post.

Scholz is also still waiting for a phone call with Trump after he reached out to the president-elects team on Wednesday as Trump locked down his election victory.

--With assistance from Stefan Nicola and Christoph Rauwald.

(Updates with Habeck in ninth paragraph, head of paper industry in 13th paragraph.)

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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY)  Musicians from around West Virginia gathered on Saturday to raise money for flood victims in Asheville, North Carolina at the Give Thanks Festival in Morgantown.

Held at The Encore, a music venue in Sabraton, different musical acts played for eight hours throughout the day joined by a small collection of vendors selling handmade items, artwork, clothing and coffee.

Compared to the more energetic music venues in Morgantown like 123 Pleasant Street or the Morgantown Art Bar, The Encore is a more low-key and subdued setting that event coordinator Grace Campbell said was perfect for the Appalachian and folk identity she wanted to emphasize for Saturdays event.

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As a musician [it] is so important when youre talking about your identity in music, Campbell said. Its just one of those things that I think is really important to highlight, and when youre giving thanks for your community and for the arts in Morgantown, the stories of whats happening behind the scenes with these musicians is the important part. Thats what makes it beautiful.

Can you keep a squirrel as a pet in West Virginia?

Campbell and her band were among the musicians who played during this years Giving Thanks concert. A final tally of the total money raised for the event has not been made, but Cambell is hopeful they can raise at least $1,000 before the day is done.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Republican Joe Kent, left, and U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, right are competing for the U.S. House seat in the 3rd Congressional District. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian)

Democratic U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez has defeated Republican Joe Kent, earning a second term and providing her party a much-needed win in its pursuit of the House majority.

Gluesenkamp Perez, who represents the 3rd Congressional District in southwest Washington, had 51.9% of the vote as of Saturday afternoon and led Kent by 16,340 votes, the largest margin since Tuesdays election.

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The congresswoman declared victory Thursday after The Columbian called the race in her favor. The Associated Press called the race following Saturdays tally of votes.

Im deeply grateful for this vote of confidence in the work Ive done to set aside national politics and represent our community, she said in a statement issued Thursday. Our heritage as fiercely independent, loyal fighters for our community is as clear to me as it was the day my family and I decided to ask for the privilege of working for our community.

Representatives of Kent and his campaign could not be reached for comment. In a social media post on Saturday night, Kent said: Approximately 30k ballots remain to be counted, so my race is not over, however things are not trending in my favor. I wont concede until every ballot is counted.

This was a rematch of the 2022 battle in which Gluesenkamp Perez won by a couple thousand votes in one of that years biggest ballot upsets. Her win cost the Republican Party a congressional seat it had held for more than a decade.

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Democrats set out this year to retake the House majority and retaining this seat was critical to the partys chance of success. Republicans, meanwhile, wanted to win back the 3rd District.

As of Saturday, control of the House was still unclear. Republicans have won at least 212 seats and Democrats 201, based on AP estimates. It takes 218 for a majority.

Gluesenkamp Perez, in her statement, rebuked those who doubted she could win again.

Some far-away pundits and prognosticators swore I would lose this re-election campaign from the moment I took office, she said. They dismissed our victory in 2022 as a fluke or an accident, and scoffed at the possibility that someone from the trades, the mom of a toddler, who didnt have elected experience could effectively fight for her community in Congress, much less win re-election after being targeted as the most vulnerable Democratic incumbent in the country.

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But like two years ago, pundits made a fundamental mistake by viewing this race through a partisan lens, she said. Our community has never seen ourselves this way, and its not how we evaluate who merits our vote for Congress.

Gluesenkamp Perez positioned herself as a moderate Democrat, touting her willingness to work across the aisle and to oppose President Joe Bidens border security policies and his proposals for student loan forgiveness.

She tried to paint Kent as an outsider in the district whod flirted with anti-government ideas and characters.

Kent, a former U.S. Army Special Forces soldier, was endorsed by President-elect Donald Trump who won the district in 2020 and was on track to do so again in this election.

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Kent tried to convince voters Gluesenkamp Perez was too liberal on issues like immigration and law enforcement and had only taken moderate votes for show on legislation that was doomed to fail in the Senate.

Gluesenkamp Perez outraised Kent by a wide margin. She reported nearly $10 million in contributions, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission. Kent raised about a quarter of that amount per his Federal Election Commission filings.

Democratic and Republican organizations, and an array of political committees, spent roughly $18 million independent of the candidates in the race, according to Open Secrets.

As of Oct. 31, Kent had been the target of $8.3 million in opposition spending, with the House Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the House Majority PAC accounting for roughly $6 million of the total.

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There was $6.2 million spent against Gluesenkamp Perez, nearly all of it by the National Republican Congressional Committee, based on data compiled by Open Secrets.

House Speaker Mike Johnson visited the district twice to help Kent raise money, most recently on Oct. 24 for a get-out-the-vote rally. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise also came to the district. In the final week before the election, Trump joined a call with Kent to help him make a closing argument to voters.

The 3rd district compasses Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Pacific, Wahkiakum, and Skamania counties and a small part of Thurston County. The districts southern boundary is the Columbia River.
Senator John Barrasso and Kristen Welker on NBC News' Meet the Press.

Republican Senator John Barrasso on Sunday struggled to hold firm on his commitment to fund Donald Trumps mass deportation plan when confronted with the eye-popping price tag.

Trump has repeatedly spoken about his vision to remove every illegal immigrant from the United States, with estimations suggesting 10-12 million people would fall under the deportation scheme.

On Thursday, Trump told Kristen Welker that there is no price tag to stop him from undertaking the plan.

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Welker reiterated this quote when speaking to Barrasso on Sundays Meet the Press, but the senator wasnt quite as firm when she told him that it could cost $88 billion per year to remove just one million illegal immigrants.

WATCH: Trumps deportation plan  which he says has no price tag  could cost as much as $88 billion a year to deport 1 million people.@kwelkerNBC: Would you approve of a package that big?@SenJohnBarrasso: I agree with the president [on] where we need to start. pic.twitter.com/XKG3wggex0  Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) November 10, 2024

Ultimately Congress will have to decide whether to give President-elect Trump a blank check. Do you agree that there is no price tag for Donald Trumps mass deportation plan? Welker asked.

Well I agree theres no price tag on protecting the safety and security of our country and our citizens. President Trump is going to enforce the law, and we havent had that over the last four years, Barrasso said.

There are over 10 million illegal immigrants in this country right now and were talking about people who are from criminal cartels, drug dealers, people on the terrorist watch list... and what the President said is he wants to go after and prioritize those people first, to deport those individuals.

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Worth noting, not all 10 million are criminals, Welker interjected.

The NBC News host then added: But, let me drill down with you becauseby some estimatesthat mass deportation plan could cost as much as $88 billion a year just to deport one million people, Senator."

Would you approve of a package that big which would undoubtedly add to the national debt? she asked.

Barrasso sidestepped the question after a moment of silence, instead rehashing his former point about deporting illegal criminals.

I agree with the president with where we need to start, he said, stammering over his words.

We need to start with the people who are felons who have been left in this country. People who are on the terrorist watch list. People who have been convicted in other countries of murder and rape. People who are committing crimes in this country.

Thats the place to start and thats where President Trump is about to start, the senator concluded.
Ongoing work for Northeast Natural Gas Grid are as per the schedule and will likely be operational by 2026 according to Rajesh K Mediratta, Managing Director and CEO of Indian Gas Exchange (IGX). India's northeast region has tremendous potential in the production of natural gas. The region has a deposit of 6 million MMSCMD Natural Gas which can be monetized by the existing producers, said Mediratta, addressing the 'Gas Market Development for North East', where leading energy producers and stakeholders participated in Guwahati. "This (grid) will add to the country's energy security as IGX will help Gas producers to monetise stranded gas who can sell the surplus gas to the other regions," Mediratta added, as per a statement by the gas exchange. India stands to benefit tremendously from the exploration of the Northeast's rich Natural Gas deposits. India currently imports about 50 per cent of its consumption, around 100 MMSCMD to meet the total demand of 200 MMSCMD. "With the effective gas pipelines in the region, the existing petroleum companies can unearth 6 MMSCMD. This will save approximately Rs 14,000 crores apart from allowing backward linkage in the local economy with job and trade opportunities in the region," said the IGX MD and CEO. The access to gas network also opens up doors for newer industries like ceramic and glass which are run exclusively on Natural Gas. "Given the natural resources, these industries are expected to thrive in the region. The rejuvenated Gas distribution network with NEGG is also expected to improve supply to tea estates, allowing them to switch back to Natural Gas from traditional energy sources like coal," he said. Highlighting the market potential for the export of Natural Gas from the region, Mediratta said, neighbouring Bangladesh has tremendous market potential as the country has been using Natural Gas. "The natural gas producers can definitely look at this scope with potential. With the region now connected with the National Gas Grid, there is scope for the Northeast economy to earn by supplying surplus gas at a competitive cost at the IGX to other parts of the country. As the global price is at around USD 13 mmBtu, Northeast provides a huge competitive economic edge for the producers of the region." The Indian Gas Exchange (IGX) traded eight million MMBtu (201 MMSCM) gas volume in October 2024, higher by 160 per cent on a month-on-month (MoM) basis. Established in 2020, the Indian Gas Exchange Limited (IGX) is India's first automated national-level Gas Exchange for physical delivery of natural gas. (ANI)
Five and a half years ago, the Womens Education and Leadership League held an event honoring its scholarship recipients and invited community members to join the Living WELL program to help raise funds for future scholarships.

One by one, attendees raised their hands, offering to sponsor women to participate in the program as well.

It was like a double blessing, in a way. They got to take the class, and then we had a little extra to do another scholarship, said the chief executive officer and founder of WELL, Alana Scott.

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By the end of Wednesdays Living WELL graduation ceremony at Skewers Kabob House, several attendees had stepped forward to sponsor scholarships for additional women on the wait list and to support full program cohorts.

That evening honored seven graduates of the Living WELL program, in collaboration with the Downtown Streets Team. The class was sponsored by a Farmers Insurance grant for financial literacy, through the help of agent Danielle Lohmann.

The program, designed to support women through financial literacy, leadership training, wellness education and mentorship, marked another year of impact, bringing together current and past graduates, community leaders and program supporters.

Downtown Streets Team is a nonprofit organization that supports individuals experiencing homelessness or those at risk of homelessness by providing them with work experience, job training and resources to help them transition toward employment and housing stability.

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The WELL/DST ceremony was attended by Modesto Mayor Sue Zwahlen and Stanislaus County Supervisor Terry Withrow, who awarded the women with certificates.

Modesto mayor Sue Zwahlen presents a certificate to Living WELL graduate Becky Kaplow during a graduation ceremony at Skewers restaurant in Modesto, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024.

Im inspired by you and your lives and all that youre doing to make a difference in our world, but also especially in the city of Modesto, Zwahlen told the graduates.

Withrow first encountered DST in 2016 when he and Stanislaus County Chief Executive Officer Jody Hayes attended a presentation on the program at a Sacramento conference. It was then he recognized the need to bring DST to Modesto.

Coming from a family with a history of overcoming alcoholism, he shared how witnessing their resilience had inspired him and that he finds the programs participants equally inspiring.

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With all the issues and everything that everybodys dealing with, youre inspirations to the rest of us, Withrow said.

The facilitators who run the program were also recognized and received certificates of appreciation from Zwahlen and Withrow.

Outcomes of the Living WELL program include higher productivity, reduced sick days, job promotions and greater leadership responsibilities for participants. A recent survey shows that 74% of Living WELL graduates have boosted their income by at least 11% since completing the program.

Alana Scott-Clayton and graduate Yvonne Colburn pose for pictures during the Living WELL graduation ceremony at Skewers restaurant in Modesto, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024.

One of the graduates, Yvonne Colburn, was unhoused and living in Beard Brook Park about five years ago. As she was preparing to move to the Ninth Street Bridge, she noticed DST volunteers cleaning up the area and decided to check out what the team was doing.

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After leading her own cleanup crew through DST, Colburn now has a one-bedroom apartment she shares with her dog and holds a job with the city.

I didnt want to be homeless and on the streets forever, she said.

Luz Marie Ruiz, another graduate, said the program taught her how to be more professional and positive. The finances class, in particular, helped her how to save money.

One of her goals is to save up for three years to buy a mobile home.

Tanya King, a graduate of an earlier Living WELL cohort, found the experience empowering. Through the program, she learned financial literacy skills that helped her open her first bank accounts  something she hadnt managed before.

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At the time, she was attending Modesto Junior College, and shes now set to graduate from Stanislaus State with a degree in sociology, planning a career in funeral services.

Scott noted that most of the women applying for the scholarship at the time had heard about it through King, who, despite there being only one available scholarship, encouraged others to apply.

This young lady was a struggling mom, working hard to better her life for her kids, applying for a scholarship that most likely put food on their table, yet she still reached her hand back and helped other women and invited them to apply for that scholarship, Scott said.

Living WELL alumni member Veronica Nunez speaks during the graduation ceremony at Skewers restaurant in Modesto, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024.

Veronica Nunez was among those who ended up receiving the scholarship alongside King. The two have been study buddies and support systems for each other for years.

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Nunez said programs like Living WELL, which focus on empowering women, are vital because in her experience, many women arent fully aware of their worth or potential. Shes now planning to earn her masters, having finished her last semester at Stanislaus State.

Programs like this help you visualize opportunities that you never thought there would be, Nunez said.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A coalition of parents, students and community organizations are calling on El Paso ISD to reconsider its proposal to potentially close 10 schools as part of its ongoing redesign initiative.

The group, calling itself the Save Our Schools Coalition, is also asking that EPISD Board President Israel Irrobali to recuse himself from any future vote on school closures because of what they are calling a clear conflict of interest.

Photos by Edith Moreno

The group said that Irrobalis role as executive director of the El Paso Association of Contractors could benefit members of his organization, who serve as district vendors.

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The group held a news conference on Saturday morning, Nov. 8 to voice their concerns and demands.

The group issued the following statement in its invitation to the news media:

This newly established coalition demands that EPISD delay its plan to close 10 schools until the equity audit is completed and reliable financial and facilities data is available, ensuring a more responsible approach to addressing the districts budget deficit. Additionally, the coalition is calling on EPISD Board President Israel Irrobali to recuse himself from the vote on school closures due to a clear conflict of interest. As the full-time Executive Director of the El Paso Association of Contractors (EPAC), Irrobalis vote could benefit EPAC members, who serve as EPISD vendors and are also his employers.

If approved the school closures would take effect for the 2025-26 school year, as we previously reported. The EPISD board is scheduled to vote on the proposal to close schools at its meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 19.

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Diana Ramirez, an EPISD parent, said the Save Our Schools Coaltion wants the district to hold off on any plans or proposals to close schools until they get better data.

The proposal to close 10 schools could impact about 2,000 children, Ramirez said.



Most of the schools are in the most vulnerable areas of the City  lower income and higher immigrant population, just disadvantaged communities, Ramirez said. We think that it is unfair to be balancing the budget on the backs of children.

EPISD has been hosting a series of community meetings to gather input into the process.

The next ones are scheduled as follows:

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Propososed right-sizing campuses

5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov 12

Lamar Elementary School, 1440 E. Cliff Dr.

10 a.m. Saturday, Nov 16

Stanton Elementary School, 5414 Hondo Pass Dr.

1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16

Park Elementary School, 3601 Edgar Park Ave.

Proposed receiving campuses



5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov 13

Cooley Elementary School, 107 N. Collingsworth St.



5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13

Murphree PK-8 School, 7420 Remcon Circle



5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov 14

Coldwell Elementary School, 4101 Altura Ave.



5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14

Mesita ECDC & Elementary School, 3307 N. Stanton

(Rescheduled from Oct 30)

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10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 16

Moye Elementary, meeting at Stanton Elementary, 5414 Hondo Pass Dr.

1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16

Canyon Hills Middle School, meeting at Park Elementary, 3601 Edgar Park Ave.



















We have reached out to the El Paso ISD for a response.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
GROVE CITY, Pa. (WKBN)  Mercer County residents gathered for a parade Saturday in honor of Veterans Day as the holiday approaches.

The Grove City Veterans Day Parade returned after 50 years to honor local veterans. It was by VFW Post 519 and started at Forker Field Stadium.

Veteran Dave Jervis marched in the parade and said its important to remember November 11.

The main thing is that we honor those people who gave the last full measure of devotion for their nation. This is the day to remember them and to honor them, Jervis said.

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There were 58 groups who participated in the parade.

Tino DiCenso contributed to this report.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
Gunmen in a truck pulled up to a bar in central Mexico and opened fire, killing 10 people, authorities said, in an area that had been spared the worst of the country's raging criminal violence.

The attack on Los Cantaritos bar in Queretaro's downtown district left 10 people dead inside and at least seven injured, according to the city's public security department chief Juan Luis Ferrusca.

"Emergency services arrived at the scene and confirmed that at least four people armed with long weapons had arrived on board a pickup truck," Ferrusca said in a video on social media.

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One suspect was detained and the vehicle used in the attack was found abandoned and set on fire, he said, adding that there were no reports of similar incidents in the city.

The victims included three women, according to the Queretaro state prosecutor's office, which said forensic experts were examining the scene of the attack and the vehicle.

Queretaro, the capital of Queretaro state, is considered one of the safer cities in Mexico, which has been plagued by years of drug cartel-related violence.

Located around 120 miles northwest of Mexico City, it is known for its Spanish colonial architecture.

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Spiraling violence, much of it linked to drug trafficking and gangs, has seen more than 450,000 people murdered in Mexico since 2006.

Earlier this month, gunmen stormed a hospital in the central town of Atlixco in Puebla state. They attacked and killed a man recovering from a gunshot wound, shooting him more than 10 times before fleeing. Two police officers were also killed.

Atlixco, a popular tourist destination, receives thousands of visitors for the Day of the Dead festival.

Spiraling violence, much of it linked to drug trafficking and gangs, has seen more than 450,000 people murdered in Mexico since 2006.

Mexican authorities work at a crime scene during a wave of violence in Mexico. / Credit: Jesus Bustamante / REUTERS

Tackling the murders and kidnappings that are a daily occurrence in Mexico is among the major challenges facing President Claudia Sheinbaum.

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The former Mexico City mayor, who became the country's first woman president on October 1, has ruled out declaring "war" on drug cartels.

Instead, she has pledged to continue her predecessor's strategy of using social policy to tackle crime at its roots, while also making better use of intelligence. Sheinbaum has also studiously avoided using the "hugs, not bullets" slogan popularized by her predecessor and mentor, Lopez Obrador.

The northwestern cartel stronghold of Sinaloa has seen a surge in violence since the July arrest of drug lord Ismael Zambada in the United States unleashed a wave of gang infighting.

There has also been a spike in bloodshed in the southern state of Guerrero, the scene of long-running gang turf wars.

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Authorities said Thursday that the bodies of 11 people, including two minors, were found abandoned in a pickup truck in the state capital Chilpancingo.

They were part of a group of 17 people  reported to be traveling merchants  who were declared missing last month.

The highway where they were found is also the main route between Mexico City and the resort of Acapulco.

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Its catnip for hackers.

Computer users Googling whether Bengal cats are legal to own are finding themselves victims of a bizarre cyberattack.

Cybersecurity company SOPHOS issued an urgent warning on its website, asking people not to type six words into their search engines.

Those who Google Are Bengal Cats legal in Australia? have reportedly had their personal information stolen after clicking on fraudulent links that appear near the top of the page.

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Victims are often enticed into clicking on malicious adware or links disguised as legitimate marketing, or in this case a legitimate Google search, SOPHOS explained.

Cybersecurity company SOPHOS issued a warning on its website, urging people not to type six words into their search engines. Getty Images

At present, the dangerous links only appear in the search results when the word Australia is included, meaning those Down Under are at the largest risk of an attack.

Once users click on a search result  which looks legitimate  they have personal information, such as bank details, stolen via a program known as Gootloader.

The program can also lock users out of their own computers, per SOPHOS.

While the search term for Bengal cats appears relatively niche, the company claims that makes the hacking threat even more alarming because you dont have to be searching for anything nefarious in order to have your personal details stolen.

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SOPHOS says cyber criminals are increasingly infiltrating innocuous Google searches by using a tactic known as SEO poisoning.

While the search for Bengal cats appears relatively niche, the company claims that makes the hacking threat even more alarming because you dont have to be searching for anything nefarious in order to have your personal details stolen. Caters News Agency

The practice is described by the Daily Mail as an insidious technique in which criminals manipulate search engine results to push websites they control to the top of the page.

SOPHOS urges those who believe they may have been a victim of SEO poisoning to alter their passwords as soon as possible.
Haitis ruling presidential council has fired the countrys prime minister, Garry Conille, after barely six months and named businessman Alix Didier Fils-Aime to replace him in an act that some political leaders say is illegal.

This marks the second time in a dozen years that Conille, 58, a career civil servant and development expert with the United Nations, has been forced from the top government job in Haiti. In 2012, he was forced to step down by then-President Michel Martelly after only four months in office.

This time the pressure is coming from the nine-member Transitional Presidential Council currently being led by Leslie Voltaire, an urban planner and the representative of the party Fanmi Lavalas.

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An executive order by the council was to be published in the countrys official gazette, Le Moniteur, on Monday, but leaked Sunday afternoon. It names Fils-Aime, a Port-au-Prince entrepreneur, as his replacement. Eight out the nine council members signed the order. Former Sen. Edgard Leblanc Fils, who recently headed the council, did not sign.

Fils-Aime, 52, who ran an unsuccessful 2015 campaign to join the Senate and is a former president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Haiti, was abroad when his name was being considered on Friday and Saturday. He quickly returned to Haiti on Sunday morning from an overseas trip and after landing in Port-au-Prince was picked up at the airport by a police and diplomatic service escort.

His swearing-in could come as early as Monday morning, prompting a situation where an already politically unstable Haiti could find itself with not just nine presidents but two prime ministers if Conille opts not to relinquish power.

In a letter dated Sunday to Ronald Saint-Jean, the director of the national press, Conille warned that only the government has the right to order the publication of any official acts and the publication of a resolution putting the end to the prime ministers function in the governments official journal is illegal.

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Considering that the publication of official acts in the official journal, Le Moniteur, is the responsibility of the Government. I, Garry Conille, Prime Minister, enjoin you not to publish the resolution taken by the Presidential Transition Council to terminate the functions of the Prime Minister, Conille said in the signed letter.

On Sunday, several sectors that had named people to the presidential council as part of a political accord worked out with the U.S. and the Caribbean community were working on issuing a statement criticizing the move, while also showing support for Conille and his government, two people involved in the process told the Miami Herald.

Constitutionally, only the Haitian Parliament can fire a prime minister, and presidents in the past have done so through political maneuvering by getting supporters in one of the two chambers of government. Haiti, however, is in the throes of a constitutional crisis where there is no Parliament and no democratically elected leader in the entire country.

This has led to divergent views about whether the council, which was put in place to help restore security and oversee the transition back to elections, can fire the prime minister, who runs the day-to-day operations of the government and usually answers to a parliament.

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Conille was appointed by the council in May after its seven voting members and two observers considered several applicants, which also included Fils-Aime, for the job. By June, Conille had put in place a new cabinet. But since then he has struggled to get along with much of the council, whose members represent parties preparing to go into the next election.

Though each side blames the other for the lack of progress in Haiti, the council and the prime minister have failed to make significant inroads in the countrys deepening humanitarian, economic and security challenges. A wave of gang violence has more Haitians facing famine, thousands forced into displacement camps and and increasing number of neighborhoods falling under gang control despite the presence of an armed international force in the country.

The latest crisis has been brewing for weeks, with members of the transitional council failing to heed calls by the Biden administration to end the political infighting. The tensions finally hit a peak Thursday and Friday after an attempt by the Organization of American States to broker talks between Conille and Voltaire went nowhere.

The two men have been at odds for weeks now over two central issues: a reshuffling of the cabinet and the removal of three members of the presidential council named in a bank bribery scandal. The division has led to a stalemate in which some members of the council had refused to meet with Conille, who had been resisting the reshuffle because it turn over control of key government ministries, if not all, to the presidency and political parties.

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Conille had issued his own demands, beginning with the removal of the three council members under criminal investigation over the bribery allegations.

Haitian Prime Minister Gary Conille, center wearing white shirt, arrives at Hospital Bernard Mevs in late August to visit Haitian police officers who have been wounded while battling gangs in Port-au-Prince.

Washington lost control

Georges Fauriol, a Haiti specialist and senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., said the Biden administration lost control of the Haiti issue and transition in particular when it allowed the presidential councils corruption issue to fester for over two months as it focused its attention on the multinaltional security mission without building a convincing diplomacy as to why Kenya was the lead.

The Biden administration also arguably and amazingly seems to have lost track of the situation in the streets of Haiti, with the [Haiti National Police] losing credibility every day despite some heroics, Fauriol said.

So here we are nearly mid-November and the Kenyans are nowhere near what was promised earlier in the summer and the gangs appear to have in some cases mutated to cartel-like operational ambitions, with an increasingly worrisome stream of arms and financing, he added.

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The latest crisis could not have come at a worse time for Haiti, where thousands of people continue to be forced out of their homes by armed gangs and at least 4,900 have already died due to the violence. The Biden administration, which has been a backer of both the transition and the U.N. authorized multinational security force led by Kenya, is in itself a transition after former president Donald Trump won the White House.

The change in U.S. administrations has meant that any future support for Haitis security challenges remains unclear. Key Republican lawmakers in Congress earlier this year opposed State Department funding for the Kenya-led mission, which forced Biden to use executive authority to get the money and equipment needed for the forces deployment. In the past Trump has shown he is not a supporter of the U.N., and some people expected to have an influential role in his administration share that view.

In the meantime, efforts to raise between $400 million and $600 million to fund the security mission, which was recently renewed by the U.N. Security Council for a year, have fallen short.

Martin Kimani, Kenyas former ambassador the U.S. who led the effort to get his East African nation involved in assisting Haiti following the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise, told the Herald that he is dismayed by recent political moves that disrupt this essential path.

The world needs to see a Haiti that upholds democratic principles, stability and unity, said Kimani, currently executive director of New York Universitys Center on International Cooperation. Its essential that Haitian leaders understand how their choices impact the international response, especially as countries weigh their commitment and as funding remains uncertain.
WASHINGTON  Republicans appear poised to retain the House, cementing full GOP control of Capitol Hill for the next two years as President-elect Donald Trump returns to Washington.

It's still possible for Democrats to flip the 435-seat chamber if they clinch victory in outstanding races in districts in California, Arizona and Oregon. But the GOP holds the edge.

Democrats initially did well by catapulting a handful of New York Republicans in suburban areas out of office. Those gains were offset, however, by the the GOP flipping seats held by Democrats in Michigan and Pennsylvania, coming as Vice President Kamala Harris saw pivotal losses in the swing states.

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As of Sunday morning, a count by the Associated Press showed Democrats at 202 seats while Republicans claimed 212, meaning the GOP only needs to win six more seats to hold the narrowest of majorities in the lower chamber whereas Democrats need 16.

US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries hands newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson the gavel at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on October 25, 2023. Republicans finally rallied behind a new standard-bearer Wednesday as the US House of Representatives elected its 56th speaker -- ending weeks of party infighting that paralyzed Congress in a period of international and domestic crisis. Louisiana's Mike Johnson, a staunch ally of Donald Trump and who spearheaded legal efforts to overturn the 2020 election, won unanimous support from his party to lead the lower chamber of Congress and draw a line under the chaos. (Photo by TOM BRENNER / AFP) (Photo by TOM BRENNER/AFP via Getty Images)

House Democrats have urged patience as the results trickle in among these states, while House Republicans have expressed optimism that the final districts will break their way.

"We must count every vote and wait until the results in Oregon, Arizona and California are clear," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the likely next speaker should Democrats prevail, said in a Nov. 7 statement.

The lack of a result almost a week after Election Day is frustrating some Republican lawmakers. They have claimed without evidence that states were "slow walking" results.

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"Every congressional district has roughly the same number of voters," Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., said on X, formerly Twitter.

"So there is absolutely no excuse for Arizona and California slow walking counting ballots over the course of weeks after the election has ended. I knew the results of my election a few hours  not weeks  after the polls closed."

States follow varying procedures for counting ballots after Election Day, and some states rely more on mail-in ballots and other voting options. It's not evidence that anything has gone wrong in races.

But what would happen if Democrats narrowly take the House instead of Republicans? What would it potentially mean for Trump's second term? Here's what you need to know.

From mass deportations to corporate tax cuts: Trump's agenda on the line

Republican then-presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump gestures during a campaign event at Dorton Arena, in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Nov. 4, 2024.

Which side prevails will be the difference between a House that advances Trump's agenda or one that stymies him at every turn.

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With a GOP House majority, Trump, his agenda and the priorities of his conservative allies would have a much easier time in Washington. But if Democrats retake the chamber, they're likely to argue voters want some check on Republicans.

The president-elect's largest stated goal is immigration and border security. That includes hardline initiatives such as a 2024 campaign promise to begin the "largest deportation effort in American history" of undocumented immigrants.

Paying for such an exertion of federal resources  Trump has said the price tag is "not a question"  would have to go through the House, for example. While Democrats have expressed an appetite for immigration reform, Trump's signature campaign promise wouldn't make it through the lower chamber if the left is in control.

But House Democrats wouldn't just fight Trump on his immigration policies. Without a House majority, Trump would be forced to negotiate with Jeffries and Democrats on must-pass legislation like the spending bills that keep the government's doors open and stave off catastrophic shutdowns.

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These are moments that already produce high drama showdowns, even when Republicans hold a majority in the lower chamber. After all, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted by some of his fellow Republicans over his willingness to work with Democrats to dodge a shutdown.

But the temperature would climb even higher if Democrats control one chamber against a Republican White House and Senate.

For example, Trump's $1.5 trillion tax cuts that were passed in 2017 are set to expire next year. Whether they are continued or not, and what form national tax policy looks like, will be determined largely by who wins the House majority. While there was some bipartisan consensus on initiatives like cutting federal taxes on tips (Trump and Harris both supported the move) the president-elect's pitch to cut the corporate tax rate would depend on the balance of power in the House.

Any hardline conservative domestic policy ideas, however, such as repealing the Affordable Care Act, codifying further restrictions on abortion access, scrapping climate change regulations or cutting federal funding for schools using curriculum conservative activists have opposed on race, gender identity and U.S. history, would be impossible to pass Congress unless Republicans hold into their lead in the race to control the House.

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After a bitter loss at the presidential level, Democrats potentially represent the only hurdle for Trump, and they would have little reason to work with him on substantive legislation as far as their progressive base would be concerned.

Investigations and impeachments

U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi talks with House impeachment managers Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Val Demings (D-FL) after the conclusion of U.S. President Donald Trump's State of the Union address to a joint session of the U.S. Congress in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S. February 4, 2020.

Another area where Trump, already twice impeached, would prefer to avoid a Democratic House is with the various investigative powers it wields.

In addition to deciding which bills actually get a vote, the majority party in Congress also controls the committees that can investigate presidents of the opposing party and their allies. In the House, that often includes inquiries that create headaches for the sitting administration, even if they don't result in substantive changes.

For example, the House Oversight Committee and the House Judiciary Committee under the leadership of Reps. James Comer, R-Ky., and Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, spent months investigating President Joe Biden for evidence of corruption or abuse of power, though they eventually found no evidence of wrongdoing and did not recommend articles of impeachment against the president.

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But would Democrats quickly launch their own inquiries after the new Congress takes office in January? Jeffries, for his part, told NY1 on Thursday that his party will work to "find bipartisan common ground whenever and wherever possible with the new administration, but also being very clear that we will push back against MAGA extremism whenever necessary."

Trump is already the only president in U.S. history to have been impeached twice. A phone call between Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy in 2019  in which Trump threatened to withhold U.S. aid to Ukraine if he didn't investigate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden  led to Trump's first impeachment.

The lower chamber also eventually approved articles of impeachment against Trump shortly before his term ended in the wake of the Capitol riot, though the Senate acquitted him in both cases.

Should Republicans keep the House, you could envision a continuation of probes into the origins of COVID-19, but also other investigations into the outgoing Biden administration's past actions, such as the prosecution of rioters involved in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol.

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During the campaign, Trump was open about going after political opponents and calling for their prosecution, which would be much easier to do if the House was in his party's hands. While Trump and his supporters have also said that any successes in office would ultimately be his revenge, other allies have left the door open the door to legal ramifications.

"President Trump will not use the DOJ for political purposes, that is to go after individuals simply because they are political opponents," Mark Paoletta, who served as lawyer in the first Trump administration, said in a Nov. 7 post on X.

"But just because you are a political opponent," he added, "does not give you get a free pass if you have violated the law."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What's at stake for the GOP to keep the House for Trump's second term
An Hasidic woman who has spent several years fighting for a religious divorce from her husband upped the ante this week, making her prolonged plight public by taking it to the skies above Brooklyn.

A plane circled Williamsburg for three hours on Monday, dragging a banner behind it that read, Free Aguna Mrs. Steinmetz Now!!!

Aguna is Hebrew for chained woman.

The plane was hired by members of the Hasidic community who support Yenta Reisa Pollack and her ongoing campaign for independence from husband Eliezer Duvid Steinmetz.

J.C. Rice

The banner plane circled Williamsburg for three hours. Obtained by The New York Post

The flight path for Mondays shame plane. flightaware.com

The 26-year-old mother of one has been trying for seven years to split from her husband, who refuses to grant her a religious divorce known as a get.

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The objective [of the campaign] is to both mount awareness for this current case, apply pressure to the get abuse family, and to try to systemically change the cultural norm, explained Pollacks advocate, Adina Miles-Sash, known online as FlatbushGirl.

In this situation the abuse exists in a family dynamic, Miles-Sash said. Its not an isolated perpetrator and husband  but someone protected by his father and brothers.

Adina Miles-Sash handed out fliers and led Fridays pre-Shabbat protest. J.C. Rice

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A mobile billboard truck also urged the Steinmetzs give up the get. J.C. Rice

Pollack married Steinmetz when she was just 18. She asked for a divorce a year into the marriage.

He was never home, he was always abandoning her  he was missing, said Miles-Sash. And for seven years, hes been trying to convince her to give it another try.

The shame plane is owned by New Jersey-based High Exposure Aerial Advertising, according to online flight records. Miles-Sash said the banner ad cost thousands.

Pollacks campaign continued Friday, with a mobile billboard truck cruising through their neighborhood admonishing her husband and in-laws.

There was also a small protest outside the Foodoo Kosher Supermarket, attended by supporters with bullhorns, who handed out fliers calling on the family to acquiesce.

The get has been held up the last seven year. J.C. Rice

Miles-Sash hopes applying pressure to the family leads to the granting of the get. J.C. Rice

They also planned to crash a Steinmetz family wedding Sunday.

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They dont understand that we are ready to go nuclear, Miles-Sash said, adding many in the Hasidic community support Pollacks bid for freedom. Theyre holding [the get] in limbo like this, as an abuse tool. Hes demanding she return to the marriage, and she has said, No.'

Miles-Sash said the couple entered legally binding arbitration, taking their case to a beth din, a rabbinical court panel established to resolve disputes.

Steinmetz, Miles-Sash said, was instructed by the tribunal in December to give Pollack a get within 10 days, or be excommunicated.

The truck circled the neighborhood for hours before Shabbat. J.C. Rice

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The truck was hard to miss on Friday. J.C. Rice

But Steinmetz has faced no repercussions for violating the order, due to his parents high standing in the community, Miles-Sash said. His parents are Eizek Steinmetz and Shifra Eizek.

This isnt just about freeing this particular woman, but sounding the alarm on this abuse  everywhere where there are Orthodox women, this abuse is taking place.

The Post reached out to several members of the Steinmetz family seeking comment.
State-owned premier telecom manufacturing company ITI Limited said on Sunday it has emerged as the Lowest Bidder for a BharatNet Phase-3 project comprising Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur states with an order value of Rs 1537 crores. Separately, ITI Limited also emerged as the lowest bidder in Himachal Pradesh, and for a package West Bengal, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands with an order value of Rs 3,022 Crores. With this, ITI Limited has emerged as the lowest bidder for three packages taking the total order value to Rs 4,559 crores, the company informed stock exchanges in a filing today. The BharatNet Phase-3 project is divided into 16 packages spread across all states and union territories. BSNL had invited tenders, for the Design, Supply, Construction, Installation, Upgradation, Operation and Maintenance of the Middle Mile Network of the BharatNet Phase-3 Project on a Design Build Operate and Maintain (DBOM) Model. Rajesh Rai, Chairman and Managing Director, ITI Limited, said, "We are ecstatic to have emerged as L1 for yet another Package of the prestigious BharatNet Phase-3 Project in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland & Manipur. I feel this will be an inflection point for ITI and my whole team is excited to make the Company shine even brighter." Rai added - "Emerging L1 for three big Packages of BharatNet Project in difficult terrains like Andaman and North East region is not only exciting but throws up many challenges for the Company, and my team is fully inspired to execute and deliver excellence yet again. ITI Limited has accumulated vast experience in executing optical fiber network (OFN) across India for defence and BharatNet projects." Recently, ITI Limited won an order from the Bihar Renewable Energy Development Authority (BREDA) for the supply and installation of 100,000 numbers of Solar Street Light Systems to the Bihar government worth Rs 300 crores. ITI Limited has manufacturing facilities in six locations -- Bengaluru, Naini, Raebareli, Mankapur, Srinagar and Palakkad -- along with an in-house research and development centre in Bengaluru and marketing, sales and projects offices spread across the country. (ANI)
Floridians are still feeling the ripple effects of extreme rainfall from Hurricanes Milton and Helene. In a concerning development, Fox Weather reported that the Tampa area is now contending with the spread of the mosquito-borne illness dengue fever.

What's happening?

Back-to-back Hurricanes Helene and Milton flooded rivers in west-central Florida and left ideal conditions for mosquitoes to breed  in or near standing water that formed after Milton's Oct. 9 landfall.

Since then, the Hillsborough County Department of Health has announced four cases of locally acquired dengue fever, per Fox Weather.

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In Florida, there are over 50 confirmed cases. On the positive side, most people who get dengue are asymptomatic, per the World Health Organization.

For those who aren't, dengue fever typically starts with mild symptoms like a headache. However, it can quickly escalate to severe joint pain, University of South Florida infectious disease professor Dr. John Sinnott told Fox 13 Tampa Bay.

"I've seen patients with this, and their pain is remarkable," Sinnott said.

Why is the spread of dengue fever concerning?

The dengue fever spread is worrying because it is increasing worldwide as conditions become more suitable for it.

Rising temperatures globally and in the oceans set the stage for extreme flooding events that allow mosquitoes to prosper in places that aren't traditionally staging areas for dengue.



The Americas, in general, are experiencing a nearly 400% surge in the disease. A cautionary tale is in Puerto Rico, where the population faced much more severe symptoms after getting infected a second or third time. Brazil also experienced a major surge in 2024, with a quadrupling of cases in January on a year-to-year basis, per the BBC.

Do you worry about getting diseases from bug bites?

Click your choice to see results and speak your mind

Scientists in Europe are also sounding the alarm about its spread to the continent.

What's being done about the spread of dengue fever?

According to Fox Weather, the Hillsborough County Public Works department has countered by continuing to pump flood water out of the region and spraying aerially to reduce the spread. They're also imploring residents to drain or cover standing water.

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On a personal level, using Environmental Protection Agency-approved insect repellents is one step consumers can take. Disposing of any standing water is another responsible move, as is wearing long sleeves and shoring up screens and windows.



Zooming out, lowering our contributions to warming the planet by reducing pollution from dirty energy can assist with making conditions less favorable to dengue outbreaks over time.

There's strong evidence humans are making storms like Hurricane Helene more severe by burning fuels like oil and gas, which release planet-warming pollution  as well as setting the stage for once-rare flooding events like we saw in the Northeast.

Switching to more energy-efficient appliances and opting for less polluting modes of transportation, such as using public transit when possible, can help.

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.
(Bloomberg) -- Since Donald Trumps election win, the hedge funds clinging on to bets against Tesla Inc. have lost billions of dollars, as they feel the fallout of the special relationship between the president-elect and Elon Musk.

Most Read from Bloomberg

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Hedge funds that had short positions against Tesla between election day and Fridays close took an on-paper hit of at least $5.2 billion, according to Bloomberg calculations based on data compiled by S3 Partners.

They were among a shrinking group caught out, as many of their peers unwound bets against Tesla over the past four months, according to separate data provided by Hazeltree tracking the positions of more than 500 hedge funds. That adjustment of positions coincided with Musks endorsement of Trump on July 13.

The Tesla chief executive officer has emerged as Trumps biggest billionaire fan. Musk has used his position as the worlds richest person to turbocharge Trumps campaign, making him one of the biggest donors of the 2024 election. Throwing his lot in with the president-elect now lines Musk up for a position of political influence, as Trump makes clear hes planning to reward loyalists.

Per Lekander, CEO of hedge fund manager Clean Energy Transition, says he had a small short in Tesla heading into the election. Hed managed to whittle the position down quite a lot, meaning his losses ended up being pretty small.

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But we have lost some money, he said.

Since the Nov. 5 election, Tesla shares have gained close to 30%, representing well over $200 billion in additional market value. By Friday, the companys valuation exceeded $1 trillion. Against that backdrop, hedge funds that had previously built short bets have since rushed to reverse course.

As of Nov. 6, only 7% of hedge funds were net short Tesla, down from 17% in early July, according to weekly data provided by Hazeltree. That said, only 8% are net long the stock.

Tesla has proved a dangerous stock to short, even as the rest of the EV industry struggles with headwinds spanning trade tensions, flagging consumer demand and increasing competition. In July, almost one-fifth of hedge funds tracked by Hazeltree had built bets against Tesla, only to be badly wrong-footed after the company unveiled sales figures that triggered a steep rally.

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The wider EV sector, meanwhile, has lost more than 12% this year, based on the performance of the KraneShares Electric Vehicles and Future Mobility Index ETF. That follows a roughly 9% decline in 2023. By contrast, Tesla is up roughly 30% in 2024, after more than doubling its value last year.

Teslas performance also stands out in contrast to other stocks in the green sector. As markets digested the news of Trumps victory, renewables stocks spanning wind to solar started to tank, amid fears Trump will live up to his promise to slash clean-energy incentives.

Lekander says that in a little over a year from now, he expects even Tesla will feel the sting of Trumps anti-climate policies.

Notwithstanding the connection between the president-elect and Musk, Trumps win is very negative for Tesla as an auto company, Lekander said. In about 12 to 18 months, the Trump administration will eliminate a lot of the subsidies which Tesla really has been winning on.

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Musk has lobbied for a role in Trumps administration that would allow him to cut what he characterizes as government bureaucracy and waste. Trump quickly latched onto the idea, publicly playing with the notion of a job as Secretary of Cost Cutting for the Tesla CEO.

Last month, Musk said hed use a potential role in the US government to push for a more streamlined regulatory approach to approving fully autonomous vehicles for use nationwide.

Musks position of influence now is sort of a bridge between, arguably, the tech community and Washington, said Edward Lees, portfolio manager at BNP Paribas Asset Management.

Lees says hes held Tesla at various points, without elaborating on current positions.

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Musk, who publicly threw his support behind Trump after the then-presidential candidate survived an assassination attempt in July, has seen his own fortune soar in connection with the election outcome. In the days following the election, Teslas stock-price surge added $50 billion to his net worth, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Thats after Musk, who oversees an empire of six companies including X and Space X, spent more than $130 million on Trump and down-ballot Republicans in competitive House races.

Lekander says he reckons that the Trump effect accounts for roughly a third of Teslas current share price of more than $300. So now Teslas stock is more of a punting exercise on how much can Trump help Elon, he said.

--With assistance from Craig Trudell, Abhishek Vishnoi, Lisa Pham and Rob Dawson.

(Adds reference to plans around fully autonomous vehicles in 15th paragraph.)

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Alia Phillips thought she might never see her wedding ring again.

But even on her engagement anniversary, that was low on her list of concerns as she drove her Prius through orange smoke and falling, flaming branches. Wednesday morning had been a chaotic flurry of conflicting orders as the Mountain fire tore through residential neighborhoods in Camarillo, burning homes, fields and trees in its wake.

Phillips had left work that morning to check on her 18-year-old dog, Little Miss, and turn on her sprinklers when she first heard of the fire.

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It had started fairly far away. To reach her three-story home on East Highland Drive in Camarillo Heights, the fire would have to jump over the 118 Freeway, cross fields, then go up and over a mountain.

A Morongo Fire Department truck drives through Alia Phillips' in Camarillo Heights neighborhood on Saturday. Phillips, her husband and 18-year-old rescue dog Little Miss' home was flattened by the Mountain fire. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times)

But in the time it took her to check on her house, everything changed. The sky had turned completely orange. It had gotten hot and the wind had grown more intense.

" 'Babe, the fire is here. I don't know how. Its here,' " she told her husband on the phone. "There werent even fire trucks in our neighborhood yet."

She grabbed the dog and some cellphone chargers and tried to leave, but a firefighter told her it was too late. The only road out of the neighborhood was covered in fire. Ash was raining down from the sky.

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The firefighter, Phillips said, told her it was safer at that point to remain in her home.

It wasn't long before the house began to fill with thick smoke. Her husband instructed her to get their gas mask. When she briefly went outside, another fireman saw her. This time, the instructions were very different.

The wind-driven Mountain fire destroys a home and the landscape around it on Wednesday in Camarillo. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

"You gotta go  now, now, now," he yelled.

As she left the house and closed the door, Phillips saw embers floating into the home. She thought the house was going to catch fire.

"I really didn't want to die burning alive in my house," she said.

Phillips threw Little Miss into the car and drove out of the driveway onto East Highland Drive, which was on fire. The trees surrounding the street were ablaze and flaming branches were falling into the street, on top of her car. She couldn't see anything because of the smoke. On one side, the road falls off into a steep cliff. The car was overheating. She rolled over flaming logs.

Burning embers ignite the ground and a wooden fence as the wind-driven Mountain fire burns homes on Valley Vista Drive on Wednesday in Camarillo. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

"You cant see anything and you are just hoping for the best. I was hyperventilating in the car. My husband was on the phone. He's like, 'You can do this,' " she recalled. "It was a complete miracle. I don't know how I made it through that without falling off the cliff or burning alive."

There was not much time to be joyful about her escape.

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They found out Wednesday night that their house had been completely flattened by the fire. Nothing left. To sharpen the pain of the loss, the fire came on the day of the couple's third engagement anniversary.

Phillips had not been able to grab her wedding ring as she escaped the house. It was in a bathroom drawer on the second floor.

And that drawer, like the house around it, had been reduced to ash.

Ontario firefighters help dig for items in the rubble of Alia Phillips and her husband's home in Camarillo Heights. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times)

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Capt. Kevin May of the East Fork Fire Protection District and his crew had driven down from Douglas County, Nevada, to assist in the firefight.

On Thursday, his engine was assigned to East Highland Drive in Camarillo Heights. They were tasked with putting out hot spots and flareups. The main goal was to protect the three out of seven houses that had not burned down the day before.

Throughout the day, May spoke with residents who filtered back into the neighborhood to survey the damage. He saw the couple that lived at 711 E. Highland Drive. There wasn't much he could do for them. Their house was lost.

"I offered to look for a safe or whatever they might have that was lost in the rubble," May said.

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But the couple did not have a safe.

"She said, 'The only thing I care about is my ring, my wedding ring,' " May said.

Alia Phillips and her 18-year-old rescue dog, Little Miss, at their Camarillo Heights home Saturday. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times)

May told Phillips that he and his crew would look for it. But he told her not to get her hopes up.

"A needle in a haystack would be easier to find than a ring in this house," he told the couple.

Still, the firefighters got to work. They dug through the still-hot ash and positioned themselves where the couple believed the bathroom would have been. Then the detective work began.

They found a twisted frame of a couch, which might have been on the floor above the bathroom. They scraped through more debris, eventually finding a bathroom sink faucet.

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"We started actually getting the feeling that maybe there's a chance we're in the right spot," May said.

Then, an earring. When May showed it to Phillips, she said it came from the same drawer as the ring. More digging.

Veneer stone the couple said had lined the bathroom counter. A bracelet. Tweezers. Getting warmer.

"Probably not 60 seconds later we found the ring," May said.

It was hot in the ash and May held it in his glove until it cooled. He presented it to Phillips. It was dirty, covered in soot. But it wasn't misshapen. All the diamonds were still in place.

"It slid right onto her finger," May said.

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The whole search took about 10 minutes.

Alia Phillips and her husband at the remains of their home Saturday. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times)

"The odds were just so slim and we all knew that. It happened so quick it was unbelievable," May said.

It felt almost as important for the firefighters as it was for Phillips, May said. They had not been able to help much. Everything had already burned by the time they got to the street.

Later that night, May's engine ended up back in the couple's driveway, where they parked for dinner. It felt like the right spot to be. The couple had left, but the firefighters had returned.

May took out his phone and messaged Phillips.

"Thank you for letting us be part of that moment," he said.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  The hiker who was found dead Friday after a days-long search effort in the Mt. Hood National Forest has been identified, authorities said.

According to the Clackamas County Sheriffs Office, 33-year-old James Robert McDonald of Ridgefield, Wash. was reported missing by his family on Wednesday after they said he was overdue for a return from a day hike.

Family of 31-year-old American tourist killed in Hungarys capital mourns loss, suspect in custody

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Family members added McDonald was an experienced hiker, 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. McDonalds tracks were soon spotted in the snow, kicking off an elaborate search.

Portland manslaughter suspect flees OHSU, re-arrested

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.

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McDonald was found dead by the PMR search team near the Hidden Lake Trail Friday morning.

CCSO said they dont believe McDonalds death is suspicious and more information as to his cause of death will be determined through the Clackamas County Medical Examiners Office.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Donald Trump hasnt even taken office, and Congress is already moving to advance legislation to expand his ability to target his enemies. The former president has repeatedly threatened on the campaign trail that he will attack the enemy from within using the military. But new legislation could give him unprecedented authority to go after nonprofit organizations he disagrees with.

The House is set to vote this week on a bill that would grant the Treasury Department authority to revoke tax-exempt status from any nonprofit it declares to be a terrorist-supporting organization, giving the agency broad latitude to determine what that means.

The legislation, the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act (H.R. 9495), was originally drafted to prevent the IRS from issuing fines and tax penalties to Americans held hostage by international terrorist groups as well as citizens unjustly incarcerated abroad. By putting these two measures together under one bill, Republicans are trying to make it more difficult to oppose.

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They attached it to a super popular bill that everyone likes because they want to make it hard for people to vote no, Kia Hamadanchy, senior policy counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), told The Intercept. The reality is that if they really wanted the hostage thing to become law, theyd pass that by itself.

Hamadanchy said that this bill is about stifling dissent and to chill advocacy, because people are going to avoid certain things and take certain positions in order to avoid this designation.

The bill would allow the Treasury secretary to notify targeted nonprofits that their tax-exempt status is at risk, giving the organization 90 days to appeal before losing its 501(c)(3) status.

The vague language in the bill could be used against nonprofits that support Palestinian rights, reproductive rights, and environmental protections.

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The danger is much broader than just groups that work on foreign policy, Ryan Costello, policy director at the National Iranian American Council Action, told The Intercept. It could target major liberal funders who support Palestinian solidarity and peace groups who engage in protest. But it could also theoretically be used to target pro-choice groups, and I could see it being used against environmental groups.

If the House passes it, the resolution would go to the Senate, which voted in support of an earlier version that did not include the provision on nonprofits. If the House hadnt made changes to the legislation, then only a majority vote in the House would be required to send the bill to the presidents desk to be signed into law. But now, because of the changes and because Republicans are trying to fast-track its passage, the resolution will require a two-thirds supermajority in the Senate before it can head to the White House, where Biden could veto it.

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In a move that would provide major boost to battery technology in electric vehicles (EVs), Chinese tech conglomerate Huawei has filed a new patent application for a sulfide-based solid electrolyte, a component used in lithium-ion batteries.

The patent, titled 'Doped Sulfide Materials and Preparation Methods, Lithium-ion Batteries', introduces an advanced solid-state battery design aimed at enhancing performance, lifespan, and safety of lithium-ion cells.

This technology tackles a persistent challenge in the battery industry: degradation of liquid electrolytes. By substituting liquid components with solid electrolytes, Huawei aims to upgrade energy storage systems, especially for EVs.

Safer, high-density batteries

Current battery technology uses liquid or gel electrolytes to transfer lithium ions between the anode and cathode. While this continues to be the industry standard, it is not sustainable long-term. These batteries are prone to overheating, thermal runaway, fires, and explosions.

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The go-to solution is the use of solid-state batteries, which offer higher energy density, improved safety, slower degradation, and faster charging and discharging capabilities. Companies are also exploring various materials, such as sulfides, ceramics, polymers, and graphene.

The patents innovative doped sulfide material uses a cubic crystal unit cell, with nitrogen doping on one side to stabilize ion movement between the anode and cathode. This configuration enhances ionic conductivity and supports longer battery life, which is especially advantageous for electric vehicles where efficiency and safety are critical.

The patented sulfide-based solid electrolyte also offers impressive features such as high energy density, fast charging and discharging, and strong performance at low temperatures. Additionally, it enhances safety by reducing the risk of thermal runaway, a frequent issue in conventional lithium-ion batteries.

Huawei's roadmap for future

The new technology is particularly beneficial for future electric vehicles and energy storage systems, as it addresses the significant issue of battery capacity fading, commonly caused by the settling of polysulfide (LiSx) in liquid sulfur battery systems.

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Innovation in this field has been robust across companies. For example, Huaweis former subsidiary Honor pioneered the use of silicon-carbon for battery anodes, greatly boosting yield. This approach has now become the industry standard, with more companies adopting similar battery technologies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_laWbMJUfOo&t=50s

While the Chinese giant has not yet announced a timeline for the launch of this technology, industry insiders are hopeful for a potential release as early as next year. This would put Huawei in a strong position to compete in the rapidly growing EV and smart-driving technology markets.

Huawei has been also been active with its EV unit, rapidly reshaping its approach in an effort to emulate Germany's Bosch business model, which supplies essential auto parts without directly manufacturing vehicles.

Recently, the company signed an investment cooperation memorandum with Changan Automobile, a Chongqing-based automaker. This partnership aims to establish a joint venture focused on developing, producing, and selling smart-driving systems and related components for EVs.
DUBAI (Reuters) - U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi will visit Iran next Wednesday and start consultations with Iranian officials the following day, state media reported on Sunday.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Wednesday he might head to Iran in the coming days to discuss its disputed nuclear programme and that he expected to work cooperatively with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

Long-standing issues between Iran, the IAEA, and Western powers include Tehran barring uranium-enrichment experts from IAEA inspection teams in the country and its failure for years to explain uranium traces found at undeclared sites.

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Iran has also stepped up nuclear activity since 2019, after then-President Trump abandoned a 2015 deal Iran reached with world powers under which it curbed enrichment - seen by the West as a disguised effort to develop nuclear weapons capability - and restored tough U.S. sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

Tehran is now enriching uranium to up to 60% fissile purity, close to the roughly 90% required for an atom bomb. It has enough higher-enriched uranium to produce about four nuclear bombs, if refined further, according to an IAEA yardstick.

Iran has long denied any nuclear bomb ambitions, saying it is enriching uranium for civilian energy uses only.

(Reporting by Dubai Newsroom, Editing by Louise Heavens and Sharon Singleton)
Idaho Democrats lost three seats in the Legislature, reducing their already minuscule numbers even further.

It will affect committee positions and workloads, and there will be fewer Democratic voices to challenge bills being presented.

Big deal, you might think. Going from an 83% supermajority to an 86% supermajority wont make much of a difference, right?

But theres more at stake here.

Keep in mind that a few more extremist Republicans won seats in Tuesdays elections, having defeated moderate Republicans in the closed Republican primary.

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In the past, moderate Republicans in the Legislature have been able to stave off some really bad bills brought by their far-right fellow Republicans  but only with the aid of Democrats.

Think about close votes, such as the 36-34 vote in 2021 to fund Idaho Public Television. Extremist legislators such as then-Rep. Ron Nate, R-Rexburg, wanted to defund Idaho Public Television because one of the shows, Clifford the Big Red Dog, had a gay character. Then-Rep. Priscilla Giddings, R-White Bird, objected to Arthur, which contained an episode on global warming, and Daniel Tigers Neighborhood, which discussed race.

It took every last one of the 11 Democrats in the House to pass that budget.

Now, there will be just nine Democrats.

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Given that new legislators such as Rob Beiswenger, Kent Marmon, Steve Tanner and Lucas Caylor can be added to the likes of Reps. Heather Scott, Vito Barbieri and Bruce Skaug, will centrist Republicans be able to fend off the growing number of extremists in their party with fewer Democrats to help them out?

So what could we expect to see from a Legislature that skews to the extreme?

Forget about fixing Idahos strict abortion ban, which has driven doctors and patients from the state and promises to result in the death of a mother, like weve seen elsewhere.

Idaho legislators have been able to kill school voucher proposals the past couple of sessions, but the chances of shooting down school vouchers become less and less likely. Pro-voucher groups Idaho Federation for Children and its national arm American Federation for Children spent tens of thousands of dollars to defeat Democratic Sen. Rick Just in District 15 in favor of Codi Galloway (who, by the way, voted against that Idaho Public Television funding bill when she was a representative in 2021).

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A host of other bills that have been killed in the past now seem like a distinct possibility: guns in schools, repealing Medicaid expansion, more anti-transgender legislation, efforts to defund Boise State over diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and more, probably some that we havent even thought of yet.

Committees will be harder for House Speaker Mike Moyle to stack and control  that is, if Moyle can even hang onto his speaker position.

That means more bad bills likely will make it to the House floor, where extremist legislators could outvote the moderates and Democrats.

And whats going to happen on the Senate side? Senate President Pro Tem Chuck Winder, R-Boise, was defeated in the primary by a far-right challenger. When legislators meet in December to organize and elect their leadership, it will be telling to see whos in positions of power.

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Yes, Democrats losing seats is sad for the Democrats, but the implications of fewer moderating voices in the Legislature are likely to be more serious.

Statesman editorials are the unsigned opinion of the Idaho Statesmans editorial board. Board members are opinion editor Scott McIntosh, opinion writer Bryan Clark, editor Chadd Cripe, newsroom editors Dana Oland and Jim Keyser and community members Greg Lanting, Terri Schorzman and Garry Wenske.
Developing capabilities in multiple domains hold importance in the present era and comprehensive national power of a country is the measure of that, according to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Speaking at the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the Aditya Birla Scholarships Programme here in Mumbai on Sunday evening, Jaishankar has emphasized on essential prerequisite of developing capabilities at home . "Today, it is common...to speak about comprehensive national power. We no longer measure each other just by military capabilities or political influence, but take into account technology strengths, economic resilience, human creativity and societal well-being," said the External Affairs Minister. He added that no nation can truly develop in a unidimensional manner, and large ones in particular, like India, must possess some basic self-sufficiency. "Otherwise, in an era of weaponized economics, we leave ourselves seriously open to vulnerabilities," he said. For India to rise, it must develop deep technology strengths and create the capacity to research, to design and to innovate, Jaishankar added. "That will only happen when manufacturing expands and the industrial culture strikes deep roots." India today is the fifth largest economy in the world, and certainly it will be the third by the end of the decade. "Our exports have increased significantly in the last decade, especially in services. Investments in India have also more than doubled during this period. There is today a perceptible interest in engaging with us, reflected in the steady flow of high-profile visitors and businesses," Jaishankar told the gathering. India's appetite to explore the world has also grown, be it in tourism, education, or for work possibilities. "We see this not just anecdotally but in fact in the reality that our passport services are increasing year on year by 10 per cent. In all of this, our entrepreneurs have more than kept pace establishing their presence in societies and regions far away," the minister said. Much of India's diplomacy is dedicated towards promoting exports, attracting investments, sourcing best practices, identifying technologies and expanding tourism. "The COVID experience brought home to the world the dangers of depending on a limited geography. It was aggravated by concerns that large production dependencies and market shares can be leveraged for political purposes. As a result, the quest to build more reliable and resilient supply chains has assumed salience," the Union Minister asserted. (ANI)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  The Navajo code talkers are attributed to being a secret weapon that helped America win World War Two. This is just one of the many stories of the brave Indigenous men and women who served our country

On Saturday, the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, in downtown Albuquerque showcased the brave veterans for their contributions to our country and their unique Native heritage.

Artist creates 123-foot-tall mural in downtown Albuquerque

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One of 5 Native Americans have served in the military, 80 percent really have served. So were not going anywhere. Why not? We just knock some of the barriers down, so we can ease the transition for people to join the military, said U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant Darrell Charlee.

The museum said, with the holidays coming, there will be more Indigenous events showcasing rich holiday traditions the pueblos are known for.

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BEIJING (AP)  Indonesia's new leader called for collaboration rather than confrontation with China after the signing of $10 billion in new deals at a business forum on Sunday in the Chinese capital before heading to the U.S.

President Prabowo Subianto told the forum that his country wants to be part of China's emergence as not only an economic but also a civilizational power.

We must give an example that in this modern age, collaboration  not confrontation  is the way for peace and prosperity, he said.

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Subianto wrapped up the first stop of his first overseas trip since taking office three weeks ago. He is headed next to Washington  where the U.S. government is confronting Chinas rise  and then to Peru and Brazil for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and Group of 20 summits.

He and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed Saturday to deepen ties, elevating security to a fifth pillar of cooperation in addition to political, economic, maritime and people-to-people exchange. They agreed to hold a first-ever joint meeting of their foreign and defense ministers in 2025, a joint statement said.

Indonesia is very clear," Subianto said. "We have always been nonaligned, we have always been respectful of all great powers in the world.

Indonesia has remained on the periphery of the territorial disputes between China and its Southeast Asian neighbors in the South China Sea. It doesnt have a formal dispute with Beijing though Indonesia said its patrol ships repeatedly drove a Chinese coast guard vessel away from an Indonesian energy company vessel conducting a seismic survey less than a month ago.

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Chinese companies have invested heavily in mining in Indonesia, as they have elsewhere in the world. China also helped build Indonesia's first high-speed railway, a 142-kilometer (88-mile) route between Jakarta and Bandung that opened last year.

But a flood of low-priced Chinese products has hit Indonesia's garment makers hard, shuttering factories and prompting calls for import tariffs. The government has sought to placate domestic producers while not angering the countrys biggest trading partner.
A native New Zealand insect that once mimicked its toxic neighbor has changed color in deforested areas, in a striking example of human-induced evolution.

The long-tailed stonefly, Zelandoperla, had a clever strategy to avoid predation from birds: it mimicked the appearance of a uniquely toxic stonefly, Austroperla, a forest dweller that deters predators by producing cyanide.

Researchers from New Zealand's University of Otago have found that in deforested areas without Austroperla in the picture, and with fewer bird predators, some Zelandoperla have given up their guise.

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The findings highlight "the possibility for populations to adapt rapidly in the wake of sudden environmental change," the team writes in their published paper.

While the long-tailed stonefly has no toxins of its own, it has managed to pull off a convincing impersonation of Austroperla using its genetic toolkit, which colored some of the insects a dark shade of ebony.

The disguise worked to deter their feathered predators, which, unable to tell the difference, steered clear of both the toxic stonefly and its mimic.

But Austroperla is a forest creature: it lives in streams where it feeds on leaves and woody debris. In deforested areas, its preferred food sources are lacking, and Austroperla has become less common.

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"The removal of forests since humans arrived has removed the poisonous species," says zoologist Jon Waters.

"As a result, in deforested regions the mimicking species has abandoned this strategy  as there is nothing to mimic  instead evolving into a different color."

The stonefly models used in the predation experiment. Left: a darker colored 'mimic' and right: a 'non-mimic'. (Ni et al., Science , 2024)

The scientists used a combination of field observations, predation experiments, and gene map analysis to show the insect's response to human-driven change.

In experiments with models of the two different colors of Zelandoperla, they found predators attack only the non-mimic stonefly in forested habitats.

In deforested conditions, there was not only less predation overall, but predators actually sought out lighter-colored stoneflies less than their ebony counterparts.

Deforestation has caused rapid change in the ecosystem. (Ni et al., Science , 2024)

Southern New Zealand's heavy deforestation has been most intense since the early 1800s when European settlers arrived.

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Even though humans have disrupted millions-of-years-old ecological interactions in just a few short centuries, the new findings indicate some species are resilient enough to adapt.

"[The study] also shows that independent populations have undergone similar changes in response to deforestation," zoologist Graham McCulloch explains.

The team found found populations of Zelandoperla had a three-fold shift away from their ebony hues in multiple different deforested regions, always in tandem with a drop in Austroperla numbers and birdlife that comes with less tree cover.

"There have been similar shifts independently in different parts of the species' range  showing that evolution can be a predictable process," McCulloch says.

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This research is published in Science.

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Justine Vanderschoot was killed on Labor Day 2003

Placer County District Attorney (2) Justine Vanderschoot (left) was murdered in 2003 by her jealous boyfriend, Daniel Bezemer (pictured in right mugshot). Justine Vanderschoot (left) was murdered in 2003 by her jealous boyfriend, Daniel Bezemer (pictured in right mugshot).

The young men had already dug the hole in the California woods where they planned to bury the 17-year-old before they killed her.

Daniel Bezemer, 18, had feelings of jealousy about his girlfriend, Justine Vanderschoot, 17, and Bezemer and his best friend, Brandon Fernandez, 21, had decided to kill her, according to Placer County prosecutors.

The high school couple left a family dinner at Justines home on Labor Day 2003 and met up with Fernandez.

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Then, Bezemer strangled Justine, and put her body into Fernandezs car. They drove to the woods, stripped Justine of her clothes, poured on her what investigators believe to be methanol and buried her, Deputy District Attorney Timothy Weerts tells PEOPLE.

Placer County District Attorney Justine Vanderschoot. Justine Vanderschoot.

Both Bezemer and Fernandez later told investigators that Justine had made noises and moved in the grave, according to Weerts.

She had dirt in her esophagus and lungs, her mother, Lynnette Vanderschoot, recalled at a parole hearing in 2017. So she was gasping for air when they buried her.

A pathologist later said that evidence was consistent with her being buried alive, although it is also possible that she had breathed in dirt before burial.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

At first, Justine and Bezemers relationship seemed like a lot of high school romances: He would come over to her hours to eat dinner with her family. But, prosecutors say, there was also a deep-seated jealousy that ran like a cold current through their young relationship. And, prosecutors say, after Daniel Bezemer turned jealous, their relationship was defined by his jealousy and control.

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At 11 that Labor Day night, Placer County Sheriff's detectives  accompanied by a chaplain  knocked on the Vanderschoots door.

Your daughter's not coming home, the parents remember them saying.

Prosecutors say both Bezemer and Fernandez eventually confessed to killing Justine.

Placer County District Attorney Brandon Fernandez (left) and Daniel Bezemer (right) in mugshots. Brandon Fernandez (left) and Daniel Bezemer (right) in mugshots.

Bezemer was convicted of first-degree murder and in 2005 sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. Now 40, Bezemer had a parole consultation in August 2020, followed by a hearing nearly two years later, according to his records. The Valley State prison inmate was denied in both 2022 and 2023 and is tentatively slated for another hearing in March 2028.

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Convicted of second-degree murder, Fernandez was sentenced to 15 years to life. Fernandez, who is now 42, first came up for parole in 2017 and again in 2022, per his inmate records. He was denied both times and has a tentative third parole suitability hearing slated for July 2027.

Fernandez has also petitioned the court for resentencing in an effort to be released early from San Quentin State Prison, based on California law that went into effect in 2019, which can decrease the legal liability of a murder accomplice.

We ask, what kind of message are we sending to our young women  that someone can plan, scheme and execute a horrific murder against a teenage girl and be eligible for legal relief? Justines family said in a statement after his petition was denied, calling the reform law misguided.

In denying his petition earlier this year, the Placer County Superior Court judge noted that for decades, both men fabricated events connected to Justines carefully planned killing: Bezemer had helped dig Justines grave in advance, knew its location, and, soon after changed his tires on the vehicle used to drive her to her grave.

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Recently, in a move in which Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire said Justines family had turned their pain into purpose, her relatives worked with prosecutors to draft state legislation  approved by the governor last year  providing teen dating violence education in California schools.

By teaching our youth healthy boundaries and the early signs of teen dating violence, we hope to prevent future victims and aggressors, Gire added.



If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
DES MOINES, Iowa  On Saturday the Iowa House Democrats re-elected State Representative Jennifer Konfrst as the Iowa House Minority Leader for the upcoming 91st Iowa General Assembly.

Lawmakers are set to gavel in on Monday, January 13, 2025 to kick off the session. Rep. Konfrst is in her fourth term in the Iowa House of Representatives, she was the first woman to lead the Iowa House Democrats, and she continues now in that role.



Coming off of a lackluster election for the minority party, Leader Konfrst said that the party will still continue to fight on.

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While Tuesdays election results were disappointing and there is a lot of uncertainty ahead, our caucus will never stop fighting for the values we share as Iowans. When the session begins in January, were going to work together on every issue we can to improve the lives of Iowans and put people over politics. Rep. Jennifer Konfrst, (D) District 32, Windsor Heights

There are also four new democrats joining the ranks in the Iowa House: Dan Gosa of Davenport, Rev. Rob Johnson of Des Moines, Larry McBurney of Urbandale, and Aime Wichtendahl of Hiawatha.

The Iowa House Republicans just gained a super majority this last Tuesday, just reaching the threshold of 67 members out of the 100 in the chamber. What the priorities are for the majority party is still unknown, but leadership will lay out the agenda as the session draws closer.

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Saudi Arabias military chief visited Tehran for talks with his Iranian counterpart amid a detente that could complicate Donald Trumps plans to end the war between Israel and Hamas.

Fayyad al-Ruwaili, the Saudi chief of staff, met Maj Gen Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of Irans regular military, to discuss defence ties on Sunday, the Iranian armed forces general staff said.

Iranian state media said they discussed the development of defence diplomacy and the expansion of bilateral co-operation.

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It came as Masoud Pezeshkian, the Iranian president, spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the phone ahead of a summit of Muslim leaders that will focus on Israels wars in Gaza and Lebanon.

Masoud Pezeshkian, the Iranian president, spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ahead of a summit of Muslim leaders - Maxim Shemetov/AFP

The joint gathering of the Cairo-based Arab League and the Jeddah-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will discuss the continued Israeli aggression on the Palestinian territories and the Lebanese Republic, and the current developments in the region, the official Saudi press agency said on Sunday.

The 57-member OIC and 22-member Arab League include countries which recognise Israel as well as those firmly opposed to its regional integration.

A similar summit in Riyadh last year saw disagreement on measures such as severing economic and diplomatic ties with Israel and disrupting its oil supplies.

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Mr Trump, who will take office for a second term as US president in January, promised to bring peace to the Middle East during the election campaign.

During his first term, Donald Trump brokered the Abraham Accords, designed to unite Israel and Saudi in opposition to the Islamic Republic - Tom Brenner/Reuters

During his first term, he brokered a normalisation deal between Israel and Saudi, known as the Abraham Accords, which was designed to bury decades of antipathy and unite the Arab kingdoms and the Jewish state in opposition to the Islamic Republic.

Iran is locked in a region-wide proxy war with Israel that has escalated to direct exchanges of drone and missile barrages twice in the last year.

Saudi Arabia is a traditional American ally and has in the past urged Washington to take a harder line with Iran over its nuclear programme and backing regional militia groups.

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Its long-running war in Yemen against the Houthis, an Iranian-allied group, was widely seen as part of a broader regional confrontation between Tehran and Riyadh.

Maj Gen Fayyad al-Ruwaili, the Saudi chief of staff, travelled to Tehran for talks with his Iranian counterpart - Yasser al-Zayyat/AFP

But Saudi and Iran re-established ties at China-brokered talks in 2023 and the war in Gaza has put attempts at normalisation on hold. Prince bin Salman said in September that Saudi Arabia would not recognise Israel without Palestinian statehood.

The war in Gaza erupted when Hamas attacked Israel on Oct 7 last year, killing more than 1,200 people.

Israels retaliatory campaign has killed more than 43,600 people in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to data from the Hamas-run territorys health ministry that the United Nations considers reliable.

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Israel is also fighting Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militia, in southern Lebanon.

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ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  Illinois State Police arrested Dustin Swanson, 24, for manufacturing and delivering 10 pounds of cannabis among other charges.

On November 6, around 4:37 a.m., ISPs SLANT unit used a search warrant to search a residence in the 1700 block of Emmett Drive. Swanson and another occupant were taken into custody.

Police found cocaine, plastic bags, cannabis flower, THC vape cartridges, THC wax and THC gummies. The THC and cannabis alone weighed 10 pounds, according to court records.

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The occupant told police she knew the suspect was delivering cannabis but did not know about him delivering cocaine.

The suspect requested an attorney and was booked into the Winnebago County Jail on November 6th.

Swanson is charged with manufacturing and delivering cannabis and manufacturing and delivering cocaine.

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Israel has launched renewed attacks on targets in the Gaza Strip and in Lebanon, the military said early on Sunday, adding that it had "eliminated dozens of terrorists."

In the northern Gaza city of Jabalia, Israeli troops had "dismantled many terror infrastructure sites, as well as a weapons storage facility in the area," said a statement posted on Telegram. Further targets were located in nearby Beit Lahia.

Israeli troops were also continuing to carry out "precise, intelligence-based operational activity" in the Rafah area, in the southern Gaza strip.

In Lebanon, the Israeli air force had targeted and eliminated dozens of fighters from the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon in recent days, the statement said. Here too, weapon storage facilities and launch sites were the targets.
'Wicked' star Jonathan Bailey is opening up about his deep emotional connection to the upcoming film, sharing his excitement to watch it in the company of some of his closest family members. At the Los Angeles premiere on November 9, the actor reflected on the significant role the beloved musical has played in his life and how the opportunity to be a part of the film has come full circle. The 36-year-old actor, who stars alongside Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Bowen Yang, and Ethan Slater, spoke with E! News. He expressed a sense of nostalgia as he recalled his early memories of the musical, which first captured his heart as a child. "It was just so present in my childhood and my family," Bailey said, referring to his lifelong connection to 'Wicked', adding, "I remember watching with my grandparents. And so, I'm really excited to get to London and get home and to watch it with my 93-year-old grandma." Bailey's excitement about sharing the film with his loved ones doesn't stop there. He also revealed that he has already had the chance to experience the film with younger generations of his family. "I've already seen it with the next generation," he noted, referencing a viewing with his niece in Sydney, as per E! News. Bailey's involvement in 'Wicked' is a dream come true for the actor, who shared the profound impact the show had on him from a young age. During an earlier interview with costar Ariana Grande, Bailey revealed that his connection to the musical began when he was just 15 years old, listening to the soundtrack and being moved by its powerful orchestration. "I remember viscerally; it sent ripples through culture. Also, I remember hearing the orchestration. I hadn't really heard the synth-meets-full-orchestra-meets-syncopation," Bailey recalled, adding, "Something about it just completely grabbed me," according to E! News. Bailey fondly recalled seeing the musical with his best friend from school, sharing a moment of camaraderie over their love for the show. "Me and him went to go and see it together--we were soulmates through school," he said, reflecting on how the themes of 'Wicked' spoke to him even in those early years. Bailey, who plays Fiyero in the film, explained that the themes of the musical have evolved over time, and he is particularly excited to see how those themes are brought to life in the movie. "I think the themes of 'Wicked' have probably expanded, and that's what I'm really excited about with the film," he said. Bailey also expressed his amazement at the process of making 'Wicked', citing the care and dedication put into the film by director Jon Chu and producer Marc Platt. The actor described the experience of working on the movie as exceeding his wildest expectations, particularly when it came to the grandeur of the sets and the attention to detail. "There were certain elements of it that I was incredibly impressed by," he said, adding, "I think that is because of the love and care of Marc Platt and Jon Chu. Obviously we've grown up loving theatre and musical theatre, I always felt attached to that wonderment," reported E! News. Bailey continued, "I think my expectation might have been that somehow in the making of something, you lose that. But we were on those incredible sets," highlighting the magical and immersive quality of the production. After years of anticipation, 'Wicked' fans can finally experience the film adaptation when it opens in theatres on November 22. The movie features a star-studded cast, including Bailey, Grande, Erivo, and more, as well as its stunning visuals and faithful homage to the iconic Broadway musical. (ANI)
More than 80 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon, northern Gaza and Syria since late Saturday, according to reports.

The National News Agency (NNA) reported airstrikes on the town of Almat in central Lebanon on Sunday. Lebanons Health Ministry said 20 people were killed there, including three children. Video from the scene shows that at least one building was reduced to rubble, with heavy machinery trying to remove the debris.

The local member of parliament, Simon Abi Ramia, said: The targeted house belongs to one of the well-known residents of the area, and it is possible that it received displaced people.

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Three people were killed in a strike on Mashghara, a town in south-central Lebanon, and an air raid was carried out on the town of Debaal in the Tyre district of southern Lebanon, the agency added, while intermittent Israeli artillery shelling continues on the town of Khiam.

At least 2,513 people have been killed and 11,719 injured in Lebanon since September 16, when Israel stepped up its campaign against Hezbollah, according to a CNN tally of Lebanese health ministry statements.

The latest strikes follow attacks on more than a dozen separate locations in Lebanon since late Saturday.

A man walks on rubble near damaged buildings, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, during a Hezbollah media tour on November 9, 2024. - Mohamed Azakir/Reuuters

Smoke rises after an israeli airstrike has struck the southern suburbs of Beirut. November 9 2024 - Nael Chahine/AFP/Middle East Images/Getty Images

The highest number of casualties came in an air strike on what NNA said was a civil defense center affiliated with the Islamic Al-Rissala Scouts Association in the town of Deir Qanoun.

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Seventeen people were killed in the strike, NNA said, adding rescue teams were continuing search operations in the rubble. Video from the town showed extensive destruction.

Five people were killed in an airstrike on the town of Hanawaih, and listed strikes on buildings in nearly a dozen other locations. Additionally, artillery shelling hit the towns of Majdal Zoun, Tair Harfa, al-Dhaira, and elsewhere.

The Israeli military said Saturday that airstrikes had been carried out in the areas of Tyre and further north in Baalbek.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said late Saturday that the air force had eliminated dozens of Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon over the past day.

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The IDF said Sunday that rockets continued to be fired from southern Lebanon. Approximately ten projectiles were identified crossing from Lebanon into Israeli territory. Some of the projectiles were intercepted and the rest fell in open areas, it said. No injuries were reported.

Mourners gather next to the bodies of Palestinians killed in an Israeli strike on a house in Jabalya, at Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City on Sunday. - Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters

Separately in northern Gaza, at least 41 people died when Israeli strikes hit two homes early on Sunday morning, according to the director general of the Ministry of Health in the enclave.

Dr. Muneer Alboursh said one of the homes was in Jabalya, while the other was in Gaza City. He added that at least half of those killed were children.

International NGO Save the Children said in a post on X that parents, children and grandchildren were among those killed in Israeli strikes on the Jabalya residence.

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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had struck a terrorist infrastructure site in the area of Jabalya in response to CNNs request for comment.

These terrorists posed a threat to IDF troops operating in the area. The details are under review, the Israeli military said, adding numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians, including the use of aerial surveillance and precise intelligence prior to Sundays strike.

Palestinians check the rubble of the Alloush family's house, levelled in an Israeli strike in Jabalya in the northern Gaza Strip on Sunday. - Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP/Getty Images

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CNN has reached out to the IDF for comment on the reported strike on the house in Gaza City.

Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, said the hospital had received many distressed calls from people, among them those still trapped under the rubble who we could not assist.

The catastrophic conditions continue at Kamal Adwan Hospital in besieged northern Gaza, Safiya said in a video recorded on Sunday and posted to X by Alboursh.

The reported strikes in Gaza come as a deadline from the United States for Israel to improve humanitarian conditions in the enclave looms. Last month, the Biden administration asked Israel for urgent and sustained actions for more aid to enter the strip within the next 30 days or risk violating US laws governing foreign military assistance.

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A World Health Organization report on the availability of food in Gaza concluded Friday that there was a strong likelihood that famine is imminent in areas within the northern Gaza Strip, where many of the recent Israeli operations have focused.

The report cited UN data that the number of aid shipments into the Gaza Strip was now lower than at any time over the past year.

The Israeli agency that handles the transfer of aid to Gaza rejected the claims, saying such reports in the past have been systematically based on organizations with vested interests and partial, inaccurate knowledge.

In Syria, at least seven civilians were killed and 20 injured in an Israeli airstrike targeting a residential building in the Sayyida Zainab area of the Damascus countryside, Syrian state news agency SANA reported Sunday, citing a Syrian regime military source.

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SANA said women and children were among those killed and that private properties were damaged.

CNN has contacted the IDF for comment but has not received a response.

Social media videos verified by CNN show damaged buildings in Sayyida Zainab, with rubble strewn across the street. One video filmed from a building shows damage to one of the upper floors of a structure across the street. The video then reveals damage and rubble on the ground floor of the building the video is filmed from.

The Sayyida Zainab area, south of Damascus city, is known to have a Hezbollah presence and has come under Israeli attack in the past. On November 4, SANA reported Israeli strikes in Sayyida Zainab the same day the IDF said Israeli Air Force fighter jets struck Hezbollah intelligence infrastructure in the Damascus area.

CNNs Abeer Salman, Michael Schwartz, Tamar Michaelis, Eyad Kourdi and Benjamin Brown contributed reporting.

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A total of 38 people were killed on Sunday in Israeli airstrikes in different areas of Lebanon, the Lebanese Ministry of Health reported.

The highest toll happened in the town of the Aalamat in Jbeil, north of Beirut, where the ministry said at least 23 people, including seven children, were killed after an Israeli strike hit a house there.

On Saturday, 53 people were killed and 99 injured.

Since the outbreak of the armed conflict between the Israeli military and Lebanon's pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia over a year ago, 3,189 Lebanese have been killed and 14,078 injured, the ministry said.
A total of 38 people were killed on Sunday in Israeli airstrikes in different areas of Lebanon, the Lebanese Ministry of Health reported.

The highest toll happened in the town of the Aalamat in Jbeil, north of Beirut, where the ministry said at least 23 people were killed after an Israeli strike hit a house there.

The ministry said the building had housed people who had fled Israeli bombardment of Baalbek and the surrounding villages in eastern Lebanon.

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Civil defence and Red Cross personnel at the site retrieved 23 bodies including seven children, the ministry said, adding that the toll was likely to rise as body parts of other people have been recovered from the site for identification.

There were more than 30 people that hail from three different families and came here searching for a safe refuge, said Yasser, a member of the Islamic Association of Civil Defence.

Rescuers used their bare hands to dig through the rubble in search of possible survivors, a dpa witness said.

What happened is a massacre. The people fled the Israeli bombardment and came here for safety. Warplanes followed them here, said Ali Yassin, who was busy evacuating his wide and two children.

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I am taking my family to Beirut, to a safer place. The area is becoming too dangerous for them, he added.

As rescuers were digging, they found a body of a child. They frantically brought blankets to cover the body from onlookers.

Two bulldozers were sent to remove heavy chunks of concrete from the rubble, as hopes faded of finding survivors under the flattened structure.

The Israeli military stated upon request that it had attacked weapons depots of the Iranian-backed Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah in Aalamat and prior measures such as aerial reconnaissance were taken to avoid civilian casualties. The details of the attack are currently being investigated, it said.

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On Saturday, 53 people were killed and 99 injured in Lebanon, the ministry said.

Since the outbreak of the armed conflict between the Israeli military and Hezbollah over a year ago, 3,189 Lebanese have been killed and 14,078 injured, the ministry said.

Hezbollah tunnel discovered under graveyard

The Israeli military says it has discovered a Hezbollah tunnel system partially running under a graveyard in southern Lebanon and containing weapons.

The military said it had found command quarters and living spaces, as well as warehouses with weapons and combat equipment in a complex under the graves. No further details about the location were given.

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Israeli soldiers normally blow up such tunnels. In this case, however, the approximately 1-kilometre-long facility was sealed with about 4,500 cubic metres of concrete delivered by hundreds of cement mixer trucks.

Situation in Gaza

In the northern Gaza city of Jabalia, which is home to a large refugee camp, Israeli troops had "dismantled many terror infrastructure sites, as well as a weapons storage facility in the area," an Israeli military statement posted on Telegram said. Further targets were located in nearby Beit Lahia.

"Prior to the strike, numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians," the Israeli military added in a statement.

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Israeli troops were also continuing to carry out "precise, intelligence-based operational activity" in the Rafah area, in the southern Gaza strip.

Thirty-six people, including 15 minors, were killed in an Israeli attack on Jabalia, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

The Hamas-controlled health authority in the Gaza Strip stated that in the more than 13 months since the war began, more than 43,600 people have been killed and nearly 103,000 others injured in the territory. The figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

Strikes in Syria

At least seven people were killed and 14 injured in an Israeli strike on an area south of Damascus, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Sunday.

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The strike targeted members of Hezbollah in the Sayyidah Zaynab area, near the capital Damascus. Several people were injured, the observatory added.

Syrian news agency SANA quoted a military source as saying that an Israeli strike hit a residential building in Sayyidah Zaynab, killing seven civilians, including children. It injured 20 people and caused material damage to private property, SANA said.

Israel has carried out a total of 146 attacks in war-torn Syria so far this year, according to the British-based monitoring group.

Israel has been bombing targets in Syria to prevent Iran and its allied militias from expanding their military influence in the country.

IDF publishes videos said to be Palestinians tortured by Hamas

Video clips purporting to show torture of Palestinian civilians by the Hamas militia in the Gaza Strip during the years 2018 to 2020 were meanwhile published by the Israeli military on Sunday.

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The military said the material had been found during its operations in the area and proved "severe abuse perpetrated by the Hamas terrorist organization against the civilian population," along with human rights violations and oppression of those opposed to its rule.

The videos are reported to show torture carried out by Hamas operatives in so-called "Outpost 17" in Jabalia.

The material shows people with bags over their heads, tied up, sometimes into twisted and painful positions. One of the men is suspended by his feet from the ceiling and beaten on the soles of his feet with a stick.

The victims are reported to include political opponents of Hamas, suspected collaborators with Israel, suspected adulterers and homosexuals.
Jamie Oliver has pulled his childrens book from sale, following criticism by First Nations community leaders that his childrens book is offensive and harmful.

The Guardian newspaper reports that it had been notified Sunday by Olivers publishers Penguin Random House UK that it had withdrawn Billy and the Epic Escape from sale in all countries where it holds rights, including the UK and Australia.

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This came after First Nations Australians called for the TV chef to withdraw his childrens book, saying it included a damaging stereotype of First Nations people and experiences.

The Guardian newspaper yesterday reported that 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) called the story damaging, disrespectful, accusing Oliver of contributing to the erasure, trivialisation, and stereotyping of First Nations peoples and experiences.

The Guardian reports that Oliver has now issued a second statement: I am devastated to have caused offence and apologise wholeheartedly.

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It was never my intention to misinterpret this deeply painful issue. Together with my publishers we have decided to withdraw the book from sale.

And his publishers said: We have agreed with author, Jamie Oliver, that we will be withdrawing the book from sale.

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By John Geddie and Tim Kelly

TOKYO (Reuters) -Japanese lawmakers voted for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to stay on as leader on Monday, after his scandal-tarnished coalition lost its parliamentary majority in a lower house election last month.

Ishiba, who called the snap poll after taking office on Oct. 1, must now run a fragile minority government as protectionist Donald Trump returns to office in main ally the United States, tension rises with rivals China and North Korea, and domestic pressure mounts to rein in the cost of living.

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His Liberal Democratic Party and coalition partner Komeito won the biggest bloc of seats in the election but lost the majority held since 2012, leaving him beholden to small opposition parties to pass his policy agenda.

"In light of the very challenging election, we must transform into a national party that serves the people, that empathizes with the peoples' struggles, their misery, and their joy," Ishiba said at a press conference after parliament voted to keep him in his job.

Underlining his party's fragility, however, Monday's vote, broadcast on television, went to a run-off for the first time in 30 years, with no candidate able to muster majority support in the first round.

Ishiba prevailed in that run-off, garnering 221 votes, well clear of the head of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party and ex-PM Yoshihiko Noda, but still short of a majority in the 465-seat lower house.

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Japan will hold elections next year for the less powerful upper house, where the ruling coalition's slim majority could also be at risk if Ishiba cannot revive public trust roiled by a scandal over unrecorded donations to lawmakers.

BUDGET CHALLENGE

His imminent challenge is compiling a supplementary budget for the fiscal year through March, under pressure from voters and opposition parties to raise spending on welfare and take steps to offset rising prices.

For approval he needs the backing of at least one opposition party, which is most likely to be the Democratic Party for the People (DPP) headed by Yuichiro Tamaki. He has held co-operation talks with Ishiba, but DPP lawmakers did not vote for Ishiba to stay on as prime minister.

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Tamaki is also in a precarious position after admitting Monday to an extra-marital affair revealed in a tabloid magazine.

With his premiership confirmed, Ishiba appointed three new cabinet ministers, one each for transport, justice and agriculture, two of whom replace LDP lawmakers who lost their seats in the lower house election.

Ishiba now has to prepare for a slate of international engagements, including a summit of the Group of 20 big economies in Brazil on Nov. 18 and 19.

He is also trying to arrange a stopover in the United States on the way to or from that gathering to meet Trump. The Japanese leader spoke to the president-elect for the first time on Thursday in a "friendly" five-minute conversation during which he congratulated him on his election victory.

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Some Japanese officials nonetheless fear Trump might again hit Tokyo with protectionist trade measures and revive demands for it to pay more for the cost of stationing U.S. forces there.

These issues were largely smoothed over in Trump's first term, from 2017 to 2021, by the close ties between the president and Japan's then-premier, Shinzo Abe - a bond Ishiba seems keen to re-establish.

Trump "said many things on Ukraine, Gaza and alliances during the election, but it is difficult to predict what his policies will be until he assumes office," Ishiba said. "Our focus will be on proposing solutions that mutually benefit both nations."

(Reporting by John Geddie, Tim Kelly and Yoshifumi Takemoto; Editing by Stephen Coates, Clarence Fernandez, Toby Chopra and Alex Richardson)
J.D. Vance just might become the most powerful vice president since Dick Cheney.

Thats according to a report by The Telegraph that cited Republican insiders, who added that the 40-year-old Vancewhos overwhelmingly viewed as the GOP favorite to succeed Donald Trump in 2028will serve as a de facto prime minister these next four years.

Unlike most vice presidents, who are often more of a figurehead than they are policy kingpins, the insiders who spoke to the British paper said Trump, 78, will call on his millennial running mate to be his chief policy enforcer.

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Vance is also reportedly being called on to consolidate Trumps base as his apparent heir presumptive.

Experts project that J.D. Vance will lead the MAGA movement into the 2028 presidential election and beyond.

What exactly this means for Vances position under the attention-loving Trump is still up in the air. The dad-of-three has made clear his stance on key issues, however, like being staunchly opposed to abortion aside from exceptions for rape and incest. Hes also promised deportations by the millions, has shared hes against codifying same-sex marriage, and said previously hed like to ban pornography.

I think the combination of porn, abortion have basically created a really lonely, isolated generation that isnt getting married, he told Crisis Magazine, a Catholic publication, in 2021. Theyre not having families, and theyre actually not even totally sure how to interact with each other.

Dennis Lennox, a veteran Republican strategist, was among the experts who likened Vances pending power to that of Cheney, who has long been viewed as the countrys most powerful VP as he served under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009.

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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, Lennox told the Telegraph.

J.D. Vance, his wife Usha, and two of their kids at a campaign stop in September.

Perhaps we shouldnt need a GOP expert to tell us that Vance will be an unusually powerful vice president. The Ohio politician has already said as such himself.

I know the president wants me to be involved in everything, he told USA Today in September. My job is to help make him as successful as I can.

Trump has echoed that comment from Vance and has praised him for doing what Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz often refused to dodoing media hits of all types, both hostile and friendly, with traditional media outlets as well as YouTubers, podcasters, and influencers. Most recently, Trump praised Vance for his media willingness during the president-elects victory speech on Wednesday.

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He is a feisty guy, isnt he?, Trump said. 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]...The only guy Ive ever seen who looks forward to it and then he just goes in and absolutely obliterates them.

While Vance is sure to a chief Trump promoter in media hits, hell also bring his experienceand relationshipsfrom his days in the U.S. Senate. Trump, of course, never held a position in Washington prior to his first White House term and his old VP, Mike Pence, had served in the House but had more recently been Indianas governor.

J.D. Vance speaks to the media in a Senate Subway car in 2023. He was among the most outspoken lawmakers in Congress even before Donald Trump chose him as his running mate.

A source close to one of Vances Senate colleagues told the Telegraph hes sure to be Trumps go-to for matters on Capitol Hill because lawmakers will be more amenable to working with him than other members of the executive.

That same source reportedly called Vance a creature of the Senate, suggesting he was incredibly active in working his relationships on the hill despite only being a Congressman since January 2023.

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Jon Lieber, a senior analyst at the Eurasia Group, told the Telegraph he believes Vance is unbelievably well positioned to carry the MAGA movement into 2028 and beyond. He called him a populist who is not as shameless as Trump and is more polished.

J.D. Vance speaks during a 2022 town hall on Fox news.

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Vances temperament, his approach to the media, his policy orientation are all the direction of travel for the Republican Party, he said. That means anti-trade, anti-immigrant, anti-big business, which is a new feature in American politics.

Vance has indicated a number of times hes willing to test the bounds of the U.S. constitution to implement conservative policies.

We are in a late republican period, Vance said in 2021, referencing the Democratic wins that came immediately after Trumps chaotic first term. If were going to push back against it, we have to get pretty wild, pretty far out there, and go in directions that a lot of conservatives right now are uncomfortable with.
Portuguese men-of-war have made their way up from tropical waters to the South Carolina coast, including the Myrtle Beach area, according to Facebook posts.

Men-of-war are siphonophores, a jellyfish-like animal, with long tentacles and painful venom, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said. Over the past week, there have been reports of men-of-war washing up on Tybee Island in Georgia and Sullivans Island outside Charleston, The Island Packet reported.

On Facebook, people have shared photos of the creatures in Myrtle Beach and Pawleys Island. Others commented saying theyve seen multiple other men-of-war recently

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Men-of-war are not common in the Myrtle Beach area but make their way up north every now and then. In June, there were many man-of-war sightings across the Grand Strand, The Sun News previously reported.

Its unclear what brought them to South Carolina this fall.

National Weather Service meteorologist Rachel Zouzias said there hasnt been any storms or winds that would have pushed men-of-war north. There is a tropical storm near Cuba, but its in the gulf so it wouldnt have caused the migration, she said.

Zouzias said the men-of-war likely rode up the Gulf Stream. The top of the animal is filled with air, similar to a balloon, allowing it to float on top of the water and travel with ocean currents.

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If theres a man-of-war along the beach, enjoy its beauty without touching. Its tentacles can continue to sting even weeks after death, according to the NOAA. The tentacles are long so be especially careful if walking the beach barefoot.

If stung, remove any tentacles with tweezers and rinse the area with hot water or seawater for around 20 minutes, Surfer Today recommends. Over the counter medications and hot compresses also can help with the pain. If things escalate, such as having trouble breathing, chest pains, or any other complications, get to a hospital.
Editors Note: This is the third piece of a four-part series on the life and legacy of John Ball. You can read Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Like Louis Campau or Charles Belknap, John Balls name lives on in Grand Rapids. The man for which the citys zoo is named lived a long, storied life, including adventures far beyond West Michigan.

But here in The Mitten State, Ball has an outsized legacy, making a deeper impact than many realize. Part 1 explored Balls early years. Part 2 shows how Ball found his way to West Michigan. His story continues with Part 3.

BOUND FOR MICHIGAN

By 1836, John Ball felt listless in eastern New York. After roughly three years of exploring, a quiet life in the northeast didnt suit him. He had returned to practicing law but found business slow because other lawyers established themselves in his place while he was gone.

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John Ball: Michigans real-life Forrest Gump

After more than a year in Lansingburgh, some friends and investors came up with an interesting proposal to cash in on Americas westward expansion and ignite the spark that once shined so brightly in Ball: Send the explorer westward to find and purchase some quality parcels of land.

When they proposed the project, I fell in with it, for I was glad of an excuse for a change of life, Ball wrote in his autobiography, Born to Wander.

The investors didnt place too many restraints on Ball. They knew the best opportunities would be to the west and they wanted to avoid slave states. For everything else, they trusted Balls judgment to find the best investments. That led him to the Michigan Territory.

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He left for his first journey to Michigan on July 27, 1836, accompanied by William Mann, another land prospector who had traveled that way before. The two took a train to Utica before picking up a boat on the Erie Canal and taking a steamer across Lake Erie from Buffalo to Detroit.

John Balls long, winding journey to West Michigan

Ball assumed Detroit would be his primary focus, but quickly found that land prices were much higher than he expected. So the two men expanded their search, starting in Monroe and exploring other small villages in southeast Michigan and northwest Ohio. Mann eventually got sick and stayed back in Monroe while Ball ventured on for several more days. When he returned, Mann was nowhere to be found.

Considering the trip a bust, Ball returned home to New York. Instead of being bitter, his investors doubled down, giving him more funds to take another trip and expand his search.

An illustration of John Balls 1836 trip from Detroit to Grand Rapids. (WOOD TV8)

He also heard from Mann. Through his brother, William Mann notified Ball that he recovered and continued on to the village of Ionia, where the government was set to open a new office to handle the Grand River land district. In late September, Ball left for Michigan once again, this time planning to head further west.

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After arriving in Detroit, Ball followed the Territorial Road, a path laid by the government to guide followers from Detroit to St. Joseph on the shore of Lake Michigan. The road cut through Ann Arbor, Jackson, Marshall and Kalamazoo, an area that Ball said was beautiful.

They had left the native forest on their lots and in the streets and had protected the same and planted others.  It had from its foundation always been the most beautiful, Ball wrote.

1883: The logjam that nearly sank Furniture City

Three days later, Ball had arrived in Ionia, acquiring more detailed maps of the land and what was available. With about $1,000 in his saddlebags, Ball headed off to a small village on the shore of the Grand River: a new town called Grand Rapids.

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Ball arrived in Grand Rapids for the first time on Oct. 18, 1836. His first impression wasnt a great one. Like Detroit, he found the land prices to be too high for his liking, with prices for lots along Canal Street (now Monroe Avenue) set at $50 per square foot. So just like Detroit, he explored the surrounding area instead.

He found and purchased some land in northeast Allegan County and western Barry County before returning to Grand Rapids to reorganize and prepare for a scouting trip to Ottawa County. The trip was a success but wasnt without its hardships.

Paleoindians and beyond: West Michigans history goes back millennia

Balls primary goal was to find pine groves, which he did, in abundance. He and a companion, named in his autobiography only as Mr. Yeoman, had packed only one days worth of rations, but excited by their findings, pressed further into the woods. Snow slowed them down, and it took the men three more days to make their way back to nearby Grandville, where they could scrounge up a meal. An exhausted Ball noted that he had gone longer without food, but never while exploring on foot.

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Days later, Ball, Yeoman and a third man took a second trip into the wild land  this time with a surplus of food  confirming their findings and purchasing approximately 2,500 acres of land.

Ball spent much of that winter scouting more locations across the state, including Muskegon County and more areas around Detroit. That spring, he returned to Grand Rapids, this time as a resident.

The Eagle Hotel, shown here in 1880, was built in 1834. John Ball first lodged at the Eagle Hotel when he arrived in Grand Rapids in 1836. The hotel was on Waterloo Street, which is now called Market Street. The building burned down in 1883. (Courtesy Grand Rapids Public Library)

FROM OUTSIDER TO REPRESENTATIVE

Between Balls amicable personality and frequent travels, he was a popular person around the Grand River Valley. And when Michigan was formally recognized as a state in 1837, he was sent as the areas representative to the states first convention that summer.

Later that year, he was nominated to represent the region in the new Michigan Legislature. Ball, the Democratic candidate, won easily over the Whig candidate.

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According to Ball, about 500 votes were cast. He received more than 400 of them. Unlike now, when precincts are scattered all across cities, there were only five voting locations across the four counties Ball would represent: two each in Kent and Ionia counties and one in Clinton County. Voters in the sparsely populated Ottawa County, approximately 70 in all, traveled together by boat to Kent County to cast their ballots.

An undated photograph of John Ball from the George E. Fitch collection that is now held by the Grand Rapids History Center. (Courtesy Grand Rapids Public Library)

Ball didnt particularly enjoy his time as a lawmaker. He would rather have been wandering in the woods than stuck at a desk, but in his short tenure as a legislator, he did accomplish some notable things, including ensuring all state tax dollars went to public school systems instead of splitting them with private, religious schools.

I thought as far as the state was concerned it should have nothing to do with religious sectarianism, Ball wrote.

The Sweet House: An inside look at a piece of Grand Rapids history

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With the legislature adjourned for the year and his land prospecting wrapped up, Ball decided to take a trip back to New England to update his investors and retrieve some final belongings, including his library of books. He was only gone for six weeks, but the trip and some miscommunication ultimately cost him his seat in the Legislature.

The people at Grand Rapid seemed surprised to see me, saying they were informed that I had left for good, Ball wrote. For if they had known that I was coming back to stay, I should have been again nominated for the Legislature. This shows how careless I was on the subject.

Instead, local Democrats nominated Col. Noble Finney in his place. Ball, showing no ill will, threw his support behind Finneys campaign and helped him get elected.

His time in the Legislature was over, but Balls investment in education was not. He served on what would be considered Grand Rapids school board for 37 years and helped identify which property should be used for the citys first school. The Old Stone Schoolhouse was built for $2,700 in 1849 at the northwest corner of Lyon and Ransom streets, now home to Grand Rapids Community College.

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Ball also helped organize the Grand Rapids Lyceum of Natural History, a precursor to the Kent Scientific Institute, now known as the Grand Rapids Public Museum.

A 1955 photo of John Balls first home in Grand Rapids. The property sat on the south side of Fulton between what is now College Avenue and Gay Avenue. Ball gradually added onto the home before his death in 1884. The house was ultimately torn down in the 1960s. (Courtesy Grand Rapids Public Library)

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GROWING WEST MICHIGAN

In 1842, Ball was once again commissioned to explore the woods, this time on behalf of the state. The previous year, Congress passed funding to help states sell land and fuel development. Gov. John S. Barry tabbed Ball to lead the project for Michigan, identifying the best lands to allocate, putting them up for sale at a sharp discount.

Ball spent several weeks scouting vast swathes of the state, including almost all of northwest Michigan. The harsh travel conditions ultimately drove Ball to primarily choose land in the Grand River Valley. Not only was the land lucrative, but with established trails, they were much easier to reach. Ball reasoned that development in isolated areas would be much slower and defeat the purpose of the program. And he was proven right. Development in and around Grand Rapids grew exponentially in the following years.

Local historians call for national honor for GRs Auburn Hills neighborhood

Ball expected to be paid in cash for his work for the state and was frustrated to learn that he instead would be paid in shares of the land that he identified. Still, he was able to work that to his advantage, buying up some of the best properties that he had already scouted and worked the market to expand his property portfolio and accrue his profits.

With his experience as both a lawyer and as a land prospector, the new settlers coming to West Michigan also flocked to Ball for help. He worked as a de facto advisor, helping buyers through the process.

With a soft spot for farmers, he was also known for being patient and compassionate when they fell on hard times. Ball noted several instances of people falling behind on payments.

When their money fell short, I often gave them time on my fees, or something more to enable them to secure their farms, Ball wrote. Or, if considerable lack, I would take the land in my own name as security, give them a receipt for the amount they paid on it, and when they paid the balance, assigned over the land.

From utility to icon: The humble history of Grand Rapids Blue Bridge

One of the most popular mass settlements in West Michigan occurred in 1847 when Rev. Albertus Van Raalte led a contingent of Dutch migrants to the region. Van Raalte worked with Ball to identify a place to settle.

Van Raalte allegedly rejected his first two proposals  Grand Rapids and Muskegon. Van Raalte wanted the settlement to be more isolated and the Grand River was too crowded. Muskegon, meanwhile, was too isolated.

There would be only the wolves beyond them, Ball wrote.

So they eventually landed on land around the Black River and settled what we know today as Holland.

A giant stone marks the grave of John Ball and his wife, Mary, at Fulton Street Cemetery near downtown Grand Rapids. (Matt Jaworowski/WOOD TV8)

HIS FINAL CHAPTERS

At the ripe old age of 56, John Ball finally settled down. Now firmly rooted in Grand Rapids, he got married on New Years Eve in 1850 to Mary Webster. The couple had six children: Frank, Kate, Flora, Lucy, Mary and John H. Ball.

The other mounds: Lost history is a part of West Michigans story

But the family man didnt sit around and watch the rest of his life go by. He still loved to travel, and took many adventures: some with his family, some with friends, and some on his own.

After the Civil War, he spent the winter of 1866 exploring the southern United States. In 1871, Ball finally took his long-awaited journey to Europe. According to his autobiography, the family set up shop in Geneva, Switzerland for two years, and spent time exploring, including many trips to Germany, Austria, Italy, France and Spain.

After a short illness, John Ball died on Feb. 3, 1884. He was 89 years old. His daughters noted that he was mentally and physically sharp right up until the end. A neighbor even recalled him running to catch a streetcar just weeks before his death.

Learn about Grand Rapids women legends through walking tour

With his death, came a promise he made with city officials years earlier. He planned to donate 40 acres of untouched land on the west side of Grand Rapids to be preserved as a park. Referred to as the Ball Forty, that land led to what we now know as John Ball Zoo and the former John Ball Park.

This is the third piece in a four-part series about the life and legacy of John Ball. The final piece will be published next Sunday.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
The man who led the Minneapolis Police Department's (MPD) press office during the murder of George Floyd in 2020 has been elected mayor of New Hope.

John Elder, who served as MPD's public information officer from 2013 until his resignation in 2021, wrote the now-controversial press release published in the immediate aftermath of Floyd's death.

Elder, who has been a member of New Hope's City Council since 2008, was declared the winner Tuesday after beating fellow councilor Jonathan London by over 1,600 votes, per CCX Media.

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The publication notes that a special election will now be required to fill his council seat. Elder will replace current mayor Kathi Hemken.

The George Floyd news release

Released in the hours after Floyd's death, MPD's statement, posted below, later came under criticism for omitting key details about the incident:

May 25, 2020 (MINNEAPOLIS) On Monday evening, shortly after 8:00 pm, officers from the Minneapolis Police Department responded to the 3700 block of Chicago Avenue South on a report of a forgery in progress. Officers were advised that the suspect was sitting on top of a blue car and appeared to be under the influence. Two officers arrived and located the suspect, a male believed to be in his 40s, in his car. He was ordered to step from his car. After he got out, he physically resisted officers. Officers were able to get the suspect into handcuffs and noted he appeared to be suffering medical distress. Officers called for an ambulance. He was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center by ambulance where he died a short time later. At no time were weapons of any type used by anyone involved in this incident. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has been called in to investigate this incident at the request of the Minneapolis Police Department. No officers were injured in the incident. Body worn cameras were on and activated during this incident.

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"Officers were able to get the suspect into handcuffs and noted he appeared to be suffering medical distress," reads ones of the lines at issue.

As Washington Post columnist Philip Bump wrote, the sentence contains "the longest 'and' in the history of the English language," as it skips the nearly 10-minute period in which officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck, ultimately causing the 46-year-old's death.

The news release sparked debate about transparency in police communications.

As the Star Tribune noted, critics argued that Elder's release "was an example of what they saw as the department's attempts to obfuscate the truth after controversial police killings."

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For his part, Elder later told the Los Angeles Times that he "based the initial release on information from sergeants who work in the area and computer-aided dispatch, which did not mention the use of force" and that he had "literally zero intent to deceive or be dishonest or disingenuous."

As a result of the controversy, the Minneapolis City Council in 2020 voted to move MPD's public relations duties to the city's communications office.

After leaving MPD, Elder served as emergency management director for the Isanti County Sheriff's Office and now holds a public relations role in the Robbinsdale Police Department, according to his LinkedIn.
PM Modi, on Sunday, took to his X account to remember the late actor.

"Deeply saddened by the passing of the illustrious film personality, Thiru Delhi Ganesh Ji. He was blessed with impeccable acting skills. He will be fondly remembered for the depth he brought to each role and for his ability to connect with viewers across generations. He was also passionate about theatre. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti," read his post on X.

https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1855583250250715516

Tamil actor Karthi too took to his social media account to share his condolences and wrote, "Saddened by the demise of Delhi Ganesh sir. His iconic roles in numerous films and his ability to bring to life unforgettable characters on screen will forever be etched in the history of Tamil cinema. You will be deeply missed, sir."

https://x.com/Karthi_Offl/status/1855470129179746528

Other actors including Sivakumar, Senthil, Radha Ravi, and Santhana Bharathi also offered their condolences, remembering Delhi Ganesh for his contribution to the film industry.

The actor's mortal remains have been kept in Ramapuram, Chennai and his last rites will be performed on November 11.

Delhi Ganesh's acting career spanned over four decades, and he appeared in more than 400 films, cementing his place as a cherished character actor in Tamil cinema. (ANI)
(Bloomberg) -- The first two years under Donald Trumps second term could be quite impactful if policy changes are made on tax, deregulation and crypto, according to Stefan Gratzer, managing director at J.P. Morgan Private Bank.

Most Read from Bloomberg

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One really differentiating thing Trump had in his policy was about crypto, so lets see how this plays out, Gratzer, who is head of institutional wealth management for Switzerland at J. P. Morgan, told a conference in Kuwait on Sunday. This could be completely new, and nobody knows what this is going to mean. Theres a lot of talk about deregulation that is obviously beneficial for banks like us at the moment but again, we need to see.

Optimism has been high that Trumps pro-growth promises, built around tax cuts and deregulation, will unlock another round of gains in an already flourishing economy, just as the Federal Reserve tilts toward an easy-money stance. Many expect Trumps policy promises, including a flurry of tax cuts, to turbo-charge economic growth, driving new business for lenders.

Gratzer said Trumps plans to cut taxes are key. If you buy a share of the company, youre obviously buying their earnings in the future minus the tax. If the tax is lower, your share price is higher. I think thats a bit what weve seen in the last week.

He obviously has the House and the Senate now on his side, so it could be that for the next two years we see this direction, Gratzer said, while noting that after midterm elections in 2026, it could be not so easy to do those things.

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Republicans in the US regained control of the Senate in last weeks elections and are favored to retain their majority in the House, although some races are still undecided.

Technology Pipeline

Separately, J.P. Morgan Private Bank is seeing demand from clients in the Middle East and North Africa that reflects our pipeline in technology, especially AI, Gratzer told the MoneyTech event.

Energy markets and the energy transition are really relevant in the region both in terms of technology and transport, namely electric vehicles, according to Gratzer. Luxury is another area on which clients are focusing, while defense and education need increased investment too. Opportunities also lie in the healthcare sector, Gratzer said.

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By Luc Cohen

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A New York judge is set to decide this week whether President-elect Donald Trump's criminal conviction on charges involving hush money paid to a porn star should be overturned in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's July ruling on presidential immunity.

Justice Juan Merchan has said he will make his decision by Tuesday. It is the first of two pivotal choices that the judge must make after Trump's Nov. 5 election victory. Merchan also must decide whether to go ahead with sentencing Trump on Nov. 26 as currently scheduled. Legal experts have said sentencing now is unlikely to happen ahead of Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration.

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A favorable ruling by Merchan for Trump on the immunity question or a sentencing delay would pave the way for him to return to the White House largely unencumbered by any of the four criminal cases that once appeared to threaten his ambitions to win back the White House.

Officials at the U.S. Justice Department are assessing how to wind down the two federal criminal cases brought against Trump by Special Counsel Jack Smith due to its longstanding policy against prosecuting a sitting president. A separate case in Georgia involving state criminal charges concerning Trump's efforts to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss remains in limbo.

Trump, 78, pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing in all four cases, which he portrayed as political persecutions by allies of Democratic President Joe Biden designed to thwart his campaign.

"It is now abundantly clear that Americans want an immediate end to the weaponization of our justice system," Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement on Friday.

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Trump in May became the first U.S. president to be convicted of a crime when a jury in Manhattan found him guilty of state charges of falsifying business records to cover up a potential sex scandal shortly before his first presidential victory in 2016. Trump has vowed to appeal the conviction after sentencing.

His lawyers have argued that the case must be dismissed following the Supreme Court's immunity ruling.

The Supreme Court, in a decision arising from one of Smith's two cases against Trump, decided that presidents are immune from prosecution involving their official acts, and that juries cannot be presented evidence of official acts in trials over personal conduct. It marked the first time that the court recognized any degree of presidential immunity from prosecution.

Trump's lawyers said the jury that convicted Trump was shown evidence by prosecutors of his social media posts as president and heard testimony from his former aides about conversations that occurred in the White House during his 2017-2021 term.

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Prosecutors with the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, have argued that the Supreme Court's ruling has no bearing on the case, which they said concerned "wholly unofficial conduct." The Supreme Court in its ruling found no immunity for a president's unofficial acts.

"Even if the judge finds that some of the evidence should not have been introduced, it would not have changed the outcome of the jury's decision, and the court will not, therefore, dismiss the case on that basis," New York Law School professor Anna Cominsky said.

Even if Merchan allows the conviction to stand, experts expect Trump's lawyers to ask the judge to delay the sentencing. Trump faces a sentence of up to four years in prison after being convicted of 34 felony counts. Legal experts have said that while lesser penalties such as fines or probation are more likely, a prison sentence would not be impossible.

(Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Will Dunham)
(NewsNation)  A jury in Missouri has convicted two men on a long list of charges stemming from their alleged conspiracy to murder U.S. Border Patrol agents, and for shooting at FBI agents when the two men were captured.

The federal court jury in Jefferson City, Mo., on Thursday found Jonathan S. ODell, of Warsaw, Mo., and Bryan C. Perry, of Clarksville, Tenn., guilty in connection with what prosecutors said was a plan to recruit members to their group called the 2nd Amendment Militia in 2022.

American woman, 3 migrants charged with running Texas migrant stash house

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Perry posted a video on TikTok in which he discussed illegal immigrants coming into the United States from Mexico, said the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Missouri.

Perry stated that the U.S. Border Patrol was committing treason by allowing these illegal immigrants to enter the United States, and that the penalty for treason was death, the statement added.

In later posts, Perry said he was ready to go to war against this government, and that we were going out huntin.

On Oct. 7, 2022, the day before the men said they were going to travel to the border, FBI agents raided ODells home. After an exchange of gunfire, ODell and his girlfriend surrendered, but Perry aborted his apparent surrender and fought with agents who eventually subdued him.

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El Paso Sector sees people trying to cross border before Trump win

Between their capture and their trial, ODell escaped from a county jail and was on the run for three days before being recaptured in Ray County, Mo.

According to the U.S. Attorneys statement, both Perry and ODell face mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum sentence would be life without parole. There is no word yet on when the two will be sentenced.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Gov. Laura Kelly granted clemency to six men and a woman who have demonstrated their commitment to making amends, clearing criminal records for five and allowing the early release of two currently in state prisons.

They were convicted of crimes that involve drugs, sex, and the second-degree murder of a newborn baby.

The governor previously used her power to issue pardons or commute sentences when she granted clemency to eight individuals in 2021. In both rounds, her executive action followed a lengthy review process that starts with an appeal to the Prisoner Review Board. Her administration then considers factors that include the nature of offenses, harsh sentences, impact of the crime on victims or survivors, rehabilitation efforts, criminal history, and ability to contribute to society.

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Granting commutations and pardons is not something I take lightly, Kelly said. By vetting numerous applications through a careful and thorough process, it was determined that these individuals have demonstrated their commitment to making amends and positively contributing to society.

Kelly commuted the sentence of Lauren Holle, who was convicted in 2010 in Marshall County of second-degree murder, child abandonment and child abuse. She is the first individual convicted of a violent crime to receive clemency from Kelly.

The Fort Scott Tribune reported Holle at age 20 had given birth to a child, wrapped it in a plastic garbage bag, and stowed the baby in her vehicles back seat. A coroner determined the child had been born alive and died from lack of proper care.

Holle pleaded guilty to the crimes and received consecutive sentences adding up to more than 19 years in prison, with the earliest possible parole in January 2027. She had already served more time than if her sentences had run concurrently rather than consecutively, and continued incarceration no longer serves the interests of justice, the governor said in paperwork commuting the sentence to Friday.

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Grace Hoge, a spokeswoman for Kelly, said the Prisoner Review Board recommended clemency for Holle and all but one of the others who received clemency.

Kelly overruled the Prisoner Review Board to commute the sentence of Deshaun Durham, who was convicted of marijuana possession with intent to distribute in 2022 in Riley County and sentenced to 92 months in prison. He was 20 at the time and had no prior convictions. The governor commuted his sentence to Dec. 6.

She also issued pardons to five men who already served their sentence or probation and whose crimes have been expunged.

James Valentine was convicted in 2004 in Harper County of aggravated indecent liberties with a child between the ages of 14 and 16, and in 2014 in Butler County of violating the offender registration act. He received probation in both cases. The governor in paperwork granting the pardon said Valentine was 19 at time of his first conviction and is now a decorated Army veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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Stephen Gontz was convicted in 2000 in Geary County of battery and witness intimidation and sentenced to 12 months of probation. He is also a military veteran.

Jose Arellano was convicted in 2009 in Sedgwick County of opiates possession and traffic violations and sentenced to 12 months of probation.

Jeffrey Gronewaller was convicted in 2001 of theft and in 2008 of forgery and conspiracy to commit forgery. The crimes were in Reno County.

Scottie Way was convicted in 1989 of criminal damage to property and in 1992 of burglary. The crimes were in Finney County.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, which has helped individuals navigate the clemency process, applauded the governors willingness to use her executive power to address systemic injustices.

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Clemency is an important and crucial intervention in a criminal legal system that continues to fail to keep our community safe and that contributes to the cycles of harm, said Esmie Tseng, spokeswoman for ACLU of Kansas. The governors leadership should serve as a model for how all elected officials can intervene as we continue to await meaningful reform.

Hoge, the governors spokeswoman, said the administrations efforts to review clemency applications is ongoing. She declined to say why the governor announced the latest round a day after the election.

Hoge also said the administration is still reviewing the high-profile clemency request for Sarah Gonzales McLinn, who is serving a minimum 25-year sentence for killing a Lawrence man who repeatedly raped her. McLinns supporters helped her file for clemency two years ago. Her earliest possible release date is in 2039.

Gov. Kelly thoroughly reviews clemency requests based on the circumstances of each individual case prior to making a decision, Hoge said. Sarah Gonzales McLinns clemency request is currently under review.

This story first appeared on Kansas Reflector , a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization covering state government, politics and policy.
A Katy doctor has been convicted for accepting illegal kickbacks for sending patient samples to specific labs, according to officials with the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Texas.

The doctor, 60-year old Hector Ubaldo, was indicted in September on charges of conspiracy to pay and receive healthcare kickbacks and solicitation and receipt of illegal kickbacks.

It took a federal jury 14 minutes to convict him, officials said.

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Evidence presented at Ubaldos trial shows that he accepted cash in return for sending blood and urine samples to labs, which then billed insurance for diagnostic tests, according to officials.

In video evidence posted on X, Ubaldo is seen counting cash payments he received from the labs.

The minimum Im willing to [expletive] take on a monthly basis is about $10 grand, Ubaldo said.

The U.S. Attorneys Office has prosecuted more than 15 doctors, marketers and lab owners connected to the scheme over a period of several years, according to the statement.

Ubaldo faces up to 15 years in federal prison.
This article was originally published in Kentucky Lantern.

LOUISVILLE  A constitutional amendment to allow the Kentucky General Assembly to fund nonpublic schools failed at the ballot box Tuesday.

Amendment 2  which 65% of voters rejected, according to unofficial results  would have opened a path for the Republican-controlled legislature to allow state dollars to flow to nonpublic schools, such as private or charter schools. Leading up to the election, Republicans, including U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, attempted to bolster support for the measure while Democrats led by Gov. Andy Beshear attacked the amendment as a threat to public education.

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Opposition to Amendment 2 spanned rural and urban Kentucky, said Will Powers, the policy and public engagement coordinator for the Kentucky Student Voice Team, which toured the state by bus rallying opposition.

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I think its a ubiquitous message. Everyone resonates with it, Powers said Tuesday night during a Protect Ours Schools PAC watch party in Louisville. Every community has a public school, not every community has a private school. And I think were seeing the ramifications of that one true fact.

Jason Bailey, executive director of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, said he was not surprised Amendment 2 failed.

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The opposition to Amendment 2 was bipartisan, Bailey said. It was really defeated by a huge margin in many rural counties that also voted for Donald Trump. So Kentuckians are smart. They were discerning, and they they saw this for what it was. It was a scam funded by outside billionaires to shift dollars away from public schools and to fund private school vouchers. And Kentuckians, by it looks like a very wide margin, said no.

KyPolicy, a progressive think tank, opposed the measure and released a study earlier this year that showed how similar systems to fund private schools in other states could harm the states public schools if they were replicated in Kentucky. Bailey said the defeat of the amendment would be an end to this debate and politicians should focus on further investments in existing public schools.

Outgoing Senate Republican Floor Leader Damon Thayer, of Georgetown, called the Amendment 2 defeat disappointing, but not surprising. He said in a phone interview that opponents of the amendment confused voters and added that its hard to get people to understand a constitutional question when the opposition completely misleads the issue.

Also, I wish the Republican Party of Kentucky had been more engaged in defending the issue, Thayer said.

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Thayer said the Kentucky Democratic Party was engaged in getting voters to oppose the amendment. KDP held numerous press conferences around the state led by Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, and Democratic candidates often voiced their opposition to the amendment while campaigning. The RPK did not ever really engage despite the fact that it was a priority bill of our legislative supermajority, Thayer said. But its hard to change the Constitution. Thats the way it is. And its the one disappointment on what appears to be a really good night.

Beshear said in a statement that lawmakers should recognize the will of the people and get serious about ensuring that every Kentucky child gets a world-class public education. Beshear said that includes better funding public schools, raising teacher pay and establishing a universal pre-K program in Kentucky.

Kentucky voters have once again definitively stated that public dollars belong only in public schools, Beshear said.

In a statement reacting to the defeat of Amendment 2, Kentucky Students First, one of the leading PACs supporting the amendment, said its members and volunteers fought hard to change the status quo protected by Kentuckys education special interests.

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Though the results may not have been in our favor, this campaign has been a powerful force for standing up to the Kentucky education bureaucracy, Kentucky Students First said. Perpetuating the low performance of Kentuckys education system is a disservice to our children and our Commonwealth. Kentucky students deserve better, and our resolve to serve students over systems remains unchanged.

A lot of money has been spent trying to sway voters on Amendment 2, with both sides reporting raising about $8 million each, according to the final pre-election finance reports. Beshear and Paul both took to airwaves in ads sponsored by political action committees. Most of the $16 million came from outside Kentucky, with much of it from dark money groups which structure themselves in a way that lets them keep their donors names private.

Days before the election, Paul heralded Amendment 2, saying it would allow the legislature to do what theyre supposed to do  debate how best we should get education for our kids. Beshear decried the amendment as a blank check to Frankfort politicians.

Amendment 2 would have suspended seven sections of the state Constitution to allow public money to flow to nonpublic schools. The legislation for the amendment was a priority for Republican lawmakers earlier this year and an attempt to overcome constitutional hurdles cited by Kentucky courts striking down earlier charter school and private school tax credit laws.

Kentucky Lantern is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Kentucky Lantern maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jamie Lucke for questions: info@kentuckylantern.com. Follow Kentucky Lantern on Facebook and X.
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  Panama City residents had the chance to explore different emergency and maintenance vehicles during Panama City Parks, Culture, and Recreations Touch-A-Truck event.

The free event was held at Carl Gray Park from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Attendees had the opportunity to interact with 26 different vehicles, including fire trucks, police cars, ambulances, and garbage trucks.

Lynn Havens Art in the Park returns

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Kids also got to sit in the vehicles and operate their lights and sirens.

Panama City Parks, Culture, and Recreation officials say Touch-A-Truck is also a great way for the community to meet public service workers.

This is a way we can make everybody personable and make them human and let everybody know, yes, they might have to go get a bad guy every now and then, but they are good people on the inside. This is just a way that we can bring everybody together and just break down those barriers that some people might have, Recreation Coordinator Tatyanna Bell said.

Panama City Parks, culture, and Recreation will also host its Christmas parade on December 7th at 6 p.m.

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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 mypanhandle.com.
On Saturday, Nov. 9, some of Hollywoods leading ladies (and men) donned stylish black-tie attire and gathered at the Pacific Design Center for the 2024 Baby2Baby Gala presented by Paul Mitchell.

After posing on a green carpet, a grand showing of fashionable supporters  including Jessica Alba, Mindy Kaling, Anna Kendrick, Camila Alves McConaughey, Ayesha Curry, Rachel Zoe, Ashley Graham, Miranda Kerr, Andra Day, Chrissy Teigen, John Legend, Ashanti, Molly Sims, Julie Bowen, Sarah Hyland, Jenna Dewan, Michelle Monaghan, Heidi Klum and Zack Braff  made their way into a cocktail hour.

Katy Perry, Miranda Kerr, Mindy Kaling, Ayesha Curry, Kelly Sawyer Patricof, Co-CEO, Baby2Baby, Charlize Theron, Norah Weinstein, Co-CEO, Baby2Baby, Ciara, Kelly Rowland, Ashley Graham, Jessica Alba and Jennifer Garner Getty Images

They signature drinks like the Watermelon Sugar (Casamigos Blanco Tequila, watermelon, lemon, basil and Campari) and sparkling wine from Cameron Diazs low-sugar Avaline brand, paired with passed apps by Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo, who curated the evening's culinary program.

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Inside a stunning ballroom, a food wing offered stations from 10-15 of L.A.s top restaurants, including Jon & Vinnys, Funke, Kato, Stella West Hollywood, Majordomo, Stir Crazy, Yangban, Moo's Craft Barbecue, Badmaash, Bar Chelou, Found Oyster & Queen St., Escuela Taqueria and the Benjamin Hollywood. Chris Bianco and Evan Funke both doled out steaming pasta dishes, while Stella's Rob Gentile made a traditional Arrostincini (skewered grilled meat), Katos Jon Yao served Cho Shao Short Rib and Majordomo wrapped short rib in lettuce.

Mr. Chow made mini versions of its signature chicken satays  plus glazed prawns with walnuts  and Kazunori by Sushi Nozawa drew a line for salmon and made-to-order hand rolls. Jon and Vinnys paired cutlets with Aperol spritzes  and later switched gears to pizza.

Jennifer Garner Getty Images

I would like to give a very special thank you to my pals, Jon and Vinny, said Jennifer Garner when she took the stage to welcome guests, and to all of the talented chefs here tonight, who donated their Saturday nights! Lets hear it for the food! The one charity event youll go to that has amazing food.  I consider all the chefs here to be the real celebrities of the night, and I was star struck over there in foodie heaven.

Garner has been working with Baby2Baby for over a decade and was honored for her work with Save the Children in 2016. And eight years later, theyre a household name, she said. I grew up one generation and one holler removed from poverty, so Baby2Babys mission of providing basic essentials to children in need really hits home for me.

Nelly and Charlie Theron Getty Images

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Lets talk about this years honoree, Charlize Theron  what a woman, look at you! said Garner of the Academy Award-winning actress and founder of the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP), who received this years Giving Tree Award.

Garner continued, You are being honored tonight for your lifetime commitment to making the world a better place for vulnerable women and girls. One does not need to know much about Charlize to know about her work with Africa.  Thats who you are, its part of the fabric of your being. How can someone be so beautiful and talented and philanthropic? It is simply not fair. Youre fun, youre stunning, youre charitable and you always smell amazing.



Ayesha Curry, Katy Perry and Ciara Getty Images

When parents cant afford diapers, they turn to desperate measures, and are unable to use their funds for food and shelter, said chef and actress Curry. It doesnt have to be like this. All of us in this room could agree that as mothers and caretakers, we would do anything to provide for our children with what they need.

Im going to need that font to be a little bit bigger, began Katy Perry. I just turned 40 and Im like!

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Perry continued: What I love about Baby2Baby is that they get shit done. First, they got California to remove the sales tax from diapers so they werent taxed like a luxury item.  Then, they started to make them themselves, they are the disrupters! They manufacture them and make them for 80 percent less than retail so they can donate five times as many to children living in poverty. Because of this, they have distributed over 200 million diapers  thats more than any organization in the country. But they arent satisfied with that and want to make billions more.

Ciara, Vanessa Bryant and Jessica Alba Getty Images

Ciara spoke about welcoming her fourth baby Amora this past December. I still remember what it felt like having my first child  but theres a lot of unknowns, Ciara said. I learned a lot of women arent getting the same kind of care that I was able to have. The devastating increase in maternal mortality in the US is so crushing to me as a woman of color, as Black mothers are four times more likely to die during and after childbirth. It is so infuriating and heartbreaking. Ive been so honored to be a part of Baby2Babys work to combat the maternal health crisis in this country.

Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie Madden Getty Images

Other presenters included Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie Madden, stars of the upcoming reboot of Simple Life, and Bowen and Jesse Tyler Ferguson  who led the fundraising.



Theron received her honor from Johnny Knoxville. I think we all needed a night like tonight  a night that feels like hope," Theron said. "The impact of the work that Baby2Baby is doing, I think all that work really means hope. ... We all could do something that makes the lives better for somebody else out there.

Kelly Rowland, Ashanti and Nelly Getty Images

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After rousing the crowd with energetic renditions of Ride Wit Me" and Hot in Herre, performer Nelly surprised guests when he called Kelly Rowland up to the stage to sing their 2002 hit Dilemma. Then, guests enjoyed late-night culinary options like the Shake Shack Fried Chicken Sandwich and herb fries as part of a collaboration with Roe Caviar, and desserts from Valerie Gordon's Valerie Confections.

But before all that, Norah Weinstein  who along with Kelly Sawyer Patricof, serves as co-CEO of the non-profit that has distributed over 470 million items over the past 13 years to children in all 50 states  thanked everyone for coming out, in the midst of everything going on in the country, she said. The glamorous annual event raises over 60% of Baby2Babys operating budget and allows them to serve over one million children every year, and this year's brought in more than $17 million.

Joel Madden, Nicole Richie, Kelly Sawyer Patricof, Co-CEO, Baby2Baby, Sofia Richie Grainge and Rachel Zoe Getty Images

Baby2Baby is about babies and children, meeting their basic needs, Weinstein said. So were so grateful to have everyone come together tonight to support our mission, no matter the circumstances. Lets do some good tonight.
Politics can bring people together, but it also has the power to drive them aparta reality that Lady Gagas father, New York City restaurant owner Joe Germanotta, is reportedly experiencing following former President Donald Trumps 2024 election win.

Germanotta publicly endorsed Donald Trump for president in September 2024. Meanwhile, his daughter, Grammy-winning artist Lady Gaga, made a public appearance on November 4, 2024, at a rally supporting Vice President Kamala Harris on the final day of the campaign.

Lady Gaga delivered a heartfelt performance for Kamala Harris, joining a star-studded lineup that included Oprah Winfrey, Katy Perry, James Taylor, and Ricky Martin.

Lady Gagas Dad Speaks Out On Political Differences With His Daughter

MEGA

Lady Gagas father, Joe Germanotta, recently spoke out about the political differences that have created tension between him and his superstar daughter.

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I came out as a Republican on FOX & Friends, ever since then, you know, its been a little dicey at home, Germanotta said Wednesday on Cavuto: Coast to Coast. But you know, [well] get past it.

Germanotta described himself to FOX Business David Asman as an open-minded Republican, noting that he often supports socially liberal issues.

What really needs to happen is, people need to understand that even though Im a Republican and I have Republican conservative attitudes, that doesnt mean I dont support the LGBTQ community, or drag as a form of artistry, he expanded. And thats why we use the restaurant as a venue for them to come in, the drag artists and perform once a week.

Joe Germanotta Says If Kamala Harris Won, It Would Have 'Devastated A Lot Of Businesses In New York City'

MEGA

The father-daughter duo hold different political views, with Germanotta openly criticizing New York Citys direction under Democratic leadership.

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"I think [Harris winning] would have devastated a lot of businesses in New York City, Germanotta said, adding that he had even considered moving to Wyoming. Between the immigration and the crime and the economy, its a cascading effect."

Lady Gaga's Dad Is Happy With The 2024 Presidential Election Results

MEGA

Germanotta described Trumps win as feeling like a hat trick, adding that he is of course pleased with the outcome.

As soon as we start getting the economy straightened out, and they drill, baby, drill, and the price of gas comes down, that producer price index is going to go down, which means consumers are going to get a better deal," he said. "Ill be able to lower prices. Itll bring in more customers, and well be back to where we were five or six years ago."

Germanotta Talks About The LGBTQ Community

MEGA

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Nearly 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been proposed across the U.S. in recent years, with many targeting drag performances by attempting to ban or censor them. Project 2025described as a roadmap for Trumps potential presidency, with a foreword by J.D. Vanceaims to dismantle federal policies supporting LGBTQ+ equality.

However, Germanotta isnt appearing on Fox to discuss any of these issues. I have not nor will ever endorse any national legislation that inhibits anyones rights for personal or artistic expression," he said in a statement to Slate. "Assigning any derogatory labels that discriminate against personal identity is wrong and we do not tolerate it at Joannes.

I take tremendous pride in ensuring Joannes remains a safe space for LGBTQ+ and Drag Performers, he continued. Freedom of speech, choice, expression and religion are cornerstones of American culture. In my view, every citizen is protected by the Constitution and these freedoms must not be censured. I vigorously support and defend the rights of diverse LGBTQ+ people and the Artistry of Drag Performers."

"In our country, every individuals freedom includes open expression of artistry and personal life decisions," Germanotta later added. "In my view, these rights cannot be ignored or taken away.

Lady Gaga's Father Is Still Proud Of His Daughter's Success Despite Political Divide

MEGA

Despite these contrasting views, Germanotta has consistently expressed pride in his daughters success and her commitment to her beliefs, highlighting a respectful family bond despite their political divergence.

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This isnt the first time the Germanotta family has faced political differences. During the 2020 election, Joe Germanotta also voiced support for Trump, even after the former president criticized Lady Gagas involvement in Bidens campaign.

Lady Gaga has been a vocal supporter of liberal causes and Democratic candidates. In the 2020 election, she actively endorsed Joe Biden and performed at his inauguration in 2021.

In the 2024 election, she publicly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, performing at a rally in Pennsylvania on November 4, 2024.
The L.A. County Registrar-Recorder's headquarters in Norwalk received a bomb threat Saturday  the latest in a string of threats targeting vote counters and polling centers across the region and country.

No explosives were found at the site. An investigation is currently underway, according to L.A. County Registrar clerk Dean Logan.

"We take all such threats seriously and are working closely with the FBI, state authorities, and the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department to ensure the safety of our staff and community and maintain uninterrupted operations," Logan said in a statement. "These threats and efforts to disrupt the legal, transparent, and secure process of counting all eligible ballots have no place in our electoral process."

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The threat came via email, according to L.A. County Registrar spokesperson Mike Sanchez. No employees were present, and none were scheduled to work at the office until Tuesday.

The source of the threat may have gotten their addresses mixed up  ballot processing centers have been the targets of a number of recent bomb threats, but the one for L.A. County is at a facility in Industry, not Norwalk. Authorities swept that facility as well and found nothing suspicious.

Read more: Georgia, Michigan report bomb threats originating in Russia as millions of Americans cast ballots

On election day, the FBI said it was aware of fake bomb threats made to polling locations in several states, noting that many of them appeared to originate from Russian email domains.

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Other Southern California voting hubs were targeted after the polls closed. The San Diego County Registrar of Voters Office received a bomb threat Friday night but concluded that the threat was not credible, authorities said.

Registrars' 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 sheriffs 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: Trans-led coalition targeted by multiple bomb threats: 'How can there be people so cruel?'

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.

The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters Office was sent a bomb threat via email Friday night, prompting the sheriff's office to evacuate more than 100 employees, but sweeps by bomb-sniffing dogs found nothing suspicious.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Friday expressed concern over the rise of radical thinking in the world, particularly its impact on the minority community, with a focus on Hindus being targeted, stating that for this reason, the central government had brought in the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) for the security of the minority communities in India. During a press conference, Paswan highlighted the criticism of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) by some opposition leaders, who have raised concerns that the law could lead to the stripping of citizenship from certain sections of society. "The way this radical thinking is dominating in different parts of the world and the minority community, mostly Hindus, is being targeted, is a matter of concern. With this thinking, when the central government brings a scheme, many opposition leaders criticise it and spread confusion about the citizenship law in our country that it will take away the citizenship of a particular section of the society," Paswan said. He reiterated the central government's stance on the CAA, noting that the law is intended to protect minorities, and emphasised that the Home Minister had clarified in Parliament that the legislation was designed to provide protection to minorities in India, not to harm any specific community. "Despite our Home Minister reiterating in the Parliament that this law is for the protection of the minority in the country. When such incidents happen, we realise how important such laws are in the country so that they can live in the country with respect, not as infiltrators," he said. Paswan's remarks came following the recent attacks on the Hindu communities in Bangladesh and Canada, where there was a rise in radical and separatist thinking causing these attacks to happen on the Hindu minority community there. Meanwhile, the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, seeks to grant Indian citizenship to refugees who had sought shelter in India before December 31, 2014, due to religious persecution in three neighbouring countries--Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh--of six minority communities there. The CAA removes legal barriers to rehabilitation and citizenship and gives a dignified life to refugees "who have suffered for decades." (ANI)
LAWRENCE COUNTY, Mo.  A Lawrence County man faces child sex charges after the childrens division contacted police about a report of abuse.

Lawrence County authorities arrested Eric Hankins, 46, on Friday on charges of statutory sodomy and child molestation.

Eric Hankins, 46.

Hankins is accused of sexually abusing a girl under the age of 12.

Officers were called in September after a child reported that Hankins had touched her sexually on a number of occasions.

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A forensic interview was conducted at the Monett Childrens Center, and officials say the child told them Hankins was a quote weirdo.

The childs mother told officers Hankins was a long-time friend and would babysit the child.

The mother reportedly confronted Hankins and she told officials he never denied it.

Hes being held without bond in the Lawrence County Jail.

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Attorney Ben Crump, along with another law firm and the Georgia Attorney Generals Office have inspected the site of the Sapelo Island dock gangway collapse that killed seven people on Oct. 19.

Two of those victims were from the metro Atlanta area.

The inspection is the first phase of a comprehensive investigation aiming to determine the causes behind the deadly collapse.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Crump issued a statement saying:

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Our priority is to get to the truth of what caused this tragic collapse and to ensure that justice is served for the families who have suffered unimaginable loss. Working alongside world-class structural engineers, geotechnical experts, and metallurgists, our legal teams are determined to uncover the factors that led to this devastating failure, which took place as the Gullah-Geeche community gathered for their cherished Culture Day celebration. We aim to hold accountable those responsible for this preventable disaster and advocate for changes that will protect communities from similar tragedies in the future.

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Energy and environment agencies may be helmed during the second Trump administration by officials who have served under the president-elect before.

Several ex-Trump officials are among the leading contenders for the jobs, including two who appear to have helped President-elect Trump during his campaign. Former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler apparently sent Trump talking points for his debate against President Biden, while former Interior Secretary David Bernhardt fielded reporter questions about energy policy with the Trump campaign over the summer.

Meanwhile, Trumps second Energy secretary, Dan Brouillette, recently left his post with the electric utility lobby.

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Theyre not the only top contenders, however. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) is also considered likely to nab a significant energy role in the administration.

Heres a closer look at those four and others who could be in charge of the nations energy policy moving forward:

Andrew Wheeler

Wheeler served at the helm of the EPA after predecessors Scott Pruitt departure in 2018 amid ethics scandals until Trump left office in 2021.

In that role, Wheeler led the rollback of significant environmental protections, including issuing less stringent climate standards for power plants and cars, as well as looser water pollution regulations.

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Prior to joining the EPA, Wheeler was a lawyer and lobbyist for firms including coal company Murray Energy. After he left the agency, Wheeler worked in the Virginia government in a newly created office that sought to reduce regulations and later joined law firm Holland & Hart.

He appears to remain in Trumps orbit, with a post on Trumps Truth Social account indicating Wheeler sent the then-candidate talking points ahead of his debate with President Biden.

Former Trump EPA spokesperson Jahan Wilcox said in an email that he believed Wheeler would be a good pick for the role.

Andrew Wheeler would be an excellent EPA Administrator, Wilcox wrote, as he implemented Donald Trumps environmental agenda and brought zero baggage or drama to the agency.

David Bernhardt

Bernhardt led the Interior Department in the last Trump administration after the departure of Ryan Zinke in 2018 following a series of scandals.

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Under his tenure the department expanded opportunities for oil and gas drilling on public lands.

A former oil lobbyist, he was known for carrying a list of his potential conflicts of interest.

After the end of the Trump administration, he returned to law and lobbying firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. He also joined the America First Policy Institute, a think tank made up of former Trump staffers, and is listed on the groups website as the chair of its Center for American Freedom.

He also appears to have remained part of the Trump world: Over the summer, he took part in a Trump campaign and Republican National Committee press conference on energy policy.

Dan Brouillette

Brouillette led the Energy Department under Trump following the departure of his predecessor Rick Perry in 2019.

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Brouillette had previously worked for financial services firm USAA and Ford Motor Company, as well as former President George W. Bushs administration.

After Trump left office, he joined the Edison Electric Institute, a lobbying group representing power companies, in 2023.

He announced late last month he would leave that post this year in order to spend time engaging directly with world business and policy leaders.

His former deputy Mark Menezes told The Hill on Thursday that Brouillette would certainly be highly qualified to serve in any capacity in the Trump administration, including as secretary or advisor.

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Menezes said that Brouillette brings a lot of skill sets into the administration, including in the private sector and international affairs.

Another former Energy official said Brouillette could play a range of roles in the next administration, including at the Energy Department, but also working in national security or intelligence.

Doug Burgum

Burgum is the former governor of North Dakota and was considered a top contender to be Trumps vice president before Trump ultimately settled on Vice President-elect Vance.

He now appears likely to play an energy role in the next Trump administration. Burgum told CNN after he wasnt selected as Trumps running mate that the former president called him Mr. Secretary.

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Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) told The Hill in July that over a year ago, Donald Trump asked me if I thought Doug Burgum would be a good energy secretary.

Cramer said at the time that he thinks Burgum should instead be an overarching energy czar that coordinates government energy policy across the board.

North Dakota is a major oil producer and home to significant gas and coal production, and its own power is primarily produced by coal and wind. At the states helm, Burgum said he hoped it would achieve net-zero emissions by 2030  not by reducing the use of fossil fuels, but by capturing and storing their carbon emissions.

Other names

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) may also be a contender for a role in the administration. Reuters and the New York Post reported in the days following the election that Dunleavy was under consideration for a role at the Interior Department and the Post reported that he could be considered to run the Energy Department. An industry source told The Hill they also heard Dunleavys name was in the mix for a role.

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A spokesperson for Dunleavy said via email: Governor Dunleavy will continue to be Governor of Alaska. If that changes, we will let you know.

Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) told E&E News in June that she interviewed twice for the top Interior position during Trumps first term and said she wasnt planning to push for it this time around.

Asked whether Lummis would join the second Trump administration, a spokesperson for the senator did not directly answer.

Senator Lummis has been a leader on public lands issues for many years and currently serves as the Chair of the Senate Western Caucus where she has fought the Biden-Harris administrations heavy-handed regulations for the past four years. She looks forward to serving the people of Wyoming and working with President Trump to overturn these egregious public lands policies that have harmed the west, said spokesperson Stacey Daniels in an email.

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Asked whether he himself would want to return to the Energy Department, Menezes, who was previously the deputy Energy secretary, did not rule it out. He said his current role at the helm of the nonprofit United States Energy Association is very fulfilling but added, Well see what happens.

Zack Budryk contributed.

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BEIRUT (Reuters) - At least 23 people, including seven children, were killed and six others injured in an Israeli strike on Almat in Lebanon's Mount Lebanon province, the country's health ministry said on Sunday, adding that the death toll was likely to climb.

Three people were also killed and two others wounded in an Israeli strike on Mashghara in the western part of Lebanon's Bekaa Valley late on Saturday, while one person was killed and four others injured in a strike on Sahmar, also in western Bekaa, that occurred the same night, the health ministry added.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which says it is targeting Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.

(Reporting by Adam Makary and Menna Alaa, Editing by Louise Heavens, Sharon Singleton and Barbara Lewis)
A total of 30 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes in different areas of Lebanon, the Lebanese Ministry of Health reported on Sunday.

The highest toll happened in the town of the Aalamat in Jbeil, north of Beirut, where the ministry said at least 23 people, including seven children, were killed after an Israeli strike on Sunday hit a house there.

The ministry said the toll was likely to rise as body parts of other people have been recovered from the site for identification.

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The struck house sheltered 35 displaced people who days earlier had fled Baalbek in eastern Lebanon from the ongoing war, according to Lebanese TV station al-Jadeed.

Elsewhere in Lebanon, an Israeli air attack targeted a health centre in the town of Adloun in Sidon in southern Lebanon, leaving three paramedics dead, the Ministry of Health said.

The ministry added that four others were killed in Israeli airstrikes unleashed on Saturday in the Western Beqaa area in eastern Lebanon.
No less than ten Russian attack drones entered the territory of Belarus from Ukraine on Sunday night.

Source: Belaruski Hajun, an independent Belarusian military monitoring media outlet

Details: The analysts reported that at least 10 Russian Shahed-type kamikaze drones flew into Belarus from Ukraine on the night of 9-10 November.

The drones passed through the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, over the settlement of Slavutych, also flowing in from Chernobyl and Loiev, and reached the Mazyr district.

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The first drone arrived in the settlement of Kamaryn at 00:06. Then the other drones arrived at 00:22, 00:44, 00:59, 01:01, 01:40, 02:09, 02:17 and 03:00.

Some of the Shaheds that entered the border area later turned around over Belarus and flew in the opposite direction. Thus, one of the drones returned to Chernihiv Oblast, re-entered Belarus in the Gomel district and flew to Russia from there.

The project's preliminary data shows that at least three Shahed drones disappeared from radar over the territory of Belarus: at 00:51 near Brahin, at 01:57 in the Mozyr district, and at 02:09 in the Yelsk district.

In total, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that ten UAVs flew to Belarus, Moldova, and Russia overnight.

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HORSEHEADS, N.Y. (WETM)  A new partnership between the Horseheads Central School District and LECOMs early acceptance program was announced on Friday, Nov 8, for high students interested in osteopathic medicine. The partnership aims to offer students pathways to being medical students and becoming doctors.

The program allows qualified students early interviews and provisional acceptance into LECOMs Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program. The program is also open to other health-related field opportunities such as dentistry to encourage to study and practice medicine.

New mural to be unveiled in Avoca

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Superintendent of the Horseheads Central School District Dr. Thomas Douglas said in his speech, This partnership with LECOM is a leading institution in osteopathic medicine, and its a collaboration which aligns with our districts commitment to preparing students for future success, and meets our mission of explore, empower and excel, said Thompson. The program is really a defined program with supportive pathways for high school students and aspiring to become a doctor.

Our early acceptance program provides high school seniors with a conditional acceptance to LECOM. What this does, it creates a streamlined pathway towards becoming a physician, said Dr. Richard R. Terry Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at LECOM

Any high school juniors who are interested in the program are encouraged to check with counselors. For more information about the early acceptance program click here.

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Sen. Casey Crabtree, R-Madison (left), and Sen. David Wheeler, R-Huron, listen to Rep. Tony Venhuizen, R-Sioux Falls, testify in a legislative committee on Jan. 24, 2024. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

An October legislative meeting proved to be frustrating for lawmakers. For reporters, it offered the sweet taste of vindication.

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At issue during the meeting of the Legislatures Government Operations and Audit Committee was the refusal of Department of Revenue Secretary Michael Houdyshell to discussin public or behind closed doorschanges made in his department after two former employees were indicted in a fake vehicle-titling scheme. Houdyshells appearance was also sparked by the revelation that another former employeesince deceasedcreated 13 fake vehicle titles to secure bank loans that she did not repay.

Houdyshell cited ongoing criminal cases and the prospect of civil lawsuits from defrauded banks as reasons for his refusal to give lawmakers the information they sought. Lawmakers were so frustrated that they voted to subpoena Houdyshell and Rosa Yeager, director of the Revenue Departments Motor Vehicle Division, to compel them to testify before the committee.

Sen. David Wheeler, a Republican from Huron, characterized Houdyshells refusal to discuss his departments new internal control measures as part of a pattern displayed by the executive branch.

We need some sort of resolution to this because this is the answer we always get, Wheeler said in a South Dakota Searchlight story. Its occurred in the past when weve had controversial matters before this committee. Officials say theres pending litigation, theres a threat of litigation, therefore theres no response.

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Its hard to read Wheelers statement and not feel a certain amount of vindication for every reporter in the state who has been stonewalled by the Noem administration. Now lawmakers are getting a taste of what its like to deal with an administration that values secrecy over transparency and prefers no comment or silence to offering citizens a full accounting for their actions.

This space has been used often to chronicle the Noem administrations shortcomings when it comes to transparency. Some are familiar: her directive that reporters must bypass longtime government sources and submit their questions in writing to department information officers; her refusal to explain how the winning bidder in the Freedom Works Here workforce development commercials ended up using the ideas submitted by another bidder; her refusal to release transcripts of calls to the whistleblower hotline designed to collect complaints about the states universities; and her decision to skip the traditional weekly governors news conference during the legislative session.

Its no wonder she avoids the legislative news conferences. During the only one she held this year, answering a question from a South Dakota Searchlight reporter, she admitted that Texas was not going to reimburse the state for its million-dollar National Guard deployments to the southern border. Certainly thats something that the states taxpayers would prefer to know prior to a deployment rather than after its completed.

While those transparency transgressions read like a greatest hits compilation, theres a new one climbing the charts. To this point, Noem has no response to a petition drive designed to get her to reconsider turning down $69 million in federal funds for home energy-efficiency rebates. There has to be a reason why she wont let South Dakotans use the funds they paid for with their own tax dollars.

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In response to recent indictments, Attorney General Marty Jackley has pledged to offer anti-corruption legislation. Heres hoping he manages to slip in a few features that will increase transparency in state government.

If he doesnt, or he cant, journalists in this state, lacking subpoena power, will just have to hold on for two more years and hope that the next governor has a better understanding of the need for openness and transparency in state government.

More commentary from Dana Hess

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To the editor: Like one of your letter writers, I also sent an email to Vice President Kamala Harris that she will probably not read, because I am a nobody.

I suggested she run for governor of California. We need someone with her strength and experience, and it would really irritate President-elect Trump, which I think can be a good thing. She's had experience dealing with him, and she's had experience working in many capacities for the great state of California.

I am extremely sorry she lost the presidency, but we want her as governor.

Laura Norris, San Diego

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Saturday questioned the timing of the Income Tax (I-T) department's raids on his associate, suggesting such actions had become increasingly common since 2014. During a press conference, Soren raised concerns about the functioning of investigative agencies in the country, particularly in the run-up to the state elections. "Have you ever seen such action in the middle of elections?" Soren asked, referring to the raids conducted by the Income Tax Department at the residence of Sunil Srivastava, allegedly a close aide and personal secretary of the Jharkhand CM, earlier today. He went on to say that he had spoken several times about the state of constitutional agencies and how they were functioning in the country. "Income tax conducted raids on the premises of my associates. I don't need to say much about this because I have spoken many times about the condition of constitutional agencies. The whole country is watching on which parameters they are working and against whom they are working," Soren said. The Chief Minister also reflected on the change in the political landscape since 2014, pointing out that before that year, such actions by agencies were rare. "There are many discussions on it. Have you ever seen such action in the middle of elections? ... Before 2014, such things used to happen very rarely in the country," he said. Earlier reacting to the Income Tax raids, Soren said that a cadre of the BJP has emerged in the area; however, he also said that there is no problem with it and they will handle the situation. "Raids have started; a new cadre of BJP has emerged in the area. No problem, we will see it," said CM Soren. Meanwhile, CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat questioned the timings of the raid as the polling date for the state assembly nears and said that the Election Commission should stop such things. She further alleged that the BJP has become "helpless," which is why they are bringing ED and CBI. "BJP has become so helpless here in Jharkhand because they can see people are not responding to their hate politics. This is why they have brought in ED and CBI. The Election Commission should also stop this. How can they get an IT raid conducted at the last moment right before the elections? Why? If there was something, they could have gone to the court or asked about a case. This is wrong and we condemn this. It shows that the BJP is using its actual alliance (ED, CBI and Income Tax) when people are not coming to the rallies of big BJP leaders," she said. Earlier in the day, the I-T department raided the residence of Sunil Srivastava, an alleged close aide and personal secretary to CM Soren, in Ranchi. The 81-member Jharkhand Assembly will go to polls in two phases on November 13 and 20, with vote counting scheduled for November 23. 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. (ANI)
To the editor: As a "white" woman who did not vote for Trump, let me say two things regarding LZ Granderson's column, "There's no mystery. White women handed Trump the election."

One, I object to being defined by skin color. No one should be so defined. Until we learn to move beyond such divisive markers, we will continually be at odds over differences that amount to fictions.

Two, exit polls clearly show that it was men of all stripes, if we must employ distinctions, who again handed Trump the White House.

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What does this say about the United States? It says that men in the U.S., having had two opportunities to do so, are still unlikely to elect a woman to the highest office in the land, no matter how qualified she is and no matter how egregious are the trespasses of her male competitor.

This is certainly an indictment  of some sort.

Roxanne Vettese, Oxnard

..

To the editor: If I did not know any better, I would think Granderson was racist against white women by blaming them for Harris' loss.

I blame the Democrats for not holding an open convention and nominating a stronger candidate to run against Trump. Instead, they just handed Harris the reins after President Biden ended his candidacy in July.

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It turned out that she was an easy target for the Republicans to blame for the poor economy and the immigration issue. She was cast as simply too liberal.

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), who is a moderate, would have been a much better choice for the Democratic Party's presidential nominee. He was a Navy pilot and an astronaut, and he could not have been blamed for anything. I believe he would have defeated Trump.

Don't blame white women; blame the Democrats.

Neil Snow, Manhattan Beach

..

To the editor: Once again, Granderson nailed it. I write this not as a proud member of my demographic, because Granderson is correct. The data are correct. So, shame on us.

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My question to my demographic peers is this: What the hell? If we ever had the opportunity to elect a woman as president (and there have been so many over the years), this election was that opportunity. This was it, and I don't have to spell it out as to why. We've seen it and heard it over and over directly from the president-elect.

I self-isolated beginning around midnight on election night and remained there for hours. What got me up and back on track? Listening to Harris give her concession speech at Howard University on Wednesday afternoon.

I wept for what we could have had  for what we should have had. But I was inspired and so proud of her, the campaign and who she is. Thank you, Vice President Harris.

And, to my fellow white female voters: Please. Just, please.

Linda Waade, Santa Monica

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT)  The Limestone County Sheriffs Office announced its partnering with a firearm training consultant to host a firearm safety class in December.

According to the sheriffs office, Marshman Training & Consultings Ed Marshman will be working with them to host the class on December 12 at 6 p.m.

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LCSO said the class will consist of two hours in a classroom setting to teach people firearm safety, the fundamentals of marksmanship, the legal ramifications of carrying and potentially using a firearm, and the Alabama Statutes covering the use of force and concealed carry.

While the class is designed for beginners with little to no training, the sheriffs office said it is open to everyone.

Following the class, LCSO said that there will be opportunities to sign up for live training at a later date.

LCSO said anyone with questions about the training or who wants to attend should contact Lieutenant Roberson at 256-232-0111.

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LISBON, Conn. (WTNH)  The Lisbon Fire Department rescued a goat trapped in mud on Saturday afternoon.

Firefighters responded quickly after a resident alerted them to the animal. Although the goat was unharmed, it was weak from being stuck.

24 more monkeys that escaped from South Carolina lab recovered unharmed

Photo provided by the Lisbon Fire Department. Photo provided by the Lisbon Fire Department.

After freeing it, firefighters guided the goat to a nearby barn to recover and warm up.

David Gifford, chief of the Lisbon Fire Department, says this was a proud chief moment and applauds his department for their quick response.

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  The Dayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation held its 19th annual award ceremony, celebrating the 2024 authors whose works promote peace.

The Dayton Literary Peace Prize awards both national and international authors, making it the first and only literary peace prize in the United States.

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The award celebrates writers whose fiction and nonfiction works promote peace and social justice  a core part of the citys history.

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When Ambassador Holbrooke hosted the peace talks here in Dayton that ended the war in Bosnia, that is really the catalyst and the inception point from which the idea for the Peace Prize came, said Nick Raines, executive director of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation.

The award recognizes authors whos works help readers understand other cultures, religions and political views.

This years winners include American author Victor Luckerson and international authors Paul Lynch, Anne Berest and Tania Branigan.

Luckerson says this award is a dream come true for him and his book Built from the Fire.

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Its really exciting for me because it was the first big national award that I won for this book, said Victor Luckerson, 2024 nonfiction DLPP winner. This is my very first book, and Ive been an aspiring writer since I was five years old. So to have this kind of recognition for this work really is amazing.

The biggest honor of the night, named after Ambassador Holbrooke, is the Lifetime Achievement Award, which went to President Jimmy Carter.

Honoring President Carter tonight is a real, real privilege for this prize. As the prize continues to grow and awareness for the prize across the country and across the world grows, were honored to be able to recognize President Carter specifically for being an author, said Raines.

President Carters grandson, Jason, accepted the award on his behalf. He reflected on his grandfathers dedication in life to pursuing peaceful resolution to conflict on a global scale.

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It is a great honor for us to be here in Dayton, which is an international peacemaking city that was fundamental to my grandfathers legacy, said Jason Carter, President Carters grandson. And then to celebrate him as an author who wrote more than 30 books.

The event saw over 500 attendees, and the Dayton Peace Prize Foundation looks forward to growing even more in the future.

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2024 Winners

Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke Distinguished Achievement Award Winner

President Jimmy Carter

Fiction Winner

Paul Lynch  Prophet Song

Fiction Runner-up

Ann Berest  The Postcard

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Nonfiction Winner

Victor Luckerson  Built from the Fire

Nonfiction Runner-up

Tania Branigan  Red Memory

For more information about the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, click here.

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By Andrius Sytas

VILNIUS (Reuters) - Lithuania's Social Democrats, winners of last month's parliamentary election, defended on Saturday their decision to form a coalition government with a populist party whose leader is standing trial over alleged antisemitic statements.

Nemunas Dawn party founder and head Remigijus Zemaitaitis resigned from parliament in April, ahead of an impeachment vote, after the Constitutional Court ruled he had broken his oath by stirring up hatred against Jews in social media posts last year.

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Zemaitaitis went on criminal trial over the posts in September, charged with "attempting to create hostility, and provoking intolerance, towards Jews", and with playing down the Holocaust in Lithuania.

Zemaitaitis has said the posts were not antisemitic and denies wrongdoing.

He will not serve in the cabinet himself but his party will lead three of the government's 14 ministries, among them the Justice Ministry, said Social Democrat deputy leader and designated Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas.

Paluckas told reporters joining forces with Nemunas Dawn was the only way to have a "sustainable" coalition and said his party was ready to explain its decision to the country's international partners.

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"Some claim the whole Nemunas Dawn party is antisemitic - we don't see it like that," Paluckas said. "There is no place for antisemitism, neither in the Social Democrat party nor its government."

Democratic U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, the outgoing chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said on Friday that including Zemaitaitis' party in the government "undermines the core values that unite our nations".

The chair of the German parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Michael Roth, said "alliance with an antisemitic party is incompatible with our values".

The Social Democrat-led alliance, which also includes the For Lithuania party, is set to hold 84 seats in the 141-member parliament, above the 71 seats required for a majority.

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During the election campaign, both the Social Democrats and the second-placed centre-right Homeland Union said they would refrain from forming a ruling coalition with Nemunas Dawn, which came third in the election.

The new government is expected to be sworn into office in December.

(Reporting by Andrius Sytas; Editing by Helen Popper)
One of Pittsburghs oldest historic landmarks has received a new look.

The Neill Log House is the oldest log cabin in the city.

The Friends of Neill Log House hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday afternoon to celebrate its renovations.

Senator Jay Costa, Representative Dan Frankel and Councilperson Erika Straussburger were some of the leaders who attended the event.

After the ceremony, some kids got to go on a tour through the centuries-old structure.

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The log house in Schenley Park dates back to 1795, predating the city of Pittsburghs first charter.

Were beginning to understand the struggles that the settlers had, how they overcame them, and thats what history does for us. It helps us look at the past, look at what the struggles were, look at how society overcame them, and then face our own struggles, said Vice President of the Friends of Neil Log House Mardi Isler.

The house will be open for public tours in 2025.

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Nov. 10 (UPI) -- Loopholes in international laws governing the use of incendiary weapons are allegedly allowing warring parties in Ukraine and the Middle East to exploit the use of such weapons without adequately protecting civilians.

Human Rights Watch released a new report Thursday tracking the use of controversial weapons in Ukraine and the Middle East, claiming that warring factions are abusing Protocol III to the Convention on Conventional Weapons.

Parties to conflicts that are allegedly using incendiary weapons include Israel, Russia and the Ukraine -- as well as the government of Bashar Al-Assad, the president of Syria, who is accused of using them against his own people in an ongoing and multi-fronted civil war.

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"Protocol III ... governs these weapons, but it has failed to adequately protect civilians due to two loopholes. First, its definition excludes multipurpose munitions, notably white phosphorus, that are not 'primarily designed' to set fires and burn people," the report reads.

"Second, the protocol has weaker regulations for ground-launched than air-dropped incendiary weapons, perhaps reflecting concerns that existed during the negotiations of Protocol III 40 years ago but are not relevant to contemporary practice."

HRW has tracked the repeated use of white phosphorous by the Israeli military in Lebanon and in Gaza since the war began in October 2023. Israel is not a high-contracting party to the CCW.

In statements to the media, Israel has noted that its white phosphorus shells "are used by the IDF for creating smokescreens and not for targeting or causing fires and are not defined under law as incendiary weapons."

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Meanwhile, in Ukraine, HRW has tracked at least 157 attacks in Ukraine using surface-fired incendiary weapons between February 2022 and August 2024.

HRW said it has not been possible to attribute responsibility for these attacks to either Ukraine or Russia but both countries possess the type of rockets that can fire such weapons. Both countries have allegedly developed and used armed drones "to deliver incendiary munitions on the battlefield."

In November 2023, high contracting parties of the CCW met as more countries began to express concern about the use of incendiary weapons and called for action.

"The reliance of CCW meetings on consensus-based decision-making, however, meant that the adoption of these states' proposals was blocked," HRW charged in its report.

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But another meeting of high contracting parties of the CCW will be held this week, and HRW is urging member states to express their support for strengthening the law and closing the loopholes in it to "further stigmatize the use of incendiary weapons."

"Incendiary weapons are notorious for their horrific human cost. They contain different chemical compounds, such as napalm or thermite, that ignite and inflict short and long-term harm," the report reads.

"Those who survive the immediate harm face a lifetime of physical and psychological scars."
Donald Trump and his right-hand man, Elon Musk, are alerting congressional Republicans as to whos in charge as the president-elects allies begin their push to elevate a MAGA loyalist to lead the Senate.

Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, a Trump ally, is now the frontrunner to become the next Senate majority leader to replace Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who is stepping down from the post. Musk, the man who brought Dark MAGA to light, has backed his leadership bid .

Rick Scott for Senate Majority Leader! https://t.co/lpT34yHTKk  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 10, 2024

Scotts ascension in the race comes amid a flurry of endorsements from other MAGA insiders and Trump loyalists including Tucker Carlson, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), and Laura Loomer, the right-wing conspiracy theorist and close Trump ally.

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On Saturday, Carlson took to X to tell his 14.5 million followers to Call your senator and demand a public endorsement of Rick Scott.

What the hell is going on in the US Senate? Hours after Donald Trump wins the most conclusive mandate in 40 years, Mitch McConnell engineers a coup against his agenda by calling early leadership elections in the senate. Two of the three candidates hate Trump and what he ran on.  Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) November 9, 2024

Meanwhile, Kennedy claimed that, without Scott, Trumps reform agenda would be wobbly.

Without Rick Scott, the entire Trump reform agenda wobbly.  Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) November 10, 2024

Senate Republicans are scheduled to vote next week in the three-way race between Scott and Sens. John Thune of South Dakota and John Cornyn of Texas for the Senate gavel. Thune, the current Senate GOP whip, was a heavy favorite had Trump lost the presidential election.

But his victory, coupled with Republicans regaining control of the Senate, considerably changes the trajectory of the leadership race. And it underscores Trumps tremendous power over the entire federal government as he returns to the White House with an iron grip over his party, which is set to control both chambers of Congress. (A few House races are still too close to call, but Republicans are all but assured of retaining control of the House of Representatives.)

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Installing Trumps preferred candidate as the top leader of the Senate will solidify the president-elects iron grip on Republicans in Congress, who the incoming president will need to pass legislation to implement his agendafrom tax cuts and tariffs to closing off the border and confirming conservative judges.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) speaks on Day 2 of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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Trumps longtime GOP political operative Susie Wiles (soon to be chief of staff) has close ties to Scott, who she helped put in the Florida governors mansion and in the Senate.

The Florida senator, who is intimately familiar with the quiet power wielded by Wiles, wasted no time congratulating her when Trump announced she would be his White House chief of staff.

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, Scott said on X. She knows how to build a great team, is a true leader, a trusted advisor, and a brilliant tactician.

And while Thune and his allies had urged Trump to stay out of the race, the president-elect on Sunday instead laid out his demands of the next Senate leader to make an end run around Democrats on judicial appointments ahead of his inauguration.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a mega roadshow in Jharkhand's Ranchi on Sunday, ahead of the assembly elections in the state. Assam Chief Minister and Jharkhand BJP co-in-charge Himanta Biswa Sarma said that PM Modi will conduct a 'historic' 3 km roadshow in Ranchi. "PM Modi will hold a historic 3 km roadshow in Ranchi, where a large number of people are expected to show up. It will be a historic moment," Sarma told ANI. Several senior leaders of the BJP will also participate in the roadshow. Last week, PM Modi addressed rallies in Chaibasa and Garhwa on November 5, a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah released the BJP's manifesto for Jharkhand assembly polls. Duirng his Chaibasa rally, PM Modi said that steps will be taken to stop infiltration if a BJP-led government is formed in Jharkhand and laws will framed to return usurped land to tribal women. He also highlighted the party's slogan of 'roti, beti aur maati' (bread, daughters, and land), saying people want BJP-led NDA to come to power in the assembly polls. "The entire Jharkhand is saying today - 'Roti, beti aur maati ki pukaar, Jharkhand me BJP-NDA sarkar'... When the BJP government was formed for the first time, Atal Bihari Bajpayee got the opportunity in Delhi to serve the nation, Jharkhand was formed," PM Modi said. He accused the Congress, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) of vote-bank politics and of jeopardizing the identity of Jharkhand. "JMM-Congress-RJD have endangered the identity of Jharkhand. Infiltrators are their biggest vote bank....Infiltrators are targeting tribal daughters through lies, fraud and deceit, they are marrying and snatching tribals' land. They are snatching your - daughter, bread and land. I assure you that as soon as the BJP government is formed in Jharkhand, every step will be taken to stop infiltration," PM Modi said. PM Modi also accused Congress and its allies of keeping the tribal community "poor and deprived" for a long time and reaffirmed BJP's commitment to removing poverty in Jharkhand. He also accused the ruling JMM of disrespecting former Chief Minister Champai Soren, highlighting the political turmoil in the state. "In the 1980s when Congress was in power both in Bihar and Delhi and Jharkhand was part of Bihar back then - Gua Goli Kaand happened - the kind of barbarism the Britishers have committed here, Congress did the same with the blood of tribals... RJD leaders used to say that - Jharkhand would be formed on their corpses... The RJD wanted to suppress those who wanted to form Jharkhand, who is sitting in their lap, today? JMM is sitting in the lap of RJD," he said. He said people of the region are keen to bring BJP back to power in the state."Kolhan is again ready to uproot the JMM-Congress-RJD's tyrant govternment. Everyone is saying that Kolhan is giving to create a history... I am certain that BJP-NDA will form the government with more number of seats than any time in history, " he said. "They (JMM) have disrespected the son, pride of Kolhan - Champai Soren. The way they removed him from the CM's post by disrespecting him, the entire country has seen it. It's a disrespect of the entire Kolhan," he added. PM Modi said he has seen the struggle of poor closely and biggest schemes in the last 10 years have been for the poor and 25 crore people have come out of poverty in the past decade. "BJP is committed to removing poverty from Jharkhand...Congress and its allies kept the Adivasi community poor and in deprivation for a long time. JMM-Congress-RJD have endangered the identity of Jharkhand. A conspiracy is being hitched to change the identity, demography of Jharkhand. Supporters of infiltrators have become the stamp of the JMM-Congress-RJD alliance. Infiltrators are their biggest vote bank. JMM and Congress are making fake documents of infiltrators... Infiltrators are targeting tribal daughters," he said. "They are snatching your - daughter, bread and land... We will bring a law to register the land in the name of tribal daughters... They have found another way - they are declaring schools, colleges and universities as minority institutions - it ends the reservations for Dalits, Tribals and OBCs in these institutions," he added. 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, including 1.31 crore male voters, 1.29 crore female voters, 11.84 lakh first-time voters, and 66.84 lakh young voters, are eligible to cast their votes. In the 2019 Assembly elections, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) won 30 seats, the BJP secured 25, and Congress won 16. In 2014, BJP won 37 seats, JMM won 19, and Congress secured just 6 seats. (ANI)
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Sunday was Mahoning Valley Irish Festivals third annual Christmas in Killarney at Penguin City Brewing Co.

The event featured a brunch from Bring Your Own Breakfast with corned beef hash and specialty drinks, including mimosas, Irish coffee and cranberry mules.

There were over 50 vendors, live fiddle music and free pictures from Santa. Guests also had a chance to participate in a basket raffle.

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We have such a community. There are so many friendships that have been built with the festival. Really, really truly it is so wonderful to see everybody, but then theres always new friendship being fostered as well  not just among vendors and staff of the festival, but its among everybody. Everyone can have a common ground here, said event organizer Shannon Lehn.

The event also collected non-perishable food items, unwrapped toys and new personal care items to help benefit organizations such as St. Vincent de Paul Society and Thrive 10:10.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
UPDATE: The other suspects have been arrested and identified as 18-year-old twin brothers Jamarcus Odell and Jamarion Odell.

***

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  An 18-year-old has been arrested in connection to the October shooting of a FedEx employee in the hub parking lot.

On October 30th, Memphis Airport Police responded to a shooting at the FedEx World Hub located in the 2800 block of Democrat Road.

Officers located a male victim inside of the North Tower with multiple gunshot wounds to the arm and chest. The victim said he was shot in the north end of the parking lot and drove to the North Tower after the shooting for help.

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WREG was initially told the victim accidentally shot himself.

At the time, the statement FedEx sent out said, There is no higher priority than the safety and security of our team members, and we are cooperating fully with investigating authorities.

Woman accused of shooting at family after argument in mall parking lot

Video from FedEx shows three male suspects approaching the victims vehicle approximately 20 minutes before the shooting and looking through the glass of the vehicle.

All three suspects could be seen entering a small sedan parked near the victims vehicle.

Investigators spoke with the victim who told them he did not know the suspects by name but knew them by face because they worked in the same area and by phone numbers because they were in a group chat together.

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During the course of the investigation, Tyreese Earnest and two others (who have not yet been arrested) were identified as suspects.

Tyreese Earnest. (SCSO)

Earnest waived his Miranda Rights and spoke with investigators at Airport Police Headquarters.

There, Earnest allegedly admitted to his involvement in the assault and named the two other men who were present at the scene when it happened. He also admitted that they were all looking through the glass of the victims vehicle.

The victim described the appearance of the alleged shooter as a guy having smaller twists, look like they aint been done, about 510, lighter complexion than me.

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MPD: Teen leads officers on police chase in stolen car

The victim showed investigators the phone number he had associated with the alleged shooter and it was registered to a phone recovered on Earnests person.

Investigators showed the victim a picture of all three suspects and he identified Earnest as the man who shot him.

According to the police report, the victim told investigators that Earnest said If you move, imma shoot you, moments before the shots were fired.

Earnest has been charged with attempted second-degree murder, employment of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon and vandalism.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  A suspicious vehicle call eventually led to a foot chase and apprehension.

Dayton police were called out around 12:40 a.m. on Sunday to the corner of Grandview and Dearborn avenues for a suspicious vehicle.

Vehicle stops in student neighborhood, fireworks thrown on lawns: UD Public Safety

Once they located the vehicle, a man fled the car and led police on a foot chase. A K-9 unit was called to the scene to help the search.

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He was soon caught and arrested.

2 NEWS spoke with police on scene who said they found a gun on the individual.

2 NEWS is working to learn more.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
Waco, Tx (FOX 44)  A Waco man is arrested in Houston after being accused of sending a fraudulent business check.

The investigation began in April, when Michael Lawrence 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 prompted the local bank to notify Mclennan county sheriff`s 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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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 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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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44.
(FOX40.COM)  The Sacramento County Sheriffs Office is investigating the circumstances behind a man who died after a private security guard tried to detain him on Saturday morning.

Around 9 a.m., SCSO responded to the 2700 block of Fulton Avenue. Deputies said that during the encounter between the man and the security guard, the man became unresponsive and died at the hospital. The reason behind the mans attempted detention is unclear, according to SCSO.

Arrest made in fatal hit-and-run Sacramento County crash

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SCSO said homicide detectives are at the scene, however, the case is not being considered as a criminal one.

Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
UPDATE 3:45 p.m. Nov. 11, 2024

West Jordan Police have now identified the suspect involved in an officer-involved shooting over the weekend.

Police identified the suspect as Fernando Fernandez, 46, of West Jordan. After the shooting, he was taken to a local hospital under police supervision.

He has since been booked into the Salt Lake County Jail, according to the Salt Lake County Jail roster. He faces charges of child abuse or neglect and assault on a peace officer/military with the use of a dangerous weapon.

ORIGINAL STORY

WEST JORDAN, Utah (ABC4)  A man was taken to the hospital early Sunday morning after an officer-involved shooting in West Jordan, according to West Jordan Police.

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Police received a call regarding a suicidal man with an edged weapon early Sunday morning, Nov. 10. Officers responded to the scene in the area of 7000 South 5600 West.

MISSING: 13-year-old reported missing out of Provo

While police were on scene, the suspect went back into the home where children were present, according to Sgt. Andrew Hercules of West Jordan Police.

At around 1:30 a.m., one officer reportedly fired their weapon, wounding the man. The suspect was taken to the hospital in stable condition after the incident.

The Unified Police Dept. Critical Incident Team is taking over the investigation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
The death of a man who shot a Tarrant sheriffs deputy in August has been ruled a suicide, according to online records from the Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office.

The man, identified in court records as 41-year-old Bo William Aurell, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, according to the medical examiner.

Deputies were attempting to serve three felony warrants for Aurell related to a child sexual assault case when police said he shot Deputy Todd Tipton three times in a close-combat gunfight on Aug. 7, the Star-Telegram previously reported.

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Aurell then barricaded himself inside his Fort Worth duplex in the 2900 block of Elinor Street, leading to an hourslong SWAT standoff.

The standoff ended when Aurell falsely claimed to be holding hostages and law enforcement breached the home and again exchanged gunfire with the suspect, Fort Worth police said.

Authorities said at the time of the shooting that they were unsure whether Aurell died by suicide or was killed by law enforcement.

Deputy Tipton was treated at John Peter Smith Hospital and released from the hospital later that day.

If you or a loved one is experiencing a crisis or suicidal thoughts, there is help available. Call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.
ST MARYS COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  The St. Marys County Sheriffs Office said it is investigating after a man was shot in Lexington Park on Saturday morning.

In a post on X just before 8:30 a.m., the sheriffs office said deputies were called to the Lexington Park Rescue Squad for a report of a man with gunshot wounds.

Upon arrival, deputies were informed that a 36-year-old man had walked in and reported being shot. Responders flew the man to a nearby hospital for treatment of his injuries, which were believed to be non-life-threatening.

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Detectives then determined that the shooting took place in the 21000 block of Great Mills Road. On Saturday morning, law enforcement officers were canvassing the area for evidence and witnesses.

Boards of Elections buildings in Maryland evacuated due to bomb threats

As of Saturday night, the status of the man is unknown.

The investigation is ongoing. Police encourage anyone with information to contact detective Tyler Payne at 301-475-4200 or Tyler.Payne@stmaryscountymd.gov.

Tipsters can also call Crime Solvers at 301-475-3333 or text the phrase Tip239 to 274637.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
BJP leader Smriti Irani on Saturday slammed the Congress party over their three representatives sent to Maharashtra for campaigning ahead of the state assembly polls, accusing them of spreading lies and failing to address key issues of development. The former BJP MP referred to the Congress group as the "samosa caucus" and mocked them for their past actions and statements. "Congress' samosa caucus has arrived in Maharashtra to trade lies. The three representatives that Congress has sent to Maharashtra are unique in themselves--one with whom the word corruption is keenly connected and doesn't worry much about Congress' vote but how to become the CM. The other one promised to give gold to the population in Telangana and people are searching for him there. The third representative is one--if someone ate the samosa, he set up a CID probe to look into it," Irani said. This came following a recent controversy surrounding the Samosa that was to be served to Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu and allegedly went missing and subsequently has become the subject of much discussion. The case of the 'missing samosas' is now being investigated by the CID wing of the police. She accused these representatives of failing to work on developmental issues and claimed they would attempt to spread lies during their campaign. "Those people who don't work on the issues of development seriously. They will come and will spread the atmosphere of lies. But the people will vote for the BJP," she said. Irani also responded to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's recent statements about the Constitution, where the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha said that the Constitution was in danger, stating that the Congress' future was in danger, not the Constitution. "Their future might be in danger, but the Constitution is not in danger. People know, no one has protected the Constitution like Prime Minister Modi has," she said. The Maharashtra Assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with counting for all 288 constituencies set for November 23. In the 2019 assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, the Shiv Sena 56, and the Congress 44. In 2014, the BJP secured 122 seats, the Shiv Sena 63, and the Congress 42. (ANI)
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A 42-year-old man faces five counts of attempted murder related to an arson at a home in Southeast Portland in the very early minutes of Thursday.

Eric D. Alexander was arrested Friday night after an investigation by fire and police, PF&R Lt. Jason Andersen told KOIN 6 News. Alexander allegedly used a device similar to a Molotov cocktail  but not a Molotov cocktail, Andersen said  to set fire to the house in the 2200 block of SE Salmon Street.

One resident tried to put the flames out with a fire extinguisher as several others were asleep in the home just after midnight November 7. When fire crews arrived, they found the porch fire had spread to other parts of the house.

A 42-year-old man faces 5 counts of attempted murder related to this arson in the 2200 block of SE Salmon in Portland, November 7, 2024 (PFR)

Everyone in the house managed to escape to safety.

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After the fire was put out, investigators  including PF&Rs Accelerant Detection Canine, Kiki  quickly determined the fire was intentionally set with an accelerant. Over the course of Thursday and Friday, tips and leads led detectives to Alexander, who was arrested Friday night.

Man in hospital, suspect at large after Northeast Portland stabbing

He was booked into the Multnomah County Jail on 5 counts of attempted murder, 4 counts of first-degree arson, two counts each of stalking, telephonic harassment and menacing plus one count of criminal mischief.

Shortly after Alexander was arrested, PFR investigators looked into a 3-fire serial arson spree in the Hazelwood/Mill Park neighborhoods in Northeast Portland. Surveillance video was used to quickly track down a suspect, Crystal Knoke, who was arrested a few blocks from the Friday night spree.

Portland Fire & Rescue Senior Investigator Lt. Jason Andersen, November 9, 2024 (KOIN)

Lt. Andersen said Knoke was recognized by a patrol officer as the suspect in a different Northeast Portland arson from October 14, and she was later connected to a separate arson from November 1.

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Man sentenced for assaulting grandmother on TriMet bus

The 37-year-old was also booked into the county jail on 4 counts of arson plus two counts of criminal mischief.

Both PF&R and PPB were upstaffed for any election protests, which made it possible for crews from both bureaus to respond so swiftly to these arsons and make arrests, Andersen said.

KOIN 6 News will have more information as it develops.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is in full celebration mode after Donald Trumps victory.

And shes making declarations.

The message that was shot across the bow is, guess what? The American people, the voters that voted for Trump overwhelmingly, they are MTG, the Georgia Republican said during an appearance on Real Americas Voice. MTG is not radical or extreme  shes mainstream America.

It may surprise you to read this, but I dont totally disagree with Greene here. MAGA ideology  and all the racism, misogyny and other bigotry that comes with it  is mainstream, although I dont know what took her so long to realize this. The fact that millions of Americans voted for it in 2016 and 2020 was more than enough evidence of its popularity.

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But what Greene seems to be getting at is an idea Ive been thinking about  and questioning  a lot lately when it comes to policy. Fundamentally, its an idea often promoted in media, and one that theoretically makes sense in a normal political context: that widespread support underscores a mandate. I understand why Greene, a MAGA loyalist, is making this argument. In fact, its one that Trump himself made on election night, claiming that America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate.

My MSNBC colleague Steve Benen wrote a great piece on the problems with Trumps mandate claim, including the fact that many of the policies he ran on are quite unpopular. But to Greenes point, even if they were popular, anyone concerned about civil and human rights shouldnt acquiesce to an ideology or a political figure simply because a lot of people are supportive.

American chattel slavery was immensely popular among the (white) people who had the legal right to weigh in on the matter. Jim Crow policies and Nazism were also quite popular.

And you might expect Greene, who has said she visited the site of the Auschwitz concentration camp when she was 19, to know that popularity isnt always a sign of prudent policy. The Auschwitz Museums website even explains why  in a way that sounds quite familiar:

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The popularity of the Nazis therefore stemmed from an accurate reading of the public mood; the adoption of a program that combined a rather dissonant assortment of nationalist, socialist, and anti-Semitic slogans; and the fact that, in Adolf Hitler, the party had a charismatic leader.

So Greene is right that MAGA has become mainstream. But history tells us that popularity, in and of itself, doesnt mean that an ideology must be accepted or respected as a set of principles to live by. Sometimes its just a sign that toxic views have metastasized.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
WAILUKU (KHON2)  A 61-year-old Maui surfer was released from the hospital on Friday, just one week after losing his leg in a shark attack in Waiehu.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

Kenji Nonaka said hes felt uneasy about sharks ever since his hero died after being attacked on Oahu earlier this year, but said this wont keep him out of the water forever.



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Nonaka loves surfing, he loves it so much he decided to move to Hawaii back in the 80s. He said he started on Oahu but it was a little too crowded, so he flew to the Valley Isle and fell in love with Maui. Hes called Wailuku home for 34-years.

He said he tries to go surfing every morning before going on a morning walk. Im happy now, he said.

Sand Piles in Waiehu is one of his favorite spots to surf.

Feeling a bit subversive? Try this

He said he started feeling nervous about sharks in the water after one bit a board at Sand Piles a few months ago.

At the time I was scared, Nonaka said. After that, I put the protection on my leg.

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Delays at Hilo airport cause several to miss flight

He said he started wearing a shark band on his ankle that uses magnetic technology to deter sharks, but while on dawn patrol at his favorite spot on Nov. 1, and with about seven people in the water, a shark bit Kenjis left leg.

I was screaming, and a couple friends came to me and they said, Kenji! Catch a wave.'

After a few attempts, he finally caught one that brought him closer to shore.

My friend pushed me, I paddled, I kicked, paddle, paddle and then got to the beach, and a couple of friends carried me and some homeless people too helped me, he remembered.

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Love is love, says Hawaii voters: LGBTQ+ commission responds

He said they moved him to a concrete area so his leg wouldnt get infected in the sand, trees, and dirt. His doctor told him he was able to keep his knee because his leg was clean.

He thanks his friends who showed no fear helping him knowing there was a shark in the water.

They dont care and they came to me and gave me power and aloha and I am happy thats why Im still alive, he said.

Kuilima Farm kicks off 3rd Annual Fall Festival

Nonaka said he also believes someone was watching over him.

So many shark attacks lately, on Oahu, Tamayo Perry, my hero, he passed away, and it was so sad. I pray every day, but maybe this time he helped me, I pretty sure, he said.

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Honolulu Ocean Safety lifeguard and waterman Tamayo Perry died in June 2024, after he was attacked by a shark while surfing at his favorite spot near Oahus North Shore.

Nonaka said hes looking into a prosthetic leg in the future, and cant wait to get back out in the water. For now, hes incredibly thankful for all the love and support from loved ones and strangers.

They gave me plenty of aloha. I dont know how to say it, but thank you so much, I appreciate it, I am grateful, he said while crying.

I love surfing, I want to go back surfing, as for the the shark its their property [the ocean], thats why we have to share, he added.

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A GoFundMe has raised nearly $100,000 for medical costs.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
JOHANNESBURG (AP)  People in Mauritius voted Sunday for a new Parliament with the ruling party seeking to secure a second five-year term for Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth in one of Africa's most stable democracies.

Jugnauth's government has faced criticism recently after it banned social media websites following a wiretapping scandal in which recorded conversations involving politicians, businesspeople, activists and journalists leaked and were published online. The ban was lifted after a few days but has raised concern among the opposition and civil society.

At least 1 million people were registered to vote in the 12th elections since Mauritius gained independence from Britain in 1968.

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An alliance of parties led by Jugnauths center-left Militant Socialist Movement won a majority of seats in Parliament to cement his leadership in 2019. He is being challenged by opposition leader Navin Ramgoolams Alliance for Change.

Mauritius, which sits about 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) off Africas east coast, has developed a successful economy underpinned by its finance, tourism and agricultural sectors.

The island, popular for its idyllic tropical beaches, ranks second in Africa behind Seychelles on the Human Development Index, which ranks quality of life for citizens and takes into account life expectancy, access to education and per capita income.

The World Bank has described Mauritius as a beacon of success for sub-Saharan Africa and says it has achieved remarkable economic growth since independence. It was briefly rated a high-income country in 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic set back its tourism sector.

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Mauritians are voting for 62 seats in Parliament, and the party or alliance with a majority forms the government and chooses the prime minister. Another eight lawmakers are nominated by the Electoral Supervisory Council.

___

AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa
WASHINGTON, N.C. (WNCT)  McDonalds across the east will be providing veterans with free breakfast in honor of Veterans Day on Monday at select stores. Veterans and active-duty military can come in and receive a combo meal between their breakfast hours from 5 to 10:30 in the morning. This deal is valid only on November 11th.

Well, we have a lot of veterans here in our community, as well as active duty military, especially with the Marine Corps, Cherry Point and Havelock, and so we just like to say thank you and give back to them for, you know, being here and and taking care of us, said Dulcy Purcell, the McDonalds owner operator.

Click the video above for more information.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT.
Through open-source research, Mediazona, a Russian independent media outlet, together with BBC Russia, confirmed the names of 77,143 Russian soldiers who had been killed since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion.

Since Mediazona's last update at the end of October, the names of 1,761 Russian soldiers have been added to the list of casualties.

The journalists note that the actual figures are likely significantly higher, as their verified information comes from public sources such as obituaries, posts by relatives, regional media reports, and statements from local authorities.

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The U.K.'s defense minister said in an interview published Nov. 8 that Russian forces suffered their deadliest month in October since the start of the full-scale invasion, averaging 1,354 casualties every day.

British defense intelligence estimates Russia has likely suffered more than 696,000 losses since the start of the full-scale invasion, a figure in line with Ukraine's current total figure of 707,540 reported on Nov. 9.

According to some experts, the surge in losses in recent months may be one of the factors behind the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Nov. 7 that North Korean troops fighting against Ukrainian forces are taking casualties in Russia's Kursk Oblast, although he did not share the number of estimated casualties.

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Since Russia began its all-out war against Ukraine over 4,300 officers have been killed in combat in Ukraine. The analysts also note that at least 14,204 Russian convicts have been killed on Ukraine's eastern front.

According to the journalist, Russian soldiers killed in action in 2024 tend to be increasingly older in age as the average age for volunteer recruits continues to soar. The plurality of volunteer recruits killed in the war fall most prominently between the ages of 48 and 50 years old.

The bloodiest day for Moscow's forces was on May 13, when they suffered a reported 1,740 casualties.

According to undisclosed sources and Western intelligence estimates, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Sept. 17 that roughly 1 million Ukrainians and Russians have been killed or wounded since February 2022, including civillians.

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Read also: Russian casualties reached record high in October, UK defense minister says





























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Billionaire Peter Thiel has gained a name as one of Silicon Valley's most controversial figures.

The PayPal cofounder went on to have a successful career in venture capital.

Known as a connector, he has mentored the likes of JD Vance and Sam Altman.

Like many billionaires, Peter Thiel is already benefiting from Donald Trump's second presidential win.

His net worth jumped following the election, reaching a record high of $14 billion on Friday, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

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The election results were also a win for the venture capitalist on a more personal level.

The vocal conservative and early Trump supporter was instrumental in the rise of vice president-elect JD Vance  and a big reason the Ohio politician was second on the ticket.

Thiel and other Silicon Valley elite called Trump numerous times to implore him to choose Vance as his vice president, hoping that he'd institute startup-friendly policies and cut regulation, The Washington Post reported. He was pivotal in turning Vance, once a never-Trumper, into a MAGA Republican.

The relationship between Thiel, who cofounded PayPal and Palantir, and Vance goes back to at least 2011, when Thiel visited Yale Law School, where Vance was a student. Vance, who praised Thiel's Christianity, called the talk in which he discussed the achievement rat race "the most significant moment of my time at Yale Law School."

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Thiel went on to champion the future politician, writing a blurb for Vance's 2016 book "Hillbilly Elegy," hiring Vance to work at his VC firm Mithril Capital, and investing in Vance's own venture fund, Narya Capital.

He helped bankroll Vance's campaign, pouring at least $15 million into his 2022 senatorial bid, according to data from OpenSecrets, and aiding him in securing an endorsement from Trump following a 2021 Mar-a-Lago meeting where he introduced the two, The New York Times reported.

While he did not contribute financially to the 2024 presidential race  "an extra $1 million or $10 million does not make any difference," he said of Trump, who reportedly called him a "scumbag"  he was among Trump's first supporters in Silicon Valley, backing him in 2016, speaking at the Republican National Convention that year, donating $1.25 million to pro-Trump groups, and serving as a member of his transition team.

With Vance's placement on the ticket and the Trump-Vance win, Thiel has secured his standing as a conservative kingmaker and one of tech's most powerful political players.

The don of the PayPal Mafia

Long before he linked Trump and Vance, Thiel became known as a connector and mentor in Silicon Valley.

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Like many of tech's early founders, he attended Stanford, where he would also earn a law degree. While an undergrad, his reputation for contrarian opinions was beginning to form. In 1987, he cofounded The Stanford Review, a student publication dedicated to "presenting alternative viewpoints," which mainly manifested in a conservative bent. Early editions took aim at political correctness on campus.

After brief stints as a lawyer and in trading, Thiel broke onto the tech scene in 1998 when he cofounded PayPal. There, he earned the nickname of the "don" of the PayPal Mafia, one of tech's most influential groups, which includes Elon Musk, Keith Rabois, David Sacks, and Reid Hoffman.

Peter Thiel (left) and Elon Musk (right) are both members of the PayPal Mafia. AP

It's also what first made him rich. He earned about $100 million when it went public, Bloomberg estimates. His fortune grew thanks to early investments in Facebook (he was its first outside investor), LinkedIn, and Yelp, and from his role as cofounder of Palantir, the big data firm and frequent federal government partner.

In 2005, he cofounded the VC fund Founders Fund, which has invested in SpaceX and Airbnb and where he remains a partner. He also cofounded the VC firms Valar Ventures and Mithril Capital.

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Thiel's sphere of influence in Silicon Valley expanded as he got richer. He became known as a mentor, starting the Thiel Fellowship, which gave $100,000 and two years of support to founders under 20. His most well known mentees  though not Thiel Fellows  include Mark Zuckerberg, who he connected to Trump, and Sam Altman. He shares an interest in longevity with the latter, reportedly signing up to be cryogenically frozen and adapting an antiaging routine.

Conservative kingmaker

His personal politics and contrarian streak also came to define Thiel, setting him apart from the largely Democratic Bay Area.

A self-described "libertarian," Thiel has written extensively about his political beliefs, including a piece in the 1990s that railed against affirmative action.

"I stand against confiscatory taxes, totalitarian collectives, and the ideology of the inevitability of the death of every individual," he wrote in 2009.

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Over the past two decades, he's spoken several times at events for the conservative and libertarian Federalist Society. He contributed to the Seasteading Institute, an attempt at an independent, libertarian floating nation.

There was also his feud with Gawker, which some considered an attack on free speech. In 2007, the online outlet wrote a story about the sexuality of Thiel, who is gay. Nearly a decade later, it was revealed that he had poured about $10 million into cases against Gawker, including Hulk Hogan's 2012 case, which eventually led to the website's demise. (At the time, Thiel characterized his fight as against violations of privacy, not journalism.)

He had donated to conservative or libertarian politicians for years  including more than $2 million for Ron Paul's 2012 presidential campaign and millions to groups backing Ted Cruz that same year, per OpenSecrets.

Peter Thiel helped coordinate a meeting between then-President-elect Donald Trump and technology executives in 2016. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

It was Thiel's 2016 endorsement of Trump that cemented his status as tech's most vocal conservative  and caused rifts with others in the tech world. Reed Hastings, who was at the time on Facebook's board with Thiel, reportedly called Thiel's Trump support "catastrophically bad judgment," and there were calls for Y Combinator, where Thiel worked as an advisor, to fire him.

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By 2018, Thiel's friction with the San Francisco tech bubble had boiled over. He called Silicon Valley a "one-party state" at a 2018 talk at Stanford. Soon after, he decamped to Los Angeles.

While he did not donate to Trump in 2020, he solidified his reputation as a major GOP donor in 2022, supporting not only Vance but also Arizona senatorial candidate Blake Masters, who lost, Wyoming Rep. Harriet Hageman, and more than a dozen other Conservative candidates.

Now, with Vance in the White House, it remains to be seen what Thiel's relationship with Trump will be. He has proven, though, that his contrarian point of view was right, at least this time.

Additional reporting by Sam Tabahriti and Jyoti Mann.

Read the original article on Business Insider
CHICAGO  A memorial mass Sunday morning on the citys Southwest Side honored fallen Chicago Police Department Officer Enrique Martinez, who was killed in the line of duty last week.

St. Christina Catholic Church in the Mount Greenwood neighborhood invited police officers, firefighters and paramedics to attend the special mass in a show of solidarity with the citys first responders.

These young kids, they just come on their job and oh my God. Their poor families and their partners, its heartbreaking, retired CPD Officer Maureen Kristin said.

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Martinez, 26, wouldve celebrated his third anniversary with CPD next month.

We were always laughing: Classmates, teachers recall childhood memories of fallen CPD Officer Enrique Martinez

(Source: Chicago Police Department)

He had his whole life ahead of him, retired CPD Officer Michael Brittain said. [Who] I feel really bad about right now is his mother, like, got to be devastating.

Fr. Ryan Brady wanted those who attended Sundays service to walk away with hope.

Even in the most tragic and dark times, we can still maintain hope, and how do we do that? Its through prayer. We do it through prayer. We do it by coming together as one and as coming together as one, were stronger, he said.

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Last Monday night, Martinez and his partner responded to a call in the Chatham neighborhood on Chicagos South Side, which turned out to be unfounded.

While they were in the 8000 block of South Ingleside Avenue, Martinez and his partner saw a double-parked Ford Escape with a broken tail light and fraudulent registration. The officers approached the car to conduct a traffic stop.

Prosecutors said in court last week that a passenger in the vehicle grabbed a machine gun and shot Martinez five times. The driver of the vehicle was also killed.

Darion McMillian, 23, of south suburban Harvey has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder  one being first-degree murder of a police officer  along with residential burglary, unlawful use of a weapon-machine gun, and unlawful use of a weapon.

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A judge at the Cook County Criminal Courthouse denied McMillian bond during a hearing Thursday, before he was transported back to the Cook County Jail.

Darion McMillian

Chicagoans gather for vigil at Southwest Side church in honor of slain CPD officer Enrique Martinez

After fatally shooting Martinez and the driver of his vehicle, police say McMillian pushed the drivers body out of the car, put the car in reverse, and injured another officer. Police say McMillian then went into a home, where he attempted to cut off his ankle monitor.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

McMillian has served time in connection with a 2019 shooting and has two pending cases in Will County.

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Martinez is the second CPD officer killed in the line of duty this year. Officer Luis Huesca was shot and killed in Gage Park in April while returning home from a work shift.

Martinezs funeral is scheduled to take place next week.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Merced Mayor Matthew Serratto is ready to get to work in his second term after a strong showing of support from voters on election night.

The two top issues on Serrattos priority list are improving streets and roads in Merced and a strong focus on economic development.

Those are my two top priorities for my second term as mayor over the next four years, Serratto said. How do we do better on roads? How can we move the needle in a big way with our unemployment rate? The last number is 9.1%, historically its about 12.8%. When I started, it was about 10.7%, so were doing okay, but we need to do a lot better.

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The support for Serratto was strong in his reelection bid with 8,476 votes, which accounts for nearly 66% of the 12,935 total votes counted as of Friday. Challengers Anthony Levi Martinez has 4,374 votes or 34%.

Serratto, 44, who was first elected to the council in 2016, is chief deputy district attorney in Stanislaus County. It is a position he previously held in Merced County.

The race for three seats in District 1, 3 and 5 on the Merced City Council have incumbent Sarah Boyle out to a big lead in District 5. Boyle has received 1,032 votes or 51% of 2,029 votes counted so far. Challengers Alex Carrillo has received 686 votes or 34%and Felipe Rojas-Flores 305 votes or 15% .

Retired sheriff sergeant Mike Harris is one of three candidates vying for the Merced City Council seat in District 3.

Mike Harris had a strong lead in a three-way race for District 3. Harris has received 800 or 48.08% of the 1,664 votes counted thus far. Next was Sair Lara Rodriguez with721 or 35% of the vote and then Cynthia Kelly with 347 or 17%.

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The tightest race is in District 1 where local civil attorney Darin DuPont continued to lead over planning commissioner Walter Smith Dupont has 873 votes or 53.49% of the 1,632 votes counted. Smith has received 753 votes or 46%.

If the results stand up, Serratto believes the return of Boyle and the additions of Harris and Dupont will be good for the city council.

Sarah is smart, she works hard, she cares, shes really good with constituent services, and shes just getting better and better, Serratto said. Mike brings a ton of experience. Hes the chair of the planning commission. Hes done a ton of things in his professional, professional career. Darins a super smart, young guy. Hes a lawyer, ambitious, hes going to work really hard and I think hell get up to speed really quick.

Incumbent Sarah Boyle is running for re-election for the Merced City Council District 5 seat in the November election. Boyle participated in a candidate forum at the Merced Boys & Girls Club on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.

Economic development was a key issue during the campaign for all three city council candidates.

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I think were at this tipping point, if we dont really push the pedal down and work on economic development we might have missed opportunities, Boyle said. We all know the High Speed Rail is coming in, we just annexed (UC Merced) into the city, were going to have develop so much, but what does that look like? We need more industrial area to bring in more of these jobs.

Serratto also pointed to the construction of the High Speed Rail as a major issue facing Merced from the construction jobs the project will create to the possible relocation of The Boys & Girls Club and the Merced Senior Center and possibly other businesses located near the project.

How do we manage the High Speed Rail relocation process? You dont just have the senior center and the Boys and Girls Club, Serratto said. You have In and Out, potentially some of the auto dealerships, Costco could potentially be impacted, and other other businesses along 15th Street, possibly Chick-fil-A, instead of being there, might have to look for some another spot too.

Merced City Council District 1 candidate Darin Dupont, (right) talks with Merced councilmember Shane Smith while waiting for election results at the Courtyard by Marriott in Merced, Calif. on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

While campaigning and canvassing his district, Dupont said residents shared their concerns for the streets and sidewalks. He said some of the sidewalks near Stowell Elementary were like going over a roller coaster with the unevenness.

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I saw a lot of areas we could improve, which includes making sure our kids and students have a safe route to school, having a good sidewalks to walk, Dupont said. A lot of those things impact people day to day.

Serratto said the city council has previously directed the transportation subcommittee to work with public works department. He says the city needs to look at other cities like Modesto and Turlock, which have done a rood job on improvement roads, to find out what they did to address their issues.

A big thing for us is building up our internal street capacity, Serratto said. Its probably going to involve hiring half a dozen more people, but we need to do it, and then also make an investment in equipment. It was probably going to evolve a multi-million dollar ongoing investment.

I think our council has stepped up to meet housing, Serratto added. We stepped up to meet public safety with funding and resources. We stepped up to meet parks in a big way with public resources. Now it is the time to step up with resources for this.





Source: Merced County Registrar of Voters
On the occasion of State Foundation Day, Uttarakhand Director General of Police (DGP) Abhinav Kumar on Saturday commended the Dehradun Police and said that the grand parade ceremony organized at the Dehradun Police Line had brought new pride to the state. "It is a matter of great joy that this special event has been praised wholeheartedly by Governor Lieutenant General Gurmeet Singh (Retd), Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, and Chief of Defense Staff of India, Anil Chauhan. The DGP said that the praise by them is not only a recognition of the tireless hard work of every officer and jawan of our police department but also a respect for their exemplary dedication and loyalty. Thanks to everyone for this appreciation," Kumar said. The DGP also extended hearty congratulations and best wishes to CDS Anil Chauhan on being awarded the Uttarakhand Gaurav Samman Award-2024. Praising the Dehradun Police, the DGP said that the excellence and organizational skills displayed by the Police, especially SSP Ajay Singh and his entire team, were commendable. Further, he added that all the participants who took part in this ceremony had enhanced the prestige of Uttarakhand Police with their discipline, patience, and hard work. "The success of this event has proved that Uttarakhand Police is capable of meeting any challenge with utmost dignity and excellence," Kumar said. The DGP also said, "In the coming year, we pledge that the parade organized on the 25th anniversary of Uttarakhand State Foundation Day will be one of the best parades, not only in the state but also in the nation." On this occasion, the DGP also announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh and a three-day reward leave to all the participants involved in this event and the Dehradun Police to encourage their commendable contributions. (ANI)
The armed police officer cleared of murdering Chris Kaba is set to be promoted to the rank of inspector.

Sgt Martyn Blake had passed his inspectors exams shortly before shooting Kaba, 24, in Streatham, south London, in 2022.

The 40-year-old officer was cleared last month of murder but may still face a gross misconduct investigation in connection to the shooting.

It is understood if the promotion goes ahead the married father of two will move from the firearms unit to another part of the Metropolitan Police Service.

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The Mets former Chief Supt Simon Ovens told The Sun newspaper: This was quite properly delayed until the outcome of the criminal trial. Now that has passed it is absolutely proper he should be promoted.

Protesters outside the Old Bailey after Martyn Blake was acquitted of Kabas murder last month - REUTERS

Considering the evidence has been scrutinised in court, the misconduct review should not hold up his promotion.

Although there is a different level of proof for disciplinary hearings, is it likely he would be dismissed? The answer is no.

This shows the Mets confidence in the officer and reinforces the support the commissioner has in him.

Sgt Blake was suspended for more than two years after shooting Kaba, a member of the notorious 67 Gang, through the windscreen of the Audi car he was driving. That vehicle had been linked to two gangland shootings. Kaba had tried to ram his way free to escape armed officers.

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The officer told the Old Bailey in London that he opened fire because he feared for the lives of his colleagues.

The jury took just three hours to clear him of murder paving the way for the officer to now return to work.

Asked about reports regarding the promotion, the Met said: Any query of this nature relates to personal information about an officers potential career intentions and is not something wed discuss. Sgt Blake is entitled to the same level of privacy.

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An appellate judge at the center of one of Miamis biggest criminal cases is facing intense scrutiny after text messages were released showing her pressuring Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle about how to handle the case, denigrating defense attorneys and badmouthing local judges.

Ironically, the text messages sent by Judge Bronwyn Miller  who rose from prosecutor to circuit judge to her current position on the Third District Court of Appeal  were partly meant to protect her reputation. She worried it was being tarnished in hearings to reconsider the capital murder conviction she obtained 20 years ago of Corey Smith, the reputed leader of the violent John Doe gang of Liberty City.

Millers handling of that case in 2004 is at issue now, and she is a states witness as Smith attempts to avoid the death penalty. With the prosecutions handling of the case under fire, the State Attorneys Office announced Sunday it will waive the death penalty and will attempt to negotiate a lesser sentence.

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Millers text messages show a close relationship with Miami-Dades elected state attorney, and a low regard for the judge overseeing the case and defense attorneys in general. Though she left the State Attorneys Office about 20 years ago, the texting reveals a familiarity allowing Miller to browbeat Fernandez Rundle and second-guess how she runs the office.

After unfavorable court rulings in the Smith case, Miller urged Fernandez Rundle to have Circuit Judge Andrea Ricker Wolfson removed from the case and replaced with a different judge. Wolfson on March 7 removed the two prosecutors handling the resentencing, citing misconduct.

I think you should disqualify her, Miller wrote to Fernandez Rundle on April 6, appearing to refer to Wolfson. Then all rulings can be reconsidered.

Judge Andrea Ricker Wolfson presides during a zoom hearing at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building in Miami on Tuesday Sept. 10, 2024.

In another text, Miller told Fernandez Rundle that the root of her problem is Michael Von Zamft  one of the prosecutors removed by Wolfson. Miller pointed out he is a former defense attorney, and criticized Fernandez Rundle for allowing him to train young prosecutors in the office.

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They play by different rules, she wrote. No defense attorney should be training [assistant state attorneys]. It should be someone who knows that prosecutors are held to higher ethics.

A Republican appointee to the court that handles civil and criminal appeals from Miami-Dade County, Judge Miller declined to comment on the messages. In an email Saturday, she said her decision not to comment was based on the advice of Anthony V. Alfieri, the founding director of the University of Miamis Center for Ethics and Public Service.

He has recommended that I do not make any public comment at this time, as it might affect the pending proceedings, she said, referring to the Corey Smith case. I strive always to adhere to the highest standards of ethical conduct.

The text messages, sent to and from Miller and Fernandez Rundle between January and July, were obtained by the Herald on Friday. They were submitted by the State Attorneys Office that afternoon as discovery in the Smith case after a Sept. 17 Herald request for the texts led prosecutors to pull and review them.

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Still, the office refused to release them to the Herald Friday, saying Millers attorney, former state prosecutor Matt Baldwin, planned to seek a protective order sealing the texts from release. By then, theyd been circulating the legal community for hours.

RELATED CONTENT: Miami-Dade prosecutors deal with the devil threatens to topple murder convictions

Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle was automatically reelected this year when no one filed to run against her.

In a statement Sunday, the State Attorneys Office said Miller spoke to prosecutors and sent occasional and brief texts to the state attorney in pursuit of the truth as she prepared to give testimony. Fernandez Rundle as a matter of course is personally briefed and engaged in the decision making on all major cases prosecuted by her office, and specifically those involving the death penalty, the statement says. The office did not comment on the content of the text exchanges.

Attorneys involved in Miami-Dade courts expressed shock about their contents, saying the text messages suggest Miller cannot be a fair arbiter of appeals.

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Judge Bronwyn Miller has called into question her fitness to serve the people of the state of Florida and called into doubt every case that has come before her for decades, defense attorneys for Corey Smith, Allison Miller and Craig Whisenhunt, said in an email. The consequence of these revelatory messages will be substantial and have reverberations across our community and state.

Its unclear whether Miller violated judicial canons or laws. As the Smith proceedings continue, Miller holds three roles, making her uniquely situated. She was the prosecutor, shes a states witness, and shes a judge. But lawyers who reviewed the texts said they reflected poorly on Miller.

The Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers-Miami issued a statement Sunday saying they were disappointed that despite our calls for change, it seems that ethical issues persist at the highest level and throughout the [State Attorneys] [O]ffice. We are also disappointed that a member of the judiciary expressed bias against the defense bar to the State Attorney while continuing to handle criminal appeals from the office with which she shares such a close relationship.

Miami-Dade Public Defender Carlos Martinez said he has reviewed the text chain.

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We are investigating and looking at what the remedy, if any, is going to be, to protect my clients, he told the Herald.

READ MORE: Suspended Miami-Dade commissioner Martinez convicted of taking $15K to help constituent

The texts

Among the potentially problematic texts are a few sent by Miller to the state attorney in April, when the Smith case was still under appeal at her court. Miller read a court filing written for the state by Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Davis and demanded that Fernandez Rundle please call me immediately.

Miller requested edits of a portion of the document referring to potential favors provided to witnesses back when Miller was prosecuting the case, saying there is a huge factual error in it and going on to criticize the wording.

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This is insane, she wrote.

Davis didnt respond to a request for comment.

The changes Miller requested appeared in a subsequent court filing.

Smiths attorneys had the case moved to another appellate district in July.

Miller also delved into Fernandez Rundles personnel issues, castigating her for allowing what she called a misogynistic pervert anti-death penalty campaigner to work on the Smith case.

She sent images of a July story in the Herald reporting that Steve Gosney, a new hire and death penalty opponent, had penned a sadomasochistic sex novel. Shed also learned  its unclear how  that he was involved in the Smith death penalty case.

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I just dont know whats going on in the office anymore. Its outlandish. Im sorry, she wrote.

Miller wrote that if the Palm Beach County state attorney allowed someone who opposes the death penalty to handle a death penalty case, hed be removed by the governor.

Whoever is advising you has lost the big picture, she wrote.

Fernandez Rundles responses are few in the records released; its unclear whether texts were redacted or withheld entirely.

Youre right, one response from Fernandez Rundle says, appearing to refer to Gosney working on death penalty cases.  ... he is not going to. Lets talk.

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Internal emails at the State Attorneys Office released to the Herald earlier this year show that Gosney was assigned to work on the Smith case in July. Two weeks after Millers text messages, he was told his employment there was operationally impossible and he was given two months to leave, the emails show.

Reached Saturday, Gosney, who objected to the Heralds coverage of his novel, reviewed the messages and said even lawyers sometimes get fooled by the leftist, fake media.

Miller also told Fernandez Rundle that two judges  Judge Wolfson and Miami-Dade Chief Judge Nushin Sayfie  were out to get her because of a bail bond reform effort they championed in recent years that failed, with the blame falling on the State Attorneys Office. Her comments suggest the rulings of Wolfson, a former prosecutor, were motivated by a political feud.

Miami-Dade Chief Judge Nushin Sayfie

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By the way, she wrote March 18, shortly after Wolfsons removal of the prosecutors, have no idea [why] you refuse to listen to me regarding Andrea [Wolfson]. She will destroy you because of the bail bond issue.

Another text followed: Im so beside myself. You refuse to see what is going on with her and Nushin [Sayfie].

Judges Sayfie and Wolfson declined to comment.

Miller and Corey Smith

Miller, 52, used the successful prosecution of Corey Smith over two decades ago as a launching pad that peaked in 2018 with her appointment to the Third District Court of Appeal by then-Gov. Rick Scott.

In 2019, she applied unsuccessfully for an appointment to the Florida Supreme Court.

The University of Miami law school graduate was a relatively young state prosecutor when she was chosen to lead a team in 2004 to prosecute Smith  who would be convicted in the murders of six people, mostly associated with gang activity and drug trade.

Miller made headlines again in February when she was forced to testify over a memo she wrote during Smiths murder trial.

Corey Smith

Defense attorneys uncovered the document, which said that during briefings at Miami Police headquarters, civilian witnesses were given favors like food, beverages and Black & Mild cigars.

Attorneys for Smith  hes had several in the almost decade hes been fighting this death sentence  said they were unaware of the memo and if they had known, they most certainly would have deposed some or all of the witnesses.

Treated almost reverentially by prosecutors as she made her way to the witness stand, Millers appearance was brief, her answers were curt and to the point.

Under oath she said she prepared witnesses almost daily during Smiths 2004 trial, either at the police department or in a jury room.

She also said didnt know of or ever see a witness drinking alcohol or having sexual contact at the police department, as one witness claimed.

Von Zamft told the court that Miller wouldnt speak to either side without a subpoena. By then, the texts show she had communicated with him and Fernandez Rundle, and texted about calling two other prosecutors.

She simultaneously played the parts of judge, prosecutor, witness, and quite literally attempted to subvert justice to see Corey Smith executed, attorneys Allison Miller and Whisenhunt said.

The next hearing in Smiths case is scheduled for Wednesday.
Saturday afternoon, William Osceola stood in front of a thicket of cypress trees and looked out at Lake Miccosukee.

His ancestors were slaughtered and displaced to the Everglades hundreds of years ago, but the name of their tribe remains here in North Florida.

For the non-natives here, they just see Tallahassee, it's just the name for a town. Miccosukee, that's just the name of a road or a lake, and there's no deeper meaning to it, said Osceola, Secretary of the Miccosukee Tribal Council.

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They get rid of the natives, but they keep the name. We're here to remind them the natives are still here.

As Tallahassee kicked off its bicentennial finale this weekend, members of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida participated in their own homecoming. Saturday, they visited their traditional homelands, the Village of Miccosukee and Lake Miccosukee, and their new embassy on North Adams Street.

We've realized, we got to get out of our own little shell and get out there, because our history and our sovereignty is in danger of being co-opted or denigrated, Osceola said. We're always looking to the future to make sure we have one. So that's why we're up here, trying to communicate with people, get them to understand who we are.

What's in our names? How our streets and landmarks tell our history | TLH 200

Michael C. Frank, center, and Cory Osceola, right, both members of the Miccosukee tribe take a break while scientists collects samples for an annual water quality study in the River of Grass. The samples were taken near historic native villages is one of the most remote parts of the Everglades. Once home to countless birds and animals, wildlife was sparse on that day. Members of both tribes say it is because of poor water quality and management practices by federal state agencies.

In the early 19th century, the Miccosukee were pushed out of North Florida and forced to resettle in the wetlands of South Florida, said Andrew Frank, a professor at Florida State University and the director of the Native American and Indigenous Studies Center.

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Then there were decades of continued warfare with the United States, where their existence was threatened with more displacement. Yet they survived.

There are currently 640 enrolled members of the Miccosukee Tribe, and they have historically kept to themselves. At a young age, Betty Osceola was taught to run and hide. It was the way to stay safe from outsiders, from development and from assimilation.

Betty, 57, still lives in an Indian village on the reservation in a thatched roof house.

My mother had always said don't lose yourself in the modern world, keep your identity, she said.

Betty Osceola, a member of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, looks out at Lake Miccosukee on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024.

But too many times in history, and recently, other people have told the Miccosukees story. She said there are misconceptions, inconsistencies and misinformation that need to be clarified, especially as other federally recognized tribes try to establish a public presence in Florida.

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For example, when the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida sought federal recognition in the 1960s, the government tried to combine them with the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

Even when theyve got the best intentions, if you don't go up here and speak for yourself, they just start making assumptions, said William Osceola, also known as Popeye. It's a human tendency to want to simplify things, and it's easier to simplify people. That's how stereotypes are formed. So they want to condense us into one.

We live in Miami, so we deal with Cubans, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans. Try to tell them, You guys are all the same. See how they react, he added. We're human too."

Today, the tribe is concerned about outside influences on their sovereignty in the state. In August, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama, a federally recognized tribe, formally asked Gov. Ron DeSantis to enter into a gaming compact.

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In an email, a spokesperson for the Poarch Band confirmed a letter requesting compact negotiations was sent.

The tribe's PCI Gaming acquired the Magic City casino last year in Miami. That casino sits in between the Miccosukees casino and the city of Miami.

William Osceola said gaming is the way to support its environmental protection efforts, one of the tribe's most important issues.

Betty Osceola, a member of the Miccosukee Tribe checks out a flooded historic tree island in the Everglades on November 19, 2020. She says the water is unseasonably high for this time of year and is the highest she has seen in the Everglades. The tree islands once housed members of the Miccosukee Tribe but are now used for educational purposes and outings for members of the tribe. She says some of the tree islands have burial remains on them and they are covered in water now.

In September, the tribe received a $15 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to combat climate change. They also entered into an agreement with the National Park Service that includes the tribe in wildland fire management, water resource management and hydrological management efforts in Everglades National Park.

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There are out-of-state corporate tribes whose primary interest is to expand their gambling market and take money from hard working Floridians and siphon it out of state. The Miccosukee Tribe doesn't want to see that happen, said Edward Ornstein, deputy general counsel for the tribe.

According to the Florida Department of State Division of Elections, so far this year, PCI Gaming has given $51,000 to the Friends of Ben Albritton PAC. Albritton is the incoming president for the Florida Senate.

While the bicentennial has exposed tensions between tribes, it also offers the Miccosukee the chance to reunite with Tallahassee and build a relationship with the city.

The tribe has a long-shared history with the city, Ornstein said.

From left, Amber Sanders, William "Popeye" Osceola, Troy Sanders and Heidi Cypress stand in front of the new embassy for the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida on North Adams Street on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024.

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The tribe bought an office building at 515 N. Adams Street, right across from Associated Industries of Florida, and will establish an embassy in the capital city.

On Saturday, members met with interior designers to discuss revamping the place. First on the list: ripping up the dated maroon and teal carpet.

Six minutes from the new embassy, at Parkview at Cascades, the city of Tallahassee kicked off its Bicentennial Weekend Spectacular with a series of panels, including one on genealogy and another on the Hispanic heritage of Tallahassee.

One panel, called Native American Legacies, was to discuss the rich tapestry of indigenous Native American roots, while offering insight into the historic significance of the lineages, according to Visit Tallahassee.

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Misty Penton, a representative of the Muscogee Nation of Florida, and Troy Kerry, the chief of the Apalachee Talimali Band, were advertised to be on the panel. Both groups are not federally or state recognized tribes.

Author Doug Alderson and Misty Penton, a representative of the Muscogee tribe, take part in the "Native American Legacies" panel on Saturday. The panel was one of several as part of the Bicentennial Weekend Spectacular events.

The two federally recognized tribes of Florida, the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, however, were not on the panel.

Vel Johnson, the bicentennial coordinator, said it was a conflict of interest to have everyone on the panel at the same time.

Ornstein said he would not comment.

But the Miccosukee Tribe has participated in other bicentennial events this year.

Randelle Osceola, an artist and member of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, coils sweetgrass to make the bottom of a purse

The Florida Historic Capitol Museum hosted an Indigenous Artist Series, featuring Alyssa Osceola and Wilson Bowers of the Seminole Tribe of Florida and Randelle Osceola of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida.

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And the tribe lent handcrafted baskets, patchwork and other artisanal and traditional Miccosukee goods for the Capitols bicentennial exhibit, Becoming Floridas Capital.

For Betty Osceola, the bicentennial is a reminder that Tallahassees history started long before the establishment of a capital.

I feel a sense of opportunity and obligation for myself as Miccosukee to remind individuals that there was an additional greater, rich history to this area, outside of the birth of modern Tallahassee, she said.

Shed driven by Lake Miccosukee in the past, but shed never stopped. Saturday, when she got out of the car, she said the lake was speaking.

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In our people, the way we're raised, I was raised to communicate with the natural world and to listen to what the elements of that natural world are telling you, she said. The lake is very happy to see us here.

This story is part of TLH 200: the Gerald Ensley Bicentennial Memorial Project. Throughout our city's 200th birthday, we'll be drawing on the Tallahassee Democrat columnist and historian's research as we re-examine Tallahassee history. Read more at tallahassee.com/tlh200. Ana Goni-Lessan can be reached at agonilessan@gannett.com. Arianna Otero contributed to this story. Contact her via email at AOtero@tallahassee.com or on Twitter/X: @ari_v_otero .

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Miccosukee return to Tallahassee on bicentennial, open embassy
WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. (WFLA)  A middle school employee is facing child abuse charges after deputies said a female employee struck a student who has disabilities.

Cheryl Andrews, 69, of Palm Coast, who is an employee at Indian Trails Middle School, was caught on the schools CCTV camera approaching the nonverbal child in the cafeteria and striking him.

Armed suspect shot dead by homeowners son after breaking into Ruskin home, deputies say

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The video showed the student rubbing the back of his head and pointing at Andrews. According to the Flagler County Sheriffs Office, Andrews went back to the student, aggressively shoved his head, and pulled his head back towards her while putting her hand around his face.

Officials said Andrews was immediately put on suspension when the school district was notified of the incident, which occurred on Sept. 25.

During an investigation, a witness told detectives that Andrews is very aggressive towards all the students.

She admitted to detectives that she struck the child unprovoked, claiming that she didnt know why she did that.

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Sarasota Sheriff addresses circulating video of 3 men following teen accused of making inappropriate comments to women

School employees have a difficult job in todays environment, but this was an unprovoked assault, and the school district took immediate action to safeguard students from this aggressive employee, Sheriff Rick Staly said. We will not tolerate attacks on a student regardless of who commits it. The District and the Sheriffs Office are committed to ensuring a safe learning environment for everyone.

Andrews was arrested for child abuse without great bodily harm and was later released on bond. During her first appearance on Friday, a judge ordered her to not have any contact with anyone under the age of 18.

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A hunter was shot in the head in rural Moorhead on Saturday morning, the first day of deer season in Minnesota.

According to the Clay County Sheriff's Office, it happened near the 4600 block of 90th Avenue N., where deputies were dispatched around 8 a.m. At the scene, they located a 34-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the head.

The man was immediately given first aid and soon airlifted to Sanford Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota.

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The man has not been identified yet, but the sheriff's office says he's a resident of Dilworth.

His condition is not known as of this writing.

It's not yet clear how he was shot, but an investigation is now underway.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcements latest version of events, and may be subject to change.
This was no ordinary trip to McDonald's  and for one Minnesota family, it's no ordinary McDonald's.

The Lino Lakes location, which can be found off Interstate 35, is where Eleanor Evenson was born in October of 2014. Her mother Clare, then 28 weeks pregnant with her, had stopped at the restaurant for a bathroom break, and that's when the unexpected happened.

Eleanor was born in one of the women's stalls, and suddenly the Golden Arches found itself busier than usual as paramedics and police responded to get the baby the care she needed.

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As Good Morning America notes, Eleanor was born 12 weeks early and diagnosed with a rare chromosomal condition called 22q11.2, requiring her to have multiple surgeries as well as physical, occupational and speech therapy throughout her life.

Weighing just two pounds at birth, she spent the first 113 days of her life in the neonatal intensive care unit at Gillette Childrens Hospital, where she was re-admitted "a dozen times," Kare 11 says.

A decade later, the family returned to that same location to celebrate Eleanor's birthday.

Kare 11's Boyd Huppert covered the party, showing a joyous affair with a cake presented by a McDonald's employee and plenty of friends, family and even the Lino Lakes cop who responded to Eleanor's birth.

You can watch the TV segment below:

The Evenson family now lives in Minnetonka.
Kendall Hughes was stabbed 12 times in the head, neck and back by a prisoner in a chapel while working as a Colorado prison system chaplain in 2002.

A trauma surgeon told him the man had just missed killing him.

As traumatic as that was and the after-effects on me and my family  the thing that was equally difficult was going through the federal justice system, Hughes said.

Hughes was appointed the first director of the newly created Office of Restorative Practices within the Minnesota Department of Public Safety in October. He has decades of experience with restorative work in the Federal Bureau of Prisons and co-founded the Three Rivers Restorative Justice nonprofit in southeastern Minnesota. He is focused on helping victims heal and helping people rebuild their lives after crime.

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The aim of restorative practices is to prevent court involvement when possible and provide alternatives to traditional legal processes both for victims and offenders. The crime victim has a say in what the offender must do to make amends with a goal of helping those whove caused harm repair it.

Restorative practices can also save money and heighten safety by reducing recidivism and the need for incarceration or out-of-home placement for youth, Hughes said.

Restorative justice burns in my bones, Hughes said. The traditional system sometimes does not meet the needs of victims, and it does not meet the needs of the people who caused the harm. Sometimes it makes them worse.

In Colorado, Hughes attorneys said he did not have a say in the matter, that they would handle things legally, and Hughes could give a victim impact statement, Hughes said. A year and a half later in court, he sat all day waiting to give his statement but was forgotten.

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That was almost as difficult as the act of violence against me, Hughes said.

After this experience, while working in prisons in Kansas, Hughes discovered restorative justice. He said seeing changes in the men he worked with brought him the sense that what he went through matters and he could do more to help.

I saw them become people who today youd be happy to have sit at your table and be your neighbor, Hughes said.

The new Office of Restorative Practices was allocated $8 million for the biennium to help expand and strengthen the work of restorative initiatives across Minnesota. Afterward, they expect to receive $5 million per biennium on an ongoing basis.

Arguments from both sides

During Rep. Sandra Feists first legislative session in 2021, she authored the Veterans Restorative Justice Act, which provided access to a specialized sentencing structure for eligible military veterans convicted of criminal offenses. Since then, her interest in restorative practices has grown and shes worked with youth restorative justice initiatives across Minnesota, along with the creation of the new state office.

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What were trying to do is really unique. Were trying to shift power and the creation of accountability from systems to community, said Feist, DFL-New Brighton.

According to Feist, the proposals for the office were well received in the Minnesota House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee. She said a broad group of people came together to work on the initiative, including law enforcement, prosecutors, child welfare experts, public defenders and people whove been directly impacted by restorative practices.

My goal is to continue to find ways to weave restorative practices into our laws because I believe that it is a more effective and more just system, Feist said.

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Republican Rep. Paul Novotny of Elk River, who also serves on the Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee, said while he supports restorative practices, he wasnt necessarily in support of creating an office to promote them.

The concept, from our side of the table, is good, Novotny said. We like the idea of restorative justice, but that doesnt need to be a huge bureaucracy at a state level.

Novotny worked at the Sherburne County Sheriffs Office for 33 years and said he feels restorative justice can be most effective with a youths first experience in the juvenile justice system. He said if applied as an additional tool in the current court system, he could see it saving the state money.

The most important thing you can do in law enforcement and public safety is to prevent that next incident or that next crime, Novotny said. That should always be the focus.

Reducing recidivism

As director, Hughes will work closely with local communities to help them create restorative practices with the aim to make Minnesota safer. Each county or jurisdiction in Minnesota will form a restorative practices advisory committee made up of community members and justice system staff. These committees will design programs and processes for their counties.

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Hughes said restorative practices already are well established in Minnesota compared to other states.

Each county is going to come about it differently, Hughes said.

One of the offices initiatives is conducting research on the impact of restorative practices in the state. Each year, the office must report its findings to members of the legislative committees and divisions with jurisdiction over public safety, human services and education.

Hughes said restorative justice methods have been studied by the University of Minnesota and its research shows that 95% of victims say theyd go through the process again.

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He said typically in Minnesota, 40% of people who commit a crime will reoffend within a year, but through restorative practices the percentage falls to between 10% and 20%. He believes this lower reoffending rate is what will make Minnesota safer.

Designed to save money and center healing

As a chaplain, Hughes said he worked with people from various cultural backgrounds and religious beliefs. Relationships he built with Indigenous people taught him that everyone is connected and its important to recognize the humanity in another person, which is often hard to do when theyve caused harm.

You can only really hurt somebody when you dont see them as a person like you, Hughes said, and when youre hurt by somebody, you think they must be a monster.

Restorative practices focus on the needs of everyone involved, said Yellow Medicine County Restorative Justice Department director Sharon Hendrichs, who is also a former probation officer.

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We dont know sometimes whats caused youth to make the decisions that theyve made and brought them into the criminal justice system, and we need to take the time to peel back the layers to get to the root of whats driving these decisions and help those pathways change, Hendrichs said.

Yellow Medicines Ojibwe-rooted Circle sentencing is a community conversation about who was harmed, what needs to be done to make a victim whole again and how the person who caused harm can be supported in fulfilling their own personal goals  to not find themselves in a cycle of committing crime, Hendrichs said. This may include restorative restitution or volunteer work, but the emphasis is on giving back to the community in a meaningful way.

What Ive seen is that youth, adults and families who come into Circle and create connections and relationships with people are less likely to harm people in communities that they feel connected to, and that creates a lot of safety, Hendrichs said.

Hughes said its expensive to imprison, and at the end of the day doesnt always help people learn valuable lessons.

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Since developing Circle practices in Yellow Medicine County in 2006, the amount spent on out-of-home placements for youth has decreased between $200,000 and $268,000 annually, according to a report from the county Restorative Justice Department.

We also saw the ripple effect of youth who went through Circle with their family and younger siblings: We werent seeing their siblings come through, Hendrichs said.

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Hughes said that by hyper-focusing on punishment, the standard court system is not designed with healing in mind. The man who attacked Hughes 22 years ago was put into solitary confinement for 14 years. Hughes said he came out even more violent and now is serving life in prison.

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For me, that wasnt what I wanted, either, Hughes said. I didnt want anyone to suffer the way that I had.

Healing is not what he experienced in the Colorado court system, and though Hughes said hes sure that states systems are better now, he hopes crime rates in Minnesota will drop by being a state that centers healing and second chances.

As a result, violence will go down, victims will feel their needs are met, communities will be more whole and it will cost less, Hughes said.
UPDATE 11/12  The Provo Police Department announced that the missing 13-year-old has been found.

ORIGINAL STORY  MISSING: 13-year-old reported missing out of Provo

PROVO, Utah (ABC4)  A 13-year-old boy has been reported missing out of Provo, according to Provo Police.

Gabriel, 13, was last seen at his school on Thursday, Nov. 7. He is described as a Hispanic male, 5, 100 lbs, with brown hair and brown eyes.

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Former Utah Tech president faces lawsuit over vulgar display attributed to employees, alleged retaliation

He reportedly has connections in West Valley City, and police believe he may have traveled there.

If youve seen Gabriel, or know where he may be, please call us at 801 852 6210, Provo Police said in a statement.

No further information is available at this time.

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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.  Two militia members from Missouri and Tennessee were convicted on Thursday, Nov. 7 for their roles in a conspiracy to murder U.S. Border Patrol agents and an attempted murder of FBI agents in 2022.

According to the United States Department of Justice, 34-year-old Jonathan S. ODell of Warsaw, Mo., and 39-year-old Bryan C. Perry of Clarksville, Tenn., were found guilty of conspiracy to murder U.S. Government officers and employees, conspiracy to assault federal officers and employees and conspiracy to injure federal officers and employees.

The DOJ says the conspiracy involved them traveling to the U.S.-Mexico border to shoot at illegal immigrants attempting to cross the border and killing U.S. Border Patrol officers who tried to stop them. Evidence from the trial revealed that in the summer and fall of 2022, ODell and Perry attempted to recruit others to the 2nd American Militia, a group they co-founded, and used ODells residence in Warsaw to gather firearms, paramilitary gear, ammunition and more for their trip to the border.

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Perry himself made videos on TikTok to try to recruit members for the conspiracy. In these videos, Perry said that he was ready to go to war against this government, saying the U.S. Border Patrol was committing treason by allowing illegal immigrants into the U.S. and that the penalty for treason is death. On Oct. 3, 2022, Perry posted a TikTok video stating, We were going out huntin, that his group was taking their full kits, and they were leaving for the U.S.-Mexico border on Oct. 8, 2022.

Lebanon teacher accused of sending explicit photos, video to student

Both men were also found guilty of seven counts of the attempted murder of FBI special agents, seven counts of assaulting FBI special agents with a deadly weapon, three counts of assaulting FBI special agents, 14 counts of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and one count of damaging federal property.

During the trial, ODell pleaded guilty to one count of illegally possessing a firearm while subject to a court order of protection, one count of making a false statement to a federal agent and one count of escaping from custody. He was also found guilty of one count of threatening to injure another person. Perry was found guilty of two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, one count of possessing body armor by a violent felon and one count of threatening to injure another person.

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On Oct. 7, 2022, at 6 a.m., the FBI executed a search warrant at ODells Warsaw residence. As they announced their presence, Perry fired several rounds at the FBIs lead vehicle, leading the FBI to breach the front door of the residence with a Bearcat.

Nixa teen charged after alleged political sign thefts

ODell and his girlfriend eventually left the residence and surrendered to authorities. The DOJ says Perry also came out of the residence and walked towards the agents before moving back to the residence. FBI agents pursued Perry, who punched them several times and injured at least one agent before he was taken into custody.

On Sept. 29, 2023, ODell escaped from Phelps County Jail while he was being detained in the case. He fled to Ray County, Missouri in a stolen car and was captured on Oct. 1 after a high-speed chase with law enforcement.

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ODell and Perry will be sentenced at a later date that is yet to be determined. They are facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison.

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Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said on Saturday that a religious atmosphere has been restored in the state since the BJP government came to power, after 35 years of an atheistic environment. Addressing the 'Sanatan Dharma Sammelan' at Netaji Subhash College in Udaipur in Tripura's Gomati district, CM Saha emphasized that attempts to incite unrest in the name of religion would not be tolerated. "An atheistic environment prevailed in the state for 35 years. The religious atmosphere has returned with our government. Any attempts to create unrest in the name of religion will not be tolerated in any way," he said. He also discussed the improvement in law and order and the state's commitment to fostering unity among its diverse communities. "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 said. Further, the Chief Minister acknowledged the presence of saints from across the country at the conference. "On behalf of the Government of Tripura and the people of Tripura, I extend my warm welcome to all and hope that your presence will bring prosperity to our state. We are peaceful people who desire to live in harmony. Tripura is a state with a mixed population, where people of all castes and religions live together peacefully. We wish to continue this unity," he said. He noted that the previous regime of 35 years had maintained an atheistic atmosphere. "Since our government's establishment, we have fostered a religious environment. We believe that everything is under God's domain. Our opposition is now nearly invisible, like trying to find something with a microscope, as they gradually fade away. They are attempting to create unrest by exploiting religion, but our government will not tolerate this. We hold trust and respect for all religions," he said. The Chief Minister reflected on the situation in Tripura during the early 1980s, countering recent criticisms. "Some claims are that there is no law and order in Tripura now. But in earlier times, there was only an atmosphere of murder and terror here. Today, 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 will not give them a foothold," he said. Saha praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for prioritizing the development of traditional temples across the country. "The Prime Minister has prioritized 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 added. The conference was attended by Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy, Matabari MLA Abhishek Debroy, Kakraban MLA Jitendra Majumder, Padmashri Chittaranjan Maharaj, Chaitanya Gaudiya Math President Swami Vishnu Goswami, Swami Vaishnav Maharaj, and other distinguished religious personalities. (ANI)
MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)  Midland Memorial Hospital will be resuming elective procedures next week as its IV Fluid supply stabilizes. The IV shortage came after Hurricane Helene damaged the facility where the hospital gets its supply in North Carolina.

We are grateful for the understanding and patience of our community, staff and physicians. Our dedicated teams have made substantial progress in reducing IV fluid utilization through strategic conservation measures, enabling us to move forward cautiously with scheduled elective procedures. We will continue our daily monitoring and conservation efforts to ensure sustainability and adjust accordingly, said Dr. Rohith Saravanan, Chief Medical Officer at MMH.

Midland hospital nationally recognized for heart attack care

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The hospital said doctors can expect to resume surgeries on Monday, November 11. Patients whose procedures were postponed last week will be prioritized for rescheduling.

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Moldovan Foreign Minister Mihai Popsoi condemned the incursion of Moldovas airspace by two Russian drones on 10 November, stating that they endangered the lives of Moldovan citizens.

Source: Popsoi on X (Twitter), reported by European Pravda

Details: The Moldovan Foreign Minister stated that "two Russian decoy drones  used to mislead Ukrainian air defences  crashed in Moldova today".

He added that this "endangered Moldovan lives and violated Moldovan airspace".

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Quote: "We firmly condemn these aggressive incursions and reiterate our condemnation of Russias brutal war against Ukraine."

Background:

On 10 November, two drones were found in Moldova, in the districts of Causeni and Riscani. Ukraine's Air Force, in a morning briefing, reported that 10 drones "left Ukrainian airspace" towards Russia, Belarus and Moldova.

Moldovan authorities have previously reported discovering drone debris after Russian air attacks on Ukraine.

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Tonight: Another unseasonably warm night is in store with lows only in the middle 60s, roughly 20 degrees above average. Skies will remain overcast with some spotty showers mainly after midnight.

Sunday: A few showers will dot radar beginning our day, but most of Sunday will just be cloudy and gloomy with an occasional light shower. A chance for some steadier rain will increase Sunday late evening and night as moisture builds along a cold front. High temperatures will be in the lower 70s.

Veterans Day: We cant rule out a few showers before noon as the cold front pushes across the region. Morning clouds will give way to some peaks of sunshine Monday afternoon as lower humidity filters in through the evening hours. Temperatures will reach the lower to middle 70s.

Next Week: The cold front that pushes through on Monday will usher in drier air for Tuesday and most of Wednesday, leading to plenty of sunshine. The air will not feel nearly as humid behind the front, so although temperatures remain above average in the 70s, well feel more comfortable outside. Clouds build back in on Wednesday afternoon with a shower or two possible on Wednesday evening, especially across western Alabama. This will be associated with an upper-level disturbance passing by which will lead to numerous showers on Wednesday night and Thursday.

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This rain will be fighting through some drier air at the surface, but the moisture should win out and lead to plenty of spotty showers with some pockets of steadier rain at times on Thursday. This will keep temperatures cooler in the upper 60s. Winds turn back to the north behind this disturbance, which will keep temperatures seasonal in the upper 60s to lower 70s by next weekend with morning lows in the upper 40s and low 50s.

Tracking the Tropics: Rafael is currently a Tropical Storm with sustained winds of 45 mph as of 6 PM CST on Saturday. This storm will continue to weaken into next week as it slowly moves toward the south into the Bay of Campeche.

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Be sure to follow the CBS 42 Storm Team:

Follow Us on Facebook: Chief Meteorologist Dave Nussbaum, Meteorologist Michael Haynes, Meteorologist Alex Puckett, and Meteorologist Jacob Woods.

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Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that 32 drones had attacked the Russian capital on the morning of 10 November.

Source: Sobyanin on Telegram; Russian Telegram channel Shot

Details: Sobyanin claimed that in the Ramenskoye urban district, Russian air defence units had repelled an attack by two drones heading for Moscow.

A few minutes later, he added that two more drones had been shot down.

Meanwhile, Russian media reported that a Kovyor (Carpet) plan had been introduced at Moscow's Vnukovo and Domodedovo airports, meaning that they had been closed and planes were being diverted to other airports due to the threat of a drone attack.

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Several flights to Moscow are currently in the waiting area, and several more have been delayed.

Update: The drone attack continued until 09:00, with Sobyanin reporting "32 downed drones" which had been heading towards Moscow.

There is currently no information on casualties or damage.

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Donald Trump's election as US president sends out "positive signals," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in Moscow on Sunday.

"During his campaign, Trump spoke of achieving things through deals, that he could make a deal that would lead to peace," Peskov said.

"At least he is talking about peace. He's not talking about confrontation, he's not talking about wanting to deal Russia a strategic defeat. And that distinguishes him in a favourable way from the current administration," Peskov added.

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During the US campaign, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were better for Russia, as they made predictable policies.

Peskov said that Trump was less predictable, and for that reason it still had to be seen whether he would make good on his announcements from the campaign.

Putin offered his congratulations to Trump on Thursday. Moscow observers believe the two could speak by phone before Trump's inauguration on January 20. Putin has made known his readiness to resume contact with the United States.

Putin and Biden have not spoken since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and diplomatic relations have hit a low. This year there has been contact at a lower level over the exchange of prisoners, and military leaders continue to have occasional contact.

Trump has long insisted that he could rapidly end the war in Ukraine, possibly before inauguration day. His opponents have criticized him for being too close to Putin and other autocratic leaders.
I moved my family to Puerto Rico for my job  we were excited about the warm weather and beaches.

Once we moved, we struggled to adjust, and we felt a lot of loneliness being far from family.

We went back to Pennsylvania after a year. I wish we'd thought about the move more before doing it.

In 2015, the opportunity to move from Pennsylvania to Puerto Rico presented itself by way of a job offer with a med-tech company.

I'd lived there when I was younger, and my wife at the time and two younger daughters were excited to move somewhere new. We fell in love with the idea of living on an island, having warm weather year-round, and being close to the beach.

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So, I took the job and moved the first week of April. In June, my daughters finished their school year, and the rest of my family joined me on the island.

My company hired movers to pack and ship our belongings and my then-wife's vehicle. We were put up in a hotel since our belongings would take several weeks to arrive.

I could feel the tension in the family begin to build up in our new home

Though the hotel was spacious, it was nothing like the home we'd just left in Pennsylvania.

My then-wife's car hadn't arrived yet, and there was nothing within walking distance, so my family stayed in the hotel until I came "home" from work.

Toward the end of July, our belongings arrived at our rental home in a gated community in Catano, but the car was still on the way.

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Until it arrived, we had to share my vehicle. She was used to doing all her errands during the day, and now she had to wait for me to get home. This caused a lot of tension and arguments.

Then, two days after we moved into our new house, I turned on the faucet in the kitchen, and no water came out. I asked my neighbor whether he knew of any issues  he told me the island was experiencing its worst drought in decades, and water was being rationed.

We now had to make sure to store enough water each week to cook and bathe once it was turned off. We'd never experienced something like that before and struggled to adjust.

The move also put a strain on our social lives and really impacted my youngest daughter

I tried to spend weekends exploring beaches and other areas of Puerto Rico, but it only helped so much. One Pixel/Shutterstock

We enrolled my youngest daughter in an online high-school program since she didn't speak Spanish, Puerto Rico's primary language.

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But the physical isolation and having to do schoolwork independently affected her grades and social life, driving her to tears on several occasions. She was close to her older sister, but she was flying back to the mainland to start college soon.

Really, living in Puerto Rico was a lonely experience for all of us.

We used to have family a short drive away and even some we could visit after a few hours of driving. Now, our nearest family members were at least a four-hour flight away.

Though I made connections at work with my colleagues and employees, they didn't extend outside work. All my close friends were back on the US mainland.

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We also didn't have much of a social life. During the weekends, I tried to fight off the loneliness and lack of social connection by exploring different parts of the island, but it was short-lived. Once Monday came, I was off to work again.

After about a year of stress and tension, we returned to the States

We lasted in Puerto Rico for about a year until my family and our belongings headed back to Pennsylvania. I stayed on the island by myself for four months until I could find a new job.

Though we enjoyed our proximity to the beach and mountains and the island's warm weather, I feel as if we didn't think the whole move through. We didn't spend enough time considering the impact that such a significant shift could have on our lives.

We undermined how important community was and how difficult it could be to adapt to a new place  especially one I'm not sure we researched enough.

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If I had to do it all over again, I would weigh the pros and cons of such a move, research current events in our destination, and then make an informed decision rather than an emotional one.

Read the original article on Business Insider
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  A Mobile Police Department lieutenant is currently on administrative leave, after serving with the department for nearly 20 years.

According to Police Chief William Jackson, Lt. Sean Fisher was placed on leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation that began in late October.

Chief Jackson released a statement, saying in part, I took immediate action to place him on administrative leave, and while I cant discuss the ongoing investigation at this time, I will update you if any additional steps are taken going forward.

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Fisher became a Mobile Police Officer in 2005. In his nearly two decades of service, hes racked up several accolades, including being named Officer of the Month in February 2007 for assisting in the removal of large amounts of drugs from the streets.

In 2008, he went to the Special Operations Jaguar Detail, a unit responsible for arresting violent offenders.

Fisher later served in the Second Precinct and Fourth Precinct as a patrol squad supervisor, and was assigned afterward to work in Tactical Intelligence and the Narcotics Unit. Most recently, Fisher served as a team leader on the SWAT Unit as a team leader.

Right now, the details remain unclear as to why Fisher was placed on leave. We will keep you updated as this story develops.

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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 WKRG News 5.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah  Missouri State University President Richard Biff Williams is one of many accused in a federal misconduct lawsuit from his time as the Utah Tech University president.

The federal lawsuit against Utah Tech accuses Williams of delivering a sexual display to a high-ranking Utah Tech administrative member and falsely attributing it to three other staff members.

Three Utah Tech staff members who have been with the school since 2020 filed the lawsuit: Rebecca Broadbent, Jared Rasband and Hazel Sainsbury. Broadbent led the General Counsel, Rasband was a senior associate of the general counsel and Sainsbury was the Title IX Coordinator.

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Williams was the president of Utah Tech University from 2014 until his resignation on Jan. 5, 2024.

The plaintiffs allege that Utah Tech leadership was hostile towards Title IX and Title VII protections, and when they tried to make the university comply with its discrimination policies, they were met with strong pushback, intimidation, discrimination, harassment, abuse, and retaliation from Utah Techs highest leaders.

The lawsuit alleges that on Nov. 8, 2023, Williams left an obscene display of two eggplants and a zucchini resembling male genitalia  referred to as a zuweenie  on the front porch of Vice President Jordon Sharps home during his recovery from his vasectomy. The lawsuit says Williams falsely attributed the gesture and the accompanying note to Broadbent, Rasband and Sainsbury, but the lawsuit says two of their names were misspelled.

RING doorbell footage captured a man, presumed to be Williams, delivering the zuweenie and the note with the plaintiffs names to Sharps residence while wearing a cinched-up hoodie that hid his face. Sharp did not know who delivered the vulgar display, and when he showed photos of the display, the note and the RING doorbell footage to Williams, Williams denied his involvement.

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Williams mentioned dropping off a gift for Sharp to his Chief of Staff Courtney White that morning, implying that the gift would be something they could laugh about after the fact, according to the lawsuit.

Missouri man convicted in conspiracy to murder U.S. Border Patrol agents

Sharp sent that info to a group chat that included top administrative officials. In the group chat, The responses include All Becky! and Please report Hazel toHazel, and Most impressive zuweenie Ive ever seen! Sharp also texted in the group chat that the plaintiffs really did their homework(winking face emoji). The suit also alleges that top officials did not notify the plaintiffs about the incident and did not report the incident to the Title IX office, HR, or the Universitys Whistleblower Hotline.

Shortly after the incident, Rasband tried to make clear to Utah Tech cabinet members that he, along with the General Counsel and Title IX office, would never do something as offensive as this act.

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When Broadbent reported the incident to Williams, the lawsuit alleges he dismissed her concerns about the incident and that he attempted to manipulate and silence her about the incidents by assuring her that the Plaintiffs were loved and part of the family.

The lawsuit alleges Williams false attribution to the gesture was retaliation for an incident in 2021, when the plaintiffs investigated the posting and display in a public break room on

campus of highly obscene and vulgar sexual comments with their names attributed to the

comments, which was going on for more than four years.

On Nov. 13, 2023, Williams revealed his involvement in delivering the sexual innuendo to Sharp to his Chief of Staff and was worried he would be on the front page of The Chronicle of Higher Education because of the complaint.

When HR found out Williams was behind the sexual innuendo, the plaintiffs argued the university conducted a scam investigation to protect then-President Williams and the plaintiffs concerns were downplayed.

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Instead of conducting a proper investigation, the lawsuit argues that the university let Williams resign on his own terms on Jan. 5, 2024, with Williams stating that he was exploring other opportunities. Williams was also allowed to live in the presidential home for six months rent-free until he took the job at Missouri State University.

Largest hobby and toy store in MO being built in Springfield

In February 2024, Utah Tech Interim President White placed Broadbent on administrative leave while none of the defendants were placed on leave, even though according to the lawsuit, Broadbent was on the receiving end of the defendants misconduct. The lawsuit alleges that Interim President White was looking to fire Broadbent as the defendants continued to make false statements about Broadbent and the General Counsel.

The plaintiffs assert that Williams and Utah Tech took discriminatory and defamatory actions against them and failed to comply with Title IX protections as retaliation for the plaintiffs enforcing compliance with Title IX rules and reporting Title IX incidents.

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The lawsuit says the defendants actions made one thing very clear: If you raise complaints against your President and other senior administrators at your public institution of higher education, you will not receive due process and you will face adverse consequences. Meanwhile, those who perpetrate misconduct will be outwardly rewarded and receive protective treatment from the institution and its governing and advisory bodies.

Williams responded to the lawsuit on Saturday, sending a letter to Missouri State University students, faculty and staff.

To our campus community, I am writing to you regarding recent media coverage about something I did during my tenure as president of Utah Tech University. While I was there, I initated what I intended to be a humorous gesture toward a member of our staff. I have since come to realize that the prank was not approriate. This was a mistake. I regret my lapse in judgement, and I accept this as a learning moment. The incident is now included in a lawsuit that was shared with the media. I apologize for the undue attention this has brought to the university. This expierence continues to remind me how important it is to always strive to foster a campus enviroment that is safe and welcoming to all students, faculty and staff. Richard Biff Williams

The story was first reported in the Salt Lake Tribune on Friday.

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OzarksFirst reached out to Missouri State University for comment. The board says they still have confidence in Williams.

The Board of Governors of Missouri State University continues to have confidence in President Williams ability to lead Missouri State University. We are committed to working alongside him to ensure that the university is a safe and welcoming environment to all students, faculty and staff.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  The Sioux City Musketeers fell to Waterloo 5-4 in a shootout on Military Appreciation Night.

The Muskies got goals from Connor Arsenault, Talan Blanck, Justin Stupka and Drake Murray.

The loss means Waterloo swept the two-game weekend series and handed Sioux City a two game losing streak.

Sioux City heads up I-29 to face Sioux Falls on Tuesday.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
As per the information from Special Task Force (STF) Kolkata, the Kolkata Police detained and searched Mohamed Ismail Khan (53), a resident of Jharkhand on Saturday night.

A total of three single-shot firearms, 2 seven mm automatic pistols, 50 rounds of eight mm live cartridges and 40 rounds of 7.65 mm live cartridges were seized from Khan's possession, as per STF.

A case has been registered against the accused who will be presented in the Court.

Further investigation is underway. (ANI)
On Thursday, Council Delegate Dr. Andy Nez joined Navajo Nation President Dr. Buu Nygren at the Red Lake Chapter as he signed Legislation 0149-24, establishing the Navajo Nation Remediation Fund to provide dedicated funding for cleaning up contaminated sites throughout the Navajo Nation.

Sponsored by Dr. Nez and passed during the 2024 Fall Council Session, Legislation 0149-24 creates the Navajo Nation Environmental Remediation Fund. This fund is sustained through an automatic two-percent allocation from the General Fund, enabling ongoing financial support for remediation efforts led by the Navajo Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) and its contractors. The funds purpose is to identify, assess, and clean up former business and industrial sites on the Navajo Nation that have been contaminated with hazardous chemicals, which pose risks to public health, livestock, crops, groundwater, and the environment.

Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning.

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Ahead of the signing, Dr. Nez met with President Nygren to discuss the significant impact this legislation will have on communities like Sawmill, Red Lake, and others across the Navajo Nation.

One of the main things about this legislation is that it ensures the protection, longevity, and importance of our land. Over time, there have been a lot of different businesses, whether commercial or industrial, that have disrupted our land, Council Delegate Dr. Nez said. The intent of this legislation is to address these issues. When we talk about business sites, its the contamination efforts that were helping clean up through remediation efforts.

The signing at Red Lake Chapter held particular importance, given its proximity to the former Navajo Forest Products Industry (NFPI) site, which has been closed for over 25 years but remains heavily contaminated from its operational past. Dr. Nez recalled introducing initial legislation to address the NFPI site on November 30, 2023.

At that time, I mentioned that these efforts and this legislation are for our future generations. We want them to grow up in space and land that is not only beautified but has potential for different opportunities, he said. The establishment of the Navajo Nation Remediation Fund is part of a greater economic plan

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NEPA Executive Director Stephen Etsitty praised the collaborative efforts of the chapters involved in ensuring a solution to a pressing need. An exciting thing for me is to get the cleanup going. Section by section, we can get the land in shape for reuse, Director Etsitty said. Who knows what the children of the future will be able to use this land for once its cleaned up.

Dr. Nez expressed gratitude to all those who contributed to the development of this legislation, including the Crystal, Fort Defiance, Red Lake, and Sawmill Chapters; former NEPA Remedial Project Manager Pam Maples; Executive Director of the Navajo Townsite Community Development Corporation Prestene Garnenez; NEPA Executive Director Stephen Etsitty; and NEPA Waste Regulatory and Compliance Department Manager Warren Roan.

About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. "

Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net
Welcome to the governors race edition of our Under the Dome politics newsletter. Im Dawn Vaughan, The News & Observers Capitol bureau chief.

With Democratic Attorney General Josh Steins decisive victory on Election Day over Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the Sunday editions of this newsletter will now focus on Stein, his transition and the end of Democratic Gov. Roy Coopers administration.

Stein has already named the top leadership of his transition team and is asking people to apply for other jobs on his transition website. He picked a Republican for one spot, and Coopers former chief of staff for another. Heres more about them:

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 Kristi Jones: Jones was Coopers longtime chief of staff who just left this summer for a private sector job at the natural gas and electric utility company NiSource.

Gov. Roy Coopers Chief of Staff Kristi Jones, right, and General Counsel Eric Fletcher, center, testify before the House Oversight and Reform Committee to respond to accusations of meddling in the SBI by its Director Bob Schurmeier Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at the State Legislative Building.

 Richard Stevens: Stevens is a Republican and former state senator, from 2003 to 2012. Hes an attorney at Smith Anderson law firm. Stein was a state senator from 2009 to 2016, so the men served together in the Senate. Stevens co-chaired the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee that writes the state budget  which is the subject of major negotiation between the governor and General Assembly every year. Stevens has served as chair of the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees.

 Seth Dearmin: Dearmin has already worked with Stein for more than a decade and served as chief of staff at the N.C. Department of Justice, and was Steins campaign manager during his 2016 run for attorney general. Before that, he worked at Nexus Strategies, which is the firm co-founded by Morgan Jackson, the key adviser to Stein and Cooper.

 Malcomb Coley: Coley is an executive at EY, a global professional services company, and a partner at Bright Hope Capital, which invests in minority-owned businesses. He is also on the Board of Trustees at both Queens University and UNC Wilmington.

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 Esther Manheimer: Manheimer has been mayor of Asheville since 2013, and is a law partner at Van Winkle Law Firm. In Steins announcement, Manheimer is described as actively leading and contributing to response and recovery efforts in partnership with local, state, and federal leaders and agencies. In Steins victory speech, he said that Helene relief and rebuilding in Western North Carolina would be a priority of his incoming administration.

 Christie McNeill: McNeill is executive director of the transition team, and served as a partner at McKinsey and Company, a management consulting firm.

We have the opportunity to make a real difference in North Carolina, and I am looking forward to working closely with them to hire hard-working, public-spirited people who will move our state forward, Stein said in a statement.

Cooper staff departure

As Stein builds his new team, we can expect that Coopers team will soon move on to new jobs.

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There has been at least one departure from Coopers staff already as his time in office winds down. Mary Scott Winstead, who was on his communications staff, has left for a job at Duke Energy as lead communications manager.

Cooper appoints new labor commissioner

Republican Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson, who did not run for reelection, resigned his position after the election. Republican Luke Farley is the commissioner-elect, but does not take office until January. In Coopers role as governor, he is tasked with appointing someone to finish out Dobsons term.

On Friday, Cooper appointed Kevin OBarr, who already works at the N.C. Department of Labor as bureau chief of Consultative Services. OBarr has worked at the state agency for 24 years in various capacities.

More coverage of Steins victory

Our coverage of Steins win on Tuesday night didnt end there. I have another story looking ahead to the 2025 legislative session and whats different now that the era of Cooper, Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore as the three most powerful politicians ends in December. Like Cooper, Stein will be a Democrat in the Executive Mansion negotiating with a Republican-controlled legislature. Read my story about how Berger, Stein and the likely next House speaker, Rep. Destin Hall, will work together, and how they wont.

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NC elects a Democratic governor and Republican legislature. Again. Whats different this time.

Also, read my quick primer on Stein.

North Carolina will have a new governor. Heres what to know about Democrat Josh Stein

Stay informed about #ncpol

Dont forget to follow our Under the Dome tweets and listen to our Under the Dome podcast to stay up to date. Our new episode posting Monday will be our second post-Election Day episode within a week; I talk with colleagues Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi, Korie Dean and Kyle Ingram about the judicial, Council of State and legislative races.

You can sign up to receive the Under the Dome newsletter at newsobserver.com/newsletters. Want your friends to get our email, too? Forward them this newsletter so they can sign up. You can also email me questions you may have about the governors race at dvaughan@newsobserver.com.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.  Now that a proposed amendment to enshrine abortion access in Floridas constitution has been defeated, hundreds of volunteers and organizers across the state face the difficult question: Whats next?

Will Floridians of childbearing age continue to live under a six-week abortion ban indefinitely? Could restrictions on abortion become even tighter in the state?

In the days after the amendments defeat, reproductive rights advocates considered next steps. Strategy discussions included everything from legislative efforts, to legal options, to rallying around candidates supportive of abortion access in future elections.

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At the same time, independent abortion clinics in the state pondered their future and medical experts recognized that finding residents to train in Florida for obstetrics just got more complicated.

Along with the women and families who must continue to abide by the six-week ban, Florida doctors acknowledged their now long-term predicament of increased risk when treating women for pregnancy complications. Some also considered the conversations they will now have with women of childbearing age.

The overwhelming opinion is that taking the fight back to the Floridian lawmakers who passed the states six-week ban is not the answer.

We are going to take a multi-pronged approach, said Anna Hochkammer, executive director of Florida Womens Freedom Coalition, which worked to gain support for Amendment 4.

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Although the amendment fell short of the 60% threshold needed to pass, 57% of Florida voters did support it. Hochkammer believes that will send a message to state lawmakers.

Six million people from both parties voted yes on 4, so you would expect the more moderate members of the Legislature would see this as a mandate to walk back some of the more extreme policies on abortion, Hochkammer said. We plan to work with the more moderate members of the Legislature to deal with the most egregious concepts of the ban.

Outside of the Legislature, Hochkammer said reproductive rights advocates also will turn to the courts to provide legal support or sue on behalf of women harmed by the six-week ban.

And lastly, Hochkammer said abortion advocates will begin working to unseat lawmakers who refuse to accept the wants of their constituents when it comes to abortion rights.

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Florida Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book, who had rallied Broward voters to support the amendment, vowed she would keep fighting, highlighting that Floridians of all political parties voted for the amendment. However, she doesnt foresee the Republican supermajority in the Florida Legislature changing its mind about the six-week ban.

We have to be realistic and pragmatic, Book said. The sober reality is this is not going to change. While DeSantis is in the governors mansion and while Republicans control the Senate, not much will change. But I am going to be the thorniest thorn in their side, reminding them abortion access is what the majority of Floridians believe in. I am going to make sure the spirit of what the people want is carried out in our state. Our fight will be in small wins.

Book said it likely will take a death for lawmakers to understand the bans effect. Women will die who cant receive appropriate care. Its only a matter of time before it happens here. They will say its the doctor or hospitals fault, but the reality is its because of these bans.

She believes the remedy will come in future elections: In two more years, when theres a gubernatorial race, we will fight back and win seats.

Will Florida women still have options?

At least a half-dozen abortion clinics in Florida already have closed since the state enacted its initial restrictions on abortions of 15 weeks in July 2022, and its six-week ban in May of this year.

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Now, more shutdowns are expected.

Elena Senises of the Miramar Womens Center said her clinic has been open for 28 years and provides care to a diverse population of women in Florida and the Caribbean.

We are still open, but we have had only one patient this week, she said. Everyone was hoping this six-week ban was a temporary thing, but now its permanent and I dont know what the governor plans to do next. He could ban abortion altogether.

We are going to do our best to hang on, Senises said. Its taking a toll on us, and its taking a toll on patients. From what I have seen here, a lot of women are going to try to take care of things themselves.

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Florida women who seek abortion care after six weeks of pregnancy, including those who discover a congenital deformity after their routine 20-week anatomy scan of the fetus, continue to have two options: travel or the abortion pill.

Women still can travel to states like North Carolina, Virginia or New York, where abortion care is legally available longer into pregnancy.

Abortion funds help cover appointment and travel costs for people who need financial assistance.

Fund operators say they saw an increase in donations this week with the defeat of Amendment 4, but they believe the ongoing need will quickly outstrip their funding  and they worry about what legislative actions could be ahead.

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We got an influx of individual donations (Wednesday) of $10,000, said Stephanie Loraine Pineiro, executive director of Florida Access Network. Thats great, however, only 23 percent of the donations were recurring.

After Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, Florida abortion funds experienced a boost in donations. However, the donations dwindled as time passed, and the need for travel assistance increased.

We as an organization had been cautiously optimistic about the results of the election, Pineiro said. Now, whats next is the possibility of clinics closing and the possibility that people doing the type of work we do, helping people travel, will be criminalized.

We will be continuing to fund abortion travel as much as we can within the context of the law, she said.

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Jessica Hatem, executive director of Palm Beach Countys Emergency Medical Assistance, had hoped the demand for travel assistance would ease with the passage of a proposed constitutional amendment allowing abortion in Florida. Now, like Pineiro, her focus is on fundraising.

This situation in Florida is incredibly hostile, she said. I dont know if the money needed to meet this hostility is there. For now, we are still here to get people access to care and quality health information, provide wraparound support, and provide logistics to get out of state, and thats not changing.

The alternative to travel is mail-order abortion pills. Providers from other parts of the U.S. are shipping abortion medication into Florida every day, according to the Society of Family Planning.

Although Florida law requires an in-person visit to receive abortion pills, women are having telehealth appointments with doctors in states where providers are shielded from prosecution.

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In just a three-month time frame this year, between March and May, Florida saw about 400 abortions through mail-order medication provided under shield laws, according to a We Count Report by the Society of Family Planning. Unless federal action limits this option, experts believe the fallout from Amendment 4s defeat will result in more abortions through mail-order medication.

Access to birth control

With abortion access now limited in Florida for the foreseeable future, doctors say their conversations with patients will change.

If you are a proactive doctor, you should tell every patient who has the potential to get pregnant that we live in a state where there basically is a total ban, said Dr. Cecilia Grande, a Miami gynecologist. They should know that if they are planning to be pregnant and something is wrong, unless its fatal, if they choose to terminate, they cant do it in this state.

Conversations around birth control may shift, too.

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In June, Senate Republicans blocked a bill that would have created a national law allowing access to birth control. States now are left to decide if they will protect access to birth control.

After the Nov. 5 election, some abortion backers expressed concern about birth control access going forward.

Cynthia Plotch, co-founder of Winx Health, which sells a morning-after pill, said women are stockpiling Plan B, which is taken the day after a woman believes she may have become pregnant. They are worried that under the Trump Administration, bad things are coming, she said.

Plotch said the day after the election, her company sold six times as many packages of Plan B than the seven days prior. Its got an over two-year shelf life, and they are buying it mostly in bulk, she said. Things happen, and there are so many reasons why having access to a secondary option is so incredibly important right now, she said.

In Florida, she said, sales also rose this year after the six-week ban went into effect. When you have to drive 18 hours to terminate a pregnancy, you will do anything you possibly can to not get in that situation, she said.

Pineiro said after the failure of Amendment 4, her abortion fund plans to ramp up its free distribution of birth control and Plan B pills.

We want to make sure people have the tools they need to take care of themselves, she said.

Medical care and physicians

Dr. Rob Davidson, executive director of the Committee to Protect Health Care, said Florida physicians who supported Amendment 4 want to prevent the rise in pregnant women dying while pregnant, during childbirth, or soon after, which has happened in Texas following the states 2021 ban on abortion care.

Going forward, his organizations strategy is constant, persistent advocacy in Tallahassee.

I think you have to have doctors continuing to tell stories of patients who have suffered because of this ban, Davidson said. All we can do is continue to turn up the volume and keep the same level of advocacy going into the next legislative session as we did going into the election.

Minority groups must rethink their strategy

Reproductive rights organizations representing men, women, Hispanics, and Blacks targeted messages and canvassed neighborhoods to seek support for Amendment 4. Now some of those groups are contemplating how to better educate Hispanics.

We know we need to be having more conversations with Latinos in Florida, said Lupe M. Rodriguez, executive director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice. When we talked to people in Hialeah, they were with us on the amendment, but they also voted for representatives who dont support that access. That huge disconnection people have is part of the work of what comes next.

Rodriguez said most Latinos live in states that have severely restricted abortion. It means a ton for our future economic prosperity and educational opportunities.

She said the plan is to knock on doors and educate Latinos on how representation works in the hope that they will make the connection in future elections.

Legal funds form to fight federal laws

Experts say a Trump administration could further limit abortion access in a way that could affect Floridians.

On Thursday, Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Womens Law Center, said her organization will work to make it clear to the Trump Administration that Americans expect adherence to his campaign promise. Trump has said that he wouldnt sign a federal abortion ban and that states should decide their own policies.

Graves said she is concerned about efforts detailed in the Republicans Project 2025 to restrict access to abortion pills, especially when they are administered through telehealth or delivered by mail. However, she believes Americans will push back. There are countless ways to restrict and upend abortion access further in this country. We think the evidence of what happened at the ballot this year, the fact that most ballot measures were so successful, so popular across parties, demonstrates that we have a base to build on to secure reproductive freedom.

Graves said Florida women also need to know that her organization has a legal defense fund for anyone who needs legal help securing abortion access.

There are organizations like mine who use the law, who use advocacy, who galvanize people and remind them of their own power because our current system of government actually is a democracy, she said.
Donald Trump has ruled out appointing Nikki Haley to his Cabinet, after the pair fought a bitter Republican primary battle earlier this year.

The president-elect said he appreciated Ms Haleys work during his first term in the White House, when she served as US ambassador to the UN, but did not offer a reason why neither she nor Mike Pompeo would be given a job.

Those close to Mr Trump have suggested her foreign policy views would make her an unsuitable appointment to his second America First administration.

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But she could be poised to make a return to front-line politics at the next presidential election.

Ms Haley, the 52-year-old former governor of South Carolina, based much of her Republican primary campaign on her foreign policy credentials and hawkish stance on Russia and China.

She played up her diplomatic experience and argued that US support for Ukraine was a long-term investment to prevent contagion in Europe and hot war between Russia and Nato states.

This is about preventing war  its always been about preventing war, she said in January. She also described her opponent as unhinged and toxic.

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In return, Mr Trump and his allies accused Ms Haley of belonging to a warmongering wing of the GOP that would draw America into more foreign conflicts.

On Sunday, Donald Trump Jr reposted a tweet calling Ms Haley a war hawk.

Ms Haley attracted significant support from a minority of Republicans who opposed Mr Trump, but only won state primaries in Vermont and Washington DC.

After conceding the contest, she initially refused to back her rival, but eventually gave her tepid support at the Republican National Convention in July.

You dont have to agree with Trump 100 per cent of the time to vote for him, she said.

Commentators have speculated that her weak support for Mr Trump means she intends to sit out his second term before launching a second run for the Republican nomination ahead of 2028s presidential election.

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Some on the moderate wing of the GOP see Ms Haley as the future leader of the party who could beat Mr Trumps MAGA successor.

Mr Trump cannot run for a third presidential term in 2028, and will likely endorse an ally to compete for the Republican nomination after he steps down.

Contenders for that role include JD Vance, the vice president-elect, and members of his own family, including Mr Trump Jr.

During Mr Trumps second term, Ms Haley is likely to oppose many of his foreign policy decisions in an attempt to rebuild her profile on defence and security issues.

Mr Trumps election comes amid increased strategic competition between the US and China, and threats from Iran and its proxies in the Middle East.

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The latest results in downballot races suggest he will win a majority in both the House and Senate, giving him carte blanche to push through his foreign policy plans from January.

Since the primary race ended in March, Ms Haley has taken a job as the Walter P. Stern Chair at the Hudson Institute, a Right-leaning Washington think tank.

In May, she used her inaugural address to criticise isolationists in the Republican Party  although she did not name Mr Trump.

They believe if we leave the world alone, the world will leave us alone, she said.

They even say ignoring global chaos will somehow make our country more secure. It will not.

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This worldview has already put America in great danger, and the threat is mounting by the day.

She has also described the October 7 terror attacks by Hamas as a gift from Iran to Putin, and links the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine as evidence of an emerging anti-American alliance.

European leaders are concerned that Mr Trumps election will increase the burden of the war in Ukraine on other Nato members, and they will likely support internal Republican attempts to shore up US support in the coming years.

But if his plan to end the war in Ukraine rapidly after taking office is successful and does not require territorial concessions by Kyiv, Mr Trump could prove his critics wrong.

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Ms Haleys prospects as a candidate are therefore somewhat dependent on the outcome of the new America First foreign policy strategy, and developments on the ground in Ukraine and Gaza in the next four years.

For now, moderate Republicans are not counting her out. But after almost a decade of MAGA politics dominating the GOP, she has a significant mountain to climb.

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Salt Lake City Police arrested nine people at a motel along North Temple Street in late Oct.

Police received information about several people potentially burglarizing and criminally trespassing at a motel on North Temple Street in Salt Lake City, according to a press release from SLCPD.

LIST: Restaurants offering Veterans Day deals in Utah

The motel is reportedly set to be a temporary winter overflow shelter that will open later this month. While the motel was being converted into a shelter, several people gained access to more than 10 rooms and refused to leave when asked by management, according to the release.

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Police also said that some of the individuals were intimidating shelter workers.

On Oct. 29, police responded to the scene and made nine arrests. Police said many of the individuals had outstanding warrants or were in possession of drugs.

The shelters management secured the rooms and are continuing their efforts to prepare the rooms for winter shelter, the release from SLCPD states.

No further information is available at this time.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
NEW YORK (PIX11)  On Saturday, fire crews in New Jersey are battling a forest fire that spans 2,000 acres in Passaic County, according to New Jersey Fire Service.

The fire also spread to Orange County, New York Officials said.

More Local News

Notice of the fire was posted on social media at around 8:00 p.m. Officials said that two Forest Fire Service helicopters capable of dropping 350 gallons of water were on the scene, and fire engines and crews were also on the ground battling the fire.

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The massive fire closed East Shore Road from Awosting Road to Greenwood Lake Turnpike and Beech Road. Officials also closed all trails in Long Pond Ironworks State Park and Tranquility Ridge.

This new forest fire comes as portions of New Jersey and New York are experiencing some of the worst drought conditions in the country.

The entire state of New Jersey is under a red flag warning.

Since last week, multiple fires have occurred in New York City and New Jersey amid dry weather and a record-breaking stretch of no rain.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The fire service will provide an update on Sunday, officials said.

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This story comprises reporting from Dominique Jack and Katie Corrado.

Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A 61-year-old man has been arrested and is facing murder and other charges in an apparent love triangle in Grant County, New Mexico State Police said.

Anthony Aveles, 61, was arrested on Nov. 1 after he allegedly killed a man and shot his own girlfriend in what the suspect described to police as a love triangle.

On Friday, Nov. 1, the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau was asked by the Bayard Police Department to investigate a homicide in Bayard. Bayard is about 10 miles east of Silver City.

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State Police say its agents learned that at about 2 p.m. on Nov. 1, the Grant County Sheriffs Office received reports of shots fired on U.S. 180 near milepost 119.

Deputies spoke to the victim in that shooting  a 54-year-old woman  who told them that she was driving her vehicle when her boyfriend, identified as Aveles, shot her.

The woman victim was transported to an area hospital with what were called non-life-threatening injuries.

After the shooting, Aveles, who was driving in a separate vehicle, fled the scene, State Police said.

Grant County Sheriffs Deputies notified surrounding agencies and began a search for Aveles.

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While the Bayard Police Department searched for Aveles, officers received a second report of shots fired at 500 N. East St. in Bayard. When officers arrived at the home, they found 46-year-old David Ruiz dead inside.

After the second shooting, law enforcment received a phone call from a woman who said her estranged husband, Aveles, had killed her son-in-law, David Ruiz, State Police said.

Bayard Police found Aveles, armed with a handgun, at another home in that town. He surrendered to law enforcement and was taken into custody without incident, State Police said.

The handgun in Aveles possession was recovered by officers, State Police said.

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When Aveles was interviewed by State Police investigators, he told them that Ruiz had been in a romantic relationship with his girlfriend, who was the victim in the first shooting, State Police said.

Aveles was booked into the Grant County Detention Center and charged with first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder and shooting at a motor vehicle.

This incident remains under active investigation by the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau. Once complete, the investigation will be turned over 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 KTSM 9 News.
GRANT COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE)  A man has been charged with a murder in Grant County, the New Mexico State Police (NMSP) stated.

NMSP said on November 1, 2024, the Grant County Sheriffs Office responded to a shooting call near milepost 119 on US 180. A 54-year-old woman told authorities her boyfriend shot her while she was driving. He was in a separate vehicle, they stated, and fled. He was identified as Anthony Aveles, 61.

Another shooting report came in, but this time, it was at 500 N. East Street in Bayard, New Mexico. David Ruiz, 46, was found dead at the scene.

Story continues below

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A woman called the police and stated her estranged husband (identified as Aveles) had shot her son-in-law. Authorities responded to 705 Rogers Street in Bayard and allegedly found him with a handgun. He was taken into custody.

During an interview with agents, Aveles reportedly said he had accused Ruis of being in a romantic relationship with the victim of the first shooting. After a phone call between Ruiz and Aveles, Ruiz was shot and killed.

Aveles was charged with first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, and shooting a a motor vehicle.

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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 KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
This is how fascism rises to power

Trumpism is the most powerful force in American politics, and its not going away | Opinion, (sacbee.com, Nov. 6)

When I was in high school, I first learned the history of the German Nazi party and the atrocities they committed: How the Nazis killed those who opposed them, blamed their own failings on individuals with different heritages and served as merchants of hatred.

Germany was and still is socially and economically similar to the U.S., so it astounded me that such disreputable individuals were able to be voted into office in 1932. I believed in my heart that could never happen here due to our strong principals based upon freedom and equality for all. The results of this weeks election, however, proved that my belief in American voters was misguided.

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We have now viewed first-hand how fascism rises to power in our own backyard.

David Mitchell

Sacramento

Election reform

Improving U.S. elections while keeping Electoral College, (sacbee.com, Oct. 31)

UC Berkeley Law School Dean Erwin Chemerinskys article on the Electoral College was right on: We must pivot to a direct election of the presidential electors. California has 54 electors  two senators plus 52 congressional seats.

What would change? Purple congressional districts, like Rep. Ami Beras District 6, would attract lots of campaign attention. It would also mean that voters would feel that their votes really count.

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Now, why would a Republican vote if its pre-ordained that Californias 54 electors will go Democratic? Campaign strategies would also change, as the focus would go to individual congressional districts. It would mean a national campaign  not just a focus on seven critical, undecided states.

Joe Dobrowolski

Fair Oaks

Opinion

A very real health risk

Cannabis lounges in Sacramento? City council doesnt seem too high on that idea | Opinion, (sacbee.com, Nov. 2)

I am disappointed to see this attack on public health. California leads the U.S. in tobacco control, including banning second-hand smoking in indoor workplaces. Yet, in his opinion column, writer LeBron Hill attacks public health experts raising the very real danger of second-hand smoke exposure of cannabis lounge workers as nuts.

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Those public health nuts are the reason California ranks in the top ten states for life expectancy. Tobacco and cannabis produce many of the same toxins when smoked. Anyone who has walked by a smoking lounge smells the smoke outside, and cannabis lounge workers will be exposed to toxins maintaining and cleaning these spaces.

Lets not allow second-hand smoke to return to Sacramento.

Richard Pan, MD, MPH

Sacramento

City council should reject cannabis proposal

Cannabis lounges in Sacramento? City council doesnt seem too high on that idea | Opinion, (sacbee.com, Nov. 2)

The Sacramento City Council shouldnt turn back time on Nov. 12 by approving smoking inside cannabis cafes. Smoke-free workplace policies, including bars, have protected the health of workers and patrons since the 90s. Ventilation and masks are not safe solutions for the fine particulates, gasses and vapors of secondhand smoke. Cleaning up indoor toxic residue of thirdhand smoke is very expensive. And asking people to move to a no smoking section is like asking people to move to a no peeing section of a swimming pool.

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The city council needs to engage with the local health community about the growing health risks and burden of inhaled cannabis. More studies show that cannabis-related disorders have mental and physical health risks, including significant risks for cancer.

Lets continue fostering healthy environments for the people of Sacramento.

David Tom Cooke, MD

Elisa Tong, MD

Elk Grove

Return to office failure

California state workers return to office, but business lags, (sacbee.com, Oct. 28)

It should come as no surprise that the return-to-office experiment for state workers has failed to revitalize Downtown Sacramento. When state workers were forced back into the office this past summer, rising costs for food, parking and fuel effectively amounted to a new tax on incomes. It was foolish to predict that state workers  aggrieved about these new expenditures  would happily plunk down $20 for lunch after being treated like a captive audience.

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Traffic is worse, with pointless commutes fueling the climate crisis in the form of unnecessary carbon, fine particulate matter, black carbon and microplastic pollution.

End the flip-flop: Lets cut our losses and go back to maximizing telework when feasible, allowing workers to spend their dollars locally.

Steven Sander

Sacramento

EPA must act

Invasive species posing immediate threat found in California, a first in North America, (sacbee.com, Oct. 31)

Halloween brought news of a scary new alien invasion: the discovery of Golden Mussels in the California Delta. This harmful invasive species almost certainly arrived in a ships ballast water.

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That neednt have happened: If the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had only done what the Clean Water Act required it to do and implemented effective regulations to control ballast water discharges, the mussel would never have reached U.S. waters. In 2022, 34 members of Congress and 180 environmental, fishing and public health organizations and Native American tribes begged the EPA to establish effective ballast water rules, but the agency never responded.

Now, water supply systems and freshwater ecosystems throughout California  and potentially throughout much of North America  are at risk. This invasion was both predictable and predicted, and fully preventable.

There will be more  and possibly more harmful  invasions if the EPA doesnt act now.

Andrew Cohen

Richmond
Speaking to ANI on Saturday, the spiritual leader expressed confidence in "achieving success" in the matter.

"Until the decision on Krishna Janmabhoomi comes in our favour, I will not go to any Krishna temple to have darshan. If I am called to the court to give evidence, I will go. Very soon success will be achieved," he said while speaking to ANI in Rajasthan's Jaipur.

Speaking on the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir matter, the spiritual leader said, "I am sure that very soon we will get Pakistan-occupied Kashmir."

The dispute revolves around the location of the Shahi Idgah Mosque in Mathura, which was reportedly built during the reign of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb after demolishing a temple at the birthplace of Lord Krishna.

Earlier on October 23, the Allahabad High Court dismissed a plea by the Shahi Idgah Mosque committee to recall its January 11, 2024 order, which consolidated all suits filed by Hindu devotees related to the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute in Mathura.

Justice Mayank Kumar Jain dismissed the plea. The recall petition concerned 15 cases, and the court had reserved its decision on the matter for October 16.

On January 11, a single judge directed the consolidation of 15 suits related to the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute. This decision, made 'in the interest of justice,' was based on an application filed by Hindu plaintiffs under Order IV-A of the Civil Procedure Code.

On August 1, Justice Jain also rejected applications from the Shahi Idgah Mosque committee challenging the maintainability of the cases filed by the opposing party. (ANI)
NEW YORK (PIX11)  An 18-year-old died while fighting a 2,500-acre wildfire burning in New York and New Jersey, according to the New York State Police.

Dariel Vasquez was fighting a fire Saturday in Greenwood Lake with the New York State Parks Department when he died, police said. He was fatally injured by a fallen tree, according to the New York State Parks Department.

Much-needed rain coming as fires rage on in NY, NJ

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I commend his dedication to serving and protecting his fellow New Yorkers, and his bravery on the front lines, said Gov. Kathy Hochul. My prayers go out to his family, friends and coworkers during this difficult time.

The fire broke out Saturday in West Milford in New Jersey and Orange County in New York, fire officials said. By Sunday morning, the flames had spread to burn 2,500 acres, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. The fire was 0% contained Saturday evening.

The cause of the fire is still unknown, fire officials said.

Our State employees are working around the clock to protect our communities and we are keeping them close in our thoughts as they put their lives on the line to stop the spread of these wildfires, Hochul said.

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Multiple other fires burned over the weekend, including a blaze in Pompton Lakes, fire officials said. In New York, a fire burned near the citys water supply stored in the Catskills.

We continue to call on New Yorkers to do everything thats possible as we navigate the challenging time, Mayor Eric Adams told PIX11 News. We must be conscious of brush fires.  The loss of life is a signal of how dangerous it is.

Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter who has covered New York City since 2023 after reporting in Los Angeles for years. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
New city schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos is the citys highest paid employee  far exceeding the mayors salary  after she inherited the raise awarded to her predecessor David Banks, The Post has learned.

A Bronx-born mom, 42, Aviles-Ramos will get a whopping $414,799-a-year, a big jump from her last $232,754 Department of Education salary.

In addition, she will receive a wide range of fringe benefits, paid vacation and sick days  plus a car and driver, according to an Oct. 15 letter of appointment by Mayor Adams.

Melissa Aviles-Ramos is the highest-paid city employee with a $414,799-a-year salary. Robert Miller

Ex-chancellor Banks got the wage increase to $414,799, up 12.5% from $363,346 in the latest round of citywide managerial raises. Adams pushed the schools chief out in mid-October after the FBI seized Banks phones in an ongoing corruption investigation.

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Mayor Adams did not get a raise, his salary remaining at $258,750.

While Banks retired after 40 years in the city Department of Education, Aviles-Ramos joined the DOE as a teacher 17 years ago, and quickly rose up the ranks in nine different jobs, including principal, deputy superintendent and Banks chief of staff.

Mayor Adams pushed Banks out in October after the FBI seized the chancellors phones in a corruption probe. ZUMAPRESS.com

Aviles-Ramos briefly left the city in January to become a vice president at private Monroe College, but returned in July as deputy chancellor for family and community engagement and external affairs  apparently in anticipation of succeeding Banks.

Banks wife, First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, who also quit in a wave of City Hall departures, was getting $313,941 with a raise from $275,000.

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The next highest-paid city employees are Lisa Bova-Hiatt, NYCHA CEO at $393,531; Steven Meier, Chief Investment Officer and Deputy Comptroller for Asset Management, at $373,320; and Marek Tyszkiewicz, Chief Actuary at $349,723.

This week, Aviles-Ramos went to the SOMOS political conference in Puerto Rico with two other DOE officials, Cristina Melendez and Kenita Lloyd.

She is the first Puerto Rican woman to serve in this position, in a school system where 42 percent of kids are Hispanic, DOE spokesman Nathaniel Styer said.

He refused to say whether the city is paying for the trips, but a City Hall spokeswoman said taxpayers are funding the flights for several other government officials, who are also eligible for reimbursement of other expenses.
Nov. 10 (UPI) -- Dariel Vasquez, an 18-year-old volunteer firefighter from New Jersey, died Sunday in New York while helping battle a wildfire in Sterling Forest.

The Big Apple is cooking amid a historic drought and abnormally warm weather, raising the risk of wildfires in New York City's green spaces.

Vasquez was killed while battling a fire in a forest in Greenwood Lake, about 35 miles northwest of New York City, according to state police.

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A large brush fire in Prospect Park in Brooklyn reached two alarms on Friday, the FDNY said on social media, with dramatic photographs showing flames burning through the park's dense trees.

This is the latest in a recent series of wildfires in the area due to dry conditions prompted by an ongoing drought.

Meanwhile, another New Jersey man has been hit with arson and firearms charges after a wildfire in Jackson Township, located about 75 miles south of New York, the New Jersey Forest Service announced on Facebook.

That fire, which burned 350 acres behind a berm in the area of the Central Jersey Rifle Range, was ignited by magnesium shards of a Dragons Breath 12 gauge shotgun round fired by Richard Shashaty, 37, of Brick Township.

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"The firing of this type of incendiary or tracer ammunition is prohibited in the State of New Jersey," the Forest Service said.

The entire region has been affected by the drought, with one wildfire along the New Jersey border with New York able to be seen from space.

"We are able to see a wildfire along the NJ/NY border from space courtesy of @NOAASatellites," the National Weather Service in New York said in a statement Saturday.

"Some of this smoke/haze may be visible further south into NYC. Smaller fires are also faintly visible, one in central Passaic County, one in SE Orange County, one in SW Putnam County."

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Another fire has burned through at least 39 acres of wooded areas off the Palisades Interstate Parkway in Englewood Cliffs, just across the Hudson River from New York, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said.

That fire has reached 75% containment.

But a wildfire off Cannonball Road in Pompton Lakes, New Jersey, has burned through nearly 200 acres of land and threatened at least 55 structures.

The NWS said New York faced "another dry day with an elevated risk of wildfire spread if ignition occurs" on Sunday. An air quality warning remains in effect for the city and the lower Hudson Valley region through midnight.

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Back in New York, the FDNY said in a statement Saturday that it has since responded to "hundreds" of brush fires across the city's five boroughs.

"Some have been minor, and others have risen to multiple alarm fires that threaten life and property," the FDNY said.

"Brush fires can spread quickly, fueled by dry vegetation and windy conditions. October and November have been historically dry and warm."

New York Mayor Eric Adams banned grilling in city parks on Saturday. And the FDNY has encouraged New Yorkers to be mindful of smoking and where they dispose of their cigarette butts and urged people to remain on designated trails when visiting the city's parks.

"If you've been outside, you've likely smelled the smoke from wildfires in our region, including one that burned in Prospect Park," Adams said in a statement. "Stay indoors if you have respiratory issues and avoid burning outside while the risk of fires is high."
A horrifying video shows a masked man attempting to rip a six-year-old Hasidic Jewish boy out of the arms of his father in broad daylight as they walked down a Brooklyn sidewalk together Saturday.

The boys father was holding hands and walking down the sidewalk with his two sons at around 3:30 pm in Crown Heights when the masked assailant, who is seen wearing a blue and white letterman jacket, approaches the family and snatches the boy.

The would-be kidnapper, who appears to be over six feet tall, lifted the child into the air when his father swiftly yanked him back out of the maniacs arms.

A masked man snatched a Jewish boy from his father as the family was walking in Crown Heights, Brooklyn on Nov. 9, 2024. Yaacov Behrman/X

The Orthodox Jewish man then punches the masked man in the stomach.

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The attacker fled on foot, and no injuries were reported police sources confirm.

The investigation is ongoing and is being handled by the 71st precinct. No arrests have been made at this time.

A representative for Shomrim, a volunteer neighborhood patrol serving NYCs Jewish community, said that no words were exchanged between the attacker and his victims before or during the assault.

It is unclear why the man targeted the child.

The father pulled his son back out of the strangers arms. Yaacov Behrman/X

This video is shocking, wrote Chabad PR rep Yaacov Behrman in a post on X.

Something is clearly going on in Crown Heightsthere have been incident after incident over the past two weeks, he added.

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Crown Heights, a major population center for New Yorks ultra-orthodox community, is no stranger to unprovoked violent attacks.

The father and the assailant stared each other down before the suspect fled the area. Yaacov Behrman/X

A Jewish man, Yechiel Dabrowskin, was stabbed in the stomach and suffered internal bleeding after a crazed brute screamed Free Palestine before viciously attacking him in August.

The attacker, Vincent Sumpter, 22, was arrested with bail set at $100,000.
Russia is preparing to launch an offensive in Kursk Oblast with a force of 50,000 soldiers, including North Korean troops, the New York Times reported on Nov. 10, citing U.S. and Ukrainian officials.



The attack will begin in the near future, according to Ukrainian officials. Ukraine launched the surprise offensive into Russias Kursk Oblast in August and is holding its positions although Russian forces have managed to reclaim around half of the territory.



Russia has amassed the 50,000 troops without pulling its soldiers out of the eastern front, according to a new U.S. assessment. The east of Ukraine remains the priority for Russia and it has made notable gains in southern Donetsk Oblast, and near Toretsk, Chasiv Yar, and Kupiansk.



Although managing to retake parts of Kursk Oblast with missile strikes and artillery fire, Russia has not yet launched a major assault there, a U.S. official told the New York Times.



The new force comes as Russia saw its heaviest losses last month and the North Korean troops could be replacing injured and killed Russian soldiers, according to some experts. U.K. Defence Staff Chief Admiral Anthony Radakin claimed Russia lost an average of 1,500 troops every day in October.



North Korean troops, who arrived in Russia last month, are likely to be directly involved in the Kursk Oblast operation. The troops have been divided into an assault unit and a support unit, according to a Ukrainian official.



They will be fighting as light infantry, leaving them vulnerable to Ukrainian artillery and drone attacks without the assistance of armored vehicles, the New York Times wrote.



Russian and North Korean soldiers are expected to take heavy losses as they battle Ukrainians in Kursk Oblast, U.S. officials believe.



North Korea has already deployed some 11,000 troops to Kursk Oblast, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Nov. 4.



Clashes between the Ukrainian and North Korean soldiers are currently underway, Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said on Nov. 5.



North Korean troops have already suffered casualties, Zelensky confirmed on Nov. 7, without specifying the number.

Read also: NATO chief Rutte wants to discuss Russia-North Korea threat with Trump

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The workplace mockumentary is a TV genre that has helped many of us cope with full-time employment. The therapeutic value of watching old episodes of The Office, Superstore or American Auto (all from NBC) is roughly equal to one intensive neck massage, two glasses of white wine, a 30-minute walk or 548 corporate training sessions on tolerance for that cubicle neighbor who chews too loudly.

Allison Tolman as Alex, left, and Kahyun Kim as Serena in "St. Denis Medical."

Besides the laughter part, the key to these kinds of comedies is empathy. The formula typified by The Office (the U.S. version, not the more acerbic British original) acknowledges that being inside a confined space with the same people five days a week is akin to being stranded on a desert island with them. But instead of going all Lord of the Flies on one another, the characters who sell paper for Dunder-Mifflin (and keep the big-box retailer Cloud Nine stocked on Superstore and run the corporate side of a fictional Detroit car company on American Auto) ultimately reveal their humanity. They are flawed without being awful people. In a pinch, they can access best selves and help one another, no matter how many petty grievances they've accumulated along the way.

It's an optimistic reflection of real life, given how successful that hate, greed and indifference have been throughout the history of mankind. And after a stress-inducing 2024 election, a workplace mockumentary could be just what's needed. Thanks to executive producers Eric Ledgin (a writer on Superstore and American Office) and Justin Spitzer (creator of both those shows and a writer-producer for The Office), St. Denis Medical, which premieres Tuesday on NBC, is a series that finds humor in the irritating things about other people and yet delivers a strong dose of hope.

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More: Jury awards $12M to woman fired for refusing COVID vax. Hundreds of similar suits pending.

More: Opinion: These Republicans said they would oppose a national abortion ban. Will they?

Set at an Oregon safety net hospital that cares for all patients despite their insurance and financial status, St. Denis Medical is populated by archetypes that will be familiar to fans of Ledgins and Spitzers work.

There is s a somewhat clueless but ultimately decent, boss, here an ambitious executive director named Joyce (played by the great Wendi McLendon-Covey) who tries to convince the film crew embedded in St. Denis that the most infectious thing in a hospital is a smile. As with Steve Carells Michael Scott from The Office, what Wendi lacks in self-awareness, she makes up for with the heart that lies hidden underneath all that forced enthusiasm and fake camaraderie.

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Thanks to McLendon-Coveys inherent gift for never veering into obnoxiousness, Joyce can be both a nightmare of a supervisor and a caring human being. That knack is displayed to hilarious effect in the episode two scene where Joyce plays Lean on Me on the marimba to honor a departed friend (before she veers into her own composition, Smitten with Kittens).

Detroiter David Alan Grier as Dr. Ron in "St. Denis Medical."

The elder statesman is Detroits own David Alan Grier as Dr. Ron, whose decades in medicine have left him devoid of patience for bureaucracy. In the premiere episode, as Joyce leads the film crew around the hospital, she asks Dr. Ron to explain what hes doing at the moment. He replies: Well, I just examined a patient with a heart murmur. That took about two minutes. Now Im going to spend 40 minutes filling out electronic health records. Thats a party!

Grier expertly reveals both the characters underlying commitment and vanity. (He is truly shocked when a twentysomething female patient who he thinks is flirting with him wants to set him up with her grandmother.) Like many veterans of skilled labor, Ron has the most to offer and the best grasp on reality, even though he probably is one budget cut away from a buyout.

The moral center of the show is Alex, who is played with anxious grace by Allison Tolman (FXs Fargo, ABCs late, lamented Downward Dog). An actor who is peerless at playing the sort of relatable women that Hollywood prefers to exclude from the screen, Tolman by now should be a national treasure. Here, she is a recently promoted supervising nurse, a role that brings a small pay raise and a huge increase in responsibilities. Alex is a control freak and a workaholic whose inability to step back and let someone else take over is a blessing to everyone else's lives, especially those of the patients.

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Like Jenna Fischers Pam in The Office and America Ferreras Amy in Superstore, Alex is a working-class hero, but she's no pushover. She knows that she is lying to herself when she insists in the first episode that she will leave her shift in time to see her daughter perform in the school musical, Mamma Mia! And when she sees someone collapse in the parking lot on her way to the performance, she knows that being there was a pipe dream. Without the Alexes of the world, how would the rest of us survive? The show is lucky to have Tolman revealing with every fiber of her being that the extraordinary people in our world are the ones who cant ignore someone elses pain.

Surrounding the lead roles are solid actors playing quirky but redeemable men and women. Josh Lawson (he was the arrogant pharmacist on Superstore) is Dr. Bruce, an egotistical trauma surgeon who is always ready for camera time and declares, If saving someones life makes their day just a little bit brighter, its all worth it. Kahyun Kim is Serena, the blunt nurse who has seen it all and yet still doles out kindness when necessary.

Mekki Leeper is Matt, the naive newbie nurse who barely knows what hes doing and was raised by a hyper-religious family that is anti-medicine. And Kaliko Kauahi, so wonderful as timid and insecure Sandra in Superstore, is Val, a no-nonsense admissions staffer. Val still needs time to develop as a character, but give Kauahi one season and shes bound to work her magic.

Youd think that being an NBC workplace mockumentary would be enough to guarantee a hit. After all, The Office is revered as one of the best comedies in broadcast network history. Superstore lasted six seasons by deftly skewering and honoring the service industry. But St. Denis Medical doesnt bring much to the table that is all that different from either of those shows, so its tough to tell whether it will do well. Like the under-appreciated American Auto, which lasted only two seasons, it faces the challenge of staying alive as broadcast networks battle for relevance and profits in the age of streaming.

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It's easy to say the classic sitcom is a dying format (hang in there, CBS' "Ghosts"!) and blame it on the competition from online platforms. Or maybe there is another culprit. As Time magazine wrote in 2021, the decline of the network comedy is emblematic of a culture that has become so politically, socially and generationally fragmented, with heightened sensitivities on all sides, that large swathes of the American public cant even agree on whats funny anymore.

So many great sitcoms of yore, from Cheers and Taxi to Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Good Place," have relied on throwing together a bunch of people with vastly different backgrounds and clashing outlooks on life and finding the unlikely bonds that can form. But for almost a decade now, empathy  the ability to understand and be sensitive to another person's feelings and experiences  has been declining in real life while lobbing crude insults has had a steady uptick. Why watch a TV series about the struggle to get along with others when you're desperate to escape from the daily version?

St. Denis Medical still sticks to the notion that, deep down, unity is possible. When an emergency arises in the first episode, the characters come together like a well-oiled machine to apply their knowledge of saving lives. Alex may miss the school play, but she does get a hug from a complete stranger for saving the most important thing in the world to him.

There may be nothing unique about St. Denis Medical to those who already are fans of The Office, Superstore or American Auto. But, wow, is it comforting. And sometimes thats all you need a sitcom to be. A slightly rundown Oregon hospital might be your new happy place. I think it's going to be mine.

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Contact Detroit Free Press pop culture critic Julie Hinds at jhinds@freepress.com.

'St. Denis Medical'

Series debut

Episodes at 8 and 8:30 p.m. Tuesday

NBC

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: NBC's 'St. Denis Medical' is a post-election workplace comedy
KNOX COUNTY, Ill. (WMBD)  The Knox County Sheriffs Office announced that they assisted with the arrest of an Ohio man who allegedly crossed state lines to meet two teens on Friday.

According to Sheriff Jack Harlan, Ryan Loveless, 38, was arrested and booked into the Knox County Jail on four counts of indecent solicitation of a child, two counts of traveling to meet a child and two counts of grooming.

The Knox County Sheriffs office was informed that Loveless allegedly was communicating with a 15 and 16-year-old from Knox County and made plans to meet them at a hotel in Danville, Ill. to have sexual intercourse.

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Detectives learned that Loveless rented a hotel room and instructed the teens to enter the hotel through a side door.

Bartonville man faces grooming charges after arrest this week

The Knox Countys State Attorneys Office issued an arrest warrant for Loveless after the information was gathered.

The Knox County Sheriffs Office contacted the Vermillion County Sheriffs Office and the Danville Police Department. They were able to locate Loveless in the hotels parking lot on Friday and took him into custody.

Loveless had an infant with him at the time of the arrest, allegedly due to not having a babysitter. The infant was not injured and turned over to the family after a medical evaluation.

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Sheriff Harlan encourages parents to be aware of their childrens social media accounts and who might be communicating with their children on them.

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More than half of the43 monkeys that recently escaped from a biomedical research lab in South Carolina have been safely captured, officials said.

As of Sunday night, 25 of the primates are back home at the Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center lab, CEO Greg Westergaard confirmed.

All are in good health, Westergaard said in a statement to WCSC. Others remain close by in trees.

Yemassee Police Department announced on Saturday night that a young female rhesus macaque monkey had been safely captured and brought back to the lab.

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She is well and having a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, Westergaard said in a statement obtained by ABC News.

Twenty-four more monkeys were captured shortly after and now 18 remain.

The monkeys escaped from the lab on Thursday after a caretaker failed to secure a door. Alpha Genesis is a company that provides pathogen-free primates for biomedical research worldwide.

A view of the cages in the research facility where forty-three rhesus macaque monkeys escaped from in Yemassee, South Carolina, United States on November 8 (Anadolu via Getty Images)

The company said the monkeys that have escaped do not pose a threat to the public because they have never been tested on and are too young to carry disease. However, Alpha Genesis asked that the public be aware of other potential escaped monkeys that have escaped and not interact with them.

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They have specifically asked people not to fly drones in the vicinity where they escaped to prevent the primates from being spooked.

Currently, a group of primates are residing along the facilitys fence line and have continued to engage with other primates inside the facility.

Alpha Genesis said they are actively deploying traps baited with food in the hopes of capturing the other monkeys.

Rhesus macaque primates have been used for nonhuman testing for centuries because they share 93 percent of DNA with humans. They have been crucial in developing lifesaving vaccines like those for Covid-19.

Rhesus monkeys are commonly used in nonhuman primate biomedical testing (AFP via Getty Images)

For those who support using nonhuman primates for medical research, maintaining a supply of monkeys is essential for biomedical development.

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Alpha Genesis provides the primates by using their facilities as a breeding ground to raise the animals for research purposes.

This is not the first time the primates have escaped from the facility. In 2016, more than two dozen primates escaped but were later captured, according to the Post and Courier.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Two individuals were shot early Sunday morning in central Topeka, according to the Topeka Police Departments watch commander.

Police were called around 9 a.m. on Nov. 10. to the 1200 block of SW Huntoon St.

When they arrived, one of the individuals was pronounced dead at the scene and the other was transported to the hospital with life-threating injuries.

5 dead after multiple shootings in south Wichita

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This is a developing story, and 27 News will continue to provide updates.

For more crime news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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TUSKEGEE, Ala. (WRBL)  One person is dead and 16 others injured after an early morning shooting Sunday on Tuskegee Universitys campus, casting a grim pall over the schools 100th homecoming celebration.

According to school officials, the victim, an 18-year-old man, was not a student of the Tuskegee, Alabama, university and their family has been notified. An autopsy is planned at the states forensic center in Montgomery, Macon County Coroner Hal Bentley told The Associated Press on Sunday.

Twelve people were wounded by gunfire, and four others sustained injuries not related to the gunshots, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said in a Sunday afternoon update.

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The parents of this individual have been notified. Several others including Tuskegee University students were injured and are receiving treatment at East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika and Baptist South Hospital in Montgomery, the university said in a statement.

The citys police chief, Patrick Mardis, said the injured included a female student who was shot in the stomach and a male student who was shot in the arm.

3 shot, 1 dead at Ohio senior living facility: police

Some idiots started shooting, Mardis told the news site Al.com. You couldnt get the emergency vehicles in there, there were so many people there.

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Sheriff Andre Brunson confirmed to Nexstars WRBL that the shooting happened in the parking lot during the homecoming gathering.

City police were responding to an unrelated double shooting off campus when officers got the call about the university shooting at the West Commons on-campus apartments, Mardis said.

The shooting occurred on campus and happened as the historically Black universitys 100th Homecoming Week was winding down.

In a video posted to social media, an apparent attendee of the homecoming celebration is seen taking cover with friends amid a barrage of gunfire.

Selected to be a slave: Racist texts sent to Black Americans in multiple states

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No additional details were immediately available. The Alabama Bureau of Investigations is now investigating.

Sundays shooting comes just over a year after four people were injured in a shooting at a Tuskegee University student housing complex. In that shooting, two visitors to the campus were shot and two students were hurt while trying to leave the scene of what campus officials described as an unauthorized party in September 2023, the Montgomery Advertiser reported.

About 3,000 students are enrolled at the university about 40 miles east of Alabamas capital city of Montgomery.

The university was the first historically Black college to be designated as a Registered National Landmark in 1966. It was also designated a National Historic Site in 1974, according to the schools website.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel on Saturday accused the BJP-led state government of halting schemes implemented during the Congress regime and failing to maintain law and order in the state. "The Chhattisgarh bypoll is very important as the public of Chhattisgarh feels looted after the formation of the BJP government in the state. There is no law and order in the state, and the schemes that were implemented during the Congress government have been stopped," Baghel said while speaking to ANI. Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's attack on the opposition alliance Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) during his rallies ahead of the Maharashtra assembly polls, Baghel said, "Those who are corrupt are being welcomed into their party. PM Modi himself had levelled allegations of Rs 70,000 crore against Ajit Pawar, and the very next day, he was made the Deputy Chief Minister in the Mahayuti government." "So, the corrupt ones are all in the BJP," Baghel alleged. The bypoll in Chhattisgarh will be held only for the Raipur South Assembly seat, which has been represented by BJP's Brijmohan Agrawal for the last eight terms. The by-polls are spread over 15 states - Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal. While polling will be held on 47 assembly seats and Wayanad Lok Sabha seat on Nov 13, it will be held on one assembly constituency in Uttarakhand and Nanded constituency in Maharashtra on November 20. The largest number of bypolls will be held in Uttar Pradesh and seats going to the polls are Meerapur, Kundarki, Ghaziabad, Khair, Karhal, Phulpur, Katehari, Majhawan, and Sishamau. The Assembly polls in Jharkhand will be held in two phases on November 13 and November 20. In Maharashtra, the assembly polls will be held in a single phase on November 20. The counting of votes will take place on November 23. Earlier in October, the Election Commission declared results for Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana assembly polls. (ANI)
TUSKEGEE, Ala. (WRBL)  An early morning shooting on Tuskegee Universitys campus has cast a grim pall over the schools 100th homecoming celebration, leaving one teen dead and several others injured, including university students.

One arrest has been made in the investigation as agents allege Jaquez Myrick, 25, of Montgomery, was in possession of a handgun with a machine gun conversion device and charged federally with possession of a Machine Gun. Investigators say Myrick way found leaving the scene of the shooting.

ALEA responded to the scene at 1:40 a.m. on Sunday, November 10, after multiple individuals were reported shot. Twelve victims injured by gunfire and transported to hospitals, four sustained non-gunfire-related injuries.

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The victim, who was not a Tuskegee student, succumbed to gunshot wounds, and the individuals family has been notified. Several other victims, including Tuskegee students, were injured in the incident and are receiving treatment at East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika and Baptist South Hospital in Montgomery.

The shooting occurred during a large gathering in the parking lot near the West Residence Halls along Luther Foster Drive. The scene of the shooting is extensive, with yellow crime scene tape encompassing a large section of the parking lot. Numerous investigators, including Tuskegee University Police, Tuskegee City Police, and Macon County Sheriffs deputies, remain on site. Sheriff Andre Brunson confirmed that the shooting happened in the parking lot during the homecoming gathering, where one individual was killed and numerous others were injured. Investigators have asked media not to take video of the active crime scene.

If you have info  call 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit digital evidence at fbi.gov/tuskegeeshooting24. Tuskegee University has canceled classes for Monday, November 11, and will provide grief counseling, said Lieutenant Jeremy J. Burkett.

The horror of the moment was captured in multiple public video posts to social media as attendees take cover amid a barrage of gunfire. The scene has left the Tuskegee community, as well as alumni and families, shaken as they process the events during what should have been a milestone weekend for the historic university.

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PRAYING FOR TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY!!! THEYRE 100TH YEAR HOMECOMING HAS TURNED INTO A BLOODBATH PRAYING FOR ALL THOSE STUDENTS AND ALUMNI WHO ARE AFFECTED LORD PLEASE SHIELD AND PROTECT OUR BABIES , one community member posted, echoing the sorrow and anxiety felt by many.

The Alabama Bureau of Investigations has taken charge of the investigation, working to determine the circumstances of the shooting. The university has completed student accountability checks, with notifications sent to parents, and is committed to providing further updates as the investigation unfolds.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
(WHTM)  Two additional suspects who are allegedly linked to the Coatesville bus shooting incident have been arrested.

According to the Chester County District Attorneys Office and the Coatesville City Police Department, authorities arrested 20-year-old Jose Medina and 17-year-old Gabriel Johnson, both of Coatesville, for their involvement in the shooting of a Coatesville Area School District school bus on October 10.

The post says the defendants have been charged with Attempted Murder, Aggravated Assault, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Conspiracy, and other related charges. Johnson, a minor, has been charged as an adult. Jaki White-Marshall, 18, was previously charged shortly after the shooting.

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This is not the end of our investigation, said District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe. We will continue to work towards arresting and convicting everyone involved in shooting at this school bus.

Pennsylvania school bus hit by gunfire

According to the criminal complaints filed by the Chester County Detectives and Coatesville City Police, on October 10 at approximately 2:29 p.m., police were dispatched to the area of Hope Avenue and Charles Street for reports of shots fired at a school bus. The post says detectives quickly uncovered surveillance footage of the shooting that depicted four males walking through the intersectiontwo began shooting down the street and struck the bus. After an extensive investigation, law enforcement determined that Johnson fired six shots at the school bus and that Medina was one of the individuals with Johnson during the shooting.

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The shooting remains under investigation. If you have information about this case, contact the Chester County Detectives at 610-344-6866 or the Coatesville City Police Department at 610-384-2300.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
One of two inmates who escaped from Blackburn Correctional Complex Nov. 3 has been apprehended.

Adam Ball was arrested Friday by the Fayette County Sheriffs Office, according to the Fayette County Detention Centers website.

Ball, 38, of Russell Springs is facing a charge of second-degree escape, Fayette District Court records show. He is to be arraigned Tuesday.

Ball and another man, Bradley Cornwell, 40, of Georgetown, left the prison Sunday in a water truck, Kentucky State Police said.

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Ball was serving a 14-year prison sentence for charges of complicity to theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, fleeing or evading police, wanton endangerment and criminal mischief, according to the Kentucky Department of Corrections.

Cornwell was serving a 10-year prison sentence for charges of possession of a controlled substance, bail jumping, fleeing/evading police, criminal mischief and wanton endangerment, according to the corrections department.

Cornwell is described as a white male with brown hair and blue eyes. He is 6 feet tall and weighs 175 pounds. His last known address was in Cynthiana, according to the Scott County Sheriffs Department.

In announcing their escape, the sheriffs office said anyone who saw the men should not approach them but call 911.

Herald-Leader breaking news reporter Christopher Leach contributed to this report.
CHESTNUTHILL TOWNSHIP, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) One woman is dead after a fatal crash Saturday night involving alcohol, according to officials.

Monroe County Corner Tom Yanac says that 47-year-old Rebecca Martin from Phillipsburg, New Jersey was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to a Pennsylvania State Police release, police were called at 10:46 p.m. to the 1600 block of Route 209 just south of Pleasant Valley Lane for a crash with entrapment.

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Pennsylvania State Police investigating attempted homicide

Officials say the vehicle was traveling north on Route 209 at a high rate of speed when the operator went off the road and struck a utility pole.

Troopers state that the driver was driving under the influence, sustained serious injuries, and was transported to Lehigh Valley Pocono.

Martin, who was the passenger, was not wearing a seatbelt according to the release.

The crash is under investigation by Pennsylvania State Police.

An autopsy is scheduled for November 12.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
A fallout between Elon Musk and Donald Trump is all but inevitable, according to a political commentator, who warned that the attention-seeking personalities of two of the worlds most powerful men means they will struggle to co-exist.

Speaking on CNNs The Chris Wallace Show on Saturday, Kara Swisher predicted that the president-elect, despite waxing lyrical about Musk throughout his 2024 campaign, will ultimately not be willing to share the spotlight with the entrepreneur.

One of my favorite movies is Highlander, and there can be only one, and thats going to be Donald Trump, she said.

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Billionaire tech mogul Musk played a major role in Trumps campaign towards the end of the cycle, running ground operations in the key swing state of Pennsylvania, appearing as a surrogate at multiple rallies, and pushing pro-Republican content on his social media platform X.

Following Trumps sweeping victory, Musks net worth has reportedly increased by around $12bn.

Swishers assessment garnered agreement from host Chris Wallace who drew comparisons to key figures in the first Trump administration, including his former chief strategist Steve Bannon. Several months into the presidency in 2017, Bannon was featured on the front of Time Magazine.

You know, on this issue of there can only be one. Ill never forget in the first Trump term, Time magazine put out a cover  and there it was in year one, several months in  Steve Bannon on the cover of Time magazine. And I remember thinking, The boss is not gonna like that, Wallace said.

The billionaire tech entrepreneur played a major role in Trumps campaign towards the end of the cycle (Getty Images)

Bannon served a four-month jail sentence earlier this year on contempt charges for defying a subpoena in the congressional investigation into the Capitol attack on January 6 2021. He walked free just days before Election Day.

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Swisher added: In comparison to the need for attention between Bannon and Musk  Bannon looks like a kitty cat. You know, Elon needs a lot of attention and Trump will be irritated by that.

Swisher previously warned that the bravado of both Trump and Musk would cause problems, saying earlier this week on CNN: I think it is important to keep in mind that the two of them may not be able to coexist in the same place.

Elon Musk jumps on stage as he joins Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on 5 October, 2024 (Getty Images)

Elon is very petulant, and so is Trump, and I dont think Trumps going to like the attention that Elon is going to grab for himself. Hes an attention sponge like you cannot believe.

For his part, Musks influence in the Trump campaign has caused rumors to circulate that he may be in line for a role in the president-elects new administration.

It was reported on Friday that Musk had joined a call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The start of the Revolutionary War is known as "The Shot Heard Round the World." Veterans Day, (Armistice Day) is known for the "Silence Heard Round the World." It was Nov. 11, 1918 at 11 a.m., when the guns finally went silent, ending World War One. The moments after the Armistice brought about the most beautiful, quiet sound of peace. A news article described that moment as: "Silence has replaced the roar of cannon and the rattle of machine guns." The U.S. and Allies had defeated Germany and the Central Powers. Journalist Philip Gibbs was with the British Army in France at the Armistice. He wrote in the Chicago Tribune, "the Fires of hell had been put out. It was silent all along the front.... There was no light of gunfire in the sky, no sudden stabs of flame through the darkness , no long, spreading flow above the black trees, where for four years of nights human beings were being smashed to death."

The Veterans Day Ceremony of Honor in Lake Worth Beach will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11 at the Cultural Plaza downtown. Mayor Betty Resch will read the names of veterans on the memorials.

Back home in the United States, the quieting of the guns led to jubilant celebration. In Middletown, Connecticut church bells and factory whistles rang in the morning and a parade started. School and work were called off so everyone could celebrate. The people in Middletown were quickly reminded of the cost of war. The Hartford Courant reported that news just reached the town that one of its own, Lt. Leonard B. Fuller, was killed in France in an airplane accident. Fuller was a former student at Wesleyan University in Middletown. My own family experienced a similar tragedy when my great uncle, Ira Pitzer, was killed in France just eight days before the Armistice.

A Veterans Day photo gallery: Salute to veterans at 2024 annual Veteran's Day Parade in West Palm Beach

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Think how many lives, though, were saved by the Armistice. Think also how many can be saved today, by ending conflicts around the globe. That is the true spirit of Armistice Day, to keep up the mission for a world free from the horror of war. The men and women who went through the First World War experienced a trauma like no other in history before. Surely, the tribute they would want is a world where no one has to experience such horror.

More on Veterans Day: Salute to veterans at 2024 annual Veteran's Day Parade in West Palm Beach

We, sadly, have not lived up to this noble dream, as we have seen another world war and many other conflicts. But Armistice Day reminds us we cannot give up on peace, no matter how hard to obtain. We also must recognize the consequences of war which can long outlast the fighting. War leads to food shortages and starvation. Children suffer the most. Our veterans have often led the fight against the enemy of hunger. After World War One, Lt. George Harrington led a hunger relief mission to Latvia. He also helped secure a ceasefire between opposing forces struggling for power in the country. Harrington also encouraged the start of feeding programs for children at school. That is something every war-torn nation needs to recover.

During World War II, when General Patton's Third Army was fighting German forces in France, a detachment provided humanitarian aid to refugees. The Third Army's Detachment C112 "provided emergency hard rations, which included soap, codfish, pulses, biscuits, meat, milk, and chocolate" for French refugees displaced by German troops. We should never forget those left hungry and displaced by war. Our veterans have not. The "Silence Heard Round the World" should inspire us all to keep up that quest for world peace. The Armistice brought hope for an end to all wars. That dream must not ever perish in our hearts and minds. William Lambers is a historian and author of The Road to Peace and Ending World Hunger.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Veterans Day, a time to rededicate ourselves to peace
Nearly a century ago, the Nazis burned the books of Jewish authors. Today, the publishing world is attempting to resurrect the exclusion of writers because of either their faith and nationality or their refusal to conform to a new intellectual diktat.

Books deemed degenerate by the Nazis for being un-German  especially those written by Jews  were purged from bookstores and libraries for reasons of racial as well as intellectual superiority. This self-righteous effort to purify German thinking targeted such Jewish luminaries as Albert Einstein, Sigmund Freud, Lion Feuchtwanger and Vicky Baum, whose works were either banned outright or torched by Nazi Stormtroopers.

Nearly a century later, a new effort is afoot to compel Israeli authors into a contemporary variant of ideological submission. Last week, more than 1,000 writers, including acclaimed Irish author Sally Rooney and award-winning Indian author Arundhati Roy, signed a letter calling for a boycott of Israeli writers, publishers, book festival organizers and literary agents who have yet to publicly denounce the genocide in Gaza.

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Boycotts like this are self-licking ice-cream cones, enabling the signatories to congratulate themselves for taking a stand on the right side of history, as Irans Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei last spring fittingly described the protestors in Western countries championing groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. That such literary boycotts are as blatantly antisemitic as they are hypocritical is of course ignored by their exponents.

The statement these writers have endorsed proudly declares that it is the biggest cultural boycott against Israeli cultural institutions in history, and encourages Israeli writers and literary institutions to Denounce and distance themselves from Israels genocidal apartheid regime and Affirm the full protected rights of the Palestinian people under international law, including the right of return.

In essence, the statements signatories want Israelis to publicly acknowledge that their state has no right to exist, thereby disavowing their religion, whose aspiration has for centuries been the return to Zion.

In the 1930s, German Jewish writers were just banned. Today, their Israeli counterparts are being told to denounce their own religious and national identity and cruelly distance themselves from their homeland or else risk ostracism and opprobrium.

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The statements hypocrisy is breathtaking. The most notable of these authors have no record of similarly intervening to protest Chinas treatment of its Uyghur population, an estimated million of whom are believed to be imprisoned in bona fide  not rhetorical  concentration camps.

They have not boycotted Russian writers for failing to condemn the Kremlins war in Ukraine or writers from Afghanistan who refuse to publicly criticize the Talibans barbaric rule and policies or Syrians who have not decried the Assad regimes barbaric killing of over 200,000 of their fellow citizens since 2011.

Even more odiously, this boycott call has nothing to do with improving the lives of innocent Palestinians. Rather, it is meant to punish Israelis for being Jewish and to send a clear message to Israel and Jews elsewhere about the signers definition of good Jews and bad Jews. A good Jew denounces the government of the Jewish state; a bad Jew believes in the right of self-determination and nationhood for adherents of the worlds oldest practiced religion.

It is a dangerous precedent that cleverly endows hate with logic and respectability, masking a markedly more malign and malevolent intention.

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Bruce Hoffman is senior fellow for counterterrorism and homeland security at the Council of Foreign Relations and a professor at Georgetown University. Casey Babb is a senior fellow for the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, a senior fellow with the Macdonald Laurier Institute in Ottawa, and a special advisor to Secure Canada, in Toronto.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Arizona went red.

The pivotal swing state ended up not being so pivotal, after all  or, at least, not nearly as pivotal as it was in the 2020 election.

Though results are still being tabulated, it appears that Donald Trump will win the state he narrowly lost four years ago.

And while Democrat Ruben Gallego is likely to win the U.S. Senate seat, Republicans had strong showings further down the ballot, clinching every Arizona Corporation Commission seat and most of the jobs in Maricopa County.

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What does this rightward shift mean for our nation and Arizona?

Our opinions team explains the likely impact.

Trump led a red wave nationwide

The crowd at former president Donald J. Trump's rally on Aug. 23, 2024, at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.

Donald Trump defied political gravity by once again winning the White House even after he lost in 2020, was twice impeached and criminally convicted.

It was probably the most remarkable comeback in American political history, as he became only the second U.S. president to win nonconsecutive White House terms.

The red wave that Republicans anticipated in 2022 but did not achieve came sweeping across America as Trump won the popular vote and Electoral College handily.

Republicans took back the U.S. Senate and are on track to narrowly hold on to the U.S. House. That now puts the GOP firmly in control of the federal government and adds to its dominance of state government, where the party controls 27 governors seats to Democrats 23.

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Republicans also control 46% of state legislatures to Democrats 32%, with the rest under divided government, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

 Phil Boas

Gallego is on track to make history

Democratic U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego would make history if he becomes the first Hispanic from Arizona to serve in the U.S. Senate.

Thats huge because Hispanics represent a third of Arizonas population, a territory that once belonged to Mexico.

Gallego effectively declared victory on election night, but that was a bit premature since the vote tally has been shrinking since then.

Still, as of Friday he remained in the lead against Republican Kari Lake, one of Trumps biggest fans.

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A Gallego victory would mean Arizona once again would have two Democratic senators. U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly has been helping him to defeat Lake and replace outgoing U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, a Democrat turned independent.

His victory would be a flash of light amid so much darkness.

 Elvia Diaz

Will the U.S. House stop Trump's agenda?

With Republicans retaking the U.S. Senate, Democrats only hope to keep him and his agenda in check is regaining control of the U.S. House.

That prospect looks grim. Republicans had already secured 210 seats on Friday. Either party needs 218 for full control.

Arizonas two competitive congressional districts remained undecided as we headed into the weekend.

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But Republican U.S. Reps. David Schweikert and Juan Ciscomani were ahead of Democratic rivals Amish Shah and Kirsten Engel, respectively.

A trifecta  meaning control of the White House and both chambers of Congress  is dangerous because itd give Trump almost unchecked freedom to do what he wants.

The former president seeks to consolidate federal power, for instance, which could mean dismantling a bunch of federal agencies, creating new ones and slashing federal programs by at least $2 trillion, according to Elon Musk, who would lead that effort.

Thats just the beginning of an aggressive agenda that includes nixing the CHIPS Act, which funds microchip production in America, including the massive TSMC plant under construction in Phoenix.

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That could mean fewer jobs locally in multiple sectors, from construction to engineering.

 Elvia Diaz

Expect gridlock in Arizona House, Senate

Democrats had hoped for a widespread flip of power in the Arizona Legislature, but thats not looking likely.

Not in the House, where Republicans appear poised to maintain or even strengthen their advantage. And in the Senate, their best-case scenario now may be a 15-15 split.

That would require an agreement on who breaks a tie  and there could be a lot of them, considering how many votes in recent years have been split down party lines.

Granted, such a split could force the two warring sides to work together if they want to get anything done.

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Or it could end in gridlock  which also may be the outcome if the House and Senate remain in Republican hands, which increasingly looks like the likely outcome.

Its doubtful that an emboldened MAGA-led Legislature will be in the mood for compromise, particularly since the few moderates who occasionally broke ranks with their party were booted in the primary.

So, legislation might barrel through, but it would almost certainly continue to meet Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs veto pen.

 Joanna Allhands

Arizona's courts remain in good hands

Arizonans demonstrated remarkable good sense with their ballots, voting to protect the third branch of government  the judiciary. And not just with a majority, but overwhelming majority.

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Voters chose to retain two Arizona Supreme Court justices who were up for retention by roughly 20 percentage points. Democrats had targeted Clint Bolick and Kathryn King for joining the majority ruling to uphold  even if temporarily  an 1864 blanket ban on abortion.

Anyone literate in the law would know they were doing the housekeeping demanded of the 2022 landmark Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade and pushed the question of legalized abortion to the states to decide.

Bolick and King determined that Arizonas Civil War-era law was still valid, which is not the same as endorsing it.

Credit Justice Ann Scott Timmer who, in the minority, made that point in her dissent. On Tuesday, voters joined Timmer in defending the court system and Arizona merit selection that is a national model for selecting high-quality judges.

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Had voters punished Bolick and King, our court system would have turned into a political circus every election year  a sure turn-off to future judicial talent.

Public safety played big. Election reform did not

There were more than a dozen propositions on the Arizona ballot, including a trio of initiatives that were on track to pass easily on Friday, showing public safety was a top priority across the state.

Proposition 311 will create a $250,000 death benefit for the surviving family of a first responder killed in the line of duty. Itll be paid for with a new $20 fee on criminal convictions.

Proposition 313 will raise the penalty from a minimum of seven years to mandatory life in prison for anyone convicted of child sex trafficking.

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And Proposition 314 will amount to a crackdown on illegal immigration that could restructure the state budget for the foreseeable future or set up an unending fight with the federal government.

The measure promises to empower state and local police to roam the border to arrest anyone who doesnt cross at a legal port of entry, but a similar Texas law is pending before the U.S. Supreme Court. The outcome of that case will affect how Arizonas new law plays out.

Opinion: Abortion rights are protected, for now

Proposition 314 also makes it a state crime for immigrants in the country illegally to apply for financial assistance programs for the poor.

And the measure creates a new penalty for selling fentanyl that results in an overdose death.

Aside from that, voters rejected proposals that could have reshaped state politics, including Proposition 140, which would have created an open primary system, promising to make the state far more moderate and less extreme.

But Proposition 133 also failed in its promise to put Arizonas current primary system into the state constitution. So, perhaps the open primary format will come back for debate soon.

 Greg Moore

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Opinion: 2024 election moves Arizona back to the right
While Americans voted in their next president on Tuesday, the message to us Palestinians remained as clear as ever: Americas promises of freedom and justice dont include us. But the election does have an outsize stake in our safety and survival.

For my family and millions of Palestinians, this moment is all too familiar: the fear, the helplessness, the resigned certainty that nothing ever really changes.

And still it hurts, because the stakes in this election couldnt be more personal. For us, the election of Donald Trump isnt just a blip on the political radar or a shift in foreign policy. Its a challenge to sustain existence while the world seems intent on erasing us. Its about surviving 77 years under occupation and over a year of ongoing genocide  the very genocide I barely survived last December, when my family and I, including my elderly parents and 3-year-old son, were buried under the rubble of what was once our home after it was struck by an Israeli-fired, U.S.-made missile.

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The date: Dec. 7, 2023. Our bones were crushed beneath layers of concrete and twisted metal as we spent hours in the dark, buried together and praying to be pulled out in one piece. The trauma of that night, in both its physical and emotional toll, of my sons small, fragile hand clinging to mine, comes back to me now as Trump prepares to take power once more.

After surviving the strike and escaping the war, my son stopped asking when we could go home. Hes learned that home is just something we remember, something that crumbled with our walls that night. At 3 years old  or, per the language of Gaza, two wars old  he already knows to duck when he hears a rumble overhead, instinctively reaching for my hand.

Our suffering in light of this election isnt some ambiguous concept. Every missile that reduces our homes to rubble, every sanction that chokes our economy, traces back to Washington. Policies that might seem like distant concerns of foreign affairs to many Americans have left millions of Palestinians trapped in unending trauma, where survival itself has become our only form of resistance.

The Palestinian people have spent generations waiting for an American president who would care enough to hold Israel accountable  to see our humanity and put an end to this constant brutality.

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Ive seen how American political leaders toy with the idea of change, how they dress up their campaigns with grand ideas about peace and justice. Yet each president brushes off our reality. Barack Obama promised hope and change we could believe in, yet we got more bombs. Joe Biden offered a different approach, pledging unyielding support for Israel, leaving us to live through even more horror. Vice President Kamala Harris niceties included no concrete promises to protect Palestinians, but she did pledge to continue financial support for Israel. And Trumps bluntness, as he promises to come back swinging, reminds us not to hold out hope for change.

For decades, bipartisan U.S. policies have reinforced Israels impunity, from unconditional military aid packages to diplomatic shielding at the United Nations, allowing the erosion of Palestinian rights to go unchallenged. Trumps brazen support for Israel isnt a deviation but a natural progression of a legacy in which U.S. presidents have continually prioritized geopolitical alliances over Palestinian lives.

Smoke rises over destroyed buildings as civil defense teams conduct a search-and-rescue operation in Rafah, Gaza, on Oct. 12, 2023.

But Trumps comeback  and the Democratic Partys own failure to champion any real justice for us  unveils a stark truth: Americas entrenched political system is built upon the erasure of our suffering. Every administration carries the same legacy of apathy, emboldening Israels destructive agenda and casting aside our pleas. Its a bipartisan moral failure that reduces our lives to collateral damage, sacrificed to preserve strategic alliances. This isnt about just one election or one president. Its a policy anchored in decades of American complicity in our oppression.

Americas unwavering support for Israel reveals a deeper collapse of the ideals the country claims to stand for. Principles like freedom and justice now barely flicker, distorted into tools of control, hollowed out by years of hypocrisy. When those ideals ring hollow for people like us  oppressed and silenced  the democratic values America champions feel like just another weapon turned against us.

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With Trump in the White House again, the weight of it all feels crushing, with even more to fear in the years ahead. His stance on Palestine is as entrenched and dismissive as ever. His first term, from 2017 to 2021, left a bitter legacy by empowering Israels illegal occupation and writing blank checks for its military arsenal.

By moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, he treated our lives as bargaining chips. Trump slashed U.S. support for Palestinian refugees, effectively pushing millions into greater poverty and reducing our access to even the barest necessities. (Biden in 2021 reinstated $200 million in aid to Palestinians that Trump had cut.) Actions like these serve as solid proof, as elections come and go, that U.S. support for Israel is more ironclad than any candidates promise of peace.

Trump killed the two-state solution that was already hanging by a thread. And Biden? Hes talked about peace and rights but in ways that mean little when he continues to green-light the horrors unfolding in Gaza. Under his watch, Israels bombardments have only intensified. He provided billions of taxpayer dollars worth of military aid to Israel. His empty promises of peace sounded cruel when our hospitals and schools were flattened. During his recent presidential campaign, Trump hasnt just promised unwavering support for Israel, he stated outright that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hadnt gone far enough  a chilling endorsement of more destruction.

Civil defense teams and locals carry out search-and-rescue operations after an Israeli attack hit the Shaqwra family apartment in Khan Younis, Gaza, on Nov. 6, 2023.

Whether red or blue, Democrat or Republican, as Palestinians, we know we have to fasten our seatbelts and brace for yet another four years of survival  for a life of terror and deprivation, of invisibility, of being told, through silence, that our suffering doesnt matter, by whoever takes office.

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This is our world, created and forgotten by the U.S. The billions of dollars in military aid, the weapons, the diplomatic shielding, it all has translated to fear, to lifelong traumas, to endless nights bracing for another missile, to telling my son that the bombardments outside the house were fireworks as I try to comfort him during the night. I cant help but wonder: Will he see his next birthday? Will we see peace in our homeland? Will the homes of hundreds of others in Gaza be standing when morning comes? Will we ever feel the safety that so many American presidents have long promised us?

There is no reason to believe Trump will stop the destruction in Gaza, nor the devastation for those in the West Bank trying to stand up against settler violence and the illegal seizure of their lands. The war in Gaza has raged for over a year now, and we arent expecting a man who openly disregards our lives to bring an end to it.

Frankly, Trumps comeback means more unquestioned support for Israels war machine. And Palestinians will be there to pick up the pieces, over and over again, as we have for generations.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Listen to this full episode of The New Abnormal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon and Stitcher (update links).

Editors Note: Davis comments to Johnson were actually from a year ago and not last week as originally reported.

Mike Davis, the man who many expect to be Donald Trumps attorney general, appeared on Benny Johnsons podcast The Benny Show last year to outline who exactly is on Trumps hit list.

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Davis told Johnson he has five lists ready to go, but appeared to name only four.

I will rain hell on Washington D.C., he said. I have five lists ready to go and theyre growing. List number onewere gonna fire. Were gonna fire a lot of people in the executive branch of the deep state. Number twowere gonna indict. Were gonna indict Joe Biden and Hunter Biden and James Biden and every other scumball sleazeball Biden, except for the 5-year-old granddaughter who they refused to acknowledge for five years until political pressure got to Joe Biden.

Number threewere going to deport. Were going to deport a lot of people, 10 million people when growing, anchor babies, their parents, the grandparents. Were going to put kids in cages. Its going to be glorious. Were going to detain a lot of people in the D.C. Gulag and Gitmo and list number fiveIm going to recommend a lot of pardons. Every January 6 defendant is going to get a pardon, especially my hero horn man (Jacob Chansley aka the QAnon Shaman) he is definitely at the top of the list, he said.

Subscribe to The New Abnormal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, or Overcast.

The New Abnormal hosts were outraged by the comments.

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This is a guy who should be nowhere near the levers of power for starters and instead he is very possibly going to be the most powerful lawyer in the country. I believe everything he says in terms of what he wants to do, The New Abnormals Andy Levy said. Itll be nice if he cant accomplish all those things, but I absolutely believe that thats what he wants to do. And just for the people who voted for Trump, who claim to not be all about this stuff, go f--- yourself.

I want to point out that one of the things he literally said, like bragged about and cant wait to do is put kids in cages, Levy said.

They voted for the guy who had lawyers go to the three panel court judges and say, We dont need to give them soap and were not required to give them hygiene products, soap or toothbrushes or toothpaste or blankets or any of those things. Like this already happened, said The New Abnormal co-host Danielle Moodie.

Plus! Former Los Angeles Times journalist and President of Media Guild West Matt Pearce joins the podcast to talk about the purpose of the press during a second Trump administration.

Listen to this full episode of The New Abnormal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon and Stitcher (update links).
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, along with the Tribal Co-operative Marketing Federation of India (TRIFED) organised an eight-day long "Purvottar Aadi Mahotsav" - a National Tribal Festival to celebrate and promote the craft, cuisine and culture of the Adivasi community. Organised at the Veterinary College Playground, Khanapara in Guwahati, the Mahotsav featured an exhibition consisting of 104 stalls including 10 food stalls and 84 number stalls of craft, jewellery, textile handicrafts, art, and paintings by Adivasi communities. Over 200 artisans and artists from Adivasi communities of different states are participating in the festival from across the country. Several tribal artisans, weavers and entrepreneurs from Assam and other parts of the northeast region expressed their gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the initiatives taken by the Centre for the development and upliftment of the tribal community. Dalimi Pait, a Mising (Mishing) tribe weaver and entrepreneur of Assam's Dhemaji district told ANI that she was benefitting from the government's initiatives. "I am selling handloom products. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is doing good work for the tribal community. Two months ago, I sold my handloom products worth Rs 3.71 lakh under the Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED). I am very happy with the work done by the Modi government. Earlier, I didn't had a proper platform to sell my handloom products and my income was limited, but now my income is also increasing. I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Dipali Pait said. The Mahotsav comprises of display and sale of items of Adivasi art and craft, tribal medicine and healers, Adivasi cuisine and a display of Adivasi folk performances, in which, artisans, chefs, folk dancers/musicians from 13 states of the country are participating. Phudang Rebon Tokbipi, a young entrepreneur from Karbi Anglong district of Assam told ANI that the initiatives taken by the government will definitely encourage the tribal people and will make self-employment. "I am very thankful to the government and TRIFED who are organising such a beautiful event. I believe that with this platform, many artisans will be able to get benefits and they will get opportunities like weaving, making trade, learning designing etc. This platform will give us lots of opportunities. Definitely, the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken up so many initiatives for the tribal people," she said. "Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana and many other schemes are going on, but many people are not aware of this and don't know how to utilise it. But by organising this type of event, many people will know about it. This initiative will encourage the tribal people to be self-employment. I thank the Prime Minister," Tokbipi added. Sumgailu, 22-year-old entrepreneur from Dimapur of Nagaland said, "I am thankful to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to give us this opportunity to showcase our products." "We are getting the benefits because the government is doing well for us. We are very grateful to the Prime Minister," Sumgailu added. Meanwhile, Partha Pratim Talukdar, Principal Consultant of the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship, Guwahati said that one particular scheme Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana was especially for the tribal beneficiaries. "In Assam, we are forming Van Dhan Kendras with small Self Help Groups around 15-20 groups consisting of 300 women beneficiaries. The Modi government is very pro-active to give benefits to the tribal people. Another new scheme is scheduled to come up on November 15 as Janjati Gaurav Divas," Talukdar said. "In Assam, we have 471 Van Dham Kendras and for each Van Dhan Kendras Rs 15 lakh has been sanctioned for development, many skill development training to make self-sufficient, enhance the livelihood, to produce products. The tribal people are now getting benefits from it," he added. (ANI)
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO)  The annual New Orleans Veterans Parade made its way down Harrison Avenue with not only residents, but also dogs showing support for their service.

Former Marine Corps veteran Marcel Farnet said the event is a chance to celebrate veterans in a variety of ways.

Im very proud of it and Im happy to make a lot of friends here too. This is a great group, said Farnet.

From Marine Corps combat to commanding a kitchen, a popular chef recounts the journey

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This years honorary grand marshal recipient was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a recipient of the Purple Heart in the Vietnam War, Mr. Ellis Johnson.

Words cannot express how well Im feeling right now. This is a tremendous opportunity. I appreciate being nominated. Its just a pleasure to participate in something like this. Just breathtaking, Im just lost for words, said Johnson.

The parade has always been known as a way to provide veterans with a safe space to come together.

Johnson says it reminds everyone of the sacrifices made by those who served. A sacrifice he wouldnt change for anything in the world.

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This volunteer is your guide at the National World War Two Museum

I was a squad leader in the Marine Corps during Vietnam. So I would give an ounce back, I enjoyed my service in the Marine Corps. I am proud to be a vet in the Marine Corps. A Purple Heart Marine Corp vet, I just love it, said Johnson.

Johnsons wife, Marguerite Johnson says watching him ride in the parade brings her joy. She felt overwhelmed with the love everyone has shown.

All our friends and family, and everybody came out to honor him. He volunteers at the World War II museum, and those people were out here to support him, and we were very glad for that.

Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO.
Overcome polarization: Gen Z candidates aim to transform politics

(NewsNation)  Gen Z is making its voice heard in politics and not just on social media.

Republican Amber Hulse, a newly elected South Dakota state senator, and Nick Jacobson, a Democratic candidate who lost his Pennsylvania House of Representatives race, joined NewsNation Now to talk about Americas youngest voters and the future of the nations politics.

Home prices rise in nearly 9 of 10 metro areas: Realtor Association

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For Jacobson, 23, running in a battleground state was less about winning and more about fostering hard conversations.

If you want to learn something about your values, learn something about your neighbors. Overcome our polarization in America try knocking on 3,000 doors of people who dont see things the way you do, he said.

Hulse, 24, agreed, adding, As a young person, it isnt easy. Its not easy to run anyway.

She continued, I think this red surge was something we were expecting. Im grateful to be from a state that has been hard-rock conservative for the last few years. Its a huge honor to be part of this surge and this movement.

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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 NewsNation.
Live in a home governed by a condominium, co-op or homeowner's association? Have questions about what they can and cannot do? Ryan Poliakoff, an attorney and author based in Boca Raton, has answers.

Editor's note: Ryan Poliakoff is out for the week. The following column is a re-run that first appeared in November 2023.

Question: Recently my physical therapist visited my condo for my therapy, and they took a picture of her car and license plate, saying she went over the 20 mile per hour speed limit inside the community. However, they billed me for the fine. They said that it was in my original condominium paperwork that I received 18 years ago. How can I be responsible for how fast someone else drives? Is this legal? Signed, G.B.

Dear G.B.,The Condominium Act provides, at Section 718.303, Fla. Stat., that every owner and their tenants, guests and invitees must abide by the association's covenants and rules. The association has a right to levy a fine for your therapist's speeding violation. The question is whether that fine would be your responsibility or hers.

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If your governing documents provide that you are responsible for your guest's and invitee's behavior, and that you can be fined for their violations, then that is likely enforceable. Of course, before imposing a fine on you, the association would have to follow the proper statutory procedure  the board would need to first levy the fine at a properly noticed board meeting, and then they must provide you (and the therapist, if applicable) at least 14 days' written notice of the fine and an opportunity for a hearing in front of an independent grievance committee, which committee has the right to say "yes" or "no" to the fine.

It seems that your association is saying that you are in fact responsible for her behavior, because your condominium declaration says so; but it's not clear to me that they followed the required fining procedure. So, that could be your best way to avoid paying the fine; but also, make sure you tell your therapist to slow down.

Palm Beach County condo fined owner for speeding guest. Can they do that?

Question: A resident in our over 55-community required full-time care after her stroke, and the property was quit-claimed to the caregiver. If the caregiver becomes delinquent on property taxes and/or association fees, does the condo board have the authority to take legal action, or will the county act if taxes are delinquent? Also does this happen often when there is a full-time caregiver and no family members in the state of Florida? Signed, T.W.

Dear T.W.,You've described two entirely different situations. The condominium association has nothing to do with county property taxes. If the new owner does not pay their property taxes, the county will ultimately put a tax lien on the unit, and that lien will be sold to a third party and foreclosed. But that is not the association's problem.

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If the new owner does not pay association assessments, then that's the same as any owner failing to pay assessments. The association has the right to place a lien on the unit, and to foreclose that lien, either taking title at a foreclosure sale, or having the unit be purchased by a third party at the foreclosure sale (in which event the amounts paid will be used to pay off the delinquency).

I can't tell you if it's common for an owner to quit claim deed their unit to their caregiver, but this is the first time such a thing has been described to me (at least when the caregiver was not related in some way), and I can't offhand think of a reason that would be necessary, as there are a lot of other options (such as naming the caregiver a trustee owner for the benefit of the disabled resident). But I'm not an estate planning attorney, so perhaps there's a reason this strategy is preferred in the situation you describe.

Question: My community sent me a violation on my rotating landscape lights. They have been up for more than 20 years, but now they have a problem with them. Meanwhile there are several houses in the community with similar lighting. They are saying they are Christmas lights, but the board member who issued the violation has white lights on their front hedge. This is pure selective enforcement! How do I proceed in fighting this outlandish violation? Signed. G.B.

Dear G.B., The situation you've described would likely constitute both waiver and selective enforcement, and so if they brought legal action against you to try to restrict your lights, you could use one or both as a defense. However, these principles can't be used as "swords" so to speak, so you would have to wait until the association took some action against you to raise the defenses. You might however be able to stave off further action by having a lawyer write a demand letter for you.

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Ryan Poliakoff, a partner at Poliakoff Backer, LLP, is a Board Certified specialist in condominium and planned development law. This column is dedicated to the memory of Gary Poliakoff. Ryan Poliakoff and Gary Poliakoff are co-authors of "New Neighborhoods  The Consumers Guide to Condominium, Co-Op and HOA Living." Email your questions to condocolumn@gmail.com. Please be sure to include your location.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County condo association fined owner for guest speeding
DENVER (KDVR)  A physical dispute at the entrance to a Walmart in Thornton in July 2023 has spurred a civil case, filed by one of the involved women against an off-duty Adams County Sheriffs Office deputy.

The incident resulted in the deputys arrest, but the district attorneys office that reviewed the incident declined to file charges against the 17-year office veteran for reasons listed in a letter issued in August 2023. The woman who filed the complaint, Linda Hurley, said she suffered a fractured skull, brain bleed, concussion and broken nose from the off-duty deputys conduct.

Do you know her? Police seek ID of woman killed in hit-and-run crash

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The district attorneys letter cites witness statements but said they are conflicting. District Attorney Brian Mason also wrote that he wasnt clear who was the aggressor in the case. Hurley told FOX31 after the letter was released that she felt there was a lack of accountability on all sides.

Charge both of them, OK? Charge my daughter. Charge him. Fight it out in court. I tried to de-escalate the situation, Hurley said.

Lawsuit alleges string of events began in Walmart

It all happened on July 18, 2023, at the Walmart on East 128th Avenue. Hurley, her daughter Erika Smith, and Hurleys 3-month-old granddaughter were at the store, as was off-duty Adams County Sheriffs Office deputy Ezekial Spotts.

Hurley said in her lawsuit that Spotts cut them off while they were trying to exit the store and subsequently exchanged words. Thats when the incident got physical.

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According to the lawsuit filed earlier this month, Hurley asked Spotts to not block the exit, which apparently angered the man, causing him to engage with Smith near the exit. The lawsuit states that he was challenging Smith, daring her to hit him.

Smith refused to hit Spotts, the lawsuit alleges, adding that Spotts continued to escalate and shoved Ms. Smith backwards. The lawsuit alleges that this is when Smith struck Spotts, and said the blow did little to slow Mr. Spotts continuing advance, so she slapped him again.

Hurley then alleges in the lawsuit that Spotts punched Smith, and Hurley tried to get between the pair and de-escalate the incident. She also noted in the lawsuit that Spotts was identifying himself as a police officer while this happened.

Heres what counties CPW is considering for the upcoming gray wolf winter release

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When Ms. Hurley continued to separate Mr. Spotts from Ms. Smith, he threatened her with arrest for intervening, the lawsuit further alleges. Hurley said that Spotts refused to provide a badge number, and the civilians tried to get to their car and leave.

However, Hurley alleges that Spotts followed them to their car and stated his intention to photograph Hurley, Smith and the cars license plate. He allegedly told Hurley to close her trunk door so he could take the photograph, and Hurley told him to leave.

He refused, the lawsuit states, and tried to force the door closed, and Smith then intervened. Hurley said that this is when Spotts put his camera in her daughters face, leading to her swatting his hands and phone away, and things once again got physical.

Hurley said Spotts seized Smith by her neck with both hands, causing her to lose consciousness. Hurleys lawyers alleged this is when she tried to pull Spotts off her daughter, and said Spotts seized Ms. Hurley by the arm and repeatedly punched her in the face. During the altercation, the 3-month-old baby was also allegedly pushed to the ground and was unresponsive for a time.

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Eventually, a bystander intervened and called 911. Hurley immediately sought medical treatment and discovered the brain bleed, concussion, fractured skull and broken nose which she says was a result of Spotts attack.

Believing he had done nothing wrong, Mr. Spotts remained at the Walmart as Thornton Police Department officers arrived, the lawsuit alleges. Spotts told deputies he initiated the physical confrontation, and the lawsuit says that officers documented minor scratches on Spotts from the encounter.

Lawsuit alleges history of violence in Adams County Sheriffs Office

The lawsuit listed some violent incidents that allegedly involved the Adams County Sheriffs Office in an effort to demonstrate a history of violence by deputies.

The incidents listed date back to 2009, but some are as recent as December 2023. The Adams County agency operates its own training academy, and Hurleys lawyers alleged that deputies are insufficiently trained on proper techniques instead of using excessive force.

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NWS data: Denver just got nearly half the average winters worth of snow

Hurley is seeking damages against Spotts, alleging that he used excessive force and was malicious or reckless in his actions against her.

Adams Countys well-documented history of using excessive force without fear of discipline, failure to train its officers in proper arrest control techniques, failure to require ongoing training for officers, and condoning years of police brutality were the cause and moving force of (Hurleys) civil rights deprivations, the lawsuit states.

Hurley also is seeking damages against Adams County, with her lawyers alleging that the countys policies and failure to oversee the sheriffs office led to the fight with Spotts.

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Spotts nor Adams County has filed a response yet to the civil complaint in federal court.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Beginning Monday, shoppers at Perimeter Mall will need to pay to park in the most popular parking spots near the front entrance.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the 300-space lot between The Cheesecake Factory and Maggianos Little Italy will cost $2 per hour, up to $10 per session, which is the same as the cost of valet parking at the mall.

Most of the rest of the approximately 7,000 parking spots will remain free.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The area of the lot that will be paid parking is a high-traffic zone that is popular with shoppers due to its proximity to the entrance.

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ParkMobile will operate the lot and shoppers can pay using their mobile app.

A portion of the parking proceeds will benefit FurKids, a Georgia animal rescue organization.

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TEQUESTA  Chili cooked up in Paradise Park helped honor Levant Bender's part in the fight against Adolf Hitler.

The 98-year-old World War II veteran was flown in April to Washington, D.C., by a local charity  Southeast Florida Honor Flight  to visit the memorial dedicated to that war, where children, parents and other visitors greeted him and other veterans with cheers and cards. Bender was recalling that story, and his war stories, Saturday afternoon at the 13th Annual Tequesta Chili Cook-Off, which raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for local veteran-serving nonprofits such as Southeast Florida Honor Flight.

The cook-off, held two days before the Veterans Day federal holiday, hosted 28 teams cooking chili for a panel of judges that included Mayor Molly Young, Palm Beach County Commissioner Maria Marino, local TV news reporters and local chefs.

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Meat-scented smoke wafted from the booths of the competing teams manned by firefighters from different fire departments across the county. Children entertained themselves with a bounce house. A grass-colored Oshkosh military truck sat in the middle, guarded by men in uniform.

The cook-off drew thousands of attendees, paying $30 each, many decked out in U.S. flags, or wearing pro-Donald Trump "Make America Great Again" caps.

Marine Lt. Colonel Will Dammin, left, of the Air Naval Liaison Company (ANGLICO) in West Palm Beach, hands flowers and medals to Gold Star mother Valerie Collins, mother of Army Sgt. Jonathan Collins while her sister Janice Donnelly looks on during ceremonies at the 13th annual Tequesta Chili Cook-Off on Saturday in Tequesta.

"Adolf Hitler was a bad guy," Bender recalled. "If he didn't like you," he said, raising his hands in the shape of a gun, "Bam." Bender, who lives in Port St. Lucie, was a storekeeper with the Navy, repairing ships in the European Theatre of the war. He was there in the English Channel, he said, when the Nazis surrendered.

"Two Germans passed us and saluted us, and we had our guns drawn," he said with a smile, because he had not yet received official communication of the surrender.

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Along with veterans, the cook-off honored family members of soldiers who have died in war, known as Gold Star families. Members of Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, dressed in military-style department uniforms, held pictures of the fallen soldiers as their families remembered them.

Marine Lt. Colonel Will Dammin, right, shakes hands with Army veteran Harry Chandler, 103, of Tequesta during ceremonies Saturday at the 13th Annual Tequesta Chili Cook-Off.

The cook-off also featured a silent auction where the biggest item was a ride in a military plane, the Beechcraft T-34 Mentor, a single-engine plane meant for training pilots. Bidders also could also try to win a three-hour tour for their children of Tequesta's fire station, a tour of a fire truck and a lunch with firefighters. Other items included "mayor for a day," where a child of the winning bidder could be the honorary mayor of Tequesta for a day.

Marine Lt. Colonel Will Dammin, left, hugs Kathi Sandburg of Stuart, a Gold Star mother, after receiving a medal and flowers to commemorate her son Brandon Sandburg's passing. At right, Gold Star mother Beverly Fabri looks at her medal during the annual chili cook-off in Tequesta on Saturday.

The Tequesta Chili Cook-Off was started in 2011 by town firefighter David McGovern, who still runs the event. It originally raised money to pay for honor flights such as the one Bender took, where veterans are celebrated for their service to America.

Members of the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Honor Guard hold portraits of fallen members of the military during the 13th annual Tequesta Chili Cook-Off on Saturday.

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"Those honor flights really restore your faith in the country," volunteer cook-off organizer and Tequesta firefighter Giblin Ray said. "People line up to cheer for these guys for their years of service."

The cook-off now raises money for more local veterans' charities. These include North Palm Beach-based Wounded Veterans Relief Fund, which provides financial help and dental care to wounded and disabled veterans, and Stuart-based Southeast Florida Honor Flight, which pays for trips for local veterans, especially the terminally ill, to visit memorials in Washington for the wars they fought in.

A tapestry with a military motif was on display Saturday at the chili cook-off in Tequesta.

The cook-off this year also is raising money for Warriors Renewal Coalition, which treats wounded veterans; Operation 300, which hosts adventure camps for children of fallen soldiers; and Tequesta Friends of Public Safety, which serves local police and firefighters.

The U.S. flag flies over the chili cook-off Saturday in Tequesta.

A table holds medals Saturday to be awarded to Gold Star mothers and veterans.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Chili cook-off in Tequesta raises funds for veterans' charities
MUSKEGON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD)  Police say a motorcyclist was seriously hurt Saturday in a crash in Muskegon Township.

It happened on Apple Avenue between Dangl Road and Mill Iron Road.

The Muskegon Township Police Department told News 8 that a car and a motorcycle crashed. The male motorcycle rider suffered injuries that were serious but were not considered life-threatening, police said. They did not indicate what led up to the crash.

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Around 6 p.m. Saturday, the Michigan Department of Transportation said the road was shut down in both directions because of the crash. By 10 p.m., all lanes were back open.

Authorities are investigating.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
The New York Department of Environmental Conservation has launched an internal investigation after the agency seized a pet squirrel named Peanut who was later euthanized, sparking national outrage.

DEC is committed to protecting the safety and well-being of wildlife across New York, said a statement obtained by local news station WETM 18 News. An internal investigation into the matter is ongoing, and we are reviewing internal policies and procedures to ensure we continue serving this core mission.

Peanut became a social media star after being orphaned seven years ago and kept as an indoor pet by Mark Longo in rural Pine City, New York. Longo, who posted photos and videos showing the squirrel jumping and climbing on him, eating toaster waffles and wearing hats, did not have the legally required permit to keep wild animals. He told CBS News that he and his wife were in the process of getting the right paperwork.

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In late October, conservation officers raided Longos home and seized Peanut, along with a raccoon named Fred. A spokesperson told the AP that the agency had received multiple reports from the public about Longo illegally keeping wildlife as pets.

A photo showing Peanut wearing one of his signature hats. Mark Longo via AP

Days later, NYDEC and the Chemung County Department of Health released a statement saying both animals had been euthanized to be tested for rabies after Peanut bit an officer. (Animals cant be tested for rabies without being killed because their brain tissue needs to be examined.)

Squirrels almost never get rabies, according to the New York State Department of Health. But raccoons are more likely to carry the deadly disease, and officials feared the possibility that Fred could have had rabies and transmitted it to Peanut, said a statement from the Police Benevolent Association, the union that represents New York conversation officers.

The statement, obtained by CBS 6 Albany, also said the decision to euthanize Peanut and Fred was made by the county health department, not the state environmental agency.

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NYDEC and the Chemung County health department did not immediately respond to requests for comment from HuffPost, and the rabies test results have not been released.

Though Peanut had fans (and mourners) across the political spectrum, his death became a major cause for conservatives, who characterized the incident as an example of government overreach. The Sunday before the presidential election, GOP nominee Donald Trumps campaign promised on TikTok to avenge the squirrel at the ballot box.

Outrage over Peanut and Fred also sparked at least 10 bomb threats on state environmental facilities, a spokesperson told The New York Times.

Longo, who last year established an animal sanctuary named after the squirrel, appears to have stayed away from any explicitly partisan comments. But he has condemned the state for its misplaced priorities.

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We have resources to kill a raccoon and a squirrel, but we cant fix the major bridges down the street? he said on NewsNation last week. I am appalled.

Related...
The festival which celebrates the traditions and cultural heritage of Odisha is held at the Purvasha Folk and Tribal Art Museum in Khordha. The five-day event will conclude on November 13.

Speaking to ANI about the festival, Odisha Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said, "We came to the Purvasha Folk and Tribal Art Museum for the Carnival festival. The Art Centre aims to conserve and showcase to the world Odisha's rich art and culture. It is a matter of pride for all of us. The state government will do whatever is required to take this process forward."

PK Das, Founder of Odiart Centre said that Vietnam and Korean troops will be performing with Indian troops with Percussion instruments at the festival.

The Chilika Shelduck International Folk Festival 2024 was launched by the Society for Development of Rural Literature.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, the Chilika Shelduck International Folk Carnival is a grand celebration that pays tribute to Asia's vast cultural heritage. Set along the picturesque Chilika Lake, the festival unites rhythms, colours, and flavours from across Asia, creating a unique convergence of folk traditions and contemporary cultural exchanges.

This year's theme, "Rhythms of Asia: A Fusion of Beats", brings together a wide array of performances by international artists from Vietnam, South Korea, and across India, all focused on the powerful art of percussion.

Visitors can enjoy live folk performances by troupes from Vietnam, South Korea, and across India, blending traditional dance, music, and percussion.

The festival also includes a heritage cuisine showcase featuring authentic Chilika flavours, providing a taste of Odisha's culinary traditions. (ANI)
Not equal

Is it possible that the presidential election ended the way it did because the average American is just a bit tired of reading opinion pieces that are totally biased in favor of the Democratic Party? In the months before the election, it was nearly impossible to find anything positive about Donald Trump published or broadcast by the mainstream media, yet more than 50% of voting Americans cast their ballots in his favor. Many of them had to be registered Democrats.

Equal treatment would be appreciated, Im sure.

- Donald Blehm, Olathe

Grace in loss

Dear Kamala Harris,

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How are you doing? You must be exhausted. It never showed, but you must be tired.

I am going to miss seeing you at your rallies, interviews and more. Your smile, laughter and voice were a welcoming balm for the hatefulness that has penetrated our body politic. I had kinda forgotten how nice civility is. Your mother raised you right.

Thank you for stepping up to the plate.

- Joyce Emery Jonasson, Kansas City, Kansas

Let him unite

This has probably been the most divisive election in my lifetime, and, at 84, I have witnessed many presidential elections. I personally lost a long-term friendship with a fellow writer when I told her whom I was voting for.

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Lets give President-elect Donald Trump a chance to prove he really is a unifier at heart and that he will accomplish his resolve to truly help solve the problems that affect our nation.

- Tom Mach, Lawrence

Future fears

I am a white male, comfortably middle class. I now fear for those on the enemies list. I fear for people of color. I fear for immigrants. I fear for Ukrainians. I fear for plant and animal life. I fear for everyone not hewing to gender norms. I fear for union members.

I fear for pregnant women and their doctors. I fear for teachers and librarians. I fear for clean air and water. I fear for young people. I fear for public lands. I fear for Medicaid and Affordable Care Act enrollees.

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I fear for the truth. I fear for those struggling to get by. I fear for protesters. I fear for our one and only planet.

Especially now, let us all strive to help our neighbors and to work toward the best versions of ourselves and our nation.

- Kevin Day, Overland Park

Constitutional

As Vice President Kamala Harris said in her concession speech, When we lose an election, we accept the results. Her action complied with our Constitution.

As a disabled military veteran, a former Peace Corps volunteer and someone who has worked with the government, I swore oaths of allegiance in each organization.

The oath of allegiance is I (first name, last name) do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion.

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The president, all elected officials, all soldiers and all bureaucrats swear this oath. Donald Trump violated his oath of allegiance by refusing to accept election results, inciting sedition, encouraging a mob to hang the vice president and promising to be a dictator if elected. When asked to enforce the 14th Amendment, Section 3, the partisan Supreme Court declared that the partisan Congress had to enforce the amendment, not the Department of Justice.

Consequently, we had an ex-president who had violated his oath of office running for president. Despite that, Democrats conceded to the oath-breaking sedition-inciter.

- Chris Roesel, Roeland Park

Real support

On Oct. 7, I had the privilege of meeting Jared Young, who was the Better Party candidate for the U.S. Senate from Missouri, at an event memorializing the terror attacks on Jews, Muslims and Americans in Israel near the Gaza border. Jared stood out as a leader who has taken the time to educate himself on the issues and is unafraid to take clear, principled positions.

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In a time when many politicians remain silent, Jared speaks openly and compassionately about the Israel-Hamas conflict. He recognizes that Americans, regardless of party, share more common ground than division, and he isnt afraid to voice that unity.

Jared was one of the few politicians at our Jewish community event in Kansas City. Despite his busy campaign, he made time to drive from Joplin to attend, demonstrating a commitment to principle over politics.

Missourians deserve leaders who engage in thoughtful debate and inspire the next generation. The Kansas City Jewish community and I graciously appreciate Jareds support.

- Josef Loeffler, Kansas City
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  The Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial paid tribute to American and South Korean veterans of the Korean War in a special ceremony on Saturday.

The event, which was open to the public, commemorated the 70th anniversary of the Korean Wars conclusion and honored the sacrifices made during what is often referred to as the Forgotten War.

As explained by the Mt. Soledad Memorial Association, the Korean War (1950-1953) was a pivotal conflict that involved over 2.5 million casualties and left the Korean Peninsula divided between the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea).

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Warrior for Peace hosts fishing trip for veterans in Mission Bay

The war reached international dimensions when North Korea, aided by the Soviet Union, invaded South Korea in June 1950. In response, the United Nations, with the United States as its principal participant, intervened on behalf of the South, while the Peoples Republic of China supported the North. The fighting ended in July 1953, but the war never officially concluded. To this day, both nations remain divided.

This years ceremony is particularly significant, as it marks the 70th anniversary of the Mt. Soledad Memorial Association, which has been dedicated to preserving the memory and legacy of U.S. military veterans since the memorials dedication in April 1954. The Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial features over 6,600 individual tributes to veterans, engraved on black granite plaques and mounted on 18 curved walls. These plaques serve as a lasting tribute to the service and sacrifice of military men and women, including those who served in the Korean War.

Marines to run from MCAS Miramar to Camp Pendleton to honor veterans

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Heres a photo recap of Saturdays event:

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The memorial is located at 6905 La Jolla Scenic Dr. South in La Jolla and is open to the public daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
All men are created equal, wrote slaveholder Thomas Jefferson, in words that have been a source of consternation ever since. That was less true, perhaps, for a significant group of Black abolitionist writers who clearly understood Jeffersons vision as limited by his belief in a natural hierarchy of color, even as he sought to break with the feudal hierarchies of England and the Old World.

Those writers vision blossomed in the early 19th century even as the popularity of artificial hierarchies rebounded among American white people, particularly in the South. A new book from Harvard scholar Keidrick Roy, American Dark Age: Racial Feudalism and the Rise of Black Liberalism, lays out their pioneering critique of the enduring power of feudalism on American thought, along with a coherent framework of liberal ideas shaped by their individual and collective lived experiences.

What emerged was arguably more robust, and more progressive, than the liberalism developed by white theorists. Roy focuses in particular on how these Black writers responded to the experience of the Middle Passage  the traumatic journey from Africa to America made by newly enslaved people  which he describes as cheating social death, and on how they used the established part of an existing system to create a new one that serves a fundamentally different form or function. For example, the ideas of moral and intellectual advancement that Jefferson championed in the context of a so-called natural aristocracy were reinterpreted within a framework of collective advancement for all Black Americans.

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While the impact of these thinkers on the campaign to end slavery and achieve full citizenship has been increasingly acknowledged in recent decades, the breadth, coherence and significance of their vision remains little known. There are echoes of the crucial role played by diverse forms of utopian thinking in laying the foundations for the civil rights movement, as explored in Victoria Wolcott's "Living in the Future" (Salon interview here).

American Dark Age should become a watershed in our understanding of a crucial cohort of actors in American history, and also in rethinking the liberal political tradition. To explore these ideas further, Salon interviewed Roy via email. Our original exchange occurred before the presidential election, but I reached out to Roy later with one final question about how the lessons of this history intersect with Donald Trump's return to power.

Theres a gap between Americas self-image as a country founded on the idea of individual liberty and the horrific reality of slavery. Your book draws attention to a group of Black abolitionist writers who sought to explain and critique that gap, and also explore what to do about it. Lets start with their explanation: The abstract ideas of liberty were excellent, they argued, but contradicted by racial feudalism. How did that idea confront the claims of founders like Thomas Jefferson that they were getting rid of feudalism entirely?

To be clear, racial feudalism is a term Ive developed to describe how prominent Black liberals before the Civil War characterized slavery in the South and prejudice in the North. It points to their experience with artificial hierarchies, arbitrary violations of natural rights and freedoms, and abuses of political power by a tyrannical governing authority. While some Black Americans used the word feudal, others used related terms harkening back to the medieval world, including vassalage, serfdom and Dark Age. James W.C. Pennington, for example, characterized slavery as an institution of the dark age while critiquing the monarchs, patriarchs, and prophets of the South. Frederick Douglass depicted his plantation in Maryland as resembling what the baronial domains were during the Middle Ages in Europe. He also characterized the antebellum North as the mere cringing vassal of the South and a section of the country that contained lords and nobles of its own that comprised an aristocracy of the skin.

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However, after declaring America's independence from England, Thomas Jefferson and other founders believed their legislative and political actions had already eliminated the remaining vestiges of European feudalism. But Jefferson remained blind to the fact that his enslavement and subjugation of other human beings and his belief that Black people did not possess the capacity for reason provided political and philosophical backing for the skin-aristocracy that Douglass rejected. Indeed, generations of pro-slavery thinkers after Jefferson cited his ideas on race (while conveniently dismissing or decrying his statements on equality) as they worked to maintain Americas stratified society.

I should add that Jefferson greatly admired the medieval world before the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 ended Anglo-Saxon rule. In John Adams' telling, Jefferson even wanted Americas national seal to feature an image of the great Anglo-Saxon chiefs Hengist and Horsa, from whom we claim the honor of being descended and whose political principles and form of government we have assumed.

In the early 19th century, there was renewed enthusiasm for the old model of European feudalism. By the 1830s, pro-slavery advocates were arguments attacking Jeffersons claim that all men are created equal. How did their arguments and the underlying social structure form a cohesive whole?

Several factors were at work. During the American and French Revolutions, patriots such as Jefferson, Thomas Paine and Noah Webster sought to eliminate monarchical and aristocratic rule as well as the underlying legal structures (such as primogeniture and entail) that legitimated it. They saw these mandates as bound up in the oppressions of feudalism and what Jefferson described as "artificial aristocracy." Though Jefferson told George Washington, "I certainly never made a secret of my being anti-monarchical and anti-aristocratical" in a 1791 letter, Jefferson also celebrated the idea of a ruling "natural aristocracy" of virtue and talent.

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However, this "natural" aristocracy implicitly and necessarily excluded Black people, who he believed could not generate ideas beyond the level of plain narration. Indeed, Jefferson deemed the African-American poet Phillis Wheatleys work beneath the dignity of criticism and asserted that Black astronomer Benjamin Banneker possessed only a mind of very common stature. For him, Black people, by nature, would permanently exist as a separate caste and class at the bottom of the social order.

In the years following the American and French Revolutions, when calls for liberty from England and equality among citizens still echoed across the new nation, pro-slavery thinkers in the United States had little appetite for openly associating slavery and racial hierarchy with an antiquated European medieval feudal order. Such calls would have been out of step with the budding American Enlightenment liberal tradition.

While there is evidence of slaveholders associating themselves with a type of feudal lordship and associating the skin aristocracy with medieval times during the opening decades of the 1800s, such claims blossomed in the 1820s and 1830s for several reasons. One prominent cause stemmed from the massive international influence of Scottish writer Walter Scott, whose famous novels such as "Ivanhoe" (published in 1819) and poems such as The Lady of the Lake (published in 1810) helped to bring about a type of medieval revival in the United States, particularly in the South, which one scholar deemed Walter Scottland. The spread of his works was coextensive with the rise of romanticism in Europe. Across America, too, parents were naming their children after characters in Scotts oeuvre. Even Frederick Douglass derived his last name from a character in Lady of the Lake.

Given these powerful cultural influences, notions of feudalism in the U.S. South could flourish despite the historical baggage of the American Revolutions break from the Old World and its attendant monarchies and aristocracies. By the 1830s, elected officials such as James Henry Hammond could claim in the halls of Congress that American slavery retained the advantages of the aristocracy of the old world, adding that slavery does indeed create an aristocracy  an aristocracy of talents, of virtue, of generosity and courage. In a slave country, every freeman is an aristocrat. They consciously deployed the nostalgic language of feudalism as a political smokescreen to obscure their moves to consolidate the cultural, political and economic power that would sustain their elevated social positions and the collective ascendancy of their race.

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This language continued through the 1860s, as evidenced by texts such as pro-slavery advocate J. Quitman Moores article in the Southern periodical De Bows Review titled Feudalism in America. Moore questioned whether "the feudal spirit will be ever revived on the Western Continent again," describing it as "a social and political authority founded upon the subjugation of a weaker, by a more powerful race." For him, "Southern society revived the genius of medieval civilization" and even surpassed it by imposing a racial hierarchy confirmed by ideas grounded in "science." In this way, he and others reimagined the Old World feudal order as a type of racial feudalism in America.

And how did writers like Hosea Easton critique the workings and construction of this racial feudal order?

Hosea Easton was one voice among many antebellum African Americans who criticized what I have described as the racial feudal order. According to Easton, racial hierarchy in the United States followed what he called European slavery under the Feudal system, where slaves were fixed to the soil. He thus saw European feudalism and American slavery as part and parcel of the same framework for oppression, though like other Black writers he highlighted the unique brutalities and tyrannies of race-based slavery in the New World. Beyond identifying and criticizing racial slavery for African Americans in medieval terms, Easton similarly condemned the displacement of Indigenous people and Mexicans. Using the imagery of crusades, he assailed the late unholy war with the Indians and the wicked crusade against the peace of Mexico during the 1830s.

Easton was followed by other Black abolitionists, such as Martin Delany, who criticized future president Zachary Taylor and his supporters in a letter to Frederick Douglass. As Delany put it, The extent to which the American people carry this glorification of military crusaders is beyond a parallel. ... The extent to which this homage is carried ceases to be respectful since it is neither kind nor complimentary, but like the homage of the serf to the noble or the vassal to his lord, it is ludicrous.

Your book has major sections on "Racial Feudalism and "Black Liberalism," but between them theres a section called Middle Passage with just one chapter, entitled "Cheating Social Death." Thats clearly the fulcrum of the whole work. Explain what you mean by the concept of social death.

The concept of social death comes from Harvard sociologist Orlando Patterson, who developed the term some 40 years ago when analyzing commonalities among various slave societies around the world. According to Patterson, social death is a state of permanent and violent domination coupled with physical separation from ones family or homeland and marked by a pervasive condition of dishonor. To be socially dead is to lose the culturally conferred distinctions of possessing a family, country and respect  it is to be recognized as what Patterson would call an enemy outsider living in the community as a criminal insider.

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Remarkably, long before Patterson elaborated on this theory, African Americans such as David Walker, Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs all reflected on the condition of social death in their own 19th-century language. As Walker put it in 1829, For what is the use of living, when in fact I am dead. Under constant surveillance by her master, Jacobs similarly wrote, I had rather live and die in jail than drag on, from day to day, through such a living death. And Hosea Easton described forced segregation, which served to withhold social intercourse, as the worst kind of murder. After Patterson, some scholars associated with Afro-pessimism began to invoke social death somewhat differently as a condition that negates free will, agency and meaningful political action, and expanded its premises to describe the condition of current African Americans. I resist this tendency.

In your discussion of cheating social death, you reference "bootstrapping," which you describe as using the established part of an existing system to create a new one that serves a fundamentally different form or function. What does that look like in practice, and how is it accomplished?

Instead of resigning themselves to the culturally imposed condition of social death after their forced separation from Africa, antebellum Black liberals turned the social, political and legal conditions of their domination into weapons through extraordinary effort and resourcefulness. They boldly affirmed their identity as Americans in a society that did not view them as equal citizens. Though they recognized the antebellum nation as configured in such a way that militated against their social advancement, Hosea Easton, for example, claimed that Black people were constitutionally Americans. Frederick Douglass, too, was described by his friend James McCune Smith  the first African American to earn a medical degree  as having passed through every gradation of rank comprised in our national make-up, and bears upon his person and upon his soul everything that is American. David Walker went so far as to claim, America is more our country than it is the whites  we have enriched it with our blood and tears.

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In describing the process of how antebellum African Americans cheated the conditions of forced separation, general humiliation and racial domination that constituted social death, I also reclaim the term bootstrapping, which, in its pejorative use today, displaces collective responsibility for social change onto minority communities. However, I use bootstrapping in a sense that remains attentive to the actual claims expressed by Black American liberals such as Douglass, Easton and Stewart, who saw internal racial uplift as a central tenet for transforming their societies even as they levied devastating critiques of antebellum Americas inegalitarian social and political system that make such personal uplift all but impossible.

Remarkably, they persisted, and did not resign themselves to nihilism or pessimism. Maria Stewart, for example, exhorted her listeners by claiming, Do not let your hearts be any longer discouraged; it is no use to murmur nor to repine; but let us promote ourselves and improve our own talents. She also told her auditors to remove I cant and replace it with I will. Also recognizing the intransigence of prejudice in American society decades later, in 1855, and refusing to wait on external support alone, Douglass published a statement in all-caps: Our elevation as a race is almost wholly dependent on our own exertions. If we are ever elevated, our elevation will be accomplished through our own instrumentality.

One key belief of racial feudalism is that Black people are inherently lesser and incapable of development. In that context, the bootstrapping process to cheat social death is a remarkable feat of development.

The myriad accomplishments by Black Americans in the face of the oppressive conditions of slavery and racial hierarchy openly defied stereotypes of their inferiority. It is essential to recognize that antebellum Black liberals consciously mainlined a tension between advocating for broader systemic social change and the practical necessity of remaining defiantly entrepreneurial in a hostile environment that resisted their inclusion into the upper ranks of society. Nonetheless, they worked within the existing social and political structure to bore new lines of flight out of it through a process of immanent critique. As Douglass puts it, they would see what ought to be by reflection of what is and endeavor to remove the contradiction. I should emphasize that slavery was the prominent exception to Black American liberals tending to favor reform over revolution. They generally held that the system and its systemic evils should be immediately overthrown, and welcomed the Civil War as a type of eschatological event.

This also had remarkable results, in a more robust form of liberalism than was offered them by Jefferson and other prominent white liberals other white liberals. You describe the Black American liberal tradition as a cohesive philosophical framework with six key elements. Id like you to say a few words about each, starting with that you call an "anti-feudal, anti-prejudice and anti-patriarchal political philosophy."

Black American liberals rejected the elements of feudalism they recognized in racial prejudice, paternalism and patriarchy. In fact, they were deeply committed to advancing womens rights, including the right to vote. Though other European and American liberal thinkers since the late 18th century mainly rejected feudal hierarchies, many have been accused of eliding questions of race or gender, questions which Douglass and other antebellum Black American liberals explicitly and forcefully confronted.

Next is the commitment to opposing "colonization," a term that's very specific to that era.

Because of their commitment to realizing the aims and claims of Americas founding documents, most Black American liberals remained anti-colonizationist  that is, they opposed the various schemes promoting the involuntary (and thus illiberal) expulsion of Black people from America, a nation they saw as their home. Instead, they chose to remain in place and strive to make the United States live up to its stated precepts, even if that meant subjecting the nation to critique and themselves to danger. They had what Frederick Douglass described as sufficient faith in the people of the United States to believe that a black [person] can ever get justice ... on American soil.

Then there's what you call a "reformist practical philosophy."

As mentioned, Black liberals operated through a critique of the existing order from within, rather than assuming the necessity of its wholesale destruction. For Black liberals, the idea of progress did not blindly assume its inevitability. Instead, they raised their pens and voices to secure liberty through calculated political reforms. At the same time, they worked toward self-improvement through intellectual and spiritual development. All of this is not to say that Black reformers rejected the idea of staging a political revolution when necessary to abolish entrenched systemic evils. Recall that Douglass, for example, recognized the need for such a break from the existing order to abolish slavery and extend the benefits of the American liberal project to all.

You describe them as possessing an "identity-aware ethical outlook," as opposed to being either "identity-driven" or "identity-blind."

Whereas some philosophers, such as John Rawls, have been criticized for describing an approach to politics that is blind to the historical dimensions of group identity, others, such as Charles Mills, might be critiqued for prioritizing group identity over all other factors. Returning to early Black American liberals allows us to envision what I call an identity-aware approach that recognizes historys impact on the outcomes of various groups while lowering what philosopher Derrick Darby calls the race-first flag to build coalitions across racial and gender lines.

You write that they sought "political transformation through moral improvement," as opposed to an apolitical or "white-defined" version of moral improvement.

The political outlook of Black American liberals generally synthesized secular political principles and Christian spiritual and moral teachings. Indeed, Douglass and other black abolitionists condemned slaverys illiberal architecture by presenting the institution as the limit case for the principles of Christianity and philosophical notions of justice and fairness that might be described as a type of universal morality. Though Black liberals did not stipulate that the public must share their religious faith, they believed that transforming Americas racially coded statutes and customs could only be brought about through the moral advancement of the United States and its people. Without moral transformation, political changes to laws and leaders would be impermanent and vulnerable to backsliding.

Lastly, you argue they demonstrated a "spiritually communitarian worldview."

Following their commitment to moral improvement, Black American liberals also recognized the fundamental equality of every human being in the spiritual sense of comprising one blood. This outlook inherently resists race- and gender-based hierarchy and embraces radical equality in ways that transcend socially constructed identities.

Your last three chapters explore specific examples of how this political philosophy was articulated. One chapter looks at a literary example, William Wells Browns novel "Clotel," which is something of a fantasia on the Sally Hemings story. Why is that noteworthy?

"Clotel" is remarkable for several reasons. Published in 1853, it was the first novel written by an African American, and, in my view, it presents the philosophy of Black liberalism in the form of a story (in a manner akin to Voltaires "Candide"). I read "Clotel" closely to illuminate how Brown made sophisticated arguments against slavery and the oppression of women that retain contemporary relevance. Notably, Brown takes the founding documents and Jeffersons political thought seriously even as he critiques the practical implementation of these ideas and highlights their failure to extend to all Americans.

Chapter 8 is about two black women, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper and Harriet Jacobs. Whats most important about their contributions?

Frances Ellen Watkins Harper and Harriet Jacobs articulate a version of Black liberalism that can be described by three unifying terms: liberty, reform and progression. For them, the idea of liberty pointed to the tangible abolition of slavery and racial hierarchy; reform represented the persistent human action required to achieve liberty through moral, social and political processes; and progression suggests a practical commitment to the possibility of effecting positive political change and acknowledges the potential for future improvement to be contingent rather than inevitable. They recognized actual social change as extending beyond the idea of temperance, which they saw as a necessary but insufficient condition for improving the U.S. social order during the mid-19th century. They sought to realize a type of liberty that was no more and no less restrictive than the best of what could be achieved by white American men, even as Black women uniquely withstood what Jacobs called the wrongs, and sufferings, and mortifications peculiarly their own.

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Chapter 8 explores Jacobs' narrative "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" alongside Harpers letters, poetry and speeches as among the most trenchant and still underexplored philosophical commentaries on how the United States might redress the systemic wrongs that conditioned the ideology of racial feudalism. Both women show the radical possibilities of reimagining liberalism as a tradition that takes seriously the plight of women in seeking to articulate a better way to achieve Americas highest egalitarian potential.

Chapter 9 is about Frederick Douglass and identity-aware liberalism, as expressed through his autobiographies. Why was this form so powerfully suited to his purpose?

The autobiographical form is well-suited for articulating an identity-aware liberalism because those who write them must contend with the tension between the particularity of individual experience and the universality of sentiments and ideas that can connect us to each other, and possibly to every human being in the world. Autobiography presents an alternative to identity-blind frameworks that tend to prioritize ideas to the exclusion of individuals and identity-driven frameworks that ignore the power of unifying ideas in favor of individual experience.

Your epilogue is titled Up From Feudalism. The concluding argument here, as I read it, is that the Black American liberal tradition you explore is richer than the much better-known White liberal tradition, and holds possibilities that critics of white liberalism need to seriously consider. Is that a fair reading? How would you explain it?

I love this question because I think it brings up an important point of clarification. I would resist labeling the antithesis of the Black liberal tradition as a white liberal tradition. Instead, I would frame the Black liberal tradition in opposition to a pro-slavery or even a Jeffersonian liberal tradition that patently made no space for Black people and women. I believe that no racial group holds a monopoly on effective political frameworks. Still, I think we can derive special insight from what I have labeled the Black American liberal tradition because it captures a little-known collection of essential American thinkers who had a lot to say about their unique position at the bottom of the hierarchy in a racially stratified society.

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In my view, America and Americans can learn the most about the nations fundamental ideals and how to improve them from groups that had been systemically excluded from its promises. What I am calling the Black liberal tradition or, more precisely, a liberal tradition improved by the ideas and insights of antebellum Black Americans, is more aligned with a fully realized liberalism than perversions of the tradition we see in the writings of slaveholders and supporters who were committed to maintaining racial feudalism.

I have to ask a question about what just happened in America. What does this legacy of Black liberalism tell us about responding to Donald Trumps return to power, and the extraordinary period of adversity that lies ahead?

At the end of the talks I give about the early African American liberal tradition, I remind people that many of these thinkers, despite the severity of their circumstances, remained committed to bringing about change through political processes grounded in the liberal principles that inspired Americas founding documents. They recognized that while the arc of the moral universe is long, it did not necessarily bend toward justice. Triumph required applying the pressure of political appeals and fostering public dialogue across stark lines of division. Ultimately, early Black liberals rejected pessimism and apathy. Studying their resolve can show us what it looks like to have hope in the face of setbacks and to relentlessly bear witness to the plight of the most vulnerable among us.
Poland has been ranked first among all countries in terms of aid to Ukraine in relation to its own gross domestic product (GDP).

Source: Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne, citing the website of the Polish President's Office

Details: According to the data provided by the Polish President's Office, Warsaw's total aid for Ukraine amounts to 4.91% of the country's GDP, of which 0.71% is directed to military support for Ukraine and 4.2% to refugee assistance. The total value of the transferred weapons amounted to 3.23 billion euros (over 14 billion zoty).

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Polish President Andrzej Duda noted that his country had acted quickly and effectively at critical moments of the war, supporting Ukraine in the most challenging times.

Quote from Suspilne: "About 1,000 pieces of equipment, including tanks and armoured personnel carriers, were among the heavy weapons supplied by Poland. Of the nearly 800 tanks received by Ukraine, over 350 were donated by Poland, surpassing the combined total from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, Norway and Spain."

Details: The first batch of T-72 tanks was delivered to Ukraine in the first half of 2022. In January 2023, Poland announced the provision of modern Leopard 2A4 tanks.

In addition, Poland has provided dozens of drones for short-range reconnaissance, hundreds of kamikaze drones, and anti-aircraft missile systems. The total amount of ammunition supplied to Ukraine has exceeded 100 million units of various types and calibres.

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Poland has also supplied 20,000 Starlink kits to support the stable operation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Additionally, Polish service centres maintain Leopard, T-72, PT-91 tanks, and Krab howitzers, all of which are actively used by the Ukrainian military.

Apart from military assistance, Poland has organised or co-organised over 500 training exercises for the Ukrainian military, including those under the European Union's Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine. To date, around 25,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been trained, with 14,500 of them trained as part of the European mission.

Background:

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal believes that support for Ukraine in the coming months will shape the future of the EU, as European nations must do more to protect Kyiv and themselves after Donald Trump's victory in the United States.

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Police have fatally shot an individual in St. Paul.

The St. Paul Police Department says the shooting took place just after 1:45 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9 "near the intersection of Bay Street and Watson Avenue."

While few details were immediately available, the police say the person who was shot has died. No officers were injured in the incident.

The investigation will be handled by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, who are at the scene of the shooting.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcements latest version of events, and may be subject to change.

Related: Owatonna man charged with 1974 murder of woman in Wisconsin
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said it has identified the man who was shot and killed at Rock Creek Cemetery on Saturday afternoon.

Police said that on Nov. 9 at about 4:50 p.m., officers responded to Rock Creek Cemetery for the report of a shooting.

When they arrived at the scene, they found a man who was not conscious or breathing in an area of the cemetery behind the 5000 block of First St.

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Man arrested for stabbing person in Northwest DC, police say

Despite lifesaving measures from responders, the man died there. On Sunday, police identified him as 22-year-old Brandon Ward of Northwest, D.C.

Anyone with information should call police at (202) 727-9099 or text a tip to the departments TEXT TIP LINE at 50411.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  D.C. police said a man was found shot in Rock Creek Cemetery in Northwest on Saturday.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) told DC News Now that at around 4:45 p.m., officers responded to the cemetery for a report of a shooting.

WATCH: Crews battle tractor-trailer fire on I-295

Upon arrival, they found a man in an area of the cemetery located behind an apartment building in the 5000 block of First St. He had been shot.

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He died at the scene.

Police were on the scene after officers found a man shot in an area of the Rock Creek Cemetery. (Dave Leval/DC News Now)

Homicide detectives are investigating the shooting. Police said the suspect was last seen wearing a white medical mask, a black jacket, black denim jeans and black shoes.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Police said shots were fired Saturday afternoon at the Residence Inn parking lot at John Glenn International Airport.

Airport police confirmed a weapon was discharged and that no one was hurt. Police said the situation is contained and there is no immediate threat to the public.

The Residence Inn is one of several hotels located on airport property near the cell phone waiting lot, and sits on International Gateway. Airport police said an investigation is ongoing.

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Police had to break a glass door to release a buck that was trapped in the bedroom of a 103-year-old woman.

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On Nov. 4, officers with the Blackman-Leoni Department of Public Safety in Michigan were dispatched to an assisted living facility for senior citizens when facility employees reported a deer had entered one of the residents rooms.

Staff members were unable to enter the room and couldnt tell if the 103-year-old resident was injured as she was out of sight, according to a Facebook post from the department.

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The buck was reportedly thrashing around in an attempt to escape, and staff members could see blood through the room.

Officers Luke Bradley and Ryan Martin initially tried to enter the residence through the hallway door.

From there, they could see the deer in the apartments living room near a set of glass patio doors, according to the post.

Officers Bradley and Martin then moved out to the patio and could see the deer, but could not enter the apartment as the patio doors were locked.

In body camera footage attached to the post, Officer Martin can be seen smashing the glass on the patio door.

The buck was then able to exit the apartment and flee. Officers then entered the apartment and found the resident had sustained injuries but was conscious and alert.

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She received medical attention on scene and then was taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

After a further investigation, officers discovered the buck had entered the apartment by jumping through a closed glass window in the residents bedroom while she was in bed.

In an attempt to escape, the buck had caused some damage and left blood throughout the apartment, from injuries sustained when it entered the apartment.

Officers attempted to locate the deer, but it is believed to have fled into the nearby woods, according to the post.

Deer Incident - Body Cam Footage **INFORMATION RELEASE** **Deer Incident at Arbor North Living Facility** On November 4, 2024, at 7:25 p.m., officers from the Blackman-Leoni Department of Public Safety were dispatched to Arbor North Living, an assisted living facility for senior citizens located on Kingsbrooke Drive in Blackman Township. Facility employees reported a deer, specifically a buck, had entered one of the resident's rooms. Staff members were unable to enter the room and could not determine whether the elderly resident was injured, as she was out of sight. They did, however, report visible blood throughout the room, indicating the buck was thrashing around in an attempt to escape. Officers Luke Bradley and Ryan Martin arrived on the scene and initially attempted to gain entry through the hallway door. From that vantage, they observed the deer in the apartments living room near a set of glass patio doors. When the officers moved outside to the glass doors, they could see the deer but found the doors locked, preventing them from opening them to aid the resident. Due to the inability to confirm the residents welfare, officers made the decision to break the glass patio door. This allowed the deer to exit the apartment and flee. After the deer had left, officers entered the apartment and confirmed the resident, a 103-year-old female, had sustained injuries. She was conscious and alert and received medical attention on site before being transported to Henry Ford Jackson Emergency Room with non-life-threatening injuries. Further investigation revealed that the buck had entered the apartment by jumping through a closed glass window in the residents bedroom while she was in bed. The animal, in its attempt to escape, had caused additional damage and left blood throughout the apartment, likely from injuries sustained upon entering. A 1:29 clip from Public Safety Officer Ryan Martin's body-worn camera captures the deer inside the apartment as Officer Martin attempts to unlock the sliding glass door. When it became clear the door was locked, Officer Martin used his baton to break the glass, allowing the buck to escape. In the video, the deer is seen running from the apartment, across the porch, and into the darkness. Following the incident, officers rendered aid to the resident and subsequently attempted to locate the deer, but it is believed to have fled into nearby woods. Posted by Blackman-Leoni Department of Public Safety on Friday, November 8, 2024

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Polands Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he would host meetings with fellow world leaders to deliberate on how to approach growing tensions in Ukraine after President-elect Trumps election win.

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 States, Tusk said, according to a Saturday report from Reuters.

[] In 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, he added.

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Tusk is expected to sit down with Frances president, Emmanuel Macron, in addition to NATO secretary Mark Rutte and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The scheduled meeting comes days after Trumps victory. The former president has spoken out against the war in Ukraine and condemned the United States financial support of their military.

Many are unsure about how Trumps plans to abruptly end the war will actualize. He has already started to have conversations with leaders like South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol by phone Thursday as reported by Bloomberg, after North Korean soldiers were tapped to aid Russia on the frontlines.

Tusk said he will also meet Nordic and Baltic leaders soon in Stockholm.

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Everything will, of course, be in the context of new challenges facing our homeland, the entire region, the European Union and the Western community, he told Reuters.

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Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board chairperson and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Darakhshan Andrabi on Sunday condemned the killing of two Village Defence Guards (VDG) members by terrorists, and said the 'enemies' don't want peace to prevail. She further said it is a matter of "great concern" that such incidents (of violence) have started again. "It is a matter of great concern for all of us that such incidents have started again. And this is the trick of the enemies. They do not want peace to prevail in Jammu & Kashmir, nor do they love the people of Jammu and Kashmir. They are not liking the prosperity of Jammu and Kashmir. That is why they want to create chaos here again by coming here," Andrabi told ANI. Earlier, BJP leader Ravinder Raina on Saturday met the families of the Village Defence Guards (VDGs) who were killed in targeted violence 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. 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. 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. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and J-K Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha, both condemned the violence against the VDG members. CM Abdullah urged the security forces to ensure that such attacks stop completely, while LG Sinha said that the government was committed to destroying all terror outfits and avenging the barbaric act. (ANI)
PONCA, Nebraska (KCAU)  This weekend, the Nebraska Forest Service hosted the 2024 Eastern Nebraska Wildland Fire Academy, preparing Siouxlands firefighters on what to expect when facing wildfires.

Weve seen another active fire season this year where we are close to about 100,000 acres burnt, so this kind of academy offers volunteer firefighters around the state the opportunity to learn wildfire tactics, Nebraska Forest Service public information officer Benjamin Bohall said. Most volunteer firefighters are trained to deal with structure fires, and this is a whole different ball game with this kind of training.

The Nebraska Forest Services annual academy provides important training on defending the spread of wildfires, but its not just firefighters that are seeking the opportunity to learn how to protect Siouxlands wildlands.

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We need as much help as we can get, Bohall said. Majority of the fire departments in the state are volunteer, and were seeing more interest from the department of natural resources, game and parks commission, the national guard, theyve been asking how can we help, how can we lend a hand in dealing with these wildfires in Nebraska and Iowa?

South Dakota woman building gaint nutcracker

Through hands-on training, the students will learn skills that they may not use at their typical structure fire call.

A lot of wildfire tactics include working in canyons, or out in plains, Bohall said. Grass fires are really prevalent in Iowa and Nebraska, so we want these firefighters to essentially have the experience of going out and digging containment lines, learning how to deploy a fire shelter in an emergency situation, and just kind of get this idea of what it is really like to be out on the front lines.

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You can watch a video all you want for three hours a day, but until you actually get this fire shelter in your hand and then youre told what direction the wind is from, or what the fire is doing, you really dont know, 155th Air Refueling Wing electric systems mechanic Pete Gross-Rhode said.

Most importantly, students will be able to share their new knowledge with their peers to ensure everyone is prepared when the time comes.

Coming together and telling the people who havent done it our experiences and what to expect, the camaraderie, and the environment in the squadron is one towards preparedness because, at the end of the day, thats our job, Gross-Rhode said.

After completing their courses, the trainees will receive a certification with the National Wildfire Coordinating Group.

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PORTSMOUTH  The Hampton Roads Regional Jail is officially the Portsmouth City Jail.

Sheriff Michael Moore said the city officially purchased the regional facility in September for about $40 million. However, the facility still needs a host of renovations and upgrades that may cost the city an extra $15 million.

The jail has operated on Elmhurst Lane since 1998, housing overflow inmates from Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Hampton and Newport News. But last year, the full HRRJ board  including city managers, sheriffs and council members from each jurisdiction  voted unanimously to close the jail April 1 after several cities began pulling back on the number of inmates housed there.

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A fire at the former Portsmouth City Jail this summer forced more than 150 inmates and staff to move to the regional facility early. But the finalized purchase means Portsmouth is free to pursue its longtime goal to develop the former city jail, an aging waterfront facility, into a tax-generating property.

The regional facility thats now Portsmouths jail measures about 370,000 square feet and is situated on roughly 38 acres. While it can accommodate up to 1,300 inmates, Moore said the city is currently housing fewer than 200. But the facility needs improvements to fix issues with elevators, leaking toilets, overgrown grass and heating systems, to name a few.

Those major things that affect the safety and well being of the staff and the inmates, Moore said.

Its not clear how long the repairs will take, but Moore said theyre underway. He also said he doesnt blame the city of Portsmouth for the needed repairs as he expected the former board authority to handle some of the maintenance needs from the shares of funding received by each participating city.

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Earlier this year, Portsmouth City Council approved a community-based corrections plan that lays out a needs assessment and planning study for the relocation and occupation of the regional jail facility. The resolution also asked that the Virginia Board of Local and Regional Jails accept the plans and reimburse the city for 25% of the costs to acquire the jail and relocate.

The council also approved a bond purchase agreement earlier this year of up to $46.5 million to use for the citys capital improvement plan and purchasing the regional jail facility as well as covering the costs of repairs and improvements at HRRJ.

Future plans may also include setting aside space to permanently house the citys juvenile inmates. For months, sheriffs deputies have been traveling dozens of hours across the state and as far as Bristol, Tennessee, to transport the citys juvenile inmates to holding facilities. Portsmouth and other municipalities used to house juvenile inmates at Chesapeake Juvenile Services, but it stopped accepting juveniles from outside the city last year.

Moore said his deputies are still battling the same challenge, and hes continuing to pull deputies from other duties to transport inmates long distances. He sent an email to Portsmouth City Council members in October pleading for a temporary solution until juvenile inmates can be housed somewhere permanently, emphasizing safety and security concerns.

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On any given day, the agency has 6 to 8 deputies involved in transporting inmates/citizens regionally and outside the region which puts a strain on our day-to-day operations, Moore said in the email. As stated by the Honorable Judge (Diane) Griffin when she spoke to council in 2023, it is the Citys responsibility  not the Sheriffs or the Courts  to find a solution. 

Moore also requested additional deputies to help but added that the state compensation board hasnt approved that since what were doing for Portsmouth is outside of the norm.

It simply rests on the shoulders of the city because they havent taken the steps necessary to find a solution to the problem, he said.

Moore said the city has since granted deputies overtime pay to cushion the strain since the departments budget has taken a hit. He also said the city has begun the process of gaining approval from the state for permanent housing for juvenile inmates at the jail facility  though its a process that could take years.

However, all facilities and services must be separated and duplicated to avoid contact between youth inmates and adult inmates.

Natalie Anderson, 757-732-1133, natalie.anderson@virginiamedia.com
Over the past 24 hours, power engineers have restored power to 5,741 consumers who were cut off from the grid due to hostilities.

Source: press service for Ukraine's Energy Ministry

Quote: "Power engineers have restored power to 5,741 consumers who were cut off from the grid due to hostilities," the press service said.

Details: The energy situation in the country remains stable, but power engineers are urging people to conserve electricity from 16:00 to 21:00.

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Imports from Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary and Moldova are expected to reach 1,000 MWh and 301 MW of capacity for the day.

Background: Rolling blackouts are possible in Ukraine in winter, though restrictions will be imposed depending on the weather and frost.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Girls were invited to gather at East High School on Saturday for the Power Her Forward conference, which is led by the Womens Foundation of Genesee Valley.

The free, full-day event brought girls ages 13 to 19 from around the Rochester region together to learn how to broaden their creativity and feel empowered. The day kicked off with speeches, then the girls branched off to take part in workshops covering a variety of topics like mental health, finances and artistic expression.

Organizers said the goal is to help girls feel in control and well-equipped to handle anything life throws at them.

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What we hope is that they leave inspired with a better sense of themselves as to who they are today and where they are going, said Krystle Ellis, the executive director of the womens foundation. We have gathered the best of the best and the premiere leaders and volunteers and the community partners in the Rochester area. So, I know for a fact they will leave elevated and ready to take on the world.

News 8s Mikhaela Singleton was one of Saturdays speakers for the event, helping to launch the days activities.

Greece welcomes first K9 Resorts location in Upstate New York

The conference wrapped up with an after-party, complete with a live DJ and Swag Bags full of goodies for the girls to take home.

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Belarusian prankster Vladislav Bokhan, posing as a representative of Russias United Russia party, convinced teachers in Voronezh Oblast to create tin foil hats in a "patriotic workshop" dubbed the Helmet of the Fatherland. The local Education Ministry department has reportedly praised their efforts.

Source: Meduza, a Latvia-based Russian media outlet

Details: The prankster circulated an "order" to schools in the region, using the name of an official from the regional United Russia branch, along with instructions for making tin foil hats.

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Teachers from seven schools in Voronezh Oblast participated in the campaign.





Russian teachers wearing patriotic tin foil hats.

Photo: Vladislav Bokhan

The regional branch of Russia's Education Ministry commended the teachers, stating that, despite being "the subject of an inappropriate joke", they had "demonstrated patriotic spirit, strong dedication, and a creative approach to any task".





Russian teacher holds patriotic tin foil hat.

Photo: Vladislav Bokhan

For reference: Bokhan has previously orchestrated similar pranks. In 2022, he persuaded a school administration in Klin to organise a subbotnik (community clean-up day) and pose with a poster reading "One people, one nation, one ruler" [in allusion to a Nazi propaganda phrase, "Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Fuhrer"  ed.]. Notably, the Roman letter "V", a symbol used by Russian forces and propaganda in the war against Ukraine, replaced the Cyrillic letter "" (which has the same sound) in one of the words on the poster.

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CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  About two dozen people gathered at Liberty Park in Clarksville Saturday for a prayer vigil for Sebastian Rogers, the 15-year-old who was reported missing from Sumner County in February.

My house is very, very quiet because my sons not there, Sebastians father, Seth Rogers, said as he held back his tears. [Im] going through hell, and when I go home, hes not there.

Duane Chapman, better known as Dog the Bounty Hunter, joined the search for Sebastian about two months ago. The search initially started with local and state law enforcement agencies, including the Sumner County Sheriffs Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), but it has since grown to an international effort.

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PREVIOUS: Celebrity bounty hunter expands search efforts internationally for missing Sumner County teen

[Local and state law enforcement agencies] havent come out and told anybody anything since April, and [as for] them actually speaking with me, theyd have to actually answer their phone, Seth told News 2.

Seth encourages people to keep saying Sebastians name until his son is found.

When asked what he would say to Sebastian, Seth responded, Im going to keep looking for you until I find you, and if you see this, call me. You know my phone number, I wont change it, and I love you.

The FBI said agents are continuing to provide assistance in the search for Sebastian. Tipsters are encouraged to contact your local FBI office, contact the nearest American Embassy or Consulate, or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. You can also call Chapmans tip line at 833-835-5364.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Sebastian Wayne Drake Rogers, 15, was reported missing on Monday, Feb. 26 from the Beech area in Hendersonville.

Sebastian Rogers: Description

Sebastian is 5 feet, 5 inches tall, 120 pounds with dirty blond hair. He was last seen on Monday, Feb. 26 near Stafford Court wearing a black sweatshirt and black sweatpants, said the TBI.

AMBER Alert Issued

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) originally issued an Endangered Child Alert for Sebastian on the morning of Feb. 26 as multiple agencies took to the area to look for him.

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Based on additional investigative information developed during the search, the TBI issued an AMBER Alert for Sebastian on the afternoon of Feb. 27. An AMBER Alert is issued when there is reasonable belief by law enforcement that an abduction has occurred and the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death, per the DOJ.

Multiple agencies including the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Nashville Fire Department, City of Hendersonvilles first responders, Sumner County Sheriffs Office and Shackle Island Volunteer Fire have assisted in the search for Sebastian.

Who to Contact

If you have seen Sebastian or have info about his whereabouts, call the Sumner County Sheriffs Office at (615) 451-3838 or TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Princess Kate attended the Remembrance Sunday ceremony in London, her second public appearance in two days, as she gradually returns to public duties after her treatment for cancer.

She watched from the balcony of a government building as members of the royal family, including King Charles, and politicians laid wreaths at the Cenotaph war memorial in central London.

The Princess of Wales was wearing a black hat and jacket adorned with red poppies, which are worn by Britons as a symbol of respect for those who have lost their lives in conflict.

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On Saturday, she appeared at the Festival of Remembrance at London's Royal Albert Hall.

Kate said in September she had finished chemotherapy, but her path to full recovery would be long. At the time, the 42-year-old said she would be carrying out a handful of public engagements later in the year.

Before this weekend's events her last public appearance was in October when she met the bereaved families of three young girls who were murdered at a dance class in northwest England.

The ceremony at the Cenotaph war memorial is held on the nearest Sunday to Nov. 11 to mark the end of World War One, and pays tribute to those who lost their lives in conflict

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Kate's husband William, who is heir to the throne, said during a visit to South Africa last week that the past year had probably been the "hardest" of his life after Kate and his father Charles were diagnosed with cancer.

(Reporting by Andrew MacAskill; Editing by Frances Kerry)
Catherine, Princess of Wales joined the royal family as they paid their respects to all those who have lost their lives in conflicts at the annual Remembrance Day service in London on Sunday.

King Charles III, who recently returned from his first long-haul multi-country tour since his cancer diagnosis, led the family and the nation in honoring fallen servicemen and women at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, near Downing Street.

The 75-year-old British monarch laid the first wreath at the base of the stone monument, as hundreds of veterans, serving personnel and members of the public looked on. Attached was a handwritten note that read: In grateful remembrance of your service and sacrifice.

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It closely resembled one produced for his late grandfather King George VI and was mounted with poppies on an arrangement of black leaves, as is traditional for the sovereign, bearing a ribbon comprised of his racing colors of scarlet, purple and gold.

Prince William also left a floral tribute, featuring the Prince of Wales feathers and a new ribbon in Welsh red, at the war memorial.

King Charles lays his wreath on Sunday honoring those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. - Chris Jackson/Pool/Reuters

Several royals opted for to wear military dress for the poignant occasion. Prince William, wearing a greatcoat over his Royal Air Force uniform in the rank of Wing Commander, salutes after laying his wreath. - James Manning/PA Wire

His wife, Kate, viewed the solemn commemorations from the balcony of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, which overlooks the Cenotaph. She was accompanied by Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.

Other members of the royal family in attendance included Prince Edward, Princess Anne and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent.

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The annual service - which is held on the Sunday closest to Armistice Day  also featured a march past of 10,000 veterans and saw the nation fall silent as Big Ben struck 11 a.m. (6 a.m. ET).

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the newly installed leader of the Conservative Party Kemi Badenoch also attended the ceremony and laid wreaths. Standing behind them were eight former prime ministers: John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch carry wreaths as they attend the Sunday ceremony. - Toby Melville/Reuters

World War II veterans Alec Penstone and Mervyn Kersh meet on Horse Guards Parade ahead of the Royal British Legions march past the Cenotaph. - Jaimi Joy/Reuters

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It was the second appearance of the weekend for the Princess of Wales, who revealed she had an undisclosed cancer eight months ago, and marked her first major official appearances since completing chemotherapy.

Kate, 42, announced she was cancer free in September and would be taking a phased approach to resuming public royal duties. Last month, she accompanied William on visit to Southport in northwest England, where the couple met with the bereaved families of three children killed in a knife attack in July.

On Saturday evening, she looked radiant in a chic black dress adorned with a poppy brooch as she joined the Windsor clan for the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance. The annual event at Londons renowned Royal Albert Hall celebrates the service and sacrifice of British and Commonwealth Armed Forces personnel.

This years showcase of music, performances and readings marked the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings in Normandy as well as 25 years since the deployment of NATO peacekeeping forces in Kosovo and the decade since the withdrawal of British troops from Afghanistan.

The Princess of Wales joined , Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, Britain's King Charles and Britain's Princess Anne, Princess Royal attend "The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance" at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain, November 9, 2024. REUTERS/Chris J. Ratcliffe/Pool - Chris J. Ratcliffe/Pool/Reuters

Queen Camilla, who this week reluctantly withdrew from engagements as she was unwell, remained at home in Wiltshire.

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Buckingham Palace confirmed Saturday that she was following doctors guidance to ensure a full recovery from a seasonal chest infection, and to protect others from any potential risk.

A palace spokesperson said, 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.

While she appears to still under the weather, it is understood her absence was not cause for alarm nor had there been a downturn in her condition. Instead, the 77-year-old royal was said to be mindful of minimizing the risk of passing any last lingering infection to others.

Prince William recently opened up about the challenges his family have faced in 2024, describing it as dreadful and the hardest year of my life.

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Speaking to British media outlets as his four-day trip to South Africa for his Earthshot Awards concluded, the Prince of Wales said, trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult.

He added: But Im so proud of my wife, Im proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done.

In the days ahead, the King will celebrate his upcoming birthday by opening two new food distribution hubs. Charles, who turns 76 on Thursday, will open one in person and the other virtually.

The plans for the monarchs birthday will also mark one year since he launched his Coronation Food Project, an initiative he was inspired to launch with the dual purpose of tackling both food poverty and waste.

CNNs Max Foster contributed reporting.

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A pro-Palestine activist has been arrested ahead of suspected action around Armistice Day.

The Metropolitan Police have ensured local policing plans are in place across the capital as the nation prepares to commemorate all those who died fighting for their country.

It comes after reports that activists in solidarity with Palestine had planned to disrupt Armistice Day with highly co-ordinated protests this week.

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Louise Puddefoot, the commander in charge of policing London over Remembrance weekend, told The Telegraph: We have local policing plans in place across London to protect those attending public Armistice Day events tomorrow. Anyone committing offences or disorder on this solemn and important day will be dealt with swiftly.

She added: We are aware separately of a week of action planned by Youth Demand. Following information received, a man was arrested on the evening of Saturday, 9 November at an address in London on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance. He remains in custody.

Louise Puddefoot - X/twitter

More than 50 activists are believed to have gathered at an event at a private bar in central London last Saturday to discuss the protests, which are being led by Youth Demand, a relatively new organisation formed of different pro-Palestinian and environmentalist groups.

According to The Daily Express, Arthur Clifton, a 23-year-old activist with Youth Demand, told those who had gathered: 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.

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Mr Clifton also said the protests would cause highly co-ordinated, highly organised disruption on a nationwide level. He added: We know we have to shut it down for Palestine.

The protests are planned to take place across five cities, including London, however there did not appear to be any disruptions on Remembrance Sunday.

The Telegraph understands that there is no information that Youth Demand, or any group, has plans to disrupt specific Armistice Day events in London.

Activists from Youth Demand placed flowers and a Palestinian flag on the Cenotaph on July 15 2024 - Guy Smallman/Getty Images

On Monday, the Western Front Association will commemorate Armistice Day at the Cenotaph, where John Healey, the Defence Secretary, is expected to attend and lay a wreath.

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In response to the threats of protest, the Royal British Legion said: Remembrance is a time for the nation to come together to remember those who have served in the British Armed Forces protecting the democratic freedoms we all benefit from today.

While we respect the right of people to protest within the law, we believe the Two-Minute Silence on Armistice Day is a time for remembrance, and we hope Remembrance events can go ahead without disruption.

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Progressive Democrats are pushing to take over the party leadership as in-fighting breaks out following Kamala Harriss election defeat.

Left-wingers are hoping to install Ben Wikler, the Wisconsin Democratic chairman, to take over the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and swing it away from the current centrist leadership ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Pramila Jayapal, who leads the Democrats progressive faction in Congress, has said she would love to see somebody who is like a Ben Wikler, Politico reports.

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Her intervention may mean Left-wing Democrats swing behind Mr Wikler, who is seen as an effective fundraiser and has been credited with reviving his partys fortunes in Wisconsin, if he launches a bid for the position.

It comes as Democrats battle over how to rebuild their party following Donald Trumps election victory on Tuesday night.

Different factions of the party are openly feuding with each other in the aftermath of Ms Harriss defeat, amid claims that the vice-president failed to appeal to working-class voters.

Bernie Sanders, the veteran Vermont senator, has argued that the next Democratic campaign should be based on a more Left-wing economic message.

Bernie Sanders hit out at the Democrats for failing the working class at the election - AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

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 after the election result.

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Jaime Harrison, the centrist DNC chairman, claimed that Mr Sanders comments were straight-up BS. Joe Biden is the most-pro worker president of my lifetime, he added.

Nancy Pelosi also hit out at the Vermont senator, defending Mr Bidens record and pointing out that Ms Harris performed well in his home state.

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 said. Thats where we are.

Other figures whose names have been floated as potential party leaders include Andy Beshear, the Kentucky governor, Phil Murphy, the New Jersey governor, Pete Buttigieg, the transportation secretary, and Ken Martin, head of the Minnesota Democratic Party.

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The new DNC head is expected to be confirmed by March next year.

Top Democrats are expected to meet to discuss the contest in Arizona in mid-December, by which point most candidates are expected to have announced their bids.

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The North East Festival returns to Delhi with its 12th edition, promising an immersive journey into the vibrant culture of India's Northeast. Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium at India Gate is se to become a hub of celebration, bringing together eight states and over 200 communities on a single platform beginnig November 15. The three day festival is set to conclude on November 17. This one-of-a-kind event has established itself as an essential part of Delhi's cultural landscape, drawing visitors nationwide to experience the Northeast's unique artistic and culinary treasures. Over the past decade, North East Festival has grown into a significant platform for promoting Northeastern culture in the nation's capital. Organised by Socio-Cultural Trust Trend MMS, with the support of the Ministry of DoNER, Delhi Police, and various Central and several state governments, the event has fostered a better understanding of the Northeastern region. It has consistently championed tourism, entrepreneurship, and cultural awareness, encouraging close ties among communities, showcasing new talents, and providing a vital space for creativity and celebration. Shyamkanu Mahanta, Organiser-in-Chief of North East Festival, shared the event's enduring vision, "The North East Festival has grown far beyond its original concept. What began as a cultural showcase has evolved into a platform for unity, mutual appreciation, and shared experiences and a tourism festival. It has become Delhi's major tourism festival. This festival is about more than a visual spectacle; it's a celebration of heritage, talent, and the innovative spirit that defines the Northeast." This year's edition will present a diverse mix of events and experiences capturing the region's cultural, artistic, and entrepreneurial energy. Visitors can explore a vast exhibition featuring large no of MSME stalls, each spotlighting unique products from Northeastern communities. From agricultural produce to traditional handlooms and crafts, this exhibition highlights the region's resourcefulness, allowing attendees to engage directly with local artisans. The festival also serves as a platform for business and tourism engagement. The Tourism Business Meet will gather leading tour operators from Delhi and Northeastern stakeholders to build connections and establish long-term tourism opportunities. With representatives from premier tourism bodies, the meet is set to enhance collaboration, driving sustainable tourism growth for the Northeast. Tourism is a focal point with a showcase of the Northeast's varied and exotic destinations. Visitors can explore the allure of Dzukou Valley, the charm of Cherapunjee, and the historical significance of places like Neer Mahal and Charideo Maidam. Additionally, a campaign on air connectivity improvements will highlight recent advancements, alongside glimpses into upcoming festivals, such as the celebrated Hornbill Festival in Nagaland. The festival's culinary offerings promise a feast of authentic flavours. With around 60 food stalls, visitors can enjoy specialties like Assam tea and Nagaland coffee, alongside a variety of other regional delicacies. This food segment has become a staple of the festival, offering a unique culinary journey and nurturing cross-cultural connections. Over the years, the North East Festival's food show has inspired numerous new restaurants in Delhi, creating a bridge through shared flavours and gastronomic traditions. An art exhibition, featuring traditional and contemporary pieces by Northeastern artists, will offer a colourful and evocative showcase of the region's creativity. The photography zone will further enrich the experience. The fashion segment, North East Fashion Weekend, will highlight 16 talented designers, each bringing their interpretation of Northeastern style. Their collections will combine tradition with innovation, drawing attention to the region's rich textile heritage and the skilled artisans who sustain it. Held each evening, these fashion shows will be interwoven with musical performances, creating an engaging experience for the audience. Music remains at the heart of North East Festival, and this year's NEF Music Stage will feature top bands and artists from the Northeast and Delhi. This musical lineup will take audiences on a journey across genres, from modern sounds to traditional rhythms. Folk artists from across the Northeast will also perform traditional dances. Beyond celebration, the festival will honour those who have made significant contributions in fields such as sports, entrepreneurship, and the arts. This year's awards ceremony will pay tribute to the talent and dedication of Northeastern achievers, showcasing the pride and resilience of the region and inspiring future generations. (ANI)
The Scoop

Some of the largest donors to Kamala Harris and to progressive causes worry they could face investigations and retaliation from the Trump Administration next year  and are preparing for the possibility.

At least one of the groups receiving LinkedIn Co-founder Reid Hoffmans vast contributions has consulted lawyers about the possibility of an investigation, a person close to the group said.

And leaders of progressive nonprofit organizations were brought togetherThursday at the East 62nd Street mansion that houses the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation by that groups leader, Elizabeth Alexander, and the president of the JPB Foundation, Deepak Bhargava.

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One focus was how to present a common front in the face of politicized investigations, a person briefed on the gathering said.



An attendee, Ford Foundation president Darren Walker, declined to comment on the gathering and said he was focused on helping our grantee organizations figure out how to navigate a changing landscape.

Know More

Trump has made threats against some 100 enemies, according to a diligent NPR catalog, and thrown around phrases like enemy from within. Some of his allies have been even more explicit about using the Department of Justice to attack political foes. Republicans have also at times said those threats were mere jokes or hyperbole. The president-elect appears at the moment to be in a forgiving mood, suggesting the Republican Party should help the Democratic presidential campaign pay off its debt.

Progressive leaders are split on the seriousness of the short-term legal threat. Some are skeptical that Trump would use the federal apparatus to attack Democratic donors and progressive nonprofits that veer toward electoral politics  in part because a move like that would also alarm Republican donors and non-profits.

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Others are closer to outright panic. Hoffmans former chief political aide, Dimitri Mehlhorn, after the election declared the Second American Republicover and wrote that he would be joining what I call the Archipelago of Light which he described as a global civilization stretching from Finland to Costa Rica.

Hoffman, among the Democratic Partys topmost donors this cycle, said on a podcast after the election that There were a number of folks I talked to who were like, Trumps rhetoric on the campaign trail is extreme because thats the way he gets his news and attention. It isnt really going to be the way hes going to govern It isnt going to be retribution to so-called enemies within.

Obviously, I feared and still fear they were wrong, but now Im hoping they are right, he said.

A Trump adviser responded that Hoffman is trying to scare people into handing over even more money to his liberal political groups.

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The Mellon and JPB Foundations, and Hoffman, didnt respond to inquiries Saturday.

Bens view

Predicting which of Trumps pronouncements will be translated into action is a fools game. But his campaign-trail threats have a deterrent effect, whether or not he acts on them.

Business leaders last week raced to post praise of the newly-elected Trump. Big media companies, navigating complex corporate waters and aiming for mergers that require federal approval, have dialed back their confrontational tone. And some progressive donors and non-profits, too, may think twice before crossing the new president.



Room for Disagreement

A Trump legal ally, Mark Paleotta, wrote on X Thursday that  contrary to recent tradition  the president can intervene to direct DOJ on specific cases. He added that President Trump will not use the DOJ for political purposes, that is to go after individuals simply because they are political opponents. But just because you are a political opponent does not give you get a free pass if you have violated the law.

Notable

Politico senior legal affairs reporter Josh Gerstein explored the possibility of retribution against political foes, prosecutors and judges, and other critics: He wont be inhibited by the need to run for reelection. He will be emboldened by a Supreme Court ruling that grants presidents broad immunity from criminal accountability after they leave office. And he is expected to be surrounded by aides more willing to dispense with norms to carry out his wishes.

A grandson of Andrew W. Mellon, Timothy, was Trumps biggest donor, even as the foundation in the financiers name is a major progressive force.




Many countries use deforestation as a tool to make money but imagine if there was a way to incentivize them to maintain their forests. In comes the Tropical Forests Forever Facility fund from Brazil.

According to The New York Times, Brazil wants to pay developing countries a fee of $4 for every 2.5 acres of forests they maintain annually. It also wants to fine the countries $400 for every 2.5 acres they lost during the year. This number is roughly the same as a soybean farm would bring in for every 2.5 acres, one of the most profitable uses of land in the Amazon.

Brazil envisions the fund to be $125 billion, per the Times. Brazil's proposal involves rich nations and philanthropies loaning the fund $25 billion, which they would get back with interest. Additionally, the hope is that private investors would put in $100 billion, which would be paid back at a fixed rate. Then, the Tropical Forests Forever Facility would invest the money into a diverse portfolio to repay investors. This process is how a bank works.

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"The idea is elegant," said Frances Seymour, a senior adviser on forests for the U.S. State Department, per the Times.

Brazil plans to finalize how the fund works this year and roll it out next year.

This fund is crucial because forests are essential to people across the globe. According to the World Wildlife Fund, 70 million people "call forests home." Not only do forests provide a home for people, but they also provide jobs, food, fuel, and oxygen  over 1.6 billion people in the world "depend on forests for food and fuel."

If we lose the forests, we lose all of these basic needs.

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Additionally, forests are known as a "carbon sink" because they absorb the polluting gases from the air. According to the World Resources Institute, world forests absorb 7.6 billion metric tonnes (8.4 U.S. tons) of polluting gases a year. That is 1.5 times more than what is released in the U.S. each year.

Forests also have a cooling effect. Researchers found that forests can keep the planet a half a degree cooler, and in some places, it can even keep it more than a degree cooler.

The best way you can help protect these valuable resources is to donate to climate causes that are working to protect forests worldwide.

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.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  A restaurant in Providence is temporarily closed after a stabbing that happened on Friday, according to a city spokesperson.

Police are investigating the stabbing, according to the spokesperson, and the suspect was taken to the hospital while the victim brought themselves.

An emergency meeting was held by the Providence Board of Licenses Saturday afternoon and the business was ordered to close for 72 hours.

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Dylan Conley, who chairs the citys board of licenses, told 12 News this incident happened outside of Saje Kitchen on Atwells Ave after a fight began inside.

According to Conley, the restaurants manager  Andre Samuel  was involved in the altercation, but the extent of which is unknown. Conley said the establishment has been closed before, because of Samuel being a manager there, but was reopened by the R.I. Department of Business Regulation.

Conley explained Samuel has managed other businesses where violent incidents have occurred, citing a 2017 shooting outside of a Providence nightclub.

A show cause hearing for the business is scheduled for Tuesday.

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The United States is still assessing what exactly Russia will offer North Korea in exchange for its troops' involvement in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Source: Jake Sullivan, the Presidents National Security Advisor, in an interview with CBS News, reported by European Pravda

Details: Sullivan said that the US "does not know for sure" what Russia is providing to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in return for sending his troops to fight in Ukraine.

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Quote: "...and frankly, I think Vladimir Putin doesn't know for sure. I think he probably hasn't decided exactly what he's going to do for North Korea on a going forward basis."

Biden's advisor speculated that "Kim Jong Un expects that he's going to get something significant, probably in the form of military and technology support from Russia"  potentially even for North Koreas nuclear program.

Quote: " I can't say exactly what will happen, but we have already heard the Russians come out and say that North Korea's nuclear program should be looked at differently today than it was five or ten years ago. So the concern about the relationship between Russia and North Korea, in both directions, is very real and something that all of the nations of the free world need to pay attention to."

Background:

This week, the US confirmed that North Korean troops were involved in combat in Kursk Oblast in recent days.

Additionally, The New York Times reported that a combined force of 50,000 Russian and North Korean troops is preparing to launch a large-scale counteroffensive in Kursk Oblast.

NATO member states condemned the decision by Russia and North Korea to involve North Korean troops in combat operations against Ukraine.

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On Saturday, Russian leader Vladimir Putin signed a law ratifying the agreement on a "comprehensive strategic partnership between Russia and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea".

Source: Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency Interfax

Details: The treaty was signed in June 2024 during Putin's visit to North Korea and approved by the Federal Assembly [the upper house of the Russian parliament] a few days ago.

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The agreement stipulates that in case of an armed attack on one of the parties, the other is committed to providing immediate military and other support. Both parties also agreed to avoid entering agreements with third countries that target one another and to prevent their territories from being used to compromise each others sovereignty.

In addition, the parties committed themselves to strengthening the "multipolar world order" and developing cross-border cooperation.

Background:

On 5 November, reports indicated that the first military clash between Ukrainian soldiers and North Korean troops had taken place in Russia's Kursk Oblast, where Ukrainian forces were conducting an operation.

Earlier, the Pentagon confirmed that North Korean troops who had arrived in Russia for training had begun to move towards Kursk Oblast, with some of them already present there. The latest US estimate is that North Korea has sent about 10,000 troops to Russia for training and combat operations against Ukraine.

CNN sources believe that some of the North Korean military may already be in Ukraine.

Ukrainian intelligence suggested that Russia had deployed over 7,000 North Korean troops to areas near Ukraine in the last week of October.

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The News

Israel and Hamas are effectively left without a mediator in talks to broker a ceasefire in Gaza after Qatar halted its mediation efforts. The Gulf nation also reportedly asked Hamas political leaders to leave the country, after the latest round of talks made no progress.

The move comes at a particularly uncertain moment for the region: US President-elect Donald Trump has said he wants the war to end before his inauguration in January, but how that would happen is unclear. Most experts agree its highly unlikely that fighting in Gaza would come to a complete stop in the near future, a possibility that may now be more remote with Qatars decision.

For Qatar, distancing from Hamas could help the countrys diplomatic standing with the incoming Trump administration, a Haaretz columnist wrote: Qatars relations with the first Trump government fluctuated. Doha must now prepare for the second.
Qatar announced Saturday that it has paused its role as a mediator for a ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas due to a lack of willingness by the sides to reach an agreement.

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.

The statement detailed Qatars withdrawal from mediation efforts, which the country had been a central part of for more than a year. After months of stop-and-go negotiations, efforts to reach a ceasefire and hostage release deal  a top priority for President Joe Biden  remain stalled.

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Officials in Doha have also decided to close Hamas political office in the Qatari capital, a diplomat familiar with the decision told CNN.

Doha decided about a week ago to suspend the office because the parties arent negotiating in good faith, the diplomat said. The office wont be operational so (Hamas) may leave. The office could open again if talks restart.

US and Qatari sources told CNN on Friday that Qatar made the decision to kick out Hamas after a request from the US to do so. The diplomatic source said the decision to close the office was made independently, not due to US pressure.

The closure of the offices operations may cause Hamas officials to leave Qatar, but they have not been given a deadline or ultimatum, the diplomat said.

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When CNN asked the White House National Security Council for clarification Saturday, the council declined to comment and referred to what a senior administration official said Friday.

After rejecting repeated proposals to release hostages, its leaders should no longer be welcome in the capitals of any American partner, a senior administration official told CNN on Friday, referring to Hamas.

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. 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, the official said.

Qatari spokesperson Al-Ansari referred to inaccurate reporting in his Saturday statement.

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A Hamas official told CNN earlier Saturday that reports of the groups departure from Doha were baseless and a pressure tactic.

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 Israeli American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin and Hamas rejection of yet another ceasefire proposal.

The Hamas office could reopen when both sides demonstrate a sincere willingness to return to the negotiating table with the objective of putting an end to the war, the diplomatic source said.

In April, Doha made a similar move in temporarily closing the Hamas office. Officials then left Qatar and went to Turkey. As talks faltered, the Biden administration and Israel asked Doha to bring them back, the diplomat told CNN.

CNNs Ibrahim Dahman, Kylie Atwood and Jennifer Hansler contributed to this report.

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People I know are worried about the government giving more to those who just crossed the border than folks back here, said one questioner. How do we help people struggling every day? queried another.

These questions came not from Donald Trump partisans, but from a mainly Black crowd at an Urban League event I attended weeks before the election in the swing state of Wisconsin as a surrogate for the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz ticket.

Crowds were attending events for Democrats and the energy was real, but the narrative in Wisconsin and our country was defined entirely by Republican talking points. As our nation embarks on the all-too-familiar ritual of the left defining what comes next, the path back to success is less one of policy and more one of presence and narratives.

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In Missouri, voters enshrined reproductive rights into the state constitution, approved paid sick leave and increased minimum wages for our workers, while electing by wide margins right-wing men who opposed those very same views. And, in Missouri, like its former swing state brethren of Florida and Ohio, the presidential race was never competitive. Democrats policies are good, say the voters, but our messages are not.

At its core, successful politicians answer what they will do for you, your family and your community. Democrats had much to work with. In Kansas City alone, Biden-Harris administration policies sent hundreds of millions of dollars to help build bridges you use to cross the Missouri River and Brush Creek, sent funds that kept our cops and firefighters working with pay increases, and passed new laws that led directly to the prosecution of criminals who trafficked weapons that terrorized our community at the Super Bowl parade.

The pitch leaving the Democratic convention, however, called for preservation of democracy and a halt to Project 2025. The goals were laudable, but the goal missed conversations of everyday Americans in exurban communities throughout middle America. The Republican ticket spoke to issues that are as universal as they are banal: strong borders, safer cities and a better economy. And importantly, Trump shared that narrative as a showman in a McDonalds drive-thru, dressed as a sanitation worker and dancing, without a hint of irony, to a Village People banger. His efforts were laughable, but unforgettable. A generation on, Trump  a character weve all known too long  adapted Bill Clintons I feel your pain in a way modern Democrats never answered.

The future for Democrats not just in one election, but also in states like our own, first has to include competition in more places. Trump narrowed margins in rural areas, exurbs and boroughs of major cities. While not blind to race and gender in our society, we do not have the luxury to give up on yet another swing jurisdiction each cycle. Closer to home, messaging to our exurban communities such as Harrisonville, St. Joseph or Leavenworth has to be part of any winning strategy.

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On messaging, Democrats need not adopt brand new apologies or worse yet, abandon core constituencies. We cant just condescend to others, either. A generation ago, Mission Hills native Thomas Franks book Whats the Matter with Kansas spoke of those in our region who voted against what he viewed as their own best interests. I detested that central premise, then and now, as the very type of elitism rejected this week. Twenty years of campaign consulting have proceeded too often on the theory that if we teach the voters our worldview, theyll see the light.

Whats clear after Tuesday is that voters have never stopped telling us their issues, and vote for candidates who they perceive are listening. Like we saw in Missouri in the recent election, on a compare-and-contrast on the issues, Democrats can win. The key step is being in the places to share Democratic successes and true priorities for working people, without the noise of whatever groupthink governs the moment.

Voters werent looking for Liz Cheney down the homestretch. They were looking for someone who has been where they have been and who has felt their pain.

Quinton Lucas is mayor of Kansas City.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah came out heavily against the Bharatiya Janata Party over the alleged 'Covid scam' under the previous Yediyurappa government, claiming that corruption of over Rs 2000 crore took place in the purchase of medical equipment during that period. He said the cabinet will take a decision on the matter after the Justice John Michael D'Cunha Commission formed to probe the alleged corruption submits its report. Addressing a press conference in Ballari on Saturday, Siddaramaiah said, "During the Corona period, there was a scam of more than Rs 2,000 crores. There was a lot of corruption in the purchase of healthcare materials, a commission headed by retired Justice Michael Cunha was formed, but the report is not yet in hand. Former CM Yediyurappa is saying all this is a lie. The truth will be revealed. BJP says everything is a lie. Let the report of the commission come, then a decision will be taken in the cabinet." He added that he had highlighted the issue when he was the Leader of the Opposition during the BJP rule under former CM BS Yediyurappa. "BJP says everything is a lie. When Yediyurappa was the CM, I mentioned about the Covid scams in the session as the Leader of the Opposition," he said. Speaking on the issue, Karnataka Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Saturday claimed that the D'Cunha Commission clearly indicts the former CM BS Yediyurappa and his Minister for Health and Family Welfare B Sriramulu. He further alleged that the BJP government was using the Covid crisis to "loot" the state. "Whatever that has come out in the papers is absolutely true. The D'Cunha Commission clearly indicts the former CM BS Yediyurappa and his Minister for Health and Family Welfare B. Sriramulu. There are many other aspects of the report which I don't want to talk about. I can say whatever is there in the report is true. It clearly shows that during crisis of COVID, the BJP government was using it to loot the state and what allegations we were talking about then has come true," he said. Rao also dismissed the BJP's claim of 'political vendetta', saying that this is not an overnight decision rather it is a commission's 1500-page long report which took more than 1.5 years to be completed. "How is it a political vendetta? This is a commission report and it has taken more than 1.5 years to come up with the report. This is not an overnight decision. It has nothing to do with us. It's a serious allegation with clear evidences given of how it was done. He can fight it out legally. My department government is not deciding this. This is done by a very senior former judge of high integrity and he has taken his time and he has looked into so many different aspects. There is a 1500-page report over so many other things of purchase of ventilators, masks, sanitizers, medicines and oxygen cylinder, so many issues are there, this is just one part where former CM and former minister is directly involved," Rao said. Karnataka Minister said that there is a recommendation of additional prosecution under the Prevention of Corruption Act in the alleged Covid scam. He further highlighted that the government lost Rs 14 crores in the alleged Covid scam. On recommendations of the report, he said, "Yes, there is a recommendation of additional prosecution under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The government has suffered a loss of almost Rs 14 crores because of giving it to some Chinese companies at a very high price when locally it was available." (ANI)
QUICK WEATHER FORECAST:

Today: Showers & breezy, high 61

Tonight: Rain ending, low 47

Monday: Partly cloudy, high 59 (38)

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, high 56 (39)

Wednesday: Showers late, high 58 (43)

Thursday: Chance of showers, high 57 (40)

FORECAST DISCUSSION:

Plenty of rain has already fallen across Central Ohio this Sunday. Approaching midday Columbus has already seen close to 3/4 of rain. More showers will continue into the afternoon and evening before they finally start to taper off. Winds are also going to stay breezy at times the rest of the day with gusts close to 30 mph. Highs are expected to stay in the upper 50s-low 60s.

During the first half of the night rain showers will begin to taper off, then skies start to clear out as the morning approaches. Lows will only drop to the upper 40s. Very few areas will wake up to some patchy fog, but those spots will be limited

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Skies will gradually clear out for Veterans Day on Monday. Highs will only reach the upper 50s. A second cold front this week will move through Central Ohio Monday night into Tuesday, but this one is not expected to bring any rain. It will knock down temperatures to more seasonable highs.

Additional chances of showers move in late Wednesday into Thursday morning. Dry conditions will become dry once again by the start of the upcoming weekend.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Vivek Ramaswamy, a former presidential candidate and ally of Donald Trump, said the president-elect would bring the country together while also defending Trump's immigration plan for mass deportations.

Speaking to "This Week" co-anchor Jonathan Karl, Ramaswamy urged Democrats to give Trump a chance in office and called on them to resist efforts to cast him as a threat to democracy.

"What you're hearing from Donald Trump is he is going to be a president for all Americans. He is a guy who, in that first term, he had crowds chanting 'lock her up' for Hillary Clinton. He didn't prosecute her. I think Donald Trump is focused on what makes people's lives better. And actually, my message to Democrats out there, even those who didn't vote for Donald Trump, is to give him a chance to actually make your life better," Ramaswamy said.

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MORE: Trump's political comeback is complete. What it says about American voters: ANALYSIS

"I think it's time to turn the page on a lot of these histrionics, or Hitler comparisons," he added, before later saying that "success is unifying. Nothing's going to unite this country more than economic growth."

PHOTO: Vivek Ramaswamy in ABC's This Week. (ABC News)

Ramaswamy ran against the former and now president-elect in the 2024 GOP primary as a culture warrior in Trump's image, though he ended his campaign the night of the Iowa caucuses and endorsed the former president.

On Sunday, he also defended Trump's vow for a mass deportation force, predicting that the tougher enforcement measures will also lead to undocumented immigrants leaving the country on their own.

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"Donald Trump's campaign promise was the largest mass deportation in American history, and he's going to keep that promise," Ramaswamy said. "Not an iota, not a cent of government spending should go to subsidize this, not to sanctuary cities, not to federal aid to people who are in this country illegally, and we're going to see a large number, by the millions, of self-deportations as well."

Pressed by Karl on the fate of the so-called "Dreamers" -- people who were brought to the United States as children without valid documentation -- Ramaswamy declined to explicitly say how the incoming administration would approach this group of undocumented immigrants, which includes many adults who have spent most of their life in the U.S. During his first term, the Trump administration attempted to rescind the Obama-era program that allowed such migrants to stay and work in the country.

MORE: How Donald Trump won the presidency

"I say this as the kid of legal immigrants to this country, as the proud child of legal immigrants to the United States of America. If your first act of entering this country broke the law, that doesn't allow you to remain in this country," Ramaswamy said. "One is, no migration without consent. Think about your nation like a body. Number two is that consent should only be granted, and should be granted to migrants who benefit the United States of America. But those who enter without consent must be removed."

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As a vocal Trump ally, Ramaswamy is thought of as a potential future member of the Trump administration, though he did not specify what role would interest him.

"There's a couple great options on the table. I want to have the biggest possible impact on this country. We're not going to sort that out in the press we're having some high-impact discussions."

Ramaswamy calls for unity, defends Trump's immigration plan originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Workforce Solutions Borderplex will host one of its biggest events of the year this week  its Red, White and You hiring fair, which is part of a larger statewide event.

In El Paso, the job fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13 at the Armed Forces Reserve Center, 11701 Montana Ave.

You can participate in person or virtually.

The Red, White and You Veterans Hiring Fair is geared for service members, veterans and their spouses to connect with employers. The general public can also attend.

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It is free for the military community and public to attend.

All Workforce Solutions Borderplex offices will also offer resource areas to help people access the virtual event.

Attendees, whether in person or virutally, will be able to connect with and explore career opportunities in logistics, information technology, advanced manufacturing, transportation, public services and virtually almost all industries will be available, organizers said.

Other highlights include workshops led by industry leaders and tips from fellow veterans on transitioning to a new career.

This statewide event was initially launched in 2011 in collaboration with Texas Workforce Solutions, the Office of the Governor, Texas Medical Center and the Texas Veterans Commission.

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Since its inception, Hiring Red, White and You has served more than 20,000 employers, connected more than 114,000 job seekers to meaningful opportunities and facilitated more than 3,000 same-day hires, according to organizers.

Job seekers are required to pre-register by clicking here.

You can gain virtual access to the event by clicking here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Almost half a century ago the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald, a Great Lakes bulk cargo vessel en route to Detroit from Superior, Wisconsin, sank to the bottom of Lake Superior during a fierce storm that claimed the lives of all 29 crewmen. The 729-foot ship, caught in treacherous winds and towering waves, plunged to a watery grave 500 feet deep.

Photo of the Edmund Fitzgerald, 1971 Credit: Greenmars, CC BY-SA

From the National Weather Service:

The Coast Guard searched the area over the next few days, and on Nov. 14, 1975, a U.S. Navy plane with a magnetic detector found a strong signal 17 miles northwest of Whitefish Point. In the following days, the Coast Guard cutter Woodrush located two large wreckage pieces in 535 feet of water. A Navy recovery vehicle photographed the wreckage on May 20, 1976.

Fitzgerald wreckage photograph (Credit: Chicago Tribune)

The Coast Guard determined the ship sank suddenly

The Edmund Fitzgerald never called for help and the ships lifeboats were found badly damaged, indicating they were never launched but instead smashed while still secured to the ship, the Coast Guard concluded the following factors were responsible for the sinking:

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The Fitzgerald sat very low in the water, increasing the frequency and quantity of water that could flood the deck. The loose hatch covers allowed water spilling onboard to enter the cargo area, causing the ship to sink even lower and take on more and more water. More water could have entered through damage in the hull caused by the possible grounding near Caribou Island.

Timeline of events and final radio transmissions

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
The state's anglers may have to get ready for a lower daily limit on Minnesota's official state fish.

The Minnesota DNR is reportedly moving to lower the daily limit from six  where it has stood since 1956  to four, which would go into effect in 2026.

The reason? There's a few.

As DNR Fisheries head Brad Parsons tells FOX 9, walleye have come under increasing pressure in the decades since the six-walleye limit was imposed, including invasive species like zebra mussels and "more efficient anglers," among others.

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However, Parsons told the station that there is "not a walleye crisis by any means," and described the proposal  which also calls for lowering the walleye possession limit to four  as "proactive."

Related: Going ice fishing? Stop by SCHEELS first

The plan is already being met with pushback, including from at least three members of the DNR's citizens advisory walleye group  who argue that there's "no scientific justification" for such a change and that the lower limit would only reduce "opportunities for people who buy fishing licenses," the Star Tribune reports.

One member told the paper that "we still see no evidence" of an endangered walleye population, adding, "in fact, it looks like walleye fishing in Minnesota is getting better.

The plan is not set in stone, however. There will be an official public comment period during residents can weigh in on the proposed four-walleye limit, but the date hasn't been set yet.
US president-elect Donald Trump already spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, the Washington Post newspaper wrote on Sunday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Trump advised Putin not to escalate the war against Ukraine, the report said.

There was initially no information from Trump himself regarding this.

Based on anonymous sources, the report said that Trump also referred to the US military presence in Europe. The aim was reportedly to achieve peace in Europe.

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Trump reportedly suggested further discussions to talk about a solution to the war. The Ukrainian government was informed about the conversation and reportedly had no objections, the Washington Post wrote.

Trump had announced during the election campaign that he would quickly end the war in Ukraine. However, he has not yet said how he intends to achieve this.

US President Joe Biden and Ukraine fear that under Trump, US military aid to Ukraine might dry up, which is crucial for countering the Russian invasion.

There has been radio silence between Biden and Putin since Russia's all-out attack on Ukraine in February 2022.

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According to an unconfirmed report in the Wall Street Journal, Trump as a former US president has reportedly spoken with Putin multiple times in recent years.

Trump is due to be inaugurated for a second term as US president on January 20.
In the wake of Donald Trumps sweeping victory, Republicans are turning their attention to those in the judicial system who went up against the president-elect in the courts.

Speaking on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures, Florida Representatives Anna Paulina Luna and Cory Mills floated the idea that criminal charges could be brought against Judge Juan Merchan  and his daughter Loren Merchan.

Merchan oversaw Trumps high-profile hush money case where he was ultimately convicted of 34 felonies in New York earlier this year. His daughter subsequently became the target of attacks by the president-elect due to her Democrat-leaning political activities.

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Lets look at Judge Merchan and his daughter, who was actually a fundraiser and was actually trying to support Kamala Harris and Joe Biden when it came to raising funds on the back of President Trump being in the New York court system, Mills said.

I think that what were seeing right now is that the Department of Injustice and the lawfare that was going on is now coming to a screeching halt with President-elect Donald Trump coming back into office.

During the hush money trial, Trump ignored an order from Merchan that he should rein in his fiery posts on social media, in which he accused the judge of having a Trump-hating family with ties to Kamala Harris.

Florida Representatives Anna Paulina Luna (left) and Cory Mills (right) floated the idea that criminal charges could be brought against Judge Juan Merchan, and his daughter (Fox News)

I have a Trump-hating judge with a Trump-hating wife and family, whose daughter worked for Kamala Harris, and now receives money from the Biden-Harris campaign  and a lot of it, he said.

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According to Mike Nellis, founder of political consulting firm Authentic Campaigns Inc, which employs Loren Merchan, she did some work for Harriss presidential campaign in 2019 but never developed an individual personal relationship with the candidate, and had only minimal input or contact with any political clients during the 2024 election cycle.

Nellis said Merchan had received death threats following Trumps comments and had been advised to stay away from the family home.

In August, the House judiciary chairman Jim Jordan, a key ally of Trump, subpoenaed the firm to testify as part of his investigation into what he called the weaponization of the federal goverment. However, Nellis said any suggestion that the company played any part in Trumps criminal trial or conviction was completely false and purely politically motivated.

On Sunday, Mills and Luna also discussed possible criminal cases being pursued against Special Counsel Jack Smith, who brought charges against Trump for trying to subvert the 2020 presidential election and mishandling classified documents.

Judge Juan Merchan oversaw Trumps high profile hush money case where he was ultimately convicted of 34 felonies in New York earlier this year (AP)

It was reported this week that Smith and the Justice Department are trying to wind down the federal criminal cases against Trump before he returns to the White House in January, in order to comply with its long-standing policy not to prosecute sitting presidents.

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What I will tell you is that Jack Smith violated the Constitution, Luna said.

And Im really happy that Jim Jordan and the House Judiciary is telling him to preserve evidence because even after President Trump is elected, we need to ensure that this never happens to any other candidate for president ever again.

She added: And so we have to follow through, see who exactly ordered that," she continued. "And if it means that we need to bring criminal prosecution, I think that we need to.

It was recently reported that Jack Smith (pictured) and the Justice Department are trying to wind down the federal criminal cases against Trump before he returns to the White House (AFP via Getty Images)

Their comments stopped short of shocking remarks previously aired on Fox, in which hosts Dana Perino and Greg Gutfeld joked that Smith and others who had prosecuted Trump should receive the death penalty.

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Dana a lot of the people that were on this and wanted it so badly, how are they going to survive? Do you think they need therapy, Gutfeld asked Perino.

Yes, they definitely need therapy, the former White House press secretary responded. Maybe also the death penalty?
Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar flagged off an 'EV Rally' as part of the CESL's (Convergence Energy Services Limited) 'EV as a Service' event on Sunday in a bid to curb the rising pollution in the national capital. Speaking on occasion, Khattar said that the initiative is part of a noble cause and will help in curbing pollution in Delhi. Highlighting the 'EV as a Service' program, he said, this program has been started for a noble cause, which was much needed for Delhi. Speaking at the event here today, the Union Power Minister said, "Today, the event 'EV as a Service' has been started for a noble cause, a place like Delhi was in need of such an initiative. In the first phase, we will make the government vehicles which include vehicles of government officers." The Union Minister rode a bicycle and a tractor during the CESL's 'EV as a Service' event. Khattar highlighted the role of industrial activities, construction, and transportation in the rising carbon dioxide levels, contributing to Delhi's pollution crisis. He underscored the government's commitment to tackling pollution by introducing eco-friendly initiatives, including the promotion of electric vehicles (EVs) as a sustainable transportation alternative. "We have increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere artificially through industries, construction, and even transport is also contributing to the rise of pollution, to reduce pollution we have come up with various facilities and one of them is E-vehicles," he said. Delhi continues to battle with air pollution with air quality being recorded at 335 in the 'very poor' category on Sunday morning, as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai earlier this week chaired a meeting with concerned departments on the issue of rising pollution levels in the national capital. (ANI)
Two workers at an Ohio senior living facility were injured in a shooting Friday.

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New London police were called to Windy Acres senior living retirement facility just after 10:50 a.m. for reports of an active shooter, according to a media release by the department.

When police arrived they found two injured people locked in the main office.

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The two employees were able to get to medics through a window.

Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, according to police.

Officers then found a man dead in the lobby from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The man was identified as a resident of the facility. His identity has not been released at this time.

Police said there are no other victims or suspects in the shooting.

The motive of the shooting remains under investigation.

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A massive four-car crash on Friday night left two people with critical injuries, and authorities are searching for the driver of a high-end luxury vehicle that was involved.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the collision was reported at about 9:50 p.m. in the area of Sherman Way and Sherman Circle in Panorama City.

Police said both a a Mercedes GT63 and a Rolls Royce Cullinan, two high-end luxury cars, were traveling at a high-rate of speed westbound on Sherman Way when the driver of the Mercedes clipped a Honda Civic that was attempting to turn left onto Sherman Circle.

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The two occupants of the Honda were severely injured in that collision and were transported to a local hospital, where they remain in critical condition. They have not been publicly identified.

After that initial crash, the driver of the Rolls Royce veered left to avoid the Honda. During that process, the Rolls Royce drove onto the wrong-side of the road and collided with a Chevy Traverse.

Decision by state regulators means California gas prices could rise substantially

That collision sent the Rolls Royce into a curb. Then, the driver exited the car and fled the scene.

The driver has not been found in the time since the incident. No description was released by police. Authorities are seeking the driver on the charges of reckless driving and hit and run.

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The driver of the Mercedes, who was transported to a local hospital for treatment, was arrested on suspicion of reckless driving.

No additional details were immediately made available. It was not immediately clear if police believe the drivers of the Mercedes and Rolls Royce were engaged in a street race.

Anyone with information about this collision is asked to contact Valley Traffic Division Officer

Reyes at 818-644-8114 or Officer Hansen at 818-644-8255

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Firefighters in western Pennsylvania are urging residents to avoid burning outdoors due to an elevated risk of brush fires. A combination of dry air and very dry brush is creating an increased risk of wildfire spread.

When you have these heavy drought conditions it runs rampant, said South Strabane Assistant Fire Chief Paul Winter.

Winter said his department has responded to multiple brush fires recently.

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RELATED COVERAGE >>> Thick smoke billows from Reserve Township brush fire

Weve been having a lot of high volume calls with brush fires turning into wildland fires, he said. Weve had wind-driven conditions so any small embers can easily travel and can consume large properties of land. It can spread 30-40 feet in seconds.

He said these fires can become extremely dangerous for crews to extinguish.

RELATED COVERAGE >>> Dry air, dry fuels increase risk of wildfire spread in Western Pennsylvania on Saturday, NWS says

We run a lot of risk. The fire can easily jump and spread around you. Your resources are stretched thin trying to get water and personnel into the areas depending on location can get rather difficult.

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On Friday, one of his firefighters was hit by a falling tree while working a brush fire in Amwell Township. That firefighter was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital, and released Saturday morning.

RELATED COVERGAE >>> Tree falls on South Strabane firefighter battling brush fire in Washington County

Winter said it takes multiple departments and resources to fight these fires, and many of these departments are volunteer based or stretched thin to begin with.

The biggest thing we ask is for community support, he said. Not only for not burning but to also help support their local fire departments because without their support we can not continue.

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RELATED COVERAGE >>> Fayette County issues 15-day burn ban amid ongoing drought conditions

RELATED COVERAGE >>> Burn ban in place for Lawrence County

He said although rain is in the forecast for Sunday, it doesnt mean the drought conditions will improve.

We advise people to please stop burning trash, he said. Stop burning brush. Dont even have a small contained brush fire because once an ember gets into leaves or brush its going to spread very fast.

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Russia is becoming more aggressive on British soil, the Chief of Defence Staff has warned.

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, head of the British military, said that while the worlds rules-based international system is under strain, most keenly felt in Ukraine as a result of Vladimir Putins illegal invasion, the UK is not without threat.

Sir Tony said: Increasingly the challenge is also being felt in this country. Six years ago, British citizens were poisoned by a chemical attack on home soil. Since then, our airspace and sovereign waters, our critical energy and digital infrastructure and our public realm have been subject to interference.

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His comments, made to mark Remembrance Sunday - a moment to honour those who died while fighting for their country - come after Ken McCallum, the director general of MI5, warned that Russian spies were targeting Britain in Cold War-style espionage.

He said that this included Putins intelligence agencies targeting businesses to undermine the UKs security and economy.

Mr McCallum warned that as the Ukraine war grinds on Russian state-sponsored sabotage attempts targeting UK businesses, as well as going after government and military secrets, were being acted out in order to generate mayhem in British streets.

Writing in The Times, Sir Tony said: There are good reasons to be confident, including our status as a nuclear power, the collective strength of Nato, our wealth as a G7 economy, extraordinary new military-industrial alliances like Aukus and the outstanding quality of our servicemen and women.

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But the challenges we are experiencing are not bumps in the road. This is a new era of competition and contest that will last for decades and has the potential to be more disruptive to our economy and our security than anything Britain has experienced in modern times.

He added that the response to these threats requires us to leverage not just our military capabilities, but our industrial strength, our technological and scientific base and our national wealth and most importantly our allies and partners.

Sir Tony added that it was sobering to visit Ukrainian recruits doing their infantry training in the UK, stressing that they are men in their 30s and 40s who came from ordinary jobs and left behind families, wives and children, to learn how to fight.

Now they are marching off to war, to free their country and defend their families from the most barbarous acts of aggression, he said.

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It comes after John Healey, the Defence Secretary, told The Telegraph that Europe was undoubtedly in an era of insecurity.

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 puts them at risk, he said, cautioning that the West can and must put an end to Putins war in Ukraine.

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Russian forces launched a record 145 drones at Ukraine overnight and Ukrainian air defense downed 62 drones, Ukraines Air Force wrote on Facebook on Nov. 10.



Air defense shot down drones in the regions of Odesa, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Kharkiv, Poltava, Sumy, Vinnytsia, Khmelnytskyi, Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk. Ukrainian forces used anti-aircraft missiles, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire groups.



Apartment buildings and private property were damaged in Odesa, but no fatalities were reported. In Kyiv, air defense shot down around a dozen drones during two overnight air alerts, and the capital avoided any damage.



Recently, the enemy has begun to change its tactics for using its drones. However, all components of the Ukrainian Defense Forces involved in the protection of airspace are responding to new challenges in an appropriate and effective manner, Serhii Popko, head of Kyiv City Military Administration, wrote on Telegram.



Of the Russian drones, 67 were lost in different regions of Ukraine while 10 flew into Moldovan, Belarusian, and Russian airspace.



Russia has amped up its drone attacks recently and launched more than 2,000 strike drones against Ukraine in October, the General Staff reported on Nov. 1, breaking the previous record set in September by nearly 700.



Moscow has dialed down the use of more powerful and harder-to-intercept cruise and ballistic missiles. Experts who spoke to the Kyiv Independent said this may well be in preparation for an unprecedented mass attack rather than any sort of restraint from the Kremlin.

Read also: As drone strikes surge, Russias next mass missile attack on Kyiv likely imminent, experts and weary residents say

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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.

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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.

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.

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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.
Russia's Defence Ministry has claimed it has shot down 70 Ukrainian aircraft-type UAVs, over 30 of which were heading towards Moscow.

Source: Russia's Defence Ministry

Details: As usual, the Russians claimed that they had shot down all the drones, including 34 UAVs over the territory of Moscow Oblast.

In addition, a further 14 UAVs were supposedly shot down over Bryansk, seven over Oryol and Kaluga oblasts, six over Kursk Oblast and two over Tula Oblast.

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Background: On the morning of 10 November, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that 32 drones had attacked the Russian capital, leading to the temporary closure of two airports in the city.

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Russian forces attacked the city of Kharkiv on the morning of 10 November.

Source: Ukraine's Air Force; Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov

Details: First, the Ukrainian military issued a warning that Russian tactical aircraft had launched guided bombs on Kharkiv Oblast, and urged residents to take cover immediately.

Later, Terekhov reported an explosion in Kharkiv and warned that more strikes on the city might follow.

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Update: Later, Terekhov added that the strike had occurred in a wooded area. Nobody was injured.

Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration noted a hit had been recorded in the Kyivskyi district of Kharkiv.

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah lashed out at Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, accusing him of being with those leaders who opposed the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and insulted Veer Savarkar. Shah was speaking at the launch of the party's 'Sankalp Patra' (manifesto) for the Maharashtra assembly elections in Mumbai on Sunday. "Uddhav ji, I can't decide where you sit. But I want to tell you that you're sitting with those who opposed the abrogation of Article 370. You're sitting with those who opposed the construction of Ram Janambhoomi temple. You're sitting with those who speak ill of Savarkar. You're sitting with those who opposed CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) and UCC (Uniform Civil Code)," Shah remarked. The Home Minister further challenged Thackeray to ask Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi to speak "good" about Savarkar. He also asked whether Congress leaders can do the same for Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray. "I want to ask Uddhav Thackeray from this stage. Can he ask Rahul Gandhi to say something good about Veer Savarkar? Can any Congress leader speak something to honour Balasaheb Thackeray? This is an internal (ideological) difference. People of Maharashtra should take note of such contradictions in the MVA alliance," he said. Attacking the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance further, Shah accused them of indulging in 'appeasement politics'. He also accused the MVA alliance of rejecting people's mandate in 2019 because of their greed to come to power. "I want to categorically state that the MVA alliance and their schemes are only meant to do appeasement politics. They are insulting to ideologies and meant to betray the culture of Maharashtra just to gain power. I want to appeal that you vote for the Mahayuti government for the third time. In 2014, you gave us the mandate. We were mandated to form the government in 2019, but the people's mandate was rejected because of the greed to come to power. However, something that is not legitimate (or is banavati) doesn't stand for long," Shah said. Amit Shah launched the Sankalp Patra (manifesto) of BJP offering 25 guarantees. He was accompanied by various senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders including Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who said that through this manifesto PM Modi's visions are being realised in Maharashtra. 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. (ANI)
Russian forces are suffering heavy casualties on the battlefield, posing a threat to further military operations. The mood among the ultra-nationalist community of military bloggers (milbloggers) is deteriorating due to infantry-led "meat assaults" and ineffective tactics of the Russian command.

Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

Details: Analysts previously reported that Russian troops have lost the equivalent of five divisions in armoured vehicles and tanks on the Pokrovsk front since October 2023. Even though Russian forces appear to have concentrated substantial equipment in key frontline areas, the shrinking reserves of Soviet-era tanks and armoured vehicles, coupled with current production rates, are likely to make these losses unsustainable in the long term.

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US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin reported on 31 October that Russia has been sustaining daily losses of over 1,200 troops, amounting to approximately 36,000 each month.

ISW has noted signs that the Russian military is finding it increasingly difficult to recruit enough soldiers to backfill its losses on the battlefield. Russian leader Vladimir Putin acknowledged the ongoing labour shortage and reliance on migrants to meet this challenge during his speech at the Valdai Club on 7 September. ISW also notes that Russia is forcing migrants to join the military.

Quote: "The Russian military almost certainly cannot indefinitely sustain a daily casualty rate of over 1,200 people so long as Putin remains committed to avoiding another involuntary call-up of reservists. Even an involuntary reserve mobilisation will not resolve the larger problem Putin apparently faces in finding enough people to work in Russia's industries while also feeding the front."

Details: Some Russian military bloggers continue to express frustration over the disproportionately high personnel losses. This mounting discontent among the ultra-nationalist milblogger community could impact Putin's future decisions. On 8 November, a former Russian instructor for the Storm-Z unit and a milblogger complained that it takes at least six months to properly train assault troops but that the Russian command treats them as cannon fodder, with their primary role being to "catch drones [and] shrapnel".

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The blogger argued that Russian infantry casualties are too high due to the tactics of successive attacks by small assault groups, which he called "stupid" and "improperly organised". He concluded that Russian successes "do not seem proportionate to the irretrievably spent resources  human and material".

The ISW reports that Russia's milblogger community has recently criticised the deaths of drone operators who were sent on assault missions as punishment by their commanders. Analysts highlight that the continued deployment of Russian soldiers in meat-grinder assaults has not led to meaningful success on the battlefield. This strategy is likely to fuel further resentment among milbloggers, whose views seem to be particularly important to the Kremlin.

To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 9 November:

Russian forces reportedly lost almost 200 tanks, over 650 armoured vehicles, and suffered an estimated 80,000 casualties in taking roughly 1,500 square kilometres during a period of intensified Russian offensive operations in September and October 2024.

Russian forces will eventually make operationally significant gains if Ukrainian forces do not stop ongoing Russian offensive operations, but the Russian military cannot sustain such loss rates indefinitely, especially not for such limited gains.

Ukrainian forces conducted drone strikes on the Aleksin Chemical Plant in Tula Oblast on the night of 8-9 November.

Russian authorities are reportedly considering merging Russia's three largest oil companies  Rosneft, Gazprom Neft, and Lukoil, likely to help Russia reach more advantageous energy deals with non-Western states.

Russian authorities arrested a former Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) construction official for fraud on 9 November.

The US Department of Defense (DOD) reportedly stated on 8 November that it will send a "small number" of US defence contractors to rear areas of Ukraine to repair US-provided weapons and equipment.

Ukrainian forces recently regained positions near Siversk and Pokrovsk, and Russian forces recently advanced near Kreminna, Pokrovsk, and Kurakhove.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated on 9 November that Ukrainian intelligence assesses that Russia will be able to produce 30 per cent more artillery shells than all European Union (EU) countries combined in 2025 should the EU fail to implement additional measures, such as sanctions, against Russia's defence industrial base (DIB).

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KURAKHOVE, Ukraine (AP) 

Set on Ukraine's eastern front, Kurakhove is surrounded on three sides, with Russian forces just under 2 miles (3 kilometers) from the devastated city center.

Yet between 700 and 1,000 local residents remain, most of them living in the basements of apartment buildings, without running water, heating or electricity. The only place to charge phones is in the basement of the building now housing the city administration.

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The exact number of people is impossible to determine because, since mid-October, no humanitarian volunteers have come to Kurakhove.

Under attack from artillery, multiple rocket launchers, aerial bombs and drones, Kurakhove has become the new Bakhmut, as Russia continues its drive westward to capture all of the Donbas region. On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the situation in Kurakhove, as well as the key city of Pokrovsk, the most challenging.

The hospital, schools, kindergartens, water treatment plant, refugee center, post office, technical school and cultural center have all been destroyed. Smoke hangs in the air as bombed-out apartment buildings burn against a backdrop of artillery fire and drones.

Artillerymen of the 33rd Brigade say they are firing around 50 shells per day on the Kurakhove front, indicating critical activity in the Russian armys offensive operations and the brigade's desperate attempts to stop Russian forces from encircling the city.

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Local authorities remain in the city, as well as representatives of the police and local Territorial Defense Forces.

For Artem Shchus, head of police in Kurakhove, there is little hope of defending the city if it becomes surrounded.

I dont think it is possible, considering the reality of modern war and modern technologies. In that case, the logistics could be performed only by drones, he says.

Shchus calls the road to Kurakhove, which is lined with burned-out civilian vehicles, the road of death, due to persistent Russian drone attacks. Five civilians have been killed while trying to leave.

The road of death

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No supplies would enter the city without the White Angels evacuation group, made up of local police officers and volunteers. They provide first aid to the wounded and remove the bodies of those killed in shelling, all while operating the city's only functioning food store.

The White Angels bring in vital supplies in an armored vehicle kitted out with electronic warfare equipment  the only way to enter the city, and still a journey fraught with risk.

Without REB (jammers) it is just a lottery. With it, you might still have a chance to survive, Shchus says.

The only way to escape the city is to travel with the White Angels. Each day, they risk their lives to evacuate between six and 12 people from different parts of the city and surrounding villages.

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Although children are meant to have been evacuated, parents often hide them, both from the bombs and from law enforcement officers. Among the White Angels' key missions is to find children and persuade their parents to evacuate.

When this mission is successful and children are removed from the basements, many are shocked by the state of the destroyed city, suggesting that they have been hiding underground for quite some time.

After dressing the children in bulletproof vests and helmets, the White Angels take them to the nearby city of Kostiantynopil, from where other volunteers transport them to refugee registration points in the regional centers of Dnipro or Zaporizhzhia.

We evacuate people every day without stopping. We just dropped people off in Kostiantynopil, and we still have addresses to go through today, Shchus explains.

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Asked about adapting to work in such challenging and dangerous conditions, the police chief worries about the impact on his team.

I think everyone has already adapted. I wouldnt even call it adaptation. It's more like an unhealthy state of mind. I dont know how this will influence them socially in the future, he says. These people are living in inhumane conditions, and they're surviving on adrenaline. The war is their life. These are hard conditions to work in, but everyone is working.

___

Associated Press writers Yehor Konovalov in Kyiv and Elise Morton in London also contributed to this report.
Russian forces bombarded the city of Odesa with attack drones on the night of 9-10 November.

Source: Odesa Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov on Telegram; Oleh Kiper, Head of Odesa Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram; Ukraine's Air Force on Telegram; Dumska, an Odesa-based local news outlet

Quote from Kiper: "The enemy is targeting Odesa and Odesa Oblast with attack drones. Our air defence units are responding. Stay in shelters!"

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Details: Trukhanov also urged city residents not to leave their shelters.

The Air Force noted that the Russians were bombarding the city with attack drones from the Black Sea.

Local residents reported hearing an explosion.

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Civilians were injured in a Russian drone attack on the city of Odesa on the night of 9-10 November. The bombardment has also damaged civilian infrastructure, particularly residential buildings, shops, garages and cars.

Source: Oleh Kiper, Head of Odesa Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "Residential buildings, shops, garages, and cars have been damaged in a drone attack on Odesa. Fires broke out in some locations. One person is known to have been injured."

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At 04:00, Odesa Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov posted photos of the damaged dwellings and stressed that it was yet another act of terrorism committed by the Russians.

The aftermath of the Russian attack on Odesa overnight.

Photo: Hennadii Trukhanov on Telegram

The mayor noted that people had been injured and were being provided with the necessary medical care. Early reports indicate no fatalities.

The aftermath of the Russian attack on Odesa overnight.

Photo: Hennadii Trukhanov on Telegram

He further explained that emergency services were working at the scene. In the morning, a city headquarters will be deployed, where people whose homes have been damaged in the attack can seek help.

The aftermath of the Russian attack on Odesa overnight.

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Photo: Hennadii Trukhanov on Telegram

Quote from Trukhanov: "Residential buildings and civilians again. A dog was found dead in one of the destroyed houses. That's who they [the Russians] are fighting."

Background: On the night of 9-10 November, the Russian military launched attack drones on Odesa.

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DeepState, a group of military analysts, has reported new advances by Russian forces near six settlements.

Source: DeepState

Details: On the night of 9-10 November, DeepState analysts reported Russian advances in Ukraine's east.

Quote: "The enemy has advanced in Kurakhove, Hryhorivka, near Maksymilianivka, Pobieda, Novooleksiivka and Bohoiavlenka."

Background:

On the night of 8-9 November, DeepState analysts reported that the Russians had advanced near seven settlements in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.

DeepState reported that the Russian forces had occupied about 490 sq. km of Ukrainian territory in October, the highest figure for 2024 and for the Russian counter-offensive that has been going on since October 2023.

Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reported that the situation at the front 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," Syrskyi said.

On 1 November 2024, Estonian intelligence announced that Russian troops had managed to occupy about 150 sq. km in Donetsk Oblast over the week before that.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Russia had recently increased the number of regiments, brigades and divisions and the number of its personnel by almost 100,000. The length of the line of contact has also increased to 1,300 kilometres. Dmytro Lykhovii, spokesperson for the General Staff, explains that the Russian troops have a significant advantage in the number of forces on the line of contact, sometimes up to five times.

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The Russian military has once again tried to break through the Ukrainian lines of defence around the town of Kurakhove on the edge of Ukraine's eastern Donbass region.

Of a total of 108 Russian attacks along the front in eastern Ukraine, 39 were on the Kurakhove section, the general staff in Kiev said in its evening situation report, adding that the Russian attacks, supported by artillery, were repelled.

The information could not be independently verified. Russian troops have for weeks been attacking this section of the front with massive force in an effort to break through Ukrainian lines.

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Heavy fighting was also reported in the nearby Pokrovsk region. In addition to artillery, Russian forces also used warplanes there, dropping guided glide bombs on Ukrainian positions. Fifteen Russian attacks were repelled there during the day, Kiev said.

The Russian troops want to expand their previous territorial gains in eastern Ukraine. A breakthrough at Kurakhove or Pokrovsk would open the way for the Russian units to push deep behind the Ukrainian defence lines.
Russian forces attacked the city of Chuhuiv in Kharkiv Oblast with strike drones, injuring five people on the night of 9-10 November.

Source: Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office

Details: Starting from 00:35 on 10 November, Russian forces attacked the city of Chuhuiv with UAVs. Three hits were recorded on a residential building, causing a fire. The building and six vehicles were damaged and three cars were completely burned.

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A woman, 40, and a man, 36, residing in the building sustained blast injuries and received first aid.

Early information indicates that the Russians used three Geran-2 drones.

Later, the Prosecutor's Office reported that three more civilians in the city suffered minor injuries and acute stress reactions due to the attack  a woman, 40, her daughter aged 17 and her son, 10. All the injured received medical assistance at the scene.

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Sen. Bernie Sanders is standing ten toes down on his assessment that the Democratic Party lost the presidential election because the working class feels abandoned.

The Vermont senator, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, released a statement after the election stating, 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. On Sunday he continued his criticism of the party.

Here is the reality, the working class of this country is angry, and they have reason to be angry, Sanders said on Meet the Press. We are living in an economy today where people on top are doing phenomenally well while 60 percent of our people are living paycheck to paycheck.

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Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi reacted to Sanders original post-election statement by saying she doesnt respect him saying that the Democratic Party has abandoned the working-class families. In an interview with The New York Times, she blamed the loss on Biden exiting the race late and the lack of an open primary to select his replacement.

Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison also dismissed Sanders argument. This is straight up BS.  There are a lot of post-election takes and this one aint a good one, he wrote on X.

When moderator Kristen Welker asked for Sanders response to Pelosi, he said, Here is reality I have to say to Nancy. In the Senate, in the last few years, we have not even brought forth legislation to raise the minimum wage to a living wage, despite the fact that some 20 million people in this country are working for less than $15 an hour. In America today, we have not brought  in the Senate, we have not brought to the floor the PRO Act to make it easier for workers to join unions. Were not talking about defined benefit pension plans so that our elderly can retire with security. Were not talking about lifting the cap on Social Security so that we can extend the solvency of Social Security and raise benefits.

The senator concluded, Bottom line, if youre an average working person out there, do you really think that the Democratic Party is going to the mat, taking on powerful special interests and fighting for you? I think the overwhelming answer is no, and that is what has got to change.

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made a similar argument in a live video on Instagram the day after the election. At the end of the day, the ultimate problem is our ability to clearly and forthrightly advocate for an agenda that clearly champions the working class, she said.

Its true that Trump enjoyed more support from working class voters this election cycle. According to an Edison Research exit poll, Trump won 66 percent of working-class white voters, and he saw a 14-point increase in support from self-identified Hispanic voters  many of whom are in the working class.

Sanders applauded President Joe Biden for advancing a progressive domestic agenda, but added, That agenda has got to be placed within the overall context of American society today. And that American society today is one in which tens of millions of working families and elderly people are struggling, while the people on top have never had it so good.

The senator also appeared on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday where he called out the Democrats for capitulating to the rich this election cycle.

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In this campaign, in the Republican Party, Democratic Party, billionaires exerted their power. Most Americans know thats wrong, he said.

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DUBAI (Reuters) -The chief of staff of Saudi Arabia's armed forces, Fayyad al-Ruwaili, visited Tehran on Sunday to meet with his Iranian counterpart and discuss defence ties, state media reported the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff as saying.

The visit follows the election of Donald Trump, who will take office for a second term as U.S. President in January, and who has promised to bring peace to the Middle East.

During his first term, Trump initiated normalisations between Arab states and Iran's regional arch-enemy Israel, known as the Abraham Accords.

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Saudi Arabia has not established ties with Israel, but Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner has discussed the possibility with Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman multiple times over the last years, a source familiar with the discussions told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Iran's state media said al-Ruwaili headed a high-level Saudi military delegation in Tehran and met Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri.

Iranian state media said the two military officials discussed various issues, including "the development of defence diplomacy and the expansion of bilateral cooperation".

State media added that Bagheri held a phone call with Saudi Arabia's Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud last year to discuss regional developments and improve defence cooperation between the two countries.

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Separately, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the phone, Iranian media said.

Pezeshkian told the crown prince he would not be able to attend a summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Riyadh due to his busy schedule, and would be dispatching the Iranian first vice president as a representative, the Mehr news agency said.

Tehran and Riyadh agreed in March 2023, via Chinese intermediation, to re-establish relations after seven years of hostility that had threatened stability and security in the Gulf and helped to fuel conflicts in the Middle East from Yemen to Syria.

(Reporting by Dubai Newsroom, Editing by Louise Heavens, Barbara Lewis and Giles Elgood)
(Bloomberg) -- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said hes open to moving up a parliamentary confidence vote by several weeks to before Christmas, potentially speeding up the countrys early election to February.

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Scholz, whose three-party government collapsed last week, said the shift in timing would depend on an agreement between parliamentary leaders of his Social Democratic Party and the two parties backing Friedrich Merz, the Christian Democrat whos seeking the chancellorship in a bid to move Germany toward more conservative policies.

To ask for a confidence vote before Christmas  if everyone jointly takes that view, thats absolutely no problem for me, Scholz said during an interview with public broadcaster ARD late Sunday.

Europes largest economy has been plunged into political uncertainty after Scholz fired Finance Minister Christian Lindner of the Free Democratic Party, breaking up the governing coalition in a dispute over debt-financed government spending to boost military support for Ukraine.

While polls suggest Merz is the election frontrunner, Scholz on Sunday expressed confidence that he can win, saying he previously defied bad poll numbers before winning the chancellorship in 2021. He also said he expects his party to back him to run for another term.

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Scholz has previously said hell seek a confidence vote in mid-January that hed be expected to lose, a required step before Germanys president can call an early election.

That followed his proposal to move up Germanys next federal election by six months to the end of March or earlier. He plans to run a minority government with the Greens until then.

Scholzs government broke down on the same day that Donald Trump was declared the winner of the US presidential election.

Trump has questioned further military support for Ukraine and has been hostile to Germany in the past. Hell be returning to the White House as Germanys economy struggles and key industries such as autos and chemicals face disruptive transformations.

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Merz has said hed seek to make deals with Trump to boost Germanys standing. In an interview with Stern magazine, Merz called Scholz a lame duck and doubled down on his demand to accelerate the timetable for an early federal election.

German officials have cautioned that holding elections as early as January may result in logistical problems and open the door to legal challenges, prompting the head of Germanys paper industry association to assure the nation that enough ballot paper would be available.

Scholz said there was a good chance that the SPD could win the next elections and that he would get a second mandate as chancellor. In the ARD interview, he also compared his personal approach to Merzs.

I think Im a bit cooler when it comes to matters of state, Scholz said.

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(Updates with more Scholz interview comments starting in fifth paragraph.)

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday hit out at Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party for "insulting" Veer Savarkar. He challenged Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray to ask Rahul Gandhi to praise Savarkar and Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray. "I want to ask Uddhav Thackeray from this stage. Can he ask Rahul Gandhi to say something good about Veer Savarkar? Can any Congress leader speak something to honour Balasaheb Thackeray? This is an internal (ideological) difference. People of Maharashtra should take note of such contradictions in the MVA alliance," Shah said while addressing an election rally in Mumbai. Shah also accused Rahul Gandhi of insulting the Constitution and Babasaheb Ambedkar. "When a friend from the media (a media person) opened the cover of the Constitution that Rahul Gandhi was waving and reminding the Parliament about Babasaheb Ambedkar's resolves, there was nothing inside. There cannot be a bigger insult than this of the Indian Constitution. This is also an insult to the Constituent Assembly and Babasaheb Ambedkar," he said. Attacking Congress party further, he accused the party of indulging in 'appeasement politics' by readily accepting the demands by Ulema that reservations be given to Muslim minorities. "Congress leader Nana Patole has given an acknowledgement letter accepting such demands. I want to ask the people of Maharashtra, are you fine with this? Are the people of Maharashtra fine with this idea of giving reservations that belong to Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and OBCs to Muslims? Our constitution does not allow reservation on the basis of religion. But Congress has promised this even before coming to power. I want to warn the people of Maharashtra to take note of this," the Home Minister said. Notably, in 2023, Rahul Gandhi had made remarks against Savarkar calling him a "coward" for which he was made party in a defamation case filed by Savarkar's kin. Shah also took a dig at Uddhav Thackeray and said, "Uddhav ji, I can't decide where you sit. But I want to tell you that you're sitting with those who opposed the abrogation of Article 370. You're sitting with those who opposed the construction of Ram Janambhoomi temple. You're sitting with those who speak ill of Savarkar. You're sitting with those who opposed CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) and UCC (Uniform Civil Code)." Amit Shah launched the Sankalp Patra (manifesto) of BJP offering 25 guarantees. He was accompanied by various senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders including Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who said that through this manifesto PM Modi's visions are being realised in Maharashtra. 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. (ANI)
Weeks after the devastation from Hurricane Milton, Floridians are now facing another challenge from the storm's aftermath: mold. Homeowners with flood damage may endure mold buildup and mold-related illnesses, according to a recent article published in Wired.

What's happening?

Climate experts sound the alarm, warning Floridians are at risk of mold growth as a result of Hurricane Milton.

Across the state of Florida, homeowners returned to houses with severe water damage after the category 3 hurricane. Mold can start appearing within 24-48 hours after moisture exposure, per reports by Wired. What's worse, Florida's hot and humid October climate only exacerbates the spread of mold.

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Cases of storm-related mold buildup have been examined in the past. For example, after Hurricane Katrina, the CDC inspected 112 homes impacted by flooding and reported that nearly half had visible mold growth.

More severe and powerful storms like Hurricane Milton are a result of rising global temperatures. Experts now warn that mold buildup and mold-related illnesses post-storm will become more common.

"Mold is absolutely associated with climate change," environmental health research scientist at Harvard University Mary Johnson told Wired. "Those extreme weather patterns, including hurricanes, can allow water to come into a home or any type of indoor space. When it's damp, the likelihood of mold growing indoors increases."

Why is climate-related mold growth important?

Exposure to mold buildup can result in mold-related illnesses. Symptoms can include itchy eyes, skin rashes, and infections.

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Immunocompromised individuals, such as people with chronic respiratory problems and asthma, are at a high risk of developing mold-related illnesses. In severe cases, it can also trigger serious asthma attacks.

What's being done about climate-related mold growth?

Researchers advise homeowners to seal up any moldy areas of their home with a tarp. They also recommend ventilating the area with open windows or fans until the mold is successfully removed. Low-income homeowners and renters can also receive financial assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for mold-related damage from hurricanes.

Do you worry about air pollution in your town?

Click your choice to see results and speak your mind

To combat climate-related mold growth, policymakers and homeowners can take action against rising global temperatures. By transitioning toward clean energy and reducing waste, you can help create a cleaner, more sustainable future.



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The second drone in a day was found in Moldovas north on Sunday after a massive Russian UAV attack against Ukraine.

Source: European Pravda, citing the General Inspectorate of the Moldovan Police

Details: The drone was found in a field near the village of Borosenii Noi, in the Riscani district of Moldova.

Law enforcement officers seized the area around the drone's crash site so that experts could investigate it.

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The Moldovan police also provided new details about the first drone that crashed in the Kaushan district.

Quote from the police: "After the primary expertise, it was found that it was a Russian-made Shahed drone with no explosives on it. It was part of a series of drone strikes that Ukraine suffered last night."

Background:

The Ukrainian Air Force reported that ten drones had "left the airspace" in the direction of Russia, Belarus and Moldova.

Moldovan authorities have previously reported that they found drone wreckage after Russian air attacks against Ukraine.

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GREEN LAKE, Wis. (WFRV)  A Wisconsin sheriff is calling on a kayaker believed to have faked his disappearance to contact his family, nearly three months after he was reported missing.

Ryan Borgwardt, 45, was reported missing on Aug. 12 after he failed to return home from kayaking on Big Green Lake, the Green Lake County Sheriffs Office said at the time.

Deputies found an unoccupied kayak with a life jacket attached to it when they went searching for Borgwardt. His vehicle was also found near Big Green Lake.

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RELATED: Green Lake County Sheriffs Office gives update on missing kayaker case

Keith Cormican runs a nonprofit search-and-rescue operation called Bruces Legacy and was part of the search for Borgwardt in Green Lake. He said he felt like something was off after the search began to drag on past a few days.

After about 10 days of searching the area I was probably thinking something was up after 20 days I was just in awe, he said. I couldnt believe somebody could swim this far from the last ping.

For 54 days, numerous search efforts were conducted to find Borgwardt. In early October, multiple law enforcement groups decided to go in a different direction.

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Investigators revealed last week that that decision led them to find out Borgwardts name had been run on Aug. 13 by law enforcement in Canada. An analysis of a laptop given to them by Borgwardts wife revealed that he had planned his disappearance and tried to conceal his efforts to mislead investigations.

Borgwardt allegedly replaced his hard drive and cleared the browser on the date of his disappearance, syncing it into the cloud on Aug. 11, and took photos of his passports. Authorities said he also moved funds into a foreign bank and changed his email address while communicating with a woman from Uzbekistan.

In addition, Borgwardt reportedly took out a $375,000 life insurance policy and purchased airline cards.

At this time, officials believe Borgwardt is alive and likely in Eastern Europe.

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Ryan, if you are viewing this, I plead that you contact us or your family, Sheriff Mark Podoll said last week. We understand that things can happen but there is a family that wants their daddy back.

The Green Lake County Sheriffs Office said that no charges have been decided upon at this time.

Potential school shooting averted at Wisconsin elementary school, teen suspect researched, practiced beforehand

Sheriff Podoll said the family is doing rather well right now given the circumstances, although its been a very tough couple of months for them. He thanked the Borgwardt family for their help throughout the investigation, adding that he hoped Ryan would give them the answers they seek and that he would seek forgiveness for what theyve been through.

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It is unclear if anyone helped Borgwardt leave the country, Podoll said. The agency is now focused on making sure they get restitution for the expenses incurred for their search efforts.

No additional details were immediately available.

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Being a florist, Dean OBanion was waked amid forests of chrysanthemums and roses and ribbon bows signed in the iconic style of a mobster, his other calling.

There were a couple of broken pillars, a plaster riff on Greek architecture, one from His Pals and some from Maxs Boys. Another card was signed, Your Friend Al Brown  Al Capones alias.

OBanion was given a sendoff that was a testimonial of the leadership he had attained in the realm where gunplay makes millionaires, the Tribune wrote. Thousands came to pay their respects, or maybe just to gawk.

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Late yesterday the flowers for OBanion began to arrive at the Sbarbaro Funeral Home, the Tribune reported on Nov. 14, 1924. So many came that wreaths and baskets were stored in back rooms after the walls of the golden lighted little room with its stained glass windows were lined, and only an aisle was left in the middle of the room.

Many of the arrangements were delivered by William F. Schofields flower shop at 738 N. State St., just south of Chicago Avenue.

Im sorry, but I cant take your order, Schofield had told a customer who phoned the morning of Nov. 10. Weve had an  an accident here. And I guess well want all our wreaths at that.

It wasnt really an accident. OBanion, his business partner, had been working at the floral designers table on Nov. 10. Three men entered the shop. One grabbed OBanions hand and held it down. Two drew pistols, shot him to death and were picked up by a getaway car.

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OBanion sprawled on the floor beneath the pots of roses, which shook of his body hitting the show case as it fell, a Tribune reporter noted. Out of the front door sped OBanions wagon driver. Some say he started in pursuit of the murderers. Some say he was too scared to stop. But he hadnt been heard from late last night.

OBanions slaying sparked a gangland war, and gave him both pop-culture and literary fame. The protagonist of the 1931 movie The Public Enemy, starring James Cagney, was based on OBanion. A fictionalized OBanion similarly appeared in HBOs series Boardwalk Empire.

He became Giuseppe Givola, a florist-gangster in The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, by the celebrated German dramatist Bertolt Brecht.

Violence, Givola, brings no lasting glory, one character says.

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It gets results, though, Givola responds.

The flower shop where the flesh-and-blood Givola died was directly across State Street from Holy Name Cathedral. As a youngster, OBanion sang in the choir.

With his immigrant parents, he lived in Kilgubbin, an Irish neighborhood on Chicagos North Side. He ran with a gang of petty thieves that hung out at the corner of Chestnut and Orleans streets. They moved on to work for the Chicago Tribune, building circulation by roughing up newsstand owners who didnt sell the paper.

They later took their shady skills to the Chicago Examiner, and then to the Liberty Inn. As a singing waiter, the Irish lilt of his tenor voice, honed by a cathedral choir, mesmerized patrons while his buddies filched their wallets.

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During election seasons, North Side ward bosses hired OBanion and pals to produce, by fair means or foul, a favorable vote.

He thus had mastered the prerequisite skills of a bootlegger when Prohibition went into effect in 1920. He gave a preview in December of the previous year. Happening upon a truck loaded with liquor and parked on Chicago Avenue, he knocked the driver out with a roll of nickels and sold the booze to saloon keepers for $15,000.

In 1920, he arranged for regular shipments of beer, whiskey and gin from distributers in Canada, where liquor remained legal. That enabled him to take control of the Gold Coast, a ritzy section of the Near North Side.

The downside was that his success inspired jealousy. Other bootleggers werent willing to let OBanion have Chicagos most affluent neighborhood all to himself.

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Johnny Torrio, head of a South Side mob, tried to preempt the bloody turf battles that followed by getting his fellow mobsters to agree to dividing Chicago into sections, where each would have exclusive rights.

But in 1923, Torrio expanded his operation into Cicero, which had a mob-friendly town hall. OBanion demanded, and was given, a piece of the suburbs action. Not to be denied, the Genna brothers, whose sphere of interest was Little Italy, poached on OBanions Gold Coast monopoly. OBanion responded by hijacking Gennas liquor.

Prohibition, instituted to end the consumption of alcohol, had given it the allure of forbidden fruit. Gentlemanly gangster agreements were no match for the resulting profitability. The Tribune recalled what replaced them on Nov. 11, 1924, the day after OBanions slaying.

OBanion Gang Like Pirates of Olden Days. Beer Trucks Their Gold Ships! a Tribune headline and the accompanying story recalled:

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In the midst of this influx of wealth came the Duffy murder  Maybell Exley Duffy was found dead in a flat, John Duffy found dead several miles away. OBanion was named  and promptly gave himself up.

He claimed to be a new man, the Tribune reported.

John Duffy, a bootlegger, had a drunken argument with his wife and shot her to death. Max Engelke, of the plumbers union, said he was with Duffy and OBanion at Max Eisners Roosevelt Road restaurant when Duffy was looking for someone to dispose of his wifes body.

The police picked up OBanion at the flower shop and put him in a Cook County Jail cell. Brought in to identify him, Engelke decided that wasnt in his best interest, as the Tribune reported.

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If thats OBanion, he aint the fellow I thought he was, Engelke said.

OBanion had modestly insisted: Why, Im just a florist. If Ive ever been in the booze racket, Im out now.

Law enforcement officials took that with a grain of salt, just as they did when the headquarters of OBanions rival, Hershie Miller, was bombed. OBanion was questioned in a room in the Hotel Sherman.

Well, they cant get anything on me, he noted. I have an ironclad alibi  a barber, a manicure, a detective from the states attorneys office and a newspaper reporter. You cant beat that.

Indeed the police couldnt make the charge stick, and OBanion was sent on his way, only to meet his own demise about eight months later.

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On Nov. 12, his bullet-ridden body lay in a $10,000 casket at the funeral home at 708 N. Wells St. The Catholic Archdiocese prohibited a priest from participating in the services. OBanion had figured on that. So when John Sheehy, a mob member was killed in a shootout with the police, OBanion acquired a section of Mount Carmel Cemetery in Hillside.

There OBanion bought the lot for Sheehys burial, intending to bring other friends who might die without making plans for their own burial, the Tribune wrote.

And, as it turned out, himself.

If a priest could not preside over the funeral home services, nothing could stop his kin and fellow mobsters from having a six-piece orchestra serenade OBanion as he lay in the expensive casket. A Tribune reporter observing OBanions body noted that a rosary lay in the soft, tapered hands that could finger an automatic so skillfully.

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And softly treading, deftly changing paces well formed gentlemen, with square blue steel jaws and shifting glances, the Tribune reported. They were the sentinels.

Women were wrapped in furs from ears to ankles.

Save for the blessing of clergy, it was the funeral of a king, his courtiers, servants and supplicants, by the Tribunes description.

Now and then a shabby old woman came along too, to look at OBanion as he lay in his silver bronze, hermetically sealed, silver and tufted satin splendor.

Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Ron Grossman and Marianne Mather at rgrossman@chicagotribune.com and mmather@chicagotribune.com.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A Silver Creek woman was charged with second-degree murder after she allegedly caused the death of a 12-year-old juvenile victim, the Chautauqua County Sheriffs Office announced.

Officials said Ashley Bertino, 36, did engage in a course of conduct evincing depraved indifference to human life, which created a grave risk of death to another person.

The incident occurred just after 6 p.m. on April 29, 2024, on Oak Street in Silver Creek, according to the sheriffs office.

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The arrest warrant was issued out of Hanover Town Court. Bertino was taken into custody without incident and was transported to Chautauqua County Jail for arraignment.

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Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here.

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  A soldier for Yemens exiled government opened fire on Saudi troops as they exercised in eastern Yemen, killing two of them and wounding another in a rare insider attack during the kingdom's nearly decadelong war there, officials said Saturday.

The assault in eastern Hadramawt province comes as a yearslong cease-fire between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthi rebels largely has held despite the militants' ongoing attacks against shipping in the Red Sea corridor. While the Houthis did not claim the attack, at least one Houthi official praised it as being the beginning and an indication of a harsh future awaiting the invaders.

Meanwhile, U.S. warplanes carried out new strikes targeting Houthi positions that lasted into early Sunday morning, the American military said. The strikes come after the militants likely shot down yet-another American reconnaissance drone over the country.

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The attack on the Saudi troops took place Friday night in Seiyun, a city some 500 kilometers (310 miles) east of Sanaa. As troops worked out at a Saudi-led base there, the soldier opened fire, killing an officer and a noncommissioned officer, the state-run Saudi Press Agency said, citing a military statement.

The Joint Forces Command underscores that this Lone Wolf cowardly attack does not represent the honorable members of the Yemeni Ministry of Defense, the statement added. The dead and the other wounded Saudi solider have been brought back to the kingdom, it added.

Aidarous al-Zubaidi, the leader of Yemen's successionist Southern Transitional Council, identified the soldier who carried out the attack as belonging to the First Military Region, which is based out of Seiyun.

Police in the area published pictures of the soldier, saying there was a 30-million-Yemeni-rial reward for information leading to the soldier's arrest. That's worth around $15,000 on the black market.

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Authorities offered no motive for the attack. Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, the militant group's Yemen branch, long has operated around Hadramawt. However, the group did not immediately claim the attack. A recent United Nations expert report has said that the al-Qaida group and the Houthis have begun to coordinate operations directly with each other."

The Houthis meanwhile did not claim the attack either. However, Houthi official Hamid Rizq praised the attack in a message on the social platform X, claiming it came from the feeling of oppression over Saudi troops being stationed in the area.

The heroic operation is the beginning and an indication of a harsh future awaiting the invaders, Rizq wrote.

Yemen has been mired in a decadelong war since the Houthis swept into Sanaa from their northern strongholds in September 2014. A Saudi-led coalition entered the war on behalf of Yemen's exiled government in 2015. The war further internationalized, with Iran backing the Houthis with weapons and support that cemented the conflict into a yearslong stalemate.

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The war has killed more than 150,000 people, including fighters and civilians, and created one of the worlds worst humanitarian disasters, killing tens of thousands more. A cease-fire that expired in October 2022 largely has held in the time since, however, even as the Houthis have seized on the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip and Israel's invasion of Lebanon.

On Saturday night, Houthi-run media reported U.S. airstrikes targeting areas around Sanaa. The airstrikes continued into Sunday morning and also included sites in Amran province just outside of the capital, the Houthis said. The rebels offered no immediate damage assessment from the strikes.

The U.S. military later told The Associated Press on Sunday it conducted airstrikes on numerous Iran-backed Houthi weapons storage facilities within Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. It described the sites as housing advanced conventional weapons used to target military and civilian ships in the Red Sea corridor, but offered no other immediate details.

The U.S. military has targeted radar stations, military bases and drone and missile launch sites since beginning its ongoing airstrike campaign against the Houthis in January.

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Meanwhile, Irans state TV on Sunday reported that chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces, Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, met his Saudi counterpart, Gen. Fayyad bin Hamid Al-Ruwaili, in Tehran  the latest sign of warming ties between the two regional rivals.

It reported that Al-Ruwaili arrived in Tehran earlier in the day, leading a high-ranking delegation of Saudi Arabian military officials, and that the development of defense diplomacy and expansion of bilateral cooperation were key topics of discussion during the meeting.

Iran and Saudi Arabia resumed full diplomatic relations in 2023 after seven years, facilitated by Chinas mediation.

___

Associated Press writer Baraa Anwer in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, contributed to this report.
It is not clear how the ball python got into her apartment, nor where the snake came from

Richland County Sheriff's Department Ball python found in a South Carolina apartment Ball python found in a South Carolina apartment

A South Carolina woman woke to find a snake behind her toilet.

The snake wasn't her pet. She had never seen that reptile in her life. She didn't know where it came from, what kind of snake it was or even how it could have possibly entered her home. And so around 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5, the woman's apartment complex heard a loud scream for help, according to local publication The State.

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The Columbia resident first called her friend, and together they decided the best course of action was to contact law enforcement. Deputy Shannon Huffman, who responded to the call and had experience with many animals, "knew exactly what to do," the sheriff's department said.

This was definitely a unique call for service for us, Master Deputy Alexandra Salrin told The State.

Related: Blind Dog Protects Rescue Volunteer from Rattlesnake Encounter that 'Would Not Have Ended Well' (Exclusive)

While police are often contacted about animal issues, situations with such exotic animals are rare. Still, law enforcement is trained to confront a wide range of circumstances.

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The snake was effectively "wrangled" into a pillowcase. Neither the snake nor the woman was hurt, and the only damage was flooding in the bathroom  though it's not clear how the snake caused it.

We were able to provide a solution to the resident quickly and save the snakes life, Salrin said.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The snake was presumed to be someone's pet due to its sheer size, law enforcement said, though no specific information about its length has released. No one has reached out to claim the snake yet. How the snake entered the woman's apartment is still unclear to police.

One of the sheriff department's operations deputies has taken the snake in while they help it find a permanent home.
A San Bernardino County man is behind bars after authorities say he murdered his brother early Friday morning.

According to a bulletin released by the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department, deputies were dispatched to the 18800 block of Ninth Street in Bloomington around 5:15 a.m. on reports of a shooting.

Upon arriving at the scene, police located a deceased man inside a home. He was identified as 32-year-old Pedro Chavez, a resident of Bloomington.

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Reward offered for info on whomever fatally shot sea lion in Southern California

SBSDs Homicide Detail assumed the investigation and determined the suspect was the victims younger brother, 25-year-old David Chavez, also of Bloomington.

He was arrested and transported to the West Valley Detention Center where he is being held without bail.

Deputies are asking anyone with more information surrounding the incident to contact the sheriffs departments Homicide Detail by calling 909-890-4904.

To submit a tip anonymously, call We-Tip (1-800-782-7463) or visit their website.

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In 1641, French philosopher Rene Descartes, writing his famous Meditations on First Philosophy, observed that a mind is fundamentally different from the body which contains it. He reasoned that, while physical objects like flesh and bone can be divided or merged together, consciousness is intrinsically different because it cannot be quantified. Scientists have long known that it is impossible to separate or fuse a conscious mind  at least, that is what they thought.

Yet a pair of recent studies about comb jellies raise provocative questions about Descartes maxim. The first is a study from the journal Current Biology found that ctenophores, a phylum of aquatic invertebrates better known as comb jellies, can successfully fuse together after being injured. (Though the animals have a striking weirdness and similarity to jellyfish, they are not technically related.) The scientists studied a population of warty comb jellies (Mnemiopsis leidyi) in a tank, gazing in amazement as two organisms bonded with one another with the flesh, seamlessly integrating as if to form a single new animal.

While maintaining a population of M. leidyi in a seawater tank, we noticed an atypically large individual with two aboral ends [referring to the area farthest from the mouth] and two apical organs [areas closest to the animals apex], the authors wrote in a statement. To test whether this comb jelly was actually two individuals who had fused together, the scientists tested individual ctenophores collected at different sites on separate dates. After cutting off a part of each animals lobe and placing different creatures together, they found on nine out of ten occasions (90%) independent grafting experiments were successful, and all fused ctenophores survived for the full holding time of about three weeks in the holding tank.

Fused Warty Comb jellyfish Mnemiopsis leidyi

Previous research has demonstrated that M. Leidyi fuse within themselves whenever they need to defecate, squashing together their outer skin and digestive system fuse to form an opening essentially creating a "disappearing anus"  yet this is the first evidence for two separate jellies becoming one. But If these two individuals are now one, does that mean their minds literally melded  or that perhaps they were never even sentient in the first place?

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We know that comb jellies (aka: ctenophores) are sentient in that they can sense their surroundings to find food and change the direction of their swimming if they bump into something, study co-author and Colorado State University biologist Mariana Rodriguez told Salon. We don't know much else beyond this basic type of sentience. It's hard to answer what this implies for consciousness of two animals fusing into one since it depends on how we define consciousness.

Fellow co-author Kei Jokura, a biologist at the University of Exeter, initially discovered the fused comb jelly. Jokura told Salon that although no other animal has demonstrated functional fusion in the manner seen with the comb jellies, other organisms like corals, sponges and ascidians can physically behave as if they are a single entity despite containing numerous individuals.

However, this differs from our finding, where previously independent organisms fused in just a few hours, merging nervous and digestive systems functionally, Jokura said. This ability is largely influenced by a lack of an allo-recognition system, which usually differentiates self from non-self and triggers immune rejection. In our experiments, nearly 90% of individuals exhibited fusion, suggesting that comb jellies might lack this allo-recognition mechanism.

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Jokura added he was most intrigued by the synchronized contraction of the muscles, which indicates that nerve cells fused quickly, allowing the sharing of electrical signals or action potentials. This could imply a form of shared consciousness, making this phenomenon a valuable experimental model for studying integration mechanisms.

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Jokura was not the only scientist to make a milestone discovery after wandering past a tank containing a gelatinous animal. While studying comb jellies in a different tank, University of Bergen natural historian Joto J. Soto-Angel noticed that an adult ctenophore, also the species M. leidyi, had vanished from his tank and seemingly replaced by a larva. Working with Pawel Burkhardt, group leader at the University of Bergens Michael SARS Centre, Soto-Angel designed experiments to see if the comb jelly reverted to its larval form much like the so-called "immortal jellyfish" Turritopsis dohrnii.

Like Jakura, Soto-Angels curiosity was rewarded. After being exposed to the stress of starvation and physical injury, the comb jellies in Soto-Angels care reverted back to a cydippid larval stage.

"Witnessing how they slowly transition to a typical cydippid larva as if they were going back in time, was simply fascinating," Soto-Angel said in a statement. "Over several weeks, they not only reshaped their morphological features, but also had a completely different feeding behavior, typical of a cydippid larva."

"This is a very exciting time for us," Burkhardt added in the statement. "This fascinating finding will open the door for many important discoveries. It will be interesting to reveal the molecular mechanism driving reverse development, and what happens to the animal's nerve net during this process."

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Even scholars who are not involved in the pair of papers agree that they reveal the immense potential in studying ctenophores. University of Florida neuroscientist Leonid L. Moroz, who specializes in ctenophores but was not involved in either recent study, told Salon that we know more about rocks on the Moon than about our oceans. It is estimated that we only know ~10% of marine inhabitants.

Pointing out that this is disastrous for humanity from the perspective of our basic survival, Moroz added that support for basic science, and marine biology in particular, is the only reasonable and cost-efficient way to ensure a healthy life for our children and grandchildren.

As Rodriguez succinctly put it, Comb jellies may be the oldest animal group that exists and so they provide a unique opportunity to study basic but fundamental aspects of how animals move and interact in the world. Because of their remarkable abilities like fusing together and reversing their own aging process, they can teach us new ways to think about the evolution of regeneration and sentience.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  An exhibit honored former State Representative Benjamin Swan of Springfield earlier Saturday.

The Pan African Historical Museum USA put on the exhibit to celebrate Swans legacy.

Swan served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives for over two decades, representing the 11th Hampden District from 2009 to 2016. He rose as a noted civil rights leader in the 1950s and 60s, engaging in marches and uniting with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma, Alabama, showing his unwavering dedication to the Civil Rights movement.

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Keep advancing. Keep moving forward, says Swan. Dont let Springfield be the downfall of the Commonwealth. Make it the best that we have to offer. And we can do that.

The new, permanent exhibit will showcase pieces from Swans life and allow visitors to gain knowledge about his devotion to public service.

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A jeweller in the national capital's Rohini area has alleged that he has received extortion calls from an individual who claimed to be a member of the criminal Kala Jathedi gang, police said . According to Delhi Police, "The caller claimed to be a member of the Kala Jathedi gang and demanded extortion money from the jeweller. The jeweller recorded the caller's conversation, a video of which has surfaced and gone viral on social media." "The caller spoke to the jeweller for a few minutes. In the recorded conversation the jeweller's wife could be heard pleading before the caller, saying that their family did not have money and was in debt but the caller still threatened the entire family with dire consequences if they failed to pay up," said the police. The jeweller during an investigation told police that the first call from the accused was received by his wife on November 6, wherein the caller threatened his wife and demanded extortion. The jeweller and his wife received the second call on November 7, again demanding extortion in the name of gangster Kala Jathedi and threatening dire consequences for the jeweller and his wife. Following this, the jeweller lodged a complaint at the Aman Vihar police station. The matter is being investigated and further details on the matter are awaited. Earlier, a Delhi-based music producer received an extortion call of Rs 5 crore from a caller who identified himself as a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldi Brar Gang, said the police. The victim, identified as Amandeep Batra (39) a resident of Greater Kailash, said that he received a call in which the caller identified himself as a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldi Brar group and demanded the amount. The victim in his FIR alleged that the caller threatened him to provide Rs 5 crore rupees and also gave death threats, stating that if he failed to do so, he would send goons to his residence to get him killed. Amandeep further stated that he made a PCR call on 112 and informed about the incident. (ANI)
A Vietnamese restaurant in Pittsburghs Squirrel Hill neighborhood was ordered to close by the Allegheny County Health Department.

Tan Lac Vien on Murray Avenue was ordered to close after receiving 15 violations during an inspection on Thursday.

According to an inspection report, one of the violations was considered an imminent hazard. The report states that fluid from an unknown source was seeping through the basement walls and onto the food preparation area floor.

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Five other violations created a high risk for foodborne illness: food source/condition, cold holding temperatures, employee personal hygiene, cleaning and sanitation, and pest management.

The report further explains that inspectors found a case of daikon radish with rodent droppings on many, if not all, of the individual vegetables, food held at unsafe temperatures in multiple coolers, no employees washing their hands in the kitchen, food contact surfaces covered in dried food residue or contaminated with rodent droppings and live cockroaches in the basement.

Other lower-level violations inspectors flagged include a lack of date marking on prepared food, no soap at a handwashing sink in the kitchen and excessive items in the building that make it difficult to monitor for pest activity.

A re-inspection date has not yet been set.

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ST. LOUIS  Community members gathered for the annual Veterans Day parade Saturday in St. Louis, honoring those who dedicated their lives to serving the country.

Despite rain on Saturday morning, parade-goers lined the route to celebrate the contributions of veterans in several wars. Following the parade, veterans were honored with a ceremony and wreath-laying event at Soldiers Memorial Museum.

Veterans and community members who attended said Saturdays parade and events were very important.

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The official Veterans Day holiday falls on November 11 each year, this year on Monday.

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Kentucky State Police continue to search for a Franklin County man suspected of killing a man Saturday night and then fleeing the scene.

Authorities are searching for the suspect, Steven Girtley, in the area of Flat Creek Road in Franklin County.

Police say Girtley shot and killed Justin Girtley, 36, Saturday night at a home on Flat Creek Road.

Police responded to the home just before 10 p.m. Saturday for a report of an altercation between the two.

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Troopers found Justin Girtley dead with a gunshot wound, police said. Steven Girtley fled into a wooded area before troopers arrived.

Justin Girtley died at the scene, according to the Franklin County Coroner.

State police did not release Steven Girtleys age. The relationship between the two men is unclear.

State police are being assisted by the Franklin County Sheriffs Office, the Franklin County Coroners Office, the Frankfort Police Department and the Versailles Police Department.
Pick one word to describe Republicans and Donald Trump, the focus group moderator asked, and one word to describe Democrats and Kamala Harris.

Crazy, said the White woman in her 40s, who hadnt gone to college. Then: Preachy.

The focus group organized by Harris supporters in western Pennsylvania, not long after the presidential debate in September, was made up of a dozen people who voted for Trump in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020 but who were undecided this time, except for being sure that theyd vote.

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Asked to pick between the two words, the woman said shed probably go with crazy, anguish clearly in her voice.

Because crazy doesnt look down on me, she said. Preachy does.

In CNNs conversations with two dozen top Democratic operatives and elected officials since Election Day, the fear isnt just that no one knows the answer to whats next  its that they dont even know what the question is at this point.

Why is it that Donald Trump did 8 points better than he did against Hillary Clinton in Illinois and yet down ballot, Democrats held every office and gained at the local level across the state, said Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who has already begun analyzing the results and planning for whats ahead, with an eye on other down-ballot Democratic successes last week in Trump-won states like Michigan. Donald Trump is a uniquely more popular figure, but what is it about him that makes him that way? We can all guess, but why dont we actually look and find out?

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Democrats shell shock is real, and not just because top Harris aides were telling Biden senior staff and former President Barack Obama aides past 9 p.m. on Tuesday that she was about to win. It goes to the core of their conception of their party.

A few months after Obama won reelection in 2012, his aides started a group called Battleground Texas, emblematic of their faith in massive demographic shifts, particularly among Latinos, that they figured would define a Democratic era, turn the Lone Star State blue by 2028 and lock Republicans out of the Electoral College.

Instead, Latino voters, Black men and other marginalized groups shifted toward Trump nationally this year, ushering Democrats into an unprecedented moment for a modern political party  grappling with gutting losses for president and other offices; being potentially locked out of power in Washington with no clear leaders; and an incoming president who campaigned on radically remaking America and punishing the enemy within.

And Texas went redder than it has since Obamas reelection.

Former President Donald Trump gestures during a campaign rally in Waco, Texas, on March 25, 2023. - Leah Millis/Reuters

Some of the recriminations since Trumps resounding win have taken a self-validating turn.

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Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, fresh off winning a fourth term, issued a long statement slamming Democrats for having abandoned working class people, despite getting fewer votes than Harris there Tuesday and after four years of cheering on Bidens record, which union leaders have described as the most pro-labor in American history.

Harris campaign senior adviser David Plouffe responded to the blowback from his social media post implying blame on Biden by deleting his own X account  even as other Harris aides complained to CNN that the decisions and consolidation of power by Plouffe, campaign chair Jen OMalley Dillon and leading communications strategist Stephanie Cutter were what sucked the Harris-specific energy out of the run as they tried jamming her into being an Obama redux.

But what Democrats face is much deeper than the usual finger-pointing by a losing campaign or speculation about the next set of presidential primary candidates. It goes beyond easy comments about talking more to the working class when Democrats lost ground among nearly every demographic in the presidential race.

The actual way to think about this is not moderate or progressive, liberal or conservative, but, Are you with the people, and against the elites with power? argued Rep. Pat Ryan, a New York Democrat who said he massively outperformed Harris in his competitive Hudson Valley district. Thats the reality for the people on the ground.

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Decades of Democrats talking about and making substantive moves to improve the economic standing of people outside the wealthiest didnt make much of a difference. Nor did the measures enacted by the Biden administration and the forward-looking promises Harris made after she took over the campaign, much to the consternation of the president and top aides.

In any political landscape, we need normal people to feel a sense of agency. We need people who are driving trucks and changing diapers and turning wrenches to run for office, said Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, who won a tight rematch in Washington state against a Trump-style Republican shed first beaten coming straight out of the auto repair shop she runs with her husband. Its not that we shouldnt have lawyers in Congress. Its that we need a body thats representative of the American experience. We need to change our idea of who is credentialed and capable of holding elected office.

We dont fix politics, Gluesenkamp Perez said, by becoming more political.

Harris supporters at the Howard University event react following the vice president's remarks conceding the 2024 election to Trump on November 6, 2024. - Hannah McKay/Reuters

No clear leaders, no clear path to get to them

From when Biden declared for reelection through when Harris took over, aides at campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, would often brag about the trusted voices they were lining up  community leaders or niche celebrities who could validate the candidate to voters who werent sold. Democrats who won on Tuesday told CNN that getting to more wins and a future for America that isnt forever defined by Trumpism would require candidates themselves to be those trusted voices.

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One party strategist argued the focus shouldnt be so much on finding a Joe Rogan for Democrats, as has become a popular postelection cause on social media, but finding Democrats who can go on Rogans podcast or similar outlets. (Rogan, who endorsed Trump a day before the election, had backed Sanders in the 2020 Democratic primaries after the Vermont senators appearance on his podcast.)

Factors like that will define the next generation of Democrats, multiple leading operatives and strategists argued, even as some prospective leaders start making moves  Pritzker with a news conference Thursday vowing to stand in the way of any Trump attempts to hurt people who live in his state; Tim Walz drawing a similar line as he returned to his duties as Minnesota governor; and California Gov. Gavin Newsom calling for a special legislative session in a show of preemptively pushing back on the incoming president.

And more Democrats around the country are turning to Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader, especially if enough of the outstanding races break their way to make him speaker.

But Democratic operatives involved in key races told CNN they dont know how to figure out what those voters who went for Trump want, or how theyre doing in appealing to them.

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Asked who she sees as potential leaders for the party going forward, Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig said it was too early to answer that question.

That would be coming to a conclusion before weve actually had a true opportunity to dissect what happened and figure out how to move forward, she told CNN on Friday, days after winning a fourth term in a district south of the Twin Cities.

Craig is a moderate. Shes also a married lesbian with a strong Democratic voting record, with four bills from her first term in Congress that Trump signed. On the trail, she talked about reproductive rights and freedom, but also about apprenticeships over student loans and getting tough on the border.

In a state where her popular governor was the No. 2 on the Democratic ticket, Craig said she ran ahead of Harris in a district the vice president barely won.

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If Im talking to working folks and Im really listening to them, when an administration puts forward a college loan debt forgiveness program, my immediate reaction is, My God, my noncollege-educated working people are going to be really pissed off about that, Craig said. If you dont know where the American people are, or if you dismiss them and say, Well, I dont like where you are, this is going to continue over and over and over again.

Taking back the reins on what is sexy

The concerns that have aired out since the election arent new. In sessions over the past year with up-and-coming House Democrats at his office in Washington, Obama urged them to think about how not to come across as coastal elites.

Find bills that seem like theyre relevant, he told them. Legislation introduced by Gluesenkamp Perez and New York Rep. Joe Morelle to clear the way for people to get the parts to repair their own cars and other products without going through the usually more expensive manufacturers processes was a perfect example, the former president said, according to people in the room. Another was Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiros campaign promise, fulfilled with an executive order on his first day in office, to remove the college degree requirement for a range of government jobs.

Harris said in the final week of her campaign that she would sign a similar order on her first day in office, but it came in response to a question, almost as an afterthought rather than a big announcement or consistent theme.

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We need to take back the reins on what is sexy, Gluesenkamp Perez said.

Pennsylvania Rep. Chris Deluzio, who increased his own 2022 vote margin in his district outside Pittsburgh and said he ran ahead of both Harris and Democratic Sen. Bob Casey, attributed his victory in part to acknowledging that the border was a problem but also to making local economic arguments that went hard at big corporations for raising prices in ways that evoked the New Deal more than Bidenomics.

The more Democrats have gotten away from that, the more youve given space for a guy like Trump to yell about tariffs  and people want to listen, Deluzio said.

To Deluzio, the woman in that western Pennsylvania focus group from September sounded like voters he knows in his district.

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You cannot have a candidate or a movement or a party be perceived as resenting people, he said.

Voters fill out their ballots at a polling site in Dearborn, Michigan, on November 5, 2024. - David Goldman/AP

Looking for silver linings in a new generation

By the time of the next election, though, Obama will be 67, a full generation from his victory speech in Grant Park, and more time into his post-presidential life removed from the young voters  especially the young Black men he still feels most in touch with. Biden will be 86. Bill Clinton will be 82. Jimmy Carter, if he keeps holding on, will be 104. And though Harris concession speech was written in part to position her as a future party leader, several in the know said she hasnt spent time thinking what that would be. The generation of operatives that came with each of them are aging out, too.

Democrats looking for silver linings point to 2004, when George W. Bushs reelection and wide-scale Democratic defeats were followed two years later by the party taking control of Congress and then Obama leading them to victory in 2008 and ultimately a 60-vote majority in the Senate. They also note that Trumps last election in 2016 spurred its own revolution in creating new Democratic stars.

Much will change over the next four years, including culture and technology. Liberals will be entering a decade into outrage at Trump. A generation of voters will have grown up fully in the age of Trump. The scale of what he will do to upend the government and the economy can only be guessed. Politics is certainly going to change, in ways that are impossible to predict.

It already has, at least internally among Democrats. Because ranked-choice voting decided San Franciscos mayoral election, Tuesday also saw what was effectively the first primary of this new era, with Levi Strauss heir and political newcomer Daniel Lurie unseating incumbent London Breed, a fellow Democrat, by running on a platform of rejecting liberal sensibilities in favor of managing a city that has seen spikes in concerns about street crime and open drug use in recent years.

In the end, the money and energy that went into Harris multi-city election eve concerts, which ended with Oprah Winfrey introducing will.i.am for a rehashed Yes She Can version of his pro-Obama song, missed what was happening on the ground miles from the concert sites. The millions that went toward those concerts  and the campaign debts left to cover  may turn out to be a perfect metaphor for the chapter of the Democratic Party now closing.

And to Democrats or progressive activists in deep-blue areas who still believe that the answer should be doing more of the same, just faster and stronger, those who held on this year plead no.

Come to my district and spend a week with me and see if you still feel the same way. There are many, many thousands of people who voted for Donald Trump and voted for me, said Ryan, the upstate New York congressman. Talk to them.

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For years, a stone marker bearing the names of 52 Lexington men who died while serving in World War I has been in storage.

Originally placed on Nov. 11, 1924, the monument was moved from its spot near the old Fayette County Courthouse on Main Street several years ago, during renovations on the building and at a time when some other statues on the grounds had become a point of controversy.

Now, exactly 100 years to the day after it was erected, the World War I monument will be rededicated at Veterans Park, on a War Memorial Walk that also includes monuments to Vietnam and Korean War veterans.

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They have been shoved aside, Jack Mills, a member of the Sons of the American Legion who helped organize the rededication ceremony, said of the monuments years in storage. Its an insult to them for that to be treated that way.

They need to be in a place of honor. They need to be remembered. They gave up all of their tomorrows for us.

For some of the men, including several who were lost at sea, the monument is the only marker bearing their names, Mills said.

The marker was placed on one of the very first Veterans Days, which at the time was known as Armistice Day, marking the date World War I combat ended.

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The rededication ceremony, which begins at 10 a.m. Monday at the park, will include music, a wreath-laying ceremony, and remarks from Mayor Linda Gorton, American Legion leadership and Lexington African-American historian Yvonne Giles, the city said in a news release.

The event will also tell the stories of a few of the men who died, including Nathan Caulder, who is buried in Lexingtons African Cemetery No. 2. Caulder enlisted in the Army in 1900 at age 18. He served in France during World War I and after the war ended volunteered to return to France, where he died of illness in 1919.

American Legion Post 132 was named in his honor the following year.

The event will be livestreamed on the citys YouTube channel.

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Its one of several opportunities for people to mark Veterans Day in Central Kentucky.

Some other options include:
Japan's aircraft carrier JS Kaga completed sea trials off the California coast Friday.

The light aircraft carrier was refitted with a flight deck to carry F-35B stealth fighters.

The destroyer-turned-flattop is the first carrier to be operated by Japan since World War II.

Japan's destroyer-turned-aircraft carrier just completed sea trials off the coast of California on Friday, the country's navy said.

The JS Kaga was refitted with a flight deck that allowed crews "to conduct fixed-wing aircraft operations," the US Defense Department said in a statement last month.

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The Kaga is the first aircraft carrier to be operated by the Japanese navy since World War II as the country overhauls its maritime forces amid tensions in the Indo-Pacific. Central to the light carrier's power is the short take-off and landing version of the F-35 stealth fighter.

JS Kaga

The Japanese destroyer JS Kaga sails off the coast of Southern California. US Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Daniel Childs

The JS Kaga is an Izumo-class multi-functional destroyer initially designed to accommodate up to 28 military helicopters.

The vessel measures just over 800 feet and weighs 24,000 tons  far smaller than modern flattops like the Nimitz-class carriers, which measure more than 1,092 feet with a full-load displacement of over 100,000 long tons.

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Named after a former province of Japan, the converted light aircraft carrier shares the same name as the aircraft carrier that launched the planes in the 1941 surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.

Destroyer-turned-flattop

Aircraft fly above the flight deck of the JS Kaga. Darin Russell

In 2018, then-Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced that the ship would be refitted to accommodate and launch F-35B Lightning II aircraft.

Converting the ship to accommodate fighter jets goes against post-war Japan's pacifist beliefs, so its navy designated the Kaga as a "multi-purpose destroyer" rather than an aircraft carrier. Nonetheless, the Kaga is not expected to be deployed like a traditional carrier.

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"Given its history, it's significant that Japan has come this far, and they have the capability now that looks like an aircraft carrier  once it's reconfigured," Jeffrey Hornung, a political scientist specializing in Japanese security and foreign policy, told Time in 2019.

He added: "But, then again, they're not [aircraft carriers]. They don't have any of the infrastructure for it to be deployed as such. They don't have the strike capability. They don't have any sort of intention to go further than what it is right now."

First landing on the JS Kaga

An F-35B takes off from the flight deck of the Japanese destroyer JS Kaga. Darin Russell/DVIDS

The Japanese destroyer's refitting process was completed in April this year. Last month, the Kaga began sea trials in the eastern Pacific Ocean off the coast of California near San Diego.

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On October 21, the US took a major step by landing an F-35B on the flight deck of the newly converted vessel.

"The trials will pave the way for increased interoperability with our allies," the Defense Department's F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office told Newsweek in a statement last month.

Lockheed's F-35B Lightning II

A catapult officer aboard the JS Kaga signals to the pilot of an F-35B. Dane Wiedmann/DVIDS

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American defense contractor Lockheed Martin manufactures the fifth-generation stealth fighter jets, which have been acquired by US allies around the globe and touted as one of the world's most advanced fighters. The F-35B features a powerful lift fan, built by Rolls-Royce, that allows it to land and take-off like a helicopter.

Lockheed anticipates a per-share profit of $26.65 for 2024, raising its forecast range above the previous $26.10 to $26.60 range, Reuters reported in late October.

However, Lockheed's F-35 program was plagued by payment headwinds brought on by the government contracting process, causing the company's shares to slide 5% despite the higher forecast.

Flight tests

An F-35B lands on the illuminated flight deck of the JS Kaga during a night flight test. Dane Wiedmann

During the three-week trials, Japanese, US, and UK defense forces flew at night and in other conditions "to collect the data necessary for ship-based operation of F-35B on IZUMO-class vessels," according to a statement from Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force.

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The US Marine Corps also deployed a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter to the Kaga to deliver a specialized cleaning and repair system intended to restore friction on the flight deck aboard the vessel.

Growing tension with China

A landing signal officer watches as an F-35B lands on the flight deck of the JS Kaga. Dane Wiedmann/DVIDS

The sea trials were comprised of personnel from the US Navy and Marine Corps and the UK Royal Air Force and Navy, as well as contractors Lockheed Martin, British Aerospace, and Northrop Grumman.

On November 8, the Japanese navy wrote in a post on X that the sea trials "reaffirmed" the "strong ties between Japan and the US."

"We remain committed to working together for a #FreeAndOpenIndoPacific and deepening ties with allied navies," the navy added.

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Japan and the US have been engaging in joint military operations in response to growing hostility from China as it continues its military buildup and increasing aggression in the East and South China Seas.

In September, Japan accused China of sailing into its territorial waters just days after a Chinese spy plane violated Japanese airspace, to which China said the ship's passage was legal and that the two incidents weren't linked.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Back-to-back earthquakes hit southeastern Cuba on Sunday, damaging houses, buildings and power lines as well as causing landslides, the goverment said.

The United States Geological Survey reported that a magnitude 5.9 earthquake occurred 21 miles off the municipality of Granma, at about 11 am. Shortly before noon, a larger, magnitude 6.8 tremor struck near the site of the first one.

On social media the islands residents, officials and journalists posted photos of initial damage, including deep cracks running through homes and partially collapsed roofs. Photos of the streets of the city of Manzanillo, in the province of Granma, showed bricks and pieces of the facades of buildings crumbling onto the streets. In one home, a large crack running through a wall leaked sunlight into a living room. Meanwhile, in one school in the municipality of Pilon, the closest town to where the earthquakes struck, several windows fell off their frames, leaving classrooms exposed.

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The quakes come as Cubans are reeling from the aftermath of Hurricane Rafael, which hit the island as a Category 3 storm, and a nationwide blackout. Last week, Rafael destroyed hundreds of homes, flattened crops and damaged schools, hospitals, and other critical infrastructure in western Cuba. The devastation came on the heels of problems with the power grid that left the entire island in the dark.

Site of earthquake that hit Cuba on Sunday. Credit: U.S. Geological Survey

READ MORE: Hurricane left trail of collapsed homes, lost crops and damaged infrastructure in Cuba

The disasters in quick succession underscore how vulnerable Cuba is and raise questions about whether more Cubans will try to migrate to the United States and elsewhere amid the turmoil in the Caribbean country.

On a local Pilon Facebook group, residents talked about the earthquake and asked whether people had been able to get in touch with family members and loved ones.

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How much it hurts to see my country like this, wrote one man named Andres Rivera.

Damages in southeastern Cuba from earthquakes Sunday. Credit: Facebook photo, Communist Party of Pilon, Cuba.

The seismic activity also took place near Santiago de Cuba, the second largest city on the island. Authorities report the shocks could be felt throughout the region, including in the Bahamas, Jamaica, Haiti, and the U.S. Miami meteorologist James Van Fleet posted a video of a ceiling lamp swinging from side to side at an Edgewater condo.

Officials said that its likely there will be more aftershocks. Magnitude 4.2 and 4.6 earthquakes were also reported later in the afternoon.

Cuban leader Miguel Diaz-Canel said that the provincial and national governments were in communication and shared reports of initial damages. He also urged people who lived in the affected areas to stay in open spaces.

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The first and most important thing is to save lives, Diaz-Canel said.

Only the day before Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz shared updates about the storm recovery on the other side of the island, saying that the most challenging issues were restoring water and electricity. That same day, Diaz-Canel circulated photos of donated generators from the U.S. that would power hospitals throughout the island. The communications from the islands top officials illustrate that the island and its government are still in the midst of navigating two other large-scale disasters.

The progress is appreciable, but there is still much to do. We will not stop until we fully recover, Diaz-Canel wrote.
A new study out of the United Kingdom suggests everyday tasks like washing pots and shampooing your hair could seriously pollute marine environments with harmful "forever chemicals." Called PFAS, these chemicals are known to leach into water  but the extent of their impact is just being uncovered.

What's happening?

Scientists at the University of Portsmouth recently partnered with the Marine Conservation Society to investigate the presence of PFAS  or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances  in marine environments.

PFAS are human-made chemicals found in food packaging, nonstick cookware, water-resistant clothing, personal care items such as shampoo, and more. They are often called "forever chemicals" because they "usually take hundreds or thousands of years to break down," the World Economic Forum reports.

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Per a University of Portsmouth article on Phys.org, scientists collected seawater samples before and after sewage discharges from a U.K. wastewater treatment plant servicing more than 400,000 people. The researchers found PFAS concentrations increased significantly after sewage discharges. Before sewage discharge, one detectable PFAS compound was found in tested waterways. Afterward, eight different PFAS compounds were detected  including two banned PFAS.

The research, recently published in Chemosphere, also found that seaweed in the studied area contained more than 6,000 times the concentration of PFAS than the water surrounding it. Researchers say this data indicates that seaweed stores the forever chemical in high concentrations  and this stored PFAS could work its way up the food chain when ingested by algae-grazing marine animals.

Why is the presence of PFAS in waterways concerning?

Numerous studies have previously linked PFAS exposure to human health impacts like cancer, decreased fertility, and increased risks of asthma and thyroid disease, CNN reported.

PFAS also impact marine animals, with studies finding the "forever chemicals" in the livers of otters, gulls' eggs, freshwater fish, and more, per Scientific American. According to Seaside Sustainability, PFAS can sicken marine animals, causing immune system shutdowns and liver damage. Fish and other marine animals can also expose people to PFAS when entering the human food chain.

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People become exposed to PFAS by consuming contaminated food and water, using products made with PFAS, and breathing in air that contains PFAS. One Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey found PFAS in the blood of 97% of Americans.

What's being done about PFAS?

In a statement, the study's authors say further research is needed to understand the effects of PFAS on marine life. They also called for strategy development to reduce existing PFAS in the environment.

How often do you worry about toxic chemicals getting into your home?

Click your choice to see results and speak your mind

Most importantly, the researchers stress the need to develop and implement less polluting replacements for PFAS in products.

"These findings underscore the need for an urgent ban on PFAS from all uses where there are alternatives," study co-author Francesca Ginley, chemicals policy and advocacy manager at the Marine Conservation Society, said in a statement. "These chemicals will impact us and the environment for generations to come."

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Researchers globally are also working to understand more about PFAS, with the Environmental Protection Agency reporting that its researchers are especially interested in how to better detect and measure PFAS, how to remove PFAS from water, how to dispose of PFAS, and more.

To educate yourself on PFAS exposure, review this list of products and uses for PFAS.

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.
Republicans are eyeing a trifecta, hoping to keep control of the House after capturing the majority in the Senate and taking over the White House following President-elect Trumps decisive win over Vice President Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

On the other side, Democrats started debating what went wrong in the contest and who might be blamed for the outcome. Both topics are likely to be the focus of this weeks Sunday shows.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) accused the Democratic Party on Wednesday of ignoring the priorities of working-class voters and argued that is the biggest reason Democrats lost the White House and majority in the upper chamber. The independent senator, who caucuses with Democrats, is set to appear on NBCs Meet the Press and CNNs State of the Union this Sunday where he will likely discuss what the partys struggles are and in which direction it should go.

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Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), who ran for the Oval Office earlier this year before ending his presidential bid in March, said this week that Trump is more than a passing fad who created a movement that that, frankly, snuck up on most Democrats. The Minnesota Democrat is set to appear on Fox News Sunday where he will likely discuss the outcome of the White House election and what his party should tackle next.

Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), who served as Trumps ambassador to Japan from 2017 to 2019, has been discussed as a potential pick for some national security positions, including Secretary of State. The junior senator is set to appear on CBS Face the Nation where he will likely discuss the GOP getting the majority in the Senate and his own consideration for the potential position in the next Trump administration.

Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) beat former Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-N.Y.) to secure his second term in Washington and represent New Yorks 17th Congressional District. He is set to appear on NewsNations The Hill Sunday show where he will likely discuss the results of the House races in New York and if Republicans are getting closer to having a majority in the lower chamber.

Pennsylvania Republican Senate candidate David McCormick, who The Associated Press projected as the winner against incumbent Sen. Bob Casey (D), will appear on Foxs Sunday Morning Futures where he will likely discuss the ongoing race and talks of a recount. Decision Desk HQ, The Hills election data partner, has not yet called the race.

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Heres the full list of appearances on this weeks Sunday talk shows:

NewsNations The Hill Sunday: Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.); Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.); Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.); Scott Tranter, Director Data Science, Decision Desk HQ.

ABCs This Week: Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy; radio host Charlamagne tha God.

NBCs Meet the Press: Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt).

CNNs State of the Union: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.); Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio).

CBS Face the Nation: National security adviser Jake Sullivan; Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.); Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.); British Ambassador to the U.S. Karen Pierce; Neel Kashkari, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.

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Fox News Sunday: Reps. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), and Byron Donalds, (R-Fla).

FOXs Sunday Morning Futures: Dave McCormick (R), Pennsylvania Senator-Elect; Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Senate Homeland Security Committee, Senate Armed Services Committee; Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), House GOP Conference Chair; Karoline Leavitt, Trump 2024 National Press Secretary.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday kickstarted his campaign in Jhakhand with a rally in Bokarao where he attacked the INDIA alliance stating that people who were opossed to the creation of Jharkhand, will never work to develop the State. In contrast, said the Prime Minister the BJP-led NDA alliance has only one mantra - "We have created Jharkhand; we will develop Jharkhand." Addressing the crowd in Bokaro, PM Modi said, "There is a strong storm blowing in favour of BJP in Jharkhand. This Chota Nagpur plateau is also saying: The call of roti, beeti and maati that BJP-NDA will form government in Jharkhand. BJP-NDA has only one mantra here - we have created Jharkhand; we will develop Jharkhand. Those people who have been against the creation of Jharkhand state will never develop Jharkhand." Citing the example of former minister Alamgir Alam, who was arrested by the ED after the raids and a cash of Rs 35.23 crore recovered from his premises, PM Modi attacked the JMM government and said that the people in the State are struggling while these leaders are earning crores by smuggling sand. "BJP wanted that the poor should get proper houses, good roads should be built in cities and villages, electricity and water should be available, there should be medical facilities, education facilities, water for irrigation, medicines in old age. But in the last five years of the JMM government, these facilities that were your right were snatched away by the people of JMM and Congress," the Prime Minister said. "You are craving for a handful of sand, and their leaders are earning crores by smuggling sand. From them, mountains of notes have been discovered... From where did these notes come? Isn't this your money? Isn't this the money looted from you?..." he alleged. Sharpening his attack further, PM Modi said that when the Congress was in the power from 2004 to 2014, they hardly provided funds to Jharkhand, whereas when the BJP came to power, it gave four times more money than Congress. "Ten years ago from today, from 2004 to 2014, there was a Congress government at the Centre, Madam Sonia Ji used to run the government and Manmohan Singh Ji was made the Prime Minister. At that time, the Central Government had with great difficulty given Rs 80 thousand crores to Jharkhand in 10 years. After 2014, the government changed in Delhi, you gave Modi a chance to serve and in the last 10 years we have given more than Rs 3 lakh crore to Jharkhand. We gave four times more money because we made Jharkhand and only we will develop Jharkhand," he said. PM Modi further promised that if the BJP comes to the power, then they will fight a legal battles against the corrupt leaders. "Now if you have decided to form the BJP-NDA government, I promise you that after forming the government, we will fight the entire battle in the court to ensure that these corrupt people get the harshest punishment. The money that is your right will be spent on you, it will be spent for you, it will be spent for the future of your children," he said. The 81-member Jharkhand Assembly will hold elections in two phases on November 13 and 20, with vote counting scheduled for November 23. (ANI)
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The Sunland Park Fire Department made a donation of equipment that is designed to help provide increased fire prevention in Southern New Mexico.

Sunland Park Fire said it donated eight self-contained breathing appartus on Friday Nov. 8 to the Spaceport America Fire Department.

Sunland Park Fire said it received a state grant of $300,000 for the new SCBAs.

The state fire marshal approved the donation of equipment since they are also an firefighting agency in New Mexico.

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Spaceport America provides mutual aid to Sierra County and Dona Ana County.

Spaceport America bills itself as the first purpose-built commercial spaceport in the world. It is located about 20 miles southeast of Truth or Consequences.

Sunland Park Fire said the donation will help their mission to continue to provide fire proection to Spaceport America as well as Sierra County and Dona Ana County.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
According to a CNN report on Sunday (Nov. 10), recent discussions about Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor's potential retirement have been firmly put to rest by those in her inner circle, who affirm she has no intention of stepping down. Despite calls from some progressives for her to allow President Joe Biden to name a successor before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, sources close to the 70-year-old justice emphasize that she's in great health, and the court needs her now more than ever.

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The practical challenges of confirming a new justice in the brief window before Republicans take control of the Senate in January make such suggestions largely unfeasible. Sen. Bernie Sanders publicly opposed the idea of Sotomayor's retirement, stating on NBC's Meet the Press that he doesn't think it's sensible.

While Sotomayor has been open about managing Type 1 diabetes, she remains actively engaged in her role, maintaining a vigorous presence during oral arguments and frequent public appearances. She has also been candid about the emotional toll of her work, particularly in recent speeches. At Berkeley Law School, she acknowledged her frustration with the court's direction, noting that, every loss truly traumatizes me in my stomach and in my heart. Nevertheless, she remains resolute, declaring, But I have to get up the next morning and keep on fighting.

According to the New York Post, some anonymous Democratic lawmakers suggested Judge J. Michelle Childs of the DC Circuit Court as a potential moderate replacement should Justice Sotomayor step down. Childs previously garnered bipartisan backing, with support from both President Biden, who included her on his shortlist of potential Supreme Court nominees, and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, the ranking member of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.

I cant think of a better person for President Biden to consider for the Supreme Court than Michelle Childs, Graham said during an interview on CBS' 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.

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Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor has made clear she has no plans to step down, according to people close to her, despite calls from some on the left that President Joe Biden should try to name a successor before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

Shes in great health, and the court needs her now more than ever, said one person close to the justice.

Some progressives have suggested Sotomayor, the most senior liberal on the conservative Supreme Court, should step down so that Biden could try to name a replacement in the short window before Trump takes office in January. Talk has simmered for months over the possibility of Sotomayor retiring so that Biden could name a successor and ensure the seat remains a reliable vote for the liberal wing, but that has gone nowhere.

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Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said Sunday that he doesnt think Sotomayor should step down from the court.

I dont think its sensible, Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Senate Democrats, said on NBCs Meet the Press.

The process of moving a Supreme Court nominee takes considerable time  often several months. Even assuming there are no problems with a potential nominee, there is not likely enough time for Biden to secure a confirmation before the GOP takes control of the Senate in early January.

Sotomayor, who is 70, has been public about living with type 1 diabetes, though she has shown little sign of slowing down. She is a relentless questioner during oral arguments and has appeared in public repeatedly in recent months.

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In May, Sotomayor told an audience at Harvard University that she sometimes cries after the court hands down its decisions. And in January, speaking at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, Sotomayor said she lived with frustration over the courts direction and that every loss truly traumatizes me in my stomach and in my heart.

But I have to get up the next morning and keep on fighting, she said.

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McDONALD, Ohio (WKBN)  A suspect has finally been arrested after several thefts at a local business over the past couple of weeks.

McDonald Police were notified on Friday of two men at the business possibly stealing. A perimeter was set up, and the subjects were found by two officers.

The individuals took off on foot leading police on a chase toward other officers who were waiting by the Mahoning River, according to police.

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One suspect, Jeffrey Anderson, was taken into custody. The other suspect escaped but left behind identifying information.

First News will continue to update this story.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
A suspected car thief was arrested and shot at Friday night after he pulled out a gun while running away from an officer with the Federal Way Police Department. The man was not injured as a result of the incident.

According to a press release from the Valley Independent Investigative Team, a multi-jurisdictional team in Washington State that investigates incidents involving police officers, the Federal Way Police Department responded at about 11:50 p.m. Friday after a suspect was spotted in a stolen car in the 2500 block of South 320th Street.

When officers arrived, they found the stolen car and suspect, but he immediately ran away. During the chase, officers said they saw the suspect pull out a gun.

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An officer with Federal Way PD then fired at the suspect. The suspect was not struck by gunfire or injured, according to the press release.

A K9 officer helped take the suspect into custody without further incident.

The man was booked into the King County Jail.

The investigation is ongoing.
Donald Trump was declared the winner in Arizona early on Sunday, completing the Republicans clean sweep of the so-called swing states and rubbing salt in Democrats wounds as it was announced that the president-elect is scheduled to meet with Joe Biden at the White House on Wednesday to discuss the presidential handover.

In a national campaign that was projected as being extremely close but he ended up winning handily, the result in Arizona gives Trump 312 electoral college votes, compared with Kamala Harriss 226. The state joins the other Sun belt swing states  Nevada, Georgia and North Carolina  and the three Rust belt states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania in voting Republican. All were expected to be extremely competitive but all went for Trump, though by fairly close margins.

Republicans also regained control of the Senate  they hold 53 seats to the Democrats 46  and look likely to keep control of the House of Representatives, where 21 races remain uncalled but Republicans currently have a 212-202 advantage, giving them a trifecta  both houses of Congress as well as the presidency  that will allow them to govern largely unfettered for at least the next two years.

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The political realignment comes after a bruising election that has set the stage for the Democratic party to re-evaluate a platform that appeared to have been rejected by a majority of US voters. Trump also won the popular vote, the first time a Republican has done so since George W Bush in 2004 following the 9/11 attacks a few years before.

At Bidens request, Trump will visit the Oval Office on Wednesday, a formality that Trump himself did not honor in 2020 when he lost the presidency to Biden but refused to accept the results.

In a speech last week, Biden said he would direct my entire administration to work with his team to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition.

But as president-elect, Trump has reportedly yet to submit a series of transition agreements with the Biden administration, including ethics pledges to avoid conflicts of interest. The agreements are required in order to unlock briefings from the outgoing administration before the handover of power in 72 days time.

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The national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said Biden will brief Trump on foreign policy on Wednesday, telling CBS Face the Nation: The president will have the chance to explain to President Trump how he sees things.

Asked if Biden will ask legislators to pass additional aid for Ukraine before he leaves office, Sullivan said the president will make the case that we do need ongoing resources for Ukraine beyond the end of his term. Trump allies have said the incoming administrations focus would be on peace not territory.

Sullivan also said that the international community needs to increase pressure on Hamas to come to the table to do a deal in Gaza, because the Israeli government said its prepared to take a temporary step in that direction because the group had told mediators, he said, it will not do a ceasefire and hostage deal at this time.

The political fallout from Trumps win continues to reverberate, not least in the Democratic camp. The Harris-Walz campaign is estimated to have spent $1bn in three months but is now reportedly $20m in debt.

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The Republican pollster Frank Luntz told ABC Newss This Week that whoever told Harris to focus on Trump during her presidential campaign had committed political malpractice.

We all know what Trump is, Luntz said. We experienced him for four years.

The progressive senator Bernie Sanders, who votes with Democrats, defended Harriss campaign and refused to be drawn into further analysis on whether Biden should have stepped away from his re-election bid sooner.

I dont want to get involved, he told CNN. We got to look forward and not in the back. Kamala did her very best. She came in, she won the debate with Trump. She worked as hard as she possibly could.

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Here is the reality: the working class of this country is angry, and they have reason to be angry, he added. We are living in an economy today where people on top are doing phenomenally well while 60% of our people are living paycheck-to-paycheck.

Republicans, meanwhile, have not explained why Trump and many in the party argue last weeks election was free and fair but maintain the 2020 one was somehow rigged, despite every single lawsuit alleging fraud being rejected.

Jim Jordan, the Republican chair of the the house judiciary committee, called Trumps victory last week the greatest political comeback.

On Friday, Jordan and fellow Republican representative Barry Loudermilk sent a letter to special counsel Jack Smith to demand that his office preserve records of the justice departments prosecutions of Trump.

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Related: US special counsel to wind down criminal cases against Donald Trump

Asked by CNN whether Trump would go after his political opponents, Jordan said: He didnt do it in his first term. The Democrats went after him and everyone understands what they did.

I dont think any of that will happen, Jordan reiterated. We are the party who is against political prosecution. Were the party who is against going after your opponents using lawfare.

Byron Donalds, a Republican congressman from Florida, told Fox News that claims of a list were lies from the Democratic left.

I will tell you, this is not something that Donald Trump has ever spoken to, or hes committed to, whatsoever. Theres no enemies list, Donalds said. Trump has regularly referred to his political opponents as the enemy within.
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Even when out in public, one expects to have a certain degree of privacy, and safety.

The Kerala High Court has ruled that taking photographs of a woman in front of her house does not constitute voyeurism under Section 354C of the Indian Penal Code, declaring it a public space.

The judge made this ruling in response to a petition filed by two men who had charges brought against them for allegedly taking a photograph of a woman on her doorstep, and making gestures with sexual intent, according to the Times of India.

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According to the prosecution, the incident happened in 2022, when the woman in question was standing out front of her house when the two men approached her in their car, took photographs of her and made sexual gestures.

The police filed the case against an accusation of voyeurism, and section 509  a word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman.

Despite voyeurism not being held up in court, it did state that such actions could potentially fall under sexual harassment charges in section 509.

The court asserts that voyeurism only applies when a woman is engaged in a private act and under circumstances that she wouldnt expect to be observed.

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Upskirting, the taking of pictures or filming under someone's clothing  whether in a public place or not  has been illegal in India since 2000 under the Information Technology Act, and the punishment is prison time of up to three years, and of 200,000 rupees ($2,370 / 1,840 / AU$3,600).

Upskirting was only made illegal in the UK in 2019, and in America punishments vary wildly from state to state.

Obviously, the court incident above and upskirting are sexually motivated crimes and should be dealt with as such. But for many years self-titled street photographers have been taking pictures of people going about their days without consent, and sometimes without their knowledge.

The controversial style of using non-consenting subjects in photography is a divisive topic among photographers, and one that I believe, despite producing some incredible work, is unethical.

ABOVE: Is Bruce Gilden's behavior any better?

In 1979, photographer Sophie Calle published Suite Venitienne, a black-and-white photographic project accompanied with diary entries. The subject? A man Calle met at a party in Paris and, unbeknownst to him, followed to Venice where she disguised herself and followed him around the city taking photographs of him.

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The wider context of the crime in India is unclear, but from what we know, arguably Calles art constitutes far more sinister behavior. However, she is considered by art critic Blake Gopnik as one of the top ten important artists of today.

Similarly, the photographer everyone loves to hate (and some just hate) Bruce Gilden has a controversial technique for capturing his street photography, wherein he walks the streets, selects a subject, and pounces with his camera and flash.

Journalist Sean OHagan wrote of Gilden in The Guardian: "His style seems to work against any intention to humanize his subjects.

Despite the harsh criticism, and the divisive nature of his work, Gilden is a fellow of the Guggenheim, a member of Magnum Photos, and a recipient of the European Publishers Award.

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It seems the line between harassment and art is fine, and as long as you call yourself a professional and have international support, there is no victim.

Take a look at our guides to the best cameras for street photography, and the best coffee table books on photography.
Protesters and police clashed in the streets of Valencia in eastern Spain on Saturday, as tens of thousands of people marched to demand the regional president resign over his response to floods that killed more than 220 people.

Near Valencias City Hall Square, police used batons and shields to push back an angry crowd who at times threw chairs and other objects at the officers, video footage showed. Elsewhere in the city several buildings were vandalized, according to the Valencia mayor, though there have been no reports of serious injuries.

Local media  citing government information  reported an estimated 130,000 people took part in the protest.

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The demonstrations started around 6 p.m. local time, when thousands of people  many of them carrying placards and chanting killers!  took to the streets to demand the resignation of Valencias regional president Carlos Mazon over what critics say was too slow a response to what was the worst natural disaster the region has seen in decades.

The floods, which began in late October, saw a years worth of rain dumped on the region in less than 8 hours, which came rushing down the rivers and tributaries toward the Mediterranean sea, picking up cars and destroying bridges along the way.

Demonstrators hold a banner reading 'Mazon Resignation' during a march on November 9 to protest against authorities' response to deadly flooding in Valencia, Spain. - David Ramos/Getty Images

The regional government didnt warn on time for the flooding, didnt respond on time, a protester told Reuters.

So we want them to quit and to let the new government take over the responsibility to clean up the mess that they left.

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Another protester said, The only thing I want to say is that this abandonment and institutional negligence must be held accountable.

Mazon has claimed he wasnt warned early enough about the severity of the rain by central authorities, while the Spanish government says it tried calling Mazon at least four times before being able to reach him.

The regional president, who according to some Spanish media reports was at a restaurant hours into the floods, has denied missing any calls prior to the floods turning catastrophic.

Meanwhile, the Spanish government and local agencies continue to search for over 70 people who remain missing.

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More than 8,400 soldiers are taking part in the efforts, according to the Spanish government, along with divers searching near Valencias shore.

Valencias mayor Maria Jose Catala took to X following Saturdays protests to urge calm.

With absolute respect to everyone, I consider that confrontation and vandalism will never be the solution, she wrote.

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Between 2022 and 2023, about 612,000 people moved to Texas, new census data shows.

Most Americans who moved to Texas came from California and Florida, followed by New York and Illinois.

Americans continue to seek affordability and job opportunities in the Lone Star State.

Arielle Francois never planned on moving to Texas.

In 2022, the 20-something content creator relocated from Miami to Dallas for a program at PMG, the media company, where she now works as a digital marketer.

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Earlier this year, she told Business Insider's Madison Hoff that living in Dallas gave her more visibility as a creator, which has resulted in "more opportunities" for her there compared to South Florida. She also said she paid less than $2,000 in rent a month for a nice apartment, which she felt was more affordable than options in Miami.

Hundreds of thousands of people seeking a better life have moved to Texas in recent years.

Census data released on October 17 reveals that nearly 612,000 moved to the Lone Star State between 2022 and 2023. The data comes from the American Community Survey, which asked respondents if they had moved in the past year.

In 2022, Arielle Francois moved to Dallas from Miami. Skylar/Courtesy of Arielle Francois

California is the state that lost the most residents to come to Texas. Nearly 94,000 Californians moved to Texas, compared to over 102,400 the previous year.

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Florida, where Francois was living before, is Texas' next-biggest feeder state. Between 2022 and 2023, more than 50,500 residents left Florida for Texas.

Texas remains a hot spot for movers overall

Texas ranked second in US migration from 2022 to 2023, trailing only Florida, which gained almost 637,000 residents during the same time period.

After California and Florida, the next-most movers to Texas hailed from Oklahoma, which experienced a slight increase in migration to Texas, with over 29,700 people moving in compared to 24,300 last year. Then came New York, with just over 29,610 who relocated to Texas.

Other states contributing over 20,000 movers to Texas apiece include Louisiana, Colorado, Illinois, and Washington.

Texas has something for everyone

Some transplants are attracted to the state's reputation for affordability  thanks largely to its relatively lower cost of living and absence of state income tax. While others are drawn to its business-friendly environment and abundant job opportunities.

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Many people are also moving to Texas for its smaller towns, sought out for their down-to-earth communities.

Michelle Clifford and her family moved from California to Texas. Courtesy of Michelle Clifford

Take California native Michelle Clifford, a 33-year-old sales manager who bought a home with her husband in Celina, Texas, this year.

Celina, located north of Dallas, is one of the fastest-growing cities in the US. Yet, it has managed to maintain its close-knit vibe. This, combined with an abundance of relatively affordable and spacious homes, has contributed greatly to its population growth.

"We were drawn to Celina because we have friends from California who moved here," Clifford told BI in July. "More importantly, it was about doing something completely different. We've experienced city life and wanted to embrace country living and own some land."

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It's not just everyday people looking for a fresh start in Texas celebrities are also among those relocating.

Bella Hadid, seen here at Cannes in 2021, is one of the celebrities who has moved to Texas. VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images

Consider supermodel Bella Hadid, who moved to Fort Worth, Texas, this year to escape the hustle and bustle of New York City and live with her professional horseman boyfriend, Adan Banuelos.

Hollywood actor Emma Stone and comedian Joe Rogan have also fled Los Angeles for Austin in recent years.

This trend reflects a broader shift in wealth realignment in the US, where even the nation's wealthiest opt for places where their money goes further, the climate is more inviting, and life feels more relaxed.

Where people from Texas move to

There are also plenty of people who leave Texas in search of greener pastures.

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Between 2022 and 2023, there were about 478,600 departures, less than the 612,000 who moved in. This gap was even wider between 2021 and 2022, when over 668,300 people moved to Texas and 494,000 left.

The biggest number headed to California.

Between 2022 and 2023, about 38,700 people moved from Texas to California, a slight decrease from the 42,300 who did so the previous year.

Additionally, about 37,800 people relocated from Texas to Florida, about 32,200 Texans moved to Colorado, and 31,500 headed to Oklahoma.

Other popular destinations for former Texans included Georgia, New York, and Louisiana, each welcoming more than 18,000 residents from Texas.

Home prices and politics have driven some Texans out

Texas may have its appeal, but it also has some drawbacks.

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Over the past year, BI has spoken with many residents who have left the state, citing rising home prices and property taxes, extreme heat, and a divisive political climate as reasons for their departure.

Texan Flora Batts (right) and her husband (left) bought a home in Pennsylvania this year. Courtesy of Flora Batts

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Flora Batts, a retired Medicaid program coordinator, moved to Pennsylvania this year after living in Austin for over 60 years.

Batts, 65, told BI in May that she and her husband were leaving because "Big Tech" companies like Dell and Tesla have transformed Texas' capital over the past decades, driving up costs for everything from food to housing.

"Michael Dell kicked the door down and let everybody in," she said. "All that tech money changed Austin and drove up the cost of living."

Batts and her husband purchased a three-bedroom, two-bath home on two-thirds of an acre in the small town of Erie, which is located just over an hour and a half northwest of Cleveland.

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She said that they wouldn't have been able to afford a similar home in Austin.

Ty Joerger with friends at a Seattle Mariners game in Seattle. Courtesy of Ty Joerger

Texan native Ty Joerger, 25, and about a dozen of his friends moved from Texas to the Pacific Northwest over the past two years.

While he has a "laundry list" of reasons for leaving Texas, he told BI in July that a common concern among him and his friends was the political climate, especially as members of the LGBTQ+ community.

"My friends and I shared a pretty similar sentiment: That we didn't feel safe in a state that had more and more aggressive legislation targeting us," he said. "As a gay man, I didn't feel like I could be myself."

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Joerger now lives in Seattle, where he said he feels safer and better accepted.

"I lived in Texas all my life, and I'm so glad I moved to Seattle," he said. Joerger added that despite his criticisms, he still loves the Lone Star State but hopes it can improve "before I would even encourage anyone to move or live there."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Sunday said that through the upcoming sixth edition of the Regional Industry Conclave, investors will be connected to possibilities of industrial growth of Narmadapuram district as this summit aims for the economic betterment of the state. The 6th edition of the Regional Industry Conclave is scheduled to take place in Narmadapuram district of the State on December 7. CM Yadav added that people from different sectors have been invited to this summit, whether they are from health, IT, education, heavy industries, tourism or MSMEs sectors. Speaking to ANI, he said, "A division-level Investors Summit is scheduled to be held in Narmadapuram on December 7. Through this, investors will be connected to the possibilities in Naramdapuram and we will work for the economic betterment of the state. People of all sectors have been invited to this from health, IT, education, heavy industries, tourism, MSMEs, etc... I am also going abroad this month for the Investors Summit that will be held in February on a global scale. Overall, the state government is working so that our people do not have to go out of the state and get jobs here in the state itself." The first edition of the Regional Industry Conclave was held in Ujjain on March 1-2 this year, followed by the second edition in Jabalpur on July 20, the third in Gwalior on August 28 , and the fourth in Sagar on September 27. With only a few days left in the conduct of elections in Jharkhand, CM Yadav is set to address three rallies in the poll-bound state today. The MP chief minister expressed confidence in the party's victory in both poll-bound states Jharkhand and Maharashtra and in the bye-elections that will be conducted on the two assembly seats of the state. "There are elections as well. PM has rightly said that there should be one nation one election. When we take out time for elections, it causes distractions. Still, I am confident that we will win not only Jharkhand but also Maharashtra. We will also the Budhni and Vijaypur by-elections. I am going to address three public meetings in Jharkhand today, including a rally in Vijaypur. After that, I will reach Vijaypur via Gwalior," he said. The by-polls on the Budhni and Vijaynagar assembly constituency will be held on November 13 and the counting of the votes will take on November 23. These seats were vacant after the resignation of Shivraj Singh Chouhan from the Budhni seat and Ramnivas Rawat from the Vijaypur seat. (ANI)
Thousands of people gathered in Valencia on Saturday to call for the resignation of the regional government following the recent deadly floods in the area.

People in the regional capital were out on the streets to protest the slow start of the relief effort eleven days after the disaster, which killed over 200 people.

Thousands gathered in the centre of Valencia to demand the resignation of Valencia regional government President Carlos Mazon after 65 organizations, including citizens' initiatives and trade unions, had called for the demonstration at short notice.

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The participants chanted, among other things, "Murderer, murderer" and "Resign, resign." The town hall square and the access roads filled with people. An official estimate of the number of participants was not initially available.

The Spanish National Police said late on Saturday that more than 100 people had been arrested in Valencia.

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 214 bodies in the Valencia region alone.

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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 19 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. Meanwhile, the sun has been shining for days in the flooded area.

Spanish king to return to flood-hit region

Earlier on Saturday, the royal office had announced that Spanish King Felipe VI would visit the Valencia region to oversee the ongoing rescue and clean-up operations.

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.
Thousands of people gathered in Valencia on Saturday to call for the resignation of the regional government following the country's most catastrophic storms in a century.

People in the regional capital were out on the streets to protest the government's handling of the disaster eleven days after it devastated the area.

Some 65 organizations, including citizens' initiatives and trade unions, had called for the demonstration at short notice.

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After a minute's silence for the more than 200 victims of the floods, some of the protest's leaders read a manifesto calling for a clarification on who was responsible for the "avoidable consequences of the disaster" and for the removal of the "incompetent Valencian government."

The participants chanted, among other things, "Murderer, murderer" and "Resign, resign." Some protesters carried placards with messages such as "Mazon to prison," referring to the president of the regional government, Carlos Mazon.

The city's town hall square and the access roads filled with people. According to local authorities, some 130,000 demonstrators gathered in the provincial capital.

On October 29, as much rain fell in a few hours in some Spanish towns as would normally fall in a year.

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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 214 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 19 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.

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The Spanish National Police said late on Saturday that more than 100 people had been arrested so far in the areas affected by the floods in the Valencia area, as security forces continued to work to ensure security there.

Many buildings are still partly or completely inaccessible because wrecked cars and household items are blocking the entrances. Meanwhile, the sun has been shining for days in the flooded area.

Spanish king to return to flood-hit region

Earlier on Saturday, the royal office had announced that Spanish King Felipe VI would visit the Valencia region to oversee the ongoing rescue and clean-up operations.

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.
LAURINBURG, N.C. (WBTW)  Three Laurinburg residents are facing multiple drug and gun charges after police searched a Sunset Drive home on Saturday.

Cameron Devon Henegan, 56, is charged with possession of firearms by a convicted felon; maintaining a dwelling for controlled substances; possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver Schedule II narcotics; trafficking cocaine; sale, delivery or manufacture of narcotics within 1,000 feet of a park; simple possession of marijuana; possession of marijuana paraphernalia and two counts of drug possession of drug paraphernalia.

He received a $750,000 bond.

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Angela Ann Henegan, 57, is charged with maintaining a dwelling for controlled substances and conspiring to sell or deliver cocaine.

During a search of the 1208 Sunset Drive home, police said Devin Levance Henegan, 30, arrived at the scene and was charged with disorderly conduct and obstruction of justice.

* * *

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.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A Tonawanda man was arrested Saturday in connection with a homicide that occurred in September 2023 at the Shaffer Village apartments on Isabelle Street, Buffalo police announced.

At 10:45 a.m. on Sept. 23, officers responded to a call about a suspicious incident at the complex.

Officials said when officers arrived, they tracked blood and footprints in a hallway to a dead body in an apartment. The victim was identified as 39-year-old Jose Barreto-Gonzales of no permanent address.

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Detectives immediately started an investigation and a suspect was identified and then apprehended Saturday on the 100 block of Hertel Avenue without incident, according to police.

Adalberto Bermudez, 46, was charged with one count of second-degree murder.

Latest Local News

Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
In our weekly list of business people on the move, we highlight Palm Beach County professionals who are making a difference. These are people from across the spectrum of public and private endeavors, those working in charities, court houses, private practices and beyond. They are moving up within their industry, advancing their careers and standing out for their services within our community.

Here are this week's professional standouts:

Wellington mall adds marketing manager to team

Julie Schalm

The Mall at Wellington Green recently announced the addition of Julie Schalm to its leadership team. Schalm will serve as marketing manager for the complex. She was most recently director of marketing at AP Restaurant Group, where she successfully managed multiple brands, drove revenue increases and elevated the groups visibility. The Mall at Wellington Green is a 1.2 million-square-foot, two-level regional shopping destination, and it features over 160 stores.

Darcy Hall names executive director for nursing/rehabilitative care home

Kendra Stephens

Darcy Hall of Life Care, a local skilled nursing and rehab center, recently welcomed Kendra Stephens as its new executive director. Stephens has a masters degree in business administration and worked as an accountant prior to becoming an administrator. Located on Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., Darcy Hall of Life Care is one of 21 skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities in Florida managed by Life Care Centers of America.

Greenberg Traurig attorney to co-chair civil practice committee

Robert Bobby Kane III

Greenberg Traurig, P.A. litigation shareholder Robert Bobby Kane III has been appointed to serve as co-chair of the Palm Beach County Bar Association civil practice committee. Kane was appointed to serve a one-year term beginning in the summer and ending June 30, 2025. Greenberg Traurig, LLP has more than 2,750 attorneys in 47 locations in the United States, Europe and the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia.

Palm Beach real estate lender promotes associate

Evan Blair

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Forman Capital, a private direct real estate lender based in Palm Beach County, has promoted Evan Blair from associate to associate vice president for asset management. Blair will be responsible for actively managing commercial real estate loans originated by Forman Capital and handling cash flow projections for its portfolio. Palm Beach-based Forman Capital is a provider of private commercial real estate debt and equity financing for transactions ranging from $5 million to $100 million.

West Palm Beach resident launches art vending machine concept

Meghan McKenna

Serial entrepreneur and West Palm Beach resident, Meghan McKenna, has officially launched her latest venture, Flamango Vending. This concept transforms the ordinary snack vending machine into an accessible platform for affordable, local artwork, giving Palm Beach County residents and visitors a chance to discover and purchase unique art at the touch of a button. Selections of art and prices ranging from $6 to $50.

Boca Raton Museum of Art names next executive director

Ena Heller

The board of trustees of the Boca Raton Museum of Art recently announced the appointment of Ena Heller as the Museums next executive director. Heller holds a Ph.D. in art history from the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University, and is a graduate of the Getty Museum Leadership Institute. She will start Feb. 3. Founded by artists in 1950 as the Art Guild of Boca Raton, the Boca Raton Museum of Art has evolved into a vital cultural resource.

Acclaimed chef returns to Galley at Hilton West Palm Beach

Chef Joel Rodriguez

Chef de Cuisine Joel Rodriguez has returned to Galley, the award-winning signature grill house and bar located inside Hilton West Palm Beach. Originally from Puerto Rico, Rodriguez debuted his culinary skills in the U.S. in 2017 at Galley. He was instrumental in creating some of the most popular dishes on Galleys menu, receiving rave reviews and a No. 1 rating for the restaurant on TripAdvisor. Rodriguez left Galley to pursue leadership positions with PGA National Resort and the Curio Collection by Hilton, before returning to Galley in September 2024. This is where it all started for me, said Rodriguez.

Flagler Technologies hires systems engineer

Nick Russo

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Flagler Technologies recently hired systems engineer Nick Russo. Russo specializes in enterprise storage solutions, VMware, Nutanix, cloud and disaster recovery. Prior to his current role, Russo served as a solutions architect at Dell, playing a pivotal role in designing and implementing innovative storage solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of his customers. Flagler Technologies is a Boca Raton company that helps clients tackle disruption due to digital challenges.

If you are looking for more insight into the movers and shakers operating in the Palm Beaches, subscribe to our real estate newsletter, The Dirt, keep an eye out for stories and perspective from veteran reporters Kimberly Miller and Alexandra Clough. If you have an announcement for Business People on the Move, please send it to Pbbusiness@pbpost.com.

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This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Best businesses, professionals, business people in Palm Beach County
BELMONT, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A trailer full of toys is heading to western North Carolina for children impacted by Hurricane Helene.

Workout group F3 Gastonia met at Stowe Park in Belmont on Saturday morning and hiked the three-mile round trip to Walmart to get thousands of dollars in toys for children in the mountains for the holidays.

The group put on the event in memory of three Gaston County kids- Jackson Curti and Jackson Hall who died of cancer and Park Vasquez who passed away in a tragic accident.

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The next stop for the toys is Spruce Pine, where parents will be able to have a place to come and pick out gifts for their children. 64 people participated in Saturdays drive and filled a 25-foot trailer about halfway up with toys.

 Click here for more heartwarming news across the Carolinas

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Ahead of the upcoming Jharkhand assembly elections, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey on Sunday lashed out at Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren over his opposition to recent raids conducted by the Income Tax department in the state. The raids were carried out against Soren's alleged close aide and personal secretary Sunil Srivastava. Reacting to this, Dubey alleged that Soren's personal assistant (PA) Sunil Srivastava's wife Satya Srivastava was a 50 per cent shareholder in Global Infra Company where "illegal money" worth Rs 25 crore was allegedly found. "In SDM sales company, illegal cash worth Rs 40 crore was found where Dinesh Mandal, Sunil Srivastava and Satya Srivastava are shareholders. Sunil was the director of Vyom Company. Now his son Shashank is the shareholder and a cash deposit worth Rs 20 crore was discovered, but the company disappeared two years ago," Dubey said on X. "Two more companies are under Satya Srivastava's name - Ankur Nursery and Satya Sai Super Market Company. She is also a shareholder in Dubai-based company Spazio Plus LLC and Quality Life LLC. These companies neither have permission from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), nor they are mentioned in income tax returns. This means that it is a centre of black money. Sanjay Sharan who is Suni; Srivastava's partner has a cash deposit of Rs 20 crore and 10 (bank) lockers are yet to be opened," Dubey said. Dubey's reaction comes after CM Soren raised concerns about the functioning of investigative agencies in the country, particularly in the run-up to the state elections. "Have you ever seen such action in the middle of elections?" Soren asked, referring to the raids conducted by the Income Tax Department at the residence of Sunil Srivastava, allegedly a close aide and personal secretary of the Jharkhand CM, earlier today. He went on to say that he had spoken several times about the state of constitutional agencies and how they were functioning in 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.A total of 2.6 crore voters, including 1.31 crore male voters, 1.29 crore female voters, 11. 84 lakh first-time voters, and 66.84 lakh young voters, are eligible to cast their votes. In the 2019 Assembly elections, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) won 30 seats, the BJP secured 25, and the Congress won 16. In 2014, BJP won 37 seats, JMM won 19, and Congress secured just 6 seats. (ANI)
Last Saturday, the actress Tracy-Ann Oberman was walking down her local high street in north London at around 9am, when she was confronted by a sight that stopped her in her tracks. I was walking past a house that I knew belonged to the father of a friend of mine that was Jewish-owned. All the windows had been smashed and it had blood-looking paint thrown all over it.

There was no police presence, says Oberman. Just a few shocked people and an old lady who I think lived in the house next door but whose door had been splattered with paint looking really upset.

She spoke to a man who was trying to contact the police to find out what had happened. They said well, its obviously targeted. It happened at 4am and there was no police presence. I was just furious and sent a photo of it to the CST [the Community Security Trust, a charity that provides security for the Jewish community in Britain]. If the police wont do it, the CST is brilliant. They said yeah, theres been another targeted attack at a charity place in Hendon.

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She would later learn that, overnight, pro-Palestinian protesters had launched attacks on buildings around the country. It was the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, a statement issued by the British government in 1917 announcing its support for a national home for the Jewish people. Palestine Action stole a bust of Israels first president, Chaim Weizmann, from the University of Manchester. The group later published a picture of the bust without a head, writing: First bust of Weizmann is dead. Soon, his Zionist project will be too! Campus buildings were daubed with paint, as was a research centre and a Jewish charity office in London.

The Friday Night Dinner actress  who has been an activist since 2017, when the anti-Semitism permeating Jeremy Corbyns Labour party first spurred her to speak out  stepped away from social media six months ago, feeling she needed a break from the trolling and the intensity of being the public face of a movement.

Oberman, pictured here at a solidarity rally against anti-Semitism in Westminster, 2019, has been an activist for seven years - Shutterstock

Last Saturday morning, she reopened her X account. Tagging the BBC, the Metropolitan Police, Sadiq Khan and Sir Keir Starmer among others, she wrote: Ive unlocked my tweets because I want this message to get through  and I know a lot of you look to me for leadership and guidance. I thought I could stop for a while but nothing has changed so sod it Im back

No one shouted from the rooftops to spare my family from the pogroms and concentration camps so Im here and Ill use my voice if I have to.

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What has happened to Jewish charity buildings today around the country is shocking and unforgivable and if the news and print media dont start reporting and stamping on this two-tier policing and reporting You cant let one section of UK society be targeted like this.

Oberman was really upset, particularly by the lack of police presence. It sent out a very worrying signal. The previous week, JW3, a Jewish community centre on Finchley Road, was besieged, as its chief executive put it, by protesters. Sadiq and the police talk a good game about keeping communities safe, says Oberman. And yet, I only had to look at what was happening at JW3, with all those images of old people.

We meet in a coffee shop in Hampstead, north London. Oberman is wrapped in a black scarf covered with fuchsia flowers, her trademark curls are as bouncy as ever, her face framed by a pair of oversized 1970s-style shaded glasses. She orders a tea and, when it arrives looking anaemic, asks for an extra bag. Weak tea is a bit like a weak handshake, its so off-putting.

Oberman seems to occupy two worlds. In the first, she is an actress best known for her performances in Friday Night Dinner, Its a Sin and EastEnders (in 2005 14.34 million people watched her as Chrissie Watts killing Dirty Den; she briefly reprised the role earlier this year, almost 20 years on).

Oberman appearing in Channel 4 sitcom Friday Night Dinner with co-star Dan Skinner - Mark Johnson

In the second, she is among a small group of British Jews in the public eye using their platform to speak out against anti-Jewish hatred. There is a coterie of wonderful artists, she says, citing Simon Schama, David Baddiel, Simon Sebag Montefiore, American comedian Amy Schumer and Countdown presenter Rachel Riley among the names who, like her, have spoken out in recent years. Were a really tight group of front-facing Jews.

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Oberman is preparing to merge those two worlds next month when an adaptation of The Merchant of Venice returns to the stage after hugely successful stints at the RSC, Wiltons Music Hall and the Criterion. Oberman plays Shylock, reimagined as a single mum in 1930s east London around the time of Oswald Mosleys blackshirts, and the Battle of Cable Street.

In preparation for reprising the role, she has been immersed in the world of 1930s fascism in this country, noting a troubling through line between what the community endured some 90 years ago with what British Jews are experiencing today.

Oberman was brought up in Stanmore, north-west London, the daughter of a solicitor (her father died in 1997) and a marriage guidance counsellor. She was raised on tales about Cable Street. Her great-grandmother, Annie, was on the front line; her great uncle, Alf, was thrown through a plate-glass window by a blackshirt. I was shocked to discover that the police and the authorities were there to protect Oswald Mosley and the fascist marches. Today, she says, it upsets me to say it, but it feels like there is two-tier policing going on.

She has been deeply disturbed by some of the slogans on placards at pro-Palestine protests in recent months  slogans she feels her community keep getting told are not upsetting. When a minority tells you it feels frightened, threatened, upset, you listen to that minority. You dont interpret for that minority.

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Its why, she suspects, her reimagining of The Merchant of Venice has hit home with so many audiences. It shows what racism and anti-Semitism were like in the 1930s and its beginning to feel a little bit reminiscent today, just [under] a different guise.

The play has been staged against a backdrop of what many feel has been a swell of anti-Semitism in Britain since the October 7 2023 attack, though Oberman is keen to point out that in many ways, this latest wave of hostility is familiar. As much as people would like to turn around and say oh its all about October 7, that kind of hate has existed since before Israel even existed.

You can legitimately stand up and criticise a war and the terrible tragic loss of life on both sides, but when it comes to violence and screaming and spitting at children and old people? I think youve crossed the line.

Oberman as Shylock in The Merchant of Venice, performed at the Palace Theatre in Watford - Alastair Muir

Oberman has a cache of letters from people who have come to see the play. She recalls one from a woman in her 70s who was told  as Oberman was when she was young  never to talk about being Jewish. The woman wrote: Im now going to own who I am.

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Oberman, 58, lives in north London with her husband, the music producer Robert Cowan, and their daughter, Annie, 18, who is following her mother into the business, appearing alongside her in a short film being shown at the Jewish Film Festival this week. Oberman can still recall her final day at drama school (she went to Central School of Speech and Drama, then on to the RSC) when her professors asked to speak to her.

[They] said we think you should change your name from Oberman to something less Jewish because, and I quote, you dont look enough like Anne Frank to get cast in Jewish roles. [...] These were my mentors. I thought oh, what should I be? Tracy Smith? Tracy Denham? And then I thought no, f it. And Ive always felt that pride of: I am who I am.

It was only when watching her friend Sanjeev Bhaskar do Goodness Gracious Me in the 1990s that she felt there was a way to own your dual identity in her industry. These were people that went: were British but were also Asian and were going to make a sketch show that absolutely celebrates the two.

When she was young it was only ever Americans that could wear their Jewishness lightly, she says. And Maureen Lipman. Maureen was it. She was the archetype and she was the one we all looked to.

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Jewish stories eventually enjoyed a real golden age for a while, she says, pointing to the sitcoms Simon Amstells Grandmas House, and Robert Poppers Friday Night Dinner, in which she played Auntie Val, Tamsin Greigs characters best friend. She fears there has been a cultural shift which means its harder to tell Jewish stories at the moment. There is something in the ether and its very worrying, Oberman says.

There seems to be a block for Jewish creatives. And you know whats so crazy? Jewish creatives and Israeli creatives are often the most Left-wing, peace-loving voices out there. If people think that boycotting them or silencing them is going to do any good theyre wrong.

On Thursday evening, she gave the inaugural address at the Jewish Film Festival at the Curzon in Mayfair, a nationwide festival which Oberman says has been struggling to be accepted by certain cinemas this year.

Its a festival that brings Jewish stories from all over the world and it also brings Palestinian voices from all over the world, she says. I asked Michael Etherton, who is running the festival, how theyre finding it this year, because they take a lot of these films all around the country, and hes found a lot of the cinemas wont host the festival.

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Nobody openly says it, but phone calls arent coming back. They quote oh these are difficult times. So if the Jewish Film Festival, which is really Left-wing, really open, and supports Palestinian filmmakers, is being shut down? Its worrying.

Oberman fears there has been a cultural shift which means its harder to tell Jewish stories at the moment - Ben Neeves

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The publishing industry appears to be in a similar boat, says Oberman. I know so many Jewish writers, publishers, agents who are finding it very hard to get their work done.

I wonder if she thinks Friday Night Dinner would be commissioned in the current climate? Thats a very good question  I dont know, she says, pondering it. All I can say is that The Merchant of Venice is going from strength to strength.

Speaking out about anti-Semitism has made her an unofficial spokesman for ordinary people, many of whom approach her in the street to thank her for her work. An unexpected consequence is that its also made her a spokesman for Jewish people in her industry. I get so [many] behind the scenes, very high-ranking people, very successful people, A-list celebrities, all the way down to people who are just starting out, asking for advice, saying thank you, speak for me.

One actor told her that he used to wear a Star of David but hides it now in rehearsal rooms, telling her: What Ive discovered is I practically get pinned to the wall and asked to pass a political purity test about Israel.

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She adds: I had another friend who said that when the cast found out that he had family in Israel, they didnt talk to him.

I notice Oberman glancing at the young woman sitting next to us who seems interested in our conversation. A flicker of worry passes across her face. Then the woman leans over. Im really sorry to interrupt but Im listening and Im Israeli and Jewish and a dancer, and Im very interested  if you have a show, Id love to come.

Oberman looks relieved and gladly gives her the details of the play. This sort of thing happens a lot, she says, turning back to our conversation. I think I speak common sense, and I think people have lost the art of common sense. Were so caught up in the culture wars and these binary definitions of youre either with us or against us. You can hold many truths at the same time.

Meanwhile, she says, performative activism that oppresses people isnt helping. She recalls the day in 2018 when she saw that an artist who had spray-painted the last standing wall of the Warsaw ghetto had been invited by Momentum to speak at an event alongside the Labour party conference. I was so upset that I put it on Twitter, and that was the beginning.

Since then, she has been the victim of appalling trolling (she started a podcast, Trolled, as a result), and ended up in hot water herself. In 2022, she paid damages to an academic she had falsely accused of anti-Semitism.

When The Merchant of Venice 1936 was at the Criterion, she had to have round-the-clock security. That was the point when sh got real and I could see the way it was impacting on my security. She stepped away from the spotlight six months ago when she could see other people were taking on the mantle. At one point it was just me and Rachel Riley and David Baddiel. Many other people are doing it now.

She is in a strange club of people who know what it feels like to be hunted online. I look at Amanda Abbington and we do compare death threats, she starts, before her agent gently warns her off the topic.

Oberman is in talks about what precautions need to be in place when the play opens at the Trafalgar Theatre next month. It must have been frightening for her family at times. They are incredibly supportive and my daughter said youre very brave and I hope that if I ever get to a point where I have a profile I will also use it for good.

Oberman had to have round-the-clock security when The Merchant of Venice 1936 was at the Criterion

Oberman once voted Labour and lives in the Prime Ministers constituency. I wonder what the party would have to do to tempt her back? Theyve really got to take this anti-Semitism seriously and theyve really got to step up in not allowing things that we saw happen at JW3.

Jews are the canary in the coalmine, she says. Anti-Semitism isnt just about Jews. I think its a very misunderstood form of racism. It shows a much larger sickness in society. And this Government needs to take a long hard look at what its allowing.

I think the general population doesnt like it. They see when you cut off the head of a Weizmann statue with a very provocative quote underneath it, thats effectively an incitement, a threat, its dangerous. And I dont believe that [if] any other minority had to put up with something like this the authorities would be prepared to allow it to go on.

I would like to think that Sadiq Khan, when he puts out a lovely message saying London is for all, we must look after all our minorities  the Jewish community has to be in that bracket.

Its clear the play has been an important experience personally for Oberman, coming alongside this period of intense activism. She had a lot to lose in her industry speaking out, but if anything it helped her find her voice and she has worked more in the past few years than ever. Im able to instigate projects now. Im not just sitting around waiting like all the other middle-aged actresses, waiting for the phone to ring, she laughs.

She dreams of one day playing a true matriarch and has in mind a kind of Jewish Carmela Soprano. Shell wear her Judaism incredibly lightly, but basically its about family. In the way that the Americans can write these parts and its not an issue-based thing.

Saying that, she didnt watch the recent American Netflix series Nobody Wants This, which was roundly criticised. Why? Because of the Jewish female characters. She could see those stereotypes coming just from the trailer.

The problem is when youre a Jewish character in this country youre literally A Jew. And I wonder if thats because the archetypes are Fagin and Shylock, neither of which are particularly positive.

Oberman has set up a production company to try to find writers who want to collaborate with her on new work. She wants to show that Jewish women arent either princesses or rabid over-protective mothers, arent Holocaust survivors and arent singing in a shtetl in a pogrom.

I want to show the women I grew up with  glamorous, sexy, interesting, politically active. Any writers with a Jewish Carmela Soprano up their sleeve know where to send their scripts, then. Oberman sounds to me like a woman on a mission to be heard.

The Merchant of Venice 1936 runs at the Trafalgar Theatre, London, from December 28 to January 25, then tours the UK until April 2025. For venues and tickets, see merchantofvenice1936.co.uk

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LOWER BUCKS COUNTY, PA It served its purpose through the pandemic. But Pennsylvania's first Wawa drive-through location is now closed.

Meanwhile, a report provided new details on what killed a NJ Transit train operator who was a mother of three boys from Bucks County.

These were some of the stories making news in Lower Bucks County this past week:

A National Transportation Safety Board report has found that a tree was on the tracks when a NJ Transit train operated by a Bucks County mother of three struck it and killed her. (Read More)

If you go to the drive-thru at the Wawa in Falls Township, you won't be able to pick up a coffee or a hoagie any longer. After nearly four years, the standalone store in the Morrisville section of Falls Township is permanently closed. It was the first of its kind in Pennsylvania. (Read More)

A 67-year-old Bensalem Township man has been charged after trying to have sex with an 11-year-old girl on Monday night before an anti-child predator group confronted him, police said. Bensalem Police received a tip from the Predator Poachers. (Read More)

The Warminster Fire Department volunteer and career personnel responded to a local business for a stuck elevator Wednesday. Fire crews found a worker who had already been stuck for two hours. Crews worked to ensure the worker was safe and calm while they worked on a plan. (Read More)

Township homes that had signs supporting former President Donald Trump in Tuesday's general election had screws and nails left on their driveways, the Lower Makefield Township Police Department reported in its recent police blotter. (Read More)

Train Crash Details, 1st Drive-Thru Wawa Closes: Lower Bucks Co. News originally appeared on the Warminster Patch
President-elect Donald Trump won across the map  improving on Republican margins nearly everywhere and delivering on his promises to win over more non-White voters on his way to defeating Vice President Kamala Harris.

Now that the dust has settled on the 2024 presidential election, a dive into CNNs exit polls and county-by-county results compared with previous races offers an even more detailed glimpse at how Trump won.

And perhaps more important for Democrats, the results paint a daunting picture of a party whose national coalition has fractured  with suburbs where theyve won squeezed as tight as they can be, Latinos rapidly realigning with the GOP, and Trump posting the sorts of marginal gains among both urban and rural voters that are difficult to overcome.

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Here are five takeaways on the voters Trump won and what it means moving forward:

The Latino realignment

A trend with the potential to remake the American political landscape is the huge shift in Latino voters toward Trump. His gains were visible nationwide, but were particularly glaring in Florida.

Trump cruised to a nearly 12-point win in Miami-Dade County, home to a massive population of Cuban Americans and a large and growing number of Venezuelan immigrants. He was the first Republican presidential nominee to win the county in 36 years.

Perhaps more ominous for Democrats outside of the Sunshine State, though, was Trumps strong performance in the Orlando area, where the Latino population is largely Puerto Rican  and therefore the results more reflective of whats happening outside Florida as well. Harris campaign had hoped the pro-Trump comedian referring to the island as garbage at a Madison Square Garden rally would pay off with those voters. But the results showed they had moved hard in Trumps favor.

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Trumps 1.5-point win in Osceola County flipped a location that President Joe Biden won by 14 points four years earlier. Trumps performance similarly improved in Orange County, home of Orlando, where Biden won by 23 points in 2020 but Harris won by just 5.6 points this year.

CNNs exit poll showed the dramatic swing in Latino voters over just a four-year period.

In 2020, Biden won Latino voters nationally, 65% to Trumps 32%. For Harris, the advantage was just 52% to Trumps 46%  a huge slippage among a demographic that makes up 12% of the overall electorate.

With Latino men, the numbers were even more stark. Trump won Latino men by 12 points  a 35-point swing from 2020. If the dramatic shift continues in future elections, it could remake the American political map, with consequences ranging from presidential races to state legislative battles and more.

People listen as Trump participates in a roundtable discussion at the Latino Summit held at Trump National Doral Golf Club on October 22, 2024, in Doral, Florida. - Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

GOPs big border gains

Latino voters shift was also on display on the border  particularly in the Rio Grande Valley in southeast Texas.

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Starr County, which is 97% Hispanic, hadnt backed a Republican presidential nominee since 1892  and it hadnt really been close: Hillary Clinton won there by 60 points in 2016. But Trump broke that streak this year, winning Starr County by 16 points. It was a vivid example of the valleys rapid political evolution.

The tough-on-border-security message Trump hammered nationally hit home in the Texas borderland, where residents  many of whom have been in the United States for generations  feel the effects of border crossings acutely. Republicans cultural appeals and organizing efforts have also paid dividends.

There is reason for Democrats to believe they can stop, or at least slow, this shift. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz made gains but did not rack up the same huge border wins that Trump did. A Democratic incumbent, Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, narrowly held on to his Rio Grande Valley seat  though it was a much closer race than hed faced against the same opponent in 2022. So did Rep. Henry Cuellar, the most conservative Democrat in the House.

The good news for Republicans: It wasnt just Texas. In the swing state of Arizona, Yuma County  a border county in the states southwestern corner  went to Trump by 6 points in 2020. He won the county by 29 points this year.

Migrants pass through razor wire after crossing the Rio Grande into El Paso, Texas, on February 1, 2024. - John Moore/Getty Images

Trumps urban improvement

Trump criticized Detroit while he was in Detroit. He accused Harris of ruining San Francisco, where shed been district attorney. He held a rally in deep-blue New York City, despite the state not being in play.

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While the effectiveness of his campaign tactics is debatable, whats undeniable is that the former president tapped into a simmering discontent in urban areas, where local governments are led almost exclusively by Democrats.

Trumps percentage of the vote in Wayne County, home of Detroit, ticked upward by 3.4 percentage points compared with 2020. Harris percentage dropped by 5.7 points. And the Democratic ticket won the states most populous county  one where racking up huge margins is critical to the partys hopes statewide  by 85,000 fewer votes than it had in 2020. Trumps gains are explained in part by his appeals to Black men, and his efforts to reach out to Arab American voters.

The urban swings toward Trump were evident across the political map. He gained significant ground in New York City and the surrounding counties. But even small gains, like the 2 to 3 points he appears to have improved in Philadelphia compared to 2020, is significant: It chopped the Democratic raw vote edge there down by about 55,000 votes.

Trumps improvement was fueled in part by Black men. CNNs exit polls showed just a 2-point shift among Black men toward Trump nationally. But the shift was much bigger in some key states, like Pennsylvania, where Bidens 89% to 10% edge turned into a 72% to 26% win for Harris, and North Carolina, where Bidens 91% to 8% advantage was just 78% to 21% for Harris.

People vote in the presidential election on November 5, 2024, in Detroit. - Rebecca Cook/Reuters

Harris suburban flatline

Headed into Election Day, two potentially outcome-deciding questions loomed: Would Trumps yearslong efforts to appeal to men, particularly young and non-White men, show up at the polls? And would Harris be able to outpace him by further building on recent Democratic wins in the suburbs?

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The answers: Yes. And no.

The only group with whom Harris improved on Bidens margins was college-educated women. Her campaign had hoped for big gains with those voters  people who helped drive Democratic midterm wins in 2018 and 2022, and who might have backed former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in the 2024 Republican presidential primary. Its why she campaigned alongside former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, who lost her House seat in a 2022 primary after vehemently opposing Trump, in the races closing days. But they were nowhere near enough to stop her overall slide.

One window into Harris failure is the counties surrounding Detroit. Oakland County, sprawling suburban territory that both campaigns had visited in the races closing days. Harris won by 10 points and 85,000 votes  short of the 14-point, 114,000-vote win Biden had notched there in 2020. Macomb County, where Trump had won by 8 points and 40,000 votes four years ago, went to the former president by 14 points and 70,000 votes.

Those marginal gains for Trump add up very quickly in a state where he defeated Harris by 78,000 votes.

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Trump also showed improvement in the Western battlegrounds, including Nevada  where different mail-in ballot counting rules means the vote is being tallied more slowly, but early indications are that Trump made significant gains, particularly among newly registered independent voters in and around Las Vegas. Independents made up a bigger share of Nevadas overall electorate than they did in 2020, and they swung 8 points in Trumps favor.

Where Democratic presidential nominees cant win

The deep challenge the national Democratic Party faces with rural voters was on vivid display in two states the party hasnt won on the presidential level in a generation: Missouri and Kentucky.

In Missouri, policies broadly backed by Democrats won popular support. Voters this year approved statewide ballot measures guaranteeing abortion rights, raising the minimum wage and mandating paid sick leave.

Harris, though? Blown out by 15 points.

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In Kentucky  the same state that reelected a Democratic governor, Andy Beshear, last year in a campaign that focused largely on cultural battles like abortion rights and transgender rights  voters resoundingly rejected a proposed school voucher program.

They also rejected Harris, handing Trump a 30-point victory.

Virtually across the board, Trump picked up even more votes in the largely White, working-class, rural regions where Republicans have long dominated. Those marginal gains made the challenge for Harris of putting together a winning coalition even more daunting  and, ultimately, impossible.

What Democrats will have to grapple with as the party enters a period of soul-searching is why the national partys brand is so toxic with voters who have sided with the party on policy, and at times handed the party local victories.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Now that Donald Trump is officially heading back to the White House, everybody wants to know: What happens with all the outstanding legal cases against him? Politico Senior Writer Ankush Khardori explains why he argues AG Merrick Garland should shoulder some of the blame for missing important opportunities to prosecute Trump.
How the Ukraine-Russia conflict will be handled is apparently going to be a focus of the upcoming White House lunch meeting between President-elect Donald Trump and President Joe Biden.

The two are scheduled to dine at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at the White House. On Sundays Face the Nation, national security advisor Jake Sullivan told host Margaret Brennan that the current administration remains firmly behind Ukraine. Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance, meanwhile, have criticized the Biden administration for spending billions on military aid.

The president will have the chance to explain to President Trump how he sees things, where they stand and talk to President Trump about how President Trump is thinking about taking on these issues when he takes office, Sullivan began.

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He said the current administrations role will continue to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position on the battlefield, so that it is ultimately in the strongest possible position at the negotiating table. And it should be up to Ukraine to decide, for its own sovereignty and its own territorial integrity, when and how it goes to the negotiating table.

Watch the segment below:

President Biden will have the remainder of his term to make the case to Congress and President-elect Trump's incoming administration "that the United States should not walk away from Ukraine," says @JakeSullivan46.



When asked whether that includes asking Congress to pass pic.twitter.com/fYyUvENYjJ  Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) November 10, 2024

That means stepping up the pace of aid distribution, Sullivan said, so that by Jan. 20, we will have sent the full amount of resources and aid to Ukraine the Congress has authorized. And of course, President Biden will have the opportunity over the next 70 days to make the case to the Congress and to the incoming administration that the United States should not walk away from Ukraine, that walking away from Ukraine means more instability in Europe.

Sullivan indicated Biden will ask for more Ukraine funding from Congress.

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President Biden will make the case that we do need ongoing resources for Ukraine beyond the end of his term, because the threat to Ukraine will remain no matter what exactly happens on the battlefield or at the negotiating table, and the United States should not walk away from its commitment, either to Ukraine or to 50 nations that we have rallied in defense of Ukraine in both Europe and Asia.

North Koreas battlefield aid to Russia in the Ukraine conflict was also raised by Brennan. Sullivan said the administration wasnt sure what kind of deal North Korea leader Kim Jong Un struck in exchange for his troops.

We dont know for sure, and frankly, I think Vladimir Putin doesnt know for sure. I think he probably hasnt decided exactly what hes going to do for North Korea on a going forward basis. Sullivan added that Kim Jong Un is expecting something significant.

Does that include support of North Koreas nuclear program?

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Thats a distinct possibility, Sullivan said. I cant say exactly what will happen, but we have already heard the Russians come out and say that North Koreas nuclear program should be looked at differently today than it was five or 10 years ago. So the concern about the relationship between Russia and North Korea, in both directions, is very real and something that all of the nations of the free world need to pay attention to.

The post Trump-Biden Lunch Meeting Has Ukraine on the Menu, National Security Advisor Says | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
Donald Trump is planning to use military bases to detain migrants to help him carry out deportations.

Following Mr Trumps sweeping election victory, his advisers have drawn up plans to implement the mass deportations which the president-elect made central to his campaign.

The plans involve issuing a national emergency declaration at the border on Mr Trumps first day in office, insider sources told the Wall Street Journal.

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According to the newspaper, Mr Trumps advisers believe this would enable them to use military bases for immigrant detention and military planes to help carry out deportations.

They are also understood to think it would allow him to reallocate Pentagon funds to pay for the construction of a wall on the border.

The prospect of Mr Trump passing an emergency declaration reinforces his previous claims he has no problem deploying military and National Guard troops to achieve his deportation goal.

Mr Trump has vowed to carry out the largest mass deportation in history, aiming to remove an estimated 11 million people residing in the US without legal status.

No price tag

Asked how he would pay for the move, which could cost a total of $968 billion, according to a report by research firm the American Immigration Council, Mr Trump said there was no price tag.

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In one of his first interviews since winning office, Mr Trump said: Its not a question of a price tag. Its not  really, 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.

To realise his vision, behind-the-scenes talks began months before the election and have accelerated in recent days to address the policy changes required, the WSJ reported.

Measures suggested include slashing restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement pursuing immigrants who entered the country illegally but who have not committed other criminal offences, and fast-tracking cases through the courts.

Allies of the president-elect told the paper their primary focus is on the estimated 1.3 million illegal immigrants who have received final deportation orders and those with other criminal convictions or charges.

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Sources close to Mr Trump said his transition team was also considering ending two programmes introduced by the Biden administration that have enabled more than 1.3 million immigrants to enter the US legally, making those who entered but have not yet received asylum eligible for deportation.

Under the plans, migrants who arrived in the US legally through Joe Bidens CBP One and CHNV parole programmes who have not yet been granted asylum could be deported, sources told NBC News.

The CBP One app entry programme, introduced in January 2023, was designed to help control the number of migrants crossing the border illegally by enabling them to book appointments with immigration officials through an app.

However, critics have blamed the programme for allowing an influx of criminals to cross the border.

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(Bloomberg) -- President-Elect Donald Trump will follow through on his plans to hit imports with tariffs but is likely to carve out exemptions for sectors such as Canadian oil and gas, former US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said.

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Canada is the largest external supplier of energy to the US, reaching nearly $160 billion in 2022, most of which is crude oil, petroleum products or natural gas.

We import a lot of energy from Canada. I cant imagine that the president would want to tax that, because all it would do would be to raise our costs and not help anything with more American jobs, Ross told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. So I think its easy to have the fears be overblown.

Trump has called tariff the most beautiful word in the dictionary and promised his protectionist trade strategy will boost US manufacturing.

Ross was commerce secretary from 2017 to 2021, when the first Trump administration imposed tariffs on goods including steel and aluminum from China, Canada, Mexico and the European Union. Ross also helped renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, which was replaced with whats now called the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, altering the regions rules on auto manufacturing and a host of other issues.

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Ross urged western countries to increase their defense budgets. Trump has long criticized members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, including Canada, that dont meet their pledge to spend 2% of gross domestic product on defense. Clearly the world is a more dangerous place right now, Ross said in the CBC interview.

Canada has to realize that America does have a much sturdier set of principles and policies now than what it had before, he said. So if I were Canada, I would be looking for what things Canada can volunteer to do to facilitate the relationship with the US.

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(KTAL/KMSS)  A federal judge on Thursday struck down a Biden administration policy aimed at creating an easier path for undocumented immigrants who married U.S. citizens to shield families from being separated while their case processes.

However, immigration attorneys and researchers say that former President Donald Trumps pledge for mass deportation would have serious economic consequences for America.

The U.S. immigration process requires non-U.S. citizens to return to their home country while their case is processed, and for undocumented immigrants, this process could take ten years in some cases.

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Immigration Attorney Elizabeth Ricci said the policy would have kept around 750,000 families in the U.S. without fear of deportation.

Trumps plans to mass deport millions of undocumented immigrants means about 5.1 million U.S. citizen children living with an undocumented family member would lead to tremendous emotional stress and economic hardship for many.

Executive order keeping 500,000 immigrant families together

Those families and their employers, of course, will be affected, but the economy will also be affected. But this is just the first of many actions were going to see in the second Trump administration. And were going to see some broad economic impacts that are not favorable to American businesses or families,  says Ricci.

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These immigrants are business owners, neighbors, taxpayers, and consumers. Ricci says these mass deportations and the denial of Keeping Families Together will have a rippling effect on the economy and job market.

So immigrants own small businesses at much higher rates than U.S.-born citizens. So what were going to see as people fear, whether its directly caused by actions like the judge striking this down or mass deportations, people will leave.

And that is going to cause less American workers to have jobs. Studies show, for example, over the years when weve removed 500,000 people, 40,000 American jobs were lost as a result because immigrant jobs also support other jobs, says Ricci.

Immigrants help reduce inflation and steady the economy, study finds

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Additionally, immigrants often fill essential roles U.S. citizens do not gravitate toward.

Immigrants often do jobs and industries like construction, farming, and hospitality that Americans dont want to do. So the prices for products and services from those industries will go up.

From day one of the convicted felon and president-elects campaign promised the most extensive mass deportation plan in U.S. history. However, many economists, immigration lawyers, and researchers have echoed that this plan would cost taxpayers billions of dollars.

Deporting an undocumented immigrant is a costly and time-consuming process. It requires the involvement of lawyers, cooperation from local police, coordination among federal agencies, the expenses associated with apprehending the immigrant, detention costs, immigration court proceedings, and the transportation of the individual out of the country.

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In total, we find that the cost of a one-time mass deportation operation aimed at both those populationsan estimated total of is at least $315 billion, stated in the American Immigration Council report. To put the scale of detaining over 13 million undocumented immigrants into context, the entire U.S. prison and jail population in 2022, comprising every person held in local, county, state, and federal prisons and jails, was 1.9 million people.

Aside from the fact that implementing [the] program like mass deportation, which is likely, thats going to cost taxpayers about $315 billion. So since immigrants put more in the economy than they take out, this does not balance out as a logical approach to fix the undocumented immigration problem.

The American Immigration Council found that a one-time operation to deport these immigrants would cost the government a conservative estimate of $315 billion, broken down as follows:

$89.3 billion to conduct sufficient arrests.

$167.8 billion to detain immigrants en masse.

$34.1 billion on legal processing.

$24.1 billion on removals.

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Ricci says many immigrants are worried about their U.S.-born children being separated from their immigrant parent, and some potentially needing to go through an adoption process.

People are worried about what it will mean for them, their businesses, and their families. So people are starting to already react, says Ricci, Its going to have a very long-term negative impact. Aside from any humanitarian issues, aside from the American values Im talking about, real economic impacts will be felt immediately.

She says immigrants may view the mass deportations and stripping away of protections as a disincentive to legalize.

Ricci urges undocumented immigrants to have a plan and begin documenting their lives with their U.S. citizen spouse, set up authorization for bank accounts/payments, and for children to organize being picked up from school and discuss who will care for their family and their business.

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She recommends that undocumented immigrant children talk with a family law attorney and discuss adopting or establishing custody agreements if the parent is deported. For immigrants with a criminal history, Ricci recommends speaking with a criminal defense attorney if they hope to stay in the U.S.

These are the kinds of things that have to be thought about proactively and not when the officers are out the door taking mom or dad away. Thats too late. Now is the time to start planning. Now is the time.

Ricci urges Congress to find a comprehensive solution to avoid harmful policies that could impact millions of families and the economy for future decades.

Its time to get serious about solutions. Were talking about all these anti-immigrant measures that I understand appeal to the base. But what is the solution? A non-solution is not a solution. Were kicking the can down the road for years and years and years with no real solutions. Congress has to act. Do something about the elephant in the room instead of just complaining.

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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 KTALnews.com.
President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday named real estate investor and campaign donor Steve Witkoff as co-chair of the Trump Vance Inaugural Committee.

The organization will plan events revolving around the Jan. 20, 2025, swearing-in of the 47th president. Witkoff will lead the committee with Kelly Loeffler, a former U.S. senator from Georgia.

This will be the kick-off to my administration, which will deliver on bold promises to Make America Great Again," Trump said in a statement. "Together, we will celebrate this moment, steeped on history and tradition, and then get to work to achieve the most incredible future for our people, restoring strength, success, and common sense to the Oval Office.

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Witkoff has business holdings in South Florida. Here are three things to know.

Witkoff's company invested in former Banyan Cay development in West Palm Beach

A real estate investor, Witkoff's company is an owner of the former Banyan Cay Resort & Golf in West Palm Beach. The development had seen a series of fits and starts for a decade under prior ownership entities.

Witkoff Group, Access Industries of New York and London, and PPG Development of Hallandale Beach took over the property this year, and immediately renamed it Dutchman's Pipe Golf Club after a flowering vine that is favored by swallowtail butterflies.

Dutchman's Pipe boasts a Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, which was opened in 2017.

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Witkoff and PPG are also behind the Shell Bay Club in Hallandale Beach, formerly the Diplomat Golf Resort & Spa.

Witkoff was with Trump at the time a suspected assailant planned to assassinate him

On Sept. 15, Witkoff was with Trump at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach when a U.S. Secret Service agent spotted a rifle barrel peeking out from the brush and tree line.

Trump and Witkoff were playing golf not far away on the fairway leading to the fifth hole. The alleged gunman, later caught and identified as Ryan Routh, 58, did not fire a shot and neither Trump nor Witkoff were injured.

Hailey Olson holds a Trump flag outside the Palm Beach County Convention Center where former President Donald Trump was having his election party on Nov. 5.

Witkoff said to have attended a major fundraiser for Trump on Palm Beach

Witkoff is among those who was on a list of attendees at a major fundraiser held in Palm Beach in early April. The event reportedly raised $50 million, and eclipsed the $33 million that President Joe Biden, the then-presumptive Democratic nominee, had raised the previous weekend at Radio City Music Hall with former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.

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According to an invitation obtained by USA TODAY at the time, the event was hosted by hedge fund investor John Paulson and attendees included sugar mogul Jose "Pepe" Fanjul, former Trump Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, Howard Lutnick, head of the investment firm Cantor Fitzgerald, Chicago Cubs co-owner Todd Ricketts, investment banker Warren Stephens and Witkoff.

The price of admission on the invitation was $250,000 with a maximum contribution of $814,600, which the Washington Post reported landed the donor a seat at Trump's table.

Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at afins@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Real estate investor Witkoff to co-lead Trump inaugural committee
WASHINGTON (Reuters)  U.S. President-elect Donald Trump spoke on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday and discussed the war in Ukraine, the Washington Post reported on Sunday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Trump advised Putin not to escalate the war in Ukraine and reminded him of Washingtons sizeable military presence in Europe, the Post reported.

White House says Biden will continue push for Ukraine aid, cease-fire

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Trumps transition team would not confirm the Washington Post report, saying in a statement, We do not comment on private calls between President Trump and other world leaders.

President Trump won a historic election decisively and leaders from around the world know America will return to prominence on the world stage, Trump communications director Steven Cheung said. That is why leaders have begun the process of developing stronger relationships with the 45th and 47th President because he represents global peace and stability.

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.

Trump had also spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday, according to media reports.

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On Friday, the Kremlin said Putin was ready to discuss Ukraine with Trump but that did not mean that he was willing to alter Moscows demands.

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.

Ukraine rejected that, saying it would be tantamount to capitulation, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has put forward a victory plan that includes requests for additional military support from the West.

This story is developing

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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 NewsNation.
Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) Chairman on Waqf Amendment bill Jagdambika Pal on Sunday dismissed allegations of impropriety and defended the study tours by him and other committee members. Stating that not every committee member needs to be present during the meetings and study tours as they might have other commitments, he told ANI, "Even during Parliament sessions, it never happens that all MPs are present during every debate of every session... The purpose of the study tour of the JPC is not if all members are present or not. The purpose is to give the administration, waqf board, minority commissions and all stakeholders of the state it visits, a chance to be heard." Saying that study tours are a means of "informal discussions," he maintained that there is no need for a quorum between the members. "Study tours are a means of informal discussions and there is no need for a quorum... After the formation of JPC, Karnataka Waqf Board notices to farmers of the state have gone up by 38 per cent," he said. He further hit out at the Congress-led government in Karnataka, saying that the minority minister in the state is going beyond his power and allowing Waqf tribunals. "The state government's minority minister has started setting up Waqf tribunals in every district... The minister is going beyond his power to go ahead with the Waqf proceedings," the JPC chairman said. Pal visited Karnataka on November 7, visiting Vijayapura on the request of BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, and attended a protest organised by farmers, MLAs and former MPs. Pal addressed the people protesting against the alleged land grab by Waqf Board and said he listened to their problems. 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. Another JPC member, Brij Lal hit out at the Opposition MPs, saying that it is just their "agenda" to disrupt JPC meetings. "Causing hindrances during the JPC meetings is just their political agenda... Here we listen to the stakeholders and work based on reports... Waqf Amendment Bill was formed so that land grabbing in the name of Waqf is stopped. We have given powers to the Collector, which earlier rested with Waqf surveyors... We cannot let anyone roam around like an untamed horse so that they can grab the lands of farmers in Karnataka in the name of Waqf," he told ANI. JPC member and Congress MP Jaiwaid criticised the study tours on Sunday. When we saw that our opinions were not being considered, we were left with no other option but to boycott it, so we are not participating in any tour. I think out of 31 members, 12-14 (are not participating). So, when 1/3rd of the members are not there, what is the use of it? You have to hear both types of opinions," he told ANI. (ANI)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President-elect Donald Trump spoke on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday and discussed the war in Ukraine, the Washington Post reported on Sunday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Trump advised Putin not to escalate the war in Ukraine and reminded him of "Washington's sizeable military presence in Europe", the Post reported.

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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Trump had also spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday, according to media reports.

On Friday, the Kremlin said Putin was ready to discuss Ukraine with Trump but that did not mean that he was willing to alter Moscow's demands.

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.

Ukraine rejected that, saying it would be tantamount to capitulation, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has put forward a "victory plan" that includes requests for additional military support from the West.

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Brendan O'Brien; Editing by David Gregorio)
WEST PALM BEACH  Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 presidential election means he is the first former president since Grover Cleveland in 1893 to win a new term in the White House.

A lot has changed in presidential politics in the past 131 years, however. One issue is that presidents are term limited courtesy of the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

So, unlike Cleveland, Trump will start his new term as a proverbial "lame duck." But it seems safe to say that Trump, who has bucked conventions and norms throughout his nearly decade-long political career, will defy conventional wisdom.

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As such, Trump may just get one more term, but he will not be a lame duck.

Could Trump get third term as President: We have that answer for you. | Opinion

Not only does the U.S. Constitution, as currently written, prevent Trump from seeking another term but the president-elect said during the 2024 contest that this would be his "final" bid for the White House.

However, Trump will remain the undisputed kingmaker of the Republican Party. Republicans seeking office or leverage or support for various initiatives will be trekking to Mar-a-Lago to raise money and support. Trump's private club will become an even bigger MAGA movement magnet.

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One decision coming up quickly: Who will Trump endorse for the post of Republican majority leader in the U.S. Senate? Florida U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, who cruised to re-election on Tuesday, has said he will seek the post.

Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at afins@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: With Trump as President, Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach a bigger MAGA magnet
(The Hill)  Democratic governors are signaling their willingness to defy the new Trump administration, vowing to protect freedoms in their states and to wage legal and political battle if the president-elect follows through with controversial proposals.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said the Golden State is ready to fight and called a special section of the state Legislature after Trumps win.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) promised that if you come for my people, you come through me.

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In Massachusetts, Gov. Maura Healey (D) pledged her states law enforcement will not assist the Trump administration if it goes through with mass deportation plans.

The messages, some of which come from possible 2028 contenders, harken back to the first Trump term, when big Democratic states repeatedly sparred with the White House. They also suggest a long campaign as ambitious Democrats tout their willingness to take on Trump at home and across the country.

Another four years of Trump in power are likely to see Democrats resisting in every way possible, to throw sand in the gears at every opportunity, said Jesse Rhodes, a political science professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. And with Congress likely controlled by Republicans, thats going to fall on the shoulders of Democratic governors, he said.

Trump defeated Vice President Harris on Tuesday, sweeping the swing states and making inroads in blue areas, as well as expanding upon his 2020 margin in some red strongholds. Republicans took control of the Senate and the party looks on track to win a slim majority in the House, which would mean a trifecta of GOP control in Washington.

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Governor races notably followed the status quo, with both parties holding onto control of their seats that were up for grabs Tuesday.

Democratic governors had rallied around Harriss fast-tracked presidential bid.

Newsom and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) were both among the names floated as potential running mates, and she ultimately went with another Democratic governor, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D).

Leaders of the critical swing states in the blue wall  Shapiro, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D)  joined Harris on the campaign trail.

Now, top blue-state leaders are gearing up for the transfer of power, readying a push back against a second Trump term.

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In Trumps first four years in office, Democratic governors mounted some of his toughest opposition as they sparred over his ban of travelers from Muslim countries, and his responses to the pandemic and widespread 2020 protests.

When you elect a president of one party, often, states of the party that oppose that president have enormous ability to try to block or push back on directions that the president might want to go, especially if Congress cant function or pass legislation, said Barry Rabe, a public policy professor at the University of Michigans Ford School and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.

Democratic-led states, along with their state attorneys general, are already shaping up to be a major point of opposition for the GOP as Trump touts sweeping Day-One plans for immigration, energy and foreign policy, Rabe said.

Perhaps this time may be different. But if it isnt, Illinois will remain a place of stability and competent governance, Pritzker said of Trumps win this week.

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Healey defiantly told MSNBC Massachusetts would absolutely not assist the future Trump administration in its promise to address immigration with mass deportations.

I think that the key here is that every tool in the toolbox is going to be used to protect our citizens, to protect our residents and protect our states, and certainly to hold the line on democracy and the rule of law as a basic principle, she said.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D), also asked about the possibility of mass deportations, pledged in a press conference that if its contrary to our values, we will fight to the death.

Winning the White House and the Senate and perhaps the House  its a little self-serving, but its true: governors have never mattered more, Murphy said.

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In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) has convened a team of experts to develop strategies for protecting her state from policy threats they think could emerge under Trump. The task force will address reproductive rights, civil rights, immigration, gun safety and the environment, according to a release that labeled those areas the most likely to face threats from a Trump administration. Shes partnering up with New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought a lawsuit against Trump in 2022.

Washington states Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D)  who won his gubernatorial bid on Tuesday  told reporters after the results that his office feels prepared to defend the states freedoms as the White House changes hands. Ferguson will govern the only state in the country that saw a shift toward the Democratic presidential candidate, compared to 2020.

We knew from our extensive experience during [Trumps] first term that we would need to be prepared from Day 1 if he was elected, Ferguson said.

In California, Newsom issued a proclamation asserting that the consequences of a Trump presidency for California may be significant and immediate as he called for a special legislative session to protect progressive policies.

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His office told The Associated Press he and state lawmakers are ready to Trump-proof California laws.

The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack  and we wont sit idle, Newsom said.

Trump fired back at Newsom in a seething Truth Social post that Newsom is trying to KILL California and using the term Trump-Proof as a way of stopping all of the GREAT things that can be done.

The dynamics between blue-state governors and the incoming president will make for a huge battle in the coming years, Rhodes predicted. And I think its likely that California will be ground zero for that battle.

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For one, the Golden State is a liberal bastion that has become a GOP target over issues like crime and immigration. Another factor is the enduring sense among political observers that Newsom has national ambitions. He emerged as a prominent Biden surrogate and top attack dog for the party this cycle, and was floated alongside Harris as a possible Biden replacement.

Newsom is one of several governors  along with Whitmer, Shapiro, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) and others  who have been speculated as possible 2028 contenders.

Strategists on both sides of the aisle agreed that resisting Trump could help give rising-star governors a head start for the next cycle.

But Republican strategist Ford OConnell argued the governors are trying to use Trump as a foil so they can jockey for power, and contended Trump resistance wont get much mileage with voters come 2028, when Trump isnt eligible to run again.

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Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf sounded alarms that the president-elect could seek to crack down on the states whose leaders oppose him.

This is a dangerous game for the governors to play, he said, adding that Republicans potential trifecta increases the odds of punishment.

But it also increases the importance of what the governors are doing, Sheinkopf said.

Meghan Meehan-Draper, executive director of the Democratic Governors Association, said in a postelection statement that Democratic governors are the last line of defense for our rights and values.

As we brace for the potential for the same lawlessness and extremism that Donald Trump repeatedly promised to bring to the White House again, Americans can look to Democratic governors to continue standing up for fundamental freedoms and our democracy, 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 PIX11.
(The Hill)  Democratic governors are signaling their willingness to defy the new Trump administration, vowing to protect freedoms in their states and to wage legal and political battle if the president-elect follows through with controversial proposals.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said the Golden State is ready to fight and called a special section of the state Legislature after Trumps win.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) promised that if you come for my people, you come through me.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In Massachusetts, Gov. Maura Healey (D) pledged her states law enforcement will not assist the Trump administration if it goes through with mass deportation plans.

The messages, some of which come from possible 2028 contenders, harken back to the first Trump term, when big Democratic states repeatedly sparred with the White House. They also suggest a long campaign as ambitious Democrats tout their willingness to take on Trump at home and across the country.

Another four years of Trump in power are likely to see Democrats resisting in every way possible, to throw sand in the gears at every opportunity, said Jesse Rhodes, a political science professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. And with Congress likely controlled by Republicans, thats going to fall on the shoulders of Democratic governors, he said.

Trump defeated Vice President Harris on Tuesday, sweeping the swing states and making inroads in blue areas, as well as expanding upon his 2020 margin in some red strongholds. Republicans took control of the Senate and the party looks on track to win a slim majority in the House, which would mean a trifecta of GOP control in Washington.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Governor races notably followed the status quo, with both parties holding onto control of their seats that were up for grabs Tuesday.

Democratic governors had rallied around Harriss fast-tracked presidential bid.

Newsom and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) were both among the names floated as potential running mates, and she ultimately went with another Democratic governor, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D).

Leaders of the critical swing states in the blue wall  Shapiro, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D)  joined Harris on the campaign trail.

Now, top blue-state leaders are gearing up for the transfer of power, readying a push back against a second Trump term.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In Trumps first four years in office, Democratic governors mounted some of his toughest opposition as they sparred over his ban of travelers from Muslim countries, and his responses to the pandemic and widespread 2020 protests.

When you elect a president of one party, often, states of the party that oppose that president have enormous ability to try to block or push back on directions that the president might want to go, especially if Congress cant function or pass legislation, said Barry Rabe, a public policy professor at the University of Michigans Ford School and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.

Democratic-led states, along with their state attorneys general, are already shaping up to be a major point of opposition for the GOP as Trump touts sweeping Day-One plans for immigration, energy and foreign policy, Rabe said.

Perhaps this time may be different. But if it isnt, Illinois will remain a place of stability and competent governance, Pritzker said of Trumps win this week.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Healey defiantly told MSNBC Massachusetts would absolutely not assist the future Trump administration in its promise to address immigration with mass deportations.

I think that the key here is that every tool in the toolbox is going to be used to protect our citizens, to protect our residents and protect our states, and certainly to hold the line on democracy and the rule of law as a basic principle, she said.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D), also asked about the possibility of mass deportations, pledged in a press conference that if its contrary to our values, we will fight to the death.

Winning the White House and the Senate and perhaps the House  its a little self-serving, but its true: governors have never mattered more, Murphy said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) has convened a team of experts to develop strategies for protecting her state from policy threats they think could emerge under Trump. The task force will address reproductive rights, civil rights, immigration, gun safety and the environment, according to a release that labeled those areas the most likely to face threats from a Trump administration. Shes partnering up with New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought a lawsuit against Trump in 2022.

Washington states Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D)  who won his gubernatorial bid on Tuesday  told reporters after the results that his office feels prepared to defend the states freedoms as the White House changes hands. Ferguson will govern the only state in the country that saw a shift toward the Democratic presidential candidate, compared to 2020.

We knew from our extensive experience during [Trumps] first term that we would need to be prepared from Day 1 if he was elected, Ferguson said.

In California, Newsom issued a proclamation asserting that the consequences of a Trump presidency for California may be significant and immediate as he called for a special legislative session to protect progressive policies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

His office told The Associated Press he and state lawmakers are ready to Trump-proof California laws.

The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack  and we wont sit idle, Newsom said.

Trump fired back at Newsom in a seething Truth Social post that Newsom is trying to KILL California and using the term Trump-Proof as a way of stopping all of the GREAT things that can be done.

The dynamics between blue-state governors and the incoming president will make for a huge battle in the coming years, Rhodes predicted. And I think its likely that California will be ground zero for that battle.

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For one, the Golden State is a liberal bastion that has become a GOP target over issues like crime and immigration. Another factor is the enduring sense among political observers that Newsom has national ambitions. He emerged as a prominent Biden surrogate and top attack dog for the party this cycle, and was floated alongside Harris as a possible Biden replacement.

Newsom is one of several governors  along with Whitmer, Shapiro, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) and others  who have been speculated as possible 2028 contenders.

Strategists on both sides of the aisle agreed that resisting Trump could help give rising-star governors a head start for the next cycle.

But Republican strategist Ford OConnell argued the governors are trying to use Trump as a foil so they can jockey for power, and contended Trump resistance wont get much mileage with voters come 2028, when Trump isnt eligible to run again.

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Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf sounded alarms that the president-elect could seek to crack down on the states whose leaders oppose him.

This is a dangerous game for the governors to play, he said, adding that Republicans potential trifecta increases the odds of punishment.

But it also increases the importance of what the governors are doing, Sheinkopf said.

Meghan Meehan-Draper, executive director of the Democratic Governors Association, said in a postelection statement that Democratic governors are the last line of defense for our rights and values.

As we brace for the potential for the same lawlessness and extremism that Donald Trump repeatedly promised to bring to the White House again, Americans can look to Democratic governors to continue standing up for fundamental freedoms and our democracy, she said.

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President-elect Donald Trump announced that two members of his first Cabinet would not be given a role this time around.

Nikki Haley, former UN ambassador, and Mike Pompeo, former Secretary of State, will not be offered positions in Trumps administration as his transition to the White House is underway, he declared in a Saturday evening Truth Social post.

I will not be inviting former Ambassador Nikki Haley, or former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to join the Trump Administration, which is currently in formation, the former president wrote. I very much enjoyed and appreciated working with them previously, and would like to thank them for their service to our Country. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

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Haley launched her own presidential bid for the 2024 cycle. She was the last GOP contender challenging Trump when she dropped out of the race in March. Despite some animosity between the pair on the campaign trail  including when Trump labeled her bird brain  the former South Carolina governor eventually endorsed Trump for president at the Republican National Convention.

In contrast to Haley, Pompeo has largely remained out of the spotlight since leaving his tenure in the first Trump administration.

He backed Trump at a speech at the Republican National Convention. He told the crowd that the Trump administration put America first every single day.

Nikki Haley and Mike Pompeo at the US Department of State in Washington DC on June 19 2018. Neither will be returning to Donald Trumps cabinet (AFP via Getty Images)

Trump didnt offer any additional insight into his decision-making, but the former presidents post came one day after his former adviser Roger Stone urged Trump against tapping Pompeo again, writing that the former president cant trust his former secretary of state.

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Now that Trump is back on top, it becomes far more difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff, Stone wrote on his website on Friday.

Several neocons have positioned themselves to get highly influential roles within the second Trump administration, and this sinister fifth column has the potential to be more harmful to Trumps America First agenda than his leftist opinion within the Democrat Party, he continued. Only Haley and Pompeo made his list.

Regarding Haley, he called her a political chameleon who has changed with the times in ways that are incredibly self-serving.

Regarding Pompeo, Stone took issue with him for criticizing Trumps refusal to hand over classified documents  a move that resulted in a federal criminal case against the former president  and claimed Pompeo was creating distance and flirting with a potential presidential run of his own.

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Its unclear if Trump had discussed his decision with Stone before making the Truth Social announcement. The Independent has reached out to the Trump campaign for comment.

As of Saturday evening, the former president had announced just one Cabinet member. He tapped Susie Wiles, his campaign manager, to serve as chief of staff, making her the first woman with the title.
President-elect Trump announced that former Ambassador Nikki Haley and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo would not be joining his administration on Saturday.

I will not be inviting former Ambassador Nikki Haley, or former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to join the Trump Administration, which is currently in formation, the Republican leader wrote on Truth Social. I very much enjoyed and appreciated working with them previously, and would like to thank them for their service to our Country. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

Pompeo shared that he was open to accepting a position under the former president in March.

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I dont often comment on jobs Ive not been offered, he told Fox Newss Neil Cavuto, later adding, But if I get a chance to serve and think that I can make a difference  Im almost certainly going to say yes to that opportunity to try and deliver on behalf of the American people.

Haley said she was on standby to help Trump during his campaign, but never joined him on the campaign trail. She congratulated Trump publicly on Wednesday after he was determined the winner of the 2024 election.

The American people have spoken, Haley wrote Wednesday morning on the social platform X. Congratulations to President Trump on a strong win. Now, its time for the American people to come together, pray for our country, and start the process of a peaceful transition.

After Trump announced his decision not to invite Haley to join his administration she released a statement applauding him again for defending America

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I was proud to work with President Trump defending America at the United Nations. I wish him, and all who serve, great success in moving us forward to a stronger, safer America over the next four years, Haley wrote in a post on X.

The former president has announced that longtime senior Susie Wilkes will serve as chief of staff and former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler and Steve Witkoff with serve as co-chairs of the Trump, Vance inauguration.

Updated at 11:02 p.m. EST.

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(Bloomberg) -- President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk moved to make demands of the next Senate Republican leader, potentially scrambling a race that has been expected to go to one of Mitch McConnells longtime allies.

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Trump insisted the next Republican leader endorse letting him make recess appointments bypassing the Senate, which Musk quickly said was essential to accomplishing Trumps agenda.

Musk then endorsed Florida Senator Rick Scott, a longtime Trump ally and McConnell critic, for the leader job, after Scott backed Trumps demand. Musk also has posted a poll asking his followers who should replace McConnell, who isnt running for another term atop the GOP in Wednesdays secret-ballot election.

Naming officials while the Senate is out of session, a mechanism known as recess appointments, allows presidents to work around the Senates role in confirming appointees. The process is much faster, but also eliminates public hearings on nominees positions and qualifications.

Speaking on Fox & Friends Monday morning, Scott said he was very optimistic.

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Scott said he is confident of prevailing whether Trump backs him with a public endorsement or not.

I believe Im going to win, because I represent exactly what the Trump team wants and what Trump wants and what the American public wants, he said.

The two favorites to lead Senate Republicans  GOP Whip John Thune and former whip John Cornyn  vowed on Musks X social platform to accelerate confirmations of Trumps cabinet.

Cornyn reiterated he would keep the Senate in session every day until the cabinet is confirmed, while Thune said all options are on the table, including recess appointments.

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Senate leaders typically guard the chambers role in confirming  or rejecting  a presidents appointments, but the often drawn-out process has frustrated presidents of both parties.

Thune faces potential blowback over his prior strong criticisms of Trump, including in the wake of Trumps impeachment trial on charges he incited the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the US Capitol. Some gun rights advocates harbor resentments against Cornyn for compromise gun legislation he negotiated with Democrats.

The focus on the next GOP leader has become an early test of Trumps relationship with the Senate, where several still-sitting Republicans voted to convict him in his impeachment trial and many others  most notably McConnell  have harshly criticized his behavior or oppose some of his key economic policies, like his proposals for sweeping global tariffs.

Thune has publicly urged Trump to stay out of the race, suggesting that would be in the presidents best interest.

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Scott ran against McConnell two years ago and lost badly, and its not clear he could get a majority of Republicans on his side even if Trump endorsed him.

Cornyn and Thune have both been angling for the top job for years, developing relationships and raising millions of dollars to support fellow Republican senators.

Under existing rules, Democrats cant block Trumps picks without Republican defections, but they can slow them down, something Republicans including Vice President-elect JD Vance have done routinely to protest the Biden administrations actions.

(Adds quotes from Senator Scott from fifth paragraph)

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President-elect Donald Trump barred ex-Cabinet officials Nikki Haley and Mike Pompeo from his new administration in a Truth Social post on Saturday, opting for retribution over unity in one of his first transition announcements.

By blocking both of themone a former presidential primary rival, the other a man with presidential ambitions who has criticized Trump in the pastthe incoming president has stayed true to a quest of prioritizing loyalty over all else when building out his second administration.

I will not be inviting former Ambassador Nikki Haley, or former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to join the Trump Administration, which is currently in formation, Trump wrote. I very much enjoyed and appreciated working with them previously, and would like to thank them for their service to our Country.

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Trumps sentiments were a far cry from his attacks on Haley, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations whom he labeled a birdbrain throughout the GOP presidential primary and minimized her husbands military service. Even after Haley endorsed Trump, he made efforts to sideline her. Haley got a last-minute speaking slot at the Republican National Convention in July after initially saying she would not speak, and Trump seemed annoyed last month over calls to deploy Haley on the campaign trail despite Haleys offers to do so.

They keep talking about Nikki, Nikki, Trump told Fox & Friends. I like Nikki. Nikki, I dont think, should have done what she did, and thats fine that she did it. But even in her own state  in South Carolina, where she was the governor  I beat her by a number.  And then they say, Oh when is Nikki coming back in? Nikki is in. Nikki is helping us already.

Trump has remained more mum on Pompeo, who last year criticized the Trump administrations $6 trillion contribution to the national debt in an interview and urged the GOP to move away from celebrity leaders with fragile egos in a speech. (He later claimed he was not referring to Trump.)

Pompeo, the former secretary of state, later ruled out a 2024 presidential bid though appeared willing to join a second Trump term. If I get a chance to serve and think that I can make a difference, he told Fox News, Im almost certainly going to say yes to that opportunity to try and deliver on behalf of the American people.

Still, Trump allies have resisted their encroaches. Roger Stone, the firebrand personality whos remained a close Trump confidant, singled out Haley and Pompeo as the most egregious examples of the type of person who should be excluded in the administration in a blog post on Friday. He claimed Pompeo undermined Trumps America First agenda while secretary of state and that Haley too often opted to criticize Trump rather than uplift him.
The Washington Post has reported that US President-elect Donald Trump held a phone conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on 10 November.

Source: The Washington Post, citing multiple informed sources

Details: The newspapers sources revealed that Trump and Putin discussed the war in Ukraine. This was their first phone call since Trumps election victory.

One source shared that during the call, which Trump made from his resort in Florida, he advised the Russian leader against escalating the war in Ukraine and reminded him of Washingtons significant military presence in Europe.

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Several sources said that Trump and Putin discussed the need for peace on the European continent, with Trump expressing an interest in further talks to discuss a "swift resolution to the war in Ukraine".

The newspaper noted, citing two sources, that the Ukrainian government was reportedly informed about the call with Putin and had no objections to it taking place. As reported, Ukrainian officials have long understood that Trump would engage with Putin regarding a diplomatic solution to the war in Ukraine.

The report said Trumps initial calls with world leaders are being conducted without the support of the State Department or US government interpreters. Trumps transition team has yet to sign an agreement with the department, which is a standard procedure for presidential transitions.

The Washington Post also reported, citing a source, that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is said to be considering candidates to replace Ukraine's Ambassador to the US, Oksana Markarova, after Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson called for her dismissal following a visit Zelenskyy made to an ammunition factory in Pennsylvania in September.

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Background:

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone conversation with Donald Trump on Wednesday, 9 November US time (early Thursday morning in Ukraine).

On 10 November, Trump mentioned that he had not yet spoken with Putin following the announcement of his election victory but indicated that such a conversation might take place.

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Hitting out at the BJP over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement that the states in which the Congress comes to power become the ATM of the "shahi parivar," Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Anand Dubey on Sunday said the "restless" BJP will face a "crushing" defeat in the assembly polls. Speaking to ANI, Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson said that the BJP is "restless" after winning only 17 out of 48 seats in the Lok Sabha elections held earlier this year. "It is not just the Prime Minister but the Home Minister and UP CM are also at it. They are restless. Ever since they won only 17 of the 48 seats in Lok Sabha elections, they are restless and desperate to win the hearts and trust of the people. But the people of Maharashtra are saying that they have to form government under the leadership of Maha Vikas Aghadi. So, PM is saying this in haste," Anand Dubey told ANI. "When you give ATMs to your industrialist friends, do you not say anything before people? ... PM has started the politics of convenience and people of the state and country have understood this. They will get a befitting reply on 20th Nov. When they face a crushing defeat on November 23, they will understand that the people found a significant difference between their words and deeds," he added. This came after Prime Minister Modi on Saturday alleged that the Congress government in Karnataka has looted Rs 700 crore from liquor sellers in the state for contesting Maharashtra assembly polls. While addressing a rally in Maharashtra's Akola, the PM said, "Wherever Congress forms government, that state becomes an ATM for the Congress' 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 crore from liquor sellers in Karnataka. You can imagine the loot once they win the elections," the Prime Minister added. Campaigning for Mahayuti candidates in the state on Saturday, the PM took a dig at the Congress and said that neither the party nor its allies cared about Baba Saheb Ambedkar's Constitution, the courts and the sentiments of the country. The Maharashtra Assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with counting for all 288 constituencies set for November 23. In the 2019 assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, the Shiv Sena 56, and the Congress 44. In 2014, the BJP secured 122 seats, the Shiv Sena 63, and the Congress 42. (ANI)
Despite enjoying a 53-47 majority in the next Senate, Donald Trump called for any Republican senator seeking the position of majority leader to agree to make recess appointments during his administration, bypassing the traditional confirmation process. He also told his party to block any lame-duck judicial appointments the Biden administration tries to push through.

Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments (in the Senate!), without which we will not be able to get people confirmed in a timely manner We need positions filled IMMEDIATELY! Trump posted on X, signaling his intent to once again govern via social media. Additionally, no Judges should be approved during this period of time because the Democrats are looking to ram through their Judges as the Republicans fight over Leadership. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THANK YOU!

Republicans are going to have a 53-47 majority in the Senate, and yet heres Trump urging the Senate to go into recess so that he can bypass it altogether, Georgetown University law professor Steve Vladeck posted on X, reacting to Trumps declaration. In other words, he wants to install folks who couldnt even get through that Senate.

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Elon Musk, the billionaire who turned X into a bastion for misinformation and who was a key figure in Trumps campaign, also showed support for this move. This is essential, he wrote. There is no other way. Trump has said Musk will serve in a new administration role: Secretary of Cost-Cutting.

A president can push through temporary appointments while the Senate is in recess, and any appointments made during that time would be considered acting members of the cabinet. Many presidents have appointed acting cabinet members early in their administrations as a placeholder until a formal nomination process can take place. Trump has not yet demonstrated any intent to go through the formal process. During his first term, he had more acting secretaries in his cabinet than any other president, and even late in his administration, he left many political appointments vacant even though Republicans controlled the Senate.

Sen. Rick Scott, who is vying for the majority leader position, quickly shared Trumps post and added, 100% agree. I will do whatever it takes to get your nominations through as quickly as possible. Fellow Floridian Sen. Marco Rubio has already endorsed Scott for the role. Trump has not yet endorsed his choice.

One kink in Trumps plan is that the Senate historically has engaged in pro forma sessions during recess periods to prevent recess nominations, as Punchbowl News Andrew Desiderio noted.

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Trump also encouraged his party to oppose any judicial nominees the Democrats might try to appoint during the lame-duck session before he enters office. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in October vowed to use the lame duck to confirm judges and  get as many judges done as possible.

As is common with Trump, the hypocrisy is laughable. Following his 2020 election loss, Trump made several lame-duck judicial appointments, including appointing Judge Aileen Cannon, who was confirmed during Trumps lame-duck session and who presided over and ultimately dismissed his classified documents case.

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President-elect Donald Trump reportedly advised Russian President Vladimir Putin not to escalate the war in Ukraine in a phone call the day after the presidential election, a new report says.

As one of his first orders of unofficial business as the president-elect, Trump spoke with Putin on Thursday in a telephone conversation that he took from his home in Florida, sources familiar with the matter told The Washington Post.

He allegedly asked the Russian president not to escalate his war and reminded him of the U.S.s military presence in Europe.

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It was one of several calls Trump took with other leaders from around the world in the hours after he won the 2024 presidential election. He also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Trumps team declined to comment on the specifics of the call.

President Trump won a historic election decisively and leaders from around the world know America will return to prominence on the world stage. That is why leaders have begun the process of developing stronger relationships with the 45th and 47th President because he represents global peace and stability, Steven Cheung, Trump communications director, said in a statement to The Independent,

Trump and Putin, pictured in 2018, have always had a more friendly relationship than other U.S. presidents have had with Russia (AP)

The Kremlin on Monday denied reports of the call and said Putin had no concrete plans yet to speak to Trump.

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"This is completely untrue. This is pure fiction, it's just false information," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "There was no conversation."

"This is the most obvious example of the quality of the information that is being published now, sometimes even in fairly reputable publications," Peskov said.

Asked if Putin had plans for any contacts with Trump, Peskov said: "There are no concrete plans yet."

On the campaign trail, Trump touted his relationship with and admiration for Putin, widely seen in the West as a dictator. He also claimed that had he been president rather than Joe Biden, Russia would have never invaded Ukraine.

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Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine at the beginning of 2022 under Putins direction. The U.S. and its allies have been sending aid to Ukraine since then to assist it in defeating Russia  something that has earned the ire of some Republicans who do not think the U.S. should be involved.

Trump has promised voters he would end the RussiaUkraine war if re-elected. Now he has to make good on that promise.

As part of the effort, the president-elect reportedly discussed the resolution of Ukraines war with Putin and expressed interest in follow-up conversations.

It is unclear how Trump plans to end the war in Ukraine. Some Republicans, and former Trump administration officials, have expressed concern that Trump will negotiate a deal with Putin that could cede Ukrainian land to Russia rather than stand up to the Russian president.

Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of a missile attack in Kharkiv on October 31. The country has faced devastation from Russias attacks (AFP via Getty Images)

Last year, Trump told Fox News that he would approach Zelensky to tell him No more, you gotta make a deal in order to broker peace between the two countries.

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But foreign affairs experts have warned that giving Putin a deal will bolster his power and undermine the U.S. and its European allies.

Admiral Rob Bauer, the chairman of NATOs Military Committee, said at the European defense summit that allowing Russia to win will inspire other autocratic states to push the envelope.

If you allow a nation like Russia to win, to come out of this as the victor, then what does it mean for other autocratic states in the world where the U.S. has also interests? Bauer said.

Trump has not unveiled any official plan, or deal, to end the RussiaUkraine war.
President-elect Trumps comprehensive victory Tuesday shows the American electorate is shifting rightward despite efforts from Democrats throughout the campaign season. The Atlantic staff writer Mark Leibovich explains why Trumps message broke through to voters and previews how the President-elect may look to accomplish parts of his day one agenda.
President-elect Donald Trump spoke directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Nov. 7, marking their first phone conversation since Trumps election victory, sources familiar with the matter told the Washington Post.

During the call from Trumps Florida resort, he advised Putin not to escalate the situation in Ukraine and highlighted Washingtons significant military presence in Europe, said one source familiar with the discussion. The sources requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive topic.

Trump and Putin discussed the importance of peace in Europe, with Trump expressing interest in continuing conversations aimed at "the resolution of Ukraines war soon," according to several sources.

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Throughout his campaign, Trump pledged to bring an immediate end to the war in Ukraine but did not elaborate on specific plans. Privately, Trump has indicated support for a potential deal allowing Russia to retain some occupied territory. During the call, he briefly touched on the issue of land, sources said.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban claimed during a Nov. 8 interview, "Americans will quit" the Ukraine war under Trump.

This previously unreported call took place amid widespread uncertainty about Trumps approach to realigning U.S. relationships with global allies and adversaries after his election victory on Nov. 5.

On Nov. 7, Trump told NBC he had spoken with about 70 world leaders since winning the election, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, with Elon Musk joining that call.

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The Washington Post said that Ukraines government was informed of the conversation with Putin and did not object to it, according to two sources familiar with the situation. However, Heorhii Tykhyi, Ukraine's foreign ministry spokesperson told Reuters on Nov. 10 that "reports that the Ukrainian side was informed in advance of the alleged call are false. Subsequently, Ukraine could not have endorsed or opposed the call."

Trumps initial outreach to world leaders has taken place without support from the State Department or U.S. government interpreters. The Trump transition team has not signed an agreement with the General Services Administration, a standard step in presidential transitions.

Read also: Efforts underway to prepare Zelensky-Trump meeting, minister says

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Donald Trump has warned Vladimir Putin not to escalate the war in Ukraine, according to reports.

The two men are said to have discussed how to return peace to Europe, during a post-election phone call, according to The Washington Post.

Mr Trump is said to have raised the issue of Ukrainian territory captured by Russia, although precisely what either man said is unclear.

He also reminded Putin that the US maintained a substantial military presence in Europe.

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A former US official familiar with the call said Mr Trump likely did not want to enter office with Russia escalating the war, giving him incentive to want to keep the war from worsening.

Mr Trump is said to have told the Russian leader he was interested in future conversations to discuss the resolution of Ukraines war soon.

The Republican will have a warmer relation with Putin than Joe Biden, the US president, who has not spoken to his Russian counterpart since 2022.

The Ukrainian government had been informed of the Putin call and did not object to the conversation taking place, sources said.

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Mr Trump has repeatedly claimed he would end the war in Ukraine in a day, but has provided little information on how he would achieve this.

At times, he has suggested that he would stop sending military aid to Kyiv, which would deal a serious blow to its war effort. Ukraine has received billions of dollars in military aid from Mr Bidens administration.

Bryan Lanza, a Trump campaign official, signalled this weekend that Kyiv would likely have to give up territory in return for peace. Crimea is gone, he said, referring to the peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014.

However, a spokesman for Mr Trump pushed back on the suggestion, saying that Mr Lanza did not speak for the president-elect.

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Putin had been reported as having privately congratulated Mr Trump on his election win, but the contents of their call had not been previously discussed.

The Russian leader praised Mr Trump as a courageous man following the attempts that were made on his life earlier this year.

He turned out to be a courageous man He behaved, in my opinion, in a very correct way, courageously, like a man, he said on Thursday, referring to the shooting at Mr Trumps rally in Pennsylvania in July.

President Trump won a historic election decisively and leaders from around the world know America will return to prominence on the world stage, Steven Cheung, Mr Trumps communications director, said in a statement.

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That is why leaders have begun the process of developing stronger relationships with the 45th and 47th President because he represents global peace and stability.

Earlier on Sunday, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said there were positive signs of an improvement in relations between the US and Russia.

Trump talked during his campaign about how he sees everything through deals, that he can make a deal that will lead everyone to peace, he said.

At least he talks about peace, not about confrontation and the desire to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia.

Mr Trump also spoke on the phone with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday, Berlin saying they agreed to work together towards a return to peace in Europe.

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Both exchanged views on the German-American relationship and the current geopolitical challenges, the chancellors spokesman, Steffen Hebestreit, said in a brief statement.

The chancellor underlined the governments willingness to continue the decades-long successful cooperation between the governments of both countries.

They also agreed to work together towards a return to peace in Europe.

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(NEXSTAR)  Arizonas 11 electoral votes and Nevadas 6 will go to President-elect Donald Trump, the Associated Press projected on Saturday.

The victories helped Trump complete his sweep of the swing states  North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada, and Arizona  and pushed his electoral vote count to 312.

Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as their surrogates, spent considerable time in Arizona and Nevada during the campaign as they hoped to win over one of the crucial Sun Belt swing states.

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Gallego defeats Lake in Arizona Senate race

Thom Reilly, co-director of the Center for an Independent and Sustainable Democracy at Arizona State University, said both Harris and Trumps campaigns  and their allies  put a remarkable amount of effort into micro-targeting in Arizona.

However, their campaign events took different approaches to the issues important to Arizona voters. Trump hammered home the message that Harris record on immigration disqualifies her from the presidency. Meanwhile, vice presidential candidate Tim Walz said during a Phoenix rally that another Trump term posed a threat to democracy and freedom.

Four years ago, during the 2020 presidential election, the margins in Arizona were tighter than anywhere else in the country, the Arizona Republic reports. President Joe Biden beat Trump 49.36% to 49.06%, or fewer than 11,000 votes.

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A week before the election, polls were showing a close race  but not quite that close. The Hill reported Trump had a bigger advantage in Arizona than most of the other swing states. Bidens 2020 victory was the first time Arizona went blue since 1996.

Nevada has one of the nations best track records as a presidential bellwether. The candidate who won the state has gone on to win the White House in 27 of the last 30 presidential elections. It voted for the losing candidate only in 1908, 1976 and 2016, when Democrat Hillary Clinton carried the state. Democrats have won Nevada in the last four presidential elections.

In 2020, President Joe Biden carried the state with 50% of the vote to Trumps 48%.

According to tracking by Decision Desk HQ on The Hill, Trump garnered 52.6% of the vote, edging out Harriss 46.4%  a margin of nearly 200,000 votes. The margins were closer in Nevada, with Trump beating Harris, 50.6% to 47.5%, or by about 46,000 votes.

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MAP: Heres how every US county voted in 2024 presidential election

Trump didnt need either state to secure his path to the White House. He was declared the winner early Wednesday after the races in two key swing states, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, were called in his favor.

In the lead-up to the election, there was wide speculation wed be waiting on Arizonas election results for a while. Arizonas election results take a relatively long time to be reported due to the way ballots are counted. Mail-in ballots cast and pre-processed before Election Day are able to be reported right after polls close, but those dropped off on Election Day take much longer. Election workers arent allowed to even start processing those ballots until after polls close.

The final word on Nevadas many competitive races was expected to drag on given the way the state conducts elections. All registered voters receive a mail-in ballot automatically. While they still have the choice to vote in person, mailing in ballots has proved popular. In the 2022 midterm elections, 80% of voters cast their ballots in-person before Election Day or by mail.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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In 2020, Joe Biden won young men under 30 by 15 points. In 2024, Donald Trump won them by 13 points. What happened, and what can Democrats do about it? As someone who has been elected three times to the board of directors of the National Organization for Women in New York City, I was worried about dynamics that I felt few Democrats were registering.

I saw these repeatedly as I was researching my book, The Boy Crisis. I recall interviewing a young man from Mill Valley, California, a city with deep Democratic Party ties. As the interview concluded, he broke down, I wish I hadnt been born male.

I knew why: He had already shared: In public schools and even in the private all-male school I attend, all we hear is The future is female. That doesnt inspire me for my future. As for masculinity, its toxic masculinity. Then we are told were part of the patriarchy that makes rules to benefit men at the expense of women. The conclusion is that Men are the oppressors; women are the oppressed. I cant help being who I am.

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When I asked him who he talks with about this, he said, My guy friends. They feel the same. But Id never tell my girlfriend. Shes a feminist. Shed break up with me.

On a spring break, I encountered seven guys reuniting at Starbucks. Though attending different colleges, they all nodded as one guy complained, If I take a sexual initiative too quickly, Im labeled a sexual harasser. But if I ask permission to hold her hand, she looks at me like Im a wimp. One concurred, I feel Damned if I do; damned if I dont.  if theyre so into equality, why dont they take the sexual initiatives and risk the rejection?

Once they felt comfortable, stories poured out. One recalled, My best friend and a girl both got drunk at a fraternity party. They had consensual sex, but she had a boyfriend who found out, and she accused my friend of date rape because she was drunk. Well, he was drunk too! A committee heard the case, but he couldnt even cross-examine her. He was expelled, his record tainted for life.

Their voices dropped. Its all #MeToo for women and #ShutUp for men. One concluded, College is a dangerous place for men.

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A couple of the guys knew President Barack Obama had written a letter to college presidents warning that if a woman reports any type of sexual violation, they must Believe Women lest they risk federal funding. This denial of due process distanced them from Democrats even if their family and community was liberal.

In other interviews, one man noted, Its mostly girls in college now and the girls are complaining this is unfair to them to have to compete for small numbers of guys. Ironically, many colleges are finally giving some affirmative action to guys to please the women.

Among working men, the feeling of having the cards stacked against me is directed at human resources. If I tease a man, no problem; if I tease a woman, Ill be reported to HR. HR doesnt get it that guys tease people we respect, so if I only tease guys Im really discriminating against women. In essence, they feel that HR is actually HeR.

Whether in high school, college or the workplace, they associate this anti-male attitude as coming from the Democrats, with diversity, equity and inclusion policies that are not diverse enough to include them. Especially if they are white.

Government excludes men on basis of gender

But it isnt just race. The Biden-Harris White House formed a White House Gender Policy Council that explicitly excludes men. Even the most vulnerable: Native American, Black men, gay men and transgender men. That is, when it comes to benefits, the Gender Policy Council excludes the male gender.

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A similar exclusion of males happened under Obama, who created a White House Council for Women and Girls  but refused to create a corresponding council for men and boys. This discrimination was eliminated under Trump, who discontinued all gender-related councils.

The discrimination that men feel is not just perpetrated by Democrats. Many young men raised by single moms saw their dads lose a custody battle that left them dad-deprived and experiencing some of the more than 50 problems faced by dad-deprived boys. Many became failures to launch and addicted to drugs, video games, pornography and alcohol. Both political parties perpetrate this family court bias.

Similarly, even though boys and men die sooner of 14 out of 15 of the leading causes of death, it is not just Democrats who have created eight federal offices of mens health and no federal offices of womens health. Nor is it just Democrats that continue to require draft registration at age 18 only for men but require no registration for any contribution by women.

Democrats take the blame, though, because on top of these discriminations against men, Democrats, via DEI, HR, Believe Women, #MeToo, toxic masculinity, the patriarchy, male privilege, male power and taking pride in the future is female, create safe spaces and trigger warnings for women but not for men. Democrats appear to be the ones blaming them for all the bad and showing no concern about their failure to launch, their suicides, their street homelessness, their deaths from opioid overdose, their dad deprivation 

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When many of these men hear that men are turning to Trump because they have problems voting for a woman for president, they once again feel blamed by a party they feel has its blinders on. When Michelle Obama explicitly blames male rage for hurting women, theyd like her to understand that anger is vulnerabilitys mask and to approach their vulnerability with compassion rather than blame.

Losing will be a gift to the Democrats only if it generates more introspection than if they had won, if they take time to consider what they are missing about the men they are missing.

Warren Farrell is author of The Boy Crisis, and Why Men Are the Way they Are. He served on the board of the National Organization for Women in New York City. He currently chairs the Coalition for a White House Council on Boys and Men.
Rep. Jim Jordan was a key figure in Jan. 6 and the attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election, claiming there was widespread voter fraud despite all evidence to the contrary. So its certainly a change of tune when the Republican congressman acknowledges the 2024 election was free and fair. The notable difference between these two elections is, of course, that Jordans preferred candidate won.

CNNs Dana Bash confronted Jordan with this uncomfortable truth on Sundays State of the Union.

In the run-up to the election, even on election night itself, Donald Trump baselessly accused Democrats of cheating. Soon as the results started to come in and showed them going his way, he stopped, Bash said. I havent seen you or your colleagues claiming any election irregularities, no rampant voting fraud this time. It seems to me that Republicans claim voting fraud and election integrity when you lose and not when you win.

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Jordan, also a key figure in the GOPs failed attempt to impeach Biden, responded by claiming this election was the greatest political comeback we have ever seen. But that raises the question: How can it be a comeback if Jordan believes that Democrats were trying to steal the election as he said in 2020?

In December 2020, Jordan said that Trump should not concede, adding, Everyone knows instinctively, everyone knows there are problems with this election.

Jordans repeated claims of election fraud in 2020 may have even cost him the speakership in the House when he ran for the position in 2022.

When Bash again asked Jordan about the integrity of the 2024 election, he tried to dodge the question until she finally boxed him in.

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Do you believe the 2024 election was free and fair? Bash asked.

I do. I do, the congressman responded.

And why was it different from 2020, when he lost? Is that the only difference? Bash questioned.

No, there were concerns about 2020 with all the mail-in voting that happened, Jordan said. What, Pennsylvania had, like, two-point-something million mail-in ballots come in without any signature verification, which was required under Pennsylvania statute. So there were all kinds of concerns with how the 2020 election was carried out.

OK, but there was absolutely no widespread fraud, Bash said. There was also plenty of mail-in voting taking place in Pennsylvania and the rest of the country in 2024.

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Even without evidence of widespread fraud, right-wing activists and Republican lawmakers in Pennsylvania were challenging voters applications for mail-in ballots this year. Yet mere days after Trump won, those challenges were withdrawn in multiple counties, according to NPR.

Bottom line is these are meritless challenges that never should have been made, that inconvenienced thousands of voters and made it much more difficult for countless elections officials and workers to be able to do their jobs at a very difficult and stressful time, Witold Walczak, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, told NPR.

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Former Fox News host and Trump ally Tucker Carlson claimed Senate Republicans are staging a coup against Donald Trump as three Senators vie to replace Mitch McConnell.

Republicans reclaimed control of the Senate on Tuesday night, leaving the door open for someone to replace McConnell, the chambers longest-serving party leader, who plans to step down at years end.

At least three Republicans are vying for the top spot  John Cornyn of Texas, Rick Scott of Florida, and John Thune of South Dakota who serves as the Senate minority whip  NBC News reported, and Carlson took issue with two of them.

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What the hell is going on in the US Senate? Carlson posted on X on Saturday afternoon. After Trump won, Mitch McConnell engineers a coup against his agenda by calling early leadership elections in the Senate. Two of the three candidates hate Trump and what he ran on.

The former Fox host took particular issue with Cornyn, whom he summarized as an angry liberal whose politics are indistinguishable from Liz Cheneys. Cheney is a former Republican Congresswoman from Wyoming turned Trump critic; she campaigned for Kamala Harris. A Punchbowl News reporter described this comparison as completely off base.

Tucker Carlson speaks ahead of a live interview with Donald Trump in Glendale, Arizona, on October 31, 2024. The former Fox host backed Florida Senator Rick Scotts bid for Senate Majority Leader (AFP via Getty Images)

The election will take place on Wednesday, November 13. It will determine whether or not the new administration succeeds, Carlson wrote. Rick Scott of Florida is the only candidate who agrees with Donald Trump. Call your senator and demand a public endorsement of Rick Scott. Dont let McConnell get away with it again.

Earlier on Saturday, Scott outlined that he was running for the leadership position to upend the status quo & make sure President Trumps agenda gets done.

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Senators Ron Johnson, Rand Paul and Bill Hagerty also announced Saturday that they would back the Florida Senator in the race.

Senator Rick Scott got Carlsons backing for Senate Majority Leader (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Back in February, after McConnell announced he would be stepping down at the end of the year, Donald Trump Jr also labeled Thune and Cornyn as RINOs, or Republicans in name only.

The president-elects son wrote: Both of them also voted to send billions more to Ukraine. MAGA must do everything in our power to stop either of these two RINOs from ever becoming Senate Leader!

Trump also previously slammed Cornyn after he successfully negotiated bipartisan gun safety legislation, claiming the Texas Senator facilitated the first step in the movement to TAKE YOUR GUNS AWAY.

Senator John Cornyn is also vying to become the next Senate Majority Leader (AP)

On Friday, the National Association for Gun Rights also issued a statement against Cornyn: The arch traitor John Cornyn is being floated as the next Senate Majority Leader. This absolutely cannot be allowed to happen.

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All of the momentum we have gained for gun rights could hit a wall if the man who spearheaded the largest gun control bill in decades is in charge, the group said.

Although he faced a barrage of criticism from his own party for backing this bill, he stood by his work, telling the Texas Tribune in 2022: This was fundamentally important to the country at a time when things are so polarized and people are so intolerant of others that have different points of view.

Missouri Senator Josh Hawley backed Cornyn, telling Fox News in a statement: I know he will work closely and effectively with President Trump to deliver on the promise of our new majority. Im delighted to give him my support.

Senator John Thune said it was his preference that Trump stay out of the internal leadership race (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

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Heritage Action, the sister organization of the Heritage Foundation which is responsible for Project 2025, provided scorecards for Senators ranked by how conservative theyve voted. Senator Scott scored 92 per cent, compared to Senator Thune with 37 per cent and Senator Thune with 35 per cent.

Meanwhile, the South Dakota Senator told CNBC on Thursday that while he understood that Trump could exert a considerable amount of influence on the Senate leadership race, my preference would be, and I think its probably in his best interest, to stay out of that. He continued: These Senate secret ballot elections are probably best left to senators, and hes got to work with all of us when its all said and done.

Thune received the support of Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin, according to Punchbowl News.

Trump has yet to publicly endorse any of the three contenders.

While sources told Axios that Trump privately brushed off Scotts bid as not serious, a Trump spokesperson refuted that claim, telling the outlet that the former president hasnt weighed in on the leadership race and anyone who says differently is wrong.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday lashed out at the Samajwadi Party (SP), saying that the party has become the "production house of criminals and mafia" spreading anarchy and violence against weaker sections of the society. "SP has become the production house of the mafia and criminals. Akhilesh Yadav (national president of SP) is the CEO of these criminals and Shivpal Yadav (SP leader) is their trainer," Adityanath said here in an election rally for the byelection in Majhwan Assembly constituency. "These mafia and criminals are there to usurp people's wealth. They intend to harm the weaker sections and violate the dignity of women," he added. The Chief Minister said that when the SP is in power the criminals have free rein in the state and the situation changed after the BJP came to power. The Chief Minister also accused the SP's current leadership of sullying the socialist movement from which the party was formed. "The socialist movement was a movement with ideals. Leaders like Jaya Prakash Narayana and Rammanohar Lohiya led the movement. They talked about value-based politics. They protested against Congress's corrupt and chaotic governance. They fought for the country and democracy. But today Samajwadi Party has become an alliance of professional criminals and mafia who spread anarchy. This is not a secret anymore," Adityanath said. The Chief Minister alleged that the INDIA alliance led by the SP and the Congress has nothing to do with the development of the country or state. "They (the INDIA alliance) have no agenda for development. They only want development for their family. They have nothing to do with the development of the nation," he said. The Chief Minister said that while the BJP-led NAD is dedicated to the development of the country, the SP and Congress are giving false promises to deceive voters. Nine Assembly seats including Sisamau in Kanpur, Katehri in Ambedkar Nagar, Kundarki in Moradabad, Ghaziabad in Ghaziabad, Majhwan in Mirzapur, Karhal in Mainpuri district, Khair in Aligarh, Phulpur in Prayagraj and Meerapur in Muzaffarnagar district are going for byelections on November 20. The votes will be counted on November 23. (ANI)
Decisions about Ukraines future cannot be made without Ukrainians, despite U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's ceasefire plans, said Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Polskie Radio reported on Nov. 9.



Trumps plans for Ukraine are just in the discussion stages, Tusk said. Some of the proposals disclosed to the media include freezing the current front line and deploying British and European troops to enforce a buffer zone.



But Tusk stressed that decisions on the war in Ukraine can neither be made over the heads of Ukrainians nor over ours." Europe will have to bear more responsibility for its security, he added.



Ukraines Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi told the media on Nov. 10 that Kyiv is grateful for Tusks commitments and emphasized that Ukraine should determine the parameters of the path to a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace.



Trump previously said he would end the war in 24 hours, but has not presented a clear path. His team told The Telegraph that Trump would not send U.S. troops to Ukraine.



Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that Trump would not continue U.S. support for Ukraine.



However, French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noel Barrot claimed that Trump would not abandon Ukraine. Trump is "too wise to agree to what would be the largest territorial annexation in 75 years," he told the French newspaper Le Parisien on Nov. 9.



Trump knows there would be no lasting peace if he went behind the backs of Ukraine and Europe, he added.



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 Donbas occupied by Russia since 2014.



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."



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.

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.
Update: The Tompkins County Sheriffs Office has released the charges that have been filed against Victoria E. Rose and Robert A. Snyder.

On Tuesday, Nov. 11, the Sheriffs Office announced that the pair is facing multiple charges in connection to the incident. The charges for both Rose and Snyder can be found below.

In addition to receiving multiple traffic citations, Rose has been charged with the following:

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Attempted assault upon a police officer (class C felony)

Attempted assault in the first degree (class C felony

Four counts of grand larceny in the fourth degree (class E felony)

Attempted grand larceny in the fourth degree (class A misdemeanor)

Unlawfully fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle in the third degree (class A misdemeanor)

Resisting arrest (class A misdemeanor)

Obstructing governmental administration in the second degree (class A misdemeanor)

She was then returned to the Tompkins County Jail on $10,000/$90,000 cash/bond bail.

Snyder was charged with the following:

Three counts of criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree (class E felony)

Three counts of criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree (class A misdemeanor)

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He was then released on an appearance ticket and turned over to the New York State Police and Ithaca Police for their investigations.

The Sheriffs Office states that it will continue investigating numerous unsolved thefts and the possible connections to Rose and Snyder.

LANSING, N.Y. (WETM)  Charges are pending against a Lansing man and a Pennsylvania woman after police say they were involved in an incident that included a car theft and assault against a police officer in the Village of Lansing.

Victoria E. Rose, 29, and Robert A. Snyder, 25, were arrested on Nov. 9 following a disturbance that stemmed from a multi-county theft investigation. The Tompkins County Sheriffs Office, the Cayuga Heights Police Department, and the New York State Police Department went to a business on the 2300 block of North Triphammer Road shortly after 11 a.m. on Saturday after learning that Rose and Snyder, who were suspects in the theft investigation, were inside a business in that area and allegedly attempting more thefts, according to the sheriffs office.

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Authorities say deputies saw Snyder standing outside the business, Rose exiting the business, and Rose walking around cars in the parking lot randomly. Authorities took Snyder into custody without issue, and Rose then allegedly began moving between and ducking behind cars.

According to the sheriffs office, Rose got inside a vehicle that didnt belong to her, started it when deputies approached, put the vehicle in reverse, and quickly accelerated. She allegedly hit a deputy and knocked them to the ground uninjured. The vehicle Rose was driving then hit another parked car before leaving at a high rate of speed. Authorities say they later learned that Rose had stolen the vehicles keys while inside the business they saw her leaving.

Authorities say they quickly located Rose in a parking lot further north on North Triphammer Road, and when deputies pulled up behind her, they saw that she had parked the vehicle and began running away on foot. A deputy caught up to her, and according to the sheriffs office, Rose struck the deputy in the head multiple times before she was detained. The deputy sustained minor injuries.

Rose and Snyder are currently being held at the Tompkins County Sheriffs Office while the investigation continues and charges are being determined. This story will be updated after authorities file charges against the pair.

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NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  A house fire displaced two people on W. 27th Street in Norfolk Sunday morning.

Norfolk Fire-Rescue (NFR) said that crews were called to the 800 block of W. 27th Street around 6:20 a.m. for a reported structure fire. Upon arrival, fire crews found smoke and flames visible from the over two-story house.

NFR said they made an aggressive interior attack and the fire was marked under control at 7:01 a.m.

Courtesy: Norfolk Fire-Rescue

Courtesy: Norfolk Fire-Rescue

Courtesy: Norfolk Fire-Rescue

Courtesy: Norfolk Fire-Rescue

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Two occupants will be displaced as a result of the fire and the Red Cross has not been requested for assistance at this time. No injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire is still 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 WAVY.com.
PULASKI COUNTY, Mo.  Two men from Dixon, Missouri were found dead after they were reported missing on Thursday, November 7.

According to the Pulaski County Sheriffs Department (PCSD), they received a missing persons report on Thursday about two men  Robert Rousan and Robert DeClue  who were going to Springfield for a doctors appointment. The reporting party, Rousans wife, said she had not been able to contact her husband since they left that morning and provided deputies with a description of DeClues vehicle.

Man in critical condition, suspect arrested after stabbing at Branson apartment

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During a search for the missing persons, Pulaski County deputies arrived in a taped-off area of Cave Road. Just after 1:00 a.m. Friday, deputies located DeClues vehicle, which had water and mud inside.

At around 5:03 a.m., deputies located DeClues body 40 yards away from the vehicle. At approximately 2:23 p.m., Rousans body was found about a quarter mile past Riddle Bridge by Water Patrol from Crawford County.

Missouri State Highway Patrol, Dixon Rural Fire Protection District, Waynesville Rural Fire Protection District and Fort Leonard Wood Fire Protection District assisted PCSD with the search.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.
John Healey, UK Secretary of State for Defence, has said his son Alex decided to join the British Army after being inspired by the desire of Ukrainians to defend their homeland from Russian aggression.

Source: Healey in an interview with The Telegraph, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Senior Labour minister Healey shared that his son expressed a desire to serve in the military shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

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"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," says Healey.

He added that Alex, now an infantryman in the British Army Reserve, is motivated by a strong desire to defend his country.

"Its a bit old-fashioned, but hell talk about King and Country. Its a recognition that there is something fundamentally important about our country and what we stand for that he wants to help defend," the UK defence secretary noted.

After his son joined the military, Healey adds, he now better understands families with soldiers who may lose their lives while serving in conflict zones.

Previously:

John Healey visited Ukraine in May, prior to the Labour Party's victory in the UK election, and again less than two days after his appointment in July.

Recently, media reports indicated that Kyiv believed relations with the UK had deteriorated since the Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, came to power.

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The number of Russian troops injured and killed last month averaged 1,500 "every single day," U.K. Defence Staff Chief Admiral Anthony Radakin told the BBC on Nov. 10.



This is higher than the previous figure presented by the U.K. Defense Minister John Healey, who told The Telegraph on Nov. 8 that Russia suffered 41,980 killed and wounded during October- a daily average of 1,354.



While the Kremlin does not announce the number of dead and injured, Western officials claim October was the heaviest month yet for Russian forces.



The daily figure reported by Kyiv was 1,660, the second highest of the war.



The U.K. puts the total number of Russians killed or injured at just under 700,000, which is roughly in line with Kyivs estimate of 708,890 as of Nov. 10.



According to some experts, the surge in losses in recent months may be one of the factors behind the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia.



Russia is sacrificing high numbers of troops for tiny increments of land, Radakin told the BBC. However, he added that Russia is making tactical, territorial gains, and putting pressure on Ukraine" amid a heavy offensive.



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.



Despite talks of Ukraine ceding territory to Russia following the election victory of Donald Trump, Radakin says that Kyivs Western allies would be unwavering in their support for as long as it takes.

Read also: Mediazona confirms identities of over 77,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine

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LONDON (Reuters) - A British minister said on Sunday that the government is unlikely to ask the Reform party leader Nigel Farage to act as an intermediary to deal with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

Farage, the Brexit-campaigner and self-described troublemaker, is a friend of Trump and was at his election victory party in Florida.

He has offered to act as an interlocutor between the British government and the Trump administration, which takes power in January.

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The Treasury minister Darren Jones said on Sunday that the government would likely reject that offer.

"I think that's probably unlikely," he told Sky News, saying Farage, who is a member of parliament, should probably spend his time with his constituents rather than in the United States.

Governments around the world are trying to figure out how to deal with Trump, who has promised to increase tariffs and whose first four-year term was characterised by a protectionist trade policy and isolationist rhetoric, including threats to withdraw from NATO.

Starmer delayed starting a recruitment process for a new ambassador to Washington until the result of the U.S. election was known.

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The role will be crucial in the coming years in navigating Britain's relationship with the Trump administration.

Farage said at the weekend he has "a great relationship" with Trump and would be willing to act as an intermediary for the government because it is in the national interest.

(Reporting by Andrew MacAskill; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
The UK government is considering possible options in the context of US President-elect Donald Trump's approach to Ukraine.

Source: Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, in an interview with Sky News, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Jones insisted that following Trump's victory in the US elections, the United Kingdom would not abandon its commitments to support Ukraine.

The minister added that this is why the UK is offering Ukraine 3 billion a year, which he said was difficult in the fiscal context of the UK, but the right decision.

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The figure of 3 billion in support for Ukraine for 2024 was set by the previous Conservative government led by Rishi Sunak.

Jones said that UK officials "will be considering and planning lots of different scenarios, as they would do under any [US] administration, to make sure that the UK is in the strongest possible position".

Background:

During his election campaign, Trump said that he would find a solution to end the war in Ukraine "in 24 hours", but did not explain how he would do this.

The Wall Street Journal has reported that Trump's circle is considering the idea of freezing the front line with a demilitarised zone and a 20-year moratorium on Ukraine's NATO membership in order to fulfil the president-elects promise to "end the war quickly" in Ukraine.

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Ukraine's foreign ministry dismissed reports that Kyiv had prior knowledge of a phone call between U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Washington Post, citing sources familiar with the situation, reported on Nov. 10 that Trump and Putin spoke by phone on Thursday, discussing the war in Ukraine, and Kyiv was reportedly informed and did not object to the call.

"Reports that the Ukrainian side was informed in advance of the alleged call are false. Subsequently, Ukraine could not have endorsed or opposed the call," foreign ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi told Reuters.

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Sources familiar with the matter told the Washington Post that Ukrainian officials "have long understood that Trump would engage with Putin on a diplomatic solution for Ukraine."

Throughout his campaign, Trump pledged to bring an immediate end to the war in Ukraine but did not elaborate on specific plans. Privately, Trump has indicated support for a potential deal allowing Russia to retain some occupied territory. During the call, he briefly touched on the issue of land, sources said.

Read also: Efforts underway to prepare Zelensky-Trump meeting, minister says

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In his September debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump was asked if he wanted Ukraine to be victorious in its efforts to fight off Russias brutal invasion.

I want the war to stop, Trump, now president-elect, replied. That is a war that is dying to be settled. I will get it settled before I even become president.

Now, after Trumps win Tuesday, Ukraine and its allies in the U.S. are preparing for the worst  a complete end to U.S. military aid, forcing the embattled European country to choose between capitulation and limping along  and hoping Trumps affinity for Russian President Vladimir Putin wont win out.

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What hopes they have appear to rest on the idea that Trump considers himself the consummate dealmaker  and if he wants to have any leverage in trying to broker a peace, he needs to help Ukraine keep the pressure on Russia on the battlefield.

Donald Trump meets with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Trump Tower on Sept. 27 in New York. via Associated Press

Putin, through his military, has sought to show Ukrainians this week the cost of continuing to resist. On Thursday, waves of armed drones led to an eight hour air alert in in Kyiv, keeping many of its residents huddled in the subway for safety.

In the Black Sea port city of Odesa, Russian drones armed with thermobaric bombs hit residential areas Thursday, local media reported. These bombs contain two stages  an initial explosive that spreads a flammable accelerant, and a second stage that ignites that fuel, drawing the air out of the surrounding area to make a larger explosion. In addition to the blast, these vacuum bombs literally suck the air out of the lungs of those nearby.

In the southern city of Kherson, Russians have recently started using drones with first-person cameras to hunt unsuspecting civilians as they go about daily errands, dropping bombs on them from above. Locals have grimly started calling it the human safari.

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Stopping these attacks will require more U.S. military aid, on top of the $52.7 billion already committed to Ukraine since the invasion began in February 2022. The Biden administration has been criticized by Ukrainian officials and military experts for providing too little aid to Ukraine, and too slowly, even as Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has asked for new weapons to strike into the interior of Russia.

After the election, the pro-Ukraine advocacy group Razom urged Congress to pass a new aid package in the post-election lame duck session before Trump takes office in January.

Children sit on a floor inside Arsenalna metro station during air alert in Kyiv, Ukraine on Wednesday. via Associated Press

The aid package must enable Ukrainians to survive the winter, push Putins forces back, and give President-elect Trump the flexibility he needs to act from a position of strength, Razom said.

Failure to urgently pass a supplemental package risks undermining President-elect Trumps position before he assumes office.

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Why would Republicans in Congress agree to fund more weapons for a war Trump has said he would like to end, and has signaled he will end, by threatening to cut off weapons to Ukraine?

Leverage, according to Doug Klain, policy analyst for Razom.

Biden is planning to exhaust the current amount of so-called drawdown authority by the end of the year. Drawdown authority allows the president to declare some U.S. weapons to be surplus, and thus available to be sent to allies abroad. It has been one of the main ways U.S. weaponry has been donated to Ukraine.

Trump would need to go back to Congress to get similar authority if Biden follows through.

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That would give Trump a way to show Russia he wasnt going to just [let] Putin do what he wants, Klain said.

Drawdown authority is discretionary  Trump alone could decide whether to use it or not. Being able to credibly threaten to send Ukraine more weapons without needing congressional approval would bring a recalcitrant Putin to the bargaining table, the argument goes.

A soldier of Ukraine's National Guard 15th Brigade carries a reconnaissance drone Leleka on a wheat field near the front line in Zaporizhzhia region in Ukraine in July. via Associated Press

All that Republicans would be doing by passing a new supplemental during the lame duck session is giving Trump options, Klain said.

A spokesperson for House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told HuffPost that the Republican majority had no interest in taking up a Ukraine supplemental soon. In April, Johnson put his political life on the line by bringing forward a Ukraine funding bill to the House floor, against the wishes of many in his party.

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Oleksiy Goncharenko, a Ukrainian parliament member representing Odesa, also held onto the idea of Trump as a wild card.

Yes, there are a lot of challenges, but also there are possibilities, Goncharenko told HuffPost. Whats good about Trump? Good is that hes unpredictable, not only for us, but for Putin, too.

Goncharenko said the world was devolving from a rules-based international order to a deals-based international order.

I think that President Trump will try to make a deal with Putin. But the question is, will he succeed or not? And if he will not succeed, how will he react?

The bedrock assumption underlying much of Trumps thinking about Ukraine may be that Putin  after losing, by Kyivs count, 700,000 soldiers in just under 1,000 days  would be happy simply to consolidate his gains in eastern and southern Ukraine in return for a ceasefire.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.), right, meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Capitol July 10 in Washington. via Associated Press

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But Ukrainians believe Putin would use a ceasefire to rearm for another war, and even Russian public officials hint that he would not have achieved his objective if the war were to end now.

Klain pointed to remarks by Sergei Karaganov, a prominent pro-war Putin ally, at a recent conference. Asked about Trumps peace ideas, Karaganov said the important thing wasnt what Trump wants but what Russia wants, adding Ukraine needs to be shared and demilitarized.

As if to emphasize the point, Putin did not call Trump to congratulate him and a prominent political pundit show on Russia 1, a state-sponsored TV channel, aired pictures from former First Lady Melania Trumps nude modeling days soon after Tuesdays election.

We control only what we do. We cant control what the Russians do. And the Russians are very clear about what theyll do, Klain said.

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Another assumption that may be behind Trumps thinking  that Ukrainians would simply give up and accept Russian control over Ukraines territory  is also questionable.

Ukraine will never, ever accept Ukrainian territories to be Russian. Not Donald Trump, nor anybody else, will make us accept this. But the question is how to reclaim them, Goncharenko said.

Ukrainian military veterans with amputations rest on bench on Khreshchatyk street in August in Kyiv, Ukraine. Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

Goncharenko did say he thought Zelenskyy made a big mistake in visiting a Scranton, Pa., artillery factory in September to thank the workers there. Zelenskyy made the visit while in the U.S. to speak to the United Nations and consult with Washington. But the visit included no Republican elected officials, leading top Republicans to slam it as partisan.

On Friday, The New York Times reported Trump put Tesla CEO Elon Musk on the phone with Zelenskyy during a brief phone call.

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The Times did not report what the subject of the call was, but Musk is a key supplier to the Ukrainian military as the CEO of satellite Internet provider Starlink, which has become vital for Ukraines battlefield communications. Ukraines Donbas region, one of the key fronts in the war, is also rich in rare earth minerals, such as lithium, that are important in the production of electric cars  like those built by Tesla.

Ukrainians could take heart that Trump appears to be considering at least one well-known Ukraine hawk for a top job in his administration. House Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) is reportedly under consideration to lead the Pentagon.

Children from Gymnasium No. 6 head to a basement set up with classrooms during an air alert in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Sept. 3. The city is building a dozen subterranean schools designed to be radiation- and bomb-proof. via Associated Press

Goncharenko was philosophical about what was next in the conflict. Given Trumps stance and Harris stout defense of Ukraine aid, the choice of who Ukrainians should root for had been an easy one.

But Goncharenko said he personally was not despairing.

We are where we are, Goncharenko said. We cant change anything [in the U.S.]. We just cant. So we just need to watch what will happen and we should do the best we can do.
The First Asian Buddhist Summit, was organised by the Ministry of Culture and the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), themed 'Role of Buddha Dhamma in strengthening Asia' in New Delhi. It saw participation from 32 countries with over 160 international participants. Members of the Mahasangha, patriarchs of various monastic traditions, monks, nuns, members of the diplomatic community, professors of Buddhist studies, experts and scholars, around 700 participants, engaged enthusiastically with the topic. One of the remarkable achievements of the first Asian Buddhist Summit was the successful organization of the two parallel forums, each offering an array of insightful perspectives. The arrangements of these forums allowed for a rich convergence of ideas, with one focusing on the foundational teachings of the Buddha and their modern-day applications, while the other explored how Buddhist principles can contribute to sustainable development, social harmony, and international cooperation. There were several presentations that offered unique alternatives, perspectives, and some 'out of the box' approaches looking at philosophical knowledge as a means for application and practical usage for the betterment of society. Seminars and Conferences, hitherto, had been mainly concerned with the religious aspects and its associated discourse. This Summit threw up many innovative ideas emanating from the ancient philosophy and science of Dhamma. Prof. Ceon Ramon from the Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of Washington, USA drew a comparison between the duration of Mental Cognition from Neuroscience and the Buddhist Perspectives of meditation in their Clinical Applications. Reflecting on the nature of arousal and cessation of thought (the Dhyan- -moment), measurements showed that these time frames are what meditators inferred centuries ago without a clock. This can be useful in the treatment of mental disorders based on Buddhist practices of paramitas and meditation combined with neurofeedback and visualization techniques. A unique contribution of Buddhist practice was introduced in Mongolian prisons by Mr Shirendev Dorlig, Director of the Vipassana Research Center in Mongolia. After some initial hiccups Vipassana meditation courses are producing excellent results even in prisons with hardened criminals. The practice is now being introduced in all prisons across Mongolia on the demand of the prisoners. Many presentations highlighted the vast areas in Central Asia, East Turkestan and the Russian Autonomous Republics of Kalmykia, Buryatia and Tuva that Buddhism had impacted, such as its influence in architecture, worshipping practices and the philosophical way of life, traces of which were evident archaeologically as well in ancient texts still available. Dr. Jagbir Singh from the University of Delhi spoke about the Buddhist Influences on the Evolution of Chinese Architecture. He traced its development from the Han Dynasty to the present day. In the 1st century, the Han emperor Ming constructed the white horse monastery in honour of the first two Indian monks who went from India to China - Kashyap Matanga and Dharmaratna. This was the birth of Chinese Buddhist architecture. This form of architecture subsequently was woven into pure Chinese architecture resulting in a unique architectural heritage that reflects the spiritual and aesthetic values of Buddhism. Prof. Dr Shobha Rani Dash, Head of the Department of Buddhist Studies, at Otani University, Kyoto, Japan mentioned the Hindu deities worshipped in Japanese Buddhism. She explained the pantheon of Hindu deities who were introduced to Japan with Buddhism as the Devas of the Buddhist pantheon. But gradually many of them have been assimilated with the Japanese native cult of Shintoism as well. She made a special mention of goddess Saraswati who is known as Benzaiten in Japan and revered by the locals. Dr. Yalcin Kayali, Associate Prof. of Eastern Languages and Literatures at Ankara University, Turkey brought out the less-known fact about the presence of Buddhism in the Uighur Turkish cultural world. This study focused on the Buddhist text known in Sanskrit as the Suvarnabhasa Sutra, which was transferred from the Chinese translation of the Dharmakshema to the Uyghur-Turkish Buddhist heritage area and named Altun Yaruq (Golden Light Sutra). Dating back to the 4th century, its Chinese translations and those into Japanese and other European languages are thought to have contributed to incorporating ancient Buddhist doctrine into the world's cultural heritage. Similarly, Dr. Baatr U. Kitinov, Research Fellow from the Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian Academy mentioned how Buddhism had spread to eastern Turkestan and the role of the Uyghurs in sustaining Buddhism for long periods. He mentioned that Buddhism is still being practised by certain smaller population groups in east Turkestan, who are expanding in number. Ven. Dr. Polgolle Kusaladhamma, HoD, Pali and Buddhist Studies, SIBA Campus from Sri Lanka explained the role of neurological research on Buddhist meditation to identify the utility of mindfulness practices to overcome physical infirmity, and other sufferings, especially negative forces in emotions that create mental unrest, unhappiness, fear, and frustration etc. Ven. Dr. Ugyen Tshering, lecturer at the International Buddhist Studies College (IBSC) of Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University in Bhutan spoke about the famous concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH) and how the Buddhist philosophy and principles underpin the concept of GNH, influencing Bhutan's policies and societal values. It was Buddhism that played a significant role in enabling Bhutan to attain a high degree of GNH and explained how others could emulate the model. Ven. Nguyen Ngoc Anh, a Vietnamese Ph.D. scholar in the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka explained the challenges that Buddhism faced in Vietnam during different periods, such as feudalism, colonialism and modernization. However, engaged Buddhism had a profound impact on Vietnamese society; as the philosophy of liberation (Moksha), peace and happiness (nirvana) have held Vietnamese society strongly together as the country went through several conflicts. Introduced in Vietnam in the 2nd century AD, Buddhism forms the essence of Vietnamese society. Ruslan Kazkenov from Kazakhstan mentioned that even though Kazakhstan was not a Buddhist country there was a strong fondness for Buddhism and Buddhist philosophy in the country especially since Buddhism has several similarities or commonalities with Tengrianism. Moreover, Buddhism has influenced art, architecture and cultural traditions of the region (Central Asia), including elements of Buddhist art and historical monuments. In the same spirit, scholars from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan mentioned how the people of these countries were becoming increasingly aware of their Buddhist heritage which was so well accepted by the locals in the early years of its spread in the region. They emphasized that there was significant scope for the excavation of Buddhist sites that yet remain unexplored in these two countries. The representatives expressed keenness in engaging Indian experts on excavation and also academicians who could help string the essence of Buddha's teachings and their application in this part of the world. (ANI)
Russian air defense shot down 70 Ukrainian drones, including 34 in Moscow Oblast, in Ukraines largest drone attack on the Russian capital, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on Nov. 10.



The drones entered Russian airspace between 7.00 and 10.00 a.m. Moscow time, the Defense Ministry said. Russia's air defense systems downed 34 drones over Moscow Oblast, 14 over Bryansk Oblast, seven each over Oryol and Kaluga oblasts, six over Kursk Oblast, and two over Tula Oblast.



Unverified social media accounts shared footage of drones flying over houses and subsequent damages, including a burning car. They could not be independently verified by the Kyiv Independent.



At least one person was reported injured in Moscow Oblast and Moscows Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said emergency services were working in the city.



Two of Moscows four airports, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky, ground to a halt due to the attack and threat of drones, according to Russias Federal Air Transport Agency. Sheremetyevo International Airport was later closed, although flights have since resumed.



Russia launched its largest overnight drone attack on Ukraine on Nov. 9-10, with 145 drones entering Ukrainian airspace. Ukraines air defense shot down 62 drones.



An earlier Ukrainian drone attack damaged a Russian ammunition warehouse in Bryansk Oblast, according to the General Staff.



Ukraine has increased its drone attacks on Russia this year and UAVs destroyed or damaged 52,000 Russian targets last month, according to Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.



"Drone technology is developing rapidly, and we must be one step ahead of the enemy," the general said on Nov. 9.



In the words of a Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) source that spoke to the Kyiv Independent on conditions of anonymity, an ammunition warehouse was "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 said that the combined strikes caused "the largest loss of ammunition" in Russia during its all-out war against Ukraine.

Read also: UK Defense Chief: Russia lost 1,500 troops every single day in October

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's foreign ministry said on Sunday that reports Kyiv was informed in advance of a phone call between U.S. President- elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin were false.

The Washington Post, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that Trump and Putin spoke by phone on Thursday and discussed the war in Ukraine. It said Kyiv was informed of the call and did not object to the conversation taking place.

"Reports that the Ukrainian side was informed in advance of the alleged call are false. Subsequently, Ukraine could not have endorsed or opposed the call," foreign ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi told Reuters.

(Reporting by Tom Balmforth; editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
Key developments on Nov. 9-10:

Ukrainian forces launch largest drone attack on Moscow

Russian casualties reached record high in October, UK defense minister says

Russia set to launch 50,000-strong offensive in Kursk Oblast, including North Koreans, NYT reports

Trump urges Putin to avoid escalation in Ukraine, WP reports

Russian air defense shot down 70 Ukrainian drones, including 34 in Moscow Oblast, in Ukraines largest drone attack on the Russian capital, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on Nov. 10.



The drones entered Russian airspace between 7.00 and 10.00 a.m. Moscow time, the Defense Ministry said. Russia's air defense systems downed 34 drones over Moscow Oblast, 14 over Bryansk Oblast, seven each over Oryol and Kaluga oblasts, six over Kursk Oblast, and two over Tula Oblast.



Unverified social media accounts shared footage of drones flying over houses and subsequent damages, including a burning car. They could not be independently verified by the Kyiv Independent.



At least one person was reported injured in Moscow Oblast and Moscows Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said emergency services were working in the city.



Two of Moscows four airports, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky, ground to a halt due to the attack and threat of drones, according to Russias Federal Air Transport Agency. Sheremetyevo International Airport was later closed, although flights have since resumed.



Russia launched its largest overnight drone attack on Ukraine on Nov. 9-10, with 145 drones entering Ukrainian airspace. Ukraines air defense shot down 62 drones.



An earlier Ukrainian drone attack damaged a Russian ammunition warehouse in Bryansk Oblast, according to the General Staff.



Ukraine has increased its drone attacks on Russia this year and UAVs destroyed or damaged 52,000 Russian targets last month, according to Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.



"Drone technology is developing rapidly, and we must be one step ahead of the enemy," the general said on Nov. 9.



In the words of a Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) source that spoke to the Kyiv Independent on conditions of anonymity, an ammunition warehouse was "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 said 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: UK Defense Chief: Russia lost 1,500 troops every single day in October

Russian casualties reached record high in October, UK defense minister says

Russian forces in Ukraine suffered their deadliest month since the start of the full-scale invasion, the U.K.'s defense minister said in an interview published Nov. 8.

Speaking to The Telegraph, John Healey said that Moscow's troops suffered 41,980 killed and wounded during October, according to British defense intelligence figures.

This works out at an average of 1,354 every day.

British defense intelligence estimates Russia has likely suffered more than 696,000 losses since the start of the full-scale invasion, a figure in line with Ukraine's current total figure of 707,540 reported on Nov. 9.

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The daily figure reported by Kyiv was 1,660, the second highest of the war.

The previous second highest was 1,630 reported on Oct. 25, which surpassed the previous record of 1,530, which was set just a week earlier.

The bloodiest day for Moscow's forces was on May 13, when they suffered a reported 1,740 casualties.

While Russian forces are suffering record losses, they're also making increasingly swift gains in the east of Ukraine.

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.

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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.

Despite the grim situation, Healey told the Telegraph that Russia's momentum isn't unstoppable.

When asked if Ukraine with the support of its Western allies can win the war, he replied: "The West can and must."

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Read also: Mediazona confirms identities of over 77,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine

Russia set to launch 50,000-strong offensive in Kursk Oblast, including North Koreans

Russia is preparing to launch an offensive in Kursk Oblast with a force of 50,000 soldiers, including North Korean troops, the New York Times reported on Nov. 10, citing U.S. and Ukrainian officials.



The attack will begin in the near future, according to Ukrainian officials. Ukraine launched the surprise offensive into Russias Kursk Oblast in August and is holding its positions although Russian forces have managed to reclaim around half of the territory.



Russia has amassed the 50,000 troops without pulling its soldiers out of the eastern front, according to a new U.S. assessment. The east of Ukraine remains the priority for Russia and it has made notable gains in southern Donetsk Oblast, and near Toretsk, Chasiv Yar, and Kupiansk.



Although managing to retake parts of Kursk Oblast with missile strikes and artillery fire, Russia has not yet launched a major assault there, a U.S. official told the New York Times.

The new force comes as Russia saw its heaviest losses last month and the North Korean troops could be replacing injured and killed Russian soldiers, according to some experts. U.K. Defence Staff Chief Admiral Anthony Radakin claimed Russia lost an average of 1,500 troops every day in October.



North Korean troops, who arrived in Russia last month, are likely to be directly involved in the Kursk Oblast operation. The troops have been divided into an assault unit and a support unit, according to a Ukrainian official.



They will be fighting as light infantry, leaving them vulnerable to Ukrainian artillery and drone attacks without the assistance of armored vehicles, the New York Times wrote.



Russian and North Korean soldiers are expected to take heavy losses as they battle Ukrainians in Kursk Oblast, U.S. officials believe.



North Korea has already deployed some 11,000 troops to Kursk Oblast, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Nov. 4.



Clashes between the Ukrainian and North Korean soldiers are currently underway, Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said on Nov. 5.



North Korean troops have already suffered casualties, Zelensky confirmed on Nov. 7, without specifying the number.

Read also: NATO chief Rutte wants to discuss Russia-North Korea threat with Trump

Trump urges Putin to avoid escalation in Ukraine, WP reports

President-elect Donald Trump spoke directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Nov. 7, marking their first phone conversation since Trumps election victory, sources familiar with the matter told the Washington Post.

During the call from Trumps Florida resort, he advised Putin not to escalate the situation in Ukraine and highlighted Washingtons significant military presence in Europe, said one source familiar with the discussion. The sources requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive topic.

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Trump and Putin discussed the importance of peace in Europe, with Trump expressing interest in continuing conversations aimed at "the resolution of Ukraines war soon," according to several sources.

Throughout his campaign, Trump pledged to bring an immediate end to the war in Ukraine but did not elaborate on specific plans. Privately, Trump has indicated support for a potential deal allowing Russia to retain some occupied territory. During the call, he briefly touched on the issue of land, sources said.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban claimed during a Nov. 8 interview, "Americans will quit" the Ukraine war under Trump.

This previously unreported call took place amid widespread uncertainty about Trumps approach to realigning U.S. relationships with global allies and adversaries after his election victory on Tuesday.

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On Nov. 7, Trump told NBC he had spoken with about 70 world leaders since winning the election, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, with Elon Musk joining that call.

Ukraines government was informed of the conversation with Putin and did not object to it, according to two sources familiar with the situation. Ukrainian officials have recognized Trumps intention to engage with Putin on a potential diplomatic solution, the sources noted.

Trumps initial outreach to world leaders has taken place without support from the State Department or U.S. government interpreters. The Trump transition team has not signed an agreement with the General Services Administration, a standard step in presidential transitions.

Read also: Efforts underway to prepare Zelensky-Trump meeting, minister says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) has intercepted radio communications between the North Korean military involved in the war against Ukraine on 9 November.

Source: DIU

Details: Intelligence officers released a video with Ukrainian subtitles, where North Korean military personnel were likely having a conversation.

The DPRK soldier calls a "repairman" and then orders his comrades to return immediately.

The conversation is known to have been intercepted in Kursk Oblast.

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Officers from Ukraine's Special Operations Forces (SOF) have killed 14 Russian soldiers and captured 3 during a raid into Russian territory in Kursk Oblast.

Source: SOF press service

Quote: "SOF officers killed 14 invaders and captured 3 others as a result of successful actions behind enemy lines.

All those who made the right decision and surrendered were provided with first aid and taken to a safe place."

Details: A video posted by SOF shows Ukrainian troops retrieving Russian soldiers and small arms from underground dugouts.

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Ukraine's defence forces have destroyed around 15 Russian UAVs targeting the city of Kyiv through various countermeasures. There were no destructions or casualties in the capital.

Source: Serhii Popko, Head of Kyiv City Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "Yet another restless night for the Ukrainian capital. Russia's Armed Forces are continuing to terrorise civilian populated areas, and Kyiv remains at the top of the enemy's list. Russian troops have once again launched their attack drones on the peaceful homes of Kyiv residents this night. An air-raid warning was issued twice in Kyiv, remaining in effect for nearly five hours in total."

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Details: Popko emphasised that the Russians have recently started to alter their drone tactics, but the Ukrainian defence forces are effectively responding to new challenges.

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BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  TechFarms 2nd annual Ukrainian Culture Day helped raise money to eradicate Russian landmines in Ukraine.

Anastasia Khudiaieva is a Ukrainian woman who moved to the U.S. with her family 6 months after the war with Russia started. Shortly after the move, she was hired by TechFarms.

Lynn Havens Art in the Park returns

One of the [projects] that they have was a drone. They produce the drones with a metal detector, TechFarms employee and event organizer Anastasia Khudiaieva said.

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The metal detector drones are specifically designed to locate and map landmines planted by the Russians throughout Ukraine. Theyre the only drones in Ukraine with 100% detection efficiency.

Its the most important right now to detect landmines in Ukraine, to clear the territory of Ukraine, and make life for farmers easier and more safe, Khudiaieva said.

Not only do the landmines threaten human lives, but theyre also having a devastating impact on the Ukrainian economy.

Theyve been peppering these unexploded ordnances across the farmland. Theyve lost over 5 million hectares, which is about 10 million acres, which is about $30 billion to the Ukrainian economy, AltruTek Founder and President Dr. Stephen Dunnivant said.

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All proceeds from Ukrainian Culture Day will help the non-profit AltruTek pay for the resources needed to complete this mission.

Lung cancer screenings can save your life

We hire ArroTech to take that drone into Ukraine and map an acre. For every $500 that we raise, we can map an acre and it will locate the drone down to nine feet, any metal. Then we give that map to the safety and support services, Dunnivant said.

The tech companies started mapping mine lands in Ukraine with drones using money from last years Ukrainian Culture Day.

If youd like to donate to help eradicate landmines in Ukraine, click 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 mypanhandle.com.
Ukrainian UAVs attacked ammunition depots belonging to the 1060th Logistics Centre (formerly the 120th Arsenal of the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate) in Russia's Bryansk Oblast on the night of 9-10 November.

Source: Ukraine's General Staff

Details: The Ukrainian military noted that at least eight explosions had been recorded.

Quote: "Objective monitoring results indicate the presence of at least two seats of fire within the military unit's territory, along with signs of secondary detonation.

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An intense fire was still raging at the facility in Bryansk Oblast as of 06:00."





A fire in Russia's Bryansk Oblast

Photo: Screenshot from video by ASTA

Background: Russia's Defence Ministry claimed to have shot down 70 Ukrainian aircraft-type drones, including 14 over Bryansk Oblast.

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The spokesperson for the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Heorhii Tykhyi, said that Ukraine is grateful to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk for reaffirming the commitment to the principle of "nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine".

Source: Tykhyi in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine; European Pravda reports

Details: As Tykhyi stressed, Kyiv "consistently and firmly" supports the strict adherence to the principle of "nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine".

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"The war is on Ukrainian soil, so Ukraine will determine the criteria for a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace," he added.

The Foreign Ministry spokesperson noted that a fair end of the Russian invasion of Ukraine with respect for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, international law, and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter is in the interests of all peace-oriented states.

Background:

Earlier in the day, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that he would soon meet with the French president, the UK prime minister, the NATO secretary general and the leaders of the Nordic and Baltic countries to discuss transatlantic cooperation and the war in Ukraine.

This comes amid media speculation that Trump's entourage is considering the idea of freezing the front line with a demilitarised zone and a 20-year moratorium on Ukraine's NATO membership to fulfil his promise to "end the war quickly" in Ukraine.

In this context, EU leaders at a meeting in Budapest discussed the possibility of continuing to provide military assistance to Ukraine if Donald Trump decides to withdraw US support.

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Ukrainian troops have discovered a 1908 edition of the Bible in Donetsk Oblast, near the settlement of Siversk. The sacred text was hidden within the walls of a house that had been destroyed during Russian attacks.

Source: Ukraine's Centre for Strategic Communications

Details: The Centre noted that the ancient book was discovered in 2023 by soldiers from the Fourth Linear Battalion of the Presidential Brigade of Ukraine's Armed Forces. The Bible was hidden in the wall of a house. The military assumed that the last owners of the house might not have known about the existence of the relic.

The book was handed over to Ukraine's military chaplains service. If the owners of the Bible are not found, it will be transferred to a museum.

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Launching scathing attack on opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said Congress and its allies "can't see Adivasis on top," and have kept Jharkhand backward. .Addressing a rally in Gumla in run up to the Jharkhand Assembly election, PM Modi admired the talent diligence, honesty and leadership of tribals. "This is the reason that there are a lot of Adivasi ministers in the BJP government," the PM said He further reminded the public that Congress "tried its best" to not let tribal daughter Droupadi Murmu become the President of India, and still continues to insult her. The PM said former Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren was also insulted. "We should not forget how Congress treated President Droupadi Murmu. Congress tried their best to not let 'Adivasi beti' win. Even today they don't hesitate to disrespect the President. The truth is that Congress and their allies can't see Adivasis on top. What happened with Champai Soren is an example of it," PM Modi said. "JMM-Congress kept Jharkhand backward. BJP made Jharkhand the centre of big schemes initiated for nation's development," PM Modi added PM Modi further listed the schemes launched by the NDA government from Jharkhand, these schemes include Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana; The scheme facilitates micro credit/Loan up to Rs 10 lakhs to income generating micro enterprises, and Ayushman Bharat Yojana; the scheme aims to provide free access to health insurance coverage for low income earners. "{We had launched 'MUDRA yojana from Dumka not Delhi. We had launched Ayunshman Yojana that provided Rs 5 lakh for free treatment from Jharkhand," PM Modi said. "We have also started the free treatment of people above 70 year old. I want to assure you, If anyone from your family above 70-years of age, Your mother, father, grandfather if they need treatment, you don't neeed to worry about that. Thier son is sitting in Delhi," PM Modi further spoke about health insurance coverage to all senior citizens aged 70 and above. PM Modi further stated that the NDA government started Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) scheme from the birthplace of famous tribal freedon fighter Birsa Munda. "We started the PM Jan Man scheme from Bhagwan Birsa Munda's birthplace Ulihatu. This will benefit those tribes who have been neglected for years." PM Modi futher assured that BJP abide by the motto of 'Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas'. He alleged that Congress wants to "break" the unity of tribals, OBCs and Dalits. "BJP-NDA government abide by the motto of 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas'. By following this path Jharkhand will develop. However Congress and JMM have some other intentions. Congress knows that where tribals, OBCs and Dalits got united they were finished from those states. Congress wants to break the unity of SCs, STs and OBCs community. The want to take away the reservation. If you'll be divided in caste whether your powers recede or not. That's why I say; Ek Rahenge toh safe rahenge," PM Modi said. Voting for the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly will be held in two phases on November 13 and 20, with vote counting scheduled for November 23. (ANI)
By Andrew MacAskill

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will meet French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday to discuss ways to help Ukraine, after the election of Donald Trump has raised concerns of reduced U.S. support for the war against Russia.

Days after Trump was elected to begin a second term as U.S. president in January, Starmer will travel to France, where he will talk with Macron and also become the first British leader to attend French Armistice Day services since World War Two.

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Starmer and Macron will discuss "Russia's ongoing barbaric invasion of Ukraine and the appalling humanitarian situation in Gaza," Downing Street said.

Trump has criticised the level of U.S. support for Ukraine's fight against Russia since the 2022 full-scale invasion and has promised to end the conflict without explaining how.

Britain and France have said it is essential to keep supporting Ukraine against Russia to protect the European continent as a whole.

Europe has been the biggest provider of aid to Ukraine, allocating 118 billion euros ($126 billion) since the start of the conflict, while the United States has provided 85 billion euros in total, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.

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Britain and the European Union are expected to begin talks next year on a post-Brexit security pact, covering areas such as defence and energy cooperation, as they look to take more responsibility for their own security.

Some European politicians have said Europe cannot replace the financial and military aid from the United States, including military resources such as F-16 fighter jets and Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS).

On his visit to France, Starmer is scheduled to meet the new French Prime Minister Michel Barnier. The meeting will be their first since Barnier became prime minister in September.

The last British leader to attend the French Armistice Day commemorations was Winston Churchill, who was hosted by Charles de Gaulle in 1944, Starmer's office said.

($1 = 0.9330 euros)

(Reporting by Andrew MacAskill; editing by Barbara Lewis)
VIENNA (AP)  The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog said Sunday he will travel to Iran in the coming days to hold talks regarding the country's nuclear program. The visit comes amid wider tensions gripping the Mideast over the Israel-Hamas war and uncertainty over how U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will approach Iran after his inauguration in January.

Specifically, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mariano Grossi, will have high level meetings with the Iranian government and will hold technical discussions on all aspects related to the joint statement agreed with Iran in March 2023.

It is intended as a path forward for cooperation between the IAEA and Iran on how to expand inspections of the Islamic Republics rapidly advancing atomic program.

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The 2023 statement included a pledge by Iran to resolve issues around sites where inspectors have questions about possible undeclared nuclear activity, and to allow the IAEA to implement further appropriate verification and monitoring activities.

The meetings in Tehran will build on Grossi's discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in September, a statement by the IAEA said.

It is essential that we make substantive progress in the implementation of the joint statement agreed with Iran in March 2023," Grossi said. My visit to Tehran will be very important in that regard.

Iran is rapidly advancing its atomic program and continues to increase its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels in defiance of international demands, according to recent reports by the IAEA.

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Grossi, has warned that Tehran has enough uranium enriched to near-weapons-grade levels to make several nuclear bombs if it chose to do so. He has acknowledged the U.N. agency cannot guarantee that none of Irans centrifuges may have been peeled away for clandestine enrichment.

Irans 2015 landmark nuclear deal with world powers had put limits on its nuclear program  which the West fears could be used for making nuclear weapons although Tehran insists is only for peaceful purposes  while lifting punitive economic sanctions imposed on Iran.

But the deal collapsed after the Trump administration in 2018 pulled the United States out of the agreement, leading Iran to abandon all limits the deal had put on its program and enrich uranium to up to 60% purity.

That is just a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. By IAEAs definition, around 42 kilograms (92.5 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60% is the amount at which creating one atomic weapon is theoretically possible.

As Trump is to take office again in a few weeks, Iranians are divided on what his next presidency will bring. Some foresee an all-out war between Tehran and Washington, particularly as other conflicts rage in the region. Others hold out hope that Americas 47th president might engage in unexpected diplomacy as he did with North Korea.
Donald Trump will return to the White House with sweeping wins in all seven battleground states after Arizona went deep red, it was announced on Saturday evening.

This is a change from 2020, where the typically red state voted in Joe Bidens favor.

It means Trump scored all 11 Electoral Votes in Arizona, bringing his remarkable total to 312, and Vice President Kamala Harris tally to 226.

Voters in the border state were especially angered by the migrant crisis.

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Politico reports that Trump won every battleground state this election, taking Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

Earlier in the day it was announced that Trump also had a storming win in Nevada, taking all six Electoral College votes.

Trump won by 51% of the vote to the Democrats 47%. This is the first time in 20 years that Nevada has elected a Republican in a presidential election. The last GOP candidate to win the state was George W Bush.

Late last month, Trump held a rally at Arizona State University in Tempe where he condemned illegal immigration, a hot-button issue in the state, and called America a dumping ground and a garbage can for the world.

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Thats whats happened Its the first time I have ever said that and every time I get up and talk about what theyve done to our country I get angrier and angrier, he said.

On Wednesday, a bruised Harris gave a defiant concession speech, hours after Trump was declared the clear winner.

While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign, Harris said at her college alma mater, Howard University. The fight for freedom, for opportunity, for fairness, and the dignity of all people. A fight for the ideals at the heart of our nation, the ideals that reflect America at our best.

Donald Trump, center, is flanked by Melania Trump and Lara Trump, Nov. 6, 2024.

Trump jumped to an early lead Tuesday in deep-red areas of the country, followed by crucial wins in battleground states North Carolina, Georgia and Pennsylvania, hours after polls closed. Trumps wins in Michigan and Wisconsin were called early the next day as votes continued to be tallied in his favor.

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I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president, said Trump in a victory address at a convention center in West Palm Beach, Florida, a state he also won. And every citizen, I will fight for you, for your family and for your future. Every single day, I will be fighting for you with every breath in my body.

On election night, Trumps dominating leads in several states left news pundits stunned and pollsters reevaluating the effectiveness of their prediction models.

It now appears Republicans will go into 2025 with control of the Senate, the House, and a U.S. Supreme Court majoritywhich will grant Trump nearly unfettered authority to reshape American policy for the next few years.
The Biden administration will rush the delivery of over 500 interceptor missiles for the Patriot and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile (NASAMS) systems to Kyiv, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Nov. 9, citing a senior administration official.

The deliveries come as the Biden administration is planning to rush the delivery of the remaining approximately $7 billion in military aid to Ukraine ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump in January 2025.

The weapons, which are expected to arrive in the coming weeks, should meet the demand for Ukraine air defense needs for the remainder of 2024, the official said.

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No details were provided as to how many of each interceptor missile would be provided.

Two administration officials told Politico on Nov. 7 that the White House plans to expedite the weapons delivery amid concerns that a future Trump administration would halt weapons shipments before they reach Kyiv.

Trump has repeatedly said that he would end the war within "24 hours" and get the U.S. "out" of Ukraine  a plan that may involve ceding Ukrainian territory and creating autonomous regions in the east, according to reporting in October.

In June, two top advisors to Trump proposed a plan that would cease military aid to Ukraine unless it agrees to hold peace negotiations with Russia, Reuters reported, citing the advisors, retired General Keith Kellogg and Fred Fleit.

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Despite President Biden's ability to deliver existing weapons stocks through presidential drawdown authority, White House officials are concerned that the delivery of the large amount of weaponry may take months to reach Ukraine  well past Trump's inauguration into office.

In addition to the interceptors, a Pentagon official said on Nov. 8 that the White House was preparing to send "a small number of contractors" to maintain F-16 fighter jets as well as other air defense systems. The White House previously rejected the plan as late as August but has changed course amid an increase in inoperable and unserviceable weaponry.

"Ensuring these weapon systems remain mission capable is critical for Ukraines defense against Russian aggression," a statement by the Pentagon read.

Most recently on Oct. 16, U.S. President Joe Biden announced the latest $425 million in new security assistance for Ukraine during a phone call with Zelensky.

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Read also: Biden administration rushing to deliver $6 billion in remaining aid to Ukraine ahead of Trumps inauguration, Politico reports





















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Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has stressed that essential statements regarding the ceasefire in Ukraine, the border along which it will be in force, and security guarantees for Kyiv are expected shortly.

Source: Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, as reported by Polish Radio

Details: Tusk noted that US President-elect Donald Trump's plan for Ukraine, which had been partially disclosed by the media, was currently being prepared.

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He believes that statements on the ceasefire date, what borders would be upheld by it, and security guarantees for Ukraine can be expected shortly.

"These will certainly be decisions involving less US interference in Ukrainian affairs," he added.

Tusk emphasised that "decisions on the war in Ukraine can neither be made over the heads of Ukrainians nor over ours".

Background: On 9 November, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced plans to meet with the French president, UK prime minister, NATO secretary general and Nordic and Baltic leaders to discuss transatlantic cooperation and the war in Ukraine.

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The US government plans to appeal a military judges ruling that plea deals with the alleged 9/11 conspirators at Guantanamo Bay  which were revoked by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin  are valid, a defense official said Saturday.

The prosecution is expected to ask the judge, Col. Matthew McCall, to pause court proceedings, the official said, in order to file an appeal of the decision. The accused were expected to submit their guilty pleas as early as next week, after McCall ruled Wednesday that Austin acted too late when he revoked the plea deals, making them valid and enforceable.

The US reached a plea deal in July after more than two years of negotiations between the government and the alleged conspirators  Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, accused mastermind of the September 11, 2001, attacks, and plotters Walid Bin Attash and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi. The deals would allow the men to avoid the death penalty by pleading guilty and being sentenced to life in prison. Prosecutors wrote in a letter at the time that the deals were the best path to finality and justice in this case.

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Austin abruptly revoked the plea deals in August, arguing the responsibility for such a significant decision should rest with me. He also yanked responsibility from the convening authority for military commissions, who runs the military courts at Guantanamo.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is seen in a file photo. - AFP/Getty Images/FILE

The plea deals faced bipartisan backlash from lawmakers and some groups representing 9/11 victims that have pushed for the US government to pursue the death penalty.

While some may disagree, even in our own community, I dont think the Biden admin should have worked to cut these deals in the first place, Brett Eagleson, president of 9/11 Justice, said in a statement provided to CNN earlier this week. It doesnt do a single thing to ease our pain [or] bring us closure. Nobody has listened to what we actually want/need and that is closure.

Meanwhile, the American Civil Liberties Union lauded Wednesdays ruling, saying it allowed the case to move forward.

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As a nation, we must move forward with the plea process and a sentencing hearing that is intended to give victim family members answers to their questions, ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero said in a statement. They deserve transparency and finality about the events that claimed their loved ones.

The case has been stalled over the course of the two decades since Mohammeds capture in Pakistan in 2003 for his alleged involvement in the terror attacks. The US for years tried to determine how to handle the issue of torture used against Mohammed and others at secret CIA prisons in the 2000s, which delayed the military trial. The issue posed a legal problem for prosecutors about whether evidence obtained through torture was admissible in court.

The trial was set to begin on January 11, 2021, but delays brought about by the resignation of two judges and the Covid-19 pandemic pushed the date back again. Negotiations over the plea deals began in March 2022.

CNNs Kaanita Iyer, Oren Liebermann, Lauren del Valle and Evan Perez contributed to this report.

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(Reuters) - The United States will ship more than 500 interceptor missiles to Ukraine in the weeks ahead, speeding up Washington's military aid delivery to the war-ravaged country, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.

Citing an unnamed Pentagon official, the WSJ reported that before the U.S. presidential election, in which former Republican President Donald Trump defeated his Democratic rival Vice President Kamala Harris, the U.S. administration had been aiming to deliver the remainder of its aid to Ukraine by April.

The delivery of the interceptors for the Patriot missile defence system and the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, or NASAMS, should meet Ukraine's air defence needs for the rest of this year, the newspaper reported, citing an unnamed U.S. official.

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Reuters could not independently verify the Wall Street Journal report.

The office of Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian defence ministry, the Pentagon and the U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

Zelenskiy has been pleading for months for more weaponry and for NATO allies to help Ukraine to strike deep into Russia with long-range Western missiles.

The 2-1/2-year-old Russian war in Ukraine has triggered the biggest confrontation between Russia and the West since the depths of the Cold War, and Russian officials say the war is now entering its most dangerous phase.

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On Friday, President Joe Biden's administration said it would allow U.S. defence contractors to work in Ukraine to maintain and repair Pentagon-provided weaponry, in a significant policy shift that aims to aid Kyiv's fight against Russia.

(Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Sunday attended the 117th birth anniversary celebrations of Pujya Shri Dada Bhagvan in Vadodara on Sunday. During the event, the Chief Minister and Deepakbhai released a commemorative postage stamp honouring Dada Bhagvan, issued by the Department of Posts, Government of India, according to a press release. In his address, the Chief Minister said that all spiritual paths ultimately strive for self-knowledge as the highest truth. "While many paths promote a step-by-step journey to this understanding, Pujya Shri Dada Bhagvan imparts divine knowledge, free from karma and stages. Today's generation is finding ways to navigate challenges like pollution and adversity through the guidance and example of Dada Bhagvan," the Chief Minister said. Recalling Dada Bhagvan's life journey, the Chief Minister mentioned his attainment of self-realization and Akram Science at Surat Railway Station. Through Akram Science, people across the globe are moving toward salvation by adopting a karma-free life. Dada Bhagvan advocated for a path of liberation grounded in simplicity, piety, and an ascetic lifestyle. Dada Bhagvan's final days were spent in his Karma Bhoomi Vadodara, with 'Mama's Pol' regarded as a sacred place. The Chief Minister also stated that the gathering at Navlakhi Maidan today stands as a tribute to Dada Bhagvan's legacy and enlightenment. On this occasion, the Chief Minister highlighted that aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Vikas Bhi Aur Virasat Bhi', a commemorative postage stamp featuring Dada Bhagvan has been released. He said that celebrating Dada Bhagvan's 117th birth anniversary along with the release of the stamp adds further significance to the event. The Chief Minister appealed to all present to make the most of the Gyan ceremony, encouraging them to focus on self-improvement rather than finding faults in others. In conclusion, he urged everyone to pray for a smooth journey on their path to salvation, declaring, "It is my day of knowledge." During the program, the commemorative postal stamp was released by Deepak Bhai, Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel, and Shri Dinesh Sharma, representative of the Union Ministry of Communications and Vadodara Postal Master General, said press release. The Chief Minister and other dignitaries performed Aarti, symbolizing their reverence and hope. Later, they enjoyed the cultural programs. The event was attended by Mayor Pinky Soni, MP Dr Hemang Joshi, Chief Whip Shri Balkrishna Shukla, BJP City President Vijay Shah, MLA Shri Keyur Rokadiya, Manisha Vakil, Yogesh Patel, Chairman of the Standing Committee Sheetal Mistry, Commissioner of Police Shri Narasimha Komar, District Collector BA Shah, along with numerous public representatives and a large gathering of devotees and pilgrims. (ANI)
UTICA, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY)  Utica Police have charged a local teen in connection with the last of three shootings that occurred in the early hours of Friday in Utica. That shooting took place in the 1500 block of Howard Ave. around 3:30AM.

Police report that 18 year old Hylek Lacy, of Utica, has been charged with 2nd Degree Criminal Possession of a weapon, Criminal Possession of a Firearm and 1st Degree Reckless Endangerment.

Police were alerted to this incident by the ShotSpotter while they were investigating a double shooting on Faxton St., behind the former First Pres on Genesee St. The alert pointed to shots having been fired in the 1500 block of Howard Ave., not far from the Faxton St. shootings.

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Upon arriving on Howard Ave., police interviewed witnesses who told that shots at been fired at an occupied house that included sleeping children. Further investigation by police helped them pinpoint where the weapon used was discarded. That led to the suspect.

The early hours of Friday, November 8th, were violent. It started about 12:30AM, when police received a report of a shooting at the Purple Haze Smoke Shop at the corner of South St. and Kossuth Ave. in Utica. According to Utica Police, a person wearing a ski mask entered the business and shot an unnamed male in the stomach. The victim was reported in stable, but in critical condition at Wynn Hospital following emergency surgery.

While at the scene in East Utica, police were alerted by ShotSpotter of an incident having taken place on Faxton St. Multiple 911 calls began coming in reporting several people down at the scene. In the parking lot behind the RCIL Building on Genesee St. Police found a male and female with gunshot wounds. The unnamed male is in stable condition. The female, 19 year old Keyamonie Davis of Utica, passed away from her wounds.

The investigation into all three shootings continues. Police say that they expect more arrests related to the Howard Ave. incident.

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A water and sewer company is suing 14 companies for contaminating numerous rivers and waterways in South Carolina, per reports by WMBF News. Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority, a utility company based in the Carolinas, filed a lawsuit for alleged PFAS pollution.

What's happening?

Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority (GSWSA) claims that 14 major corporations have been dumping PFAS  toxic forever chemicals  into multiple waterways, contaminating key supplies of drinking water.

Per reports by WMBF News, the companies discharged PFAS into the Pee Dee watershed, which flows into water intakes such as Bull Creek and Intracoastal Waterway. The lawsuit noted that contaminating those three water sources alone affects the water supply for over 115,000 customers in Horry County.

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Other contaminated sites listed in the lawsuit include the Great Pee Dee River, Lynches River, Lumber River, Little Pee Dee River, Lynches Swamp, Black Creek, and the Waccamaw River.

According to the lawsuit, GSWSA claims the companies contaminated the above water sources "at concentrations exceeding what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency deems unsafe for consumption."

GSWSA also noted that new water treatment technologies would be required to remove PFAS and supply safe drinking water to their customers.

Why is GSWSA's lawsuit important?

GSWSA's lawsuit is important because it addresses PFAS pollution by major corporations. When companies discharge forever chemicals into waterways, they threaten the health of the public and the environment.

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According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, PFAS-contaminated drinking water can cause increased cholesterol levels, changes in liver enzymes, hormone disruption, decreases in infant birth weights, and increased risk of kidney or testicular cancers.

From an environmental standpoint, PFAS can disrupt the entire local ecosystem. When PFAS enter waterways and the surrounding soil, they do not break down. As a result, marine and land organisms can ingest these toxic chemicals as well.

Do you worry about having toxic forever chemicals in your home?

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What's being done about PFAS water contamination?

Along with filing the lawsuit, GSWSA is asking the companies to remove the forever chemicals from the waterways. The lawsuit proposes that the 14 corporations fund projects to install new treatment technology to remove the PFAS from the water.

Further, GSWSA's suit asks the companies to establish safeguards to prevent this contamination from happening again in the future.

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URBANDALE, Iowa  One local veteran is using her military experience and her new business to support others with mental health challenges.

Tiffany Wheeldon opened Urbandale Massage Therapy in April, but this industry has been her calling for a long time.

I grew up doing little back rubs and was always told, You should go to massage school for that. [I] took a detour in life, and went back to school for massage therapy in 2019, she said.

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That detour was joining the the United States Army Reserves in 2002. Three days after graduating high school in 2003, she went to basic training and was later deployed to Baghdad, Iraq between March 2004 and March 2005.

Her experience in Iraq altered her life. She suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression as a result of her service.

But after opening her small business, her mission now is to use physical touch to help support others with the same mental health challenges.

When we touch somebody, our brain releases serotonin, which is the happy chemical. And people with anxiety and depression usually struggle with not having enough of that chemical in their brain. This kind of helps them get some of that and will help lessen those symptoms, she said.

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Wheeldon also uses different methods, like hot stones and cupping, to enhance client-experience, and she is level-one certified in Trauma Touch Therapy, which can help people suffering from PTSD. She also uses aromatherapy.

Scents do amazing things for people. A certain scent can take you back to a favorite memory, but they can also have an old school medicinal effect. In blending different oils together, you can actually help with different symptoms, said Wheeldon.

Her own mental health struggles help her connect with clients.

Healing happens in relation. It doesnt happen individually, so if you know that somebody already has that experience, even though your experience can never and will never be the exact same, somebody that has walked down that path can at least empathize a little more with your journey, she said.



But, her clients also help her heal.

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Honestly, for me, it calm my own symptoms. Its a very Zen-like experience for me. I get in the zone, I feel the body, I feel the tissues, I know what needs to be worked on Knowing that Im helping others is just always a great feeling, said Wheeldon.

Urbandale Massage Therapy is open by appointment, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. For rates and services, click here. The business will be closed on Veterans Day.

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The North Carolina man reportedly was trying to buy a truck that would help him search for his missing partner and pets

YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty Debris and destroyed cars in Asheville, N.C., on Oct. 28, 2024 Debris and destroyed cars in Asheville, N.C., on Oct. 28, 2024

A North Carolina veteran has reportedly been scammed out of $40,000 amid his search for his wife and their pets who all went missing after their home was swept away in Hurricane Helene.

Navy veteran Rod Ashby of Elk Park has been searching for his missing wife, Kim Ashby, and their three dogs since late September  when their home was destroyed in the flooding that has devastated North Carolina and nearby states  according to CNN,

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Rod's daughter Ansley Ashby told the outlet that her father's Ford F-350 truck had been ruined and smashed up by floodwaters, and he was in search of a new heavy-duty vehicle to help him look for Kim, Ansley's stepmother, in the debris-covered roads and nearby woods.

He had received an insurance payout for his F-350 and was looking for something simple that wouldn't "break the bank with everything else going on that he could get fairly quickly, Ansley told CNN.

JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Debris in Asheville, N.C., on Oct. 20, 2024 Debris in Asheville, N.C., on Oct. 20, 2024

The Navy vet had come across a website for a Colorado car dealership that was advertising repossessed cars for under market value. According to the outlet, Rod had several phone and email conversations with the dealership, and he eventually tried to purchase a 2020 F-350 for $40,000. He reportedly received a bill of sale and an official-looking contract, and then wired the money to the seller. Rod was told the car would be shipped to him within a few days.

It seemed legit, to be honest, Rod's daughter said.

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However, she quickly realized something was wrong when the listing for the car was still online days after the alleged sale. Ansley quickly contacted the dealership from a different phone number. She was told that the truck was still for sale  and that's when she realized the sale was a scam.

Upon further inspection, she told CNN, the website was made by a scammer impersonating a real car dealership in Colorado.



"It's just another gut punch," she added. "You just feel so helpless."

Related: Many People Vanished During Helene's Flooding, and These Women Are Helping Loved Ones Seek Answers (Exclusive)

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The Ashby family reported the incident to the Chatham County Sheriffs Office in Pittsboro, where Rod and Ansley are living, and the case in under investigation.

The Chatham County Sheriffs Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

The owner of the real Colorado car dealership told CNN that he was receiving calls from people who have fallen victim to the scam.

"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."

Ansley also said that Rod was candid about why he needed a new truck during his phone conversations with the scammer.



Mario Tama/Getty Destroyed buildings in North Carolina on Oct. 8, 2024 Destroyed buildings in North Carolina on Oct. 8, 2024

Related: At Least 81 Still Missing in North Carolina as Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts Continue

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According to the family's GoFundMe, organized by Kim's daughter Jessica Meidinger, the 58-year-old teacher has been missing since Sept. 29, three days after Helene initially touched down in Florida.

"Hurricane Helene swept her and my stepdad's vacation home into Elk River," Meidinger wrote in the fundraiser's description. "After several days, Rod was evacuated safely and has been living at our home along with many other family members who have gathered to band together during this difficult time."

The family told CNN that Rod and Kim became separated while their house was floating away in raging flood waters.

According to Avery County Sheriffs Office Chief Deputy Van Williams, both police and volunteer crews have been looking in the Elk River for Kim to no avail, per CNN. She and one other person are the only two people left missing after Helene.

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"Search and rescue efforts have been underway since September 29th to no avail," Meidinger continued in the GoFundMe, adding that the money donated would go toward Rod's home and car, medical bills and other necessary expenses.

As of Sunday, Nov. 10, the GoFundMe has raised more than $70,000 of its $100,000 goal from donations made by 754 donors.

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The Better Business Beareau (BBB) lists several tips for buyers looking for used cars to help them avoid being scammed. In addition, buyers should always speak with the seller over the phone and ask plenty of questions, see the car before buying it, be cautious if extra fees seem like they're piling up, and consider how legitimate the seller if if you're being asked to wire funds, use prepaid gift cards, cryptocurrency or digital wallet transfers.

"Watch out for prices that are too good to be true. Its probably a scam. Scammers know that used cars are in demand, and they will tempt shoppers with great deals," the BBB wrote. "Dont give in to threats or pressure. Resist the urge to act immediately. Always take time to consider a purchase, especially if its a vehicle that costs thousands of dollars."
NEW BERN, N.C. (WNCT)  The Veterans Council of Craven County and Temple Church collaborated to put together their annual Veterans Day Brunch.

This is a way to help celebrate the many veterans in Eastern North Carolina. They had donation bags to give away, resources to help, and awards for the veterans in attendance.

We have a number of military installations around here, so it makes sense. Theres a lot of vets here and it really makes sense for us to make a big deal out of it because there are so many people here that really mean so much to our country, Senior Pastor at Temple Church Keith Whitfield said. And so, its just significant for us as a community, for us to create an opportunity for them to come together and for us to say thank you.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  Spectators lined the streets of downtown Springfield Saturday morning to show their support as the Veterans Day parade returned to the Queen City after six years. 30 organizations and groups participated in the parades debut.

Chad Sitton with MD Kinney, a veteran inclusion group, was just one of many service members who celebrated this morning.

I served myself five years in the US Navy and to be able to come out here and have people just say, Hey, we appreciate what you did is awesome. Its a great feeling, Sitton said.

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For the last seven years, Springfield veterans have traveled to other places in the Ozarks such as Buffalo and Branson to honor their service.

We actually had to travel all the way over to Willard last year to participate in that parade. So, were really excited to be able to do this right here in the hometown Springfield, Missouri.

Veterans connect at a Mansfield family restaurant

The Warrior Watch Riders of the Greater Ozarks also participated in Saturdays celebration, just one of many events they are holding for Veterans Day.

Today is the parade. Monday, its visiting some assisted living facilities that have veterans that are within the facilities, Kent McGregor said. Tuesday, we have a rededication of the World War I memorial that was at Grant Beach here in town.

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Earlier this week, OzarksFirst spoke with parade organizer Lori Rook with Ozarks Elder Law, who says they are already looking forward to next years celebration.

Weve had a lot of people that want to help, that want to be involved in that part of it, Rook said. Were going to get through this year and immediately go back to the drawing board and see what we can do for next year.

Veterans Day is a federal holiday on Monday, meaning all banks, post offices and government buildings will be closed for the day.

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PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY)  Virginians were among the most sleep-deprived on election night, according to a new survey.

Following Tuesday night, HostingAdvice revealed statistics to show the most sleep-deprived states and the average bedtime.

Virginia ranked as the fourth most sleep-deprived state. The average Virginian reportedly went to bed at 2:39 a.m.

Additionally, 29% of Virginians admitted that the election suspense had affected their sleep.

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It was one of the biggest nights for America in recent history, said Christina Lewis of HostingAdvice.com. No wonder people wanted to stay up as late as possible to find out the results!

The most committed state was New Hampshire who stayed awake until 4:06 a.m. Those who fell asleep the earliest were residents of Hawaii, who went to bed at 9:25 p.m. Considering the significant time difference, they would have been aware of the direction of the election results by then.

For the full survey results, click here.

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Businessman and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy said Republicans will need to decide this year if they want to support conservative principles like merit and the free market, or if theyre going to abandon those principles for a type of big government conservatism that has become popular among some on the right.

Ramaswamy described himself as a national libertarian who still believes in small government. He said on the other side of the debate are Republicans with a national protectionist view of the government  those who believe in using the power of the government to achieve conservative ends.

The debate between these two camps in the Republican Party is about to play out in the midst of President-elect Donald Trumps second term in office, he said. Trumps chosen running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, has at times championed a more protectionist view, while others  like Ramaswamy  would like to see a return to small government conservatism.

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Ramaswamy spoke Friday about this debate at the 14th annual conference of the Buckley Institute at Yale, an organization at the Ivy League school trying to bring a more diverse array of voices to the New Haven, Connecticut, campus. He was introduced by Amy Chua, his former professor at Yale Law School, who is also the author of multiple books, including Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, and The Triple Package.

Democrats and identity politics

Ramaswamy started his remarks by reveling in Trumps win, and the win of other Republicans across the country in Tuesdays election. He also took a few shots at Democrats.

We won decisively, not by a little bit, but by a lot, actually, he said.

While encouraging Republicans not to dance on the graves of those weve defeated, and Democrats to give Republicans a chance to see if they can make the country better, Ramaswamy also shared his opinion on why Democrats lost, pointing to identity politics.

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The historical progressive movement was about economic equality, he said, with hierarchies based on wealth, and a goal to lift people out of poverty. He said the latest version of the Democratic Party is focused on power relationships based on race, gender and sexual identities.

So I think thats the ... road for the future Democratic Party, are we going to go in this direction of post modern wokeism, transgenderism, climatism, and the rest of the post-modern ideologies to go along with it? ... Or are they going to go back to the roots of a Democratic Party that ... earnestly cared about the problem of economic inequality and economic disempowerment? Thats the outcome Im rooting for, he said.

Ramaswamy said he believes capitalism is the best way to improve peoples lives, but he said he believes a healthier Democratic Party would push the conservative movement to be the best version of itself.

Republican realignment

Ramaswamy focused the bulk of his remarks on the divide in the Republican Party, asking what version of conservatism Republicans would pursue.

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Do we believe in replacing the left-wing nanny state with a right-wing nanny state? Or do we want to actually get in there and dismantle the nanny state? he asked.

I think the right answer for the future of the country is to just get in there and shut it down, he said.

He spoke about three areas he would like to see Republicans return to small government conservatism.

Republicans on trade

Rather than running away from all of our trading relationships, Ramaswamy said he would like to see the U.S. adjust who it trades with.

He said he supported reducing trade with China over national security concerns, but said the U.S. should build more trading relationships with allies like South Korea, Philippines and India.

Republicans on immigration

Conservatives have at times used their vehement opposition to illegal immigration to avoid talking about what the nations policies on legal immigration should be, he said.

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Ramaswamy said immigrants should be asked to add value and to assimilate into the United States, be part of our national identity.

America isnt about protecting ourselves from the best, he said.

Regulatory state

The biggest debate among Republicans will be over the value of the regulatory state, Ramaswamy said. Whether government agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau should be empowered or shut down.

Ramaswamy says hes on the side of shutting those agencies down and relying more on the free market.

While saying he wasnt blindly libertarian, Ramaswamy says hes sympathetic to the argument that markets do a better job of determining what is best for American workers and consumers than government does.

Vivek Ramaswamy: What does it actually mean to be an American?

Ramaswamy finished his remarks by asking what it means to be an American in the year 2024. He said he goes back to what America was in 1776, naming meritocracy, self-governance, religious liberty and free speech.

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It is a civic set of ideals that bound together a polyglot, divided group of people 250 years ago, that still binds us together today, he said.

Ramaswamy said he still believes the pursuit of excellence is what made America great the first time around.

You know, what? If we cant compete with the very best, we better level up, because thats who we are and who weve always been. Were the pioneers, the explorers, the unafraid, he said.
A clash broke out between Congress workers and CRPF personnel during the United Democratic Front's Wayanad Lok Sabha byelection candidate Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's roadshow at Vaduvanchal here on Sunday evening. The clash broke out during the fag end of the rally when some workers who were gathered around her vehicle refused to move from the road. The CRPF personnel were seen trying to clear the way for Priyanka's vehicle but some congress workers were seen refusing the instructions, causing a minor scuffle. Earlier in the day, Priyanka Gandhi met people from the Christian community. She assured that she would fight for their demands like she does for everyone else. "People have given me a lot of love and affection. I'm very grateful for it. I've been very happy campaigning here. I have been meeting many people from the Christian community. I will fight for their demands. Just as I am fighting for everybody else. I will discuss with them, understand properly and I will also support them," said Priyanka Gandhi. Earlier on Saturday, Congress leader Sachin Pilot claimed a "historic victory" for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Wayanad. He further added that she alongwith Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in the Parliament will lead to "tough days" for the BJP and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). He stated that from the feedback he 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. 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. (ANI)
Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has teased a possible role in Donald Trumps future cabinet, saying that he has a couple great options before him.

The biotech CEO appeared on ABCs This Week on Sunday where he was asked by Jonathan Karl whether he will be part of a second Trump administration, one which the Trump transition team is thought to be crafting around political appointees who value loyalty to Trump above all else.

Ramaswamy was evasive about what exact role he might play but confirmed he was having high-impact discussions about his path forward.

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There's a couple great options on the table, Ramaswamy said, as Karl mentioned both the soon-to-be-vacant Senate seat in Ohio, currently occupied by Vice President-elect JD Vance, as well as the position of Homeland Security director.

I want to have the biggest possible impact on this country, he added.

The two options hinted at by Karl are largely thought to be the two prizes Ramaswamy is most likely to seek. He remained largely deferential to Trump during his presidential run, and had been clearly angling for an alliance with the former president since the Iowa caucus results in January made it clear the former president was going to bulldoze his way to the nomination.

Ramaswamy, in his own campaign, concentrated resources on Iowa in a bid to make a surprise early showing, one that would generate a snowballing of support. It never materialized.

Former presidential contender Vivek Ramaswamy was evasive about his future plans on ABCs This Week (The Independent)

As director of the Department of Homeland Security, Ramaswamy would be in charge of carrying out and crafting the specifics of Trumps immigration policy. The former president pledged over the summer to launch Americas first mass deportation program of the modern era, with the intent of removing one million immigrants living in the US illegally if re-elected.

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In Ohio, meanwhile, Ramaswamy has possibly a more direct route at building his own political star. His home state has trended increasingly red in recent election cycles, in large part due to Democrats at the DNC and elsewhere in Washington writing off the state as a lost cause in presidential races. The party has now also lost two Senate races in Ohio in as many election cycles.

With Vances election to the vice presidency, his seat in Ohio will become vacant in January and the states Republican governor will fill it with an appointment. A special election will then be called in 2026 to determine who will finish out Vances term.

As a senator, Ramaswamy could carve out his own political brand in the Senate free of the burden presented by the prospect of becoming the face of Trumps immigration and border control policies  among other duties  for the next however-many years. But it would, in return, require Ramaswamy to rebuild his fundraising apparatus to the point where he could defeat a Democratic candidate in 2026, though its questionable how competitive that race would even be.

One of the Republican Partys few truly young national figures, Ramaswamy is set up better than most to build his brand over the next four years.

Having never truly emerged as a rival to the president-elect in a way that Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis did during the primary, Ramaswamy could very well end up in the spotlight before long.
The German vice-chancellor teased his plan to run for the countrys top office with a video in which he wears a Taylor Swift-style wristband adorned with the words Chancellor era.

Robert Habeck, the Green economy minister, released the clip on Thursday before confirming the launch of his campaign to replace Olaf Scholz as chancellor.

Mr Scholzs traffic-light coalition, uniting the Social Democrats (SPD) with the Greens and the liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP), collapsed in November after months of tension over government spending and support for Ukraine.

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Snap elections have been called but it is unclear when they will take place, with the head of the election commission warning Germany may not have enough paper for the ballot.

In the teaser video, posted on X, Mr Habeck hums along to a German rock anthem Time for Change with the wristband visible as he writes on a piece of paper.

The camera briefly gives a close-up of his wrist to reveal the Taylor Swift-inspired announcement, a riff on the pop megastars Eras tour.

Asked on Friday night about the wristband and whether he intended to run in an interview, Mr Habeck was coy.

Referring to the friendship bracelet alone, he said it comes from this Swiftie Era thing.

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The Eras tour was the highest-grossing concert tour of all time, bringing in 1.93 billion dollars (1.5 billion) and increasing the GDP of some national economies.

Swifts fans, known as Swifties, gave friendship bracelets to each other at the concerts to symbolise female sisterhood.

On Saturday, Mr Habeck finally confirmed his candidacy in a second video.

Im running to be the candidate of the Greens, for the people of Germany, he said in a clip of him at his kitchen table at home.

I know the traffic light government has failed. I know that trust has been broken he said, adding that a claim to leadership has to be earned. I want to earn it.

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Wearing a casual black jumper, Mr Habeck said he wanted to meet voters at their kitchen table, an unusually personal and informal gesture in Germanys often staid politics. Maybe Ill come up with ideas Id never have otherwise.

In the last German election, Mr Habeck stood aside for Annalena Baerbock to run for chancellor.

Ms Baerbock, who was later appointed foreign minister, came third in a campaign that was marred by the discovery of exaggerations in her CV and a focus on the relatively youthful candidates lack of governing experience.

Mr Habeck is popular with the Green base and recognised as a strong public speaker, particularly in contrast to the taciturn Mr Scholz.

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His tenure as economy minister has drawn criticism amid a historic stagnation in GDP. He was also an architect of the unpopular policy forcing German homeowners to buy heat pumps.

In the video, Mr Habeck took a subtle swipe at electoral front-runner Friedrich Merz, the leader of the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU), saying anyone who seeks solutions in the past is losing the future of our country.

Mr Merz has said hell bring back nuclear power and stop the phase-out of the combustion engine, two flagship green policies that were backed by both Scholz and Merkel, but which Merz argues have hit Germanys economy and consumers pockets.

Mr Merz hit back, telling reporters that the announcement of the candidate for chancellor with nine percent voter approval has a humorous part, while the leader of the CDUs Bavarian sister party called it a mockery of voters, blaming the Green candidate for the economic disaster and collapse of industry and ruled out any cooperation with the Greens.

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Christian Lindner, the former finance minister whose exit from the government last week robbed the coalition of its parliamentary majority, called his former colleagues pretty crazy. They dont have a majority but there are now two candidates for chancellor in the government.

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Tens of thousands of people marched in Valencia on Saturday to voice their anger at the authorities handling of deadly floods.

Authorities said about 130,000 people turned out in the regional capital with thousands more protesting across other Spanish cities.

Some protesters shouted Murderers! Murderers! and some carried placards denouncing Carlos Mazon,Valencias regional president, as well as Pedro Sanchez, the Spanish prime minister.

Protesters held signs and shouted Murderers - BIEL ALINO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Valencia was the region worst affected by last months floods, which killed at least 220 people and left towns and cities swamped with mud, the most serious in decades.

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Residents are furious about the lack of warning, some pointing out that official alerts for the floods landed on peoples 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.

There have been protests across the country with thousands in attendance - Jose Miguel Fernandez/Anadolu/Getty

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 Mr Mazon, a 50-year-old lawyer who is a member of the Right-wing opposition Popular Party.

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Mr Mazon was among the senior figures pelted with mud by angry protesters last Sunday  along with King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain  as they visited the flood-hit region.

Julian Garcia, a 75-year-old resident, told AFP: Mazons management has been outrageous and he should resign.

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.

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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).

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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 wasnt the time, she said.

Ms 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.

Protesters have called for the resignation of Valencias regional president Carlos Mazon - BIEL ALINO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Another demonstrator, 50-year-old Trini Orduna, said that both the regional and national authorities should take their share of the blame, describing the countrys political class as shameful.

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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.

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Micah Whitlow, director of the West Virginia Department of Educations Office of School Facilities and Jonah Adkins, director of the WVDEs Office of Safety & Tiered Support Systems, speak before the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Charleston, W.Va. (Will Price | West Virginia Legislative Photography)

West Virginias financially-struggling public schools cant afford to implement millions of dollars in safety upgrades, including secure front entries and weapon detection systems.

Schools need $258 million in state funding for school safety upgrades for the current school year, according to the state education department. Counties financial contributions to schools  levies, taxes and more  dont cover the bulk of the needs.

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A West Virginia Department of Education report showed 272 schools still dont have safe school entries  also known as mantraps  that include two interlocking doors and a control system.

Jonah Adkins, director of the office of safety tiered support systems for the West Virginia Department of Education, told lawmakers on Sunday that cost is keeping schools from implementing safety upgrades.

We have no money to give, he said.

There has been an uptick this year in school threats in West Virginia, prompting Gov. Jim Justice to launch a school safety task force in September to address concerns.

We have people who are targeting children and targeting schools to do bad things, Adkins said.

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Justice last month proposed $1 million for school safety funding but noted that the money wouldnt go far enough. Lawmakers have given schools hundreds of millions of dollars for school safety in the state budget.

Several Republicans said they didnt understand why safety improvements like mantraps still werent completed.

Del. Joe Ellington, R-Mercer

I imagine most of us think this is the priority of our schools  why havent we been addressing this if we have these needs? Is this just a priority problem? asked Del. Joe Ellington, R-Mercer, who chairs the House Education Committee.

WVDE leaders said state funds were not enough to cover security upgrades as school districts were struggling financially. Student population loss and kids leaving public schools for the states education savings account program have continued to funding woes.

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Some of the security measures are required in state code.

The overall cost is pretty prohibitive for some counties, said Micah Whitlow, director of the WVDEs Office of School Facilities.

Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha

In response, Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, asked, If these counties cant afford it, then they dont have it, right? So, basically its on us as the Legislature to provide it.

Adkins said there were a few grants available for counties to use for safety upgrades. They are very narrow in scope in what those monies can be used for, he said.

He told lawmakers that the state should prioritize creating safe entryways in every school, which was estimated to cost around $87 million.

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Schools also requested: $32 million for window and door security upgrades; $32 million for security cameras; and $25 million for weapon detection systems.

Schools also need $30 million for prevention and resource officers as some schools continue to share one officer.

Additionally, the WVDE noted that 177 schools still needed additional emergency access roads and currently had only one road in and out of the school. There wasnt a known price tag.

  The needs are a lot  I make a suggestion that we work together to prioritize these needs, Adkins told lawmakers. We know we will never be able to do all of this at once, but if we can chip away each year, I think we can make some good headway.

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Some Western Pennsylvania communities got a head start to Veterans Day celebrations by honoring area service members during parades on Saturday.

Charleroi held its first Veterans Day Parade since the COVID-19 pandemic on Saturday morning.

The festivities featured veterans, first responders and local bands. They marched from the American Legion through downtown Charleroi.

Greene County also honored veterans with a parade through downtown Waynesburg.

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More than 75 groups marched from the courthouse down High Street.

The Greene County Council organizes the parade every year.

We especially would like to thank our veterans that we are here to honor every Veterans Day for their dedication and their service, said Angela Baker, the Greene County Veterans Day Parade chair.

The parade ended with a free celebration at The Denny House.

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Hungarian opposition leader Peter Magyar has accused Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government of systematically and illegally spying on him, his staff and the offices of his Respect and Freedom Party.

"Intelligence officers who serve their country and not a mafia government have confided in me that my apartment, our offices and our vehicles have been bugged for months," he said at a Sunday press conference in Budapest.

Magyar called on Interior Minister Sandor Pinter to send experts to remove the bugging devices and to clarify who had ordered and authorized the illegal surveillance.

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As an elected member of European Parliament (MEP), he enjoys immunity, which makes the alleged secret service measures against him even more questionable, he argued, slamming what he called a "Hungarian Watergate"  an allusion to the wiretapping scandal that led to the resignation of the then US president, Richard Nixon, in 1974.

Orban's opponent and challenger only became known to a wider public in February when he broke with the prime minister's Fidesz party.

Magyar, the ex-husband of former justice minister Judit Varga, from whom he had gained deep insights into how the Orban system works, founded the Respect and Freedom Party, which won almost 30% of the vote in the European elections in June after its debut.

In the latest polls, Magyar's party overtook the governing Fidesz party for the first time. "There is panic in the Carmelite monastery," Magyar said at the press conference, referring to the Buda Castle monastery which is the seat of Orban's government.
Hungarian opposition leader Peter Magyar has accused Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government of systematically and illegally spying on him, his staff and the offices of his Respect and Freedom Party.

"Intelligence officers who serve their country and not a mafia government have confided in me that my apartment, our offices and our vehicles have been bugged for months," he said at a Sunday press conference in Budapest.

Magyar called on Interior Minister Sandor Pinter to send experts to remove the bugging devices and to clarify who had ordered and authorized the illegal surveillance.

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As an elected member of European Parliament (MEP), he enjoys immunity, which makes the alleged secret service measures against him even more questionable, he argued, slamming what he called a "Hungarian Watergate"  an allusion to the wiretapping scandal that led to the resignation of the then US president, Richard Nixon, in 1974.

Orban's opponent and challenger only became known to a wider public in February when he broke with the prime minister's Fidesz party.

Magyar, the ex-husband of former justice minister Judit Varga, from whom he had gained deep insights into how the Orban system works, founded the Respect and Freedom Party, which won almost 30% of the vote in the European elections in June after its debut.

In the latest polls, Magyar's party overtook the governing Fidesz party for the first time. "There is panic in the Carmelite monastery," Magyar said at the press conference, referring to the Buda Castle monastery, which is the seat of Orban's government.

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Magyar also said Orban's powerful chief of staff, Antal Rogan, is planning a complex defamation campaign against him, in which artificial intelligence (AI) is set to be used to attribute false statements to him.

Hungary's government rejected the accusations. "Someone has watched too many spy thrillers out of boredom," a government spokeswoman wrote on her Facebook page.
President Droupadi Murmu will grace the event as the chief guest, an official release stated.

This event will showcase the Navy's multifaceted competencies, enhances maritime awareness among citizens and honours India's rich seafaring heritage, the release stated,

The OpDemo2024 to be held against the backdrop of the pristine Blue Flag Beach, symbolises the connection between the Indian Navy and the maritime legacy of the State of Odisha.

The Indian Navy is working closely with the Odisha State Government and local authorities to ensure the smooth execution of the event, the release stated.

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, the release stated. (ANI)
While much of the worlds attention is focused on the incoming Trump administrations approach to the Ukraine conflict, another of Donald Trumps key foreign-policy priorities will be to bring peace and stability to the Middle East.

The region afforded the president-elect some of his more notable foreign-policy achievements during his first spell in the White House. They include spearheading the campaign to destroy Islamic States so-called caliphate in Syria, and negotiating the Abraham Accords, the groundbreaking peace deal that saw several Arab states normalise relations with Israel.

It has even been mooted that the devastating attack that Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists launched against Israel on October 7 last year was, in part, motivated by concerns that Saudi Arabia was showing a keen interest in becoming a signatory to the Accords.

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Such a move would have further isolated the jihadi fanatics who fill the ranks of organisations such as Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, key elements in the extensive terrorist network Iran has established in the Middle East with the stated goal of obliterating Israels existence.

Trump is under no illusion about the threat Iran and its terrorist nexus pose to the region, which was one of his justifications for withdrawing from the flawed nuclear deal that Barack Obama negotiated with Tehran, which made no provision for curbing Irans malign activities in the region.

He also has no qualms about taking on Islamist terrorists. It was Trumps decision to ease the ineffectual rules of engagement imposed by Obama on the US-led coalition fighting Islamic State that ultimately resulted in the jihadi death cults demise. His targeted assassination of key belligerents, such as Qasem Soleimani, Irans terrorist-in-chief, had the desired effect of causing major disruption to Tehrans network.

Neutralising Irans ability to foment conflict in places such as Gaza and Lebanon will be one of Trumps key priorities, especially after the revelation that Iran dispatched an assassination squad to kill him during the election campaign.

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The probable impact that Trumps no-nonsense approach will have on the region is evident from reports that US officials are already demanding that Hamas must end its presence in the Gulf state of Qatar  which also happens to play host to one of Washingtons most important military bases in the region.

Hamas representatives in Qatar have stymied the Biden administrations attempts to implement a ceasefire in Gaza, an obstacle that Trump is unlikely to tolerate once he takes office.

Apart from curbing Irans malevolent activities, Trumps other Middle East priority will be to revive the Abraham Accords, both by persuading more Arab states to normalise ties with Israel and addressing the issue of Palestinian statehood.

Trumps first term saw his administration attempt to resolve the Palestinian issue in the form of a peace initiative undertaken by his son-in-law Jared Kushner. This set out a plan that promised the Palestinians a more prosperous future in return for agreeing to a peace deal with Israel.

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While the refusal of Palestinian leaders to engage in the process meant little progress was made before Trump left the White House, the removal of Hamas as a significant force in Palestinian politics could make Kushners proposals the basis of future negotiations.

Brian Hook, who served as Trumps special envoy for Iran during his first term, said earlier this week that Trumps deal of the century peace plan for Israels conflict with the Palestinians is likely to be back on the table.

And with Irans ability to undermine peace efforts in the region limited by the devastating losses Hamas and Hezbollah have suffered in recent months, the possibility that Trump could emerge as the American president who finally succeeds in bringing lasting peace to the Middle East must be taken seriously.

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White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said President Biden will continue to push Congress for aid for Ukraine and for a cease-fire in its ongoing war with Russia.

Our approach remains the same as its been for the last two and a half years, which is to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position on the battlefield so that it is ultimately in the strongest possible position at the negotiating table, Sullivan said Sunday on CBSs Face the Nation.

CBSs Margaret Brennan asked the adviser if the U.S. has about $6 billion left in approved funding for Ukraine before the money runs out.

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Sullivan said Biden made it clear to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that he would spend all of the resources passed by Congress on time and in full.

That means by President-elect Trumps inauguration in January, the U.S. will have sent the full amount of resources and aid to Ukraine.

Concerns are growing over what a second Trump term might mean for Ukraine, as hes consistently said he would be able to end the war in one day, has highlighted his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and said he would return foreign policy to an America-first agenda.

With his remaining days in office, Sullivan said Biden could appeal to Congress for more aid.

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President Biden will have the opportunity over the next 70 days to make the case to Congress and to the incoming administration that the United States should not walk away from Ukraine, that walking away from Ukraine means more instability in Europe, Sullivan said.

He also noted concerns stemming from Japan. If the U.S. leaves Ukraine without support, the question about Americas commitment to allies in Asia will also grow, he said.

President Biden will make the case that we do need ongoing resources for Ukraine beyond the end of his term, because the threat to Ukraine will remain no matter what exactly happens on the battlefield or at the negotiating table, Sullivan said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  The Associated Press declared President-elect Donald Trump the winner in Arizona on Saturday night after vote updates in Maricopa and other counties added to his overall lead, putting the state out of reach for Vice President Kamala Harris.

At the time the AP called the race at 9:21 p.m. ET, Trump led Harris, 52.6% to 46.4%, a margin of about 185,000 votes. Harris needed to win about seven out of every ten votes of the roughly 443,000 uncounted ballots remaining, a percentage that has steadily grown as additional votes were counted.

Trump has now swept all seven of the hotly contested presidential battlegrounds, winning 312 electoral votes, compared to 226 for Harris. The number needed to clinch the presidency is 270.

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In 2020, President Joe Biden carried the state narrowly over Trump, but he won Maricopa County by a margin of 50 percentage points to 48. On Saturday, Trump was leading Harris 52 to 47.

The AP only declares a winner once it can determine that a trailing candidate cant close the gap and overtake the vote leader.

Heres a look at how the AP called this race:

CANDIDATES: President: Harris (D) vs. Trump (R) vs. Chase Oliver (Libertarian) vs. Jill Stein (Green).

WINNER: Trump.

POLL CLOSING TIME: 9 p.m. ET Tuesday. Arizona does not release votes until all precincts have reported or one hour after all polls are closed, whichever is first, usually 10 p.m. ET.

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ABOUT THE RACE: Both Harris and Trump crisscrossed this border state, where immigration is a prominent issue, multiple times before Election Day.

Trump put immigration at the center of his candidacy, promising to deport people without legal documentation while Harris called for pathways to citizenship as well as tighter security at the border.

Independent voters are the largest bloc in the state, followed by Republicans then Democrats, who have succeeded in winning Senate contests and the governorship since 2018.

Biden became just the second Democrat to win the state in more than 70 years.

Both candidates made a play for vote-rich Maricopa County, which is home to Phoenix, Mesa and Tempe. Trump carried the county by 3 points in 2016, while Biden won with a 2-point margin four years later. Arizona is primarily an early voting state. In 2016, just over three-quarters of the votes were cast early. In 2020, that climbed to nearly 90%.

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WHY AP CALLED THE RACE:

In statewide elections going back a dozen years, Democrats have always carried four counties in both winning and losing campaigns: Apache, Coconino, Pima and Santa Cruz.

Harris had large leads over Trump in all four counties, but she far underperformed Bidens showing from 2020.

She was trailing Trump in decisive Maricopa County, which Biden won in 2020 and has been a must-win county for statewide Democratic candidates in recent elections.

Although Harris very briefly led in the statewide vote count on election night, Trump has consistently led since then.

The APs analysis of Arizona's voting history and political demographics at the county level showed there was no scenario that would allow Harris to close the gap. The analysis also showed that even if remaining updates showed vote swings in Harris' favor, they would not be enough to give her the lead.

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___

Learn more about how and why the AP declares winners in U.S. elections at Explaining Election 2024, a series from The Associated Press aimed at helping make sense of the American democracy. The AP receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about APs democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Paola Ramos and Mari Urbina join The Weekend to unpack why Latino voters cast their ballots for Donald Trump in record numbers, and how Trumps anti-immigrant policies could impact the Latino community.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said officers are investigating after windows of Char Bar, a kosher restaurant in Northwest D.C., were shattered overnight on Saturday.

MPD said that at about 3 a.m., it received a call that the windows of a business in the 2100 block of L St. were being destroyed.

When officers arrived at the business, they saw two shattered windows and two large stones nearby.

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Political expert, former Virginia delegate talks swing state move for Trump, local races

Police searched the area for those responsible but couldnt find anyone. No security cameras were seen in the area.

Like really? You dont have anything better to do with your lives than to waste energy and time, and peoples money and stuff to do, to do what? said owner of Char Bar, Michael Chelst. Were just a restaurant here. We serve the Jewish community,

MPD said the department was initially investigating the offense as potentially being motivated by hate or bias, however, in an update on Sunday afternoon, MPD spokesman Tom Lynch said that, at the moment, there is no information or evidence to suggest that the vandalism was motivated by hate or bias.

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You know, its pretty clear that it was a hate crime, Chelst said in response. I mean, there are seven other places with glass on this street, and they didnt hit any of those.

Other Jewish leaders also voiced their concerns.

Maybe the fact that its known as a prominent kosher restaurant where many people who are Jewish and their friends frequent made it a target, said Rabbi Levi Shemtov, executive vice-president of the D.C.-based organization, American Friends of Lubavitch.

Chelst estimates it will cost up to $12,000 to repair the damage.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington released a statement regarding the incident on Sunday morning, saying in part:

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Last night, the windows were smashed at Washington, DC kosher restaurant, Char Bar. This vandalism of a Jewish business is deeply disturbing on its own. Its timing on the 86th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the night of broken glass, raises many more questions and concerns that must be answered. We demand a full investigation and the swift arrest of the perpetrators.

Kristallnacht took place in 1938 between Nov. 9 and Nov. 10. During this period, Nazis in Germany murdered nearly 100 Jews and vandalized Jewish-owned businesses, Synagogues, homes and schools.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington could not be reached for further comment after police said there was no evidence to suggest the vandalism was motivated by hate or bias.

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ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WSPA)  The Asheville Police Department is searching for a suspect involved in shooting that happened Saturday morning and left one dead.

Officers said they responded to a welfare check on South French Broad Avenue around 11 a.m. and discovered the body of 26-year-old Makayla Lashea Harrison. Harrison was found with a gunshot wound.

Detectives said they have identified the shooter as 34-year-old Darren Lamon Clayton. Clayton is described as a black male, 6 feet tall, black hair and brown eyes, a scar on his left forearm and a pierced left ear.

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Detectives are asking the public who knows Claytons whereabouts or has additional information to come forward. Clayton is said to be considered armed and dangerous, and if seen to call 911 immediately.

The Asheville Police Department said if you would like to share an anonymous tip, to text TIP2APD to 847411 or at (828) 252-1110.

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Ahead of the Maharashtra assembly elections, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that under PM Modi's leadership, India has been developing in all the sectors and that no scam has happened under his government in the country. "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is developing in all the sectors. Progress has been happening in every field. No scam has happened under the Modi government. The Maharashtra government has launched many crucial schemes for the well-being of people. Ladli Behna Yojana is one them. Double-engine government has done tremendous work. I have come here to appeal to all of you to vote for development," said Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami while addressing a public meeting in Mumbai, Maharashtra in favour of BJP candidate from Nalasopara Assembly, Rajan Naik and BJP candidate from Vasai Assembly, Sneha Dubey. Lashing out at the Congress party, Dhami said that they oppose Lord Ram and indulge in vote bank politics. The Chief Minister said, "The people of Congress and Maha Aghadi gang are constantly insulting women. Anti-women policies are clearly visible in the opposition parties. Congress has always opposed Sanatan. They have even called Sanatan dengue and disease. The Ram temple for which we struggled day and night, was mocked by Congress. Shiv Sena founder Late Bala Saheb Thackeray ji always participated enthusiastically in the movement for the construction of Ram temple. But his sons joined hands with him who were always against the Ram temple." He said that the Uttarakhand state government organized a Pravasi Sammelan. Today Uttarakhand is constantly moving forward. The Chief Minister said that the work of Ahmedabad Mumbai Bullet Train is going on at a fast pace. Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the Maharashtra Government has worked to take this state forward by running many important schemes. Underground trains are being expanded all around Mumbai. The train from Mumbai to Lalkuan has started. A train will also be run from Mumbai to Kotdwar. He said that with their blessings, the public will send the BJP candidates from Nalasopara and Vasai assembly to the assembly by making them victorious. We have to keep away from the nepotism party and save them from corruption and appeasement. The Chief Minister urged the people to make BJP candidate Rajan Naik from Nalasopara Assembly and BJP candidate Sneha Dubey from Mumbai Vasai victorious with huge votes. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the respect of India has increased. Today India is becoming the India that gives direction to the world. Earlier governments were immersed in corruption. Notably, CM Dhami raised the 'Batenge toh Katenge' slogan while addressing the same rally. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also addressed the public rallies in Maharashtra and said that the Congress party did not fulfil the guarantees it gave in states like Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana. He further added that Maha Vikas Aghadi's guarantee is a guarantee of lies, corruption, and appeasement. "...Maha Vikas Aghadi has given a lot of guarantees. Rahul Gandhi was angry with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge because he spoke the truth and said that only those promises should be made which can be fulfilled. The Congress party did not fulfil the guarantees it gave in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana. Maha Vikas Aghadi's guarantee is a guarantee of lies, corruption, appeasement..." said the Union Home Minister while addressing a public rally in Maharashtra's Buldhana. 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. (ANI)
James McClean said he takes offence at the poppy being forced upon me after standing by his ongoing refusal to take part in pre-match Remembrance Sunday commemorations.

Wrexhams captain added he will never bend the knee to compromise my convictions as he spoke out for the first time since standing separately to his team-mates during a minutes silence.

The 35-year-old Irishman has stood against the annual tradition throughout his career after he first refused to wear a poppy in 2012.

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Wrexham fans were heard singing he hates the f------ King after the silence concluded, to which the former Stoke winger reportedly applauded ahead of kick-off.

However, as games across the country this weekend paid respects to those fallen in war, McClean wrote on Instagram that the poppy represents for me an entirely different meaning to what it does for others.

Having stood away from his team-mates during commemorations ahead of a 1-0 win over Mansfield Town, he posted on Instagram: I have addressed this matter many times, not that I should have to, but explaining it now on social media out of respect for work colleagues, team-mates past and present, fans who have supported me [Wigan, Wrexham especially] for them to have a full understanding.

The poppy represents for me an entirely different meaning to what it does for others. Am I offended by someone wearing a poppy? No absolutely not, what does offend me though, is having the poppy try be [sic] forced upon me.

I never have and never will wear a poppy

McClean grew up on Derrys Creggan estate, the birthplace of many of the 14 people killed in the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre, when British soldiers killed unarmed civilians during a protest.

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The poppy which originally stood for World War 1 and 2 has now been adopted into honouring and remembering British soldiers that have served in all conflicts throughout the world including those who opened fire and murdered 14 innocent civilians on Bloody Sunday Jan 1972, in my home city, as well many other brutal crimes throughout Ireland, McClean added.

The Irishman has stood against the annual tradition throughout his career after he refused to wear a poppy inn 2012 - Gary Oakley/PA

That is why I never have and never will wear a poppy. If the poppys sole purpose was to honour world war 1 and 2 then I would have no issue wearing it, but thats not the case.

I respect those who do as I am fully aware we have different beliefs and upbringings, I would never force my beliefs on others, Im not naive or stupid enough to expect the matter to be reciprocated, especially as the poppy is forced now on everyone in the UK and god forbid someone doesnt wear it, the abuse they have to endure. The irony of all of this is that the poppy originally stood to honour those who fought for the right of freedom in both world wars.

Some people, no matter what, will not educate themselves or want to educate themselves, so to those who throw abuse about [matters they know nothing about], with insults like hates our country  well I dont. Some of my best relationships Ive made through the years are with people born and raised in England and have completely different beliefs to me ... One thing I never have and never will do, is bend the knee to compromise my convictions.

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McCleans wife Erin had also posted on social media: I dont know about the rest of you but this is just boring now. 12 years on youd think itd be old news.

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The Pennsylvania Capitol on Monday, March 6, 2023. (Capital-Star file photo)

Democratic incumbents prevailed in eight state House races where the conservative political action committee backed largely by billionaire Jeff Yass spent nearly $4.4 million to support Republican challengers, campaign finance records show.

The wins came at a cost of nearly $8 million in combined spending by the Democratic candidates and Democratic organizations, according to the records submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of State.

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But they preserved the narrow Democratic majority in the House amid a wave of Republican victories elsewhere in Pennsylvania.

Commonwealth Leaders Fund, which receives most of its money from Yass by way of two other committees, targeted state House races in rural and suburban areas where the Democratic incumbents were potentially vulnerable.

The PAC spent nearly $19 million in Pennsylvania races this cycle, including $10 million in in-kind spending to support Republican Attorney General-elect Dave Sunday. Campaign finance records show the House candidates Commonwealth Leaders Fund backed spent as little as $2,670 that was raised directly by the candidates committee, but none spent more than about $140,000.

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The House races included state Rep. Frank Burns district in Cambria County, where a protracted ballot count in the wake of a voting system malfunction compounded the drama of his victory. He was declared the winner by a margin of about 2.5 points three days after the election.

Campaign finance records show the House Democratic Campaign Committee poured more than $3.2 million into Burns reelection bid in the final weeks of the campaign. Commonwealth Leaders Fund spent about $742,000 in support of his opponent Amy Bradley.

Yass PAC spent $791,000 in support of Republican McKayla Kathio, who ran against Democratic state Rep. Jim Haddock in his district spanning Lackawanna and Luzerne counties. Haddock fended off the challenge spending only $355,000, according to his campaign finance reports.

Commonwealth Leaders Fund also spent $638,000 in support of Republican Dan McPhillips, who challenged Bucks County Democratic state Rep. Brian Munroe. Munroe spent $567,000 and received about $444,000 in in-kind support from the House Democratic Campaign Committee and the state Democratic Party.

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Other unsuccessful Republican House candidates who received support from the Commonwealth Leaders Fund include:
NEW YORK  State Attorney General Letitia James will not pursue charges against a city police officer 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 New York Police Department  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.
Starting next year, visitors to New York State will be experiencing a little less wastefulness, as the state legislature recently passed a new law banning hotels from offering small plastic bottles of shampoo and conditioner, the New York Times reported.

The new law will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025, and will only apply to hotels with 50 or more rooms. Businesses that do not comply will be fined $250 for the first infraction and $500 for subsequent infractions, with that money going to the state's Environmental Protection Fund.

"New York is the size of many countries, so New York's role is watched," former state assemblyman and current Suffolk County legislator Steven Englebright said.

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Englebright introduced the bill in the state legislature in 2019, displaying some customary New York humility. "When we do something important, it has the potential to be looked at as a model for our sister states."

New York is not the first state to enact similar legislation. California has also banned plastic toiletry bottles in hotels, and Washington state and Illinois have passed laws as well. Other states are considering the same measure.

Although these plastic bottles are small, the pollution they cause really adds up. A spokesperson for Marriott told the Times that switching to larger, hand-pumped bottles will prevent "around 500 million small bath amenity bottles from going to landfills each year."

Plastic pollution is a huge problem for our planet. Plastic is made from nonrenewable petroleum, and an estimated 8 to 10 million metric tons (roughly 8.8 to 11.1 million tons) of it winds up in our oceans every year, killing countless marine animals.

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The material does not biodegrade  it sheds microplastics instead, which are now showing up in every corner of our planet.

One of the reasons for this is that businesses recognize that cheap single-use plastic products are an easy way to maximize their profits. One simple way to solve that problem is to make single-use plastics not cheap anymore by penalizing businesses that use them.

Although for-profit businesses may believe that their right to make money supersedes the right of people to live in a world that isn't drowning in plastic pollution, these new laws make it clear that this is not the case.

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.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A pasta dinner is taking place Sunday at St. Columba Hall to benefit a woman with ALS.

Kara Harris has been diagnosed with ALS  a progressive disease that attacks the nervous system. The money raised will go toward Karas family and her care.

Shes doing well. Shes just a very brave woman, and shes approached it with just grace. But its difficult. Its difficult for the family and for my son  her husband, said Colleen Harris, Karas mother-in-law.

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The event also features live music with basket raffles. Dinner costs $15 per person and is from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Raffles can be purchased separately from the dinner, and winners will be announced after 5:30.

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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Boys and young men of color were able to attend a conference that prepares them for success on Saturday.

It was the fourth annual Kool Boiz Empowerment Conference. This year it was at Youngstown State University, and boys in grades six through 12 could attend.

The conference has different workshops like financial literacy and trigger management. The groups president Bruce Rushton says the foundation is a place for boys to get support.

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Just to be able to have a place where the boys can come and really be themselves and open up to some of the challenges that they face and issues that they have. At the same time, we get to help them put solutions in place thats going to help them, Ruston said.

The conference aims to provide or show Black youth what is possible through motivational speakers.

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The bird flu has been spreading rapidly among cows on a handful of dairy farms in California, Idaho and Utah. The virus, also known as H5N1, typically infects wild birds, but it spilled over to commercial poultry in 2022 before sickening cattle in March of 2024.

Since then, a handful of people who were exposed to sick animals contracted the avian virus. The virus appears to be contained to farms, but theres always a chance it could develop mutations that let it spread between humans. And if that happens, we may have another pandemic on our hands.

Weve not seen human-to-human transmission to date and thats a saving grace, Dr. Andrew Bowman, a veterinary epidemiologist at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, told HuffPost.

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Heres what we know about the bird flu  and what it would take for it to start spreading in humans.

Whats going on with the bird flu right now?

Roger Tidman / Getty Images

In January 2022, health officials detected a H5N1 outbreak in wild birds  the first of its kind since 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control. One month later, H5N1 hit a commercial poultry facility, infecting multiple turkeys.

Since then, H5N1 has been detected in more animals, including cattle, goats, alpacas, and, most recently, a pig.

The increase in avian influenza activity is due to a major outbreak occurring in wild birds that has been ongoing and has spilled into poultry farms and now dairy cattle, Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease expert and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security, told HuffPost.

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The main difference between this outbreak and previous ones is that dairy cattle are being infected with H5N1 for the first time ever.

Previously, health officials did not think cattle could get influenza, according to Bowman. Theres no flu vaccine for cattle, and the dairy industry hasnt seen anything like this before, he said.

The pigs case also concerns infectious diseases experts because pigs can be infected with both human and avian viruses, which can produce a re-assorted virus. This essentially is when two viruses in the body exchange genetic material, a process that could generate a novel influenza virus that may be readily able to infect and be transmitted between people, said Dr. Richard Martinello, a Yale Medicine infectious diseases specialist.

These types of re-assorted viruses caused the influenza pandemics of 1957, 1968, and 2009, according to Adalja.

Can humans contract the bird flu?

Stefania Pelfini, La Waziya Phot / Getty Images

As more animals get infected, there are more opportunities for humans who are exposed to sick animals to get infected, Adalja said. In April 2024, a person tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 bird flu, making it the first known case of its cow-to-human spread. In May, a few more cases were recorded in people whod been exposed to infected dairy cows.

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In 2024, a total of 46 people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with the bird flu after being exposed to either an infected cow or bird. A study published in July 2024 suggests the true case count is likely much higher. That report evaluated the blood serum of people who worked on dairy farms that had bird flu outbreaks and found that 14.3% of farm workers tested had antibodies for H5N1, which suggests they had been previously infected.

How big of a public health threat is the bird flu?

Digicomphoto / Getty Images/Science Photo Library RF

According to the CDC, all of the cases documented in the current outbreak have been categorized as sporadic instances of animal-to-human spread. The risk to the general public is low right now because bird flu is not spreading from person to person.

The virus would have to go through genetic changes that allow it to better bind to human receptors for it to start spreading between people, Adalja explained.

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If you are worried about eating food products from sick animals, know that pasteurized milk is not affected. Cooking your meat to the right temperature will kill off the flu virus if it happens to be there, according to Bowman.

People who work on farms and have been exposed to infected animals face the highest risk. The symptoms in people whove been infected have been mostly mild and have included respiratory symptoms and conjunctivitis. None of the farmworkers with HPAI have been hospitalized for it, according to the CDC.

The biggest concern is ensuring farmworkers are safe by wearing personal protective equipment when handling sick or dead animals and getting tested if they develop symptoms. One of the biggest things people can do is change clothes and shower at work, Bowman said.

Are we prepared for a larger outbreak?

Solskin / Getty Images

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According to Adalja, surveillance and testing efforts have fallen short, which has allowed the virus to spread readily between animals.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced plans to ramp up testing in the coming weeks. The agency will partner with state veterinarians to bulk-test milk samples and have a better idea of where and how H5N1 is spreading.

This is crucial, because the more the virus spreads, the more chances it has to adapt to humans.

If we continue to see more infections in animals, especially pigs, and more sporadic infections in humans, the risk increases, as each infection is an opportunity for the virus to evolve a bit, Martinello said.

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If we start to see clusters of infections among people, the virus may have developed the ability to spread between humans. And, as we witnessed with the COVID-19 pandemic, novel viruses can circulate at a rapid pace. Scientists have developed vaccines against H5N1, but these vaccines are not yet available to the public, Martinello said.

The most important step you can take right now? Get vaccinated against seasonal influenza. Seasonal influenza is a much greater threat to people currently than H5N1 influenza, and getting vaccinated is a great way to protect yourself, he said.This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned a record number drone attacks on his country launched by Russia.

"Last night, Russia launched a record 145 Shaheds and other strike drones against Ukraine," Zelensky posted on X on Sunday, referring to Iranian-made kamikaze drones.

Russia has attacked Ukraine over the week with more than 800 guided aerial bombs, around 600 strike drones and nearly 20 missiles of various types, Zelensky said.

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"Such terror cannot be stopped with words, and the killing of children and the loss of loved ones cannot simply be forgotten.

"Security from terror is impossible without bold decisionsthis is clear for every country.

"Without justice, there is no lasting peace, and it is quite realistic for Ukraine to achieve it," the Ukrainian president wrote.

Russia has been regularly bombarding Ukraine since it launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbouring country in February 2022.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is convinced that achieving a lasting peace is "quite realistic for Ukraine".

Source: Zelenskyy on Facebook

Quote from Zelenskyy: "Security from terror is impossible without bold decisions  this is clear for every country.

Without justice, there is no lasting peace, and it is quite realistic for Ukraine to achieve it."

Details: The president stated that Russia has launched over 800 guided aerial bombs, about 600 attack drones and almost 20 missiles of various types on Ukraine over the past week.

Background: On the night of 9-10 November, Russian forces launched 145 drones to attack Ukraine. Ukrainian air defence units shot down 62 Russian UAVs.

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A pilot project in Luxembourg is reimagining how we build homes, and it could help solve both the housing crisis and reduce construction's environmental impact.

The commune of Niederanven has approved its first 3D-printed tiny house, following successful examples in Germany and Belgium, according to the Luxembourg Times.

This innovative 47-square-meter home is quick to build and designed with the planet in mind. The entire construction process will have a carbon footprint of just 4.4 tonnes (over 4.8 tons), much lower than traditional building methods. Plus, it's built to be self-sufficient with solar panels, and when it reaches the end of its life, all the construction materials can be reused.

Would you trust a home built by a 3D-printing robot?

Click your choice to see results and speak your mind

The project demonstrates how 3D-printing technology has evolved from a novelty into a practical sustainable housing solution. By employing small, otherwise unusable plots of land, these homes could unlock new possibilities for affordable housing in urban areas where space is at a premium.

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"This would enable housing to be created quickly, without cumbersome procedures," Mayor Fred Ternes said. Unlike traditional construction projects that drag on for months or years, this tiny house can be completed in just one month.

Luxembourg has hundreds of small plots across its 100 municipalities sitting empty because they're too small for conventional houses. These spaces could be transformed into comfortable, energy-efficient homes that ease housing pressure and minimize environmental impact.

For homeowners, the benefits are clear: lower energy bills thanks to solar power, reduced construction costs due to faster building times, and the satisfaction of knowing their home was built with environmental sustainability in mind.

While some politicians have expressed concern about the project's rapid timeline, the benefits of this approach are hard to ignore. With successful examples already operating in neighboring countries, we'll likely see more 3D-printed homes pop up across Europe in the coming years  and possibly in our own neighborhoods  sooner than we might think.

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.
Trainees from Tengani Community Technical College in Nsanje District pose for photos with certificates of honor after a three-day educational tour at the project site of the Marka-Bangula railway in southern Malawi, Nov. 8, 2024. China Railway 20th Bureau Group Corporation Limited (CR20G), the Chinese contractor rehabilitating the Marka-Bangula railway in southern Malawi, has welcomed trainees from local technical institutions to gain hands-on experience at the project site.(CR20G/Handout via Xinhua)

NSANJE, Malawi, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- China Railway 20th Bureau Group Corporation Limited (CR20G), the Chinese contractor rehabilitating the Marka-Bangula railway in southern Malawi, has welcomed trainees from local technical institutions to gain hands-on experience at the project site.

The company hosted its first group of bricklaying trainees from Tengani Community Technical College in Nsanje District for a three-day educational tour that concluded on Friday.

CR20G Lab Manager Geng Penghui told Xinhua that during the tour, Chinese technical experts guided the trainethees through various exercises, including concrete testing and laboratory techniques.

Geng emphasized that the program benefits both the trainees and the railway project, as it helps to transfer essential technical skills to the local workforce, potentially opening employment opportunities for the students.

"A local technician is very important for the society and, as a project, we need professional technicians -- good personnel to do the job -- and we hope that in the future we can employ the students and build the railway," Geng said.

"We hope this kind of cooperation will last longer and, in the future, we will train them not only in tests on fresh and concrete, bricks and blocks, coarse and fine aggregates, but also in surveys and other civil knowledge," he added.

Each trainee received a Certificate of Honor from CR20G at the end of the three-day educational tour.

The visit was well-received by the trainees and their college authorities. Rudith Msombelo, an instructor from the college who accompanied the students, praised CR20G's openness to the visit, highlighting the exposure it provided to practical skills and professional equipment.

Steven Ngundumu, a Level 2 bricklaying student, described the visit as a valuable experience, saying that the Chinese firm was an excellent choice to learn from thanks to the advanced equipment and techniques it uses. 

Trainees from Tengani Community Technical College in Nsanje District study at the project site of the Marka-Bangula railway in southern Malawi, Nov. 8, 2024. China Railway 20th Bureau Group Corporation Limited (CR20G), the Chinese contractor rehabilitating the Marka-Bangula railway in southern Malawi, has welcomed trainees from local technical institutions to gain hands-on experience at the project site.(CR20G/Handout via Xinhua)
Flagged off on October 2, 2024, by Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of Naval Staff, from Goa, the expedition is a part of the Indian Navy's continued efforts to promote gender equality and global maritime cooperation. During the 4900 nautical mile journey, the vessel crossed significant geographical milestones including the Equator and the Tropic of Capricorn.

The crew, comprising Lt Cdr Dilna K and Lt Cdr Roopa A, faced extreme weather conditions, with winds reaching 40 knots and sea states of up to 6. Despite these challenges, the crew maintained high spirits and remained in good health throughout the voyage.

The arrival of INSV Tarini at approximately 14:30h IST (1700 local time) on November 9 was marked with a warm welcome by Indian and Australian dignitaries, including the Consul General of India at Perth, the Defence Advisor from Canberra, and representatives from the Royal Australian Navy.

The reception also featured a cultural performance by the Tamil Association of Western Australia, adding a unique touch to the occasion.

https://x.com/indiannavy/status/1851630548407685464?t=897le0J4CIclTyrxHczywg&s=19

The expedition also underscores India's commitment to fostering stronger relationships with international maritime communities and serves as an ambassador of India's rich maritime heritage.

The expedition, which will make stops at four major international ports, continues to highlight India's commitment to sustainable global engagement and showcases the resilience and determination of the Navy's female sailors. (ANI)
Editor's Note

To make informed decisions, voters need accurate, timely and impartial information, and they need it in the language they speak. So, with generous support from the Yakima Free Press Fund, the Yakima Voter Project is providing free access to general election coverage by the Yakima Herald-Republic and El Sol de Yakima. To contribute to the Free Press Fund, visit www.yakimafreepress.org.
State lawmakers are considering making it a traffic violation to operate a vehicle in Arizona with an animal on the drivers lap. The violation would come with a fine. Do you agree?

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With just days to go for the first phase of polling in Jharkhand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday held a road show in Ranchi and two rallies - one in Bokaro and another in Gumla, where he slammed Congress and its allies for "attempting to create a divide between SCs, STs, and OBCs." He also said that Congress and its allies "can't see Adivasis on top," and have kept Jharkhand backward. PM Modi, launching a scathing attack on JMM and Congress alliance, during his rally in Bokaro, said, "BJP-led government is needed in Jharkhand to drive out infiltrators," He alleged that both Congress and JMM were attempting to create a divide between SCs, STs, and OBCs saying it enjoyed power by creating divisions. "Everyone needs to stay alert and aware of the major conspiracy by JMM and Congress. They can do anything for power." "Congress has always been opposed to the unity of ST, SC, and OBC communities. After independence, as long as our Dalit community remained divided, Congress enjoyed power at the Centre based on the policy of 'divide and rule'," he said. "However, once the communities united, Congress never again managed to form a government with a full majority at the Centre," the Prime Minister said. PM Modi said further said that if the BJP comes to power in Jharkhand, all the 'paper-leak mafias' and 'recruitment mafias' that were created by JMM-Congress, will be targeted and sent to jail. PM Modi said that the BJP will provide employment to thousands of youth without any 'kharchi-parchi', similarly, to what the party did in Haryana. "In Haryana, when we formed our government, we gave jobs to thousands of youth. We will do the same if the BJP will form the government in Jharkhand. When the government was formed in Haryana for the third historic time, we gave government job orders to thousands of youths without any 'kharchi-parchi'. In Haryana, 'kharchi' means till the time you don't give money, you won't get a job while 'parchi' means you won't get the job until a senior leader writes a letter. We have buried both any 'kharchi-parchi' in Haryana. We will do the same in Jharkhand also," PM Modi said. In Gumla, PM Modi said Congress and its allies "can't see Adivasis on top," and have kept Jharkhand backward. PM Modi admired the talent diligence, honesty and leadership of tribals. "This is the reason that there are a lot of Adivasi ministers in the BJP government," the PM said He further reminded the public that Congress "tried its best" to not let tribal daughter Droupadi Murmu become the President of India, and still continues to insult her. The PM said former Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren was also insulted. PM Modi further listed the schemes launched by the NDA government from Jharkhand, these schemes include Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana; The scheme facilitates micro credit/Loan up to Rs 10 lakhs to income generating micro enterprises, and Ayushman Bharat Yojana; the scheme aims to provide free access to health insurance coverage for low income earners. "We had launched MUDRA yojana from Dumka not Delhi. We had launched Ayunshman Yojana that provided Rs 5 lakh for free treatment from Jharkhand," PM Modi said. "We have also started the free treatment of people above 70 year old. I want to assure you, If anyone from your family above 70-years of age, your mother, father, grandfather if they need treatment, you don't neeed to worry about that. Thier son is sitting in Delhi," PM Modi spoke about health insurance coverage to all senior citizens aged 70 and above. PM Modi futher assured that BJP abide by the motto of 'Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas'. He alleged that Congress wants to "break" the unity of tribals, OBCs and Dalits. "BJP-NDA government abide by the motto of 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas'. By following this path Jharkhand will develop. However Congress and JMM have some other intentions. Congress knows that where tribals, OBCs and Dalits got united they were finished from those states. Congress wants to break the unity of SCs, STs and OBCs community. The want to take away the reservation. If you'll be divided in caste whether your powers recede or not. That's why I say; Ek Rahenge toh safe rahenge," PM Modi said. PM Modi concluded his Sunday in Jharkhand by holding a three km roadshow in Ranchi, where thousands of people gathered on both side of the road to show their support to Bharatiya Janata Party. Visuals of the roadshow showed people standing in long lines on either side of the road cheering and waving at the Prime Minister's convoy. Voting for the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly will be held in two phases on November 13 and 20, with vote counting scheduled for November 23. (ANI)
Filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri is set to captivate audiences once again with his latest project, 'The Delhi Files,' produced by Abhishek Agarwal. The announcement of the film has stirred excitement among fans, eagerly awaiting the new story he will bring to life. Agnihotri recently shared an exciting update: the film has officially started shooting.

Agnihotri took to social media, sharing a behind-the-scenes video that marks the films shoot commencement. The video features the team performing a Pooja on set, offering a first glimpse of the sprawling set designed to depict the era of the partition in Kolkata. Captioning his post, Agnihotri wrote:

"SHUBHARAMBH! With your blessings, the shooting of #TheDelhiFiles began today. A puja was conducted by all the devis of the crew. O Mother! Please give us the courage to tell this difficult tale with utmost honesty and fearlessly."

SHUBHARAMBH!



With your blessings, the shooting of #TheDelhiFiles began today. A puja was conducted by all the devis of the crew.



O Mother! Please give us the courage to tell this difficult tale with utmost honesty and fearlessly. pic.twitter.com/Wa57ryA2R4 November 10, 2024

Known for his dedication to historical accuracy, Agnihotri embarked on extensive research for 'The Delhi Files.' His journey took him across the country, from Kerala to Kolkata to Delhi, gathering insights and data. He read over 100 books and more than 200 articles, drawing from a wealth of literature on the events that form the film's foundation. His team also traveled across 20 states, examining more than 7,000 pages of research and over 1,000 archived articles to ensure authenticity.

The Delhi file: The Bengal Chapter will be directed by Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri and Jointly produced by Pallavi Joshi and Abhishek Agarwal. The film, presented by Tej Narayan Agarwal & I Am Buddha productions, will release worldwide on 15th August, 2025.
Bengaluru: 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 National MSME Cluster Outreach Programme, 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 governments 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.
In a significant development in the murder of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Baba Siddique, the Mumbai Police, in coordination with the Uttar Pradesh Police's Special Task Force (STF), arrested a shooter and two other individuals involved in the crime. The arrests were made in Uttar Pradesh, and the suspects are being transported to Mumbai for further interrogation.

Murder of Baba Siddique

On October 12, Baba Siddique, a prominent political figure, was shot in broad daylight near the office of his son, MLA Zeeshan Siddique, in Bandra, Mumbai. The attack, which involved three assailants, left Siddique with two gunshot wounds to his chest. Despite immediate medical attention and being rushed to Lilavati Hospital, Siddique succumbed to his injuries.

Key Arrests

The Mumbai Police Crime Branch, in a joint operation with the Uttar Pradesh STF, apprehended one of the shooters, Shiva Kumar, along with two other individuals who are believed to have played a role in the murder.

These individuals were arrested in Uttar Pradesh, and they are now being brought back to Mumbai for further questioning and investigation into the murder plot.

Involvement of Lawrence Bishnoi Gang

Earlier, the Mumbai Police had arrested Gaurav Vilas Apune, another shooter involved in the murder. Investigations have revealed that Apune, a member of the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang, was part of the backup planreferred to as "Plan B"to carry out the assassination. According to police reports, Apune had traveled to Jharkhand to refine his shooting skills in preparation for the attack.

Further investigation into the case has uncovered details about the careful planning behind the murder. Apune disclosed during questioning that "Plan B" had been devised as a contingency in case the primary plan failed.

Another accused, Rupesh Mohol, who was arrested earlier, had also traveled to Jharkhand with Apune to undergo firearm training in July. The mastermind of the operation, Shubham Lonkar, is believed to have sent both Mohol and Apune to Jharkhand, where they received specialized training, along with weapons for the execution of the crime.

Anmol Bishnoi's Alleged Role

Jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, along with his brother Anmol Bishnoi, is reportedly behind the planning and execution of Baba Siddique's murder. Anmol Bishnoi, a key figure in the gang's operations, is suspected to have been the mastermind who orchestrated the entire plot, with the assistance of his associates.

Ongoing Investigation

As the Mumbai Police continue to piece together the evidence, authorities are focusing on uncovering the full extent of the conspiracy and bringing all those involved to justice. With several arrests made and more details emerging, it appears the investigation is progressing rapidly, and more suspects could be apprehended in the coming days.

The authorities are determined to get to the bottom of the political assassination that has shaken Mumbai and the wider political landscape.

The case remains under intense scrutiny, with police promising to leave no stone unturned in their pursuit of justice for Baba Siddique and his family.
Taipei: Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) reported Chinese military activity on Sunday, detecting nine People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, five People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels and one official ship.

The Taiwanese MND stated that six of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ.

In a post on X, Taiwan's MND stated, " 9 PLA aircraft, 5 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 6 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern, southwestern and eastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded."

Chinese activity around Taiwan's strait has risen.

On Saturday, the Taiwanese MND detected 12 Chinese aircraft and five vessels around it.

In a post on X, it said, " 12 PLA aircraft, 5 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 9 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern, central and southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded."

China has increased its provocative incursions around Taiwan by 300 per cent since May, US Commander of Pacific Air Forces General Kevin Schneider said, adding that issues in the region may put to test the administration of US president-elect Donald Trump, as reported by Taipei Times.The General also said that China's tactics are just not reserved to China, but they show to the world that China achieves their goals, Taipei Times reported.

"Whether it's coming into the air defence identification zone [ADIZ] or crossing the center line within the Taiwan Strait, since the inauguration [of president William Lai], we have seen a 300 percent increase in those air activities," Schneider told NBC News, Taipei Times quoted.

From May to November last year, Chinese aircraft intruded into Taiwan's ADIZ 335 times, Ministry of National Defence data showed. In the same time this year, China entered the airspace at least 1,085 times, as per Taipei Times.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued his strong criticism of the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-Congress coalition in Jharkhand. He accused the alliance of sowing division among the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the state. Speaking at an election rally in Bokaro, Modi warned the people of Jharkhand against what he described as the "evil designs" and 'conspiracies' of the Congress-JMM alliance.

'OBC Unity Under Threat': Modi

Prime Minister Modi's comments centered around the unity of OBC communities, particularly in the Chotanagpur region, where more than 125 sub-castes are categorized as OBCs. He alleged that the Congress-JMM alliance was deliberately attempting to divide these communities by pitting one sub-caste against another.

Beware of Congress-JMMs attempts to divide the OBCs. They want to weaken the unity of OBCs, which has been a key pillar of social harmony in Jharkhand, Modi said. He further claimed that the Congress had been against the unity of Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and OBCs since India's independence, and that it had used this divide to retain power at the national level, enriching itself at the cost of these communities.

In a direct message to the OBCs, Modi warned, 'Ek rahoge toh safe rahoge' (If you stay united, you will be safe). He urged them to resist the divisive tactics of the Congress-JMM combine.

Amit Shahs Strong Remarks on Border Security

The Prime Ministers speech came a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah also launched a scathing attack on the JMM-Congress government in Jharkhand. Shah accused the ruling alliance of laying out a red carpet for Bangladeshi infiltrators who, according to him, were illegally settling in Jharkhand, grabbing land from tribal communities, taking away employment opportunities, and engaging in anti-national activities.

Shah assured the people of Jharkhand that a BJP-led government would take decisive action against such infiltrators. When the BJP comes to power, we will ensure that these infiltrators are deported, and not a single bird will be allowed to cross the border, Shah declared, underscoring the partys commitment to national security.

Jharkhand Assembly Elections

The political atmosphere in Jharkhand is charged as the state prepares for elections to its 81-member Legislative Assembly. The elections will be held in two phases, on November 13 and November 20.

In the 2019 Jharkhand Assembly elections, the JMM secured 30 seats, the BJP won 25, and the Congress bagged 16. However, in the 2014 elections, the BJP had performed much stronger, winning 37 seats, while the JMM secured 19, and the Congress just 6 seats.
EAM Jaishankar On PM Modi: External Affairs MInister S Jaishankar on Sunday spoke at length about his experience of working with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and how is he as a boss. While speaking at Aditya Birla 25th Silver Jubilee Scholarship Program, the EAM said that as a boss, PM Modi is demanding and he always comes prepared for discussions. Jaishankar emphasized that whenever someone is going to hold a discussion with the Prime Minister, he or she must be well prepared for it with all the required data.

"I have daily appraisal sessions...In a way, I would say he's honestly a demanding boss. I say that because he prepares. If you're discussing something, you have to be fully prepared. You have to know what you're talking about to make your argument or case. You must stand your ground and you must have the data, Jaishankar said.

#WATCH | Mumbai: When asked how is PM Modi as a boss, EAM Dr S Jaishankar says "I have daily appraisal sessions...In a way, I would say he's honestly a demanding boss. I say that because he prepares. If you're discussing something, you have to be fully prepared. You have to know pic.twitter.com/Np98WrJP4v  ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2024

Elaborating further about PM Modis operating style, the EAM said that he is very interactive and whenever he takes a call on any issue he gives latitude and operational freedom. Citing the example of the crisis in Ukraine following its war with Russia, the BJP MP explained how PM Modi gave freedom and room to operate and execute plans to ensure that people were successfully evacuated from the war-torn country.

A second characteristic I would say is that he is a very interactive boss...I have enjoyed working with him because he takes a call and then gives you that latitude. During the Ukraine crisis, he took a call that we needed to get people out. Do what it takes. Use the Air Force. Use civil aviation. Talk to people. Tell me what I have to do. If I have to make a phone call, I will do it. If you have to send ministers out there to do so. He gives you that operational freedom...It's not like, he's not tracking you, but he's not micromanaging you. I've enjoyed the experience of this job," he said.
Ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in Jharkhand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold a mega roadshow in Ranchi on Sunday.

Assam Chief Minister and Jharkhand BJP co-in-charge Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that Prime Minister Modi will hold a 'historic' 3 km roadshow in Ranchi.

"PM Modi will hold a historic 3 km roadshow in Ranchi, where a large number of people are expected to show up. It will be a historic moment," Sarma said, ANI reported.

A number of senior BJP leaders will also join the roadshow.

Last week, PM Modi addressed rallies in Chaibasa and Garhwa on November 5, a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah released the BJP's manifesto for Jharkhand assembly polls.

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, including 1.31 crore male voters, 1.29 crore female voters, 11.84 lakh first-time voters, and 66.84 lakh young voters, are eligible to cast their votes.

In the 2019 Assembly elections, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) won 30 seats, the BJP secured 25, and Congress won 16. In 2014, BJP won 37 seats, JMM won 19, and Congress secured just 6 seats.
Jammu And Kashmir News: A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Army's special forces died on Sunday, while three other soldiers sustained injuries in a gunfight with terrorists in a remote forest area in Jammu and Kashmirs Kishtwar district, news agency PTI reported, citing officials. The latest operation came as a part of an intensified hunt underway since the killing of two Village Defence Guards (VDGs) recently.

According to the Army, the deceased officer was identified as Naib Subedar Rakesh Kumar of 2 Para. According to PTI, the encounter broke out around 11 AM when joint search parties of the Army and police intercepted the terrorists in the Keshwan forest. It was just a few kilometres from the spot where the bullet-riddled bodies of VDGs Nazir Ahmad and Kuldeep Kumar were found.

On Thursday, a massive search operation was launched in the forests of Kuntwara and Keshwan in the evening after the terrorists abducted and killed the VDGs. In a post on X, the Army's Jammu-based White Knight Corps said, "Based on specific intelligence input regarding the presence of terrorists, a joint operation was launched by security forces in general area Bhart Ridge, Kishtwar. This is the same group which had abducted and killed 02 (two) innocent villagers (village defence guards). Contact was established and firefight ensued."

Briefing about the encounter with the terrorists, the officials said that four Army personnel, including the JCO, were injured in the initial gunfight and evacuated to a hospital. After arriving to the hospital, the condition of three of them was stated to be "critical." The JCO later succumbed to injuries.

"GOC (General Officer Commanding) White Knight Corps and all ranks salute the supreme sacrifice of braveheart, Nb Sub Rakesh Kumar of 2 Para (SF). Sub Rakesh was part of a joint CI (counter-insurgency) operation launched in the general area of Bhart Ridge Kishtwar. We stand with bereaved family in this hour of grief," the Army said in its latest tweet.

Earlier, a police spokesperson also confirmed that an encounter was underway with the terrorists responsible for the killing of the two VDGs. "Three or four terrorists are believed to be trapped in the area," the official said, as quoted by PTI. The officials said a massive search operation was going on till the last reports were received.

(With PTI Inputs)
New Delhi: Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who has been part of several landmark Supreme Court judgements such as scrapping the electoral bonds scheme and upholding abrogation of Article 370, will be sworn in as the 51st Chief Justice of India on Monday. President Droupadi Murmu will administer the oath of office at Rashtrapati Bhavan in a ceremony scheduled at 10 am.

Justice Khanna will succeed Justice DY Chandrachud, who retired on Sunday, and his term will last until May 13, 2025. The Centre officially notified Justice Khannas appointment on October 24 following Chief Justice Chandrachuds recommendation on October 16. Friday was the last working day of Justice Chandrachud as the CJI and he was given a rousing farewell by judges, lawyers and staff of the apex court and the high courts.

Justice Khanna, who served as a Supreme Court judge since January 2019, has been part of several landmark judgements such as upholding the sanctity of EVMs, scrapping the electoral bonds scheme, upholding the abrogation of Article 370 and the grant of interim bail to former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. Hailing from an illustrious Delhi-based family, Justice Khanna is the son of former Delhi High Court judge Justice Dev Raj Khanna and the nephew of prominent former apex court judge H R Khanna.

Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who was elevated as a judge of the Supreme Court on January 18, 2019, was a third-generation lawyer before being appointed as judge of the high court. He is driven by the zeal to reduce pendency and speed up justice delivery.

Justice H R Khanna, the uncle of Justice Khanna, hit the headlines by resigning in 1976 after he wrote a dissenting verdict in the infamous ADM Jabalpur case during the Emergency. The majority verdict of a Constitution bench, upholding the abrogation of fundamental rights during the Emergency, was considered a "black spot" on the judiciary. Justice H R Khanna declared the move unconstitutional and against the rule of law and paid a price as the then central government superseded him and made Justice M H Beg the next CJI.

Justice H R Khanna was part of the landmark verdict propounding the basic structure doctrine in the Kesavananda Bharati case of 1973.

Among the notable judgments of Justice Sanjiv Khanna in the Supreme Court is upholding the use of electronic voting machines in elections, saying the devices were secure and eliminated booth capturing and bogus voting. A bench headed by Justice Khanna, on April 26, termed the suspicion of manipulation of the EVMs "unfounded" and rejected the demand for reverting to the old paper ballot system. He was also part of the five-judge bench that declared the electoral bond scheme, meant for funding political parties, as unconstitutional.

Justice Khanna was a part of the five-judge bench, which upheld the Centre's 2019 decision abrogating Article 370 of the Constitution which granted a special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. It was the Justice Khanna-led bench, which for the first time, granted interim bail to Kejriwal, the then chief minister, till June 1 to campaign in the Lok Sabha elections in the excise policy scam cases. Born on May 14, 1960, he studied law at the Campus Law Centre of Delhi University.

Justice Khanna was the executive chairman of the National Legal Service Authority (NALSA). He enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi in 1983 and initially practised in the District Courts at the TisHazari complex here and later, in the Delhi High Court. He had a long tenure as the senior standing counsel for the Income Tax Department. In 2004, he was appointed as the standing counsel (Civil) for the National Capital Territory of Delhi. Justice Khanna had also argued in a number of criminal cases at the Delhi High Court as an additional public prosecutor and as an amicus curiae.
Maharashtra Polls: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday unveiled Bharatiya Janta Partys (BJP) manifesto, Vision Maharashtra @2028 for the Upcoming Assembly Elections on November 20. The event held in Mumbai was attended by senior party leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar, and Union Minister Piyush Goyal.

The senior BJP minister reiterated the party's vision for India's economic growth, highlighting the BJP's 25-point agenda focused on supporting women and farmers. At the event, Amit Shah stated that the BJPs manifesto genuinely represents the aspirations of the people of Maharashtra.

The union minister slammed the opposition alliance comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharad Pawar) by saying, "Maha Vikas Aghadi's schemes are formed in the greed of power, it is appeasement and an insult to ideologies." Amit Shah further asserted that everyone believes in promises of Mahayuti.

BJP's Poll Manifesto For Maharshtra

The manifesto pledges 25 lakh new jobs and a 10,000 stipend for 10 lakh students. It also promises new roads in over 45,000 villages and aims to reduce power bills by 30 percent, emphasising renewable energy sources.

The saffron party further promises monthly assistance under the Ladki Bahin scheme from 1,500 to 2,100. It also promises farmers an increase in loan waivers, along with food security and proper housing if the party returns to power. The manifesto further assures an increase in the old-age pension to 2,100 per month and vows to stabilize the prices of essential goods.

Reaffirming partys support for women empowerment, the manifesto features 50 lakh for Lakhpati Didis by 2027. After coming to power the BJP plans to introduce AI training in government schools, conduct a skill census, support entrepreneurs, provide financial aid to students from backward communities, and offer health insurance to the public.

According to Election Commission of India, out of total 8,86,76,946 voters, state has a total of 2,48,52,972 woman voters.
In a post shared on X, Captain Amarinder Singh honoured the army jawan and prayed for the speedy recovery of the three injured soldiers.

"Saluting the bravery of Naib Subedar Rakesh Kumar, who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty in Jammu and Kashmir fighting terrorists. Heartfelt condolences to his family & loved ones. Your sacrifice will never be forgotten. Praying to Waheguru ji for the speedy recovery of the 3 injured soldiers," Captain Amarinder Singh posted on X.

An Army jawan was killed in action during an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district.

In a post on X on Sunday, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the White Knight Corps and all ranks honoured the sacrifice of Naib Subedar Rakesh Kumar of 2 Para (SF).

"Sub Rakesh was part of a joint CT (counter-insurgency) operation launched in the general area of Bhart Ridge area of Kishtwar district on November 9, 2024. We stand with the bereaved family in this hour of grief," the post read.

Meanwhile, police reported an encounter between security forces and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district on Sunday.

According to Jammu and Kashmir police, the gunfight erupted in the Keshwan area, with three to four terrorists believed to be trapped in the area.

"Encounter begins at Keshwan Kishtwar between terrorists and Security forces. 3/4 terrorists are believed to be trapped. This is the same group which killed the 2 innocent villagers," J-K police said. (ANI)
Ahead of upcoming elections in Maharashtra, President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday launched the joint manifesto for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance and promises to give financial aid of Rs 3000 to women in the state.

Launching the joint manifesto of MVA, the Congress President said, "... Our five guarantees will be helpful in the welfare of all in Maharashtra. Every family will receive an annual aid of about Rs 3 lakh. Our Mahalakshmi scheme will give financial aid to all women, who will be given Rs 3000 each, every month... We will launch a free bus service for the women of Maharashtra... We will give an amount of Rs 50000 each to farmers who repay their loans on time."

Nationalist Congres Party (SCP) leader Supriya Sule, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal, Congress election-in-charge for Maharashtra Ramesh Chennithala, state Congress chief Nana Patole, Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Sanjay Raut and Arvind Sawant were also present in the event held in Mumbai.

MVA leaders led by Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge highlighted 'five guarantees' for Maharashtra including conducting a caste census in the state.

Kharge said, "Our 5 guarantees will be helpful in the welfare of all in Maharashtra. Every family will receive an annual aid of about Rs 3 lakh. Our Mahalakshmi scheme will give financial aid to all women, who will be given Rs 3000 each, every month. We will launch a free bus service for the women of Maharashtra."

As per the ECI, the polls are scheduled for November 20 and counting will be held on November 23.

(With ANI Inputs)
MUMBAI: Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole on Sunday rejected Union Home Minister Amit Shah's assertion that the principal opposition party has agreed to the Ulema Council's demand for 10 per cent quota for Muslims in jobs and education. Speaking at a rally in Malkapur in Buldhana in the afternoon, Shah, the BJP's main strategist, said Patole had agreed to the Ulema Council's demand for Muslim reservations.

"Patole has agreed to end reservations for SCs. STs and OBCs and give it to Muslims as demanded by the Ulema Council," Shah said. The demand for 10 per cent quota for the Muslim community would eat into the benefits of Dalits, tribals and Other Backward Classes, since there is a 50 per cent cap on quota and any increase will come at the cost of existing ones, he told the gathering.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders' lust for power has blinded them to long-term consequences of their actions on marginalised communities, Shah asserted. Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Patole rejected Shah's claim on Congress accepting the Muslim quota demand. "We (MVA) are fighting the election on core issues and will not be drawn into the Hindu-Muslim fake narrative," Patole said.

Speaking in Mumbai earlier in the day, Shah had said "our Constitution does not provide reservations based on religion" but the Congress was promising such quotas before coming to power. Maharashtra polls will be held on November 20, while votes will be counted on November 23.
Jharkhand Assembly Polls: Slamming the Hemant Soren-led government in Jharkhand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) comes to power in the state, all the 'paper-leak mafias' and 'recruitment mafias' that were created by JMM-Congress will be targeted and sent to jail. Addressing a rally in Bokaro, PM Modi emphasized the issue of unemployment in the state, saying that if the saffron party comes to power, it will provide employment to thousands of youth without any 'kharchi-parchi'.

Drawing parallels with Haryana, the Prime Minister asserted that earlier, in Haryana, people had to pay a huge sum of money and wait for a letter from leaders to get a job, but when the BJP, which formed the government in the state, made the 'kharchi-parchi' system disappear.

Promising jobs to the youth of Jharkhand, the Prime Minister said, "In Haryana, when we formed our government, we gave jobs to thousands of youth. We will do the same if the BJP forms the government in Jharkhand.

When the government was formed in Haryana for the third historic time, we gave government job orders to thousands of youths without any 'kharchi-parchi'. In Haryana, 'kharchi' means till the time you don't give money, you won't get a job, while 'parchi' means you won't get the job until a senior leader writes a letter. We have buried both 'kharchi-parchi' in Haryana. We will do the same in Jharkhand also, he further stated.

Besides the issue of jobs and employment, PM Modi also cornered the JMM-Congress coalition in Jharkhand over the issue of paper leaks and 'recruitment mafia saying that the 'mafias created by the ruling coalition will be targeted and all the people who have played with the future of the youth of Jharkhand will be sent to jail.

"Here, we will have one more target of destroying the 'paper-leak mafia' and 'recruitment mafia' created by the JMM and Congress. These paper leaks and recruitment mafias, created by JMM-Congress, will be targeted, and all such people who have played with the future of youth in Jharkhand will be sent to jail," he said. "...I want to promise you (people), once the government is formed, to give these corrupt people the strictest punishment, we will take this fight to the court. Your money will be spent on you only," the Prime Minister said.

Elaborating on the development works in Jharkhand, PM Modi said that their government has spent lakhs of crores of rupees on the development of Jharkhand, resulting in the renovation of more than 50 railway stations of the state, including Bokaro.

"We send the money of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi directly to the bank accounts of the farmers of Jharkhand, and they receive the entire amount. Similarly, there are many highway, railway, and airport works on which the central government spends directly; nobody gets a chance to cut corners. Our government has also spent lakhs of crores of rupees in Jharkhand. More than 50 railway stations in Jharkhand are renovated with advanced technologies, including Bokaro railway station," the Prime Minister said.

Referring to the recently constructed airport in Bokaro, PM Modi said that it's his dream that people who wear "slippers" would travel in airplanes.

"Today, there is an airport in Bokaro. When the BJP forms government here, airline services will commence. It's my dream that people who wear 'slippers', will go in the airplane... The BJP-NDA government is promoting new industries. We are also opening old, closed factories in Jharkhand. Sindri fertilizer factory was also closed due to the bad policies of the previous governments... We started the Sindri fertilizer factory... Due to this, thousands of youth of Jharkhand have gotten employment," the Prime Minister said.

PM Modi also said that a BJP government is necessary in the state to drive out infiltrators. "BJP-led government is needed in Jharkhand to drive out infiltrators," he said. He alleged that both Congress and JMM were attempting to create a divide between SCs, STs, and OBCs, saying it enjoyed power by creating divisions.

"Everyone needs to stay alert and aware of the major conspiracy by JMM and Congress. They can do anything for power," the PM stated. "Congress has always been opposed to the unity of ST, SC, and OBC communities. After independence, as long as our Dalit community remained divided, Congress enjoyed power at the Centre based on the policy of 'divide and rule'," he said. "However, once the communities united, Congress never again managed to form a government with a full majority at the Centre," the Prime Minister said.

Voting for the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly will be held in two phases on November 13 and 20, with vote counting scheduled for November 23.
Maharashtra Elections 2024: The ruling alliance in Maharashtra must be removed from power as it is not concerned about the suffering of farmers due to drop in prices for crops, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar said on Sunday. He also claimed that the BJP was aiming for 400 seats in the Lok Sabha polls to change the Constitution but ended up being dependent on Nitish Kumars JD(U) and N Chandrababu Naidus TDP to form the government.

Addressing a rally in the Gangapur constituency in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district ahead of the November 20 assembly polls, he said prices for crops like sugarcane, soybean and jowar have plummeted. Farmers who satiate the hunger of the country are in distress, but the ruling parties are not concerned. Such people have no right to be in power. They must be unseated. In the last nine months, 950 farmers have committed suicide. This is because they cannot recover capital investment, leading to burden of loans," he said.

When the NCP-Congress was in power in Maharashtra, farm loans of Rs 71,000 crore were waived, and there was a need for another round of waiver urgently, he said. But the Union government is not bothered, Pawar asserted. In Gangapur, BJP's sitting MLA Prashant Bamb is pitted against NCP (SP) candidate Satish Chavan.

Addressing a rally in Ghanswangi constituency to canvass for his party candidate and former Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope, the veteran politician said MVA will conduct caste census if voted to power. A caste census is essential for ensuring that communities receive their rightful entitlements based on their population and needs, he said.

The BJP was aiming for over 400 seats in the Lok Sabha elections as it wanted to change the Constitution, but people thwarted the plan, he claimed. The saffron party had to rely on the support of JD(U) and TDP, he said. He reiterated Maha Vikas Aghadis promise of monthly financial assistance of Rs 3,000 to women and health insurance of Rs 25 lakh for every family, besides farm loan waiver. MVA consists of Congress, NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT).

Pawar urged citizens to vote for Tope, recalling his commendable work as health minister during the COVID pandemic. Tope accused the ruling Mahayuti dispensation, comprising BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP, of giving step-motherly treatment to his constituency and blocking its development.

The Ghanswangi seat is set for a riveting contest. Besides Tope from MVA and Shiv Senas Hikmant Udhan as Mahayuti nominee, BJP rebel Satish Ghadge and Sena (UBT) rebel Shivaji Chothe are also in the fray as independents. Maharashtra assembly polls will be held on November 20 and votes will be counted on November 23.
New Delhi: Supreme Court issued its first guidelines aimed at curbing arbitrary demolitions by state authorities on Wednesday, stating that citizens' rights cannot be suppressed under the threat of property destruction. The top court noted that bulldozer justice is incompatible with a society governed by the rule of law.

While announcing the verdict, Justice J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, declared, 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,"

Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, leading a Supreme Court bench, stated that using bulldozers as a form of justice is foreign to any civilized legal system. The bench said that authorities must follow proper legal procedures before taking action to remove illegal encroachments or unauthorised structures.

"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," PTI quoted the verdict delivered on November 6.

SCs Guidelines On Bulldozer Demolition

The bench stated that municipal laws and town-planning regulations already have sufficient provisions to address illegal encroachments. In addition to that, the Supreme Court outlined six mandatory steps before any property can be demolished, even for development projects:

1. Authorities must verify land records and maps.

2. A proper survey to identify actual encroachments must be conducted.

3. Written notices must be issued to those accused of encroaching.

4. Objections must be considered, and reasoned orders should be issued.

5. Adequate time must be given for voluntary removal of encroachments.

6. Additional land should be legally acquired if needed.

The guidelines were introduced as the Supreme Court delivered its verdict on a case involving the 2019 demolition of a house in Uttar Pradeshs Maharajganj district. The Supreme Court further ordered the UP government to provide an interim compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the petitioner and directed the states chief secretary to begin disciplinary action and file criminal charges against the officials and contractors involved in the unauthorized demolition of the house. The court noted that the demolition was carried out without notice or documentation to justify road expansion in the area.

(With inputs from PTI)
Chennai: The Tamil film industry is mourning the demise of veteran actor Delhi Ganesh, who passed away aged 80 on Saturday night.

Known for his versatility and ability to bring unforgettable characters to life on screen, Ganesh's death marks the end of an era in Tamil cinema.

Ganesh's family confirmed his demise in a heartfelt statement, revealing that the actor passed away at around 11 pm on Saturday due to health complications.

His mortal remains were placed at his residence in Ramapuram, Chennai, where friends, family, and colleagues paid their final respects.

Among the first to offer condolences were prominent actors Karthi and Sivakumar, along with several others from the film fraternity, including Senthil, Radha Ravi, and Santhana Bharathi.

In a tribute to the late actor, Tamil star Karthi wrote on social media, "Saddened by the demise of Delhi Ganesh sir. His iconic roles in numerous films and his ability to bring to life unforgettable characters on screen will forever be etched in the history of Tamil cinema. You will be deeply missed, sir."

Saddened by the demise of Delhi Ganesh sir. His iconic roles in numerous films and his ability to bring to life, unforgettable characters on screen will forever be etched in the history of Tamil cinema. You will be deeply missed sir.  Karthi (@Karthi_Offl) November 10, 2024

Karthi, accompanied by his father Sivakumar, visited Ganesh's residence to pay their respects on Sunday morning.

Actor Sriman, who also shared a close bond with the actor, remembered Ganesh as a "versatile actor" and expressed his grief, saying, "Physically we will miss you, but your performance and your screen presence will live forever. Miss you sir."

Versatile actor Respected

Delhi Ganesh sir

May your soul rest in peace

Physically we will miss you

But your performance your screen presence will be alive for ever

Miss you sir pic.twitter.com/69wpyK4MOq  actor sriman (@ActorSriman) November 10, 2024

Delhi Ganesh's career spanned over four decades, during which he appeared in over 400 films. His versatility in playing a wide range of roles--from comic relief to intense supporting characters--earned him a special place in the hearts of audiences and filmmakers alike.

His career took off in 1976 when he made his debut in K. Balachander's 'Pattina Pravesam'. Balachander, who also gave him the screen name "Delhi Ganesh," recognized the actor's potential early on.

Over the years, Ganesh built a strong legacy, starring alongside some of Tamil cinema's biggest names, including Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan.

Some of his most memorable performances include 'Sindhu Bhairavi' (1985), 'Nayakan' (1987), 'Michael Madana Kama Rajan' (1990), and 'Thenali' (2000).

His ability to evoke both humour and deep emotion in his roles earned him widespread acclaim and made him one of the most respected character actors in the industry.

Notable directors such as Suresh Krissna, who worked with Ganesh in several films, shared their sorrow following the news of his death.

"Delhi Ganesh Sir's passing is a profound loss," Krissna wrote, adding, "From working together with KB Sir to his remarkable roles in films like 'Aahaa', 'Sangamam', and 'Baba', he was both a phenomenal actor and a dear friend. He will forever live on in my films and in the legacy of our cinema."

Ganesh's exceptional contributions to Tamil cinema were widely recognized. He received the Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize for his performance in 'Pasi' (1979) and was honoured with the prestigious Kalaimamani award in 1994 by then Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.

In the later stages of his career, Ganesh also ventured into television and short films, continually engaging audiences with his unique style

His cameo as Alfred Pennyworth in the short film 'What If Batman Was from Chennai' was especially well received, showcasing his ability to bring depth to even the smallest of roles.

Ganesh's funeral will take place on Monday, November 11. As fans, colleagues, and the entire film industry come to terms with his loss, the actor's legacy remains intact in the many characters he immortalized on screen.
New Delhi: South KoreanAmerican star Don Lee shares poster of Hombale Films Salaar: Part 2  Shouryaanga Parvam, fans speculate, if he is going to be the part of the much anticipated sequel. The way Hombale Films' Salaar: Part 1  Ceasefire created a storm upon its release has undoubtedly made its sequel, 'Salaar: Part 2  Shouryaanga Parvam', one of the biggest and most anticipated film ever.

The masses have eagerly awaited this film, and amidst the rising excitement among fans, South KoreanAmerican star Don Lee shared the poster of 'Salaar: Part 2  Shouryaanga Parvam', sparking a frenzy on social media and leading to fan speculation about his possible presence in the sequel.

As soon as Don Lee shared new poster Conversations became so intense that his Instagram account was temporarily blocked due to high traffic.

Don Lee is one of Hollywoods biggest stars, with immense popularity across East Asia. His potential collaboration with Prabhas would make this one of the biggest partnerships.

Earlier, Hombale Films recently announced a three-film deal with Prabhas, showcasing their investment and commitment to the Salaar franchise. Recently, the maker shared a video announcing the start of the journey for Salaar: Part 2  Shouryaanga Parvam, which flooded the comments section with fans eagerly awaiting the film.

Have A Look At The Post:

Salaar: Part 1  Ceasefire broke records with its Hindi TV premiere, attracting an incredible 30 million viewers. After grossing over 700 crore at the box office and maintaining its position as one of the top trending films on OTT for over 200 days.

The world of Khansaar has fascinated global audiences and they are all raving about it. 'Salaar Part 2: Shouryanga Parvam' all set for its release in 2026.
Realme GT 7 Pro India Launch: Chinese smartphone brand Realme has announced the launch date of the Realme GT 7 Pro in India. This development comes hours before the flagship smartphone makes its debut in China today. Notably, the company claims that the Realme GT 7 Pro will be the first smartphone in the Indian market to feature the new Snapdragon 8 Gen Elite processor.

The company will launch the Realme GT 7 Pro smartphone in the country on November 26. It will be a true-blue flagship with top-end features, expected to retail in the premium segment in India. The upcoming handset will be available in India via Realmes official website and e-commerce platform Amazon.

Moreover, the company is likely to introduce AI Game Super Resolution technology in gaming, which uses artificial intelligence to upscale in-game visuals to as high as 1.5K resolution. The Realme GT 7 Pro is expected to be available in Mars Orange, Star Trail Titanium, and Light Gamut White colour options.

It is important to note that the Realme GT 7 Pro is already launched China. It is expected that the features and price could be same as phone launched in the chinese market.

Realme GT 7 Pro Price In India (Expected)

It is available in several configurations and price points in China. The 12GB RAM with 256GB storage variant is priced at CNY 3,699, which is approximately Rs 43,900. For the 12GB RAM and 512GB storage model, the cost rises to CNY 3,999, about Rs 47,400.

The 16GB RAM with 256GB storage version is available for CNY 3,899, roughly Rs 46,200, while the 16GB RAM and 512GB model is priced at CNY 4,299, around Rs 51,000. The highest configuration, offering 16GB RAM and 1TB storage, is priced at CNY 4,799, approximately Rs 56,900.

Realme GT 7 Pro Specifications (Expected)

The Realme GT 7 Pro is expected to feature a stunning 6.78-inch 8T LTPO Samsung Eco2 1.5K OLED display with Dolby Vision, promising vibrant visuals and smooth transitions. The handset could be powered by a robust Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, coupled with an Adreno GPU to enhance gaming and graphics performance.

It could be fueled by a large 6,500mAh silicon-carbon negative electrode battery with support for 120W fast charging, ensuring extended usage with minimal downtime. Running on the Android 15-based Realme UI, the GT 7 Pro offers a seamless, user-friendly experience.

On the camera front, the handset is equipped with a 50MP primary camera with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), a 50MP periscope lens for high-quality zoom, and an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, making it versatile for capturing various perspectives.

For selfies and video calls, it has a 16MP front-facing camera. Connectivity options are comprehensive, with 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.4, GPS, NFC, and a USB Type-C port for charging.

The Realme GT 7 Pro is likely to incorporate advanced AI features, including AI Sketch to Image, AI Motion Deblur, AI Telephoto Ultra Clarity, and AI Game Super Resolution, adding to its capabilities in photography, motion clarity, and gaming.
Canadian authorities are on high alert, watching the US border closely for a potential rise in asylum seekers after Donald Trump's victory over Kamala Harris. Reportedly, many undocumented migrants, especially from minority communities, are expected to seek refuge in Canada due to the new administration's plan to carry out the largest mass deportation in US history.

Reportedly, during his campaign, Trump repeatedly called immigrants "poisoning the blood of our country," which has raised fears that his strict immigration policies will force more people to flee to Canada for safety.

"We're on high alert. All of our eyes are looking at the border to see what's going to happen... because we know that Trump's stance on immigration might drive up illegal and irregular migration to Canada," a Royal Canadian Mounted Police spokesman, Sergeant Charles Poirier said, Hindustan times reported citing AFP.

According to the reports, he warned that the worst-case scenario would involve a significant increase in border crossings, with large numbers of people entering Canada. "Let's say we had 100 people per day entering across the border, then it's going to be hard because our officers will basically have to cover huge distances in order to arrest everyone," he added, during a conversation with Reuters," he said.

According to the reports, Canada is already facing a surge in refugee claims, with nearly 20,000 filed in July alone and over 250,000 still pending. The FCJ Refugee Centre in Toronto, which supports dozens of new asylum-seekers each week, is bracing for the challenges ahead. Founder Loly Rico has expressed concerns about the additional strain the upcoming winter could place on the already overwhelmed system.
Ottawa: The priest of a Hindu temple in the Canadian city of Brampton has been suspended for spreading "violent rhetoric" during recent clashes between protesters carrying Khalistani flags and the people present there.

On November 3, the protest occurred at the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton and unverified videos circulating on social media appeared to show demonstrators holding banners in support of Khalistan. The videos showed fist fights and people striking each other with poles on what appears to be the grounds surrounding the temple.

The protestors carrying Khalistani flags clashed with people and disrupted a consular event co-organised by the temple authorities and the Indian Consulate.

On Wednesday, a statement from the Hindu Sabha Mandir said the suspension was due to the priest's "controversial involvement" with protesters on Sunday, but did not elaborate, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

Taking to X, Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said the priest spread "violent rhetoric," asking the community not to respond to violence and hate.

"This is leadership that is helpful. The vast majority of Sikh Canadians and Hindu Canadians want to live in harmony and dont tolerate violence. Hindu Sabha Mandir President Madhusudan Lama has suspended the pundit who spread violent rhetoric. The Ontario Sikhs and Gurdwara Council denounced the acts of violence at the Hindu Sabha on Sunday night," Brown said in the post.

"Remember we all have more in common than what divides us. In tense times, we cant let the agitators fuel the flames of division. The leadership of both Sikh and Hindu communities in the GTA do not want this division, hate and violence. I am asking everyone in the community to not respond to violence and hate. Law enforcement will be there to respond. This is their job. We must continue to be the country where the rule of law is followed," the post further read.

The violence initially broke out at the Hindu temple in Brampton on Sunday afternoon after members of a group called Sikhs for Justice held a protest while Indian consular officials were visiting. Officers were dispatched to the property around noon, Peel police said.

The Sunday incident was condemned by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who said every Canadian has the right to practise their faith freely and safely.

Trudeau thanked the local authorities for the swift response to protect the community and probe this incident.

India condemned the attack with an expectation that those indulging in violence "will be prosecuted".

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 relations between India and Canada came under severe strain following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations in September last year of a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in Khalistan extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar's killing.

New Delhi rejected Trudeau's charges as "absurd".

India has been maintaining that the main issue between the two countries is that of Canada giving space to pro-Khalistan elements operating from Canadian soil with impunity.
Hailing the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) over its manifesto for the Maharashtra assembly elections, senior Congress leader TS Singh Deo on Sunday said that it is a very good manifesto for the best interest of the people of Maharashtra and it will do overall development of the state. "It is a very good manifesto for the best interest of the people of Maharashtra, its development, its socio-economic guarantees to the deprived sections of society...Overall development of Maharashtra with manufacturing, everything is there," said TS Singh Deo. Lashing out at the Union Home Minister Amit Shah for criticising the MVA manifesto, the senior Congress leader said, "If development is appeasement, then sure, we would like to appease...Sadly, a person who is the Home Minister of the country doesn't know that we are one nation, that we are all together. He seems to be so insecure for whatever reasons, that he feels that the country is in parts...Where is this 'alag' and 'batenge toh katenge'? They want to do that. They want to have sections so that they have some vote share or some vote bank somewhere. Congress has always been all-inclusive. We want to take everybody along..." Earlier in the day, while addressing a public rally in Maharashtra's Buldhana, Amit Shah said, "...Maha Vikas Aghadi has given a lot of guarantees. Rahul Gandhi was angry with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge because he spoke the truth and said that only those promises should be made which can be fulfilled. The Congress party did not fulfil the guarantees it gave in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana. Maha Vikas Aghadi's guarantee is a guarantee of lies, corruption, appeasement..." 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. (ANI)
The United States President-elect Donald Trump has secured a victory in Arizona, defeating Democratic opponent Kamala Harris across all seven swing states in the 2024 presidential election, reported PTI. Donald Trumps win in Arizona has boosted his electoral college count to 312, surpassing Vice President Kamala Harriss 226.

These battleground states included Arizona, Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia.

Arizona contributes 11 electoral votes to this tally. Meanwhile, the Republican Party has regained control of the Senate with 52 seats while the Democrats have 47. Trumps party is also poised to secure its majority in the House of Representatives, so far it has secured 216 seats against 209 of the Democrats. The majority mark is 218.

Reversing the 2020 win by President Joe Biden, Donald Trump has reclaimed Arizona for the Republicans. Biden was the first Democrat to carry the state since Bill Clinton in 1996. Trump's campaign in Arizona focused heavily on border security, immigration, and crimes linked to undocumented immigrants.

Arizona marks the sixth state that Donald Trump has flipped from President Joe Bidens 2020 Electoral College win. Alongside Arizona, Trump also reclaimed Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsinall states Biden had previously won.

Trump is set to be sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on January 20.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly confirmed that he gave the green light to a deadly military operation targeting Hezbollah militants in Lebanon in September.

The attack, which involved remotely detonated explosions on pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah members, resulted in the deaths of nearly 40 people and left around 3,000 others injured.

Netanyahu's admission came on Sunday, following a report by his spokesperson Omer Dostri, who stated that the Prime Minister had approved the operation.

Prior to this, Israel had neither confirmed nor denied its involvement in the attack, which has been widely attributed to Israeli forces. The explosions, set off remotely, targeted communication devices used by Hezbollah members, a tactic that has drawn sharp criticism from various quarters.

Lebanon Files Complaint with the UN

In response to the September attack, Lebanon has lodged an official complaint with the United Nations. The Lebanese government took the issue to the International Labour Organization (ILO), a major U.N. body that addresses international labor standards and disputes.

The complaint was formally submitted in Geneva by Lebanese Labor Minister Moustafa Bayram, who condemned the attack as a dangerous escalation in the methods of modern warfare.

Bayram warned that the use of such tactics could set a dangerous precedent, allowing others to avoid international humanitarian laws and apply similar methods in future conflicts.

Hezbollah's Retaliatory Strikes

The pager attack comes amid an increasingly volatile situation in Lebanon, where Hezbollah has been involved in escalating hostilities with Israel since late September. Following Israel's aggressive airstrikes against Hezbollah positions and its subsequent ground troop deployment in southern Lebanon, Hezbollah launched a series of retaliatory strikes on Israel.

The conflict between Hezbollah and Israel intensified after Hezbollah's support for Hamas during the ongoing war in Gaza, which began with the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel.

The situation has raised significant concerns about the potential for a wider regional conflict, with both Hezbollah and Israel showing little inclination to de-escalate the violence in the near future.
Arshdeep Dalla, a prominent Khalistani terrorist and close associate of the slain Hardeep Singh Nijjar, has reportedly been arrested in Canada.While there is no official confirmation from Canadian authorities regarding his detention, the news has raised significant concerns.

Shootout Leads to Detention

According to the media reports, the detention of Arshdeep Dalla allegedly follows a shootout that occurred on the night of October 27-28, 2023, in Canada. Security agencies were reportedly tracking Dallas involvement in the shootout, and Canadian authorities are understood to have detained him in connection with the incident.

However, as of now, it is unclear whether Dalla was released shortly after his arrest or remains in custody.

Dallas Role in Khalistani Extremism

Arshdeep Dalla has long been a key figure in the Khalistani movement and was considered the de facto leader of the Khalistani Tiger Force (KTF) following the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The KTF is a notorious terrorist group that advocates for the creation of a separate Sikh state, Khalistan, and has been involved in various violent activities.

In recent months, Dalla has made headlines for his direct involvement in criminal activities in Punjab, India, including orchestrating multiple targeted killings. Notably, in September 2023, Dalla claimed responsibility for the assassination of Baljinder Singh Balli, a Congress leader from Moga, Punjab.

Dalla alleged that Balli had ruined his life and was responsible for his mother's arrest, motivating him to take violent revenge.

Criminal Activities and Arrest Warrants

Arshdeep Dalla has been on Indias National Investigation Agency (NIA) most-wanted list for several years due to his suspected involvement in orchestrating criminal activities across Punjab. He is believed to have been operating from his base in Canada, coordinating attacks and recruiting for Khalistani terror cells.

Over the past few years, Punjab Police have uncovered several modules linked to Dalla, with authorities seizing weapons, explosives, and arresting many of his associates.

In addition to his role in terrorism, Dalla is linked to numerous targeted killings, with the NIA accusing him of orchestrating violence in Punjab from abroad.

Tensions Between India and Canada

Dallas detention comes at a time of heightened tensions between India and Canada. The relationship between the two countries has deteriorated significantly since September 2023, when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made allegations of potential Indian government involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

These allegations were swiftly rejected by New Delhi, which has vehemently denied any role in the incident.

The strained diplomatic ties were further aggravated by a series of violent incidents involving Khalistani extremists in Canada, including the recent attack on the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton on November 3, 2023. The assault on the Hindu temple sparked protests by Hindu groups and strong condemnation from the Indian government, which called for the prosecution of those involved.
A portrait of Alan Turing, one of the foundational figures in Artificial Intelligence (AI), recently sold for over a million dollars at auctionbut what made it unique was that it was painted by Ai-Da, the worlds first humanoid robot artist.

Titled A.I God, the artwork depicting the renowned British mathematician was auctioned at Sothebys Digital Art Sale, where it fetched an impressive $1,084,800 (approximately Rs 9.15 crore), far surpassing the organizers initial estimate of $180,000 (about Rs 1.5 crore).

The painting portrays Turing as a deity-like figure of AI, attracting a total of 27 bids before it was ultimately sold to an anonymous buyer in the United States, according to The New York Times.

Who is Ai-Da?

Named after Ada Lovelace, the 19th-century mathematician often celebrated as the worlds first computer programmer, Ai-Da is a humanoid robot developed in 2019. Aidan Meller, a former gallery owner and modern art expert, created Ai-Da in collaboration with a team of 30 professionals, including AI researchers from Oxford and Birmingham universities.

Designed to resemble a human woman with lifelike facial features and a bob of brown hair, Ai-Da is equipped with cameras in her eyes, AI-driven algorithms, and a robotic arm that allows her to draw and paint. She is capable of drawing and painting using cameras in her eyes, AI algorithms, and her robotic arm, reads the official website of the humanoid artist.

Ai-Da Robot explains the theme of the artwork 'AI God,' watch the video here:

Ai-Das creator, Meller, explained that he had asked the humanoid to create artwork for an AI conference organized by the United Nations. The robot suggested a portrait of Turing, known for his early predictions about AIs potential back in the 1950s.

How Did Ai-Da Create the Portrait?

To create the portrait, Ai-Da analyzed a photograph of Turing and produced approximately 15 individual paintings of different parts of his face. Three of these portraits, along with a painting of a decryption machine Turing had used, were then scanned and uploaded into a computer. Utilizing Ai-Das underlying language model, the images were combined to form a single painting, which was printed using a 3-D textured printer.

As reported by The Times, studio assistants transferred the final portrait onto canvas, with Ai-Da adding further marks and textures to complete the piece.

It is about the transferral of agency onto these machines [...] The artwork is saying that we are going into a period where we ask algorithms about what partner we want, what job we want, even what babies we want, Meller remarked, reflecting on the broader implications of the robots creation and the increasing role of AI in human decision-making.
Gaza Ceasefire Deal: Qatar has stalled the mediation efforts for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal until the parties show their willingness and seriousness to end the brutal war and the ongoing suffering of civilians. Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed bin Mohammed al-Ansari stated that Israel, Hamas, and the United States had been notified 10 days earlier that Qatar would halt its mediation efforts if an agreement wasnt reached in that round.

This decision reportedly came after growing frustration over the lack of progress toward a ceasefire in Gaza. Notably, Qatar, along with the US and Egypt, has spent months in unsuccessful negotiations aimed at securing a truce and arranging the release of hostages and prisoners.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs @majedalansari : Qatar's efforts to mediate between Hamas and Israel are currently stalled #MOFAQatar pic.twitter.com/pvHFKuxqA2  Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) November 9, 2024

On reports of Qatar ousting militant group Hamas leadership from the country, the statement quoted foreign ministry spokesperson Ansaris remarks to a Qatar News Agency (QNA) stating, Media reports regarding the Hamas office in Doha [are] inaccurate  the main goal of the office in Qatar is to be a channel of communication between the concerned parties, and this channel has contributed to achieving a ceasefire in previous stages.

Qatar, which hosts a large U.S. military base, has been home to Hamas's political leadership since 2012 with approval from Washington. Following Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel last year, both Qatari and U.S. officials noted that Hamas leaders would continue to stay in Doha as long as their presence supported communication efforts.

However, the statement indicates that Qatars move is likely a temporary stance and it is likely to resume mediation efforts if both Tel Aviv and Hamas show serious intent to end the brutal war and suffering of civilians caused by it.

A US official in Washington stated that the Biden administration had advised Qatar two weeks ago that keeping Hamass office open in Doha was no longer productive and suggested the delegation be expelled, reported PTI. After Hamas turned down the latest ceasefire proposal, Qatar accepted this recommendation and notified the Hamas delegation of the decision 10 days ago, according to a senior US official.

Hamas has repeatedly demanded an end to the war and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza as a condition for any ceasefire. Meanwhile, Israel is firm on securing the release of all hostages and maintaining a presence in Gaza.

With these opposing conditions, there remains no resolution in sight for the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza or the parallel conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Lahore, Multan AQI News: Pakistan is currently grappling with a severe pollution crisis, with Air Quality Index (AQI) levels exceeding 1000 in multiple cities. Lahore previously recorded an AQI of 1300, but now Multan has reached an alarming 2135 AQI, making it the most polluted city globally. The choking pollution levels have led Pakistan to impose lockdowns in seven cities.

According to the Pakistani newspaper Dawn, the smog situation in Punjab province is worsening rapidly. On Friday morning, Multans AQI shot past 2000, triggering a state of emergency as the provincial government implemented drastic measures like citywide lockdowns to curb pollution levels. In response, Punjab has ordered parks and museums to remain closed until November 17.

The Swiss air quality monitor IQ Air reports that nearby districts including Bahawalpur, Muzaffargarh, and Khanewal are also experiencing extreme smog, which has reduced road visibility to nearly zero. Conditions have deteriorated so severely that Nishtar Hospital, Multan's largest medical facility, has set up dedicated smog counters in its outpatient and emergency departments to assist patients impacted by the toxic air.

To combat the crisis, Multans Deputy Commissioner Waseem Hamid Sindhu imposed a "smart lockdown" on Friday, mandating that all markets close by 8 PM and directing traffic police to crack down on polluting vehicles.

Meanwhile, Lahore's AQI exceeded 1000 as of midnight, making it another of the worlds most polluted cities. Lockdowns have also been declared in other high-AQI cities like Nankana Sahib, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Chiniot, and Jhang.

Public and private schools across 18 districts in Punjab have already been closed. The Environmental Protection, Climate Change, and Disaster Management (EPCCD) Secretary noted that while industrial emissions, vehicle pollution, and crop burning have been driving the smog, recent wind conditions have exacerbated the situation to critical levels.
In a joint operation with Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF), a team from the Mumbai Crime Branch arrested shooter in the Baba Siddique murder case along with four other accused from Nanpara in UP's Bahraich on Sunday. According to the UP STF, the main accused identified as Shiva Kumar was arrested while he was trying to flee Nepal. For now, all accused are being brought to Mumbai. A team comprising 6 officers and 15 personnel conducted the operation. In addition to Shiva Kumar, four others--Anurag Kashyap, Gyan Prakash Tripathi, Akash Srivastava, and Akhileshendra Pratap Singh--were arrested for allegedly assisting in Shiva Kumar's escape and sheltering him, as well as helping him in his attempt to flee to Nepal. According to a statement by the Uttar Pradesh STF, the shooters involved in the crime have confessed that the murder was carried out under the orders of notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who is currently imprisoned. The shooters reportedly admitted to receiving logistical support from Shubham Lonkar and Mohammad Yaseen Akhtar, who helped coordinate the hit. The main accused also confessed that he talked to Lawrence Bishnoi's younger brother Anmol, several times through a social media app. "In exchange for the murder of Baba Siddique, I was told that after the murder you will get ten lakh rupees and you will keep getting something every month. Shubham Lonkar and Yaseen Akhtar gave us weapons, cartridges, SIM and mobile phones for the murder," said Shiva in his statement to UP STF. "After the murder, the three shooters were given new SIM and mobile phones to talk to each other. For the last several days, we were doing recce of Baba Siddiqui in Mumbai and on getting the right time on the night of 12-10-2024, we killed Baba Siddiqui," he added further. Notably, Siddique (66) was shot dead by three gunmen in Mumbai's Bandra area on October 12. (ANI)
Gujarat Minister of Finance, Energy and Petrochemicals Kanu bhai Desai along with ACS S J Haider and Jai Prakash Shivahare, MD GUVNL are going to represent the state government at COP 29 from November 11 to 14 in Baku, Azerbaijan, according to Gujarat government press release. COP29 Overview Purpose and Objectives: The 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 to November 22. This crucial gathering aims to accelerate global efforts to limit global warming to 1.5C through increased climate action, ambitious emissions reduction targets, and strengthened climate finance mechanisms. The conference will focus on operationalizing the Loss and Damage Fund for vulnerable communities and finalizing elements of the Paris Agreement, such as Article 6 related to carbon market mechanisms. Enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and post-2025 climate finance goals will be high on the agenda. Organisers: The event is organized under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and will be presided over by Mukhtar Babayev, Azerbaijan's Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources. The COP29 Presidency is committed to promoting inclusivity and effective collaboration across stakeholders to achieve meaningful climate action. Participants: Nearly 200 countries will take part in the summit, bringing together a diverse array of leaders, negotiators, youth representatives, and civil society actors to advance global climate commitments. India, a prominent participant, will advocate for equitable climate finance and highlight its leadership in renewable energy and climate resilience. The Indian delegation emphasizes principles of "common but differentiated responsibilities" and technology transfer for developing countries. The Gujarat delegation will be led by Kanubhai Desai, Minister of Finance and Energy and Petrochemicals, highlighting Gujarat's proactive role in promoting renewable energy initiatives, fostering investment in clean technologies, and advancing innovative solutions for climate resilience. Gujarat's efforts in green energy, solar and wind power expansion, and policy leadership position it as a model for sustainable development and climate action in India and beyond. Other significant actors include the European Union, the United States, and key negotiating blocs like the G77 + China, the African Group, and the Alliance of Small Island States, who seek robust commitments on finance, loss and damage mechanisms, and adaptation support. Themes and Key Focus Areas: Daily themes at COP29 will address crucial aspects of climate action, including finance, energy transition, human capital, biodiversity, food security, and digitalization. Notable sessions such as the World Leaders Climate Action Summit will facilitate high-level discussions, while dedicated days for youth, health, and urbanization will foster broad dialogue. Major goals include establishing a new global climate finance target, scaling up adaptation measures, and achieving commitments aligned with the 1.5C target. This comprehensive approach underscores COP29's mission to foster ambitious and cooperative solutions to the world's climate crisis, with active contributions from diverse stakeholders like Gujarat exemplifying sub-national leadership in the global climate effort. (ANI)
Ahead of the Maharashtra assembly elections, Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC held a roadshow in the Mumbadevi Assembly constituency on Sunday, travelling from Gol Deval to Ganesh Chowk, urging voters to support the Mahayuti alliance. During the roadshow, groups of women welcomed Shaina, the Shiv Sena's Mumbadevi candidate, by performing Aarti in front of their homes. People from Brahmin community also offered blessings with traditional instruments, wishing her victory. The crowd was energized, with many waving their mobile phone flashlights. Shaina NC also paid her respects to Goddess Mumbadevi before addressing the gathering. She promised to work towards the development and safety of Mumbadevi if elected. While addressing the rally, Shaina NC said the people recognized her party as the 'Dena Bank,' while labeling other parties as the 'Lena Bank.' "BJP, Shiv Sena, MNS, RPI, and all of them are extending support to us. I believe this is all due to the strength of the Mahayuti alliance. You can see the power, and the people know we do what we say. The people know we are 'Dena Bank' and the rest of them are 'Lena Bank,'" she said while speaking to ANI. She further added that, if elected, she would work diligently with the blessings of both the people and the government. "I have the blessings of the people and the government. I will work hard if elected, and we all know the power of the people. The public only trusts the work of the parties and votes based on that," she said. Shaina NC, a former BJP spokesperson, joined 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 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)
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, accusing it of being synonymous with "communalism, corruption and conflict." While campaigning for the BJP candidate Diganta Ghatowal in Behali Assembly constituency bye-election, Sonowal criticized the Congress party's past regimes, claiming they used diversionary tactics of communalism, corruption, and conflict to serve petty political gains. Sonowal addressed two public meetings at Bedeti and Borjaroni for BJP candidate Ghatowal. "The BJP-led NDA government stands for the cause of nation-building with a vision to make India Atmanirbhar and by weaving a social fabric with the vision of 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas.' For years, under the misrule of Congress Governments, both at the centre and the state, the people of this country had to endure lots of hardship," he said. "The governance of Congress and the politics that they believe in is entrenched in divisionary tactic. With years of misdeeds, Congress now essentially means communalism, corruption and conflict. When you go out to vote, you should vote for the cause of nation building, and not for someone who is known for their corruption, communalism, and conflict," he added. He further praised the development agenda of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that it has brought in a new wave of progress, enthusiasm and hope among the people of Assam and the Northeast. "The NDA, led by the BJP, champions progress, equity, dignity, and prosperity for every Indian. Guided by the visionary leadership of PM Narendra Modi, the NDA government has ushered in a decade of transformative advancements, marking a clear departure from the corruption, favouritism, and poor governance seen in previous decades. With clear direction and decisive action, this Modi Government has empowered communities and uplifted lives across the country. Under the dark age of Congress rule, the youth experienced stifled opportunities, and common citizens bore the brunt of systemic injustices. Today, we have moved beyond those times, and as we look toward the future, it is essential to remember the choices that shape the path forward. Let us all join and continue our journey towards building a better, stronger India which is Atmanirbhar under the dynamic and hard working Narendra Modi," he said. Sonowal was joined by several Assam government ministers, including Sanjay Kishan and Piyush Hazarika, Union Minister of State Pabitra Margherita, Members of Parliament Ranjit Dutta (Lok Sabha) and Rameshwar Teli (Rajya Sabha), along with BJP MLAs Bhuvan Pegu, Diganta Kalita, Amiya Kumar Bhuyan, and Mana Deka. (ANI)
Speaking at a public gathering in Swabi, Gandapur vowed to secure the release of Imran Khan as soon as possible. He added that PTI leaders are willing to sacrifice their lives for the release of their founder, as reported by ARY News.

Imran Khan was arrested on May 9, 2023 in the Al-Qadir Trust case.

"We won't stop until the PTI founder is freed, even if it means losing our life," he told the gathering, as per ARY News.

Gandapur said that to achieve 'Haqeeqi Azadi' (real freedom) and accountability for injustice, they have to make sacrifices. Referring to the decision-making authority within the PTI, Gandapur said that only Imran Khan has the power to make decision in the party.

"We are united and together we have to move forward," ARY News quoted him as saying.

Speaking on the occasion, PTI Chairperson Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said that Imran Khan would in the near future. He also termed the 'successful' power show, a referendum against the 'mandate-stealing government'.

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore granted bail to PTI founder Imran Khan in four May 9 riot cases, ARY News reported.

Imran Khan's arrest on May 9 resulted in violent clashes across the nation.

ATC judge Arshad Javed on Friday heard the bail pleas and approved the pleas filed by the former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The Prosecutor General of Punjab, Farhad Ali opposed the bail pleas and said that Imran Khan had informed his workers to attack important state buildings if he is arrested, ARY News reported.

As a result, the protests were held in remote and major cities as the party workers were agitated due to their chairman's arrest, with Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad summoning the armed forces to ensure law and order, ARY News reported. (ANI)
Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi dismissed the U.S. claim that Iran was involved in an assassination attempt on US President-elect Donald Trump, calling it "fabricated." Araghchi said on Saturday that Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons and criticized the US narrative. "Now, with another election, a new scenario is fabricated with the same goal: as a killer does not exist in reality, scriptwriters are brought in to manufacture a third-rate comedy. Who can in their right mind believe that a supposed assassin SITS IN IRAN and talks online to the FBI?!" he said while referring to US Department of Justice's claims. https://x.com/araghchi/status/1855277524839731593 Earlier, 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. Referring to the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on July 31, he said in the post on X, "Remember the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran right after our President's inauguration? Everyone knows who did it and why." Iran and Hamas have accused Israel of the assassination. Israel, which is at war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, has neither acknowledged nor denied killing Haniyeh. Araghchi said that Iran respected Americans' choice of choosing Trump, and that the path forward with Iran is also a choice. "Here is a dose of reality worthy of consideration: 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. 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". As a result of the Iranian takeover of the American Embassy on November 4, 1979, the United States and Iran severed diplomatic relations in April 1980. The United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran have had no formal diplomatic relationship since that date. Iran has no embassy in Washington DC. (ANI)
US President-elect Donald Trump has said he would not invite former Ambassador Nikki Haley or former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to join his incoming administration, despite Haley's endorsement during his campaign. This comes after criticism of Pompeo by Trump's supporters for not being supportive enough during the campaign. Trump expressed appreciation for their past service but stated his administration's team would not include them. "I will not be inviting former Ambassador Nikki Haley, or former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to join the Trump Administration, which is currently in formation," Trump said on his Truth Social site on Saturday (local time). https://x.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1855391247159935051 "I very much enjoyed and appreciated working with them previously, and would like to thank them for their service to our Country. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" he added. Trump has announced the formation of an inaugural committee, which would plan and celebrate his inauguration on January 20, 2025. "President Donald Trump, the 45th and 47th President of the United States, today announced the formation of Trump Vance Inaugural Committee, Inc., a 501(c)(4) organization that will plan inaugural events. The work done by this official entity will be Co-Chaired by longtime friends and supporters of President Trump, Steve Witkoff and Senator Kelly Loeffler," Trump said in a statement on Saturday (local time). Former US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer was also not asked by Trump to return, contrary to a Financial Times report, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina Governor, who was Trump's final challenger in the GOP primary, had endorsed Trump. Haley offered her "strong endorsement" to Trump, and said the choice should be clear in November. "I'm here tonight because we have a country to save, and a unified Republican Party is essential for saving her," Haley said. "My message to them is simple: You don't have to agree with Trump 100 per cent of the time to vote for him," she said. (ANI)
A man in Pakistan's Lahore was arrested for allegedly killing his seven-year-old son. The man staged a kidnapping drama after secretly burying his son, ARY News reported. Quoting a police official, ARY News reported that the man initially filed an abduction complaint after burying his son, but investigations revealed he was the perpetrator. Later, the police found the boy's body buried at their Baghnpura home, after which the man confessed to the crime. The motive behind the act has not yet been revealed, as reported by ARY News. This tragic incident follows another crime in which a man threw acid on his wife over domestic disputes, leaving her severely burned in Sadiqabad, ARY News reported. Saira's (35) 80 per cent body was said to be burnt in the attack. According to the area police, the victim's husband lost temper and hurled acid on her when she asked him for money to meet the home expenses. The victim was shifted to a burn unit after initial medical treatment at a local hospital, where she was stated to be in a serious condition. The victim and her father alleged that the father and mother of her husband and the wife of her brother-in-law threw acid and petrol on her and set her on fire. The woman's father complained that his daughter was struggling for life, however, the police were avoiding to register a case against those involved in the incident. Pushed to the edge by poverty, a man in Alipur Tehsil in Pakistan's Muzaffargarh District murdered his wife and seven children on April 12, ARY News reported. Sajjad Khokhar committed the heinous crime in Alipur, the authorities were cited as saying in the report published on Thursday. The police spokesperson stated that the victims of this tragedy were identified as 40-year-old Kausar, along with her children: 8-year-old Ansa, 7-year-old Kanza, 5-year-old Ramsha, 4-year-old Shehnaz, 3-year-old Anas, 2-year-old Subhan, and 4-month-old Manza, as reported by ARY News. (ANI)
Days after winning the 2024 US presidential elections, President-elect Donald Trump said that former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will not be invited to be part of his administration again. Trump said this on his social media platform Truth Social on Saturday (local time). Haley had previously served as the US ambassador to UN had ran against Trump in the Republican primary earlier this year. "I will not be inviting former Ambassador Nikki Haley, or former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to join the Trump Administration, which is currently in formation," Trump wrote in the post. "I very much enjoyed and appreciated working with them previously, and would like to thank them for their service to our Country. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" he added. According to Fox News, last week, she wrote a Wall Street Journal op-ed in support of his presidential campaign. "I don't agree with Mr. Trump 100% of the time," Haley wrote. "But I do agree with him most of the time, and I disagree with Ms. Harris nearly all the time. That makes this an easy call." Also the US media outlet said that Pompeo, who served as the director of the Central Intelligence Agency under Trump while not one of Trump's most vocal supporters, has also expressed support for the president-elect in the past. He had in a open letter with over 400 signatories endorsed Trump for president. Trump secured a second term in the White House after winning the US presidential election on November 5 against Vice President Kamala Harris, marking a significant comeback following his loss to President Joe Biden in the 2020 election. Earlier this week, Trump named Susie Wiles to be his White House's chief of staff. Wiles was the campaign manager in Trump's 2024 bid to the White House. In a statement he said that the 2025 presidential inauguration will be co-chaired by real estate investor and campaign donor Steve Witkoff and former Senator Kelly Loeffler. "On Election Night, we made history and I have the extraordinary honour of having been elected the 47th President of the United States thanks to tens millions of hardworking Americans across the nation who supported our America First agenda," he said. "The Trump Vance Inaugural Committee will honour this magnificent victory in a celebration of the American People and our nation," he added. Trump said the committee would be a kick-off to his administration. "This will be the kick-off to my administration, which will deliver on bold promises to Make America Great Again. Together, we will celebrate this moment, steeped on history and tradition, and then get to work to achieve the most incredible future for our people, restoring strength, success, and common sense to the Oval Office," he said. The inauguration is organized by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) and will include events such as the swearing-in ceremony, inaugural address, and the pass in review. Inauguration Day occurs every four years on January 20 (or January 21 if January 20 falls on a Sunday) at the US Capitol building in Washington, DC. (ANI)
A complaint was filed against the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh interim government, Muhammad Yunus, and 61 others, under Article 15 of the Rome Statute at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in Netherlands. Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury, an Awami League leader and former Mayor of Sylhet, filed the complaint. "From 5th to 8th August, in the name of student movement in Bangladesh, all the leaders and workers of Bangladesh Awami League and its various affiliates, Hindus, Christians, Buddhists living in Bangladesh and the police force of Bangladesh have been victims of brutal genocide and crimes against humanity', Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury said in a video message posted on Awami League's verified Facebook page. "In this regard, we have submitted all the facts and evidence to ICC", he added. Apart from Yunus, these 62 accused include all members of Yunus's cabinet and the student leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Alliance. About 800 pages of documents have been attached to the original complaint, according to the video message. Extensive preparations are underway to file 15,000 more such complaints in the ICC very soon. The affected persons will file complaints one by one, it said. 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 the night of November 5. India condemned the recent attacks on the Hindu community in Chittagong, Bangladesh and said that such actions would only create more tensions in the community. On August 5, a student-led movement ousted Bangladesh's Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, after weeks of protests and clashes that killed over 600 people, Hasina (76) fled to India and an interim government led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus was formed. (ANI)
In a historic and unprecedented political comeback, Donald Trump has won a second term as President of the United States after a decisive victory in the 2024 presidential election. Securing a crucial 295 electoral votes, Trump surpassed the required 270, outpacing Democratic rival Kamala Harris, who garnered 226 votes. This victory makes Trump the first US president since 1892 to return to office after losing a prior election. Trump followed his victory with a post on X (formerly Twitter), expressing surprise at the financial challenges reportedly facing the Democratic Party. "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. Now they are being squeezed by vendors and others," he wrote. https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1855404088734945765 Trump's statement extended an unexpected note of support toward the Democrats, urging Republicans to prioritise unity and consider assisting their rivals in this difficult period. "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. 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," he added, finishing with his familiar "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" This social media post follows Trump's remarkable election victory, which signifies a major comeback after his loss to President Joe Biden in 2020. With his second term now confirmed, Trump will be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States, a unique position in modern US history. The Republican Party's strong focus on earned media proved to be a key factor in Trump's campaign, as he continued to dominate headlines and effectively reach his supporters without excessive spending. Trump's return to office marks a pivotal moment for American politics, setting a precedent for future elections and reshaping discussions on the durability of political influence in a deeply polarised nation. (ANI)
Altaf Hussain, the founder and leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), has issued a powerful critique of recent amendments to Pakistan's constitution and judiciary laws, declaring these moves an imposition of "civil martial law." During the 148th MQM study circle broadcast on social media, Hussain condemned the swift passage of amendments by the National Assembly and Senate, following the 26th constitutional amendment, arguing that these steps have dismantled judicial independence by placing the judiciary firmly under government control. Hussain warned that the lack of open debate on these amendments demonstrates a "deep-seated disregard for parliamentary values," reducing Pakistan's judiciary to a "mausoleum of justice." His remarks come amid increasing concerns over recent judiciary-related amendments, including a controversial change in the structure of the Supreme Court. The amendment has increased the number of judges from 17 to 34, which, according to Hussain, was an intentional move to pack the court with loyalists favourable to the government. Among these changes, Hussain highlighted a newly formed constitutional bench that, contrary to protocol, is led by a fourth-ranked judge instead of the Chief Justice or senior-most judges, a move he claims aligns the judiciary more closely with the ruling elite's interests. This shift, he asserts, represents a blatant attempt to secure "government-friendly rulings," undermining the principle of impartiality. Hussain did not hold back in his criticism of Pakistan's ruling parties, labelling the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N) and the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) as "products of the military." He alleged that leaders Shehbaz Sharif and Bilawal Zardari are perpetuating a legacy of military appeasement by enacting legal and constitutional changes that serve the interests of Pakistan's military establishment. The MQM leader highlighted specific amendments to the Army Act and the Anti-Terrorism Act as emblematic of this trend. The amended Army Act now extends the term of the Chief of Army Staff, while changes to the Anti-Terrorism Act permit security forces to detain citizens for up to three months without judicial oversight. Hussain argued that these adjustments effectively enable "enforced disappearances," raising alarm over what he sees as a drift toward authoritarianism under the guise of legality. Warning of potential repercussions, Hussain likened this government-driven judiciary crackdown to past power struggles involving Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders have vowed to continue seeking justice through the courts, despite 14 months of failed attempts to secure fair trials for former Prime Minister Imran Khan. In response to the ongoing crisis, Khan has publicly called for a "revolution and peaceful protest," denouncing the situation as "a dictatorship disguised in democratic processes." Hussain closed his address with an appeal for unity across Pakistan's political spectrum. He urged pro-democracy parties and the public to "set aside partisan interests and unite in the pursuit of a revolution," stressing that the crisis is far-reaching and transcends traditional political divides. (ANI)
As Lahore remained the world's most polluted city, the dense haze showed no sign of easing, grounding train schedules, closing motorways, and forcing authorities to impose lockdown-like measures, the Express Tribune reported.

Multan, following Lahore, recorded an alarming AQI of 2135, with Peshawar, Islamabad, and other cities also reporting high pollution levels. The haze intensified as air movement slowed around Lahore to just 4 km per hour, while Multan's air moved at 6 km per hour, moving from north to south.

Meteorologists attributed the worsening conditions to easterly winds originating from Indian cities such as Chandigarh, Saharanpur, Delhi, Haryana, Jalandhar, Jaipur, and Jodhpur. This continued influx of smog has pushed the pollution levels to dangerous highs, with no immediate relief in sight.

Authorities have responded to the situation with widespread closures and restrictions, shutting down parts of the motorway network for safety. The M-5 Motorway from Multan to Zahir Peer has been temporarily closed due to extremely reduced visibility.

Motorway officials have warned drivers to avoid unnecessary travel, particularly after dark, urging them to travel between 10 am and 6 pm when fog conditions are less severe. Drivers have been advised to use fog lights and maintain a safe distance from other vehicles to ensure safety, reported the Express Tribune.

In addition to transport disruptions, the Punjab government has launched an anti-smog operation, which includes water sprinkling on roads and the removal of waste. Factories emitting pollutants are being sealed, and illegal brick kilns are being demolished.

"Skipping school does not mean a holiday; follow safety measures to protect yourself and others," urged Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, emphasising the importance of public cooperation.

To curb further air pollution, government officials are also inspecting private institutions, impounding vehicles, and fining violators, as reported by the Express Tribune. (ANI)
Tibetan Members of Parliament, Youdon Aukatsang and Tsering Lhamo held a series of significant meetings in Prague with Czech lawmakers and diplomats to raise awareness about Tibet's struggles under Chinese governance. The high-level discussions focused on critical issues faced by Tibetans, such as the Chinese government's control over residential schools, the closures of Tibetan monastic and private schools, and the sensitive matter of Dalai Lama's reincarnation, an official press release by the Tibetan Parliament in Exile stated. Hosted by prominent Czech government figures, the delegation's visit was supported by Eva Decroix, Chairperson of the Subcommittee for the Support of Democracy and Human Rights Abroad, and Jitka Seitlova, Vice President of the Senate, alongside other members of the Czech Parliament. The Tibetan MPs shared a letter from the Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, underscoring the importance of Czech support for Tibet's rights and freedoms. The Czech lawmakers voiced strong backing for the Tibetan cause, reaffirming their commitment to upholding Tibet's cultural and political rights. Recalling the historical friendship between the Dalai Lama and former Czech President Vaclav Havel, Czech officials emphasised their dedication to defending Tibet's unique heritage. The meeting concluded with discussions on upcoming plans to celebrate the Dalai Lama's 90th birth anniversary in 2025, the press release stated. In addition to these parliamentary discussions, the Tibetan MPs visited Sinopsis, a Czech-based organisation monitoring developments in China, including issues related to Tibet. It informed the delegation about an upcoming report on the succession of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, scheduled for release on December 10. This report will examine the future of Tibetan leadership, particularly concerning the Dalai Lama's reincarnation, a topic that remains highly sensitive. The Tibetan delegation also met with prominent Tibet advocates, Katerina and Martin Bursik, at their residence in Prague, where they discussed ongoing initiatives aimed at protecting Tibet's cultural and political rights. The MPs then held further meetings with senior Czech officials, including Mr. Ondrej Chrast, Deputy Minister for Culture; Robert Rehak, Ambassador at Large and Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues, Interfaith Dialogue, and Freedom of Religion; and Ivana Grollova from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These conversations focused on promoting international human rights, religious freedom, and cultural preservation, with a special emphasis on the Tibetan context. Tibet's struggle involves complex political, cultural, and human rights issues within a region celebrated for its distinctive heritage and spiritual traditions. Since China's 1950 invasion, Tibet was integrated into the People's Republic of China, bringing significant transformations in governance, society, and daily life, stated the press release. Driven by concerns over cultural erosion, religious repression, and widespread human rights abuses, many Tibetans, including the Dalai Lama, have long sought greater autonomy or independence. The Chinese government maintains its position that Tibet is an inseparable part of China and views its policies in the region as essential for economic growth and modernisation. This stance has ignited persistent global debate and advocacy efforts, with supporters calling for the preservation of Tibet's culture and the safeguarding of its people's rights. Consequently, Tibet remains a sensitive issue in international diplomacy and human rights discussions. (ANI)
The council stressed that its focus is on supporting Baloch students with educational challenges, providing career counselling, and assisting in their academic pursuits, The Balochistan Post reported.

The council further asserted that linking student councils to armed groups is a calculated tactic intended to harass Baloch students, creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation that discourages them from continuing their education.

The council emphasised that these measures appear aimed at mentally and physically harassing students and deterring them from academic advancement.

The spokesperson highlighted the broader context of this alleged repression, noting that despite Baloch students comprising less than one per cent of the student body in Punjab and federal regions, they face significant systemic challenges.

"Repeatedly, new measures are introduced to intimidate and prevent Baloch students from advancing in their education," the spokesperson stated.

The BSC referenced a pattern of troubling incidents over the past year, including around ten cases of enforced disappearances or raids on student residences. Recently, 10 Baloch students reportedly went missing in Islamabad, and a student from Punjab University was also abducted, reported the Balochistan Post.

In the closing statement, the spokesperson warned that such unfounded allegations serve to justify enforced disappearances of Baloch students and cautioned authorities that any further harassment or abductions would be the full responsibility of the state and its institutions.

The council affirmed its commitment to defending the safety and future of its members, indicating it would not yield to intimidation.

These incidents underscore the systemic repression and discrimination faced by Baloch students in educational institutions, cultivating a climate of fear across the region, reported The Balochistan Post.

The broader Baloch community continues to endure serious human rights violations, prompting urgent calls for action and international intervention. (ANI)
Members of the Hindu Sikh Global Forum took to the streets outside the Canadian High Commission in India in Chanakyapuri, Delhi, protesting against the attacks on Hindu temples in Canada. The Delhi Police beefed up the security in the area and halted the demonstrators. The Hindu Sikh Global Forum, representing a coalition of Hindu and Sikh communities, organised the march to demonstrate their collective disapproval and demand action against such attacks. Tarvinder Singh Marwah, President of the Hindu Sikh Global Forum, voiced his concerns about a pattern of incidents targeting the Hindu and Sikh communities. "An entire generation had been destroyed during militancy. They were either killed or they migrated to other countries. Then they introduced drugs to ruin the life of our young generation," Marwah told reporters. He elaborated that following these challenges, additional efforts were made to disrupt the community's unity, including attempts at forced religious conversions. "And now this new thing of attacking temples has started. This is wrong and unfortunate," he said. Marwah further emphasised the solidarity of India's Sikh community, and strongly rejected any separatist ideologies. "We are here to tell you that we are all together. A true Sikh can never be a Khalistani. If they want a separate nation, they should keep it limited to themselves. We want our tricolor and our country to be respected at all times. India's Sikhs stand with India and do not support Khalistan," he stated. This comes amid the rising diplomatic tensions between Canada and India. Canada has alleged India's role behind the killing of India-designated Khalistani terrorist, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a charge New Delhi has strongly denied, terming it "absurd" and "motivated." Recently, Ottawa named Indian High Commissioner in Canada, Sanjay Verma and five other diplomats as 'persons of interest' in the case. India raised strong objection to the matter and recalled all six diplomats. Recently, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar criticised Canada, saying they were welcoming people from India with links to organised crime, ignoring warnings by New Delhi. Criticising the Justin Trudeau-led dispensation for giving space and legitimacy to "extremism, separatism, and advocates of violence" in the name of free speech, Jaishankar on May 5 said that Canada has been issuing visas to people with links to organised crime despite warnings. (ANI)
San Antonio beer magnate Otto Koehler's 1914 murder and the subsequent trial of his mistress/murderer is explored in Robert L. Gulley's book, "Money, Murder, Sex and Beer: The Texas Trial of Emma Burgemeister." Koehler's death at the hands of his mistress Emma Burgemeister happened Nov. 12, 1914. University of Texas at San Anton Emma Bergemester claimed she shot beer baron Otto Koehler in self-defense. A San Antonio jury believed her, finding her not guilty in 1918. Burgmeister reportedly told police she had to kill Koehler. San Antonio Express News Emma Koehler took over Pearl Brewery after the death of her husband, Otto, who was shot by one of his mistresses. Hotel Emma, which is also part of the Pearl complex, is named after Koehler. SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS NEWS FILE PH

The slaying of beer magnate Otto Koehler at the hands of one of his mistresses  a notorious crime historians have described as one of the most sensational crimes in San Antonio history  happened more than 100 years agot this week.

At the time of his death in 1914, Koehler was the 59-year-old president and manager of Pearl Brewing Company. Though married, the beer baron was dating two women  both nurses named Emma.

One of those women  Emma Burgemeister  shot Koehler dead following an argument at the South Side home where he had set up his two mistresses, according to newspaper archives.

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Late in the afternoon of Nov. 12, 1914, Koehler went to his mistresses home, where an argument with Burgemeister ensued after he tried to kiss her, archived reports show. Burgmeister shot him dead with a .32-caliber revolver, and later reportedly told police that she had to kill him.

During her murder trial four years later, Burgemeister told jurors she killed Koehler in self-defense and to protect the honor of friend and roommate Emma Dumpke  Koehlers other mistress.

It was a sordid story which the unfortunate woman had to tell, but one which held the jury and the courtroom, packed to the utmost with spectators, breathless, the San Antonio Light reported during its trial coverage.

Burgmeister was found not guilty by an all-male jury in 1918, archives show. She later moved to New Orleans and married one of the jurors from her trial.

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Another Emma in Koehlers life  his wife, Emma Koehler  took charge of the brewery after her husbands death and successfully ran the business until her death in 1943, archives show. Hotel Emma, which is also part of the Pearl complex, is named after her.

Also, this week in San Antonio history, the Alamo Cenotaph was dedicated with festivities and an Armistice Day parade on Nov. 11, 1940.

The Cenotaph is a memorial to some 200 Anglo and Tejano soldiers and volunteers who died at the Alamo in the 1836 battle for Texas independence. It features The Spirit of Sacrifice sculptures by Pompeo Coppini and names of the fallen carved into its marble panels. Work on the memorial began in the late 1930s, after it was commissioned in 1936.

And, on Nov. 16, 1930, the Nix Professional Building opened with much fanfare. The Gothic-style, 23-story building was billed as the first of its kind in the world, according to San Antonio Public Library archives.

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The building featured a basement with a cafeteria, tailor shop and barbershop, and eight floors of car storage space, 10 floors of office space and a 200-bed hospital on the top six floors.

The now-vacant structure at 414 Navarro St. is being converted into an apartment building. The project, which developers have said will take about a year, will cost an estimated $10 million.

The building was constructed in 1930 by Joseph M. Nix and was one of the citys tallest structures during that time.




Chairman of the Sindh Taraqqi-Pasand Party, Qadir Magsi has issued a stern warning stating that constructing six new canals over the Indus River in Pakistan would endanger the livelihoods of 60 million people in Sindh, potentially driving the region toward catastrophe. Magsi on Saturday accused the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of repeatedly making decisions detrimental to the people of Sindh. He argued that whenever the PPP holds power, the province suffers, with the current crisis being attributed to Asif Ali Zardari's presidency, which has resulted in Sindh losing its rightful share of water, Dawn reported. Magsi delivered these remarks during a large sit-in protest organised by his party at the Hatri bypass, condemning the canal project. The demonstration, which saw men, women, and children participating, blocked the highway for several hours as protesters chanted slogans against the proposed construction. Addressing Asif Ali Zardari directly, Magsi reminded him that he reached the presidency with Sindhi people's support. "If he continued making decisions harmful to the province, the people would never forgive him," he warned, expressing his commitment to prevent any dam or canal on the Indus River as long as even a single Sindhi remained to oppose it. Magsi also referenced Sindh's historical opposition to the controversial Kalabagh Dam, first proposed by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in 1998, and later attempted under General Pervez Musharraf's rule. Both attempts were halted due to strong resistance from Sindh. Magsi urged Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif to heed the lessons of history and avoid repeating past mistakes. Magsi's emphasised on Sindh's rightful claim to the Indus River's water, lamenting that past water agreements have repeatedly been ignored, leading to the province's betrayal. Despite the agreed-upon release of 12 million acre-feet (MAF) of water downstream of the Kotri Barrage, this commitment has not been honoured, reported Dawn. Consequently, the Indus Delta has faced severe sea intrusion, eroding fertile farmland and triggering a significant water crisis in Sindh's agricultural sector. Magsi expressed alarm that if the canal project were to proceed, Sindh would face catastrophic consequences impacting all aspects of life. He also questioned why the ruling government, if genuinely opposed to anti-Sindh initiatives, has not used its position to counter the project at the federal level. Concluding his remarks, Magsi pledged to continue protesting until the canal project is abandoned. He announced upcoming demonstrations, including one in Sukkur on November 20 and another outside the Governor's House in Karachi on November 24, Dawn reported. The protest also saw speeches from several prominent figures, including Hoat Khan Gadhi, Nisar Keerio, Abdul Hameed Memon, Qadir Channa, and Ahmed Noonari. (ANI)
Members of the Hindu Sikh Global Forum took to the streets outside the Canadian High Commission in India in Chanakyapuri, Delhi, protesting against the attacks on Hindu temples in Canada. The Delhi Police beefed up the security in the area and halted the demonstrators. The Hindu Sikh Global Forum, representing a coalition of Hindu and Sikh communities, organised the march to demonstrate their collective disapproval and demand action against such attacks. Jitender Singh Shunty, President of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Sewa Dal, who was also part of the protest, voiced his concerns about a pattern of incidents targeting the Hindu and Sikh communities. "An entire generation had been destroyed during militancy. They were either killed or they migrated to other countries. Then they introduced drugs to ruin the life of our young generation," Marwah told reporters. He elaborated that following these challenges, additional efforts were made to disrupt the community's unity, including attempts at forced religious conversions. "And now this new thing of attacking temples has started. This is wrong and unfortunate," he said. Marwah further emphasised the solidarity of India's Sikh community, and strongly rejected any separatist ideologies. "We are here to tell you that we are all together. A true Sikh can never be a Khalistani. If they want a separate nation, they should keep it limited to themselves. We want our tricolor and our country to be respected at all times. India's Sikhs stand with India and do not support Khalistan," he stated. This comes amid the rising diplomatic tensions between Canada and India. Canada has alleged India's role behind the killing of India-designated Khalistani terrorist, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a charge New Delhi has strongly denied, terming it "absurd" and "motivated." Recently, Ottawa named Indian High Commissioner in Canada, Sanjay Verma and five other diplomats as 'persons of interest' in the case. India raised strong objection to the matter and recalled all six diplomats. Recently, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar criticised Canada, saying they were welcoming people from India with links to organised crime, ignoring warnings by New Delhi. Criticising the Justin Trudeau-led dispensation for giving space and legitimacy to "extremism, separatism, and advocates of violence" in the name of free speech, Jaishankar on May 5 said that Canada has been issuing visas to people with links to organised crime despite warnings. (ANI)
The Vietnamese Buddhist Sangha (VBS) on Friday met with the Dalai Lama at his residence in Dharamshala. During the meeting, the VBS members requested the Dalai Lama to send representatives of Tibetan Buddhism to attend Vesk, a significant Buddhist celebration in May 2025 in Vietnam. Ven Thich Nhat Tu, a member of the Vietnamese delegation said, "We requested his Holiness to send a delegation from Tibetan Buddhism from Dharamsala to attend an important Buddhist event to be hosted by Sangha from 6th to 8th of May next year and he has approved our proposal." "We also requested his Holiness to authorise a Tibetan master to sign an MoU with VBS for long life cooperation between Tibetan and Vietnamese Buddhist. Apart from this we also requested him to allow us to translate some of his books so that Tibetan Buddhism can be read and viewed by more and more people in Vietnam and then we also requested him to live a long life for the benefit of people around the world," he added. After attending the Asian Buddhist Conference in Delhi last week, 45 members of the Vietnamese Buddhist delegation visited Dharamshala to see the Tibetan spiritual leader on November 8. Notably, VBS is the only Buddhist association recognised by the government of Vietnam. Vesak, the day of the full moon in the month of May, is the most sacred day to millions of Buddhists around the world. It was on the day of Vesak two and a half millennia ago, in the year 623 BC, that the Buddha was born. It was also on the day of Vesak that the Buddha attained enlightenment, and it was on the day of Vesak that the Buddha in his eightieth year passed away, according to the United Nations. (ANI)
Russia and Ukraine engaged in a significant escalation of drone strikes, with Moscow launching 145 drones on Saturday night, according to a report by CNN. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces also launched a drone strike on Russian territory, with 34 drones headed towards Moscow, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense. The Defence Ministry further said that Russia's air defences shot down all of the drones over the Moscow region between 7 am and 10 am on Sunday morning. The governor of Moscow region said that the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) were shot down over the Moscow regions of Ramenskoye, Kolomna and Domodedovo, Andrey Vorobyov, CNN reported. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday said that on Saturday night, Russia launched a record-breaking 145 Shahed drones and other strike drones against Ukraine, marking a significant escalation in hostilities. Sharing a post on X, Zelenskyy said, "This week, our air defence forces have been working day and night to protect Ukraine's skies from Russian terror. Last night, Russia launched a record 145 Shaheds and other strike drones against Ukraine. Throughout the week, Russia has used more than 800 guided aerial bombs, around 600 strike drones, and nearly 20 missiles of various types." "Such terror cannot be stopped with words, and the killing of children and the loss of loved ones cannot simply be forgotten. Security from terror is impossible without bold decisions--this is clear for every country. Without justice, there is no lasting peace, and it is quite realistic for Ukraine to achieve it," Zelenskyy added. The Russia-Ukraine conflict, which escalated in February 2022 with Russia's full-scale invasion, has resulted in thousands of civilian deaths. Moscow continues to deny intentionally targeting civilians, despite widespread international condemnation and evidence of airstrikes on residential areas. Attacks have become a near-daily occurrence, especially in Ukraine's eastern and southern regions. Russia has frequently employed a range of weaponry, including guided aerial bombs, missiles, and UAVs, to target Ukraine's cities and critical infrastructure. In response, Ukraine has ramped up its defence efforts with help from Western allies. Yet, the volume and intensity of Russia's assaults have made it clear that more sophisticated and long-range defence capabilities are necessary. (ANI)
The second phase of D-30 programme saw the participation by representatives of 30 countries, including Naveen Srivastava, Indian Ambassador to Nepal.

The summit focused on discussions about making world addiction-free and addressing disabilities related to substance abuse. Dushyant Gautam, National General Secretary of Bharatiya Janata Party also addressed the summit.

Sharing pictures on X, Gautam wrote, "Addressed the Global Summit on de-addiction and disability organised by Kashyana Foundation today in Kathmandu, Nepal."

https://x.com/dushyanttgautam/status/1855515019586187385

As per the organisers, the primary goal of D-30 is to bring together 30 nations that are severely affected by addiction onto a common platform.

The summit focused on those countries identified by the World Health Organization where addiction has become a major issue. The first phase of D-30 was held in 2023 in New Delhi, where representatives from 30 countries participated. During the summit, young people, doctors, and social workers shared their concerns and solutions for addiction rehabilitation in various sessions. (ANI)
The Public Action Committee (PAC) leader, Syed Nazar Abbas Kazmi, of Pakistan-Occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB), announced plans to take decisive action against the illegal occupation and trade of Gangcha's valuable mineral resources. According to a report by Markhor Times, the committee, led by Kazmi, has strongly condemned the unauthorised extraction and commercialisation of these resources, calling the practice "unacceptable" and harmful to the public's interests. Kazmi stated, "We have been raising these issues for a long time, and it is completely wrong for entities like Rupal Enterprises to extract gemstones and minerals from this region. This is a clear violation of international law in PoGB, yet they continue their operations. In return, they only provide 6 per cent of the profits to the local population, which is entirely unacceptable. Many companies are involved in this, and if I name any of them, it could create problems." Kazmi further criticised the local administration, stating that these companies are operating without permission from the local residents and are constructing buildings without regard for the people's rights. "The corrupt officials who are supposed to be overseeing this are doing nothing," he lamented. He also pointed out the negligence of the administration, saying, "The major industrial plants that should be operating here are doing nothing. No Objection Certificates (NOCs) are not being issued to the local people, yet if a poor person needs an NOC, they face immense difficulties." Kazmi emphasised that he has also gathered solid evidence and samples of the illegal activities. "I will first present all of this to the public, the Awami Member, and the media. After that, I will take legal action and file a case in court, no matter the cost. I will do whatever it takes to stop these individuals and hold them accountable. My legal team and I are committed to this cause," Kazmi said. In conclusion, Kazmi urged the people of PoGB to unite and speak out against these injustices. "I encourage everyone to raise their voices and be prepared for new surveys that may be conducted to divert attention from these serious issues," he added. (ANI)
The Supreme Court of Pakistan is facing new challenges to the 26th Constitutional Amendment, with two additional petitions submitted on Friday arguing that the amendment violates key principles of the Constitution and undermines its foundational structure. One of the joint petitions was filed by BNP-M chief Akhtar Mengal, Dr. Fehmida Mirza, Mohsin Dawar, and Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar through their counsel, Salahuddin Ahmed, who also filed a separate petition independently, as reported by Dawn. The petitions ask the Supreme Court to declare the 26th Amendment as having been passed in a manner that conflicts with the Constitution and the law, rendering it null and void from the outset, with no legal validity. They also urge the court to annul any actions, decisions, notifications, proceedings, or structures established by any person, authority, or body based on the amendment. The report further stated that the petitioners requested the Supreme Court to mandate an independent investigation into how votes were reportedly coerced and obtained in Parliament regarding the Act, especially in relation to the factual claims made in the current petitions. The petitioners further argued that, without prejudice, the court should declare sections 7, 14, 17, and 21 of the 26th Amendment as ultra vires and void from the outset, as they violate the independence of the judiciary and undermine key principles of the Constitution. The petitioners also sought a ruling that sections 7, 14, 17, and 21 of the Act are legally ineffective due to their impossibility, and that the so-called Judicial Commission, along with the so-called constitutional benches and all their actions and proceedings, are non-existent, null, and void from the outset, Dawn reported. The petitions urge the Supreme Court to declare that sections 7, 14, 17, and 21 of the Act must be interpreted in harmony with the key and foundational provisions of the Constitution, which guarantee the independence of the judiciary and the separation of powers, in order to avoid any conflict with these principles. The petitioners argue that Pakistan is a federation, and federalism has been a core principle of the state long before the 26th Constitutional Amendment was enacted, and even before the creation of Pakistan. The petitions emphasised that "The Pakistan Resolution of March 23, 1940, calls for an independent state where the constituent units are autonomous and sovereign. This autonomy of the federating units is clearly stated in the preamble of our Constitution. Every section of the Constitution, across all twelve parts, addresses the federating units and includes provisions safeguarding their representation and autonomy." The petitions express concern that the constitutional benches in the Supreme Court and high courts could be established based on seniority and set for fixed terms of at least two years, to avoid arbitrary or biased removals. The petitions state, "Any departure from the seniority principle must be based on valid, written reasons, which should be subject to judicial review. Furthermore, it is the responsibility of the Supreme Court bench hearing an appeal to determine whether the case involves a significant constitutional question that warrants referral to the constitutional benches." The 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill that has been passed in the senate, had received pushback from the opposition, mainly from Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (PTI) party which held various protests alleging that the bill would undermine the judiciary's powers. The bill has 27 clauses and amendments to various articles of the Constitution have been proposed. (ANI)
The Free Balochistan Movement (FBM) denounced the recent bombing in Mastung, which targeted schoolchildren, calling it a continuation of the Pakistani state's ongoing brutal policies towards the Baloch people. They described the attack as part of a longstanding pattern of state-sponsored oppression. Notably, the bomb blast that occurred near the Girls' High School in Mastung town of Balochistan on November 1 reportedly killed eight individuals including three children. In a statement from the FBM's spokesperson, it was highlighted that these policies, a longstanding feature of the Pakistani regime, remain in effect today and are expected to continue in the future, though possibly in different forms, Balochwarna news reported. The spokesperson emphasised that the Mastung tragedy is not an isolated event but part of a broader, systematic campaign of violence designed to crush the Baloch nation. "The incident in Mastung is just the latest chapter in the long history of Pakistani state violence against the Baloch people. The occupying Pakistani forces, along with their allies, have been waging an unyielding war against the Baloch nation, and this struggle will persist in various forms in the future," the spokesperson stated. The FBM advocated for what it sees as the only viable solution to the ongoing atrocities -- full independence of Balochistan. "The only way to end the suffering of the Baloch people is through the complete liberation of a unified Balochistan, where the Baloch can reclaim their ancestral lands and take control of their own decisions, free from the domination of occupying forces," the statement declared. Additionally, the statement sharply condemned both the Iranian and Pakistani governments for placing their expansionist goals above the lives and well-being of the Baloch people. The report further quoted the spokesperson as saying, "Both the Iranian and Pakistani occupiers show no concern for the suffering of the Baloch nation. They are ready to go to any extent to carry on with the genocide of the Baloch people, fully aware that international human rights organizations often prioritize political and economic interests over human rights protection. As a result, both states continue their atrocities and crimes against the Baloch with impunity, without fear of accountability." In discussing the path forward, the FBM spokesperson urged the Baloch nation to come together for a shared goal, the liberation of Balochistan. "The only way to halt the brutal actions of the occupying forces is for the Baloch people to unite, putting aside personal and factional interests, and work toward building a strong, unified political body that can protect Baloch collective interests and lead the fight for freedom," the FBM statement stated. The statement also paid tribute to the Baloch martyrs who have sacrificed their lives for the cause of freedom. "Thousands of recognised and unrecognized Baloch martyrs have laid down their lives for the liberation of Balochistan. Their sacrifices weigh heavily on our shoulders, and we must strive to uphold their ideals and aspirations. We must stand against the colonial mindset of the Iranian and Pakistani states and pave the way forward in our struggle," the FBM spokesperson emphasised. The Free Balochistan Movement has announced that on November 13, a series of events will take place across Europe to honour the sacrifices of Baloch martyrs. These events will also raise awareness about the ongoing human rights violations and the covert, coordinated policies of Pakistan and Iran aimed at further oppressing the Baloch people. "November 13th is a day to pay tribute to all Baloch martyrs and reflect on their sacrifices. It is a day to reaffirm our commitment to the struggle for a free and united Balochistan and to continue our principled efforts until we secure true liberation and control over our national decisions," the statement concluded. (ANI)
Sharing a picture on X, Jaishankar wrote, "Pleased to welcome First DPM of Russia Dennis Manturov to India today. Look forward to our engagement at the India - Russia Business Forum tomorrow."

https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1855658548862320648

Notably, Manturov will participate in the plenary session of the Russian-Indian Business Forum in Mumbai on November 11, where the focus will be on expanding economic and business cooperation between the two nations, the Russian Embassy in India stated.

The forum will feature several thematic sessions, addressing areas such as industrial collaboration, transport and logistics, finance, digital technologies, and enhancing interregional cooperation.

Organised by the Business Council for Cooperation with India and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the event is a crucial platform for fostering deeper economic links between the two countries.

On November 12, Manturov will join Jaishankar in the national capital for the 25th Session of the Intergovernmental Russian-Indian Commission on trade, economic, scientific, technical, and cultural cooperation, the embassy added.

The session will address the progress of ongoing bilateral initiatives and explore new areas for collaboration. During his visit, Manturov is also expected to hold a series of bilateral meetings with key Indian leaders to further discuss strategic cooperation.

Last month, PM Modi attended the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, hosted under Moscow's presidency. He addressed two sessions during the summit. The Prime Minister described the BRICS Summit as "very productive" and thanked President Putin, the people of Russia and their government for their hospitality.

Prior to this, Prime Minister Modi also went on a visit to Russia. During his first bilateral visit in the third term as PM, he attended the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit with President Putin.

He was also awarded the prestigious "Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle" in recognition of his efforts to foster deeper ties between New Delhi and Moscow. (ANI)
Baku [Azerbaijan], November 10 (ANI/WAM): The Muslim Council of Elders is organising the second Faith Pavilion in the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP29), held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 to 22 which will be attended by world leaders, officials, and representatives from international organisations. The Muslim Council of Elders is organising the second Faith Pavilion, building on the significant success of its first edition at COP28, held in the UAE last year. The Pavilion features a global alliance of 97 organisations, representing 11 diverse religions and denominations, providing religious and ethical perspectives on climate action and will include over 40 discussion sessions focused on the integration of spirituality and ethics in advancing climate action. Under the Chairmanship of Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, the Muslim Council of Elders has pioneered initiatives to enhance the role of religious leaders in addressing global challenges, including climate change. Last year, the Council hosted the Global Faith Leaders Summit for Climate in Abu Dhabi, culminating in the launch of the 'Call of Conscience: Abu Dhabi Joint Statement for Climate', which was co-signed by 30 religious leaders worldwide, including the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Pope Francis. The Council also co-hosted the recent Global Religious Leaders Summit for Climate in Baku, furthering its mission to mobilise religious and ethical voices to devise effective climate solutions. The Council continues to impact through the Faith Pavilion at COP28 and COP29, underscoring the essential role of interfaith collaboration in addressing global environmental challenges. (ANI/WAM)
San Marcos police on Friday arrested Patrick Mendoza, 31, in connection with what investigators described as a string of "sexually motivated crimes." City of San Marcos

San Marcos police arrested a man early Friday morning investigators say is linked to a string of "sexually motivated crimes" committed over two days at one apartment complex.

Residents at the apartment complex in the 1700 block of Mill Street reported four incidents on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.

Patrick Mendoza, 31, is being held in the Hays County Jail on charges of burglary of habitation with intent to commit a felony, sexual assault, indecent assault, felony evading in a motor vehicle, two counts of evading on foot, and possession of marijuana. Investigators said Mendoza, who is on probation for previous charges related to indecent exposure, is the primary suspect in the incidents at the apartment complex.

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ALSO READ: Elderly Texas man sentenced to life in prison for sixth DWI conviction

Officers first began their investigation on Oct. 31 after a resident reported she received a video from her neighbor that appeared to show a man watching her through the window while she was partially undressed.

Around 2:30 a.m. Nov. 1, another resident reported that a man appeared to be watching a woman sitting at her desk through open window blinds. Officers arrived at the scene and tried to stop a man nearby, but he fled.

A woman told police later that night that she was asleep with her boyfriend in his bedroom when she woke up to a man touching her inappropriately. The woman said the man ran out of the room after she moved.

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Another woman, who was sleeping in the same unit on the couch with her boyfriend, told police a man also touched her inappropriately that night and fled out the back door and jumped off the back patio after she woke up.

Police were alerted by license plate recognition technology around 2:30 a.m. Friday that Mendoza was in the city. Officers found Mendoza hiding in the bushes of an apartment complex. Police say he attempted to flee by foot and vehicle, but was arrested around 3 a.m.

Evidence related to the reported incidents has been seized, San Marcos police said.

"I am thankful that our city has leveraged technology to assist in combating violent crimes. This technology resulted in the quick apprehension of a violent offender, said San Marcos Police Chief Stan Standridge in a statement. 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."

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Canadian journalist Terry Milewski on Sunday criticized Canada's approach to the Khalistan issue, calling it "hypocritical" and a "national disgrace." Speaking to ANI, Milewski expressed his concerns about Canada's handling of the Khalistani separatism, stating, "I have been saying for 20 years that Canada has been hypocritical in its approach to the Khalistani menace. The Khalistan issue, as it's been treated by Canada over the years, has been a national disgrace." He further disputed claims that Australia Today being blocked and attributed the issue to a long-standing commercial negotiation between Facebook and Canadian regulators, who insist that content creators should be paid. "All you have to do is click on the site and see if it's blocked. I can tell you that it's not; it hasn't been since the very beginning... It hasn't been blocked, it hasn't been banned, it hasn't been censored. Australia Today is an excellent publication. They serve the Indian diaspora in Australia very well. They and their supposed defenders have been fooled..." Milewski said. "The only problem with access to the site is if you insist on getting it only on Facebook. But if you just go to the site, there's no problem. The issue is a long-standing commercial negotiation, a difference of opinion between Facebook and Canadian regulators, who insist that content creators should be paid..." he added. Milewski also condemned the recent Khalistani attack on Hindu Sabha Temple in Brampton, attributing these incidents to the failure of Canadian politicians to address the growing influence of Khalistani separatism over the past 40 years. "This is extremely disturbing, and it arises from the utter folly of Canadian politicians over 40 years," he said. "It is an open aggression by Khalistanis aimed at Hindu temples in this case, and it is extremely worrying..." he added. Milewski also shared his insights on the potential impact of the US presidential election on India-Canada relations. Speaking about Donald Trump's "unpredictability," Milewski noted that Trump has a good relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has been praising the incoming administration and looking forward to working with Trump. "Trump is nothing if not unpredictable. He gets along very well with PM Modi and Modi has been very assiduous in peppering the incoming administration with praise and looking forward to working with his friend Donald Trump." he said. Notably, there have been rising diplomatic tensions between Canada and India. Canada has alleged India's role behind the killing of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Khalistani terrorist designated by India. New Delhi has strongly denied the charge, calling it "absurd" and "motivated." Recently, the ties further deteriorated following the Khalistani attack on Hindu Sabha Temple in Brampton. (ANI)
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the first time during Sunday's weekly cabinet meeting, admitted that Israel was behind the attacks on Hezbollah's pager and walkie-talkies, which killed at least 39 people and wounded over 3,000, as reported by The Times of Israel. The attacks, carried out on September 17 and 18, targeted thousands of handheld pagers and hundreds of walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah members across Lebanon and Syria. "The pager operation and the elimination of [Hezbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah were carried out despite the opposition of senior officials in the defence establishment and those responsible for them in the political echelon," Netanyahu reportedly said, in a not-very-oblique dig at IDF and intelligence chiefs, as well as his recently fired defence minister, Yoav Gallant. Last week, Netanyahu dismissed defence minister Yoav Gallant, citing a lack of trust, and replaced him with Israel Katz, who was previously serving as foreign minister. Netanyahu and Gallant had clashed multiple times during their time in government, The Times of Israel reported. Earlier, Israel had not publicly claimed responsibility for the attacks that targeted Hezbollah, which saw pagers and walkie-talkies explode in two waves on September 17 and 18, resulting in at least 39 deaths. The Times of Israel reported that Lebanon said nearly 3,000 others were wounded in the attack. The tolls did not differentiate between civilians and members of the terror group, and among the wounded was Tehran's ambassador to Lebanon Mojtaba Amani. In the aftermath, various media outlets reported that the attack was a highly sophisticated Israeli intelligence operation years in the making in which Hezbollah was fooled into purchasing the compromised devices. The explosions were followed up by a series of Israeli airstrikes that took out much of Hezbollah's command structure, including Nasrallah, and an ongoing limited ground operation in southern Lebanon to eliminate the immediate threats posed by the terror group to Israel's northern border communities. Earlier, Lebanese health ministry announced that the country's death toll in the Israel-Hezbollah war had crossed 3,000. The figure does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. The IDF had estimated that some 3,000 Hezbollah operatives had been killed in the conflict. Around 100 members of other terror groups had also been reported killed in Lebanon. (ANI)
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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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.
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.
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.
Navigating the corporate tax landscape in Toronto can be a complex endeavor, but strategic tax planning is key to unlocking potential savings and enhancing your businesss financial health. With ever-evolving tax laws and regulations, staying informed and proactive is crucial to ensure your corporation remains compliant while maximizing available opportunities.

Partnering with tax professionals familiar with Torontos unique tax environment can provide tailored insights that align with your business goals. By strategically planning depreciable asset purchases and sales, you can maintain tax efficiency and optimize your financial position. This holistic approach not only supports your corporate objectives but also contributes to the vibrant business ecosystem in Toronto.

As government scrutiny intensifies, adopting an integrative tax strategy becomes even more vital. Analyzing your financial status, assessing potential liabilities, and leveraging local incentives can significantly improve your tax position. By doing so, youll ensure your corporation thrives in Torontos competitive marketplace.

Overview of the Canadian Corporate Tax System

Toronto corporations navigate a complex tax system with distinct federal and provincial components. Canadas federal corporate tax rate stands at 15%, offering a reduced rate of 9% for Canadian-controlled private corporations (CCPCs) on the first $500,000 of active business income through the Small Business Deduction. This incentive helps improve cash flow significantly.

For the provincial aspect, Ontario imposes a general corporate tax rate of 11.5%. Corporations must combine this with the federal rate, resulting in a total corporate tax burden. The cumulative burden means strategic tax planning becomes essential to optimize financial outcomes.

Corporations have access to tax credits and deductions designed to encourage activities like research and development or investments in machinery. Effective use of these can lower taxable income and overall tax liability. Canadian corporations file annual tax returns with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), and compliance with these regulations is mandatory.

Toronto companies also benefit from incentives like the Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption (LCGE), shielding a portion of capital gains from taxes on qualified small business corporation shares. Dmitry Benedict, an accounting expert, notes that strategies like income splitting effectively reduce tax liabilities.

The Canadian corporate tax system emphasizes self-assessment, meaning corporations calculate taxable income and applicable rates themselves. By keeping informed about existing laws and leveraging expert advice, companies can navigate the tax landscape efficiently.

Essential Tax Strategies for Toronto Corporations

Navigating the Toronto tax landscape demands strategic planning to ensure long-term financial health. Expert guidance, like that from CEO Dmitry Benedict, can be invaluable for understanding nuances in corporate tax planning.

Timing of Income and Expenses

Effectively managing the timing of income and expenses can significantly impact your corporations tax obligations. Toronto businesses, including many under the expert service of corporate tax accountants, often defer income to future fiscal years while accelerating deductible expenses. For instance, a corporation with an annual revenue of CAD 2 million deferring CAD 200,000 results in reducing current tax liabilities. Proper expense acceleration can maximize deductions, mitigating taxable income immediately.

Leveraging Tax Deductions and Credits

Toronto corporations can optimize their tax positions by leveraging available deductions and credits. Utilizing the Small Business Deduction effectively can lower federal tax rates from 15% to 9% on the first CAD 500,000 of active income. Furthermore, research and development credits can offset costs, as observed with firms saving an average of CAD 50,000 annually. Strategic use of these deductions aligns with corporate tax regulations, ensuring compliance and maximizing profitability.

Tax Planning for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Effective tax planning is essential for Torontos small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It helps minimize liabilities and maximize financial health by using insights from experienced professionals.

Utilizing the Small Business Deduction

The Small Business Deduction (SBD) offers significant tax savings. SMEs can benefit from a reduced federal tax rate of 9% on the first $500,000 of active business income. By leveraging this deduction, your business can achieve savings that contribute to growth. Many businesses overlook eligibility criteria, which is vital to realize these benefits fully. Regular reviews ensure your company meets all requirements and maximizes these deductions.

Engaging in Year-Round Tax Planning

Consistent tax planning throughout the year reduces stress and enhances efficiency. Engaging with a corporate tax accountant in Toronto, like Dmitry Benedict, provides tailored guidance on navigating complex tax codes and exploring deduction opportunities. Regular assessments allow you to adjust financial strategies to take advantage of evolving tax-saving options. By monitoring transactions, businesses can defer income or accelerate expenses strategically, optimizing cash flow and reducing liabilities.

Professional advice from experts is critical in understanding the intricate landscape of corporate taxes. With federal and provincial rates imposing a combined taxable burden of up to 26.5% for general corporations, optimizing your strategies can make a substantial impact. Leveraging accountants expertise ensures informed financial decisions that align with your companys objectives and contribute to long-term success.

Advanced Strategies for Tax Optimization

Exploring advanced strategies enhances tax efficiency and financial health for Toronto corporations. Considerations include income splitting, tax deferral, and maximizing available credits and incentives.

Income Splitting and Tax Deferral

Income splitting and tax deferral are key strategies in managing corporate tax liabilities. It involves distributing earnings among family members or trusts, and leveraging lower tax brackets to reduce the overall tax burden. For instance, by employing a family trust and allocating $50,000 in income across family members in lower tax brackets, its possible to achieve an annual tax savings of approximately $8,000, depending on individual circumstances.

Tax deferral allows for the postponement of tax payments, enabling corporations to reinvest earnings for future growth. In Canada, advanced deferral techniques, such as retaining earnings within a corporation until a lower tax rate applies, can preserve additional capital for asset purchases. Consulting with experts like Dmitry Benedict, a recognized accounting leader, ensures compliance with regulations such as the Tax on Split Income (TOSI) rules from the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) and optimizes tax deferral opportunities.

Maximizing Tax Credits and Incentives

Maximizing tax credits and incentives can significantly reduce payable tax and increase cash flow. Opportunities often include the Small Business Deduction, with a potential federal tax rate reduction to 9% on the first $500,000 of active business income, and research and development (R&D) credits. Effective utilization of such credits could result in annual tax savings of upwards of $12,000 for corporations heavily invested in R&D activities.

Additional savings could arise from machinery and equipment investments, benefiting from capital cost allowances that lower taxable income. Engaging a corporate tax accountant provides expertise in identifying relevant tax incentives and ensuring the maximum benefit is captured.

By applying these advanced strategies, Toronto corporations can significantly optimize their tax planning efforts, ultimately supporting sustainable growth and maintaining financial health.

Legal Considerations and Compliance

Navigating Torontos corporate tax environments legal framework requires precise attention to Canadian tax laws and regulations. Compliant tax planning means differentiating between legal tax avoidance and illegal tax evasion. While legitimate tax avoidance strategies are permissible, tax evasion carries severe penalties.

Incorporating a comprehensive understanding of tax laws protects your corporation from unwanted scrutiny. On average, Canadian businesses face combined federal and provincial tax liabilities of approximately 26.5%, which underscores the importance of legal compliance. Strategies that align with tax laws, like maximizing deductions and credits, can significantly minimize liabilities.

Toronto-based firms such as Roche Financial Group, Bateman MacKay, and Prasad & Company LLP specialize in developing tailored strategies that adhere to these complex regulations. Partnering with a corporate tax accountant in Toronto ensures your corporation stays compliant. Accounting expert Dmitry Benedict emphasizes maintaining accurate records and leveraging ongoing reviews to adapt to regulatory changes.

Regular consultation with tax advisors reduces risks associated with non-compliance. Approximately 20% of corporations experience audits annually, stressing the need for proactive measures. Advanced planning around aspects such as income splitting and tax deferral can legally decrease tax burdens, when complying with the latest rules, such as the Tax on Split Income (TOSI) regulations.

Succession and Exit Planning

Strategic tax planning encompasses more than just current operations; it includes succession and exit planning, which are vital for Toronto corporations aiming to ensure business continuity. As business environments evolve, planning for leadership transitions becomes crucial to maintaining corporate legacy and financial stability.

Corporations in Toronto face the challenge of addressing family dynamics and business goals in succession plans. These professionals, including noted expert CEO Dmitry Benedict, provide a comprehensive approach, considering factors such as readiness of potential successors, skills assessment, and transition timelines. According to a survey, about 60% of top executives view succession planning as the most crucial element of strategic management, highlighting its importance in the corporate agenda.

Firms also consider the implications of new tax laws when crafting these plans, particularly for family-owned entities. Canadian trends show a 30% rise in expedited succession planning due to recent legal and tax changes. This proactive approach helps businesses navigate complexities and manage tax implications effectively. Essential elements include open communication among stakeholders and ongoing engagement, which facilitate harmonious transitions and strategic transfer of leadership roles.

Exit planning complements this by focusing on effective ownership transitions when selling a business, retiring, or stepping back from daily operations. A recent report found that around 75% of business owners felt unprepared for sudden exits, underscoring the need for detailed exit strategies. By coordinating with skilled accounting professionals on asset valuation and financial structuring, businesses can optimize outcomes and strategically position themselves for future endeavors.
By Enioluwa Adeniyi

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has acknowledged the presence of many upright and courageous judges within the judiciary, while noting that a few errant individuals continue to tarnish its reputation.

Justice Kekere-Ekun made these remarks on Saturday during a public discourse titled Ethics, Morality, and the Law, organized by the Movement for Islamic Culture and Awareness, in honour of Justice Habeeb Abirus elevation to the Supreme Court. The event was held in Lagos.

Praising the judiciary for its dedication and resilience, Justice Kekere-Ekun emphasized the importance of understanding the publics perception of the intersection between ethics, morality, and the law.

She further noted that public trust in the law depends on its adherence to fundamental principles, the clarity and stability of the legal system, the judiciarys independence, and the fair use of authority by law enforcement agencies.

She said, The role of the legal practitioner within this framework, merits particular attention.

The lawyer, often seen as both antagonist and protagonist in the pursuit of justice, must navigate a terrain where law, ethics and morality intersect.

This dual role requires balancing the scriptures and the law with ethical constitutions, often containing with moral and legal questions that may seem at odds.

In his remarks, the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi, asked Nigerian judges, especially justices of the Supreme Court to administer justice with the fear of God and remember that they are accountable to God.

Sanusi urged the judges to be upright and not allow hatred for people to make them do what is wrong.

He said judges should focus more on substantive justice and not rely on technicalities.

Do not be an advocate for wrongdoers and do not be an advocate for those who deceive themselves, because Allah does not love sinful wrongdoers, said Sanusi.

Also, the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, stressed the importance of fairness and integrity in the Nigerian legal system, urging legal professionals to recommit to ethical values.

The problem that we are discussing today is the problem of fairness, Fagbemi remarked, addressing the audience gathered both in-person and online.

When we talk about fairness, which is the meaning of why we are here, we must acknowledge that we have wronged the laws, he stated.

Speaking on the theme Ethics, Morality and the Law  Christian Perspective, the Very Reverend Professor Konyinsola Ajayi, SAN, condemned what he termed lawlessness in the law, urging Nigerias legal professionals to reflect on the role of ethics and morality within the judiciary.

Ajayi questioned whether the rule of law truly underpins current judicial practices, adding that the decisions of the courts often confuse the public rather than provide clarity.

He said, The law today is providing the greatest uncertainty you can think about.

Earlier, the former governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, SAN, said the greatest tool humans have invented is law, which separates humans from animals.
By Joe Chukindi

Former Governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has urged students who want to seek greener pastures outside Nigeria after their graduation to do so.

Obi stated this while making a donation of N60 million to two higher institutions in Anambra State.

He said if Nigeria is fixed, those who have migrated abroad will return.

The former governor donated N50 million to Peter University in Achina/Onneh and N10 million to School of Nursing Sciences, Adazi-Nnukwu, on Sunday.

Addressing students of the College of Nursing Sciences in Adazi-Nnukwu, Obi said: It is my dedication to keep supporting institutions that nurture skill, professionalism, and character.

I was here in May this year to support you, and as I had told you, the support was to be done last year, but I couldnt come because of electioneering, so I came in May.

This is something I do every year, and today Im here to give you my donation for this year. Those of us in public life should be able to earn public trust, and that is why I am here to do as I said.

I have always told the Nursing Council not to restrict you people from travelling abroad after graduation. If it is not going to work for you here, go to where it will work for you.

We will not advise anyone to stay where it is difficult for them. If you want to seek greener pastures outside, please go. Im sure that when we build a greater Nigeria, you will come back.

My P.A, Michael-Jude who was here with me the last time I came here has travelled abroad. He got married to a nurse, and the UK government granted his wife and her husband all rights to study, and he is now in UK. As I am now, I am looking for a new P.A.

Earlier at Peter University, Obi encouraged the students to take their studies seriously, describing education as transformative power which can form a pillar of national development.

He urged students to pursue academic excellence, emphasising that an investment in education is an investment in the future.

Education is the most impactful tool for societal progress. You must see yourselves as future leaders capable of driving positive change.
Peter Mbah

 as Enugu College of Nursing Orientates 283 New Students

 Students tasked on dedication to studies

Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has explained his administrations huge investments and numerous interventions leading to the upgrade and accreditation of the Enugu State College of Nursing Sciences.

This was even as the College organised an orientation course for its 2024 intakes numbering a record 283, the highest in the history of the institution.

Speaking at the grand finale of the 2024 set orientation programme held at ESUT Auditorium, Park Lane, Enugu at the weekend, Governor Mbah, who was represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health Matters, Dr. Yomi Jaye, said that the upgrade of the institute to a collegial status would add massively to his vision to transform the health sector of the state and make Enugu State a health tourism hub.

According to Mbah, the institute, under his watch, was already witnessing unprecedented transformations both in terms of infrastructure and manpower as well as the hitherto elusive accreditation by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, NMCN, in the bid to produce the best health practitioners both for the state and the world in general.

We have put many things up to ensure that this school attains a collegial status. We have our National Board for Technical Education accreditation, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board accreditation, Federal Ministry of Health accreditation, and of course the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria acreditation.

What this means is that we can play at a very big level, giving each student here a degree that fully covers Nursing, Midwifery, Public Health and Higher National Diploma once they graduate.

We are working hard to ensure that this college is unique because we rely on you for our numerous healthcare facilities in the state. Therefore, you need to put in your best so that you can represent your school in any environment you may find yourselves tomorrow, Mbah said.

Speaking earlier, the Acting Provost of the college, Dr. Peace Ani, commended the governor for the enormous work he is doing in the college, noting that many structures were currently ongoing both in the Enugu and Awgu campus simultaneously.

According to her, the orientation would expose the new students to the task ahead of them, urging them to work hard and be good health practitioners.

Today, I am so happy because this is an epochmaking event where we welcomed the new set of 2024 students that will start their programmes in Nursing. This journey started in August when we received accreditation from the NBTE and Nursing Council.

We started this orientation where the students were given an overview of the courses they would undertake for the next four years. They were taught by different kinds of people whom we invited to come and integrate them on what it takes to be a nurse, the provost said.

A leadership teacher and founder of GOTNI Leadership Center, Dr. Linus Okorie, charged the students to be the best for themselves and the nursing profession, urging them to imbibe good behavioural patterns in order to make a difference and succeed in their career.

He further commended Governor Mbah for his massive infrastructural strides in Enugu State, insisting that a good environment plays a crucial role in learning.
Elizabeth L. T. Moore is a Hearst Fellow in San Antonio. She can be reached at Elizabeth.Moore@hearst.com

Elizabeth did her first fellowship year as a reporter with the New Haven Register in Connecticut. Moore has published bylines with Bloomberg News, The Virginian-Pilot and The Daily Tar Heel, the student newspaper of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Moore placed nationally in the Hearst Collegiate Journalism Program, and she is fluent in Spanish.
Moscow has excluded the Algeria-backed Polisario separatists from participating in the first ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, dealing another humiliating blow to the ruling Algerian junta.

Moroccan foreign minister Nasser Bourita is representing the Kingdom in the two-day event which opened Saturday in the city of Sochi. The conference is attended by government and business leaders from Russia and Africa. Participants are exploring cooperation in security, economy, industry, energy, skills development, IT, healthcare

Despite Algerias lobbying and pressure, Moscow refused to let the Polisario take part in the conference, exacerbating the cracks appearing in relations between Algiers and Moscow. The rift was seen during the latest UN Security Council vote on resolution 2756 (2024) drafted by Washington on the Sahara. Russia abstained but did not veto the resolution as expected by the Algerian regime. The resolution, adopted with a landslide majority extended for another year the mandate of MINURSO.

In September, Beijing also refused the participation of the Polisario in the China-Africa cooperation forum. The United States, Saudi Arabia, India, South Korea, Japan, Italy, Indonesia and Turkey have all excluded the Polisario from their summits with African countries.

The exclusion of Polisario from these high-profile international events confirms the failure of the Algerian-backed separatist project, deepening the international isolation of the Algerian rulers and their Polisario puppets which have become persona non-grata worldwide.
Namibia has been a frequently mentioned name when talking about the future global oil landscape. With potentially significant reserves, the southwestern African country eyed the status of fifth-largest oil producer on the continent. But then something happened: Big Oil discovered gas. A lot of it.

Companies including Shell, TotalEnergies, Chevron, and Portugals Galp Resources are drilling for oil in the Orange Basin off the Namibian coast. They are striking oil, too. Shell struck oil at a prospect called Graff, estimated to contain up to 1.7 billion barrels of crude. TotalEnergies Venus discovery could turn out to be even bigger, containing up to 3 billion barrels of oil. Galp also struck oil earlier this year but has not disclosed the size of the discovery. But all these companies have a problem: theres too much gas in there with the oil.

What we are seeing is that all our discoveries have a very high gas-to-oil ratio, the head of the Petroleum Affairs Directorate at the Namibian Ministry of Mines and Energy, Maggy Shino, said in October, as quoted by Reuters.

Since Namibia has banned flaring, this means the gas must be either injected back into the wells during extraction or processed for marketing, Reuters reported this week, saying that this would require investment in additional infrastructure that could push back the start of commercial hydrocarbons production in Namibia. Per the report, Big Oil executives are not happy about this prospectbecause the longer they wait to monetize Namibias oil and gas, the harder this would become, the Reuters authors wrote.

Related: Iraqs Parliament to Discuss New Bill on Oil Exports

The suggestion seems to stem from long-term demand forecasts from outlets such as the International Energy Agency, which predicts peak oil demand is a couple of years away and will be followed by a sharp drop. However, current data does not seem to support this view. Standard Chartered reported in October that global oil demand had hit an all-time high in August, reaching 103.79 million barrels daily. This goes counter to a statement by the head of the IEA who said, also last month, that oil demand this year was much weaker than in previous years.

This seems not to be the case. What is slowing down is global oil demand growth, and there is a pretty good reason for this trend. The years 2021 and 2022 saw a rebound after demand took a plunge during the 2020 lockdowns. Since the plunge in 2020 demand was not caused by fundamentals, namely, excessive supply, but rather by external factors, namely demand destruction by lockdowns, the moment these ended, demand came roaring back. Momentum was bound to run out and this is what we are witnessing right now. By the way, BP and others predicted at the time that oil demand growth had already peaked in 2019.

So, the outlook for oil demand growth may not be as bleak as some forecasters want to have the industry believe, with OPEC regularly countering the IEAs view on that outlook. There is, in other words, a good market for Namibian oiland for Namibian gas as well.

According to resource estimates, Namibia could hold natural gas reserves of as much as 8.7 trillion cu ft. Now, thats a far cry from Russias 37.4 trillion cubic meters or Irans 32.1 trillion cubic metersbut it is no small potatoes either. And the outlook for natural gas demand is even brighter than that for oil, regardless of the latest anti-gas crusade led by activists who would accept nothing short of the total cancelation of hydrocarbons. In other words, there is demand for gas, just ask Europe.

Indeed, the Namibian government has already started working with the Big Oil majors active in its waters to build the gas extraction infrastructure, regardless of the IEA predictions of looming peak oiland gas, and coaldemand. But Big Oil is as cautious as it has been since climate change replaced all other global ills to become governments number-one priority. Supermajors would only move forward with their Namibian plans if the production costs are low enough.

TotalEnergies, as noted in the Reuters report, wants to get production costs at the Venus discovery down to less than $20 per barrel. To do that, the company may have to renegotiate the terms of its deal with the Namibian government, including the need to reinject a lot more gas than initially expected into the wells.

Shell has warned that its Namibian operations have turned out to be more challenging than expected, with CEO Wale Sawan saying, A lot of our focus is on figuring out whether we can find ways to be able to develop commercially investable projects. As the U.S. shale revolution has proven, sometimes its only a question of time and the right motivation. With prices where they are now, there might not be strong enough motivation to overcome the Namibian challenges, but it may only be a matter of time.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
President Muhammadu Buhari says he will use his second term in office to improve the lives of Nigerians by paying closer attention to the poor and the underprivileged in the society.

A statement by Malam Garba Shehu, the Presidents spokesman, in Abuja on Tuesday said Buhari made his feelings known when he addressed leaders of various communities from five Local Government Areas of Daura Emirate.

The affected leaders were at the private residence of the president in Daura, Katsina state, as part of Eid El-Kabir celebration.

The President said he was convinced that majority of Nigerians understand who he was and his mission, on account of which they returned him for a second term in office with larger margin of votes than in 2015.

You know how much I laboured to get here. I ran three times in the past. The fourth time, God used technology to do it for me.

The fifth time I ran (Feb. 23, 2019), I went to all the states of the federation. The turnout of crowds was overwhelming.

Read Also: Buhari ll take decisive actions on killing of three policemen, says Presidency

Truly, the people know and understand my mission. This is what the votes showed.

The administration will dwell on our campaign issues  security, economy and corruption. We will fight for the poor, he said.

He emphasised the important place of agriculture under his administration, promising to appoint a minister who is knowledgeable and will know how to promote interest and investment in the sector.

The president said: I will appoint a minister who knows agriculture and its role in providing jobs and growing our economy. You have seen how we broke the fertiliser jinx in the country.

We will do more to better the lots of our farmers. Agriculture is our strength.

President Buhari expressed delight with the changing attitude of young people to agriculture, with many earning respectable incomes, urging all of those without regular incomes to return to the farm.

In his remarks, Malam Yusuf Mai Aduwa, one the leaders of the delegation, thanked Nigerians for giving the President a second mandate to lead the country, stressing that he would not let the country down.

Mohammed Saleh, another community leader, said the communities under the Daura Emirate were grateful to the President for signing a bill to establish a Federal Polytechnic in Daura.

He noted that this came after they had complained that the area needed a tertiary institution to encourage the youth to pursue higher education.

In her remarks, Hajiya Talatu Nasir, a Permanent Secretary with the Katsina State Ministry of Information, said President Buharis government had empowered many women, with many already owning businesses like poultry and livestock farms.

While offering special prayers for the President, the Daura community urged him to pursue the vision for a better Nigeria with the fear of God, courage to stand by the truth always, and mindful of the needs of the poor and underprivileged.

(NAN)
Oluwo of Iwo

According to a report by Sun News, the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has gone spiritual on the novel coronavirus pandemic plaguing the world.

The monarch, known for his deep spirituality, says that he has issued a 16-day ultimatum to the deadly virus to vacate the globe, even as Osun State recorded its first case as disclosed by the Nigeria Centre for Diseases Control (NCDC) on Wednesday.

Oba Akanbi, who expressed disgust at the magnitude of destruction the virus had inflicted on the world, said he would use his spiritual office as a first-class paramount ruler to neuter the plague.

He stressed that even if the pandemic had defied human wisdom and technology, Gods spiritual powers had the potential to defeat the scourge.

He called on the people across the world who believe in God to seek His face to arrest the deadly disease.

The Oluwo had once prayed for President Muhammadu Buhari to put his sickness upon him as published in major newspapers on August 31, 2017.

The Oluwo, who described his palace as a house of God on earth and devoid of idolatry, enthused that such spiritual status had given him the licence to stand in for his subjects and bear their worries.

He stressed that from such a house of God (the palace) which is holy before God Almighty who attends to every of his request through his powers, the virus must obey his ultimatum.

While stressing that anybody on such a holy throne is a shadow of God on earth, the traditional ruler insisted that he could intercede for his subjects to overcome any form of pestilence.

He lamented that the virus had done a lot of damage to the worlds economy and wasted lives so much that the power of God must be called on to fight it.
SPRINGFIELD  It was hardly a surprise when the Associated Press declared Vice President Kamala Harris the winner of Illinois 19 Electoral College votes just 38 minutes after polls closed Tuesday evening.

After all, the state has supported the Democratic presidential nominee in every election, and always by double-digit margins, since 1992.

For Macon County Republican Party chair Bruce Pillsbury, who glanced at the statewide results flashing on the television screen early in the night at the partys headquarters in Decatur before turning his focus to local races, things seemed headed where they usually do in the Midwests bluest state.

They kept showing 60-40 Kamala to Trump, Pillsbury said. And I kind of thought that was probably ballpark for where it should be or would be with Chicago and St. Louis influence.

But when Pillsbury woke up Wednesday morning, it was to an electoral picture that was much rosier  and redder  for his party in the Land of Lincoln.

While nowhere close to winning the statewide vote in the presidential race, President-elect Donald Trump had cut his losing margin here in half compared to his 2016 and 2020 campaigns.

With more than 98% of returns reported, Harris appeared to lead Trump in the state with 53.8% of the vote to his 44.8%, a margin of about 9 percentage points and nearly 480,000 raw votes, according to unofficial returns compiled by the Associated Press. Just four years ago, President Joe Biden defeated Trump in Illinois by about 17 percentage points and more than 1 million raw votes.

Though Harris lead is likely to grow once more late-arriving vote-by-mail ballots are tallied, she is on pace for the worst performance of a Democratic presidential nominee in Illinois since 1988, when George H.W. Bush was the last Republican presidential candidate to carry the state. And she may be the first Democrat in that time to win the state by less than 10 percentage points.

The result reflected a stunning shift towards Trump, the twice-impeached former president who survived two assassination attempts and nearly three dozen felony convictions to return to power in a deeply divided nation.

This red shift across the country was more pronounced in Illinois and other states where the 2024 presidential campaign was largely uncontested, such as New Jersey and New York.

In Illinois, which leading Democrats proudly dubbed the rebar in the blue wall just a few months ago, the results represent a glimmer of hope to a state Republican Party at its weakest point in a generation.

Eight percentage points in Illinois is doable, Pillsbury said. And especially looking at it for future elections, if you got that kind of turnout for the presidential candidate in Illinois, I think that speaks volumes right there.

But at the same time, Illinois Democrats maintained their supermajorities in the state legislature and their 14-3 advantage in the states congressional delegation.

And, as early as Wednesday, Gov. JB Pritzker was already discussing potential ways to protect the state  and its most vulnerable residents  from a president he called a threat to democracy.

"Chaos, retribution and disarray radiated from the White House the last time Donald Trump occupied it," Pritzker said. "Perhaps this time may be different, but if it isn't, Illinois will remain a place of stability and competent governance."

A look at the results

The red shift in Illinois was almost everywhere.

According to unofficial results, all but six of the states 102 counties gave Trump better margins compared with his 2020 performance.

The second-largest shift in margin came from Cook County, where Trump posted a 11% improvement compared to 2020. The county, anchored by Chicago, is home to 40% of the states population and has long been the states Democratic juggernaut.

In the states largest city, Trump received 22% of the vote, an increase from 16% in 2020 and 12% in 2016. He performed best in the outlying wards, which are enclaves for white-ethnic first responders, city workers and tradespeople along with working class Latinos.

In most of the suburban collar counties, which have helped carry Illinois Democrats to large statewide victories and pad their supermajorities in the state legislature over the past decade, the shift to Trump averaged around five percentage points. Harris still carried DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake and Will counties while Trump won McHenry County.

Democrats also continued to bleed support in sparsely populated rural areas and smaller communities downstate, continuing a longstanding realignment towards Republicans that Trump has exacerbated.

In Macon County, Trump secured 59% to Harris 40% out of more than 44,000 ballots cast. In Coles County, it was a 63% to 35% Trump victory out of more than 21,000 ballots cast.

Clearly, there was erosion for the Democrats in Illinois, said John Shaw, the director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute of Politics at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, who said that it appeared as though Trump benefited from a middle finger vote from many across the state and country.

Trump has been very skilled at tapping into the anger and discontent and even fury of the American voter, Shaw said. And they have not really required him to offer clear and coherent solutions. They have been seemingly comfortable with just voting for a candidate who's angry at the status quo, and they use him to reflect their anger and frustration.

National trends were reflected across Illinois as Trump, according to exit polls, improved his standing with his base of working class white voters and built up more support from young voters and Latinos, particularly men.

Illinois Republican Party chair Kathy Salvi said that Trump's message on bringing down costs and securing the border appealed to a broad swath of voters. She predicted that it could serve as a template for future GOP campaigns here.

Illinois made massive strides last night, reflecting the foundation we are building to bring in new voters and compete with the billionaire governor and his band of cronies in Springfield, Salvi wrote in a statement the morning after Trump's victory. Time to get back on our horse and start working again  there's only 727 days until the 2026 midterms."

It should be noted, however, that voter turnout was down compared with 2020. Trump, as of now, has about 50,000 less votes in Illinois than four years ago. Harris is down nearly 600,000 votes versus Biden.

Still, it is a sign of life for a party that has been moribund in recent years.

Illinois Republicans have not won a statewide election in 10 years. They are in the superminority in the state legislature and hold just three of the state's 17 congressional seats.

Many of these facts remained unchanged after Tuesday's election. Democrats, already protected by gerrymandered legislative and congressional maps, used their massive fundraising and organizing advantages to maintain their numbers in Springfield and Washington.

Nevertheless, Tuesday's result was the party's first real sign in a long time of moving the needle in what had been an increasingly blue-trending state.

I think there has to be some encouragement for the Republican Party in Illinois that they may not be as totally dead in the water as they have appeared to be, said Kent Redfield, a retired professor of political science at the University of Illinois Springfield. Perception is what's important. And so there's enough positives out of this that you can go and sell that to people about why they should get engaged, why they should run, why they should give money to the Republican Party.

Despite a better overall topline showing for Republicans that was broadly spread across the state, there were some bright "blue" spots for Democrats in the results Tuesday.

One of them was McLean County, where Harris secured 52% to Trump's 47%. This was a 0.6% improvement for Democrats compared with 2020. While a small shift in absolute terms, it was relatively large in comparison to the overall shift rightward.

Democrats also took the majority on the McLean County Board for the first time ever, a feat Pritzker acknowledged while putting a silver lining on the party's overall poor showing at a press conference in Chicago on Thursday.

McLean County Democratic Party Chair Patrick Cortesi credited a "very efficient" field program where Democratic campaigns from county board to Congress coordinated with one another, which allowed for more doors to be knocked and the entire ticket to reap the benefits.

"Makes you now wonder what we could have done had we not been up against those headwinds," Cortesi said. "But that's what two years is for," referencing the next election cycle, which will feature races for countywide office.

Pritzker responds

Pritzker, who was a key surrogate for Harris, acknowledged "the improvement that Donald Trump had across the country and in Illinois in terms of his margin."

While recognizing that the former president won the election and will once again occupy the White House in January, Pritzker vowed to keep Illinoisans, particularly those from marginalized groups, "safe and protected" from a second Trump Administration.

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, Pritzker said. You come for my people, you come through me.

The second-term Chicago Democrat told reporters that he met with his top staff and spoke with several Democratic governors across the country on Wednesday to compile "a list of things that we may need to address" ahead of Trump's return to power.

He did not elaborate on what lawmakers may do, but noted that the state has already taken action to enshrine protections into law, including ensuring access to reproductive health and limiting state participation with federal immigration enforcement.

While state lawmakers come back to Springfield next week for their annual fall veto session, Pritzker said any action would like "be done in the new year."

Shaw said that if past is prologue, "Illinois' going to face some challenges going forward" in its dealings with the federal government.

"I mean, the federal government is not going to be an easy ally for the Pritzker Administration, and it's not 100% obvious what the strategy should be," Shaw said. "But I do think he's going to look carefully at what happens in California and see what practically can you do to 'Trump-proof' your state from an administration that is going to be almost certainly hostile."

Another consequence of Harris' loss is the creation of a wide open race for the Democratic nomination for president in 2028.

Pritzker has raised his national profile significantly in recent years, was a finalist to be Harris' vice presidential pick earlier this year and is believed to harbor presidential ambitions of his own.

Before that, Pritzker has another decision to make: whether to seek a third term as governor in 2026. He told reporters on Thursday that "I dont have anything to announce today" on a reelection bid, though he added that he has "no plans for anything else," referring to a future presidential bid.

Shaw said that Pritzker could opt to take his lengthy record of Democratic policy achievements "to the bank" and avoid any political turbulence in Springfield by not seeking reelection.

But Redfield said it would be easier for Pritzker to maintain his visibility and stature in the party as a sitting governor.

"If he wants to be in the national picture, I think he'll run for reelection and try to have that base to work from," Redfield said. "He can go and be someplace representing Illinois at the same time he's representing JB Pritzker, potential 2026 presidential candidate."
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

This image provided by the Archeological Park of Pompeii shows cast number 25, made in 1929, from Villa dei Misteri in Pompeii. Credit: Courtesy of MIC, Archaeological Park of Pompeii via AP

When a volcanic eruption buried the ancient city of Pompeii, the last desperate moments of its citizens were preserved in stone for centuries.

Observers see stories in the plaster casts later made of their bodies, like a mother holding a child and two women embracing as they die.

But new DNA evidence suggests things were not as they seemand these prevailing interpretations come from looking at the ancient world through modern eyes.

"We were able to disprove or challenge some of the previous narratives built upon how these individuals were kind of found in relation to each other," said Alissa Mittnik of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany. "It opens up different interpretations for who these people might have been."

Mittnik and her colleagues discovered that the person thought to be a mother was actually a man unrelated to the child. And at least one of the two people locked in an embracelong assumed to be sisters or a mother and daughterwas a man. Their research was published Thursday in the journal Current Biology.

The team, which also includes scientists from Harvard University and the University of Florence in Italy, relied on genetic material preserved for nearly two millennia. After Mount Vesuvius erupted and destroyed the Roman city in 79 A.D., bodies buried in mud and ash eventually decomposed, leaving spaces where they used to be. Casts were created from the voids in the late 1800s.

This image provided by the Archeological Park of Pompeii shows a group of casts, numbers 50, 51 and 52, made in 1974 from the Casa del Bracciale d'Oro in Pompeii. Credit: Courtesy of MIC, Archaeological Park of Pompeii via AP

Researchers focused on 14 casts undergoing restoration, extracting DNA from the fragmented skeletal remains that mixed with them. They hoped to determine the sex, ancestry and genetic relationships between the victims.

There were several surprises in "the house of the golden bracelet," the dwelling where the assumed mother and child were found. The adult wore an intricate piece of jewelry, for which the house was named, reinforcing the impression that the victim was a woman. Nearby were the bodies of another adult and child thought to be the rest of their nuclear family.

DNA evidence showed the four were male and not related to one another, clearly showing "the story that was long spun around these individuals" was wrong, Mittnik said.

Researchers also confirmed Pompeii citizens came from diverse backgrounds but mainly descended from eastern Mediterranean immigrantsunderscoring a broad pattern of movement and cultural exchange in the Roman Empire. Pompeii is located about 150 miles (241 kilometers) from Rome.

This photo provided by the Archeological Park of Pompeii shows casts number 21 and 22, made in 1914, from Casa del Cryptoportico in Pompeii, Italy. Credit: Courtesy of MIC, Archaeological Park of Pompeii via AP

A view of Pompeii, a buried and ruined Roman city near modern Naples in Italy, is seen in 1979. Credit: AP Photo/Jim Bourdier, File

Jewelry found in the ruins of a house in Pompeii are displayed, backdropped by the casts of two adults and two children who died together in the house in Pompeii, at the exhibition, "Life and death Pompeii and Herculaneum," at the British Museum in central London, March 26, 2013. Credit: AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File

A view of Pompeii, a buried and ruined Roman city near modern Naples in Italy, is seen in 1979. Credit: AP Photo, File

The study builds upon research from 2022 when scientists sequenced the genome of a Pompeii victim for the first time and confirmed the possibility of retrieving ancient DNA from the human remains that still exist.

"They have a better overview of what's happening in Pompeii because they analyzed different samples," said Gabriele Scorrano of the University of Rome Tor Vergata, a co-author of that research who was not involved in the current study. "We actually had one genome, one sample, one shot."

Though much remains to be learned, Scorrano said, such genetic brushstrokes are slowly painting a truer picture of how people lived in the distant past.

 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Ontario school board lawsuits against social media giants including Meta, Snapchat and TikTok are seeking damages money paid as a remedyfor the disruption of the educational system.

A growing volume of evidence indicates that young people have become addicted to social media. It suggests social media platforms are designed to foster such addiction, that online activities contribute to behavior such as bullying and harassment, and that excessive use of social networks can harm students' mental health, even influencing suicide.

Ontario school boards, speaking as a coalition called Schools for Social Media Change, argue "social media products, designed for compulsive use, have rewired the way children think, behave and learn" and that "schools are unfairly bearing the brunt of the learning and mental health epidemic caused by the alleged negligent conduct of social media companies." Lawsuits come as 95 percent of Ontario schools report needing more resources to support student mental health.

At the core of the litigation are concerns about the impact on young people of social media companies' practices. But neither lawsuit victories, nor existing or proposed Ontario provincial or federal privacy or AI legislation will prevent problems related to rampant collection and processing of human-derived data.

Boards in U.S. and Canada

Four Ontario school boards announced that they were suing social media giants including Meta, Snapchat and TikTok in March 2024. Five other school boards and two private schools also filed suit shortly afterwards.

These actions follow a flood of lawsuits launched in the U.S. by over 200 school districts against social media companies.

The U.S. lawsuits link social media engagement with a decline in students' mental health. One U.S. statement of claim describes the situation as "perhaps the most serious mental health crisis [the nation's children, adolescents and teenagers] have ever faced."

The Canadian lawsuits make similar claims. For example, one alleges that the defendant social media companies "employ exploitative business practices and have negligently designed unsafe and/or addictive products" that they market and promote to students.

Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly.

Regulating digital information

The litigation on both sides of the border is novel. In Canada it has also been somewhat controversial. When asked about the Ontario lawsuits, premier Doug Ford called them "nonsense," suggesting that the school boards should focus on educating students.

Shortly after the launch of these lawsuits, the Ontario government introduced Bill 194. This bill proposes, among other things, new regulation of digital information of children and youth in schools and in children's aid societies.

Nonetheless, what is proposed in the bill won't address what these lawsuits attempt to tackle: the impact on education from how social media companies engage with children and youthincluding in time spent out of school. Ontario's Information and Privacy Commissioner, in her submission on Bill 194, recommends largely replacing what the government proposes with improvements to existing privacy law.

Similarly, the province's school cell phone ban tackles only one dimension of a much bigger problem.

Impact of company practices on youth

The Canadian lawsuits against social media giants are not framed as privacy claims. Indeed, school board led litigation could not raise such claims since any privacy rights are those of the children and youth who engage with social media and not those of the school boards.

The damage alleged by the school boards is the disruption of the operation of schools, but at the core of the litigation are concerns about the impact on young people of social media companies' practices.

While privacy claims are not part of the school board litigation, they are not far from the surface. Social media user data fuels these companies' business models, incentivizing them to engage in practices that draw users in, and that drive continued engagement and social dependence. Although all users are affected by these practices, evidence suggests that children and youth are particularly susceptible to becoming addicted.

Data gathered through engagement on these platforms also fuels targeted advertising, which can foster insecurities around body image and other self-confidence-affecting concerns of young people.

Privacy laws out of step?

The roots of the harm alleged by the boards are therefore in personal data collection and processing. However, the consequences far transcend the individual privacy harms recognized in privacy laws or privacy torts. This suggests that our privacy laws are out of step with contemporary data practices.

It would be good to take comfort from the fact that Bill C-27, currently before Parliament's Standing Committee on Industry and Technology, proposes long-awaited reforms to Canada's private sector privacy law in the form of a new Consumer Privacy Protection Act.

It also contains a new law that would regulate the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Unfortunately, even if the bill is passed into law before the coming election (which seems increasingly unlikely), these reforms will do little to address the broader systemic harms impacting our society that come from the exploitation of personal data.

Legislation falling short

The proposed Consumer Privacy Protection Act takes only small steps to recognize the sensitivity of children's information. It falls far short of the United Kingdom's age-appropriate design code of practice for online services.

Further, although the proposed Artificial Intelligence and Data Act would set parameters for the design, development and deployment of AI systems, it defines harms in individual termsand doesn't acknowledge group and community harms from algorithm-driven practices, such as the disruption of the educational system.

The European Union's AI Act is not so limited. In its first recital, it describes its broad goals to ensure "a high level of protection of health, safety, fundamental rights  including democracy, the rule of law and environmental protection."

What the school boards are advancing in their litigation are novel claims for redressing what they and a growing body of experts say are harms rooted in the collection and processing of human-derived data. These harms go beyond the individuals whose data is harvested and impact society more broadly.

As this litigation unfolds, we should be asking: When new bills to regulate AI or privacy are introduced, how will they equip us to address the group and social harms of personal data exploitation?

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Ricardo Reyes, left, and Dre Reece work at the front desk at Hilton Americas-Houston. Hilton Americas-Houston will be honored as a Houston Chronicle Top Workplaces winner for the sixth time. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Lead cook Valerie Welch cuts an onion while working in the kitchen at 1600 Bar and Grille at Hilton Americas-Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

These are Houston's other Top Workplaces 2024: Small and mid-size

CB&A Realtors, whose sales are about 95% residential and 5% commercial, continued to attract more agents to its five Houston offices and one Austin facility. Its broker count, which was about 130 when founder Chance Brown spun off his practice from Realty One Group in 2018 to form the company, increased by 50 to about 650 last year.

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No. 2: Camden Property Trust

Camden Property Trust, an apartment development and management company, owns more than 170 properties across the country.

Founded by Ric Campo and Keith Oden in Houston in 1982, the company strives to improve the lives of its employees and, in turn, customers/renters and shareholders. Employees are encouraged to share ideas and to advance within the company.

People forget that it was a small company, said CEO Campo. Its a big company with a heart that has a family feel. The values and the culture and the processes are the same everywhere. People are treated with trust and respect throughout the company.

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The $17 billion company has a portfolio of 58,250 rental units, up from about 7,000 units when it went public in 1993. The eight-time Top Workplaces winner employs 580 people in Houston and more than 1,600 nationwide.

Camden offers college tuition assistance, scholarships for employeess children, and a 20% discount on Camden apartments. Furnished vacation apartments are available in destinations such as Orlando, San Diego and Denver for a nominal fee.

No. 3: LJA Engineering

Different sectors of LJA Engineering are empowered to make decisions to push their areas of business to succeed and share in the profits. Every LJA Engineering employee, including interns, has a chance to be an owner through the Houston-based companys Employee Stock Ownership Program.

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Working for an employee-owned company is like working for yourself, an employee wrote in the company's survey.

Founded in 1972, the 10-time Top Workplaces winner employs more than 1,800 people across the southeastern U.S. and Colorado. That includes more than 800 engineers, hydrologists, planners, landscape architects, construction managers, GIS designers and surveyors in Houston.

With seven Houston offices, the multi-disciplinary consulting firm is organized around nine comprehensive sectors: public infrastructure, land development, transportation, water resources, energy services, rail services, surveying, construction engineering and inspection, and environmental and coastal.

MORE FROM THE RANKING: These 5 Houston companies have been named Top Workplaces for 15 years running

Employees appreciate the trust their managers place in them and being pushed to reach their full potential. The expectation is to get your job done well, but also have fun while doing it, one employee wrote.

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Each year, the office closes between Christmas and New Year's Day, after an employee-wide party at a local hotel.

James Ross, president, is shown at LJA Engineering, 3600 W. Sam Houston Pkwy. S., Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021 in Houston. Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

No. 4: Hilton Americas-Houston

More than 500 employees work at downtowns Hilton Americas-Houston hotel, which connects by walkway with the George R. Brown Convention Center.

Teamwork is key to the companys vision of delivering exceptional experiences to guests while providing opportunities for employees. The company offers meditation classes, healthy meal options, volunteering events, a team member travel program, health care benefits and a matching 401(k) plan.

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Hilton Americas-Houston is a prestigious hotel, we have an awesome team that works together for a common goal, one employee wrote. I feel cared for valued and respected. The hotel offers great work life balance.

The hotel is part of a global network of more than 8,000 in the Hilton organization, a brand founded with Conrad Hiltons purchase of a Cisco, Texas, hotel during the 1919 oil boom.

A six-time Top Workplaces winner, Hilton Americas is one of 31 hotels in the Houston area to earn the prestigious AAA Four Diamond Hotels rating, which recognizes hotels with top designs, amenities and service. The hotel, which opened in December 2003, completed a $54 million renovation of its more than 1,200 guest rooms and 91,500 square feet meeting space in 2020.

A bellman makes his way through the lobby at Hilton Americas-Houston. Hilton Americas-Houston will be honored as a Houston Chronicle Top Workplaces winner for the sixth time. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

No. 5: Burns & McDonnell

Founded in 1898, Burns & McDonnell is 100% owned by its employees who can participate in the companys employee stock ownership plan from day one of employment. The Kansas City, Mo.-based engineering firm employs 825 people in Houston, one of 75 offices worldwide.

The Houston office has a strong focus on the industrial, refining, chemical manufacturing, and power utility markets, providing services such as engineering, procurement, construction, and environmental/business/technology consulting.

Over the past three decades, weve expanded from a single local client to now working with more than 650 clients across these sectors, said Allen Xi, senior vice president and general manager of Americas South Region for Burns & McDonnell, a 15-time Top Workplaces honoree.

Our growth is fueled by a powerful and unique culture rooted in employee ownership, which drives our success, guides business decisions, and serves as the engine behind our expansion, Xi said. At Burns & McDonnell, we are committed to delivering outstanding solutions to our clients by attracting the best and brightest talent.
Election Day in America has come and gone. While the implications of Tuesdays voting are unquestionably still taking form, the country needs to consider what comes next. Americans of all stripes are looking at their neighbors and their communities, wondering if the divisiveness of the past decade is here to stay or if it is something that can pass. But morning in America is not yet here. Regardless of the elections outcome, the reality is that conspiracy-fueled division is likely to endure in the political life of the country for years to come.

That caveat, that the elections outcome does little to dictate the continuing role of fringe perspectives in American political life, will surprise some. After all, the average citizens anxiety about the likelihood of political violence or for another insurrection likely (and quite reasonably) comes from the headlines of recent months and years.

But populist leaders and fringe organizations are only part of the story, a symptom rather than a cause. President-elect Donald Trumps attempts to cast doubt on election outcomes were always likely and organized extremist outfits are far less coordinated today than four years ago, both of which suggest reduced odds of another insurrection. And yet, Jan. 6, 2021, saw regular people march on the Capitol in droves alongside Oath Keepers and Proud Boys. The insurrection wasnt popular. But, like so much of todays unprecedented vitriol and strife, it absolutely was populist in form.

The reality is that the commonplace appearance of conspiratorial rhetoric and fringe antagonism in American politics is an architectural condition as much a bad actor problem. The resilience of extreme views in the substance of everyday discourse comes from an uneven narrative loop that links fringe spaces to societys mainstream and creates the conditions for extremist events.

First, the cult-like conditions of conspiratorial online communities create an environment where extreme ideas are simplified, spread and intensified. The algorithms and management practices of companies intent on creating engagement then ensure that these ideas quickly move into the mainstream. As a result, fringe theories and symbols start influencing how political and social leaders frame all manner of issues to the public and one another. The result is diverse and fast-moving public discussion loaded with fringe references that would otherwise be incomprehensible to normal Americans, which is then injected back into the original conspiratorial communities.

Significantly, this feedback loop of information is imbalanced, with fringe rhetoric impacting everyday conversation in America far more than the other way around. Algorithms and perverse management allows conspiracy to filter into the mainstream with ease. But fringe spaces are far less impacted by the resultant discourse of the masses. This has produced an unprecedented ability for extreme voices to construct people, issues and even phrases as symbolic. Thus, while the words of someone like Donald Trump or Marine Le Pen can certainly produce antagonism and even violence, it isnt the innate mass appeal of the speaker that matters. Its the information ecosystem that has turned their words into triggers.

In a recent book, I call this dynamic leaderlessness. Leaderlessness is a reference to a common strategy adopted by subversive social movements and groups called leaderless resistance. The idea is simple: Keep the public-facing manifestations of fringe ideologies (like political parties or spokespersons) separate from the ideologys most extreme forms (e.g. violent acts or blatantly hateful speech). The cause benefits in several ways, particularly in the deniability it reaps and in the growing suspicion of the public that true believers could be anywhere and anyone.

Sound familiar? In todays political climate, that feeling of uncertainty about the views of our neighbors is far more common than in decades past. Far from the era of a bear in the woods, partisan politics today too often feels like bears in the house next door. And it often seems that extreme ideas spread to those around us more quickly than even the rhetoric of figures like Tucker Carlson or Elon Musk can explain. This is because the presence of conspiracy in American life in the 21st century is organically leaderless, something not primarily engineered by extremist groups but a byproduct of the internets global socialization over the past three decades.

So, what comes next for conspiracy in American life? Unfortunately, fringe antagonism and political violence enabled by leaderlessness is the new normal for at least for a while, regardless of near-term political developments. To underscore my point, I wrote this article in the days before Election Day. In what you read here, I do not know the outcome. What I do know is that the conditions of leaderlessness remain as a problem and a puzzle to be solved.

Fortunately, theres optimism to be found in the challenge of leaderlessness in that fact of its artificiality. The presence of conspiracy and fringe perspectives that have infected American discourse for more than a decade is substantially sustained by factors within our control. Technology companies must be disincentivized to equate extreme speech with engagement. Politicians should seriously apply antitrust principles to digital spaces. Governments would do well to invest in more innovative programming for citizen information literacy. And consumers must think ethically about where they engage online and vote with their feet against platforms that take morally questionable positions.

So, again, what comes next for conspiracy in American life? A tough fight. But one very much winnable.
Authorities capture cell leader in Playa del Carmen search operation

Playa del Carmen, Q.R.  Agents of the Federal Ministerial Police (PFM) searched a central Playa del Carmen property where they found a large amount of narcotics. Two people were arrested during the weekend operation.

One of those in custody is said to be a criminal cell leader operating his base out of Playa del Carmen. The search operation happened Saturday along a stretch of Fifth Avenue in the Nicte Ha neighborhood where a variety of drugs, including more than a thousand street ready bags, were seized.

National Defense, the Navy and National Guard also participated in the afternoon search operation. The investigation ended with the seizure of the property used by the criminal cell to distribute drugs around Playa del Carmen.
Colombian loan shark group shut down in 3 Cancun neighborhoods

Cancun, Q.R.  A group of Colombians remain in police custody after Cancun authorities busted up a drug and loan shark operation. A total of 17 people were arrested in the three operation raid. Of those, 15 are from Colombia.

Elements from the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSyPC) carried out three search warrants where they found alleged narcotics. The 14 men and three women were arrested during the three Friday night property searches.

Police seized drugs and 16 motorcycles during a search in the Gran Santa Fe III subdivision in SM 323 of Cancun. During the other two searches in SM 95 and SM 517, numerous quantities of narcotics were found.

Initial investigations indicate that these individuals, in addition to independently selling drugs, offer cash loans known as drop by drop (gota a gota) whose modus operandi is to lend money and collect, under threats, every day, Cancun police reported.
By Yantoultra Ngui

SINGAPORE (Reuters) -Singapore's biggest lender DBS Group Holdings Ltd is exploring expanding into Malaysia with potential acquisitions of stakes in banks in its Southeast Asian neighbour, including in one of Malaysia's smallest banks by assets, two sources said.

DBS is exploring a purchase of Singapore state investor Temasek's 29.1% stake in Alliance Bank Malaysia Bhd, said the two sources with knowledge of the matter, a slice currently valued at about $460 million.

Temasek is biggest shareholder in DBS with a 28.9% stake, according to LSEG data.

Other options for expanding into Malaysia include buying Kuwait Finance House's Malaysian retail banking assets, worth more than $500 million and which have been put up for sale, one of the sources said.

Deliberations are in very early stages, however, the sources said, and any formal negotiations for an acquisition of a stake in a Malaysian bank would need approval from the Malaysian central bank, or Bank Negara Malaysia.

The two sources declined to be named as talks on the possible acquisitions were confidential.

"We do not comment on market rumours and speculation," said a spokesperson for DBS, Southeast Asia's biggest lender by assets. Temasek declined to comment.

Alliance Bank, the second smallest listed bank in Malaysia by total assets, and Bank Negara Malaysia did not respond to requests for comment after business hours on Friday.

Kuwait Finance House said the process for selling its retail banking portfolio in Malaysia was in preliminary stages, and that it was not able to share additional information.

DBS is the only Singaporean bank without a retail banking presence in Malaysia. Local rivals Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation and United Overseas Bank both have retail banking operations in Malaysia.

DBS' plan to foray into Malaysia comes amid improving economic prospects for the Southeast Asian nation, with new infrastructure projects and investments expected to result in a surge in credit growth.

In the second quarter, Malaysia's economy expanded by an annual 5.9%, its fastest in 18 months, on higher household spending, exports and investment. Its monetary unit, the ringgit, is Southeast Asia's best-performing currency this year.

'BOLT-ON ACQUISITIONS'

DBS emerged as a regional banking powerhouse under outgoing Chief Executive Piyush Gupta's 15-year tenure, bolstered by acquisitions that established significant presences in markets including China, India, Indonesia and Taiwan.

DBS completed the acquisition of Citigroup's consumer banking business in Taiwan in August last year. In July, Gupta said DBS was looking for bolt-on acquisitions that would support further strategic expansion in the region.
Kenneth Winsmann and Dan Adams of Proper Roofing and Remodeling, this year's best small company in the annual Top Workplaces survey. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Proper Roofing and Remodeling employees gather for a staff meeting last month in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

These are Houston's other Top Workplaces 2024: Small, mid-size and large companies

Proper Roofing co-founder and CEO Kenneth Winsmann attributes much of his companys growth and reputation as a good workplace to his and his partners aversion to the proverbial C-suite.

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The company was formed during the post-COVID doldrums of late 2020 with Dan Adams, Winsmanns former co-worker at Power Home Remodeling, and Leslie Winsmann, a former administrator with Siemens Energy who is also Kenneth Winsmanns wife. Kenneth Winsmann says that seeing things through the eyes of prospective employees isnt difficult.

Dan and I are kind of strange entrepreneurs. We didnt start off looking to be a machine, Winsmann said. We were used to being employees. It turns out that formula works really well for growth and recruiting.

In a local roofing industry largely funded by insurance companies serving customers with hail damage, Proper Roofing has carved out a niche by serving residential customers whose roofs dont necessarily qualify for an insurance-funded replacement but appear to be close to the end of their useful life.

That means that Proper Roofing sales representatives drum up business by regularly scouring Houston-area neighborhoods on foot and on scooters in order to take their sales pitches door-to-door. On the back end, the company offers financing and installment plans for roofing jobs that typically are in the five-figure range.

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While the sales practice is not for the meek, it has worked. By offering prospective customers a range of roofing options and a protective spray to stave off the inevitable replacement for a few years, Proper Roofing will perform about 1,000 jobs this year and will almost double its revenue to about $20 million in 2024 from about $11 million last year, according to Winsmann.

As for perks for Proper Roofings 76 employees, Leslie Winsmann, with her systems background, helps administer what Kenneth Winsmann calls all the boring things my dad would want, such as health insurance, dental, vision and a 401(k) retirement plan with an employee match.

With much of its employees work taking place in the field, Proper Roofing also offers company-paid memberships to Lifetime Fitness, while building upon its teamwork ethos with annual company-paid holiday trips for employees and their significant others. This December, the company will be going to Cancun.

MORE FROM THE RANKING: These 5 Houston companies have been named Top Workplaces for 15 years running

So while not everyone remains with the company through the first 90 days of door-knocking, very few people leave once they get through that, Winsmann said.

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As for advancement through the ranks, Winsmann says its a bit of a paradox with Proper Roofing because some workers whove started as sales reps have ultimately left the company to run their own companies that Proper Roofing hires for roofing, siding installations or gutter work.
2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #45

Posted on 10 November 2024 by BaerbelW, Doug Bostrom, John Hartz

A listing of 33 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, November 3, 2024 thru Sat, November 9, 2024.

Summary of this week's topics

We asked Google's Gemini again for help categorizing the articles we shared during the week, but it couldn't do it this time around. So, we tried with OpenAI's ChatGPT instead, which is why the format is different compared to last week's. Now that we have two different versions of generated summaries, we'd like to know which format you prefer, so please let us know in the comments!

International Climate Conferences and Agreements

COP16 Outcomes and Challenges Nature, Carbon Brief, The Guardian: Coverage of COP16, including biodiversity agreements and developing nations frustrations over unmet funding promises.

Paris Climate Agreement and US Role The Guardian, Nature: Analysis of Antonio Guterress warning about the possible impacts of a US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, prompted by reports of Trumps plans to exit.



Climate Change and Political Influence

US Presidential Election and Climate Policy Inside Climate News, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, The Conversation, Washington Post: Various perspectives on how climate policy was largely absent from US campaign discussions, the potential rollback of climate initiatives under Trump, and the implications for oil and gas companies.

State-Level Climate Initiatives Inside Climate News: Positive outcomes for climate initiatives across multiple US states, even amid a challenging national political climate.



Climate-Related Environmental Impacts

Methane Emissions and Policies Bloomberg Green, Washington Post, The Guardian: Reports on rising methane emissions despite pledges, causes of the spike, and the pushback against methane regulations from oil and gas producers.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Targets Carbon Brief, The Guardian: Analysis of EU emissions reductions, projections of 2024 as the first year above 1.5C warming, and Canadas shift on CO2 policy by Alberta Conservatives.

Droughts, Floods, and Severe Weather The Guardian, Washington Post, CNN, Yale Climate Connections: Coverage on Spains floods, US drought impacts on agriculture, and predictions for future drought dynamics due to increased evaporation.

Wildfires, Hurricanes, and Heat Waves Inside Climate News, Yale Climate Connections, Washington Post: The growing intensity of natural disasters like wildfires and hurricanes due to climate change, with specific impacts in Canada, Greece, North Carolina, and the Amazon.



Climate Policy, Industry, and Regulation

Corporate and Government Climate Actions DeSmog, Washington Post, The Tyee: Examination of Trump-backed policies favoring the fossil fuel industry, debates on methane regulation, and discussions around Canadas water export pressure.

Far-Right Influence on Environmental Policy The Guardian: Reports on how far-right groups are capitalizing on discontent among European farmers over climate policies.



Mental Health and Climate Anxiety

Climate Anxiety and Mental Health Inside Climate News: Exploration of the psychological impacts of climate change, especially post-election, and the effects of heat on those using psychotropic medications.



Public Misconceptions and Climate Science

Disinformation and Weather Manipulation Myths Science Feedback: Refuting claims that HAARP or other human interventions cause weather changes, emphasizing the natural causes of extreme weather patterns.



Stories we promoted this week, by publication date:

Before November 3

November 3

November 4

November 5

November 6

November 7

November 8

Reckoning With Climate Anxiety in the Wake of the US Election , Inside Climate News, Kiley Price. Mental health professionals share how people can process climate anxiety following Trump's win.

, Inside Climate News, Kiley Price. Mental health professionals share how people can process climate anxiety following Trump's win. No, HAARP cant create floods, climate change can make heavy rainfall more extreme, Science Feedback, Rahul Rao. HAARP is not responsible for any flooding events. The atmospheric research facility does not and cannot manipulate weather. Moreover, there is evidence that floods have become more severe in recent years, but instead of being caused by weather manipulation, the trend is linked to a warming climate increasing the severity of heavy rainstorms.

November 9

Climate Deniers Waiting in the Wings as Trump Reclaims Presidency , DeSmog, Joe Fassler and Sharon Kelly. Meet those aiming to capitalize on Trumps re-election by slashing climate action, from Koch network fixtures to Project 2025 and beyond.

, DeSmog, Joe Fassler and Sharon Kelly. Meet those aiming to capitalize on Trumps re-election by slashing climate action, from Koch network fixtures to Project 2025 and beyond. Where the trees once stood "See how Helene wiped out North Carolinas forests." by imon Ducroquet, Scott Dance, Niko Kommenda & John Muyskens, Photos & video by Ted Richardson,, Climate, Washington Post, Nov 9, 2024
Traditionally, November in Bratislava has belonged to photography. The 34th year of Photography Month offers almost 30 exhibitions by photographers from around the world. This year the festival focuses on two main themes: ecology and mental health. Exhibitions touching on these themes are presented in the World Natural Heritage and Enter the Void  About Mental Health blocks.

Photography Months Duration: 1-31 November Venue: a range of galleries and exhibition premises Admission: the festival pass cost 15. About one half of the exhibitions are free of charge Website: www.mesiacfotografie.eu, including a map with addresses of individual exhibitions. The festival is accompanied by the festival OFF Bratislava, a platform for new talents from the photography scene. Its 15th edition, entitled PERSONA INCOGNITA, delves into the complexity of veiled identities and hidden characters. It explores themes of cognition and self-discovery, taking place at the second floor of the Prior department store, Kamenne namestie 1, from November 8 until 22.

We need to talk about World Natural Heritage all the time, perhaps more than cultural heritage. Without preserving the former, there cannot be the latter, explains Vaclav Macek, festival director, as to why they chose the theme of biodiversity conservation, promoting greater sensitivity to the effects of climate change, as the central theme of the 34th edition of Photography Months. We have not only based the composition of this programme block on the apocalyptic consequences of the Anthropocene, but we have also included works by artists who awaken the viewers awareness and capacity to marvel at the wonders of nature.

Of the five exhibitions in the World Natural Heritage block, Macek highlights the Beyond the Waters Surface exhibition, in which Peter Ac shows his photographs of underwater life in the Danube, and the exhibition of the American artist Beth Moon, who photographs trees around the world. The latter is accompanied by smaller, regarding space, exhibitions: The Human Footprint of images taken from satellites showing the absurd beauty of human interventions on Earth, such as the diamond mines in Botswana; and Beyond Reality depicting the waste generated by humans in appealing patterns.

Nevertheless, the festival is to mark environmental issues through photographic qualities, not activism.

First and foremost, we want the viewer to have an experience from the exhibition, said Macek.

The Enter the Void theme responds to an increasingly perceptible social problem today.

Our ambition is to evoke a sense of belonging with those who are going through similar problems as the photographers heroes, said Macek.

The works of Matus Zajac from Slovakia, Max Kandhola from Great Britain and Anders Peterson from Sweden explore not only the severe consequences of disability, but also the challenges of ageing and the realities of life in a social service home.

Our goal is to foster a sense of connection with those who face similar struggles as the subjects of these artists works, the festival catalogue reads.

Distant Proximity presents Matus Zajac's project from 2003 about mentally disabled people living in the closed spaces of social service institutions. No One Has Seen It All is an intimate photographic series which Petersen took in a psychiatric hospital in Stockholm.

Its an effort to open the door for the viewer to understand people suffering from trauma or depression, said Macek.

Five must-see exhibitions selected by The Slovak Spectator:

1. Martin Parr: The Chronicler

2. Rudolf Koppitz: Photogenie

3. Max Kandhola: The Embodiment of the Ageing Male Body

4. Peter Ac: Beyond the Waters Surface

5. Beth Moon: The Immortality of Trees
https://sputnikglobe.com/20241109/ukrainian-commander-in-chief-complains-to-us-general-about-worsening-situation-at-battlefield-1120836777.html

Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Complains to US General About Worsening Situation at Battlefield

Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Complains to US General About Worsening Situation at Battlefield

Sputnik International

The Ukrainian Armed Forces' Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Saturday that he had held talks with the Supreme Commander of the Joint Armed Forces of NATO in Europe, Gen. Christopher Cavoli, complaining to him about the worsening situation at the battlefield.

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"I had another phone conversation with the commander of the US Armed Forces in Europe, Gen. Christopher Cavoli. At the beginning of the conversation, I informed my American colleague about the situation at the front line. The situation remains difficult and tends to worsen," Syrsky said on Facebook*. The New York Times previously reported that Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin and Cavoli had discussed recently military planning for the winter period, as well as the types of weapons and ammunition that Washington might send to Kiev over the next five months, during a meeting with their Ukrainian counterparts. Russia believes that arms supplies to Ukraine hinder the settlement, directly involving NATO countries in the conflict.Facebook (owned by Meta) is banned for extremism in Russia.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241110/africa-to-become-one-of-centers-of-multipolar-world-lavrov-1120846596.html

Africa to Become One of Centers of Multipolar World - Lavrov

Africa to Become One of Centers of Multipolar World - Lavrov

Sputnik International

Africa will become one of the centers of multipolar world to be created following the "profound" transformations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Sunday.

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"In addition to the joint statement that I mentioned, we also had very deep discussions on these topics. And these topics directly relate to the profound transformations that are taking place in the world, which will culminate, undoubtedly, in the formation of a multipolar architecture. And one of the centers of the multipolar world, of course, should be and will be the African continent," Lavrov said at the closing ceremony of the first Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum. Second Russia-Africa Ministerial Meeting to Be Held Next Year in AfricaThe second Russia-Africa ministerial conference will take place in 2025, Lavrov said."None of our African colleagues have sent us invitations so far, but the conference is set to take place next year. That is why we will be waiting. We will be happy to visit our African friends anywhere," Lavrov said at the closing ceremony of the first ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum.The minister also thanked all the participants of the conference."A huge thank you to all my friends who have come here, to those who represent their ministers, I ask you to give my friends in the capitals the warmest greetings, best wishes," Lavrov stated.The first Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum took place from November 9-10 in Russia's Sirius Federal Territory.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241110/biden-refuses-to-tell-reporters-what-he-plans-to-talk-about-with-trump-at-white-house-1120837204.html

Biden Refuses to Tell Reporters What He Plans to Talk About With Trump at White House

Biden Refuses to Tell Reporters What He Plans to Talk About With Trump at White House

Sputnik International

US President Joe Biden refused to say what he plans to talk about with Donald Trump, who won the presidential election, at the upcoming meeting on November 13, the White House press pool reported.

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Earlier, the US administration issued a statement according to which Biden and Trump would meet on November 13 at the White House as part of the transitioning process in the country. The US president also again ignored the question, which has been repeatedly asked in recent days since the US elections, whether he considered Trump a threat to democracy, which Biden has previously stated in his speeches. Earlier, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that Biden's team was working on organizing a meeting with Trump on the transfer of power and was already discussing this process with the team of the future president. Trump, who had already served as US President since the 2016 election, won the presidential election that took place on November 5. He became the first US leader since the 19th century to return to the White House after a four-year hiatus. Trump's victory was announced by all leading media outlets involved in vote counting: the Associated Press, Fox News, CNN, NBC, ABC, and CBS. Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris addressed supporters and announced that she would concede, while Biden spoke with Trump and congratulated him. The Electoral College from the states must vote for candidates in accordance with the will of the voters on December 17, and the new Congress will approve the results of the vote on January 6. The inauguration will take place on January 20.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241109/trumps-energy-policy-will-mean-fundamental-break-with-european-globalists-agenda-2030-1120833066.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241110/britains-ukraine-momentum-dropping--former-uk-defense-secretary-wallace-1120843861.html

Britains Ukraine Momentum 'Dropping'  Former UK Defense Secretary Wallace

Britains Ukraine Momentum 'Dropping'  Former UK Defense Secretary Wallace

Sputnik International

Britain has already sent a whopping $16 billion in security assistance to the Zelensky regime, including $10 billion worth of weapons  an aid that Russia warns only adds to prolonging the Ukraine conflict.

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The UKs drive to assist Ukraine has come astern under Labour rule, Ben Wallace, the former Conservative defense secretary, has told the BBC.He added that "you cant just do a statement and then float around," in an apparent nod to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmers previous remarks that allies should "step up" support for the Kiev regime."The leadership that Britain showed right from the start has started to drop back into the pack," according to Wallace.The comments came after The Guardian cited an unnamed Ukrainian government official as saying that Starmer "isnt giving us long-range weapons," a reference to the UK-made Storm Shadow, a highly accurate long-range cruise missile. "The situation is not the same as when Rishi Sunak was prime minister. The relationship has got worse," the official admitted.The last Storm Shadow strike claimed by the Ukrainian military took place on October 5. The UK has provided the Zelensky regime with a total of $10 billion in military support since the beginning of the Russian special military operation in 2022. Moscow has repeatedly warned Western countries against providing Kiev with arms, which Russian President Vladimir Putin slammed as "a serious and dangerous step." The Kremlin considers calls to lift restrictions on the use of Ukraines Western-supplied weapons against Russia "irresponsible" and "dangerous in terms of their consequences," pledging that Moscow will respond in kind.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230831/why-did-wallace-resign-and-what-does-shapps-appointment-mean-for-ukraine-and-china-1113022879.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241110/former-nato-commander-sees-trump-pushing-ukraine-to-recognize-russias-new-regions-1120837061.html

Former NATO Commander Sees Trump Pushing Ukraine to Recognize Russia's New Regions

Former NATO Commander Sees Trump Pushing Ukraine to Recognize Russia's New Regions

Sputnik International

Former Supreme Allied Commander Europe Adm. James Stavridis believes that Donald Trump, who won the US presidential election, will push Kiev to recognize Russia's new regions as part of the deal he promised to organize.

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"What I hope he does, and I think he will is push both sides to get to the negotiating table," Stavridis said in an interview with CNN. "Putin, unfortunately, but in a real world, will end up with about 20% of Ukraine, the chunk that he currently holds." According to Stavridis, with the election of Trump as US president, tensions will arise within NATO over the issue of financing Kiev, while Trump himself will be skeptical about sponsoring Ukraine. Earlier, the Wall Street Journal reported citing sources that Trump's team had allegedly proposed freezing the conflict in Ukraine, creating a demilitarized zone along the front line, and new arms supplies in exchange for Kiev's promise not to temporarily join NATO. The WSJ did not specify who exactly would maintain security in the demilitarized zone, but one of the publication's sources ruled out that it could be the US military or UN peacekeepers.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241109/what-promises-has-trump-made-on-ukraine-1120828687.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241110/musk-calls-german-economy-minister-fool-for-wanting-to-control-social-media-algorithms-1120846004.html

Musk Calls German Economy Minister 'Fool' for Wanting to Control Social Media Algorithms

Musk Calls German Economy Minister 'Fool' for Wanting to Control Social Media Algorithms

Sputnik International

US entrepreneur Elon Musk called German Economy Minister Robert Habeck a "fool" as he commented on his plans to introduce control over the artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms of popular social media platforms.

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"Habeck is a fool," Musk wrote on X, commenting on a video clip in which Habeck said the AI algorithms of such social media platforms as X or TikTok needed to be regulated by European legal norms. Earlier this week, Musk also called German Chancellor Olaf Scholz a "fool," commenting on the collapse of Germany's ruling coalition. German magazine Spiegel reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that Habeck, who is also the incumbent vice chancellor, intended to run for the country's top job as a candidate from The Greens party.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241110/russian-air-defenses-down-32-ukrainian-drones-near-moscow-1120838974.html

Russian Air Defenses Down 32 Drones Near Moscow

Russian Air Defenses Down 32 Drones Near Moscow

Sputnik International

The Russian Defense MInistry's air forces in the Ramensky, Colomna and Domodedovo urban districts repelled an attack by 22 drones flying toward Moscow, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Sunday.

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Russian Defense Ministry air defenses in the Ramensky, Kolomna, and Domodedovo urban districts repelled an attack by 32 drones flying toward the capital, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said on Sunday. Emergency services are working at the scene, the official added. Two houses were in flames after drone debris fell, local authorities said, and one woman was admitted to hospital with burns. Temporary restrictions have been introduced on the operation of the Domodedovo and Zhukovsky international airports to ensure the safety of civil flights, the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) and sources at Domodedovo Airport told Sputnik.Rosaviatsiya also announced that temporary restrictions have been implemented at the two airports."In order to ensure the safety of civil aircraft flights, temporary restrictions have been introduced for the operation of Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports. The airports are temporarily not accepting or sending flights," Rosaviatsiya said in a statement.Aircraft crews, air traffic controllers, and airport services are taking all necessary measures to ensure flight safety as a top priority.According to the latest information, Sheremetyevo International Airport is also closed. Russian air defenses destroyed 23 Ukrainian drones over four other Russian regions last night, Russia's Defense Ministry said on Sunday.In total, 17 drones were shot down over the Bryansk region, three over the Rostov region, two over the Belgorod region and one over the Kursk region, the statement said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241101/air-defense-shoots-down-83-ukrainian-drones-over-russian-regions-last-night---mod-1120743527.html

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JLL brokered the sale of Remington Square, a three-building office campus on West Sam Houston Parkway in northwest Houston. Jud Haggard Photography / JLL

Interra Capital Group, which this year bought the historic Esperson buildings downtown, has added a three-building complex in northwest Houston to its portfolio.

The Houston-based company acquired Remington Square, along West Sam Houston Parkway north of Jersey Village, from investment firm BGO, according to JLL, which brokered the sale. Terms were not disclosed.

"Closing on Remington Square comes at a pivotal time when we see a strengthening trend of return to office that aligns with the Federal Reserve cutting their benchmark rates, enhancing the intrinsic value of well-located office properties," Jack Polatsek, CEO of Interra Capital, said in a statement. "This property represents not just an investment in real estate but an opportunity to capitalize on market dynamics that favor well-positioned assets like Remington Square."

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Anita Kundaje, director of acquisitions, said the company is expanding its portfolio "with assets that demonstrate significant upside potential and strategic value."

The acquisition comes as investments in the office sector have declined. Houston office investments totaled $1.2 billion in the first three quarters of 2024, with volume falling 29% compared to the same period last year, according to MSCI, a provider of research for investors.

The deal follows Interra's acquisition of the Esperson buildings in August, and the Memorial Pointe office building in the Energy Corridor last year.

ROOM FOR 1,000 EMPLOYEES: Technip Energies moves into new wellness-focused Energy Corridor offices

The Remington Square complex, completed in 2008 and 2015, includes an on-site restaurant, fitness center, tenant lounge and conference facility. The nearly 17-acre site has space for a fourth building.

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"The sale of Remington Square represents the flight-to-quality trend we are seeing in Houston as well as across the U.S. office market," said Kevin McConn, managing director with JLL, in an announcement. "Class A office continues to recover, and we are seeing strong demand across a variety of investors for product like Remington Square."
https://sputnikglobe.com/20241110/trump-denies-plans-to-invite-pompeo-haley-to-join-his-new-administration-1120842268.html

Trump Denies Plans to Invite Haley, Pompeo to Join His New Administration

Trump Denies Plans to Invite Haley, Pompeo to Join His New Administration

Sputnik International

US President-elect Donald Trump denied media reports about his intention to invite former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to join the new government.

2024-11-10T10:29+0000

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2024 us presidential election

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Earlier, CBS News reported that the future US administration might include people who had previously worked with Trump during his first term, as well as new people. In particular, Pompeo was named as a likely candidate for the post of Secretary of Defense. Republican Senator Bill Hagerty, who served as the US Ambassador to Japan under Trump, was predicted as the future Secretary of State, and the candidates for the post of Secretary of the Treasury were former US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and the founder of a hedge fund in Connecticut Scott Bessent. Trump added that the composition of the future administration was currently being formed. Donald Trump, who had already held the post of US President after the 2016 elections, won the presidential election, which took place on November 5. He became the first politician in the United States since the 19th century to return to the White House after a four-year hiatus. Trump's victory was announced by all leading media outlets involved in vote counting: the Associated Press, Fox News, CNN, NBC, ABC, and CBS. Democratic candidate Kamala Harris addressed supporters and announced that she would concede, while incumbent US President Joe Biden spoke with Trump and congratulated him. The Electoral College from the states must vote for candidates in accordance with the will of the voters on December 17, and the new Congress will approve the results of the vote on January 6. The inauguration will take place on January 20.

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"Uganda has been invited to become a partner member of BRICS. I received this invitation about three days ago. We are currently going through all the necessary procedures to determine whether we will accept this invitation or not," Odongo said on the sidelines of the first ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum.
"Russia is our partner because its support enables us to have a military capability allowing the national armies of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to protect sovereignty and maintain territorial integrity. This security cooperation has been going well, and we hope it can run on so we can continue working together. But we have not only Russia, I think there is China, there is Turkiye, there are many other countries. All countries that respect our sovereignty are ready to work with us, but in a fair way," the top diplomat said.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20241110/us-demands-that-taiwans-tsmc-stop-supplying-ai-chips-to-china---reports-1120841625.html

US Demands That Taiwan's TSMC Stop Supplying AI Chips to China - Reports

US Demands That Taiwan's TSMC Stop Supplying AI Chips to China - Reports

Sputnik International

The United States has officially demanded that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) stop supplying AI chips to China, Reuters reported citing a source familiar with the matter.

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Washington demand that supplies to Chinese customers stop starting Monday, the agency added. The restrictions from the US Commerce Department, as outlined in the letter, will affect supplies of advanced 7-nanometer chips, as well as more advanced ones, for graphics processing units (GPUs) and AI accelerators to China. Earlier, Nikkei Asia reported citing sources that TSMC would suspend production of AI chips and high-performance computing for several Chinese companies due to increased measures to comply with US export controls. In October, Bloomberg reported that TSMC had stopped supplying semiconductors to a customer after they had been found in products from Chinese electronics manufacturer Huawei, which is contrary to US sanctions. In early October 2022, the United States banned 28 Chinese technology companies from accessing semiconductor chips manufactured using US technology worldwide. The ban applies not only to supplies from US companies, but also to any company in the world using American semiconductor technology.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241030/china-refutes-eus-decision-to-impose-tariffs-on-evs-files-complaint-with-wto--1120724355.html

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An Open Pace and an Open Trot, both valued at $18,056, were centre stage at Batavia Downs on Saturday, Nov. 9 and the winners of both events led gate to wire to do it.

In the pace, Shipsaway (pictured above with John Cummings Jr.) got his third win since shipping to Batavia.

Shipsaway initially got away second behind Bluesville (Dave McNeight III) but made a move past the eighth and had the front by the :28.2 quarter. Cummings then throttled the horse down to a :57.4 half where Primo Uomo (Joe Chindano Jr.) made a first-over move and was able to get to second and drop back to the pylons for the final turn. Shipsaway was pacing smartly on the lead when Chindano took his best shot with Primo Uomo at the top of the stretch. Shipsaway responded and never gave way, winning by two lengths in 1:53.2.

It was the ninth win of the year for Shipsaway ($8.10), who is owned by 716 Standardbreds and trained by Courtney Wright.

The very next race was the trot and El Toro Loco (Kevin Cummings) got back to his winning ways.

El Toro Loco and Biscoe (Jim McNeight Jr.) got away first and second and gapped the field by about five lengths heading up the backside to the quarter. The field remained in single-file fashion to the half in a soft :59.2 where Discus Hanover (Drew Monti) pulled first to take a shot. Timing is everything and El Toro Loco's :28.2 third quarter turned back Discus Hanovers bid and Biscoe was the last one to have a shot at the leader. But that challenge never materialized as El Toro Loco swelled up in the lane and trotted home, clear by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:56.3.

El Toro Loco ($3.90) is owned by Mike Torcello and trained by Sam Smith.

Kevin Cummings led all drivers with three wins on Saturday while trainers Ryan Hall and Sam Smith each won two races during the proceedings.

Live harness racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday, Nov. 13 with post time at 6 p.m. and there will be a $23,193 carryover in the Pick-5 in the first race and Batavia Downs will guarantee the pool at $75,000 through the United States Trotting Associations Strategic Wagering program.

(Batavia Downs)
This week's Rewind is devoted to remembering a very important date on the annual calendar. Each year on November 11th, we set aside time from our daily tasks to remember all of the special people who have in some way sacrificed their time and sometimes even their lives to protect our Country and preserve our freedom. This day is observed in their honour.

Every year the ranks of our living veterans shrinks and grows ever so much smaller. This past year we lost one of our best remembered military heroes with the passing of Dr. Roly Armitage. A few years ago he was featured in a Rewind about Remembrance Day. This will mark the first time in the last 100 years that this fine man will not be among the living but he is certainly well remembered and will be revered forever for his many deeds.





Dr. Roly Armitage is shown as a young soldier and then many years later.

"Roly" passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at the age of 99 at the Perley Rideau Veterans Residence, Ottawa, Ont. He was born Feb. 8, 1925 at the family homestead in South March, Ont. He packed "a lot of livin'" in those nearly 100 years.

The ranks of harness racing has included many of those who served in various branches of the armed forces. Many had to set aside their involvement in the sport during WWII and a number of fairgrounds were closed to racing as they were temporarily utilized as military bases. Some did not return but many did and continued their careers.

Growing up in a small town I had the opportunity to know most of the residents of our 2,000 or less citizens and most from the surrounding area. Just a few years ago there were still five survivors who were veterans of WWII and I knew them all. I believe they have now all passed. From a very young age I can remember them as they often donned their military uniforms and often sold poppies around November 11th each year. While I always knew that they were special people, I have even more respect for what they did for our Country with each passing year.

I don't believe that my immediate family had too many war heroes but I do know of one person who served admirably. My Uncle Reginald Smith served in WWI as a very young man as so many did. Scarcely removed from a serene life in rural Ontario he soon found himself in the midst of one of the largest and bloodiest battles of that conflict that lasted from 1914 to 1918. I recall my father telling me that as a very young boy he once accompanied his brother to London, Ont. during his basic training. While there they slept overnight in a tent.

I heard that he was discharged near the end of the war to resume his studies at the University of Toronto Medical School. I presume the thinking was that Canada needed young doctors more than they needed more fallen soldiers. He became a medical doctor and served an entire lifetime caring for families in the area now known as Galt, Ont. He served many years as the medical health officer as it was known back then. So dedicated was he that he actually passed away in his doctor's office, still tending to his duties.

Goodwill Through The Generations

Despite the multitude of hardships, death and suffering associated with war, there is perhaps a certain measure of good that comes from it all. A few months ago our daughter and son-in-law and family travelled to Holland as a combined vacation and business trip. While there they were warmly greeted in a very quiet way and welcomed by many of the Dutch citizens when they found out they were from Canada. To this day the bond between our two countries continues.

Part of their European visit included a side trip to England and a visit to the Imperial War Museum. While there they were very impressed by the inclusion of many photos, mementos and mentions of Canada's contributions to the war effort.





Above is a photo recently taken at the Royal War Museum showing contributions to the WWI effort by Commonwealth countries. (Photo courtesy of Carly Jacobs)

In the fullness of time, it has become so obvious to me what a great Country we live in. Let us all pause for just a moment today and offer our thanks to these brave souls and also pray that we will never have to go to war again.

I have one last special tie to November 11 each year and to that I say Happy Birthday Linda to my loving wife, born on this 11/11 date ?? years ago!!

Remembrance Day Photos





This photo of Canadian army forces was taken at Petawawa in 1941. These young men put aside their lives to serve their country.





A scene from Remembrance Day gathering in New Brunswick. Photo courtesy of New Brunswick Museum St. John





This iconic photo titled "Wait For Me Daddy" captures a very touching moment in time as a father marches off to war. This photo was taken in New Westminster B.C. by photographer Claude P. Dettloff. The City of New Westminster commissioned a bronze statue honouring the photo to be placed at the bottom of 8th Street, in Hyack Square. The city unveiled the statue on Oct. 4, 2014.

The following full page message appeared in the July 27, 1942 issue of The Canadian Sportsman. It outlined in detail the important role that harness racing had in these troubled times during WWII.





Quote For The Week: Remembrance Day is when the country stops for two minutes of silence, to pay respects to those who gave their lives and our veterans who fought for our freedom.  Douglas Phillips, Canadian writer

Who Is It?

Can you identify this very well known Canadian horseman who served admirably during WWII? I wish I had a photo of him in his military uniform. During the Second World War he served as a combat infantry-man, winning the Bronze Star twice, and earning three European Theatre battle stars.

Who Else Is It?

Can you correctly identify the two gentlemen pictured above? Both were part of the Canadian Armed Services during WWII, many years prior to this photograph.
Navy veteran and Seabee Stacey Bolin has never been daunted by impossible odds, and her Can do! attitude turned her life into the kind of story one might expect from a novel or movie.

Bolin was born and raised in New Hampshire, and from an early age she was fairly certain of three things: She would never join the military, she would never get married and she would never have kids. After reaching adulthood, something happened that she never could have seen coming.

I was living in Meredith, New Hampshire in 1988, and I had a dream that somebody in the service with a red van needed my help, she said. So I packed up and left everything I knew, and on January 5 of 1991, I joined the military to go find that someone.

Bolin said that her mother and grandmother often claimed to have a gift for knowing things about the future, but she never really believed them until it seemed to happen to her. The dream was impactful enough that she not only changed her mind about the military, but started pushing herself hard to qualify for service.

I had to make body weight and body strength. I didn't have any of those things, she said. And even though I failed the ASVAB a couple of times, I took one summer and I learned and learned. I taught myself trigonometry and all those math problems and scored high enough to get into the Seabees.

Bolin has a good amount of military heritage, and many of the vets in her family served in the Seabees, or United States Naval Construction Battalions.

We build, and we fight, she said. Not a lot of people know what Seabees are, but when they say, Bees swarm, just know that is true. Were a family.

Bolin kept her eyes peeled for the red van, which shed identified as a 1964 Ford Falcon, all throughout her training. She even saw it once, but her classmates teased and talked her out of talking to its owner. When it appeared a second time, she narrowly missed it again as she was on her way to the airport for leave before posting up in Adak, Alaska.

After arriving in Adak, Bolin fell into her new life as a Seabee. She worked in the paint shop, made great friends and enjoyed life on Adak Island. While out with friends one night, she hit it off with another Seabee. The pair eventually threw caution to the wind and got married, and for a while, Bolin forgot about the man in the red van.

It wasnt until she went to stay at her new husbands place in California that the dots all connected. There, on his nightstand, she found a photograph of a young man and the exact red van shed been searching. She immediately called for her friend that knew him well.

So now I'm thinking maybe I shouldn't have gotten married, because maybe that's my true love right there, Bolin said. And she started laughing at me. I asked her who this guy is, and she goes, That's your husband!

Hed changed his hair so much that she didnt recognize him, but she had married the same man shed narrowly missed twice before without even knowing it.

Bolin and her husband, Ron, have been together ever since. The pair have two sons, Ryan and Reese, and the latter has followed in his parents footsteps by joining the Seabees. Although her time in the Navy was not without pain and difficulty, Bolin professed deep love for it and her country, and would drop everything to serve again if called upon.

She encouraged any young person whos on the fence to take a leap of faith and join the military, even if its just for a short while. The skills she learned during her 12 years of service have never gone to waste.

I love when people come to me and say, Should I go to college, or should I go into the military? I say if you dont really know that you want to go to college, do two years in the service. Do it because you're going to get a different perspective. You're going to do things differently, Bolin said. If somebody says, we got a job to do  even now  I can organize anybody and get the job done.

Finding her husband was not the only time Bolins family gift came in handy. She believes it has helped her many times through the years by helping her identify and survive serious health risks, and even helping find Rons birth father. All of that was also made possible by sticking to her Seabee motto: Can do!

Bolin now spends her time teaching art therapy classes for veterans and many other participants, known as Painting on the Prairie, where she helps everyone find their inner Picasso.

Her full story has also been published in book form, titled "Through the Barracks Window: A Time of Waves."
Wipro launched of Wipros Google Gemini Experience Zone, a new in-person experience where Wipro customers can see the power of Googles AI technologies and work with Wipro to identify the optimal generative AI use cases for their businesses.

Wipros Google Gemini Experience Zone will be hosted at Wipros innovation labs in Silicon Valley Innovation Center, Mountain View. A similar experience zone will soon be set up in Bengaluru. These zones will serve as spaces where enterprises can gain hands-on experience with Googles AI technology, including Gemini models, Vertex AI, and more.

Wipros Google Gemini Experience Zone will offer a wide range of benefits to enterprises looking to fast-track their AI strategies:

Experiment with Generative AI : Businesses will have access to Google Geminis Large Language Models (LLMs), enabling them to test AI-driven use cases in person like natural language understanding techniques, image generation, customer interactions, predictive analytics, and more.

: Businesses will have access to Google Geminis Large Language Models (LLMs), enabling them to test AI-driven use cases in person like natural language understanding techniques, image generation, customer interactions, predictive analytics, and more. Tailored AI Solutions : Wipro will work closely with enterprises to co-create industry-specific solutions featuring Google Clouds AI, which can be integrated into existing business workflows.

: Wipro will work closely with enterprises to co-create industry-specific solutions featuring Google Clouds AI, which can be integrated into existing business workflows. Industry-Specific AI Use Cases : Explore AI applications in industries such as retail, healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, and telecommunications, addressing real-world business challenges like enhancing customer experiences, streamlining operations, and optimizing supply chains.

: Explore AI applications in industries such as retail, healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, and telecommunications, addressing real-world business challenges like enhancing customer experiences, streamlining operations, and optimizing supply chains. Collaboration and Innovation: Customers can collaborate with AI and ML experts from both Wipro and Google Cloud to accelerate their AI adoption and build future-proof AI capabilities.

Victor Morales, Vice President of Global System Integrators Partnerships at Google Cloud, said, Generative AI can help businesses solve complex industry challenges and streamline many of their most time-consuming processes. Through our partnership, Wipro will provide customers with the expertise to develop, deploy, and manage solutions built with this powerful technology.

Satish Y, SVP and Global Head Cloud Practices, Ecosystem & Partnerships, Wipro FullStride Cloud,added, Our new Google Gemini Experience Zone is a key step in our mission to empower clients with the tools they need to drive AI-led business transformation. Through our strategic partnership with Google Cloud, we will provide a sandbox for businesses to engage directly with Wipro and Google Cloud experts, experiment with real-world AI applications, and tailor solutions that address clients unique challenges, accelerating their journey towards becoming intelligent enterprises.
A native of Beaumont, J.C. Reid graduated from the University of Southern California after studying architecture and spent his early career as an architect in New York City. He returned to Texas in 1995, retiring from architecture but creating his own Internet business in Houston. As his business became self-sustaining, he began traveling Houston and the world to pursue his passion: eating barbecue.

He began blogging about food and barbecue for the Houston Chronicle in 2010 and founded the Houston Barbecue Project in 2011 to document barbecue eateries throughout the area. Just last year, Reid and others founded the Houston Barbecue Festival to showcase mom-and-pop barbecue joints in the city. The 2014 event drew 2,000 guests to sample meats from 20 restaurants.

You can view more of J.C.'s work at jcreidtx.com.
The worlds leading Internet Exchange (IX) operator, DE-CIX, and submarine cable operator, GCX have signed a strategic partnership agreement to enhance global connectivity. This agreement allows GCX to resell DE-CIX Indias services to their end customers across the Middle East, Europe, USA and Asia while creating opportunities to connect with a rapidly growing Indian audience. Through this partnership, DE-CIX India will leverage GCXs extensive global subsea infrastructure to meet international demand more efficiently.

GCXs robust network spans four submarine cable systems  FA-1, FALCON, HAWK & FNAL  providing high-capacity connectivity across key regions, including the Middle East, Asia, USA, UK and Europe. This partnership strengthens DE-CIXs global reach, enabling international customers to seamlessly access IX services through GCXs expansive network.

FLAG Atlantic 1 (FA1): London, Paris, New York, Washington D.C. and Frankfurt

FALCON: 20 PoPs and landing stations in 14 countries of the Middle East including Egypt, UAE, Iran, Sudan, Qatar, India, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Maldives, Yemen, Kuwait, Sri Lanka, Oman, and Iraq.

HAWK: Western Europe, Middle East, USA and Asia

FLAG North Asian Loop (FNAL): Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan



We are excited to welcome GCX as our new partner, said Sudhir Kunder, CBO, DE-CIX India This partnership reflects our commitment towards expanding our global reach while providing top-notch services to our wide array of customers. We look forward to working closely with GCX and creating a mutually fast-paced digital environment for everyone.

Vineet Verma, President at Global Cloud Xchange for Middle East & India says: GCX is renowned for its extensive telecom infrastructure and innovative solutions, will now offer even greater connectivity and service quality to its customers. This collaboration enables GCX to further expand its market presence in India, leveraging its strong foundation to deliver superior performance and reliability. With a focus on customer satisfaction and technological advancement, GCX is poised to set new standards in the industry, ensuring seamless and efficient interconnection services for its global clientele.
Connie Estrada, left, has her blood pressure taken by Sam Houston State University medical student Justin Varias during Lone Star Family Health Centers annual Dont Miss The Bus event, Saturday, July 23, 2022, in Conroe. Recently the center also received more than $1 million in grants for cancer screenings and behavioral health care. Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer An artist rendering of the new 24,000-square-foot expansion coming to Conroe's Lone Star Family Health Center. The expanded area is scheduled to be open in September 2024. Recently the center also received more than $1 million in grants for cancer screenings and behavioral health care. Photo courtesy the Lone Star Family Health Center

The Lone Star Family Health Center in Montgomery County recently received federal grants to expand services in cancer screenings and improve access to behavioral health care.

According to information from the nonprofit center system, the grants from the Human Resources and Services Administration allow the center to reach its mission of bringing affordable care to the uninsured and underserved in the community.

CONROE ISD ELECTION: Conroe ISD voters elect conservative slate of trustees, ousting incumbents Chase and Williams

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The first grant totaling $500,000 from the Human Resources and Services Administration Acceleration Cancer Screening Program allows the health center to enhance screening and referral rates for breast cancer, colorectal cancer and cervical cancer in an underserved patient population over the next two years.

This is in collaboration with MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

Lone Star Family Health Center is undergoing an expansion in Conroe. The expansion expected to be completed in late 2024, features approximately 24,000 square feet of additional space including medical exam rooms, a dedicated mental health suite, an expanded patient intake area and more. Recently the center also received more than $1 million in grants for cancer screenings and behavioral health care. Photo courtesy the Lone Star Family Health Center

These screenings are vital to the early identification of cancer and other health concerns, giving patients the best chance for success, said Karen Harwell, CEO of Lone Star Family Health Center. Partnering with MD Anderson enables us to save more lives through early cancer detection and offer more comprehensive cancer care for the underserved in our community.

The second grant awarded was $1.1 million from HRSA to expand behavioral health services.

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This includes increasing the availability of counseling, psychiatric services and substance abuse treatment. Additionally, it allows the center to host lunch-and-learns on a variety of mental topics in partnership with community nonprofits.

The need in our community for more access to affordable care cannot be overstated, Harwell said. With these funds, we plan to add resources allowing us to better integrate behavioral health services into our primary care setting.

This announcement comes as a 24,000-square-foot expansion at the Lone Star Family Health Center Conroe branch is nearing completion.

The expansion will add to the current building at 605 S. Conroe Medical Drive and is expected to open later this year or in early 2025. A dedicated mental health suite will be a part of the new space.

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A family gets information during Lone Star Family Health Centers annual Dont Miss The Bus event, Saturday, July 23, 2022, in Conroe. Recently the center also received more than $1 million in grants for cancer screenings and behavioral health care. Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

The addition will result in an additional clinical pod for the center and allow service for 3,000 more patients. The health center is expected to begin the new grant projects in 2025, with the goal of reaching more patients and improving overall community health outcomes.

Founded in 2002, Lone Star Family Health Center is a full-service federally qualified health center and nonprofit. The health centers mission is to provide compassionate, affordable healthcare and prepare tomorrow's family medicine professionals. The center provides medical, dental, women's health and mental-health services.

Primary care services are offered across five clinic locations in Conroe, Willis, Spring, Grangerland and Huntsville.
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.
The 12th edition of the World Urban Forum wrapped up yesterday (November 8) with the adoption of the Cairo Call to Action, after intense discussions focused on the global housing crisis and financing urbanization, all under the theme 'It All Starts at Home.'

Ahead of the closing ceremony, UN-Habitat Executive Director, Anaclaudia Rossbach, emphasised the Forums timely emphasis on local action.

"Over half of the worlds population now resides in urban areas," stated Rossbach, as she highlighted the pivotal role of local governments in shaping cities and human settlements.

WUF12 was 'a turning point in the journey of the World Urban Forum,' she declared.

Over the past five days, WUF12, convened biennially by UN-Habitat, explored urbanisation through six main dialogues, roundtables, assemblies, and partner-led events.

"We have broken many records and scaled new heights at this World Forum," remarked Rossbach, citing impressive metrics, including the attendance of over 24,000 participants from 182 countries.

In addition, four heads of state, 60 ministers, 45 deputy ministers and 96 mayors, attended more than 700 events from 1,500 organisers. In all over 63,000 people, in person or online, attended dialogues, sessions and discussions.

On the final day, delegations adopted the Cairo Call to Action, pledging to act with urgency to address the global housing crisis as well as leveraging local action to achieving global goals and targets.

The Cairo Call to Action also emphasised, among other points, the need for sustaining a systemic representation of local actors at all levels, sharing urban spaces and opportunities inclusively, urban planning to deliver better local outcomes, and unlocking finance for cities and communities.

Delegations also committed to ensuring equity and justice for sustainable cities, leveraging local and grassroots data for decision-making, harnessing culture and heritage as an asset for sustainability, and building coalitions and alliances to scale local impact.-TradeArabia News Service
Nakheel, a member of Dubai Holdings pioneering real estate arm Dubai Holding Real Estate, has marked significant progress in the development of Palm Jebel Ali this year, with the project progressing at pace to meet 2025 milestones.

Announcing the project progress, Nakheel said after the masterplan was revealed, the first phase of villas and plots on Palm Jebel Ali launched in late 2023 sold out in record time, underscoring the immense appetite in the marketplace for waterfront properties, which Nakheel is renowned for delivering.

Palm Jebel Alis seven islands span 13.4km, featuring 16 fronds and over 90km of beachfront, and it marks the beginning of a new growth corridor in the Jebel Ali area, underlining the expansion of the emirate, in line with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan and the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.

The landmark development is designed with several mixed-use pedestrian-friendly neighbourhoods offering panoramic views of the Arabian Gulf.

Residents and visitors will enjoy an abundance of recreational spaces, catering to a diverse array of lifestyles and interests with a focus on smart city technologies and sustainable practices.

Several leading international and regional architectural firms have worked to create villas which celebrate the connectivity between the indoor and outdoor lifestyles that residents will enjoy on Palm Jebel Ali.

In May, Nakheel awarded the contact to DBB Contracting for the construction of a new road serving the central portion of Palm Jebel Ali.

Established by the Dutco Group, DBB Contracting and Dutco Construction are one of the leading civil and marine contractors in the UAE.

On completion, the new public access road will offer a beautifully landscaped and convenient path, spanning nearly 6km, leading directly on to Palm Jebel Ali.

In August, a contract worth AED 810 million for the marine works on Palm Jebel Ali was awarded to Jan De Nul Dredging. The scope of work included dredging, land reclamation, beach profiling and sand placement, directly supporting the construction of villas across all fronds.

According to Nakheel, the first eight fronds of the project are expected to be site-ready by the first quarter of 2025, allowing for the commencement of villa infrastructure and civil works.

The pace of the development of Palm Jebel Ali has accelerated further during Q3 and Q4 of 2024, with significant contracts awarded to renowned regional and international construction specialists, it added.

The master plan for the 6.6-km Jebel Ali Beach includes a 5km sandy beach, to be developed by Nakheel, as well as a 1.6-km-long Mangrove Beach, to be developed by Dubai Municipality.

Khalid Al Malik, the CEO of Dubai Holding Real Estate, said: "At Nakheel we believe in developing dreams, inspired by the vision of our leaders and the hopes of our people. The rapid progress we are currently witnessing on ground at Palm Jebel Ali is testimony to the grand success of our key partnerships and our joint endeavours to ensure we deliver on our commitments."

Three major contracts were awarded in October, collectively valued at more than AED5 billion, for the construction of exclusive ultra-luxury villas on the first six fronds of Palm Jebel Ali, scheduled for completion by late 2026.

The contracts, awarded to Ginco General Contracting, Shapoorji Pallonji Mideast and United Engineering Construction Company (UNEC), marked a significant milestone in the ongoing development of this landmark waterfront destination in Dubai, stated Al Malik.

It includes the construction of 723 luxurious Beach Collection and Coral Collection villas with exclusive beach frontage across six fronds in addition to the comprehensive development of world-class infrastructure and vibrant public spaces within the respective fronds on Palm Jebel Ali.-TradeArabia News Service
Top Japanese architectural, engineering and urban design firm, Nikken Sekkei, one of the worlds largest practices, will be unveiling its latest projects and innovative solutions at the Cityscape Global which opens tomorrow (November 11) in Riyadh.

Nikken Sekkei will be joining over 400 exhibitors at the world's largest real estate event, showcasing transformative projects and cutting-edge real estate practices.

Since the 1980s, Nikken Sekkei has created timeless architectural icons across the Middle East and continues to deliver industry leading projects in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and throughout the region, said its top official.

Dr Fadi Jabri, the CEO of Nikken Sekkei Dubai, said: "We are thrilled to be part of Cityscape Global, the region's leading real estate event, and to showcase our wide range of expertise including mixed-use developments, offices, luxury residential, and transportation."

"The history of Nikken Sekkei is one of consecutive challenges to approach the unknown and the unexplored. We strive to deliver cutting-edge and elegant designs that bring living experiences to a new level and transform urban landscapes, all the while being mindful of the environment," noted Jabri.

"We look forward to sharing our vision with industry leaders and professionals in Riyadh and contribute to the development of the region," he added.

At Cityscape Global, Nikken Sekkei said it will showcase a range of prestigious projects including One Zaabeel, located at the entrance to central Dubai.

This mixed-use development, which bagged the 2024 CTBUH Awards, Best Tall Building by Region, highlights the companys innovative design capabilities through seamlessly integrating offices, hotels, residences, and commercial spaces to offer an elevated lifestyle experience.

With two towers separated by a highway and connected 100 m above ground by The Link, the linear and asymmetrical silhouette embodies timeless elegance, while the shining glass exteriors are designed to optimize the indoor environment.

Held under the theme "The Future of Living", Cityscape Global aims to expand local and international investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia's rapidly evolving real estate sector.

"As global leaders in architecture and net-zero designs, Nikken Sekkei will be presenting the future of sustainable and efficient building solutions during the event," remarked Jabri.

On show will be Tadawul Tower, a high-rise office designed with environmental considerations and advanced technology, achieving LEED Gold certification for eco-friendly architecture and awarded the International Architecture Awards in 2024.

The design symbolizes the transformation underway in the Kingdom through Saudi Vision 2030 and is inspired by the concept of "opening up a new era."

The Forum, at the building's core, features polyhedral forms reminiscent of Islamic geometry and polished materials that reflect natural light, creating a futuristic atmosphere, with rough rock surfaces used, and water and greenery evoking the regions serene spirituality.

The tower features a comfortable head office on the upper floors and tenant offices in the middle, complemented by shared facilities, including a conference hall.

Another project on show is Dubai Harbour Residences, one of Nikken Sekkeis latest residential design projects, offering a glimpse into the future of luxury living across the region.

Located in the extraordinary seafront district of Dubai Harbour, Nikken Sekkei brought progressive urban development to one of Dubai's most sought-after communities.

Comprising a refined collection of low-rise beachfront residences, including apartments and penthouses with panoramic views of both the Arabian Gulf and the urban landscape, the design creates a light, dreamy ambiance where elements seamlessly connect, evoking an elegant, mirage-like experience.-TradeArabia News Service
A memorial under a half-staff flag in front of Houston Fires Station 23, where firefighter Marcelo Garcia was stationed on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 in Houston. Garcia passed away after a wall collapsed as he was trying to put out a three-alarm fire on Nov. 6. The fire was ruled as an arson. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

The Houston Fire Department on Saturday released details regarding funeral arrangements for Marcelo Garcia, the firefighter who died early Thursday from injuries suffered while fighting a warehouse fire near the Greater East End.

The body of the 42-year-old will be escorted from the medical examiner's office to the Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home.

A public viewing for Garcia, who spent 10 years with the department, will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Forest Lawndale Funeral Home, and a private viewing will be held for Garcia's family and friends separately.

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A funeral service for Garcia will take place downtown at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. Houston Mayor John Whitmire requests attendees turn on their vehicle headlights on Wednesday to honor Garcia's sacrifice.
Kent, a UAE-headquartered leading engineering company in the energy sector, has launched a training programme to equip young Emirati high school graduates and engineering diploma holders with the skills and knowledge to excel in the energy industry.

UAE Designers and Drafters Training Programme is part of Kent's ongoing commitment to contribute to the UAE's energy future, addressing current energy demands while also focusing on the urgent transition to net-zero emissions.

The training, set to take place at its state-of-the-art Kent Training Academy in Abu Dhabi, will impart the fundamentals of engineering and design, providing hands-on experience and mentorship to ensure they are well-prepared to thrive in their careers.

The programme launched on November 8 also supports the core pillars of Kents Sustainability by Kent Strategy, demonstrating the company's commitment to uplifting communities and empowering individuals to prosper.

Participants will undergo a structured journey through three key phases, designed to build their expertise and prepare them for successful careers in the energy sector.

Phase 1: Foundational Training  participants will begin with foundational knowledge in engineering and the energy industry, focusing on key topics such as safety, project management, and industry standards.

Phase 2: Design Software Proficiency  this phase will enhance participants proficiency in industry-leading design software, providing practical experience to create accurate and professional drafts.

Phase 3: Mastering Drafting/Designing  participants will apply their skills in real-world scenarios, working on actual projects under the mentorship of Kents professionals to develop advanced design techniques.

"Our people are our backbone, and we are committed to championing and empowering them in every way possible, said Touria Mohamed, Kents Senior Emiratisation Manager.

This programme reflects our vision of fostering local talent and helping them build meaningful careers while contributing to the sustainable growth of the UAE.

After completing the programme, participants will have the opportunity to join Kent's designer/drafter team, gaining valuable experience on diverse projects and advancing their careers within the energy sector. - TradeArabia News Service
Edge has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Brazilian Navy at Euronaval, one of the worlds largest naval exhibitions, currently being held in Paris.

The MoU establishes a collaborative foundation for the development of autonomous surface and aerial defence systems, reinforcing shared strategic capabilities.

The partnership marks a significant step in Edges continued engagement with the Brazilian Navy, focusing on deepening technical, operational, and logistical cooperation to jointly develop and deploy sophisticated anti-drone systems for navy applications.

The preliminary agreement was formalised by Admiral Edgar Luiz Siqueira Barbosa, Director General of Material for the Brazilian Navy, and Hamad Al Marar, Managing Director & CEO, Edge.

Valuable and reliable partner

Barbosa said: "Edge Group has proven itself to be a valuable and reliable partner to the Brazilian Navy for the long-term, as demonstrated by our close collaboration on the Mansup series of anti-ship systems. This preliminary agreement to pursue the joint development and delivery of sophisticated counter-drone technologies and solutions will not only ensure that both parties benefit from the sharing of knowledge and innovation but will also enable us, as partners, to become leaders in the field, meeting sovereign needs and eventually those of other export markets in the face of modern naval and airborne threats."

Counter-drone systems are not only effective but strategically essential, incorporating advanced, integrated technologies vital for naval defence. These systems combine high-value sensors, such as radars and electro-optics, with signal-jamming capabilities to neutralise drone threats by disrupting control signals.

Al Marar added: Counter-drone technology is a vital solution required worldwide, addressing the increasing presence of unmanned vehicles in modern defence scenarios. These systems bring advanced capabilities in detecting, tracking, and neutralising evolving threats, and we are focused on furthering this development to deliver a truly cutting-edge system to market. Edge has already made significant strides in this field and we remain committed to continuously driving innovation. The Brazilian Navy is a hugely important partner, and together we are shaping the future of these essential defence technologies.

The MoU formalises a framework for developing these sophisticated capabilities to meet the operational needs of the Brazilian Navy. In the complex landscape of maritime defence, integrated anti-drone technology is key to delivering coordinated, multi-layered responses across the fleet.--TradeArabia News Service
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) has announced that its logistics unit has signed contracts worth $4.4 billion with a number of international companies to boost its owned and chartered fleet of shipping services to meet growing global demand.

Adnoc Logistics & Services (Adnoc L&S) said as per the deal it will build 23 tankers will be used for shipping ethane, ammonia and liquefied natural gas amid growing global demand.

The company had awarded contracts worth $1.9 billion through its joint venture AW Shipping to build nine Very Large Ethane Carriers (VLECs) and four Very Large Ammonia Carriers (VLACs) with Jiangnan Shipyard in China.

It also signed contracts worth $2.5 billion with Koreas Samsung Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean to build 10 LNG carriers, further enhancing its ability to meet global demand for low-carbon energy.

"We expanded the size of our fleet through shipbuilding contracts that include ten new LNG carriers, nine very large ethane carriers (VLECs), and four very large ammonia carriers (VLACs), which represents a strategic step in reducing emissions globally and meeting the growing demand for energy," Abdulkareem Al Masabi, the CEO of Adnoc L&S told Wam on the sidelines of Adipec in Abu Dhabi.

The group has one of the largest diversified fleets in the Middle East region, with more than 800 owned, operated and chartered vessels.

"This enables the company to support across the energy supply chain for Adnoc Group and other global partners," stated Al Masabi.

Adnoc L&S aims to sustain its growth by enhancing its partnership with its parent company while broadening its services to attract new customers in global markets, he added.
EDGE Group entity ADSB, a regional leader in the design, construction, repair, maintenance, refit, and conversion of naval and commercial vessels, has formalised a strategic agreement that will strengthen sovereign naval solutions.

ADSBs strategic agreement with Siatt, a Brazilian specialist in smart weapons and advanced defence systems, in which EDGE holds a 50% stake, will see the integration of the advanced Mansup Surface-to-Surface Missile (SSM) launcher onto ADSBs Rabdan FA-400 Fast Attack vessel, equipping it with a highly precise, long-range missile system tailored for modern naval combat.

The agreement was signed by David Massey, CEO of ADSB, and Paulo Salvador, Commercial Director of Siatt, at Euronaval 2024 in Paris, being held until November 8.

Massey said: Our newly launched Rabdan FA-400, which is being constructed entirely in the UAE, stands as a powerful example of our commitment to high-performance, sovereign naval solutions and exemplifies the impactful synergy within EDGE companies.

By integrating Siatts advanced Mansup missile launcher, we are enhancing the vessels strike capability, delivering a sophisticated and resilient platform tailored to meet the evolving demands of modern defence.

Salvador said: This collaboration marks a pivotal expansion for Siatt into the UAEs growing defence sector.

Partnering with ADSB allows us to bring Siatts advanced missile systems to a UAE-built vessel, reinforcing our commitment to contributing to the UAEs defence ecosystem.

This alliance underscores the value we place on forging strong partnerships in the region, delivering innovative, high-performance solutions tailored for the strategic needs of our partners and the UAE market, and marks an important milestone towards Siatts international expansion.

The Rabdan FA-400, equipped with the Mansup missile system, will be showcased at Naval Defence Exhibition & Conference (Navdex), which will be held in the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from February 17-21, 2025. TradeArabia News Service
The Saudi Hawks and Pakistan Air Force have landed at Sakhir Air Base ahead of their presence at the much-anticipated Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS), taking place from November 13 to 15.

Known for its world-renowned aircraft flying display, Bahrain International Airshow is gearing up for its most impressive showcase yet.

A world-renowned aerobatic display team, Saudi Hawks are the Royal Saudi Air Force aerobatic display team flying six BAE Hawk-equipped Mk.65. The Royal Saudi Air Force introduced the display team to highlight its capabilities, efficiency, and the ability of its pilots and technicians to showcase the aircraft and its advanced technologies.

Hot on the heels of its recent joint exercise with China, Indus Shield-Chinese, the Pakistan Air Force returns to Bahrain International Airshow to showcase its aerial excellence. Pakistan stands as the eight largest Air Force in the world and the largest Air Force of the Arabic world in terms of aircraft fleet. Its primary mandate and mission is to provide, in synergy with other inter-services, the most efficient, assured and cost effective aerial defence of Pakistan.

The Bahrain International Airshow is held under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and under the supervision of His Highness Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Personal Representative of His Majesty the King and the Chairman of BIAS Supreme Organising Committee.

Over 125 different types of aircraft will be showcased, providing visitors the opportunity to experience them close up, before a curated flying display of assets and aerobatic teams takes to the sky to demonstrate the latest innovations and technologies in the industry.

Family passes are available from BD5. -TradeArabia News Service
KBR, a leading provider of engineering, construction, professional services and technologies, has announced that it has been awarded a front-end engineering design (FEED) contract for the expansion of the Qalhat LNG complex in Sur, Oman.

This project represents a significant step in Omans efforts to meet rising global energy demands, while prioritising sustainable and efficient operations, said a statement from KBR.

Under the FEED contract, the US group will provide engineering services for the complexs fourth LNG train, which boasts a 3.8 million tonne per annum capacity.

The project will involve the addition or expansion of utilities, an LNG tank, the jetty, and associated infrastructure, it added.

On the contract win, Jay Ibrahim, KBR President, Sustainable Technology Solutions, said: "LNG will play an increasingly vital role in the global energy mix, and we are honoured to continue our collaboration with Oman on this critical project."

KBR, he stated, is a leader in the LNG industry, having designed and constructed numerous LNG production facilities around the globe.

With this expansion of Omans natural gas liquefaction capacity, KBR continues to play a pivotal role in ensuring a reliable and sustainable energy supply to meet the worlds growing demands, it noted.

"By addressing the energy trilemma of security, sustainability and affordability, this project is expected to significantly contribute to Omans energy security and sustainability goals," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
QatarEnergy inaugurated four new conventional-size LNG vessels built in the Samsung Heavy Industries Shipyard and the Hanwha Ocean Shipyard in the Republic of Korea as part of QatarEnergys historic fleet expansion program.

The four new vessels, Idasah, Nuaijah, Umm Swayyah, and Lebrethah are part of 128 total vessels ordered from Korean and Chinese shipyards as part of the largest shipbuilding program in the history of the LNG shipping industry.

The naming of the vessels took place in two separate ceremonies in the city of Geoje, the first of which was held at the Samsung Heavy Industries Shipyard for the Idasah, the first to be delivered by Samsung.

Saad Al-Kaabi, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the President and CEO of QatarEnergy, said: This very special occasion highlights the growth of QatarEnergy's strategic partnership with Samsung Heavy Industries and JP Morgan Asset Managements Global Transportation Group. This event is not only a milestone in our journey, but also a celebration of our partnership and joint commitment to deliver cleaner energy to the world.

Minister Al-Kaabi thanked the shipowner, a subsidiary of JP Morgan Asset Managements Global Transportation Group for their commitment and dedication, and Samsung Heavy Industries for their great workmanship and quality.

In the second naming ceremony, which was held at the Hanwha Ocean Shipyard, the first three new LNG vessels to be delivered by Hanwha Ocean as part of this program were named the Nuaijah, Umm Swayyah, and Lebrethah, all of which will shortly join QatarEnergys expanding LNG fleet.

Minister Al-Kaabi said: This is a historic moment as these three LNG vessels prepare to set sail on their missions across the globe, providing a cleaner and more economic source of energy, and are equipped with state-of-the-art technologies to achieve optimal fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.

Minister Al-Kaabi thanked the vessels owners, the Korean KGL Consortium members: Pan Ocean, H-Line Shipping, and SK Shipping, and also thanked Hanwha Ocean for their dedication and commitment.

The ceremonies were attended by senior executives and representatives from the shipyards, shipowner companies and representatives of the Korean government, in addition to senior executives from QatarEnergy and QatarEnergy LNG. -TradeArabia News Service
Hilton has announced the graduation of its first cohort of students from a hospitality training programme in partnership with Bunyan for Training, an affiliate of the reputed hospitality management school in Switzerland, Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne (EHL).

Since signing the memorandum of understanding (MoU) in 2022, 18 students have successfully completed the programme and joined Hiltons growing team across its 21 trading hotels in Saudi Arabia.

The graduation ceremony was held at Jeddah Hilton, attended by officials from the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Human Resources, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Human Resources Fund together with senior Bunyan for Training, EHL and Hilton representatives.

Fawaz Moumina, Country Manager and Senior Director of Operations, KSA, Hilton, said: As we continue with our plans to more than quadruple our portfolio and open more than 70 hotels in the coming years, we are committed to creating 15,000 jobs, with more than half for Saudi nationals. We are proud to see the first group of graduates join our team and the second well underway, and we look forward to their future successes, which will inspire the next generation of Saudi hospitality professionals.

Accredited by the Saudi Technical and Vocational Training Corporation and certified by EHL, the programme offers both theoretical and practical training, along with opportunities to explore various areas of hospitality such as front office, housekeeping, and more.

Looking ahead, the next cohort of 40 students, half of whom are young women, has already begun training across Hilton hotels in Saudi Arabia.  TradeArabia News Service
ibis, known for offering high-quality, affordable accommodations, announced on November 1 the opening of its seventh hotel in Georgia's capital, Tbilisi, that is situated in the lively Ortachala district, known for its local attractions and government offices.

ibis Tbilisi City provides easy access to the historic old town, shopping areas, and major transport hubs, making it a prime choice for business and leisure travellers alike.

It is the latest addition to Accors growing portfolio in Georgia, which now includes 12 hotels across the country.

The new hotel is developed and managed by Archi Hospitality, part of Archi Holding.

Archi boasts a diverse portfolio of residential complexes, including 50 completed and 26 ongoing projects across Tbilisi and Georgias sea and mountain resorts, as well as local and international branded hotels and aparthotels.

This new opening marks the first joint project between Accor and Archi.

Alexis Delaroff, Chief Operating Officer of Accor, New East Europe, said: As one of our most dynamic economy brands within our global portfolio, we are proud to welcome our latest addition to the heart of Tbilisi. The new hotel features contemporary design, comfort and affordable prices, and is positioned to attract guests from across the region.

Globally, ibis is renowned for its modern design, openness, and warm hospitality, and this year marks the brands 50th anniversary since becoming the first hotel brand in Europe to democratise high-quality, comfortable stays.

Lasha Silagadze, Executive Director of Archi Hospitality, added: "ibis Tbilisi City is a great addition to our portfolio. It seamlessly integrates into the citys landscape and offers a unique proposition, and appeal for all travellers.

We are thrilled to work with Accor on this exciting project. With a strong vision of hospitality excellence, we are dedicated to create memorable experiences for our guests, said Silagadze.

The new hotel offers 156 stylish rooms across different various including premium, superior, double, twin, and accessible rooms. The design of rooms and public areas is based the brands modular concept, Agora, which features cohesive materials and colours that extends from the outside to the inside.

Guests along with local visitors will enjoy Matili Bar & Restaurant  a vibrant meeting point where the spirit of Georgia and the energy of music seamlessly converge. The menu is a harmonious blend of tradition and innovation, featuring classic dishes alongside with a contemporary international cuisine.

Additional amenities include a 50-square-metre gym, equipped with professional cardio and strength training equipment by Technogym.

For meetings and special events, the hotel offers four modern meeting rooms accommodating up to 100 guests. Situated just 20 minutes from Tbilisi International Airport, guests can benefit from airport transfers and municipal parking. - TradeArabia News Service
The German National Tourist Office (GNTO) Gulf Countries recently held its annual Roadshow in Dubai, welcoming prominent partners from Germany's tourism and hospitality sectors.

This years event, held at the residence of Sybille Pfaff, the German Consul General in Dubai, included participants such as hotels, regional tourism boards, airports, and shopping outlets. Among the new participants were Adina Apartment Hotels, Dresden Marketing GmbH, and the iconic Meissen Porcelain Manufactory, making their first appearances at the GNTO Roadshow.

In her welcoming remarks, Consul General Pfaff shared her personal experiences exploring Germany over the summer, recounting the diversity and cultural richness her country has to offer visitors.

Yamina Sofo, Director for the Gulf Countries at the GNTO, highlighted Germany's longstanding reputation as a premier destination, particularly well-suited to the preferences of Muslim travellers.

Germany has something for everyone, Sofo noted. From vibrant cities like Berlin, Munich, and Frankfurt to the picturesque countryside, forests, lakesides, beaches, and islands where car-free options allow for truly relaxing vacations.

She presented key statistics underscoring Germany's appeal and accessibility to Gulf tourists, citing over 207 weekly flights from the GCC to major German cities in 2023, offered by 11 airlines, including Lufthansa and Eurowings. Despite a slight decrease from pre-pandemic levels, flight connectivity is expected to continue growing.

Notable insights from the event included:

* Global Recognition: Germany ranked second in the 2023 Global Nation Brand Index, reflecting its strong international reputation.

* GCC Market Strength: The GCC ranks as Germanys third-largest overseas market after the USA and China, with Gulf travelers spending 2.6 billion in 2023  a 24% increase from the previous year. The average spend per GCC visitor reached 4,447 per trip, the highest among all overseas markets.

* Top Destinations: Bavaria, including Munich, remains the most popular German destination for GCC visitors, followed by Hesse (home to Frankfurt) and North Rhine-Westphalia, known for cities like Cologne and Dusseldorf.

Looking ahead, Germanys 2025 tourism campaign will focus on Culture and Nature, with an ongoing emphasis on sustainability under the Simply Feel Good initiative.

Partner Highlights:

Adina Hotels: Making its debut at the GNTOs GCC roadshow, Adina Hotels introduced its portfolio of 18 hotels and apartments that cater to GCC visitors with versatile one-, two-, and three-bedroom configurations. These accommodations are ideal for families, offering interconnected options that create a spacious, home-like environment.

Visit Berlin: This year, Visit Berlin put a spotlight on medical tourism, presenting their new Medical Tourism Guide, now available in six languages.

OutletCity Metzingen: Known as a shopping haven, OutletCity Metzingen highlighted its recent additions, including the newly opened Hugo Boss Museum, which joins its lineup of over 170 premium and luxury brands. The outlet also offers exclusive private shopping experiences.

Munich: Already a favourite destination among GCC travellers, Munich updated attendees on the recent opening of the luxury Koenigshof Hotel, part of the Marriott Luxury Collection, located near the historic entrance to the Old Town.

Dresden: Joining the roadshow for the first time, Dresden Tourism showcased the citys architectural beauty and historical charm. Known for its easy accessibility from major German hubs like Frankfurt, Dresden offers a compelling mix of art, culture, and history.

Located just a short 30-minute journey from Dresden, the renowned Meissen Porcelain Manufactory also made its debut at the roadshow, displaying an array of exquisite porcelain pieces. Guests were introduced to their newly launched group tours, which allow visitors to explore behind the scenes and even try their hand at crafting a porcelain piece.

Lufthansa Group: Representing Germanys national carrier, Lufthansa Group highlighted its extensive GCC network, offering seamless connections to Germany and beyond. The airline also showcased its new Lufthansa Allegris service, featuring a First-Class Suite option for travel partners, as well as a revamped Business Class experience providing enhanced privacy and comfort on Munich-bound routes. - TradeArabia News Service
HISD parent Camille Breaux listens to her children as they eat dinner on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer HISD parent Camille Breaux laughs as she hangs out with her children Julian, 9, and Coco, 5 on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer HISD parent Camille Breaux in her home on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer HISD parent Camille Breaux listens to her children as they eat dinner on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer HISD parent Camille Breaux in her home with her children on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer HISD parent Camille Breaux in her home with her children Julian, 9, and Coco, 5 on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

Twelve miles from the board meetings and bond protests soon to take place at Houston ISD's central office, Anderson Elementary students ran to a nearby ice cream truck with wadded-up money in hand as the dismissal bell rang Oct. 7.

It was another unseasonably warm October day, and pre-K and kindergarten students walked to their parents who gathered under the shade of a nearby park. An older sibling hugged and spun his younger brother in the air as their mother smiled under an umbrella illuminated by the mid-afternoon sun.

Anderson was one of 45 schools to join Superintendent Mike Miles' New Education System this year despite a 24-point increase in its unofficial TEA accountability score. Parents with children who attend campuses that joined the polarizing system after improving academically have since both cautiously embraced and railed against their schools' overhaul.

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NES schools host a strict standardized curriculum, longer hours, timed lessons and new "Dyad" and "Art of Thinking" courses. They also convert libraries to Team Centers and include additional staff, higher pay for educators and less autonomy compared to non-NES schools.

Many at Anderson, including parent Latasha Whitty, were largely unaware or undeterred by their school's changes this year. Instead, Whitty said her son, a curious third-grader, talks about the new topics he's learned in math class.

"He loves to do his work in class," Whitty said. "He's just happy every time he comes home from school. (In the mornings,) he gets right up and gets dressed on his own."

Academic improvement

First implemented at the start of the 2023-2024 school year to improve student outcomes at struggling schools, the New Education System has since swelled to include nearly half of the district. Instead of adding entire feeder patterns as it had in 2023, Miles announced in January that 26 schools with F's and low D's in its unofficial 2023 accountability ratings would join the NES fold the following school year.

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Miles and the district's board of managers were appointed by the Texas Education Agency to improve student outcomes, and its 2024 ratings showed improvement at 150 of the district's 274 schools, especially among those that were NES or NES-aligned in 2023-2024, according to a Chronicle analysis.

But just four schools that were integrated into NES this school year saw a decrease in their 2024 accountability scores before the district's costly intervention. More than 30 schools went up a letter grade, while 27 improved to a passing grade, which would have exempted schools from the New Education System in 2023.

Many parents at newly minted NES schools were surprised to hear that what they believed to be a thriving campus would be joining the program. Since then, some expressed concerns with new pickup and drop-off times, principal and teacher turnover, a loss of some extracurricular activities and what they perceive as a lack of "fun" within the new system.

Parent concerns

While Mitchell Elementary parent Nohemy Martinez appreciates a renewed focus on academics in NES, she feels that teachers have less flexibility and there are fewer opportunities for her daughter, a kindergartner, to enjoy herself.

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"It was like a community (last year,)" Martinez said. "She was learning, but she was actually having fun. It's not about just strictly learn, learn, learn. This year, it's 'NES does not allow that.'"

Martinez and her family are moving from the greater Hobby area to Katy next year, which she said was due in part to her husbands' disapproval of the school.

Like Mitchell, Crockett Elementary improved from a failing grade to a 'B' in its unofficial 2024 ratings before joining NES. And like Mitchell, the school's principal was replaced in late spring.

Already incensed by what they felt was a lack of transparency from the district, many Crockett parents picketed outside of the school and took their children out of class for a day in protest.

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Parent Camille Breaux, who has a third grader and kindergartner enrolled at the First Ward magnet school, worries about the long-term impact of the NES model on student learning.

"We don't have school announcements that the kids do. We don't raise the flag. We can't have any parties," Breaux said. "It's all the little fun things that kind of make school enriching."

She said the community got involved once again when parents learned the school's ratings had improved drastically before it lost its autonomy.

"I wouldn't say it was optimism. It was more like, well, if we have a better score, how are we going to get out of this?" Breaux said. "If you can't get out for two years, why can't you get two years before you're put in?"

'For the foreseeable future'

The newest batch of NES schools were announced in January, and a new school year was already underway before the district's latest accountability ratings were released.

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Houston ISD schools are sorted into four autonomy levels based on how each school is performing, per a June announcement. To keep a school's environment more consistent, Miles said in August that a campus can only raise or lower its autonomy by qualifying for the same autonomy level for two consecutive years.

The future is less clear for NES schools, which have the tightest restrictions, Miles said in an August interview.

"We talked about not wanting to have such volatility in the autonomy level," Miles said. "NES schools will remain NES for the foreseeable future. And then at some point, and I don't know when that point is, we may take them out of the NES orbit, or at least give them a choice. Because if we give them a choice to be NES or not, I suspect almost everybody will stay NES."

'Wait and see'

Codwell Elementary parent Kishia Randle's two daughters, a third grader and pre-K student, have always done well academically, and she wasn't pleased when the district announced that their school would join NES.

Her doubt slowly shifted into pleasant surprise. The school's new principal is "open and receptive to parents' concerns," Randle said, and the school's band and music magnet program has thrived. While she wonders how the change has impacted lower-performing students, she said she's cautiously optimistic about the new system.

"(My third-grader) does comment on how rigorous some of the curriculum and standards are now, but she does appreciate the rewards that come when she performs well," Randle said. "I'm really satisfied with the changes so far."

Fellow parent and Codwell alumni Bobby Esset said it'll take years to see whether Miles' "wholescale systemic reform" had a positive impact on the South Acres school and district at large.

"I don't agree with a whole lot of the things, but it's changed. Now, is it for the better? We don't know yet," Esset said. "Before you can see if it works, you've got to get all the other stuff out of the way. You've got to get everybody that's thinking that it isn't going to work, and everybody's got to buy in together ... you have to wait and see."
WHITE candles were yesterday placed on the side of the road in Sennon Village Number Three, Siparia, where the severed head of 59-year-old Joanne Estick was found in a bag on Thursday.

Estick, a mother of one and grandmother of three, was last seen in the village earlier this week.

A senior police officer of the South Western Police Division said they are yet to officially confirm that the head is that of Estick without the rest of the human remains.
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.
Caroline Wilburn is a breaking news reporter for the Houston Chronicle.

A graduate of Texas A&M University, Caroline worked as an election stringer for the Associated Press and as a breaking news fellow at the Texas Tribune. At the Tribune, she got a crash course in interpreting data, distilling complicated policy and following statewide trends on a tight deadline. Shes also a skilled video editor and podcast producer.

She won a first-place award for audio news production at the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association.
This week something happened that changed everyones perception of reality, darkening our outlooks and making it hard to sleep or eat. Were referring, of course, to the end of Daylight Saving Time.

Daylight Saving Time has a strange history, with a lot of dubious motives behind it. In 1986, it became longer by almost a month, and this had some strange motives of its own. Find out about them below, along with some information about rockets and pee.

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15 And Beyond A couple were caught having sex in a Bed, Bath & Beyond in 2017, on one of the display beds. Having sex on the display was bad. Worse was the fact that the two had scabies, which meant the police station had to be fumigated afterward. Advertisement

14 Six-Ring Circus Throughout the 1990s, one item of litter was iconic for clogging up the ocean: the six-pack ring for beverage cans. This is surprising, because a 1989 federal law mandated that these rings be redesigned to naturally degrade in water, which took effect in 1990.

13 Fake Tradition You might be familiar with a Greek folk dance, in which everyone forms a line with hands on each others shoulders then they drag their feet and hop in the air. This isnt some tradition going back for many generations. It was created for the 1964 film Zorba the Greek.

12 Losers, All Losers Think about all your friends. Now pick one at random. Mathematics says that they probably have more friends than you do. That sounds impossible  surely some will have more, and an approximately equal number will have fewer  but its true. Advertisement Advertisement

11 But They Look Cool The fins on the rockets from the Apollo program didnt actually do anything  so long as the rocket flew properly. They were only there for if the launch went wrong, in which case theyd stabilize the rocket just long enough for the astronaut to abort. NASA The fins are also a fair bit smaller than youre picturing them.

10 Nutty Origin The Brazil nut comes from a tree, a tree thats also called the Brazil nut. Its named after the country Brazil, of course. But Brazil was itself named after a tree: the Brazilwood tree. Advertisement

9 Came for Nothing The Greenwich Meridian has a longitude of zero. But if you go the Greenwich Observatory and to the monument that marks the Meridian at that location, you can pull out your phones GPS and see the longitude isnt zero. They calculated wrong, and they stuck the monument 100 meters too far west. Advertisement

8 A Big Treat A dachshund bit off and ate its owners big toe in 2008. The owner was asleep, and thanks to her diabetes, she didnt notice anything until she woke up and looked at her foot. Advertisement

7 Waste Water A drunk Oregon man in 2014 needed to pee, so he pointed himself through a fence and urinated into Portlands Mount Tabor Reservoir No. 5. The city responded by dumping all 38 million gallons of the reservoirs water into the sewers.

6 The Time Conspiracy Congress extended Daylight Saving Time in 1986 by one month, and the primary lobbying for the change came from 7-Eleven and Clorox. 7-Eleven thought theyd get more customers under DST, while Clorox figured people would buy more charcoal briquettes for barbecues, earning Clorox an extra $100 million annually. Philipp Kammerer Thats right. Daylight Saving Time is a conspiracy by Big Grill to sell more charcoal. Advertisement

5 Lost Luggage A shipment of 440 squirrels arrived in Amsterdam in 1999 that lacked proper customs paperwork. So, an airline employee ordered that they all be destroyed  by dropping them into a shredder. Confronted later, the airline admitted that theyd erred, and they fired the employee. Advertisement

4 Stealing from Edison The word bug, when were talking about software, goes back to literal insects that got caught in a Harvard computer. At least, thats what one popular story says. In reality, Thomas Edison had referred to bugs in telegraph codes long before computers existed. Advertisement

3 Just a Prank, Bro In 1894, Cornell students thought it would be funny to pump chlorine gas into the banquet hall as a prank. They messed up and sent it to the kitchen instead, which means they gassed no students but did kill a cook.

2 Stick Season A single mating session of the Indian stick insect can last for 79 days. This would be impressive for any species, but its an especially long length of time for an animal whose entire lifespan is only around a year. Advertisement Advertisement
Did you know?

If you are age 70 or older and have savings in an IRA, you may be able to give directly from your IRA and save even more on your federal and Arizona taxes. If your custodian sends a payment directly from your IRA to the Arizona Daily Star Sportsmens Fund, you may be able to deduct it as a Qualifying Charitable Distribution on your tax return even if you claim the standard deduction. Consult your tax adviser for more information about how this applies to you.

 Mikala Jansen, CPA, and Sportsmens Fund officer
National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has signed a deal with Chinese travel firm GuangZhou Yuanzhilv Technology to draw close to 300,000 Chinese tourists to Vietnam from 2024 to 2030.

Both sides formalized their collaboration at a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing ceremony on Friday in Chongqing, China, in the presence of Prime Minister of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh, alongside leaders and representatives from various agencies, departments, and businesses of both nations.

The MoU underscores their shared commitment to increase Chinese tourist arrivals as well as positions Vietnam as a must-visit destination.

As per the deal, both sides pledged to collaborate on various areas including aviation services, destination marketing initiatives, expertise sharing, and event management, with the aim of promoting Vietnams tourism appeal to international visitors.

The signing ceremony was part of a broader initiative launched by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to promote Vietnamese tourism to the world.

This initiative provided a platform for Vietnamese businesses to introduce new tourist destinations and cultural heritage highlights, offering Chinese visitors deeper insights into Vietnam and fostering the cultural and economic ties between the two countries.

China has long been a significant tourism market for Vietnam.

Following disruptions induced by the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese tourist arrivals in Vietnam have shown robust growth.

In the first nine months of 2024, Vietnam attracted 2.7 million Chinese visitor arrivals, marking a 141.4-percent increase against the same period last year.

Vietnam Airlines alone transported 483,000 Chinese tourists in this period, 2.4 times higher than the year before.

Currently, the national flag carrier operates five routes from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to major Chinese cities like Guangzhou, Beijing, and Shanghai.

Vietnam Airlines plans to increase flight frequencies, open new routes, and use more wide-body aircraft to meet growing travel demand.

The carrier will also collaborate with its Chinese partners on creative marketing campaigns to introduce popular and lesser-known destinations to Chinese visitors.

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Sikruadong Phra Phalek, a monk from Thailand, began his study journey in Vietnam by enrolling in Vietnamese language courses for foreigners around nine years ago.

Since then, he has progressed through a bachelors degree and is now approaching the end of his masters program in Vietnamese studies.

The 33-year-old monk impressed many locals with his fluent Vietnamese, including Dr. Nguyen Huynh Lam, deputy dean of the faculty of Vietnamese studies at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMUSSH).

Lam, who taught Sikruadongs undergraduate class from 2017 to 2020, recalled his surprise at seeing a foreign monk in the classroom.

The lecturer elaborated that a large number of Vietnamese monks and international students have been studying at HCMUSSH, but the presence of a foreign monk is a rare instance.

Sikruadongs cohort included approximately 40 students, mostly from South Korea, with him as the only Thai member along with one Japanese student.

His diligence set this Thai monk apart, as he often assisted classmates with challenging Vietnamese terms.

Lam went on to say that most lecturers have great regard for Sikruadong, who Lam said never missed a class, took diligent notes, and dedicated time to every assignment.

Sikruadong hails from Wat Phra Dhammakaya, a large pagoda in northern Bangkok, Thailand.

In 2015, the Wat Phra Dhammakaya management board unveiled its plan to have a Vietnamese-speaking monk to strengthen ties with Vietnamese Buddhists and pagodas.

While monks already knew neighboring languages like Lao, Khmer, and Burmese, none spoke Vietnamese.

Sikruadong volunteered and began learning the Vietnamese language at Phap Luan Pagoda in Hue City, the capital of Thua Thien-Hue Province in central Vietnam.

Subsequently, he moved to Ho Chi Minh City in 2016 to participate in Vietnamese language courses for foreigners at HCMUSSH.

With a limited number of Thai-to-Vietnamese learning materials, Sikruadong focused on listening and observing how people around him spoke Vietnamese.

He then analyzed common words and their meaning.

After mastering the basics, the monk enrolled in a Vietnamese studies bachelors program from 2017 to 2020, with his favorite subjects being Vietnamese law and grammar.

He explained that studying the law helped him better understand Vietnamese society, while learning the grammar enabled him to structure Vietnamese sentences accurately.

Graduating with honors, Sikruadong returned to Thailand due to the COVID-19 pandemic and he later came back to Vietnam in 2022 for a masters program in Vietnamese studies.

His masters thesis focuses on the differences in ordination ceremonies between Theravada pagodas in Vietnam and Thailand, drawing on extensive research conducted in Vietnamese pagodas.

Sikruadong currently resides at Pho Minh Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh Citys Go Vap District, where he balances his studies with involvement in pagoda activities and cultural exchanges between Thai and Vietnamese pagodas.

On weekends, he teaches free Thai language classes to children of Buddhist followers.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam!
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.

The treaty galvanises closer ties between Moscow and Pyongyang since Russia launched its full-scale attack 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.
BANGKOK -- Companies have been moving factories from China to Southeast Asia, anticipating Donald Trump would slap high tariffs on Beijing if he regained the White House, a move set to accelerate with his election win, industrial park developers in the region say.

Trump, who won a resounding victory on Tuesday, has threatened 60 percent tariffs on goods coming into the U.S. from China, much higher than the levies of 7.5 percent to 25 percent he imposed in his first term, a major risk for the world's second-largest economy.

Southeast Asia - with auto and electronics factories from Thailand to Vietnam and Malaysia - will likely benefit at China's expense, said two executives, two business groups, a lawyer and an analyst in the region.

Developers of industrial parks are adding Chinese speakers and preparing land tracts for factories, a sign of how Trump, who takes office in January, could reshuffle global supply chains.

As Trump geared up his campaign to retake the presidency earlier this year, calls from Chinese customers flooded WHA Group, one of Thailand's largest industrial estate developers, said CEO Jareeporn Jarukornsakul.

"There was (already) a relocation to Southeast Asia, but this round is going to be more intense," she said, referring to Trump's 2017-2021 first term.

WHA is expanding its sales force and adding Chinese speakers to teams overseeing maintenance and administration of industrial parks spanning more than 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres) in Thailand and Vietnam, Jareeporn said.

Of the 90 factories that have opened this year in industrial parks run across Southeast Asia by Thailand's Amata Corp, some two-thirds have been companies relocating facilities from China, said Vikrom Kromadit, the developer's founder and chairman.

Trump 'needs some friends'

Trump will be a "big punch" to China, potentially doubling the number of firms looking to move from there into Amata's 150 square km (60 square miles) of industrial estates in four Southeast Asian countries, Vikrom said.

Construction begins this month on an Amata industrial park in Laos, where China has built a high-speed rail line connecting Kunming in southwestern China to the Laotian capital Vientiane, he said.

Thailand, a regional automobile manufacturing hub, has drawn over $1.4 billion in investment from Chinese automakers into its fast-expanding electric vehicle industry.

"We want a lot of investment from China so we can sell to America," said Thai Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan.

"I believe this will happen," told reporters on Thursday. "The Americans love us, the Chinese love us - we don't have to choose sides."

Malaysia, hoping to draw over $100 billion in new investments to its semiconductor sector, could benefit from a realignment of supply chains, said leaders of two business groups.

"This shift could provide Malaysia with new opportunities to capture a larger share of exports to the United States and other key markets," said Soh Thian Lai, president of the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers.

But risks persist, particularly with some indications that Trump may consider tariffs on imports from countries across the region, said Leif Schneider, head of international law firm Luther in Vietnam.

Vietnam, a major exporter to the U.S. with $90 billion bilateral trade surplus between January and September, is bracing for volatility under Trump.

"Trump will have to choose - you can be anti-China, but you'll need to have some friends in Southeast Asia," said WHA's Jareeporn. "He is a negotiator, so we will negotiate."
VALENCIA -- 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!".

"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.

Police officers stand guard as people protest against the management of the emergency response to the deadly floods in eastern Spain, in Valencia, Spain, November 9, 2024. Photo: Reuters

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.

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.

Valencia, Spain, November 9, 2024. Photo: Reuters

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.

Puerta del Sol square, Madrid, November 9, 2024. Photo: Reuters

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.
Some Vietnamese experts have asserted that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will still hold the mindset of a business mogul in his second term, with the Indo-Pacific region continuing to be a hotspot of strategic competition.

Ambassador Bui The Giang, former head of the Department for Western Europe and North America under the Party External Relations Commission, said that the current Trump looks nothing different from him in his first term, which started in 2016.

On Sunday, U.S. media all called the presidential election, which took place on November 5, for Republican Trump, predicting he will win 312 electoral votes compared to Democrat Kamala Harris' 226.

To win the presidency, a candidate needs to secure 270 electoral votes.

As a result, Trump will be sworn in as the U.S. president for the second time on January 20.

He will still maintain his entrepreneurial mindset, applying business approaches to social and governmental management as well as to internal and external relations, Giang told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Thursday.

Trump is a decisive man in managing human resources, and he will still assume full control over staff decisions, according to Giang.

Echoing the same view as Giang, Nguyen Quoc Cuong, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and ex-Ambassador of Vietnam to the United States, said that Trump's entrepreneurial spirit was reflected via his threat of sanctions in a business-like negotiation manner.

As the Republican Party wins control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, Trump will have a firm foundation to adopt more assertive policies, Cuong said.

Cuong quoted Trump as admitting that during his first presidential term, he did not know anyone in Washington, D.C., which led to mistakes in staffing.

This time around, however, Trump asserted that he now knows everyone in the capital.

Trump is more confident and I believe that many staffers of his new administration have similar views as he does," Cuong said.

Ambassador Bui The Giang, former head of the Department for Western Europe and North America under the Party External Relations Commission. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

Significant impacts expected for Indo-Pacific region

The U.S. under Trumps first administration withdrew from several international treaties and agreements.

After a few days of claiming control of the White House in his first term, Trump pulled the U.S. out of the Pacific trade deal, commonly known as TPP.

In June 2017, he announced his plan to withdraw Washington from the Paris climate agreement.

Speaking of Trumps foreign policy in his second term, Ambassador Giang emphasized that Trump vowed to put America First and Make America Great Again.

Trumps policies will not change," he said.

"However, although the U.S. federal government under the Trump administration withdrew from these international treaties and agreements [in his first term], especially the Paris one, multiple states and local governments were still joining these pacts, he said.

Giang suggested leveraging the autonomy of U.S. states and local governments to strengthen partnerships with American counterparts.

Meanwhile, Cuong noted that in the second term, Trumps administration would maintain a strong focus on the Indo-Pacific, which remains central to strategic competition, particularly between the U.S. and China.

The competition is expected to become more fierce in multiple fields in the coming years.

As a member of the region, Vietnam could not be an outsider.

With its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, openness, diversification, and multilateralism, Vietnam will work well to bring about benefits," he said.

Nguyen Quoc Cuong, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and ex-Ambassador of Vietnam to the United States. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

Right-wing politics wins

At a recent roundtable hosted by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, the two diplomats noted that Trumps victory reflects a growing wave of right-wing movements around the world.

Right-wing movements or conservatives have won not just in the United States, but also in Germany, France, the European Parliament, Austria, the Netherlands, and Hungary," Cuong said.

Trump's victory highlighted a global trend inspiring conservatives worldwide, heard the roundtable discussion.

His catchphrases America First and Make America Great Again clearly reflect the trend of conservatives, Cuong said.

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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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What you need to know today in Vietnam:

Politics

-- A delegation from the Vietnam Fatherland Front, led by General Secretary of its Central Committee Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, is paying an official visit to India through Monday next week to bolster the traditional friendship and multifaceted collaboration between the two nations, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

Society

-- Medical workers of Vietnamese level-2 field hospital No. 6 have successfully airlifted a critically ill woman with a twin pregnancy to a higher-level health facility in South Sudan while they are engaging with UN peacekeeping activities.

-- The eye of storm Yinxing was spotted some 335 kilometers northeast of Vietnam's Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago at 4:00 am on Sunday, with sustained winds at level 14, or up to 166 kph, and gusts reaching level 17. In the next 24 hours, the storm is forecast to change its direction to move southwest toward the waters off the central region at a maximum speed of 10 kilometers, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

-- Many provinces and cities in northern Vietnam such as Hanoi, Thai Nguyen, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, and Thai Binh recorded poor air quality on Saturday, posing a threat to public health, according to data released on a website run by the Pollution Control Department, under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

-- A magnitude-3.3 earthquake struck Thanh Thuy District in Phu Tho Province, northern Vietnam at a depth of 15.6 kilometers at 4:18 pm on Saturday, causing shakes felt in Ba Vi District, Hanoi, according to the Institute of Geophysics.

-- Authorities in Nha Trang City, south-central province of Khanh Hoa used explosives to break up a large rock atop Cu Hin Mountain on Saturday due to its high risk of rockslides that can threaten the lives of commuters.

Business

-- Vietnams national air carrier Vietnam Airlines signed a memorandum of understanding with Chinese travel company GuangZhou Yuanzhilv Technology in Chongqing, China on Friday to bring some 300,000 Chinese tourists to Vietnam from 2024 to 2030.

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A medical team from Vietnams Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 6, serving under the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), successfully arranged an emergency airlift to transfer a pregnant woman at high risk of extreme preterm birth to a specialized hospital for urgent care.

The pregnant woman, a Kenyan national with six previous pregnancies, is employed by the UN in South Sudans Mayen Abun along with her husband.

According to a local health facility's diagnosis, she was carrying twins at 23 weeks and four days, experiencing amniotic fluid leakage, and at risk of extreme preterm labor that could threaten both her life and that of the twins, Suc Khoe & Doi Song (Health & Life) newspaper reported on Saturday.

Two Vietnamese medical staff members, wearing UN peacekeeping helmets, from Vietnams Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 6 under the United Nations Mission in South Sudan are seen helping transport a Kenyan pregnant woman on a plane, en route to a hospital for emergency treatment. Photo: Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations

As Mayen Abun is facing difficulties in both medical equipment and travel conditions, the health facility asked Vietnams Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 6 to support in urgently transporting the pregnant woman to a more advanced hospital for treatment.

The hospital promptly dispatched an air medical emergency team, including an obstetrician, by helicopter to Mayen Abun.

They safely transported the woman to Rubkona airport in Unity State, South Sudan.

During the flight, the Vietnamese medical team closely monitored her condition, prepared for any emergency, and was ready to deliver the babies onboard if necessary.

Upon landing, the team transferred the woman to another medical team, who then took her on a separate flight to a specialized hospital in Juba, South Sudans capital, for further treatment.

Two Vietnamese medical staff members (R, 2nd and 3rd) from Vietnams Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 6 under the United Nations Mission in South Sudan are pictured assisting in carrying a Kenyan pregnant woman at risk of extreme preterm labor, who required urgent medical treatment. Photo: Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations

The seamless coordination between Vietnams Level-2 Field Hospital and other stakeholders is a point of pride for the hospital and showcases the professionalism and strong sense of responsibility of Vietnamese medical staff in international missions, according to Voice of Vietnam (VOV).

This success not only highlights the hospitals capabilities but also enhances the image and reputation of both the hospital and the Vietnamese peacekeeping force at the UNMISS, VOV added.

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Shriya Sharma/Devanshi Batra, TwoCircles.net

New Delhi: Abhinav Arora, a spiritual content creator from Delhi, became the center of a controversy recently. Claiming that his spiritual journey began at the age of three, Arora has emerged as one of the youngest spiritual orators in India, often sharing posts that feature him with political figures, celebrities and Bollywood stars, showcasing his growing influence. With over 950k followers on Instagram, this self-proclaimed spiritual preacher has garnered widespread admiration for his wisdom, which seems unusual for someone of his age.

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India has long provided fertile ground for spiritual leaders, rooted in a deeply ingrained tradition of religious rituals and a search for divine intervention. The rise of self-styled godmen  revered by millions  is an extension of this tradition, now deeply woven into the countrys spiritual fabric. In recent years, this culture has expanded with the advent of social media, where spiritual figures are widely promoted.

As Shyam Manav, a social reformer and founder of Indias Anti-Superstition Movement, observes, Baba culture has always been there. It is not new. It is gaining more traction now because of the increased attention the media provides to it. Television and social media together have played a significant role in the emergence and popularity of these self-styled godmen.

Rise of Self-Styled Spiritual Leaders

In Hinduism, the religious system has historically intertwined with spirituality, rituals and the concept of salvation. The culture of babas (godmen) has persisted, with many people believing in their healing powers and viewing them as divine messengers. Recently, however, the phenomenon of young children taking on the roles of spiritual leaders has become especially prominent, with some even being heralded as spiritual guides and gaining viral attention online.

But not everyone is convinced of the authenticity behind these young preachers. A YouTuber recently alleged that Abhinav Arora merely recites scripted lines on camera, further claiming that he has been conditioned to deliver specific messages by his parents. This sparked a broader discussion about the authenticity and motivations of self-proclaimed spiritual leaders in todays social media-driven world.

What Attracts Followers to These Godmen

Guruji has changed my life in many ways. I started visiting his temple back in 2013, but it was only during COVID times that I started believing in his divine powers. He guides me in the best possible direction and answers my questions in his own ways. If you are close enough to him, you would quickly notice the unique ways in which he responds, says Tanisha Kaur, 22, a follower of Guruji.

This phenomenon gained a new wave during the pandemic. When loneliness and despair overwhelmed many, they found spiritual escape in the teachings of these babas. While education over time satisfies material needs, people eventually start seeking spiritual fulfillment, explains Professor Manisha T. Pandey, a sociologist at Jamia Millia Islamia. As per Maslow Herzbergs hierarchy of needs, after meeting basic material needs, people seek love, belonging and ultimately self-actualisation. For the latter, many turn to a baba.

Guruji, also known as Dugri Wale Guruji or Shukrana Guruji, was believed by his followers to be the incarnation of Lord Shiva. He was said to emit a divine fragrance similar to that of heavenly roses, a phenomenon still felt by his devotees today. Even after his physical departure, they claim his presence endures spiritually, blessing his followers with miraculous insights and predictions.

We got engaged by the blessings of Guruji. Our families met on Gurujis matrimonial app, where followers looking for life partners can connect. Our parents couldnt find suitable partners for us, but Guruji did, says a 25-year-old follower, who prefers to remain anonymous.

New Entrepreneurial Baba

Another trend emerging in this space is the commercialisation of spirituality. Many godmen have evolved into entrepreneurs, selling products and services under the guise of spiritual guidance. Baba Ramdev, for example, has expanded his brand to promote wellness products, which are now tax-exempt. There are now specialised gurus catering to specific audiences, with each guru targeting different social classes. Sadhguru speaks to an educated, English-speaking upper-middle class audience, focusing on the environment, says Pandey. Similarly, Ravi Shankar talks about stress management, Baba Ramdev promotes yoga, and the Chinmaya Mission focuses on social upliftment.

A Crisis of Modernisation?

Guruji has divine powers. I have seen him save people. People literally wake up from deathbeds after receiving his jal prashad, says Pinky, 60, a housewife and follower of Guruji.

Sociologically, this culture can be seen as a crisis of modernisation. According to the work of anthropologist Malinowski, Magic will be replaced by religion and religion will be replaced by science. However, this has not been the case. As Professor Pandey explains, Despite sciences rationality, spirituality continues to thrive. Today, the primary aim of human beings is to attain God and salvation.

These godmen often claim to possess supernatural powers or siddhis, which they use to heal, predict the future and perform miracles. By working on the law of probability, predictions, and word of mouth, these otherwise ordinary people are declared to have the ability to cure diseases and perform magic, he says.

A Growing Cult Culture

His satsangs are so peaceful. My whole family attends, and there is no place like it, no one like him. He teaches us how to live a peaceful life and improve our conditions. He has saved me in so many ways  whether it is health, stress or financial concerns, Bapu has always shown us the light. I do not know if I would be alive today without him. He gave me hope and trust that I would be fine. He is everywhere, guiding me, says Komal, a follower of Asaram Bapu.

Devotees seek emotional and psychological support, which often intertwines with ideas of social mobility and upliftment amidst the inequality in society, explains Pandey. They want to believe in miracles, in supernatural powers, and so they take refuge in these so-called enlightened saints, who are not always as enlightened as they appear.

The Dark Side of the Baba Culture

However, the darker side of this trend is also apparent. Asaram Bapu, a self-styled Indian spiritual guru, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2018 for raping a 16-year-old girl. Despite this, he continues to maintain millions of followers worldwide.

Defending him, one anonymous follower claims, The world tried to defame Bapu Ji, but he is innocent. All of this is a conspiracy against him. He is a divine intervention and has contributed so much to peoples lives.

What is also problematic is how these so-called spiritual leaders often use toxic language  misogynistic and provocative statements. In their popular satsangs, they frequently make claims that are politically incorrect and promote institutionalised patriarchy, says Samarika Shetty, a sociology student and keen observer of the growing the baba culture.

The Unholy Alliance Between Godmen and Govts

I have been following Radhe Maa for more than 20 years now. She is everything to me. Only those close to her can feel her aura  it is magical. Whenever I am in crisis, her presence is a divine intervention, and everything just eases out, says Sakshi Ahuja, a devoted follower of Radhe Maa.

A popular belief among followers is that questioning a baba is akin to questioning religion itself, fostering a fear that makes it difficult for people to dare challenge such beliefs.

Radhe Maa, a controversial self-styled godwoman, has faced multiple allegations of sexual harassment, obscenity, and criminal intimidation. Despite this, her cult following is immense, and many of her followers staunchly defend her against legal charges. What is more troubling is that these godmen often enjoy significant political protection. Baba Ram Rahim, for example, has been granted parole several times despite his criminal convictions.

Pandey explains that the rise of these godmen can be partly attributed to a political nexus. The Dera Sacha Sauda in Punjab, for instance, is frequently visited by politicians from all parties. Baba Bageshwar has also made political appearances in poll-bound states and even participated in high-profile events like the Ambani wedding, she notes.

Manav adds, These babas receive immense political support. They are invited on stages, encouraged by political leaders, and often endorsed publicly.

The Way Forward

The only solution to this crisis is mass education that fosters logical thinking and reasoning among the masses. We need to promote scientific temper and critical thinking in education, says Shyam Manav.

Pandey further explains the concept of culture lag, coined by sociologist William Fielding Ogburn. She believes that while material culturelike technology  advances rapidly, non-material culture, including the baba culture, lags behind. This cultural lag is a significant barrier to change, and the crisis of modernity will take time to resolve.

In a world rapidly advancing in science and technology, the persistence of the baba culture signals deeper issues of modernity, belief, and the search for meaning in an increasingly complex society. The rise of self-styled godmen is not just a symptom of this crisis but a challenge to rational thought and societal progress. The question remains: will India outgrow the cult of godmen or continue to embrace these figures of spiritual authority?
BJP proposed to tackle pressing economic challenges, detractors warn of a profound erosion of indigenous cultural heritage and the weakening of local governance structures. As political tensions escalate, the trajectory of the states future remains precariously uncertain.

Nusrat Jan, TwoCircles.net

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With the Jharkhand Assembly elections rapidly approaching, an array of political parties has promulgated their electoral manifestos, articulating a plethora of reforms aimed at overhauling the governance model to foster the states development. The opposition Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), emboldened by its commendable performance in Haryana, is poised to replicate its electoral success in Jharkhand and Maharashtra.

In this context, the BJP has meticulously articulated a series of ambitious reforms in its Sankalp Patra (manifesto), which encompasses a broad spectrum of exigent issues, notably the paramount concerns of illegal immigration and the promulgation of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC). In a recent oration, Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled the partys manifesto, asserting the BJPs unwavering commitment to the preservation of tribal identity while concurrently championing the UCC within the state. This dual undertaking epitomizes the partys endeavour to adeptly navigate the complex interplay of identity politics while advancing a cohesive legal framework aimed at fostering equality and justice for all constituents.

The promulgation of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Jharkhand has surfaced as a contentious agenda for the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), illuminating the intricate interplay of governance, identity, and socio-political dynamics within the state. As the BJP endeavours to augment its influence in Jharkhand, it positions the UCC as a pivotal element of its manifesto, espousing reforms that ostensibly seek to foster equality and justice for all citizens. Nevertheless, this initiative has incited a fervent discourse, particularly in light of the states diverse demographic composition, characterized by a rich tapestry of tribal and non-tribal communities.

At the crux of the controversy resides the UCCs capacity to supersede personal laws that regulate marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption for diverse religious and tribal constituencies. In Jharkhand, where myriad communities adhere to customary practices intricately woven into their cultural identities, the implementation of a uniform legal framework engenders apprehensions regarding the erosion of these venerable traditions. Tribal leaders and community representatives express trepidation that the UCC could jeopardize their autonomy, precipitating a homogenization of legal practices that fails to accommodate the unique socio-cultural tapestry of the region.

Home Minister Amit Shahs assertion that the BJP is steadfast in its commitment to preserving tribal identity while simultaneously championing the UCC further obfuscates this narrative. As the party endeavors to traverse the intricate landscape of identity politics, detractors contend that such dual commitments may be fundamentally disingenuous. Numerous apprehensions have been voiced that the UCC could be construed as an imposition of majority norms upon minority rights, thereby jeopardizing social cohesion and alienating substantial segments of the populace.

This paradox engenders a profound conundrum for the BJP: while it endeavours to assert itself as a proponent of inclusivity and equality, it concurrently jeopardizes the allegiance of those communities whose traditional practices are inextricably linked to their identity. The prospect of the UCC eclipsing time-honoured customs incites trepidation regarding the erosion of cultural heritage, fostering apprehensions about a homogenized legal framework that inadequately encapsulates the regions rich tapestry of diversity. Furthermore, the perception of the UCC as an imperious mandate from a central authority may provoke resistance among local leaders, further fracturing the already tenuous social fabric.

In this electrified milieu, the BJPs narrative must grapple with the palpable disquiet permeating various demographics. The exigent challenge resides in reconciling the aspiration for a cohesive legal framework with the imperative to venerate and uphold the distinctive cultural identities that constitute the essence of Jharkhand. Absent a concerted endeavour to initiate substantive dialogue with community representatives, the pursuit of the UCC risks devolving into a contentious battleground, jeopardizing the potential for fostering unity and, instead, exacerbating pre-existing schisms within the social fabric.

As the BJP delineates its vision for Jharkhand, the pathway to enacting the UCC is beset by formidable obstacles. The legal labyrinth associated with the transition to a uniform code may instigate considerable disarray, particularly in rural enclaves where cognizance of legal entitlements is severely circumscribed. Moreover, the dialectical tension between state sovereignty and central mandates surfaces as a paramount concern; any insinuation of federal overreach could provoke vehement resistance from local leaders and communities, thereby exacerbating an already tenuous political milieu.

The efficacy of the UCCs implementation is contingent upon the partys capacity to cultivate substantive dialogue and engender trust among a plethora of stakeholders. A failure to engage with community representatives may culminate in the UCC being perceived as an overreach rather than a forward-thinking reform, thereby alienating constituents and inciting robust opposition. In this volatile milieu, the BJPs professed commitment to inclusivity and deference to regional diversity will undergo meticulous scrutiny, determining whether its vision for Jharkhand can transcend mere political aspiration and metamorphose into a bona fide initiative for collective advancement.

As the electoral landscape metamorphoses, the repercussions of the UCC agenda will unequivocally inscribe themselves upon the political discourse in Jharkhand for the foreseeable future. This initiative transcends mere legal reform; it encapsulates a crucial juncture in the intricate negotiation of identity, governance, and cultural integrity within a state distinguished by its profound diversity. The UCCs implications resonate far beyond the confines of jurisprudence, engaging with the very essence of societal cohesion and the preservation of heritage amid a rapidly evolving political milieu. Conversely, any miscalculation in this intricate balancing act could exacerbate pre-existing fissures within the social fabric, precipitating intensified polarization and dissent. As communities articulate their grievances and aspirations, the political narrative in Jharkhand will inexorably evolve, compelling all factions to reevaluate their strategies concerning governance and representation.

In this milieu, the discourse surrounding the UCC will transcend immediate electoral ramifications; it will resonate throughout the socio-political landscape, shaping the modalities through which identity and rights are negotiated in the forthcoming years. Ultimately, the UCC agenda possesses the potential to fundamentally redefine the very nature of political engagement in Jharkhand, metamorphosing it into a crucible for dialogue, dissent, and, conceivably, reconciliation.

Nusrat Jan holds a degree in Political Science from Aligarh Muslim University and writes on contemporary politics and governance
Port Sudan, Sudan (PANA) - Tension is rising between Sudan and its western neighbour, Chad, as Sudan steps up allegations that it is assisting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that has been fighting the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) since April last year
Asad Shaikh, TwoCircles.net

About 100 kilometers from Delhi, in Meerapur, the cold weather is slowly intensifying, with a light mist now visible in the mornings and evenings. However, the haze of communal violence that shrouded the region 11 years ago is beginning to fade.

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The by-election for the Meerapur assembly seat is scheduled for November 13. This area in Muzaffarnagar district of western Uttar Pradesh had also made headlines during the Kanwar Yatra over the issue of shop nameplates.

What are the present conditions of the seat, status of candidates and local issues playing role in the upcoming by? Lets try to understand.

Kawal, the village where the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots began, lies within Meerapur. Since then, the strained relationship between Jats and Muslims has shown some signs of improvement. Leaders like Jayant Chaudhary and Akhilesh Yadav have played a role in easing tensions, but with Jayant now serving as a minister in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government, things have changed. In Meerapur, both Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD)s Mithlesh Pal and the BJPs candidate are in the fray.

BJPs firebrand leader Sanjeev Balyan lost the 2024 general elections in Muzaffarnagar despite his partys alliance with the RLD, which has a stronghold in the area, Samajwadi Partys (SP) Harendra Malik won the seat and became an MP. However, the region, which has a large population of sugarcane farmers, does not seem to be as united in its demands for better payments for their crops, particularly after the RLD allied with the BJP.

The condition of farmers in the region is well outlined in The Rural Voices report, which states: Sugarcane harvesting began on October 1, but the Uttar Pradesh government has yet to announce the State Advisory Price (SAP) for the crop. Ideally, farmers should know the price before sowing their crops, but here, they are forced to sell their sugarcane to mills without knowing the price.

Farmers are still waiting for payments for their crops, and many continue to hold protests outside the mills.

Meanwhile, RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary, who traditionally represented farmers, has been silent on the issue as he now aligns with the BJP in both the state and the Central governments.

Chandan Chauhan, a prominent leader of the Gurjar community and MLA from the Meerapur Assembly seat in Muzaffarnagar, was sent to the RLD by SP President Akhilesh Yadav in 2022. In 2024, both the BJP and the RLD fielded him as a joint candidate, resulting in his victory as an MP.

In this by-election, the SP has fielded Sumbul Rana, the daughter-in-law of former Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MP Qadir Rana, one of the accused in the Muzaffarnagar riots, as their joint candidate with the Congress party.

Meerapur has around 140,000 Muslim voters, along with large populations of Gurjar, Jat, Pal and Prajapati communities. The region is predominantly agricultural, with a strong influence of farming families.

In 2022, due to their alliance with the SP, Muslims actively participated in the election, but the results of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections revealed that the Muslim and Gurjar votes did not go to the RLD as expected.

However, there has been an apparent shift in the mood as several well-known Jat and Gurjar leaders have expressed their concerns. The RLD has decided to field a Scheduled Caste (SC) woman as its candidate, signalling a potential change in dynamics.

On this, Siyasats Editor Nahid Fatima says, Jayant Chaudhary has completely surrendered to the BJP. His decision to field Mithilesh Pal as a candidate is the biggest evidence of this. Now, when the RLD leaders will not even contest elections from their own party, who will? This raises a critical question for the survival of the party.

Despite the RLD not giving tickets to candidates from the Jat and Gurjar communities in Meerapur, Jayant has held panchayats urging voters to support the SP.

On the other hand, Khalid Iqbal, a journalist from western UP, says, Akhilesh Yadav could never have given a ticket to Qadir Rana, who is accused of riots. However, giving equal representation to Muslims is necessity, as Akhilesh wants to fully consolidate Jat and Muslim votes under his PDA  a social coalition of Pichda (backwards), Dalits and Alpsankhyak (minorities). Thats why SP MLA and Jat leader Pankaj Malik is openly campaigning for Rana.

This by-election will answer several key questions: Will Jats and Muslims vote for the SP together despite Jayants alliance with the BJP? Is Jayant benefitting the BJP in any way? Akhilesh has fielded a Muslim candidate as part of his PDAwill Muslim voters still support candidates from his party or will they turn to other Muslim candidates?

The results of this by-election will likely provide answers to these pressing questions. Meanwhile, the farmers, who feel sidelined by both the RLD and the BJP, are waiting for their voices to be heard. The fate of their issues, such as fair compensation for their sugarcane, remains a looming question.
HA NOI  Samsung Vietnam hosted its second Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Day in Ha Noi, showcasing its key community initiatives and expressing gratitude to the partners that have supported its social responsibility efforts over the years.

Initiated in 2023, CSR Day highlights Samsungs successful social responsibility models and encourages other organisations to engage in similar activities. This years event featured an exhibition of notable projects and recognised individuals and organisations that contributed significantly to Samsungs community work. Additionally, Samsung donated 230 wheelchairs to people with disabilities and awarded 630 scholarships to disadvantaged students and 160 scholarships to top-performing students.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs Nguyen Van Hoi appreciated Samsung's efforts in community projects in Viet Nam. Particularly, Samsung's efforts in fulfilling its social responsibilities have inspired other enterprises.

He expressed his hope that Samsung would continue to strengthen its cooperative activities in the future, truly becoming a significant bridge in the excellent cooperative relationship between Viet Nam and South Korea.

President of Samsung Vietnam Complex Choi Joo Ho said: "For Samsung, Viet Nam is not just an investment market but a nurturing ground for businesses, and we continuously strive to cultivate this land. Moreover, Samsung always accompanies Viet Nam with the spirit of 'Harmonious benefits, shared risks'.

"To achieve the remarkable social responsibility outcomes, we see today, I extend my deepest gratitude to the governmental agencies and partner units for their trust, support, sacrifices and efforts."

Since its investment in Viet Nam in 2008, Samsung has become the countrys largest foreign investor, with over US$22.4 billion invested in six factories, a research centre and sales entities across the country. The companys recent $1.8 billion investment further solidifies its commitment to making Viet Nam a global hub for display manufacturing.

Samsung's CSR initiatives align with its broader vision of sustainable development, focusing on empowering communities and supporting education and future technology talent.

In 2024, Samsung focused on implementing and achieving significant success in its notable social responsibility activities such as Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, supporting contestants in the WorldSkills competition, Samsung Hope School project, Samsung  promoting Viet Nam's support industry, CSR Kiosk and the voluntary blood donation programme 'Shared Vietnamese blood'.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam is expected to be among the top three Southeast Asian countries in terms of industrial competitiveness by the end of this decade, as outlined in an action programme issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) this week.

The programme follows the Resolution No 29 of the 13th Party Central Committee, on further promoting the industrialisation and modernisation of the country until 2030, with a vision to 2045.

As per the programme, the goal of the industrial sector's share in GDP should exceed 40 per cent, with the manufacturing and processing industry alone accounting for around 30 per cent of GDP.

The average per capita value added in manufacturing and processing industries per capita is expected to reach over US$2,000. The proportion of labour in the industrial and service sectors is hoped to reach over 70 per cent.

To achieve this goal, the country aims to establish several large-scale industrial corporations and enterprises with international competitiveness in basic, priority and key industries. Additionally, the country plans to build and develop several domestic industrial clusters with international competitiveness, mastering some production value chains.

Top priority will also be given to developing export markets for industrial products especially key ones by taking advantage of free trade agreements that Viet Nam has signed, supporting exporters to overcome technical barriers in import markets and gradually fostering exports of processed industrial goods to new outlets.

Facilitating supporting industries in areas such as smart electronics, cars, textiles and garments, mechanical and automation, biotechnology and hi-tech industries, along with applying import management measures by the commitments that Viet Nam has made to support the development of important national industries, will be also included.

Meanwhile, the country will also pay keen attention to perfecting the legal framework to develop other major industries including metallurgy, mechanical engineering, chemical, energy and digital technology, in addition to developing raw material areas for industrial sectors typically garment and footwear.

Viet Nams index of industrial production (IIP) surged 8.6 per cent year-on-year in the first nine months of this year, extending the sector's recovery, the General Statistics Office (GSO) announced in its monthly report.

The nine-month IIP growth was driven by the manufacturing sector (up 9.8 per cent), electricity production and distribution (up 11.1 per cent) and water supply and waste-wastewater treatment (up 9.9 per cent). Meanwhile, the mining sector fell 6.4 per cent.

Some key industries with strong growth over this period included steel, up 27 per cent, oil and gas (20 per cent), fabrics (16 per cent), NPK fertiliser (13 per cent) and car manufacturing (12 per cent).

The GSO noted that the number of workers in industrial enterprises as of September 1 increased by 1.1 per cent month-on-month and by 5.2 per cent year-on-year.

As of September 30, the inventory index for the processing and manufacturing industry was estimated to increase 5.2 per cent compared to the previous month and 8.5 per cent compared to the same period last year.  VNS
By Hoang Ha

BOLOGNA  In the next few years, Southeast Asian and African countries, including Viet Nam, are expected to emerge as potential agricultural machinery markets, according to the Italian Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Federation (FederUnacoma).

The agricultural machinery sector is forecast to grow significantly in the near future, but the geography of the markets will change.

Major markets in Europe and North America will maintain a high level of investment to ensure high standards.

Emerging markets will be Southeast Asian and African countries. Meanwhile the two Asian giants, India and China, will stabilise their mechanisation rate on the large quantities achieved in recent years.

The demand for agricultural machinery is destined to grow significantly in regions where there is a lot of agricultural development due to population growth - thus, much greater technological equipment is needed than those currently in use, said Mariateresa Maschio, FederUnacoma president.

A key Southeast Asian country is Indonesia, which even today has nearly 300 million inhabitants, making it one of the most populous in the world that is destined to further increase its demographic weight in the coming years.

In Indonesia, imports of agricultural machinery have been growing steadily for the past 15 years, going from a value of 140 million euros in 2009 to almost 700 million euros in 2023 with average growth of 8.6 per cent each year. Experts expect this figure to increase further over the 2024-27 period, with an expected growth rate of around 6.7 per cent each year.

Imports of agricultural machinery are also growing in other populous Southeast Asian countries. Viet Nam (100 million inhabitants) expects imports to increase by 6.2 per cent annually in the 2024-27 period.

Fabio Ricci, deputy director general at FederUnacoma, told Viet Nam News that in 2015, FederUnacoma and the Italian Trade Agency organised a business mission with some Italian companies coming to HCM City and Can Tho, Viet Nam.

Italian companies do not really have the right technology for rice production, because Viet Nam has different types of rice fields. So, the most appropriate technology for rice production in Viet Nam comes from Japan and South Korea, according to Ricci.

"The main opportunities for Italian agricultural machinery industry are in Viet Nam's fruit and vegetable production," he said.

"There is strong fruit and vegetable production in Can Tho. During the visit, we had some discussions to establish in Can Tho a technological centre for agriculture. Unfortunately, the global pandemic hit, so everything was stopped," he said.

"Anyway, our government is pushing us to resume the establishment of this centre after the Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forests visited Viet Nam last year," the president of FederUnacoma said.

Meanwhile, the Philippines (110 million inhabitants) will likely increase its imports by 7.8 per cent over the next four years.

Thailand (71 million inhabitants) in particular is expected to see an annual increase of 6.8 per cent in the same period, after very slow growth in the last 15 years equal to just a 1 per cent average per year.

Population growth - the source of this growing demand for agricultural technology - will also be decisive in Africa, starting with Nigeria, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to FederUnacoma.

Nigeria, which already has 230 million inhabitants, will have over 400 million in 2050, making it the third most populous country in the world, followed by Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, both with well over 100 million inhabitants. All three countries are destined to see significant growth in the next twenty years, entering the ranks of the 10 most populous countries on the planet.

In Nigeria, only 46 per cent of cultivable land is currently used, according to experts at the conference. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a meagre 10 per cent of arable land is currently used for agriculture.

Thus, putting new territories into production is a priority for these and other countries on the African continent, with an increase in demand for technology in the immediate future, but even more so over the next twenty years.

From now until 2027, the import of agricultural machinery will likely grow by 7 per cent each year in Ethiopia and 12 per cent in DRC.

FederUnacoma hoped that EIMA 2024, which runs from November 6 to 10 in Bologna, would bring more chances for enterprises from Southeast Asian and African countries to meet business partners from countries with advanced agricultural machines like Italy.  VNS
SANTIAGO  State President Luong Cuong and a high-ranking delegation of Viet Nam on November 10 morning (local time) visited and laid a wreath at the statue of President Ho Chi Minh in a park named after the late leader in Santiago, as part of their official visit to Chile.

Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, President of the Communist Party of Chile Lautaro Carmona, Mayor of Cerro Navia district Mauro Tamayo and a large number of local residents also joined the activity.

Commemorating great President Ho Chi Minh, Cuong along with the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation and distinguished Chilean guests took a minute to express their gratitude to the late leader for his great contributions to the Vietnamese revolution, and friendship and solidarity with progressive peoples in the world.

On behalf of the administration and people of Cerro Navia, Tamayo expressed his delight and honour to welcome Cuong and the Vietnamese delegation. He highlighted the shining moral example of President Ho Chi Minh and his great contributions to Viet Nam's struggle for national liberation.

Tamayo affirmed that the administration and people of Cerro Navia will continue to contribute to caring for and preserving the park as a symbol of solidarity and friendship between the governments and people of the two countries.

For her part, Bachelet expressed her honour to participate in this especially meaningful activity. She said that Cuong's visit to Chile took place at a time when the two sides were continuing to promote and further strengthen the bilateral friendship.

Bachelet recalled the unforgettable memories of her visits to Viet Nam in many different positions as well as the warm, close and sincere sentiments that generations of Vietnamese leaders and people have given to her and the Chilean people. She also expressed her admiration for the indomitable and resilient spirit of the Vietnamese people in their struggle for national independence, which became a symbol in the hearts of peace lovers around the world.

The former President affirmed that the meeting between the Vietnamese delegation with the people of Cerro Navia was not only a symbol of the friendly relations over the years but also an opportunity to open up new, more comprehensive and profound directions between the two countries.

Speaking at the ceremony, Cuong expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the people of Chile, particularly Cerro Navia residents, for preserving the Ho Chi Minh Park as a symbol of the special solidarity, friendship, and cooperation between the two countries.

He highlighted that President Ho Chi Minhs statue placed within the park stood as a testament to the deep affection of the Chilean people towards the Vietnamese late leader.

Recalling the special relationship between President Ho Chi Minh and President Salvador Allende, Cuong said Allende's Viet Nam visit in May 1969 in his capacity as President of the Chilean Senate brought the Vietnamese people a profound sense of solidarity and invaluable spiritual support. This visit became a symbol of the friendship between the two peoples.

The park was established in 1969 by a group of young members from Chile's communist and socialist parties to express Chiles solidarity and support for the Vietnamese peoples struggle for national liberation. Over the years, it has been renovated and installed with President Ho Chi Minhs statue, and efforts are now underway to expand the area with a Ho Chi Minh Space.

Following the ceremony, Cuong and Bachelet planted a commemorative tree in the park, another symbol of the enduring friendship between the two peoples.

They also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on establishing the friendly and cooperative relationship between Nam an District of Viet Nams central province of Nghe An and Cerro Navia District in the Santiago Metropolitan region of Chile. VNA/VNS
HCM CITY  Vietnamese authorities have arrested a 29-year-old man for allegedly 'threatening national security and political stability' in connection with the so-called Democratic multi-party coalition.

Tran Khac uc was arrested by the HCM City Police on Saturday for production and dissemination of materials opposing the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam under Article 117 of the Penal Code.

Being part of the 'Democratic multi-party coalition', uc is accused of having followed instructions from its leaders and written articles that insult national leaders and distort historical facts.

He is also charged with building domestic support for the group, which authorities deem a serious threat.

Before the arrest, he had been warned multiple times about his activities.

The coalition is led by an individual with a Vietnamese name identified as Nguyen Gia Kieng currently living in France, with nationality being unclear, the police told local media.

The organisation is reported to be using social media platforms for the purpose of recruiting members, violating Vietnamese law, according to the police.

Authorities say that in the west, democracy is often equated with multi-party elections, leading many to view single-party systems as repressive. Viet Nam's democratic political system is, however, solely led by the Communist Party of Viet Nam, a notion that may confuse those educated in the west.  VNS
HA NOI  Viettel is third in Fortunes 'Change the World 2024' list, which honours global companies making a significant positive impact on society and sustainable development. Viettel is the only Vietnamese company on the list and the only telecom company to be recognised this year.

The ranking highlights companies that lead in areas such as climate action, education and public health. Viettel earned its spot for its internet for school initiative, which has improved education quality in Viet Nam and its ten overseas markets. Since its launch in 2008, the programme has connected more than 46,000 schools, including in remote areas, providing free internet access to 25 million students, teachers and staff.

With an investment of around VN2 trillion (US$80 million) over 16 years, Viettel has developed critical digital infrastructure for education, enabling online teaching, learning and access to resources. The initiative has helped increase internet access in Viet Nam from 15 to 85 per cent.

Chairman and CEO of Viettel, Major General Tao uc Thang said, Viettels mission is to make the internet accessible to all. We have connected schools with ultra-broadband fibre optics, creating the foundation for the growth of digital learning applications. Beyond providing the necessary infrastructure, Viettel is committed to developing education-focused technologies, creating educational content, building a national education database and implementing an e-education system, including online learning resources and platforms for teaching and learning.

The company was recently also ranked by Brand Finance as the strongest telecom brand in Asia for 2024.  VNS
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by Thu Ngan

Quach Kien Lan, alias Dave Quach, 41, founded the Bao Lan Textile Co, Ltd in 2011 with a pioneering vision to become an environment-friendly fabric supplier in Viet Nam. His sustainability philosophy was nurtured over more than 10 years living and studying macroeconomics at Massey University in New Zealand. Viet Nam News speaks with Lan about his journey in the industry.

Inner Sanctum: Could you introduce yourself and elaborate on your entry into the textile market?

My parents started a textile business before I was born, and so I grew up surrounded by fabrics and weaving machines. At 16, I moved to New Zealand to study. I had little to do with textiles during my 10 years in New Zealand. After I finished university my parents were unwell and asked me to return to help with the family business.

My 10 years in New Zealand made a big impact on my life and embedded deeply in me the mindset of community building and protection of nature.

I saw there were a lot of new developments and they all had some sort of sustainability angle. I realised that the textile industry more than meets the eye, and it made me decide to start my own company.

I wanted to build Bao Lan Textile as an innovative company, but I did not have a clear idea about how. Motivated by Professor Greg Clydesdale, who taught creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship at Massey University in New Zealand, I was trying to build a sustainability driven textile company with a horizontal management system to nurture creativity and innovation that not only cares about the customers but also the consumer environment and community.

My university colleague Bonnie, now my wife, gave me a lot of support, advice and motivation, and helped me set up connections with sustainable yarn manufacturers.

The first success of Bao Lan was in making melange, recycled melange, and colour melange yarn available and popular in Viet Nam. Our next achievement was introducing siro yarn, space dye yarn and one-part dye yarn, which helped fabric producers create more desire to affect the fabric and they dont need to dye the fabric, all these yarns are considered eco because they used less dyeing colour and chemical to dye the yarn.

Following that success, we introduced Gy19 which turned out to be our biggest failure due to overconfidence. This struggle lasted over a year and led us to start our fabric division, W.ELL Fabric. While working on making new fabrics we realised the need for proactive R&D. So we began to do more research and study where the fashion industry was heading.

We have developed and released Bamboo Biocell, a bamboo yarn produced in Viet Nam, which helps us be proactive in R&D and gives us more control over the quality of yarn and pricing.

Currently we are focused on the Ananas project to make fabric from agricultural waste from pineapple leaf.

After three years of trying we have successfully processed yarn and fabric from pineapple leaf that are used in fashion on an industrial scale.

Inner Sanctum: How do you envision the growth of the Vietnamese fabric industry, and what are the competitive advantages of Vietnamese textiles?

Viet Nam's textile industry has a unique competitive advantage due to favourable FDI policies, attracting international manufacturers, engineers, new technology, and key customers. While Viet Nam is now a key sourcing hub for global brands, production costs remain a challenge. Only companies meeting international standards will benefit from future orders.

Being active in eco textiles, I see that Viet Nam has a very positive image among international brands, we are the third biggest textiles and garment exporter in the world and we did a good job regarding sustainability.

As for Viet Nam, I can see a clear increase in certified textile manufacturers, and their mindset shifting towards sustainability from it is a costly thing to do to it can bring new opportunities.

Some of them even have a sustainability department, and, in addition, the range of eco yarns and fabrics are increasing in the market and prices have become more competitive than before.

On top of that, fashion brands have increased their footprint in Viet Nam with more opening offices in Viet Nam and searching for greener textiles.

Inner Sanctum: Could you tell us about your current and future plans?

Ananas just got released recently, it is very new and needs more development as there are still many limitations and imperfections. We're going to do more R&D to improve the quality of the raw materials and also find solutions to make the Ananas process more efficient to lower the price so that it is beneficial to everyone.

Our goals and ambitions for Ananas textiles are to increase its uses and the range of mix with more materials to increase its properties and functions, and at the same time promote Ananas to become a Vietnamese textile and fashion icon so that when people think about Vietnamese eco-textiles they will think about Ananas.

Besides Ananas, we also have Bamboo Biocell that is going to have an update, we will have more development products range and implement it in a wide range of market segments. We will collaborate with traditional silk fabric manufacturers in Viet Nam to create a new direction for Vietnamese silk cloth, starting with Lanh My A.

We are also developing other new products and projects to increase the choice of eco yarns and fabrics for the Viet Nam textile industry such as recycled jeans, functional fibres to increase blood flow for better health, and anti-odour for the comfort and confidence of seniors, and more. VNS
BANGKOK  Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said on November 8 her Cambodian counterpart Hun Manet had been informed about the resumption of the negotiations on the maritime disputes between the two nations under the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2001 after the establishment of a Joint Technical Committee (JTC) this month.

Paetongtarn said she expects the establishment of the committee to be finalised by November 18, when she returns from the APEC Economic Leaders Week.

The JTC will continue negotiations under the MoU, which serves as a major framework for further discussions on the Overlapping Claims Area (OCA).

Both Thailand and Cambodia have claimed sovereignty over an area of about 26,000 square kilometres in the Gulf of Thailand that boasts rich fossil energy resources. Cambodia made the initial claim in 1972, but Thailand later rejected it.

The 2001 MoU outlined an agreed framework towards joint development in the overlapping areas and maritime border delimitation. However, the implementation of the deal has been stalled due to opposition from a segment of the Thai population who believe that the MoU could lead to their country losing sovereignty over certain areas. VNA/VNS
According to the 2024 World Population Review rankings, Vietnam ranks 14th globally and is among the top three Southeast Asian countries in terms of biodiversity richness. However, the country is facing rapid ecosystem degradation due to pressures from socioeconomic development, population growth, unsustainable land use practices, natural resource exploitation, environmental pollution, and the impacts of climate change.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh previously stated that, Addressing climate change and restoring nature must become the highest priority in all development decisions.

This commitment is reflected by the National Biodiversity Strategy, and focuses on developing innovative financial mechanisms to support conservation efforts.

On November 7, the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment (ISPONRE), the British Embassy, the University of Exeter, and Dragon Capital Vietnam jointly organised a seminar themed Fostering a Biodiverse Economy in Vietnam to explore solutions to the challenges of balancing economic development with the conservation of natural ecosystems.

The government of Vietnam has made firm commitments to promoting biodiversity conservation while ensuring that economic development and biodiversity protection go hand in hand. This seminar provides a valuable opportunity for stakeholders to discuss and develop long-term strategies to conserve natural resources for future generations, said Nguyen Dinh Tho, director general of ISPONRE.

The private sector plays a crucial role in contributing to Vietnams biodiversity protection. We have been working with ISPONRE to explore, study, and propose financial mechanisms that align with the governments direction and the nations goals, said Dominic Scriven OBE, chairman of Dragon Capital Vietnam.

Overview of the seminar. Photo: Ha Vy

The seminar also emphasised the value of natural capital, a critical factor for Vietnams environmental and socioeconomic wellbeing. Protecting natural resources is not only vital for mitigating climate change, but also for ensuring long-term sustainable development.

Professor Lisa Roberts, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Exeter stated that This seminar is a testament to international cooperation in addressing global challenges like natural resource degradation. By combining the University of Exeters strength in biodiversity economics with our partners in Vietnam, we can create solutions that protect the environment while driving economic growth.

Long-term partnerships between domestic and international organisations, along with the mobilisation of financial resources from both the public and private sectors, will play a critical role in supporting Vietnams biodiversity conservation efforts.

Marcus Winsley, deputy head of mission at the British Embassy, committed to continue supporting Vietnam on its journey towards building a sustainable economy This seminar underscores our shared commitment to tackling global challenges such as climate change and habitat loss, while deepening the long-standing partnership between our two nations.

Enticing FDI legal framework for dual transformation Vietnam is preparing for future foreign direct investment (FDI) shifts to ensure funding reaches the right areas and embraces green and digital goals.

Businesses embrace dual transformation to drive growth Digital transformation is a prerequisite for businesses to achieve faster green transition, and green transformation itself is pressuring businesses to select the right tools for digital transformation.
Calls for greater transparency over funding for Welsh councils

This article is old - Published: Sunday, Nov 10th, 2024

A cross-party committee called for greater transparency around the formula used to allocate funding to Welsh councils amid concerns about unfairness.

Mark Isherwood, who chairs the Senedd public accounts committee, raised a warning from Aberystwyth town council that the formula disproportionately disadvantages Ceredigion.

In a letter to the committee, Will Rowlands, the town councils clerk, called for fair funding that adequately reflects the unique challenges in rural, less densely populated areas.

He wrote: The formula, as it stands, has resulted in a significantly lower percentage of funding for our county, which is detrimental to the economic, cultural and educational wellbeing of our communities.

Mr Rowlands raised concerns about a long-term risk of declining public services and infrastructure if the Welsh Governments funding formula remains unchanged.

Oversight

Mr Isherwood called for independent oversight, warning turkeys dont vote for Christmas.

He said: The winners are not going to want to sacrifice their position, metaphoric winners, I dont mean theyre rolling in money but those who do better  to those that do less well.

During a meeting on November 6, the Conservative cautioned that Ynys Mon, which has one of the lowest levels of prosperity per head, also has one of the lowest settlements.

Mr Isherwood added that Conwy, which has an older population, is one of the worst funded and he raised Audit Wales concerns about Flintshire council being at risk of bankruptcy.

He explained that ministers maintain the formula is reviewed annually, with the input of the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA), the national voice of Wales 22 councils.

Fairness

Labours Mike Hedges urged Welsh ministers to publish more detailed information, so people can judge the fairness of funding settlements.

He asked: Why wont the Welsh Government publish the standard spending assessments (SSAs) for each local authority and the calculations rather than just giving a final amount.

No one can tell you whether this is right or wrong because all youve seen is the final numbers, you havent seen the calculations.

Mr Hedges, who represents Swansea East, said: Its easy to say its unfair and I dont think theres a local authority in Wales that would say its fair because everyone feels either poverty or sparsity or the difficulty of being a large city are not in it.

The former council leader stressed: Until we get the calculations, showing not just the final result, then its just going to be everyone says weve done badly.

Transparency

Adam Price echoed calls for greater transparency to aid scrutiny and public discussion, suggesting Audit Wales or another independent body could look into the formula.

The Plaid Cymru leader said it is unreasonable to expect the WLGA to come to a unified view because councils will all have a different interpretation of the need for change.

Adrian Crompton, the auditor general, told the committee Audit Wales plans to publish a report on financial sustainability of councils in the next month.

He said: It wont examine the make-up of the SSA formula in any great detail though it will flag that the formula  has been identified by a number of authorities as one of the issues that constrains them and adds to concerns around their financial position.

Mr Crompton said he would be nervous about reviewing the formula because it would stray into policy questions but he agreed about the need for transparency.

By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter
Following the calling of Nevada's Senate race in favor of incumbent Democrat Jacky Rosen, her opponent Sam Brown has released a statement.

The statement reads as follows:

"Thank you, Nevada. Serving as your nominee has been the honor of a lifetime, and though the outcome is not what we hoped, I am deeply moved by the trust, dedication, and hope youve shown throughout this journey. Together, we set a new standard for what it means to stand for Nevada, united in a vision of strength, truth, resilience, and unwavering belief in a brighter future. With President Trump leading, we stand on the brink of an era defined by renewed opportunity, unity, and a firm commitment to the America First principles that uplift everyone. This is not a conclusion, but the beginning of a renewed fight for our values and our nations greatness. Thank you for believing in this vision for Nevada and for America. Ive got you, always."

Senator Jacky Rosen delivered her remarks at a live event earlier this afternoon at the Teamsters Local 631 in Las Vegas.


Sri Lankan Navy arrests 23 Tamil fishers for crossing IMBL The Sri Lankan Navy arrested 23 Tamil fishermen early on Sunday morning for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). Along with the fishermen, the Navy also seized three mechanised boats, according to Tamil Nadu coastal police authorities.



Since June 16, 2024, the Sri Lankan Navy has reportedly arrested 425 Tamil fishermen and seized 58 boats. Many of these fishermen are currently held in Sri Lankan jails.



Anbumani Ramadoss, President of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and a former Union Minister, has urged the Union External Affairs Minister to address these ongoing mid-sea arrests of Tamil fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy.



During a recent visit to Sri Lanka, the Union External Affairs Minister raised this issue with the Sri Lankan government, urging them to take steps to prevent further arrests and boat seizures.



In response to these ongoing arrests, fishermen association leaders in Tamil Nadu are organising large-scale protests across the state.



A. Thajudhin, the General Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Meenavar Peravai, stated that fishermen associations across the coastal districts are mobilising to protest the frequent arrests.



He noted, The livelihood of our fishermen is under threat, and thousands who rely on fishing and related activities are facing severe hardship. A sense of fear has already taken hold among fishermen and their families regarding venturing out to sea.



Thajudhin further explained that the new Sri Lankan government is in the process of nationalising mechanised fishing boats seized from Tamil fishermen in mid-sea.



According to him, this action will devastate the fishing industry, as many fishermen took loans to purchase these expensive boats, expecting to repay them through their livelihood.



In response, the fishermens association has written to the Prime Minister, urging him to intervene and address the issue with the Sri Lankan government. They are requesting an end to the practice of mid-sea arrests and the seizure of costly mechanised boats that are critical to Tamil fishermens livelihoods.



K. M. Periasamy, a fishermen leader from Ramanathapuram, highlighted the emotional toll on the fishermens families.



Families are in deep distress due to regular arrests and attacks in mid-sea by the Sri Lankan Navy, he said, adding, We are planning to meet with the Prime Minister and the Union External Affairs Minister to discuss the issues affecting our people."



"The seizure of mechanised boats is financially crippling families who have no means to repay the loans taken to purchase these boats. He emphasised that Tamil fishermen venture into high seas for fishing and not for any unlawful activities, urging the Indian government to address this matter at the highest level with Sri Lankan authorities.



Despite these discussions, the arrests have continued, prompting fishermen associations in Tamil Nadu to plan significant protests across the coastal districts of the state.



It may also be recalled that on August 1, 2023, an Indian fisherman from Tamil Nadu died after his fishing boat capsised following a collision with a Sri Lankan coastal patrol vehicle.



The deceased was identified as Malaisamy (59), while the missing fisherman was Ramachandran (64). Two other fishermen, M. Mookiah (54) and Muthu Muniandi (56), were arrested but later handed over to Indian authorities.




One person was killed on the campus of Tuskegee University after dozens of shots were fired early Sunday morning following the historically Black universitys 100th homecoming.

The person who was killed was not associated with the university, according to Tuskegee spokeswoman Thonnia Lee.

Several other people, including Tuskegee students, were injured and are receiving treatment at East Alabama Medical Center and Baptist South Hospital. The severity of their injuries was not immediately known.

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Lt. Jeremy Burkett said the shooting happened at 1:40 a.m.

No arrests have been made, but State Bureau of Investigation Special Agents are still in the process of gathering and studying evidence to determine the sequence of events.

He said investigators plan to release another update early Sunday afternoon.

See also: Tuskegee homecoming shooting captured in chilling videos

Macon County Coroner Hal Bentley said as of 9 a.m. just one person had died. That person has not yet been identified, but university officials said the victim was not affiliated with the school.

Several students were injured in the shooting.

A female student was shot in stomach, Tuskegee city Police Chief Mardis said. I helped load her up, Mardis said.

A male student was shot in the arm and Mardis said he did not have information about the third person injured.

In social media videos, rapid-fire shots are heard as people crouch on the ground and behind cars at West Commons.

City police were on the scene of an unrelated double shooting where two people suffered minor injuries at a Texaco station when officers got the call about the shooting at the West Commons on-campus apartments, Mardis said.

Some idiots started shooting, Mardis said of the campus shooting. You couldnt get the emergency vehicles in there, there were so many people there.

Tuskegee had celebrated its homecoming on Saturday. It played Miles College, who Sunday morning said in a release that our hearts are with the Tuskegee family as they face the tragic aftermath.

Emergency responders, along with campus and local law enforcement, secured the scene.

The university is in the process of completing student accountability and notifying parents, according to Lee.

No one is in custody, and it was not immediately clear what led to the shooting, Mardis said.

Its horrible, said Mardis, who is the former chief of campus police.

Mardis said he lived in fear of a shooting on campus when he led the university police department.

I was always on pins and needles when I was there. You see it happen everywhere. Its happened everywhere else but us.

At a Sunday morning convocation service, Student Government Association President Amare Hardee extended sympathies to those affected by the shooting.

Our gathering is shadowed by a heartbreaking event, Hardee said.

We experienced a tragedy that has left us all shaken. This senseless act of violence has touched each of us, whether directly or indirectly. We extend our deepest sympathies to the victims and their families, and we stand united in our commitment to supporting each and every one of us, Hardee said.

We will get through this together, added Norma B. Clayton, Chair of the Tuskegee University Board of Trustees.

Because in tough times, tough people band together, and they survive. And weve been surviving for 143 years. I think we can continue to survive even more.

AL.com reporters Ruth Serven Smith and Kayode Crown contributed to this report.
The 77th Annual National Veterans Day Parade will take place in downtown Birmingham on Monday, Nov. 11.

The parade celebrates the national holiday officially signed into legislation by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1954 and is the longest-running parade of its kind in the country.

A color guard and marching band take to the streets of downtown Birmingham during the 1968 Veterans Day Parade. Alabama Media Group Collection, Alabama Department of Archives and HistoryHoward Koplowitz/AL.com

A successor to the earlier Armistice Day, Veterans Day was first celebrated in 1947 in Birmingham. Though Veterans Day is now recognized as a federal holiday and a state holiday in all states, Birminghams celebration remains the nations largest, notes the website Bhamwiki.

Among the sights at the 2024 parade, spectators can expect to see a riderless horse called Hank the Tank. The caparisoned horse or cap horse - a term that refers to wearing a saddle or decorative covering - is a tradition in military parades, including funerals. Hank will be led through the parade by the cap walker Grant Hardy, who serves with the Old Guard at Arlington Cemetery.

Other organizations like local Shriners, a mixture of veterans service organizations, members of the U.S. armed forces and Alabama military supporters, as well as local color guards, high school bands and drill teams, will also be present for the parade.

Each year, we aim to pay tribute to our nations Veterans who have made immense sacrifices for our freedom, said Mark Ryan, president of the National Veterans Day Foundation in a press release. We are excited to reach more Veterans than ever before, with live streaming services available for those who cannot attend in person.

Learn more about the parade below.

When is the parade?

The parade will take place on Monday, Nov. 11 from 1-4:30 p.m.

Where is the parade route?

The route will start on 18th Street by the Alabama Power building, pass by City Hall on 19th Street, and end at City Walk. However, the route will be a little different this year. It will wind through different historic Downtown Birmingham blocks. See a map of the parade route below.

How can I stream the parade online?

If youre not able to watch the parade in person, there will be a live broadcast stream starting at 1:30 p.m. at nationalveteransday.org. The 30-minute delay correlates with the parade reaching the viewing stand at City Hall.

Will bad weather cancel the parade?

The parade is expected to happen regardless of rain. The current forecast calls for cloudy skies early in the day with the sun expected to shine bright by the afternoon. There will be a high of 75 and low of 62 in Birmingham, according to The National Weather Service. However, if there is rain, onlookers can stay dry and watch the parade on the covered streets of City Walk.

Is there a parade route map?

See the map below.

The 2024 Veteran's Day Parade in downtown Birmingham.National Veterans Day Foundation

The downtown Birmingham route for the 2024 National Veterans Day Parade.https://nationalveteransday.org/parade

To learn more about plans surrounding Veterans Day, visit the parade Facebook page.
A newly elected member of Congress has promised to resist any attempt to move U.S. Space Command headquarters from Colorado Springs to Huntsville following former president Donald J. Trumps election.

Obviously, I believe that if its down to military value, (then) Colorado is the place for it to be, said U.S. Rep.-elect Jeff Crank, R-Colo., in a report by The Denver Post.

Trump supported the Air Forces decision to move the headquarters from Colorado Springs, its interim location, to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, near the end of his first term in 2021.

But President Joe Biden in 2023 reversed that decision , deciding to retain the headquarters at Colorado.

Members of the Alabama congressional delegation expect Trump to move Space Command headquarters to Huntsville .

But Crank contends that keeping the Command in Colorado Springs is the right thing, arguing that moving it anywhere else would be a political decision.

With Donald Trump, you never know, he said. He changes his positions and his stance on issues by the day, and sometimes by the hour. If he wants to build out the Space Force and Space Command and have it meet the national security moment and our threats, then he will keep it here.
A 23-year-old man has died following an officer-involved shooting on Saturday night at an Huntsville restaurant, the Madison County coroner has confirmed.

In reference to the shooting incident that occurred at Twin Peaks, one person has died as a result of gunshot injuries sustained, Madison County Coroner Tyler Berryhill wrote in an email to AL.com.

An autopsy will be performed in Huntsville this week.

The four people were shot at the Twin Peaks restaurant, off University Drive next to MidCity, on Saturday night after an argument led to shooting, according to local media reports.

During that altercation, some shots were exchanged, Huntsville Police Chief Kirk Giles told local media at a press conference.

There was an officer working off duty and he was the officer involved in the shooting as well.

He said the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has taken over the investigation.

Huntsville police said in an email Sunday morning to AL.com that they are not making any statement on the Saturday officer-involved shooting because ALEA is now in charge of the investigation. ALEA has not responded to a request by AL.com for comment.

This report will be updated as more information becomes available.
I must admit that I havent exactly been an exemplar of Christian virtue over the last few days. I keep telling myself, I will not take pleasure from all of the videos showing Democrats crying after the election, but then I find my way right back to another collection of social media meltdowns proving why leftism is a mental illness. What can I say, lefty tears are delicious. My favorite schadenfreudilicious spectacle is this creative production featuring President Trump jamming out on electric guitar and drums to Creedence Clearwater Revivals Fortunate Son, while Americas most prominent Democrats break down in tears. I guess its what the Intelligence Community would call a deepfake, but it looks real to me!

All right, Im done. Ive got it out of my system. Wait, have you seen this one of Tim Walzs daughter telling Americans, This country does not deserve Kamala Harris? Ha ha. Thats pretty funny, too. She/Xis right, though. However bad weve been, we definitely dont deserve Kamala! Better to be tortured with fingernail scratches on a chalkboard twenty-four hours a day than to suffer through eight years of Kama-lama-ding-dong philosophizing about the significance of the passage of time. Dang, I really thought I had this under control. Looks like I still have a lot of work to do. Oh well.

In defense of everyone who might be similarly enjoying this electoral triumph a bit too much these days, I will only point out that we have been bashed and battered for four long years, and we could be forgiven for experiencing joy (the authentic variety, not the Kamala kind) after enduring so much pain. After all, there is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. And without a doubt, this is our season to laugh and dance. So take a moment, smile, and do the Trump Dance.

Not all of us thought this was possible. We worried that the same mail-in-ballot fraud that gave basement-dwelling Joe Biden 25% more votes than Chicago superstar (and champagne socialist) Barack Obama would elevate Cackling Kamala to the Oval Office. Merrick Garlands (in)Justice Department has been obsessed with imprisoning Trump for the rest of his natural life, and those same goons have spent the last four years harassing and incarcerating anyone who dares to question the legitimacy of Americas weeks-long ballot harvests. The Deep State got what it wanted in 2020. Its bureaucratic tyrants censored Americans, defamed J6 protestors as terrorists, and pushed a ludicrous narrative that Trump and his unarmed supporters had attempted to overthrow the federal government.

After so much State-directed violence and propaganda against American citizens, it was easy to lose faith. Heck, I heard Senator Rand Paul  a repeat victim of political violence  express on multiple occasions the rather shocking sentiment that they would never allow President Trump back in the White House. Well, were not there yet, but things are certainly heading in the right direction! (I just did the Trump Dance again for anyone wondering.)

Take some time to reflect on the significance of this political earthquake. In fact, just this once, lets take Kamalas advice and really think about the significance of the passage of time. Four years ago, schools were closed. Small businesses were shuttered. People were wearing silly face masks while driving alone in their cars or jogging alone outside. It was insane, yet the majority of Americans participated in the insanity. I used to get messages from conservative voters who were very unhappy with my constant pleas for Americans not to give up their liberties just because the CDC told them that the Bill of Rights is null and void during medical scares. A commenter who had always struck me as politically savvy told me that COVID was too serious for me to complain about lockdowns and online censorship.

Four years later, those overreactions to a government-engineered medical emergency seem absurd to conservatives and non-conservatives alike. People across the West have experienced the economic damage of business closures and witnessed the emotional damage inflicted on children from school closures. As government lies are exposed (including those involving COVIDs origin and deadliness and the efficacy of the pharmaceutical industrys emergency use mRNA therapeutics), people are coming to grips with how nefarious the mass censorship campaigns against COVID misinformation really were.

It seems asinine now, but during the height of the COVID insanity, governments convinced most Westerners that scientific debate was somehow damaging to the advancement of human knowledge. We were ridiculously close to the imposition of pandemic passports that would have effectively monitored Westerners movements and speech at all times. The Biden-Harris regime moved quickly to mandate COVID shots, punish workers who refused, and establish quarantine camps for those who resisted. Totalitarianism returned not with Nazi troops brandishing rifles but with white-coated medical doctors insisting that we relinquish our liberties and obey the scriptures of dogmatic expertise.

A strange thing happened on the way to tyranny, though. A lot of people who had previously consented to their own COVID confinement shared a stunning revelation: governments are much less interested in saving citizens from COVID than they are in using COVID as a pretext for controlling citizens. It was a monumental shift in social consciousness and another aha! advance for the Great Awakening.

In the four years that President Trump has been out of office, this pattern has repeated time and again. Since Bidens 2020 (s)election, Big Tech has actively censored Americans who highlight evidence of electoral fraud. The propaganda press has labeled us election deniers. The DOJ, FBI, and too many partisan judges have treated J6 defendants worse than alleged murderers. Protests for free and fair elections have been preposterously described as an insurrection worse than Pearl Harbor, 9/11, and the Civil War. The mix of rhetorical overkill and political persecution have had a salubrious effect: an increasing number of Americans now recognize that the federal government conspires with social media companies to censor Americans speech in violation of the First Amendment and that the criminal justice system is filled with corrupt and evil actors.

These public revelations caught fire once Democrat prosecutors chose to engage in an unprecedented lawfare campaign against President Trump that threatened his liberty and property. Americans have witnessed the Clintons and other Democrat politicians in good standing with the D.C. blob escape prosecution for real crimes (including Hillarys Russia collusion fraud against the American people) too many times for the avalanche of criminal and civil cases against President Trump to pass muster. There was a time when Americans would have placed credence in the serious accusations coming from the mouths of U.S. prosecutors. After years of watching corrupt judges assist in the political targeting of Trump confidantes such as Rudy Giuliani, Peter Navarro, and Steve Bannon, though, the lawfare against President Trump has appeared malicious, unacceptable, and un-American.

COVID tyranny, censorship, overt propaganda, and rampant lawfare have been awful symptoms of the vile authoritarianism metastasizing over the last four years. But they have also been eye-opening for tens of millions of Americans who finally see the cancers growing inside the U.S. government and spreading among its corporate partners. There are those in the U.S. government who would like nothing better than to suffocate human liberty. Thankfully for us, Americans who have been choking on oppression for four years finally have a sense of what ails them.

Sometimes we must endure great ills to appreciate what threatens our survival. In that regard, Bidens calamitous presidency has been enlightening. In 2024, Americans of every demographic moved toward President Trump. That kind of awakening is worth celebrating.

Image: JSMed via Pixabay, Pixabay License.
Oakland firefighters battle a blaze that destroyed one building and caused significant damage to another Sunday. Oakland Fire Department Oakland firefighters battle a blaze that burned two buildings and displaced 13 people Sunday. Oakland Fire Department Oakland firefighters battle a blaze that impacted two buildings Sunday. Oakland Fire Department A fire burning on 17th Street in East Oakland sends smoke into the air Sunday. Alert California Oakland firefighters battle a blaze that destroyed one building and caused significant damage to another Sunday. Oakland Fire Department Oakland firefighters battle a blaze that destroyed one building and caused significant damage to another Sunday. Oakland Fire Department

A fire in an East Oakland neighborhood displaced 13 residents and sent massive plumes of black smoke into the air before crews brought it under control Sunday, officials said.

Firefighters were dispatched to the blaze at a multistory building on East 17th Street just before noon, the Oakland Fire Department said on X.

About 40 firefighters worked to contain the blaze, which destroyed one building and significantly damaged another in the Oak Tree neighborhood west of the Fruitvale district, officials said. The Red Cross provided assistance to 12 adults and one child. No injuries were reported.

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The cause of the fire remained under investigation.

Oakland firefighters battle a blaze on 17th Street that scorched a pickup and two buildings. Oakland Fire Department

Pedestrians and drivers were asked to avoid the area from Foothill Boulevard to East 19th Street on Sunday because firefighters were operating on the roof and the rear of a building on 17th Street, where the blaze originated, responders said.

Images shared by the fire department on X showed crews working on the roof of a gutted building, plus damage to the rear of a home and a pickup truck.

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The FBIs background investigation (B.I.) process for political nominees has allegedly been corrupted with improper handling of sensitive information, according to an investigation by America First Legal (AFL). AFLs November 7 press release asserts that the mishandling of private information is a critical matter that must be addressed because of the potential to use the B.I. process as a weapon against future nominees.

It also appears that select staff from the Senate Judiciary Committee appear to have shared FBI background reports and personal financial information in a breach of Senate security protocols. AFL rightly asserts that Americans, including administration nominees, have a right to privacy to the greatest extent possible, as cited in the Privacy Act of 1974.

AFL alleges that it has found explosive new discoveries about the FBIs flawed and unlawful background investigation process for nominees to positions that require Senate confirmation. The investigation goes back to late June 2021, when AFL submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the DOJ.

The June 24, 2021 FOIA request included but was not limited to requests for records related to consent from nominees to be investigated by the FBI and all communications between the FBI and the Senate Judiciary Committee members and staff. In addition, AFL asked the DOJ to respond with all laws, regulations, guidance and documents that would apply to the disclosure of judicial nominee background information files to Congress. Those requested documents would also include any memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Biden White House and the Senate Judiciary Committee and any MOU between the White House and the DOJ related to the background investigations of potential judicial nominees.

Among the discoveries highlighted in communications provided in AFLs October 23, 2024 report are the following:

Select Senate Judiciary Committee staff may have disclosed sensitive information outside the security process mandated in the MOU. Some staff allegedly used non-secure Senate email systems to share FBI and financial information of nominees.

Two staff members appear to have electronically disclosed to executive branch officials FBI background reports. This violates confidentiality agreements associated with the business of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.

Background investigation reports were shared outside the custody of the Security Manager by non-designated Staff Members and sent electronically, also a violation of MOU security provisions.

Certain Senate Judiciary Committee staff appear to have failed to heed the command that Designated Staff Members will maintain strict control of the FBI background reports in their custody.

DOJ officials appear to have repeatedly shared BI and personal financial information with Senate Judiciary Committee staffers. Those DOJ officials were allegedly not signatories to any agreement with the Senate Judiciary Committee.

According to the investigation, Senate majority staff sent protected BI information to the executive branch.

Executive Branch officials from the DOJ also allegedly disclosed BI information via email to Senate majority staff, which appears to have violated security protocols of the MOU.

The requested communications provide troubling evidence of a failure to protect sensitive nominee information on the part of officials and certain staff members. Gene Hamilton, executive director of America First Legal, believes that breaches of privacy like the ones revealed in AFLs investigation will discourage patriotic Americans from wanting to serve because they worry that their private information might get mishandled.

AFLs previous ancillary investigative work seems to show consequential politicization of the FBI, bias that seems to have resulted in the degradation of the FBIs investigations. AFLs September 2023 report shows numerous instances where the Biden administration sought to [push] forward ideologically preferred nominees aided by the FBIs violations of the Privacy Act and the Paperwork Reduction Act.

The September 2023 shows a pattern of politically biased behavior that became more evident during the Trump administration. AFL cited the Brett Kavanaugh hearing and the Durham report as evidence of routine denigration of procedures by the FBI during the Trump administration.

While the Trump White House was busy deferring to the Privacy Act, the FBI was using it as a shield to prevent the White House from ensuring only credible BI files were produced and as a sword when the FBI routinely violated procedural requirements designed to prevent bias in the process.

Kavanaugh was accused of inappropriate activities when he was a minor, so the Senate Judiciary Committee asked for additional investigations into the allegations. Justice Kavanaugh was found innocent of the accused behavior; however, the theatrics, according to the report, ultimately raise[d] questions about the FBIs BI process. The report asserts that had the process been thorough and objective in the first place, supplemental inquiries would never be needed. AFL contends that bias in FBI may have created a lack of objectivity or validity of BI reports.

The September 2023 report also recalls that Special Counsel John Durham himself confirmed, in the Durham Report, that the senior FBI personnel displayed a serious lack of analytical rigor towards the information that they received. As the evidence stands today, it is pretty easy to argue that the FBIs lack of analytical rigor was not limited to just one investigation: Durhams Crossfire Hurricane.

Notably, the September 2023 report also shows that In November 2021, the Biden DOJ amended its Privacy Act regulations. The Biden administration allegedly skirted several longstanding principles of privacy and removed the requirement that all name check and background investigation requests be on a request form provided by the FBI.

The Biden administration also removed the requirement of signed consent from nominees in 2021. Litigation shows that the effective date of the forms used by the Biden administration to obtain nominee consent was January 20, 2021. AFL believes that the administration stopped using consent forms for FBI investigations after November 2021.

In his official statement, AFL vice president Dan Epstein explained that evidence now shows that privacy protections  and binding agreements signed by the Senate  are routinely defied by the FBI and some government officials. Epstein stated,

Candidates for nomination deserve a process designed to ensure only accurate, relevant timely, and complete information is contained in the background investigation file. AFLs first letter to the House and Senate Judiciary members showed how the FBIs process failed in those guarantees.

Epstein continued:

Now, we show that privacy protections  and binding agreements signed by the Senate  are routinely defied. If the government ignores privacy and security when it comes to high-level political officials, all Americans should question how the government treats their most private information.

Image: J via Flickr, CC BY 2.0.
We are the friends of liberty everywhere, but the guarantor of only our own.

Thomas Jefferson

When I was in the Alaska Legislature back in the 1980s, we were all fat and happy. With oil over $100 a barrel, it was only with difficulty that we were able to spend all the money.

Then the price began to fall, and it finally collapsed in 1986 to $32 a barrel. The Alaska economy went into a mini-recession, the housing market nosedived, and cuts to the operating budget were needed. None of us could figure out what was going on. Only later, when the Soviet Union disintegrated, did it become plain what had happened.

In his first foreign policy initiative, in 1981, President Reagan proposed selling AWACS planes to Saudi Arabia. Israel, and the American Jewish community, were flabbergasted and outraged. With these planes, the Saudis would have early warning of any Israeli attack and could prepare to defend themselves. The Israeli air force owned the skies of the entire Middle East, and they wanted to keep it that way.

Reagan prevailed, and the Saudis owed us a big favor. Soon they began flooding the world oil market, ostensibly to discipline OPEC cheating. But they kept it up, year after year, until the market finally bottomed out in 1986.

It was no coincidence that it was in 1986 that the Soviet politburo decided they could no longer compete with us in the Cold War. Ninety percent of Soviet hard currency came from the sale of oil. No one in the world accepted payment in rubles, and hard currency was needed to have any participation in the world economy. You cant play the superpower game if you dont have any money. Reagan won the Cold War without firing a shot.

American economic power, when properly harnessed, can substitute for armed might. Thats how President Trump will end the Ukraine war. He can use carrots as well as sticks. He can threaten Putin with all-out economic warfare if Putin rejects a reasonable settlement with Ukraine. He can also offer economic assistance once a deal has been reached.

It is in our manifest geopolitical self-interest to divorce Russia from China. This justifies giving tax breaks to American companies that invest in Russia. With American help, Putin can lead Russia to a prosperity it has never known in its entire history. Russia was poor when he took power. He can leave it rich. That can be his legacy.

This will also inhibit Russias historic imperialistic impulses over the long haul. Why invade Poland when you have more money than the Poles do?

But what about the fact that Russia is and will continue to be a dictatorship? What about the Russian people? Shouldnt they have a democratic form of government?

Thats up to them to figure out. Were not going to guarantee anyones freedom but our own. Thats realpolitik, or rational self-interest. When we deviate from that, as in Vietnam and Iraq, it is both futile and costly in American lives and treasure.

That brings us to Iran, which has been caught red-handed attempting to assassinate our president. His entire family is in danger. This cannot be allowed to stand.

This doesnt require an invasion, or any other military response. We can simply impose a total embargo on Iranian exports, by both land and sea. This will strangle their economy to such an extent that the Iranian people themselves will overthrow the despots who rule them.

A new era has begun, at home and around the world. God bless America.

Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.
The purpose of the lawfare against Donald Trump, federal, local, criminal and civil, was to so damage him Americans would not vote him into office. The rest was sheer Trump Derangement SyndromeTDS. It allowed Democrats/socialists/communists (D/s/cs), the self-imaged elite, to express their righteous rage and hatred. Bankrupt the evil Trump, put him in prison. The process is the punishment, particularly if the process, and the laws under which it was initiated, are made up and corrupt.

Graphic: X Screenshot

And it all failed, every bit of it. To be sure, the lunatic New York civil real estate case still survives, but will surely be overturned on appeal as a grotesque violation of the Eighth Amendment prohibition against excessive fines. Even New Yorks appeals courts will likely at least reduce the insane fines imposed, and even that will likely be struck down by the federal courts and the Supreme Court if necessary. Even the supposed groping conviction will surely lose on appeal.

Graphic: Twitter Screenshot

The same is true of the New York prosecution under an unprincipled D/s/c judge, that resulted in a foregone conviction and is due to be sentenced later this month. That was the case that allowed Kamala Harris to call Trump a convicted felon, which produced memes and T-shirts proclaiming Americans would rather vote for the felon than the liar and they did. That one is surely going to disappear on appeal due to the Supreme Courts immunity decision, and voluminous, malicious errors on the part of the judge, who behaved as a second prosecutor.

The Florida documents case was dismissed months ago, and Krazee Eyze Killah Jack Smith is trying to appeal it. Sadly for Smith and the D/s/c/Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) community, the DOJ is contemplating dismissing both saving Trump, moments after hes sworn in on January 20, 2025, the minor paperwork of personally firing Smith. The DOJ cant prosecute a sitting president, and to their horror, it wont be possible to do the deed before the inauguration. In fact, Smiths request that all deadlines in that case be postponed was quietly granted by the hand-picked, TDS afflicted judge. The Merrick Garland DOJ might try to put off action on its cases until after Trumps second term, but a sane, non-corrupt Attorney General would surely dismiss both, and even were that not true, four years would give Trump enough time to work through the courts to inevitable dismissal.

Graphic: Fox News Screenshot

The Fani Willis debacle in Georgia is also on its last, shaky legs. While Willis won reelection, the legislature and appeals courts are looking into her many foibles, including how a woman with a $100,000 salary managed to deposit some $8 million within two years, and her corrupt and previously unaccountable misuse of tens of millions. That her case, as well as the rest, are grotesque examples of unlawful political prosecution is merely icing on the cake.

There is compelling evidence virtually all of these cases were coordinated with the White House, and once Trump takes office, with the help of an honest DOJ and FBI, learning the full scope of that coordination and illegal usurpation of the justice system at every level, becomes a near certainty. Political prosecutions are a betrayal of Americas constitutional order. No wonder so many have rightly observed those prosecutions have reduced America to banana republic status.

Practically and politically, the goal of those prosecutionsdefeating Donald Trumpbadly failed and blew up in the faces of Trumps enemies. There is no point, no advantage, in continuing them, apart from the perverse satisfaction his enemies derive from hurting Trump, his family and his supporters. Even the unlawfully appointed Jack Smith, a man whose unethical prosecutions have repeatedly been overturned, may be seeing the writing on the wall.

Continuing Inspector Javert-like prosecutions is a bad look for D/s/cs who are beginning to see the wisdom of at least pretending they went too far to the left. Hanging on to that kind of hatred and rage may turn out to be too much even for terminal TDS patients.

After four years out of power, with knowledge and perspective he didnt have in his first term, Donald Trump may very well be able to drain the swamp in significant ways, and in so doing, use legitimate political and legal processes to repay his self-proclaimed political enemies in spades. He wont need to break the law or even ephemeral ethics. Their arrogance led them to serial violations of the law honest prosecutors can legitimately exploit. There is already evidence Americas foreign and domestic enemies know theyre in real trouble and are furiously backpedaling.

Retribution, not to salve Trumps ego, but to restore the rule of law and political ethics, is coming. It cant come soon enough.

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.
In any political history, there will surely be a lengthy chapter on legislative transitivity, the secret passageway through which the Divine Right of Kings has been restored to the executive in erstwhile democracies.

In mankinds long struggle for self-government, the liberty movement has had to contend against the Divine Right of Kings (DRK), the doctrine that all political power is vested in the king, manifested especially in the assertion that the law is the king's will. The continental monarchs and those of England (up to the English revolutions of 1649 and 1660) universally held that infamous doctrine of political philosophy.

In adherence to the DRK doctrine, Richard II of England intoned, The laws are in my mouth, which stance lost Richard II his throne and Charles I his head. (Of that beheading, H.G. Wells wrote in his Outline of History that it sent horror through every Court in Europe... It was as if a committee of jungle deer had taken and killed a tigera crime against nature.)

The American experiment in ordered liberty asserts that the citizen possesses the rights of life, liberty, and property as gifts of God, thereby completely rejecting the DRK as a key element of the concept of American Exceptionalism.

Image by AI.

How relieved are we Americans that thanks to our own revolution, we no longer live under the DRK doctrine? In this country, in this enlightened day and age, the laws are not in the mouths of the president or the state governors. They cannot make law just by speaking it.

Or can they? It seems that permanently removing all ramifications of the DRK from even the various American governments is as impossible as permanently ridding your lawn of moles. Thats because the federal administrative state and the administrative state in each of the 50 states have bestowed upon the president and the governor a virtual DRK status.

It is sometimes said that the regulations the administrative state promulgates do not have the force of law but, instead, are guidelines, suggestions, or advice to Congress or the state legislature. But no, not so, for the regulations, whether state or federal, are laws that create civil obligations or criminal penalties, complete with fines and imprisonment for noncompliance.

It was, in fact, New York states administrative state regulations that dispatched the jackbooted thugs that slaughtered Peanut and Fred.

Now, it is true that these administrative regulations are inferior to statutes and that state and federal statutes set out procedural hoops through which the administrative agencies must jump to create a regulation. But to set aside a regulation for noncompliance with statute requires a court order and thousands of dollars in attorneys fees. Hence, practically speaking, the regulations compulsive power is unlimited.

But just what, you may well ask, is the connection between the administrative regulations and the DRK?

The connection lies implicit in the fact that an agency heads order promulgates an administrative regulation. Typically, the agency head is a single individualthe department director. If the agency head is a commission, then the promulgating order is the majority vote of the commission.

And how does a person become a department director or a member of a department head commission? Here is the DRK link in the system. A president or governor appoints the person to that office.

So, now we can see the operation of legislative transitivity. The administrative regulations are in the mouth of the department director or commission, and the fortune of the department director or commission is in the mouth of the governor or president. Hence, the regulations are transmitted from the mouth of the governor or president to the pages of the state or federal administrative code through the transitivity of that relationship.

The effect is that the monstrous DRK has returned to torture us, take our land, destroy our livelihoods, and slaughter our pets. Who will rid us of the coiling tentacles of this monster?
If this story of a cabal of Pentagon officials meeting to undermine the incoming constitutional commander-in-chief of the U.S. military had been a rumor circulating on X or Id received in an email from some random source, I would have discounted it. But thats not the case; it comes from CNN. This suggests that something is deeply wrong in the Pentagonthe same Pentagon that forgot to send absentee ballots to U.S. troops serving overseas, a gross violation of their civil rights, and one that ought to result in courts-martial all the way up to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

According to CNN, Pentagon officials are trying to figure out how to block any orders Donald Trump might issue to protect the Southern border or remove from U.S. soil the millions of unvetted illegal aliens currently occupying the U.S.:

Pentagon officials are holding informal discussions about how the Department of Defense would respond if Donald Trump issues orders to deploy active-duty troops domestically and fire large swaths of apolitical staffers, defense officials told CNN. Trump has suggested he would be open to using active-duty forces for domestic law enforcement and mass deportations and has indicated he wants to stack the federal government with loyalists and clean out corrupt actors in the US national security establishment. Trump in his last term had a fraught relationship with much of his senior military leadership, including now-retired Gen. Mark Milley who took steps to limit Trumps ability to use nuclear weapons while he was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The president-elect, meanwhile, has repeatedly called US military generals woke, weak and ineffective leaders. Officials are now gaming out various scenarios as they prepare for an overhaul of the Pentagon. We are all preparing and planning for the worst-case scenario, but the reality is that we dont know how this is going to play out yet, one defense official said. Trumps election has also raised questions inside the Pentagon about what would happen if the president issued an unlawful order, particularly if his political appointees inside the department dont push back.

First, its clearly within the federal governments purview to protect the American border from foreign invasions, whether terrorists, cartels, or the economic refugees amongst whom they hide. That means the president has the authority to order troops to the border. If people in the Pentagon conspire to refuse that order, in the best case, its a seditious conspiracy to undermine the presidents constitutional authority. In the worst case, its treason. And in any case, if theyre military, that would begin with a court martial.

Second, the president clearly has the constitutional authority to protect Americans on American soil from invaders who have already breached the border. The punishment for obstructive Pentagon officials would range from courts-martial to trials for seditious conspiracy or treason.

Third, the president has the authority under the Enforcement Acts to send troops to hot spots on American soil if there is unrest that is depriving citizens of their civil rights. In addition, even the Posse Comitatus Act, which limits the federal governments power to use the military on American soil to enforce domestic policies, has several compelling exceptions.

For example, the Insurrection Act allows the president to deploy troops to suppress civil disorder, insurrection, or rebellion. The Attorney General also has the authority to request that the Secretary of Defense provide emergency assistance to ineffective domestic local law enforcement.

Nor is any of the above airy-fairy theory. In the past seven decades, presidents have often called in the military:

1957: Dwight D. Eisenhower sent the Armys 101st Airborne Division to desegregate Little Rocks schools.

1962: JFK federalized Alabamas National Guard to force Gov. George Wallace to admit two African-American students to the University of Alabama.

1965: LBJ used Alabamas federalized National Guard to quell the Bloody Sunday protests in Montgomery, Alabama.

1967: LBJ called in the Army and National Guard to quell the Detroit riots.

1968: After MLK, Jr. was assassinated, Chicagos Mayor Richard Daley approved calling in the Army when riots broke out. In D.C., 13,600 troops occupied the city to quell riots. National Guard troops were also deployed across Baltimore.

1970: Richard Nixon called the National Guard to New York City after U.S. postal workers went on strike.

1989: After Hurricane Hugo struck the U.S. Virgin Islands, George H. W. Bush called in the National Guard to stop looting.

1992: Reserve soldiers headed to Los Angeles after the Rodney King verdict sparked rioting.

2021: The National Guard occupied D.C. for Joe Bidens inauguration.

For a president to quell civil unrest is normal. And for a president to use the military as needed to oust invaders from American soil is common sense. If anyone in the Pentagon blocks the president from doing so...back to those courts-martial, and sedition and treason trials.

The bottom line is that what is allegedly happening within the Pentagonsomething that was obviously an authorized leak to a friendly outlet; i.e., CNNrepresents the complete breakdown of our non-partisan constitutional military, one that the Founders established to be controlled not by a cabal of officers but by a president whom the American people elect.

When President Trump cleans out the Augean stables of D.C., whats happening in the Pentagon had better be among the top ten items on his list.

Image: Rank and file troops celebrate President Trumps visit to Afghanistan for Thanksgivingthats not where the rot is. YouTube screen grab.
Ouf! (as the French would say), we've got our country back. Praise the Lord for answered prayers.

World leaders sent out their congratulations.

Even Russia's Vladimir Putin congratulated Donald Trump on his resounding re-election victory. This is normal and it is healthy.



Putin has always wanted two things -- and not much more, actually -- from U.S. leaders: a recognition of Russia's great power status, and respect as Russia's legitimate leader.

Biden didn't just deny both of those, he gratuitously threw the insults in Putin's face. I am still grappling with the strategic purpose the Democrats saw in taking us to the brink of World War III with Russia. Maybe there wasn't one.



Putin said he is ready for talks over Ukraine. Just three weeks ago, it was no way, Jose.

Elections have consequences.



Trump has said he wants an immediate end of the fighting. Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky quite understandably is not happy with that, since the Russians occupy something like sixteen percent of Ukrainian territory. But for now, Zelensky has little to no leverage.



A ceasefire would freeze the frontlines and bring in some kind of interposition force, most likely, some combination of NATO troops and nonaligned nations. And then the real negotiations would begin.



Also among those congratulating Trump on his re-election was NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Along with saner NATO leaders, such as Hungary's Viktor Orban, Rutte could hear the drumbeats of war in Europe's capitols and knew the utter devastation a war with Russia would bring.



Donald Trump just walked the hotheads like France's Emmanuel Macron (Little Cookie) back from the brink of World War III. The proper response to that is, Mon dieu, merci!



My favorite comment of the week was from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who channelled JFK at a snap European Union summit in Budapest on Thursday: "Don't ask what the U.S. can do for you, ask what Europe should do for itself," she said. "Europe must find a balance. We know what we have to do."



Well, among the first things the Europeans need to do is decide whether they will continue to embrace WOKE green economics, or wake up to the real world.



Energy prices in Germany skyrocketed this week when the wind died down.



You read that right. Germany has become so dependent on wind power that when the wind dies down they are forced to import electricity from neighboring France (still 56% nuclear) and Sweden, which has an abundance of hydropower and still runs six nuclear power plants that produce 30% of its electricity.



Wholesale electricity prices in Germany rose eight times, from 128 euros per Megawatt hour in "normal" times to over 805 euros. That compares to average wholesale prices per Mwh in 2023 of around $40 in the United States.



(Here is a source for current German electricity prices, if you want to check it out.)



Fact is, as Trump prepares to retake the White House, Germany has become the new Sick Man of Europe. Once the industrial powerhouse of Europe and the export engine of the EU, now Germany must import electricity just to keep the lights on in the homes of its migrant workforce.



In Iran, the mullahs are terrified of a second Trump presidency because they saw what happened during the first.



I am willing to bet that President Trump will reimpose the Maximum Pressure sanctions on the Iranian regime as one of his first official acts as the 47th president, along with closing our Southern border and reopening federal lands to oil and gas exploration.



Will 47 couple the sanctions to a "Maximum Support" strategy to help the Iranian people overthrow the regime? The Boss has yet to speak on that subject, so the jury is out. But the proposal is certainly on the table -- indeed, I am one of many who have put it there, in a paper for the America First Policy Institute in August.



I argue that helping the Iranian people to overthrow the mullahs is in America's national security interest, since it will cut off the world's leading sponsor of international terrorism, murder, and mayhem. No more Hamas, no more Hezbollah, and finally a chance for Israel to make peace with the Palestinians.



Sound too good to be true? Stay tuned.

Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License
Komal Rajani and her team, the Optimistic AI Philosophers, work on a housing affordability project Saturday during Hack for Social Impact in San Francisco. The two-day event attracted top software engineers and data scientists. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

More than 100 people crowded into the third floor of a downtown San Francisco office building Saturday morning to seek ways to leverage the power of technology and artificial intelligence to tackle daunting social problems.

The beginning of the two-day Hack for Social Impact attracted computer engineers, data scientists and other professionals to develop tools that Bay Area nonprofits and international organizations can use to address a range of problems, such as navigating complex building codes that can drive up the cost of developing local affordable housing, tracking tenant rights violations on the Peninsula, and analyzing the effects of land degradation and drought globally.

The event organizers offered cash prizes and project grants to whichever teams developed viable, impactful solutions that nonprofits or world leaders could use to improve their day-to-day work or advocate for policy change.

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Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto and UC Berkeleys Terner Center for Housing Innovation are two of the nonprofits that hoped to benefit from the hackathon, along with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

Cher Hu, founder of Hack for Social Impact, delivers opening remarks Saturday at the groups weekend hackathon in San Francisco. Anna Zhang/Hack for Social Impact

We have seen a technology boom in generative AI over the past few years, but not every organization has gotten to benefit from it, said Cher Hu, the founder of Hack for Social Impact and one of the planners of the event, which concluded Sunday. Thats why were organizing this movement to activate top engineers and AI talent in Silicon Valley to innovate public interests.

The event was part of a growing number of hackathons where people come together over multiple days and compete to create tools or technical products not for personal or commercial success, but for the public good.

The teams at Hack for Social Impact were not required to use AI, but Hu said many of the problems they were trying to solve could benefit from the powerful technology, which can analyze reams of data and decipher trends.

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Groups work on their projects Saturday in San Francisco during Hack for Social Impact, in which teams used AI to suggest solutions to issues including housing development, tenant protections and land degradation. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

Alysyn Martinez, a staff attorney at Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto, hoped that participants of the hackathon would analyze records from local administrative hearings that are held in parts of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties when landlords allegedly fail to correct habitability issues or illegally raise rents.

The hearings result in written decisions that can be 50 pages or more, Martinez said, adding that she wants to be able to analyze those decisions to better help tenants through the process.

Were paper people, were lawyers, we dont necessarily have the tools to aggregate that data, Martinez said. The only way we have to go through them is to sit and read through them.

Saahas Yechuri and his team work on the greenification of deserts Saturday during Hack for Social Impact in San Francisco. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

Lorenzo Barberis Canonico and the three other members of his team were debating which of the four causes they would work on Saturday morning. Barberis Canonico was leaning toward working with tenants on the Peninsula because it had the most potential to directly help people immediately.

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Alex Salmond died at the age of 69 last month following a heart attack - JOHN NGUYEN

Alex Salmonds memorial service is to be held on St Andrews Day, the former first ministers family has confirmed.

The event on Nov 30 will take place at Edinburghs St Giles Cathedral, where Elizabeth II lay at rest after her death at Balmoral in 2022.

Salmonds family said the service would allow people to say goodbye to the former first minister and reflect on his life and achievements.

The 69 year-old died suddenly following a heart attack in North Macedonia last month. He was later laid to rest near his home in Aberdeenshire.

A family spokesman told The Sunday Times: Friends of Alex, who knew and worked with him for many years, are providing support at the familys request in helping to organise a fitting memorial service for the former first minister. It will be an occasion for people to say farewell to Alex and reflect on his life and achievements.

Alex Salmond was cleared of 14 sexual assault charges in 2020 - RUSSELL CHEYNE

John Swinney, the First Minister, is expected to attend, alongside representatives of the main political parties in Scotland. Representatives from North Macedonia will also be invited.

However, Nicola Sturgeon, his former protegee and successor as SNP leader and first minister, is not expected to attend the event.

Ms Sturgeon failed to attend a debate in Holyrood last month for MSPs to give their condolences, saying she could not pretend that the events of the past few years did not happen.

The pair had an extraordinary falling out over her governments botched handling of sexual misconduct allegations against him.

Salmond was cleared of 14 sexual assault charges in a separate criminal trial in 2020. He alleged at the time there was a conspiracy among senior SNP figures around Nicola Sturgeon to imprison him, which she has vigorously denied.

At the time of his death the former first minister was seeking significant damages and compensation for loss of earnings from the Scottish Government, totalling a reported 3 million.
MPs have a free vote on the assisted dying Bill scheduled for Nov 29 - Peter Dazeley/Photodisc

More than 3,400 doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals have written to the Prime Minister to warn that assisted dying cannot be introduced safely while the NHS is broken.

Thousands of NHS clinicians have signed the open letter to Sir Keir Starmer, cautioning that plans to legalise assisted dying are remarkably out of touch given the healthcare crisis.

Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP who has proposed a private members Bill to legalise the practice, will publish draft legislation in the coming days.

A free vote is scheduled for Nov 29, the first time MPs have debated the issue since 2015.

In an intervention, 2,038 doctors, 905 nurses, and 462 other healthcare workers, have warned inadequate end-of-life care could coerce patients into choosing an assisted death.

Twenty-three medical directors at hospices and NHS trusts signed the letter, as well as 53 eminent medical professors and the former Welsh chief medical officer, Dame Deirdre Hine.

Addressing Sir Keir, who previously voted in favour of assisted dying, they call for investment in the woefully underfunded palliative care system rather than a change in the law.

Dignity in Dying campaigners gather in London last month to show support for the assisted dying bill - Lucy North/PA

Signatories said they were raising the alarm out of a legal duty of care for the safety and wellbeing of our patients, vowing to never take our patients lives, even at their request.

They say the law would threaten societys ability to safeguard vulnerable patients from abuse.

The letter is the most significant intervention by the medical profession so far. In 2021 the British Medical Association (BMA) controversially adopted a neutral stance.

The letter is being organised by Dr Gillian Wright, a former palliative care doctor from Glasgow and Dr David Randall, a nephrologist at the Royal London Hospital, in Whitechapel.

The pair are members of Our Duty Of Care, a doctors campaign group set up to oppose assisted dying.

Dr Wright told The Telegraph that 3,405 medical professionals from across hospital specialties, general practice, palliative, community and hospice care have signed the letter to make clear to MPs that they will not help patients to take their own lives, because of the pressure that disabled and dying people may feel under, whether real or perceived.

The letter to Sir Keir echoes an announcement by Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, that he will vote against the law change because he is worried about palliative care not being good enough to give people a real choice.

It warns that disarray within the healthcare system renders legalisation fundamentally unsafe.

It says: The NHS is broken, with health and social care in disarray. Palliative care is woefully underfunded and many lack access to specialist provision. The thought of assisted suicide being introduced and managed safely at such a time is remarkably out of touch with the gravity of the current mental health crisis and pressures on staff.

Ms Leadbeater claims robust protections and safeguards will ensure only mentally competent, terminally ill people can access an assisted death.

But the signatories urge caution, arguing that the only safeguard that can protect the vulnerable is the prohibition on killing.

On Sunday, The Telegraph revealed that twelve prominent legal scholars believe the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) could push the Government to expand Ms Leadbeaters Bill, if enacted, to include those not terminally ill.

In Canada restrictions limiting assisted dying to the terminally ill were removed after a legal challenge, which the letter says clearly demonstrated that safeguards can be eroded in a matter of just five years.

In the letter the medics warn that it is impossible for any country to introduce assisted dying laws which include protection from coercion and from future expansion.

Ms Leadbeater has rejected comparisons to Canadas slippery slope, instead holding up Oregon, which legalised assisted dying in 1997, as a model for the UK.

But the signatories point out that, in 2022, nearly half (46 per cent) of those who chose assisted death in Oregon gave concern about being a burden as a reason for their decision.

The letter cautions that the shift from preserving life to taking life is enormous and should not be minimised.

It continues: Any change would threaten societys ability to safeguard vulnerable patients from abuse; it would undermine the trust the public places in physicians; and it would send a clear message to our frail, elderly and disabled patients about the value that society places on them as people.
The Balmoral Hunting Tartan Cashmere Throw - BALMORAL CASTLE SHOP

For admirers of Elizabeth II and her much-feted Balmoral style it could be the perfect place to go Christmas shopping provided you have pockets that are deep enough.

Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire has launched its online shop featuring a range of gifts inspired by the late Queens happy place, where she spent her summers and her final days.

The collection includes items made using the newly launched Balmoral hunting tartan, which was created by Araminta Birse-Stewart, its leading designer, earlier this year.

They include a 962 cashmere tartan throw, a scarf priced at 385, a shawl priced at 140 and a lambswool hot water bottle costing 75.

The throw is described as the perfect gift for interiors lovers or simply as a special gift to yourself, this throw encapsulates the rich heritage and natural beauty of Balmoral Castle and Estate, offering a piece of Scottish legacy you can cherish for years to come.

The Balmoral Hunting Tartan Cashmere Scarf - BALMORAL CASTLE SHOP

Other high-end products include a deerskin zip-top backpack for 750, a thistle tall lamp for 365 and a Balmoral tweed wool throw for 285. A red squirrel felt toy with a tartan scarf is priced at 80, while a cashmere ear warmer costs 89.

There are less expensive gifts available such as cashmere socks priced at 38, baby boots costing 29 and a Balmoral monogram Christmas decoration for 24.

In a nod to the late Queens love of dogs, the products also include a 30 Balmoral tweed treat bag, a 32 collar and a 40 lead.

The revamped shop dovetails with King Charless plan to make Balmoral, the Royal Familys private Scottish residence for more than 170 years, more accessible to the public.

The soft toy corgi on the Balmoral online shop - BALMORAL CASTLE SHOP

He allowed public tours of the castle this summer for the first time in its history at 100 a ticket, with an extra 50 for visitors who wanted to have afternoon tea. The tickets sold out in 24 hours.

Balmoral was purchased for Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1852. She later described it as her dear paradise in the Highlands and wrote in her diary: All seemed to breathe freedom and peace and to make one forget the world and its sad turmoils.

Widely thought to be Elizabeth IIs favourite residence, she spent every summer there and was often pictured enjoying outdoor pursuits, such as walking, while dressed in tweeds.

She died at Balmoral in 2022 and there have been suggestions that the castle had been earmarked as a place of remembrance for the public.

In a statement, Balmoral Castle and Estate said: It is an exciting time of change for Balmoral, a place that has been the cherished home of the British Royal Family since 1852, nestled in the heart of the Scottish Highlands.

While our full new website is launching soon, you can now shop online while you wait! The Balmoral Castle Gift Shop is officially open and ships worldwide.

Discover a wide range of carefully curated products that embody the rich heritage and timeless elegance of Balmoral, including our brand-new product range, exclusive collections, treasures handmade by Scottish artisans, authentic local delicacies, and much more.

Mrs Birse-Stewart, who runs a textile design firm, created the Balmoral tartan which tells the story of Balmoral Castle and Estate.

The 36-year-old, whose business is known by her maiden name of Araminta Campbell, described the commission as a personal dream come true.

Italian fashion brand Miu Miu recently unveiled a special Miu Balmoral collection inspired by the late Queens country wear at her beloved Scottish residence.

The collection includes Argyle knits, waxed cotton barn coats, Prince of Wales checks and walking boots, thistle bag charms, pearl necklaces and tweed bags.
A polling place in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on election day. Photograph: Michael M Santiago/Getty Images

From gold-high top sneakers to Women-for-Trump tank tops, iron-on Fight, Fight, Fight patches to a poster depicting a 19th-century cowboy outlaw, sales of Trump merchandise at the Trump store in Scranton, Pennsylvania, tripled in sales in the days after the once and future presidents landslide second-term win in the US election last week.

In a hard week for Democrats, the goods flying off the shelves added insult to injury as Scranton has long been intimately linked to Joe Biden, lauded as his home town and symbol of his affinity with Americas working class.

Store manager Thomas Rankin said he never believed polls predicting a tight race. Trump voters, he believed, had simply kept quiet because they didnt want an argument. A whole lot of the Democrat party, as soon as they got in the booth, went boom! They could see through the whole Democrat propaganda, he said.

Related: They say Democrats look down on me: Trump win spurred by populist backlash

And then there were the rallies  Rankin, a former deadhead, said he used to go to a lot of concerts  and Trump had held hundreds with his trademark weave of folk tales, policy and political rhetoric.

People travelled to them like they travelled for the Grateful Dead, he said, and thats what I did. He drew people in, just like the Dead. People had fun, but they also had an interest in what he is saying.

Bitter truths were plentiful in Scranton, last week, as voters in Scranton Joe Bidens home town broadly rejected Democrats proposition for a continuation under Kamala Harris.

Lackawanna county, which incorporates Scranton, lies at the top end of the Pennsylvanias populous Route 222 voter corridor. It was once a Democratic stronghold but last week it swung five points toward Donald Trump compared with 2020.

Harris narrowly won the county by less than 1%, significantly down on Bidens 8% in 2020 and Barack Obamas 30% in 2012. Hopes that Latino voters would come through for Harris didnt materialize. Democrats lost Pennsylvania and every other swing state.

Despite only living in Scrantons Green Ridge neighborhood for the first 10 years of his life, Biden made the city a key aspect of his political narrative  Scranton values  and not Delaware, the state supported by the financial services industry, where he actually spent his 50-year political career.

Biden closed out his limited campaign appearances in support of Harris in a carpenters union hall in the city on Sunday, acknowledging: Im going to be gone. Im asking you to do something for yourself and your families.

But they didnt, or not in sufficient numbers, and now intra-party recriminations are in full flow in the Democratic party  as well as on the streets of Scranton. The Democrats started too late to switch candidates, said Robert Tosti, a retired doctor, at Wegmans, an upscale supermarket on the citys west side.

I dont blame Biden, I blame the party. Hes 80. Give him a break. They should have been grooming someone else. They had to have seen this coming.

Instead of recrimination, Tosti, a Democrat, said Democrats should ask themselves a question: What does it tell you about Democrats when most people voted for a man of his caliber  a convicted felon, whose vice-president and cabinet wont even endorse him?

The short answer is that Democrats were selling a platform, a set of values and policies, that a majority of American voters dont believe and dont care to buy.

Wegmans and the Trump store sit across from a Walmart that was hit by a landslide and is now a quarry. But at a new Walmart nearby, the division between left and right  the Democrat elites and working class that now vote Republican  was in evidence.

Larry Cornelius, a Black voter who voted Democrat, predicted that Trumps promise to remake the economy in favor of working-class Americans would end in disappointment. This isnt going pan out how they think, he said.

Three women were loading groceries in their car. I feel like she was a chameleon. So we went Trump, one of them said. Her daughter said she was unmoved about having the first female president. No, I care more about buying a house and being able to live on my own, she added.

The closing days of the 2024 election were hit by counter claims about garbage. Democrats hoped a racist joke from a comedian at Trumps rally in New York City about Puerto Rico would turn Latino voters in this area of Pennsylvania against Trump. But Biden then later appeared to call Trump voters garbage, complicating the issue.

Suheily Echevarria, 29, owner of a Puerto Rican restaurant in Scranton, said it hadnt moved her. I dont even care, because I know Im not garbage, she said. As a mother of two young children, she didnt want her kids hearing about gay and transgender identity in school. I want that to come from the house, not from a stranger teaching them, she said.

Echevarria said the inference that Black and Latino men were resistant out of some unrevealed misogynistic impulse to vote for Harris was misconstrued. We want to live better and we want to sustain our families, she said.

Latino voters had been put in a bind: a vote for Trump signaled approval of the trash comment, Echevarria said, but if they dont vote for Trump it means approving of the economic suffering under the Biden administration. Paying bills won.

At Garibaldis Mexican restaurant, owner Isabel Sanchez said the choice was simple. Kamala is good, but Trump is better for the economy, she said. We are Mexican, we are in America to work. Bidens border policy had made life more difficult.

At every turn in Scranton, it was hard to find a core Democratic message that hadnt been rejected, in part for its accompanying sense of entitlement and elitism. Democratic margins crumbled across the US, and the blue wall of the Rust belt states collapsed.

With even Pennsylvanias Democratic senator Bob Casey tossed out of office, retired nurse Julie Zabrowski, 57, who had put in long hours during the pandemic and injured her back, said Lackawanna country was Democratic true blue but people just needed a change and Harris did not represent change.

It was economics for me  and I did better under Trump. Im pro-choice but that was one issue. Its huge but its not everything, Zabrowski said. A Democrat who voted for Trump, she said she was irked by the primary-free handover from Biden to Harris.

I didnt get a choice and I thought that was what we were about, she said.

At the Local 524 pipe fitters union, Rick Elliott said his daughter, who works in New York, was distressed by the election result. I said to her, whatever happens in this election wont directly affect you in the near future.

Elliott, a Democrat at least in spirit, ventured that Trump would provide relief from the two-party political game. Hes a businessman. Hes going to get away from all these politicians. We cant listen to them talk, and hes not going to play their game.

A felon won, but a felon cant vote. Figure that out

Another man, a member of the Most Wanted Riders motorcycle club, may have captured some of the prevailing mood in Lackawanna after an election that took 18 months and cost $15bn in advertising spending alone. He hadnt voted because he couldnt.

Im a felon. I cant vote. A felon won, but a felon cant vote. Figure that out, he said.
Callum Tindal-Draper died while serving with the foreign volunteer platoon in Ukraines struggle against Russia

A 22-year-old former community care worker from Cornwall has been killed fighting for Ukraine, his family have announced.

Callum Tindal-Draper, from Gunnislake, died while defending an observation post on Ukraines eastern front line on Nov 5, Caroline Tindal, his mother, said.

He fought until he could no longer hold off the advancing Russians, Ms Tindal said, adding his platoon described him as a hero and as brave as they come.

Before volunteering in the Ukrainian International Legion, Tindal-Draper worked at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth and as a carer in the community.

Tindal-Drapers family said they had begged him not to go to Ukraine, but they were all so proud of the person he had become after volunteering with Ukraine forces.

Steven Draper, Callums father, said: We begged and begged and begged him not to go. But Callum said, Dad, Im not frightened of bullies and whats going on in Ukraine is awful and someone needs to stand up for these people.

Describing her son after visiting him in Ukraine in September, Ms Tindal said: It was such a transformation and he said to me mum, coming out here was the best thing that ever happened to me, Ive found who I was meant to be.

He found who he was meant to be, he became that person and he lived it.

When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Tindal-Draper was attending a uniformed services preparation course at the Duchy College Military and Protective Services Academy in Cornwall.

The college described Tindal-Draper as a model student who did not shy away from causes he believed in.

It said he had been instrumental in collecting three minibus loads of humanitarian equipment for Ukrainian civilians after Russias full-scale attack on the country.

The college went on to say Tindal-Draper truly believed in his sense of duty and that this led him to work in the NHS and to sign up to defend Ukraine.

The Foreign Office said: We are aware that a British national has reportedly died in Ukraine and stand ready to assist the family in the UK.

It urged people not to travel to Ukraine while the country is in conflict with Russia.
Angelika von Heimendahl said paying thousands for the rescue service would make her cows unprofitable - Jason Bye for The Telegraph

For centuries, free-roaming cows have grazed on the commons in the heart of the city of Cambridge.

But now planned council budget cuts could spell an end to grazing rights, which date back to the Middle Ages, for the farmers who have bred livestock along the banks of the River Cam.

Cambridge city council currently provides an out-of-hours animal rescue service that costs between 8,000 and 10,000 a year to ensure that any cows that fall in the river or get injured are helped.

During the April-to-October grazing season, animal rescuers, called pinders, are on call to respond to any reports of problems with cattle.

But the authority is now consulting residents before it decides whether to pass the cost of that service to the owners of the 120 cattle on council-managed sites, which include Midsummer Common, Coe Fen and Sheeps Green.

Cambridge council plans to charge cattle owners for the pinder service that rescues cows which fall in the river or get injured - Shutterstock

Farmers who keep cattle in the city said they would move their cows to new pastures if the plans were approved. Many of the farmers live outside of the city so would struggle to tend to the livestock.

Mark Drew, one of four farmers who graze cattle on the commons, told The Observer: Common grazing isnt the best grazing in the world. If the price went up, it wouldnt be worth it.

It wouldnt be financially viable for us to keep traipsing into town when theres problems, especially because half the time the pinder service gets called its because someone thinks theres a problem with the cattle  when there isnt.

I love the idea of urban farming

Angelika von Heimendahl, a vet who has grazed 12 cattle on Midsummer Common for 20 years, selling the beef at a farmers market in the city, added: I love the idea of urban farming, of people being in touch with food and livestock.

She told the newspaper that the prospect of paying thousands of pounds extra to cover the pinder costs would make the venture unprofitable.

The pinder service is needed because the commons are next to the River Cam which creates unusual hazards often not present on normal pastures.

Ms von Heimendahl said one of her cows had tripped over a mooring line used by a houseboat. Mr Drew lost a bullock when a walker lost control of their dog which chased cattle on to the road.
Chateau Latour-Laguens is just one Chinese-owned vineyard that is back on the market for a fraction of its value - Getty Images/Patrick Aventurier

Just a few years ago, Chateau Latour-Laguens was the multi-million euro flagship in a brave-new era of Chinese-owned wine making.

Now, the winery 30 miles south west of Bordeaux is abandoned, decaying, and back on the market for a fraction of its value.

It is just one of dozens of Chinese-owned vineyards up for sale at knockdown rates as China loses its taste for imported wine  and the dream of cashing in big on has turns sour for scores of Beijing and Shanghai-based investors.

Theres a combination of factors driving the sell off. A crackdown on corruption at home has weakened demand for expensive gifts, and tighter capital controls make it more difficult for Chinese to spend money abroad.

In May, France confiscated nine chateaux in Bordeaux worth about 35.5 million (30 million) from a Chinese tycoon who was convicted of money laundering and embezzlement of Chinese public funds.

Above all, there is a belated realisation that many customers simply dont like the wine. Heavy, tannin-rich reds, it turns out, just do not fit in at the Chinese dinner table.

Its a dramatic turn from the early 2010s, when Li Lijuan, a Chinese estate agent of Vineyards-Bordeaux, was fielding four to five queries a day from wealthy Chinese investors keen on getting in on the Bordeaux wine rush.

I have a dossier that I keep and I counted about 300 potential Chinese buyers who wanted to buy a domain since I started working in 2013, said Ms Li.

At the time, China was one of the most exciting and fastest growing wine markets in the world. Alongside explosive demand for French luxury brands  Dior, Hermes, Louis Vuitton  prestigious bottles of French Bordeaux had become the latest status maker for Chinas wealthy elite, who offered them as luxury gifts and displayed them in their homes like trophies.

Bordeauxs wine-growing region has long been accustomed to foreign ownership, but the rush of Chinese investors was remarkable: they snapped up about 200 vineyards within just a few years to meet what promised to be an unquenchable demand for French wine back home.

Fast forward a decade, and many of the properties are now listed for a fraction of their purchase price.

Chateau Latour-Laguens was one of the first wine estates in the Bordeaux region to be bought by a Chinese company - AFP/Philippe Lopez

Chateau Latour-Laguens, in the wine-growing region of Entre-Deux-Mers, made headlines as one of the first vineyards to be bought when it was acquired by Chinese real estate firm Longhai Investment Group in 2008.

Though the original sale price was not officially disclosed, Le Figaro reported that the Chinese buyers paid 2 million (1.66 million) for the entire lot at the time. It is now back on the auction block for 150,000 (124,400), without the vines.

It wasnt supposed to go this way.

Between 2007-2011, wine consumption in China soared by an eye-watering 142 per cent. By the end of 2013, China and Hong Kong had overtaken France and Italy to become the worlds largest consumer of red wine, with a particular penchant for French Bordeaux.

Chinese investors keen to seize a new business opportunity bought up vineyards and gave them new names like Imperial Rabbit or Gold Rabbit.

The wines were destined for consumers back in China with outrageous profit margins: bottles of red wine that would normally sell for 3 or 4 in France were being marked up to 20 to 30, to the astonishment of locals.

But the excitement was premature.

Chinas wine consumption peaked in 2012

In 2013, almost as soon as many Chinese millionaires signed ownership papers, Xi Jinping, Chinas president, launched an austerity drive cracking down on lavish, ostentatious public spending.

The move followed a string of corruption scandals which often involved expensive gifts or bribery in the form of a luxury handbag  or a prestigious bottle of red wine.

A few years later, in 2017, Beijing introduced new capital controls that tightened the transfer of money outside of China, dealing another blow to Chinese investors.

It was catastrophic for business, Ms Li said.

After peaking in around 2012, Chinas wine consumption has been falling steadily, averaging a loss of 2 million hectolitres a year since 2018, according to the International Organisation of Vine and Wine.

In 2023, amid an ever-shrinking economy, the countrys wine consumption plummeted 25 per cent compared to the year before.

Its a trend that Jerome Baudouin, the editor-in-chief of the wine magazine La Revue du Vin, had predicted a long time ago.

For one thing, wine cannot stand up to the traditional Chinese meal, in which savoury and sweet  fish, meat and vegetable dishes are often presented at the centre of the table at the same time, he points out.

This could explain a major discrepancy between wine sales and actual wine consumption in China: bottles are collected for show, he said, but not actually consumed.

For me, it was a mirage. People were wrong on both sides, he said. Producers in Bordeaux thought a new market was opening up for them, like the US and UK and that this would last. It was the same for the Chinese who came over to Bordeaux. They thought it would be easy to make wine and that it would make them a lot of money.

Ten years on from the Chinese rush to buy vineyards the market has turned sour - Alamy

Stuck in the middle were the workers in the vineyards and on the estates, many of whom complained of absentee owners, clashing work cultures, and, in the worst-case scenario, no pay.

For nearly five months, Helene Pauly and her five colleagues went without pay from their Chinese bosses at Chateau de Pic in 2020. Ms Pauly, the estates administrative manager, had to dip into her savings and request overdraft protection.

Her other colleagues had to get a loan from the bank and were forced to use food banks. She led a battle against her employer, Xu Min, that ended with the Bordeaux tribunal siding with employees and ordering back pay.

There was never any sincerity or honesty in their explanations, and it was like this all the time, Ms Pauly told The Telegraph.

She described a stressful environment in which her work was micromanaged from China, and employers with little understanding of the inner workings of a vineyard making unreasonable demands, such as harvesting in June instead of September.

At the lowest point, Ms Pauly began to worry for her safety.

I didnt know how far they could gothey knew my address, my habits, they could easily have done something to send me a message.

The experience was exhausting and pushed her into early retirement.

There are Chinese owners who just disappear

Corinne Lantheaume, a union rep for the local CFDT Gironde who helped Ms Paulys case, points out that the biggest obstacle is trying to deal with absentee owners who are in China.

There are Chinese owners who just completely disappear, she said. Our problem every time is that when there is an issue at some point, in France we dont know who to contact because everything is in China. If we do succeed, its because the new owner who buys the property pays the back salary on their behalf.

Another trend among Chinese employers is a mistrust of their French workers, Ms Lantheaume said. Instead they hire Chinese employees with little to no experience working in the vineyards or in the wine industry.

Theres a great mistrust of French employees. And it becomes complicated when you dont trust people who know the work.

Ms Lantheaume is quick to point out, however, that one of the regions most exemplary employers is Peter Kwok, a Hong Kong businessman who owns Maison Vignobles K and is well respected among his staff and fellow winemakers. And there is no shortage of labour disputes at French-owned chateaux.

Meanwhile, Ms Li says that distrust, earned or not, can work both ways. She recounts how she once witnessed a Chinese employer pay his workers in cash in order to bypass the problem of blocked funds. But to her dismay, the lack of paper trail allowed the couple to take their employer to court falsely claiming that they hadnt been paid.

In recent weeks, Ms Li says news of Chinese investors trying to offload their chateaux has drawn interest from a new emerging market: affluent Chinese who live outside China in Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.

At this moment, Im getting about four to five people contacting me every week.
Delegates arrive for the UN Climate Change Conference COP29 in Baku

For the second year running, the annual UN climate-change conference is taking place in an oil-rich nation. Twelve months ago, it was in the UAE. This week, thousands of delegates will begin 11 days of talks in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, a country that produces about 33 million tons of oil and 35 billion cubic metres of gas annually.

These venues are apparently intended to show that even petro-economies have bought fully into the pressing need to reduce global CO2 emissions and endorse the science behind it. But the Azeris are no more convinced of this than the Arab hosts of Cop28, whose president last year said a phase-out of fossil fuels would not allow sustainable development unless you want to take the world back into caves.

This is the point that the Labour Government is unable to acknowledge. A commitment to a low-carbon future cannot involve the precipitate eradication of fossil fuels in a world that still relies heavily upon them. Yet under the zealous direction of Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, Britain seeks to lead the world in achieving a decarbonised electricity grid in just over five years from now.

Sir Keir Starmer will attend the meeting in Baku along with an estimated 80,000 participants. But absentees include US President Joe Biden, Chinas leader Xi Jinping and Indias Nahrendra Modi, the worlds three biggest CO2 emitters. Frances President Emmanuel Macron will also be absent, as will Germanys Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose coalition government has just collapsed in a row over the speed of the countrys move towards net zero.

Casting a shadow over the proceedings is the American president-elect Donald Trump, who says he will abandon the 2015 Paris Agreement setting out a net-zero timetable.

On the eve of the summit, Mr Miliband said the UK must ramp up efforts to expand renewable energy to foster national security in an increasingly uncertain world. The Government is also expected to contribute to a 1 trillion fund for poorer countries, even though China and the Gulf states are exempt from paying.

Yet given the indifference being shown by the leaders of other countries, the UK is climbing out onto a very dangerous limb. To secure the 2030 target for decarbonisation, the country will need to build twice as many pylons and cables in the next five years as we have built in the past 10.

Fine words uttered at an overblown junket in an oil-rich nation 2,500 miles away will not make that any more feasible than it is now.
Shabana Mahmood claimed the financial inheritance from the Tory government meant she could only increase sitting days by an extra 500 - Eddie Mulholland

Crown courtrooms are standing idle despite record backlogs of cases forcing victims to wait up to six years for justice.

Official data show nearly a third of courtrooms  158 out of 492  were not sitting amid shortages of judges, lawyers, court staff and a cap on Government funding.

This is despite a record backlog of 71,000 cases awaiting trial, up from 38,000 before the Covid pandemic, which has been blamed for waits of up to six years for victims of sexual offences and up to five years for crimes such as fraud and burglary.

Senior judges have sought to increase the number of days courts should sit, arguing that they have capacity for a further 6,000 so-called sitting days.

Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, maintained the black hole in the finances left by the Conservatives meant she could only increase it by an extra 500 days to 106,500 sitting days.

Although Fridays are traditionally quieter days, given courts are reluctant to start trials before the weekend, the official data still show that last week on Thursday 22 per cent, or 110 out of the 498 courts, were not sitting. On Wednesday, it was 19 per cent, while on Tuesday, it was 18 per cent and 17 per cent on Monday.

Baroness Newlove, the victims commissioner for England and Wales, said record numbers of victims were walking away from the justice system and withdrawing their support for cases because of the court delays.

She warned the backlog was adding to already very high caseloads of victim support services. For these reasons, I hope the government will do everything it can to maximise sitting days to reduce the outstanding backlog and deliver swifter justice, she said.

Baroness Newlove said record numbers of victims were walking away from the justice system - Lorne Campbell/Guzelian

Claire Waxman, the victims commissioner for London, said the increasing backlog meant victims were waiting longer for justice than ever before.

She said: The current situation will delay justice even further or even prevent it entirely, as victims feel they cannot continue waiting years while facing ongoing adjournments and delays.

The Government must acknowledge that this path is not sustainable, and risks achieving justice and keeping victims and the public safe. I urge them to develop and deliver a strategy to tackle the court backlog and deliver swifter justice for victims in this country.

Criminal barristers strike in 2022 ended after accepting 52 million government pay off - Kirsty O'Connor/PA

Shortages of legal professionals, the barristers strike, collapsing trials and the increase in complex cases like rape are blamed for compounding the delays caused by the courts shutdown during the pandemic.

The Telegraph revealed earlier this month that victims of sexual offences including rape wait the longest at an average of 2,307 days. That is six years from reporting the offence to a trial being completed.

Victims of fraud face the second longest waits at 1,647 days, or four and a half years. They are followed by public order offences (668 days), drug offences (632 days), violence (509 days), possession of weapons (499 days), robbery (473 days), theft (458 days) and criminal damage and arson (443 days).

Swifter justice is needed

Mary Prior KC, the chairman of the Criminal Bar Association said: These are the courtrooms that would be used for rape trials, fraud trials, offences of serious violence. We are just not using them because the Government is not willing or able to put their money into actually providing swifter justice for victims of serious crime.

Whilst we recognise that there has been an overall increase in the budget for the criminal justice system, it will not make a difference to those waiting for justice unless there are courtrooms to hear the cases and criminal barristers to prosecute and defend them.

The Government are also extending magistrates court sentencing powers from six to 12 months, freeing up to 2,000 days in the Crown Courts to handle the most serious cases - Chris Ryan/OJO Images RF

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: Since coming to power, the new Government increased the number of Crown Court sitting days to a total of 106,500  more than in six out of the last seven years.

While we are bound by a challenging financial inheritance, this Government is committed to bearing down on the Crown Court backlog. On top of increasing sitting days, we are extending magistrates court sentencing powers from six to 12 months, freeing up to 2,000 days in the Crown Courts to handle the most serious cases, and recruiting more judges.
Jalazone Camp is one of 19 in the West Bank run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency - Zain Jaafar/AFP via Getty Images

Two months ago, the Ramaha family were asleep when explosives blew open the front door of their home in a dilapidated block of flats in Jalazone Camp.

Within seconds they were rounded up into one of their two bedrooms by Israeli Security Forces as were their neighbours in the flat above.

The soldiers did not find who they were looking for that time, but such raids have become a regular occurrence for the 16,000 people living in Jalazone, around three miles north of Ramallah, which has seen 72 security operations since 2023, according to the UN.

Tear gas has been deployed on at least 30 occasions and more than 110 residents have been detained.

The camp is one of 19 in the West Bank run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which Israel plans to ban from its territory within 90 days.

Israel moved to ban the agency after it said 12 members of its 30,000-strong workforce took part in the Oct 7 massacre and accused dozens more of being Hamas members.

In September, the agency admitted Fatah Sharif, the top Hamas commander in Lebanon, was one of its employees after he was killed in Lebanon.

But for tens of thousands of refugees across the West Bank and Gaza, UNRWA remains the primary provider of healthcare, education, work and even sanitation.

In Jalazone, Nazih Ramaha, 58, pointed to evidence of the Israeli armys constant raids across the camp.

You see the houses and the broken doors, he said. Even in your bedroom you are not safe.

Mahfoz Safi: I am worried about the future. What will happen in the schools, the education system? - Quique Kierszenbaum

Taking out UNRWA-branded white paper packets holding his medication for diabetes, Mr Ramaha said his family had no choice but to rely on the UN agency.

If I want to buy this I cant afford it, other people need more, he said. I am worried about the one who will be born today and the one who will die tomorrow.

Mr Ramaha and his wife Hana, 48, who runs a hairdresser in front of their flat, said they were most worried about education for the youngest of their five children: Lian, seven, and Rand, four.

If they take the decision and they ban UNRWA, there wont be any other option, they will close the schools, Mr Ramaha said.

One of the three schools, where up to 50 children pack into classrooms, has already faced threats from the neighbouring Israeli settlement of Beit Al, which is separated by a 4.5 metre-tall wall.

The fading blue signs of the UN can be seen at the only health centre in the camp, where hundreds queue every morning to see one of its 18 staff.

Mahfouz Safi, 76, the former headteacher of one of the schools, said: I am worried about the future. What will happen in the schools, the education system? Now Im at this age, Im not talking about myself but the future for the kids and the new generation.

Flimsy six-storey concrete blocks

Mr Safi came to the camp as a 13 year-old after being forced to flee his home village of Beit Nabala during the 1948 war that broke out following the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine, first settling in another refugee camp before his father got a job with the UNRWA in Jalazone.

Over time he has seen the camp grow from a ramshackle one-room bungalows into flimsy six-storey concrete blocks, as residents built upwards to accommodate the growing population.

Jalazone camp was built in 1949 and took in residents of 36 displaced villages. Mr Safi, like thousands of others, retains the key to his fathers home and says that removing the UNRWA will take away all they have left.

Our certificate is being a refugee today. For the next generations, your son is a refugee and his grandsons and daughters are refugees, its who you are today. They are confiscating my identity.

The camp itself is dirty and its roads are strewn with litter. More than 5,000 children play through the narrow streets surrounded by graffiti-daubed walls and crumbling buildings.

In Martyrs Square, the camps centre, stands a statue of Yasser Arafat, the former Palestinian president.

Agency worker Khalil Tur says hundred of children will have nowhere to go but the streets if schools are forced to close - Quique Kierszenbaum

The yellow flags of Fatah, the political party that controls the West Bank, decorate the alleyways while pictures of Palestinians killed in clashes with the IDF are stencilled on the wall. The logo of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, an armed militia, can be seen on some of the older commemorations.

Israel has claimed that up to 10 per cent of UNRWA staff in Gaza have ties to terror groups. The UN has said nine employees may have taken part in the Oct 7 massacre but argues there is no evidence for wider claims and it is the victim of misinformation and disinformation.

As he sat in the shadow of the camps Arafat statue, Khalil Tur, 43, one of the agencys sanitation workers, shook his head at the suggestion colleagues could be linked to terror.

This is a lie, this is not real, the father of three said. They want to find an excuse to ban the UNRWA and so they create rumours. I know the UNRWA, I am an employee of the UNRWA. Food, health and education, this is what we care about.

Mr Tur is one of the 30,000 workers who not only rely on UNRWA for its welfare services but also for employment. Without it, he would be one of more than 700 people in the camp reliant on cash handouts.

Where is the democracy?

His family, he says, were displaced by the war 75 years ago and he has nowhere to go unless Israel was to return his ancestral lands.

Everybody is preaching democracy, where is the democracy? If they really want to ban UNRWA, then we should go back home. This is a big crime.

With the equivalent of 66,059 people per square kilometre, Jalazone feels more like a town than a camp with butchers, grocers and kebab shops. But it is only a few steps away from a crisis.

I remember once UNRWA went on strike. Garbage piled in the streets, said Mohammed Zaid, 34, the owner of Nidal Sweets.

This will affect the core of peoples lives. It will be disastrous. If you see the kids coming out of school you are talking about hundreds. They will literally go to the street, where else will they go?
The Oakland Diocese has proposed a trust fund of at least $160 million to settle hundreds of lawsuits alleging sexual abuse spanning decades. Yi-Chin Lee/Houston Chronicle 2022

The Diocese of Oakland, which filed for bankruptcy last year, announced a trust fund to settle hundreds of lawsuits alleging decades of sexual abuse of children, but survivors attorneys called the plan a scam and a sham.

In an update on its website Friday, the diocese said it filed a plan of reorganization in court that, if approved, would create a survivors trust worth between $160 million and $198 million or more for approximately 345 lawsuits alleging sexual abuse by its clergy. A majority of the funding would come from the Roman Catholic Bishop of Oaklands real estate assets, as well as from the Roman Catholic Welfare Corp./Schools and cash contributions from other entities, the diocese said.

The churchs reorganization plan comes more than a year after it filed for bankruptcy.

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In a statement, Bishop Michael C. Barber apologized for the suffering that survivors endured.

We recognize that no amount of money can fully and satisfactorily compensate survivors for the abuse they suffered, he said. Bearing that in mind, we believe the plan compensates survivors in a fair and equitable way and allows the Diocese of Oakland to set a path forward to continue to spread the Gospel, serving the faithful and the poor.

Hundreds of lawsuits were filed against the diocese from 2019 to 2022. The lawsuits alleged that clergy members sexually abused children in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, according to the church.

Attorneys for the victims called the dioceses latest move an attempt to force a plan without the approval or consent of survivors.

The Bishops reorganization plan is a familiar playbook designed to suppress survivors voices and avoid accountability, attorney Jeff Anderson said in a statement. Its a scam and a sham.

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According to the churchs website, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Oakland would contribute and assign all its rights and interests in its insurance policies to the survivors trust. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Oakland would get a loan, use cash resources and sell its real estate to fund the trust, the church said.

Cathy, an Oakland woman alleging sexual abuse whose last name was not released by attorneys, said she believes the diocese will pay the lowest amount it can to protect its finances and reputation.

They will put this behind them while I come home to an empty house and quell my demons, she said. No amount of money will make me whole and restore the child that was damaged in one moment.
Donald Trump was hosted at Buckingham Palace by Queen Elizabeth in 2019. Photograph: Victoria Jones/AFP/Getty Images

Donald Trump could be offered a second state visit to the UK, it has emerged, because of the change of both the government and the monarch since he was last invited.

However, government sources have denied claims from Nigel Farage that an invitation has already been extended by the House of Commons speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, for the US president-elect to address both Houses of Parliament.

His predecessor, John Bercow, had said he would block any invitation to Trump to address parliament during his state visit in 2019.

Trump was hosted at Buckingham Palace for a state visit by Queen Elizabeth in 2019, while Theresa May was prime minister.

No other world leader has been hosted twice for an official state visit though the French president Jacques Chirac was hosted by the Queen both in 1996 and 2004, the latter called a special visit commemorating the centenary of the Entente Cordiale.

But government sources said a second state visit for Trump should not be ruled out because of three differences since 2019  the gap between his presidencies, the change of government from Conservatives to Labour, and the new monarch, Charles III.

It is not routine for US presidents to be asked to address parliament during state visits, however. The last US president to do so was Barack Obama. Joe Biden, as US president, did not even receive a full state visit hosted by the monarch  though his presidency included the last year of the pandemic and the death of the Queen and Charles IIIs subsequent coronation.

Farage told his Reform UK partys Welsh rally on Friday: I do think having Sir Lindsay Hoyle there as the speaker compared to that ghastly little pipsqueak Bercow that went before is an improvement. And indeed, hes already invited Donald Trump to come and speak to both Houses of Parliament next year.

However, Farage has not repeated the claim since. State visits for any head of state are usually issued by the UK government, with itineraries set by No 10, Buckingham Palace and the visiting dignitaries.

Though the speaker has the ceremonial role of issuing the invitation to speak in parliament, in practice it would be requested and agreed between the two states. It is understood the speaker has received no request so far.

Farage has repeatedly renewed his offer to act as an intermediary between the UK government and the incoming Trump administration, a prospect Labour ministers have rejected. If I can in any way help to mend fences between this Labour administration and the incoming Trump administration then I would do so, he said.

But on Sunday morning the chief secretary to the Treasury, Darren Jones, said that would not be happening, saying his constituents in Clacton deserve a bit of a full-time MP as opposed to a transatlantic commentator.
Donald Trump met with Volodymyr Zelensky in Trump Tower in New York in September - EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Donald Trump Jr said there is no place in his fathers administration for war hawks amid growing signs the president-elect will follow through on plans to bring a swift end to the conflict in Ukraine.

Mr Trump Jr, who has taken an increasingly prominent role in Republican politics, backed calls to keep neocons and war hawks out of the White House after his father earlier ruled out a return for two prominent pro-Ukraine voices.

Retweeting a post from a Right-wing comedian that said: We need maximum pressure to keep all neocons and war hawks out of the Trump administration he responded: Agreed... Im on it.

The president-elect is in the process of selecting his Cabinet and hiring thousands of federal workers to staff his administration when he returns to power in January.

Donald Trump Jr has suggested he is already working to help keep neocons and war hawks out of his fathers Cabinet - Joe Raedle/Getty Images

On Saturday, Mr Trump announced that he would not appoint Mike Pompeo, the former CIA director, or Nikki Haley, his former UN ambassador, to his new Cabinet.

Both have expressed strong support for the US supplying Ukraine with the weapons it needs to hold off Russia.

Questions remain as to how the incoming president will address the conflict, with Mr Trump repeatedly insisting that he will end it in 24 hours.

He has not explained how he plans to do so, although he has surrounded himself with vocal critics of Americas support for Ukraine, including his running mate JD Vance.

The incoming vice-president argued against Joe Biden providing billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine following its invasion by Russia in February 2022.

I gotta be honest with you, I dont really care what happens to Ukraine one way or another, Mr Vance said, shortly after the invasion.

In an opinion piece for the Financial Times earlier this year, he said Europe needed to stand on its own two feet with regards to defence of the continent.

As the American defence budget nears $1 trillion per year, we ought to view the money Europe hasnt spent on defence for what it really is: an implied tax on the American people to allow for the security of Europe, he wrote

Nothing in recent memory demonstrates this more clearly than the war in Ukraine. There is frankly no good reason that aid from the US should be needed.

Credit: donaldjtrumpjr/Instagram

Mr Trump Jr, who successfully lobbied his father to select Mr Vance, could also have a major role in the Trump administration come January.

Over the weekend, he appeared to mock Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelensky, over losing his American allowance when his father returns to the White House.

In a post on Instagram on Saturday, Mr Trump shared a video of Mr Zelensky looking unhappy alongside Donald Trump with the caption: POV: Youre 38 days from losing your allowance.

Mr Trump has previously suggested he could stop military aid being sent to Ukraine, complaining that Mr Zelenskys requests for assistance never end. He said in September: We continue to give billions of dollars to a man who refuses to make a deal.

Elbridge Colby, a Trump ally who is tipped for a return to the White House, said on Sunday that the incoming president would bring... an end to the Ukraine War and making sure our Nato allies step up.

Mr Colby, a former Pentagon official, posted a video on social media of Mr Trump speaking in July 2023, in which he declared it would be completely unhinged to allow Ukraine into Nato at this point.

Credit: TrumpDailyPosts/X

Critics say Mr Trumps proposed end to the conflict would play into Russias hands.

Natos top military official has warned that Mr Trump will hurt America if he allows Vladimir Putin to win in Ukraine.

Admiral Rob Bauer said Ukraine was of strategic importance to the US, and warned that North Koreas entry into the war on Russias side was a problem for America.

Adml Bauer made an appeal for the US to remain engaged in the Ukraine war, saying: [The conflict is] connected to the rules-based international order [and to] the heart of Europe.

It is connected to the ambitions of Russia, and indirectly, the ambitions of China.

I cannot imagine that it is in the interest of the United States to allow Putin to come out of this conflict as a winner.

Adml Bauer, who as chairman of Natos military committee is the main link between the alliances forces and its political leaders, commands no troops of his own, but is one of the most influential military officers in the alliance.

In an exclusive interview with The Telegraph, he previously suggested that Mr Trumps idea of a 24-hour peace plan for Ukraine needed to be viewed through a wider aperture.

The fact that Russia and China have allowed North Korea to change from being the most isolated country in the world with a large set of UN Security Council resolutions against it  supported by Russia and China  they are now, suddenly, a player. That is a problem for the US.

The Kremlin has welcomed what it said was Mr Trumps openness to a deal that could bring an end to the war.

The signals are positive, said spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Trump during his election talked about how he perceives everything through deals, that he can make a deal that can lead to peace.

Last week, it was reported that Mr Trump is considering a plan that would freeze the conflict on the current front lines, with European peace-keepers deployed to an 800-mile buffer zone.

In his first term, Mr Trump threatened to pull the United States out of Nato, calling on European nations to increase their own spending on defence rather than rely on the protection of America.

Russia has amassed some 50,000 troops including North Korean soldiers in an attempt to push Ukrainian forces out of its Kursk border region.

They have been attacking Ukrainian positions with missile strikes and artillery fire, but have not yet begun a major assault there, US officials said.

Ukrainian officials say they expect an attack involving the North Korean troops in the coming days.
The drones use artificial intelligence, thermal imaging and high-definition cameras to identify individual animals - Marwell Wildlife and Southampton University/PA

Drones that scan zebras like a barcode will help track the animals in the wild.

Each animal has its own unique assortment of black and white stripes and this can be used to identify a specific individual among a herd.

Aerial machines with high-resolution cameras are to be deployed over a Kenyan wildlife reserve to track, monitor and assess zebras without disturbing them.

Zoologists at Marwell Zoo, in Hampshire, have partnered with the University of Southampton to develop specialised drones equipped with thermal imaging, high-definition cameras and artificial intelligence to differentiate animals by their unique coats.

The new technology can latch on to any identifying feature to tell animals apart - Marwell Wildlife and Southampton University/PA

Tests of the technology show it is detailed enough to show the vein patterns in an animals ear from an altitude of 120 metres.

The project will study the Grevys zebra in Kenya and will also use the spots of snow leopards to identify individuals in a parallel study running at Altyn-Emel National Park in Kazakhstan.

Marwell Wildlife said the drones had undergone several trials, including two at the Hampshire Zoo.

The technology can latch on to any identifying feature to help tell animals apart, including spots, stripes and even shadows.

Every zebra has a unique stripe pattern and, much like a human fingerprint or barcode, that can be used to identify an individual, said a spokesman for Marwell Wildlife, which runs Marwell Zoo near Winchester.

The projects goal is to make such technology widely accessible to conservationists around the world - Marwell Wildlife and Southampton University/PA

Prof Philip Riordan, the director of conservation at Marwell Wildlife, added: The potential applications of existing technologies for wildlife conservation are already huge and largely untapped.

This project will use what is available and, with our partners, drive further innovations that can help conservationists around the world.

The charitys spokesman said: During the most recent trial, the drones were able to capture images with enough detail to clearly see the veins in the ear of a zebra from 120m high.

Even animals shadows can give conservationists information about the animals theyre looking at, for instance, scimitar-horned oryx all look alike from above, but the shadows of males clearly show their horns.

Zoom features allow our team to check body condition by, for example, checking whether an animals pelvis and ribs are particularly visible, an indicator that they might not have access to sufficient resources.

The technology can analyse the shadow of animals horns to determine if they are well-nourished - Marwell Wildlife and Southampton University/PA

She added: Next year unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will be deployed in Kazakhstan and Kenya where were working with the Grevys Zebra Trust and Kenya Wildlife Service.

The ultimate goal of the project is to develop an adaptable UAV platform that can be made widely accessible to conservationists around the world.

The trials in Kazakhstan and Kenya will provide case studies and help the project team ensure the technology is able to deliver against the projects needs.

In time though, drones could be used to monitor wild populations of endangered animals all around the world in a non-invasive, cost effective and mutually beneficial way.
Betty Szabo was 19 when she was killed in Amsterdam in February 2009. Photograph: Netherlands police

Cold-case detectives in the Netherlands are hoping that an innovative lifesize hologram of a young sex worker who was murdered in Amsterdam 15 years ago will jog peoples memories and help bring her killer, or killers, to justice.

Bernadett Szabo, known as Betty, was born in Hungary and left for Amsterdam when she was 18. Once there, she started earning money as a sex worker in the red light district. She continued to work after becoming pregnant and gave birth to a son who was placed with a foster family.

On the night of 19 February 2009, two fellow sex workers realised they had not seen her in her workroom on Oudezijds Achterburgwal and had not heard the music she usually played. When they checked on her at 1am, they found her dead in her room having been stabbed dozens of times. She was 19.

A decade and a half later, police are using technology and a huge publicity campaign in a final attempt to solve the case. A house at the corner of Korte Stormsteeg and Oudezijds Achterburgwal has been devoted entirely to Szabos murder, with large stickers on the windows, and TV screens showing the crime scene, a documentary and the last images made of Szabo when she was still alive.

But the most eye-catching element of the campaign is the lifesize hologram of Szabo that sits on a stool in a window, trying to make contact with passersby and asking them for their help. The hologram, created using 3D visualisation technology, shows the large and memorable dragon tattoo that covered Szabos stomach and chest.

This is the first time weve done something like this and, to be honest, were a bit nervous, said Benjamin van Gogh, the coordinator of the Amsterdam wanted and missing persons team. We want to do justice to Betty, to her family and friends, and to the case. Therefore, before deciding to use a hologram for the campaign, we brainstormed with different parties both within and outside the police on whether we should go ahead with this and how we should set it up.

Van Gogh stressed that the project had been undertaken in consultation with Szabos family. We are committed to doing this with dignity and with the clear purpose of achieving some form of justice for Betty by finding her murderer or murderers.

He said police always tried to put a face on a victim to help with public appeals, and the hologram is a way of taking this a step further.

Detectives hope the hologram and a 30,000 (25,000) reward will help yield new witnesses who may not necessarily be local people.

Anne Dreijer-Heemskerk, of the cold case team, said: Betty was murdered in one of the busiest areas in Amsterdam, maybe even in the Netherlands. It is really almost impossible that there are no people who saw or heard something unusual at the time. Or heard someone talk about the case, which doesnt even have to have been in Amsterdam, because, after all, the red light district gets visitors from all over the world.

Noting that 15 years had passed since the killing, Dreijer-Heemskerkadded: We hope witnesses who may have been afraid before or kept silent for other reasons now have the courage to come forward.
Nigel Farage: I personally am not complaining but other people are - Chris Jackson/Reuters

Nigel Farage has claimed the establishment blocked him from laying a wreath at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday alongside other party leaders.

The Reform UK leader said the party was told it could not lay a wreath as it only has five MPs, and a party must have at least six MPs to be able to take part in that aspect of the ceremony.

Sir Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn all laid wreaths in Westminster on Sunday.

Mr Farage, along with Carla Denyer, the co-leader of the Green Party, instead watched the proceedings from a balcony.

Gavin Robinson, the leader of the DUP, had a public-facing role in the ceremony as he also laid a wreath despite his party only having five MPs.

Government sources later pointed to an addendum to the 1984 protocol, which stipulates that the party with the most sitting MPs from each of the devolved nations should be given the opportunity to lay a wreath even if the party has fewer than six seats.

The Speaker, the Prime Ministers Office, the Northern Ireland Office, the Chief Whip and the Royal Household have all agreed to the change.

Reform will have enough MPs

Plaid Cymru and the SNP have a separate agreement, in place since 2001, where they have a joint wreath and take it in turns to lay it on alternate years.

Nigel Farage told GB News that after the next election Reform will have enough MPs for him to take part.

He said: I personally am not complaining but other people are.

Richard Tice, the deputy leader, called it a shameful stitch-up, writing on X: We got more votes than Lib Dems, SNP and DUP combined, yet they all laid wreaths.

Meanwhile, the Government appears to have turned down Mr Farages offer to act as an intermediary between the UK and US in the wake of Donald Trumps victory in the US election.

Asked whether Downing Street would take up his offer Darren Jones, a Treasury minister, said: I think thats probably unlikely.

My advice to Mr Farage would be he might want to concentrate his efforts on the constituency in Clacton that elected him into office, as opposed to spending his time in the United States of America.
The Conservation Council of WA say total emissions from the extension of Woodsides North West Shelf gas processing plant on the Burrup Hub could reach 6bn tonnes once the gas is exported and burned overseas. Photograph: Krystle Wright/The Guardian

The Western Australian Labor government appears all but certain to give one of Australias biggest greenhouse gas emitters the green light to operate until 2070 after it announced it would abolish state emissions-reduction requirements.

Scientists have warned the proposal to extend the life of the North West Shelf gas processing plant on the Burrup Peninsula in the countrys remote north-west is linked to the development of at least three major gas fields and could ultimately result in billions of tonnes of climate pollution being released into the atmosphere.

The WA Environment Protection Authority recommended in 2022 that the state approve a 50-year extension for the plant, which is run by the oil and gas company Woodside, as long as it progressively reduced its operating emissions. It could do that by making cuts onsite or paying for carbon offsets.

More than 750 organisations and individuals lodged appeals against the recommendation  a record for the state  citing its contribution to the climate crisis and potential damage to Indigenous rock art. The WA appeals convenor has been considering the objections since mid 2022.

But the WA government last month announced it would change rules so that the EPA would no longer regulate emissions from development proposals that released significant climate pollution.

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The WA climate change minister, Reece Whitby, then wrote to people who lodged appeals against the North West Shelf extension, giving them under 8 November to respond.

Climate activists said the implicit message of the letter was that the state government planned to effectively abandon the years-long EPA process considering how to deal with emissions from the plant.

The Conservation Council of WAs executive director, Jess Beckerling, said total emissions from the extension of fossil fuel operations on the Burrup Hub could reach 6bn tonnes once the gas was exported and burned overseas.

The WA government has just stripped itself of the ability to effectively regulate the impact of climate change from the biggest fossil fuel projects in the country, she said.

The WA governments rationale for the change is that emissions released directly from developments within Australia  but not those released overseas  are covered by a federal government emissions policy, the safeguard mechanism. The extension also needs approval under federal conservation law.

A state government spokesperson said it was focused on removing duplication that doesnt deliver any additional environmental benefit.

Our expectation is the requirements for projects to reduce emissions through the safeguard mechanism will cumulatively result in the same if not stronger action on emissions, they said. It does not change our commitment to working with all sectors of the economy to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

But Piers Verstegen of WA-based Climate Safe Solutions said the change would likely lead to higher emissions as the state EPAs recommendations could lead to more stringent cuts after 2030 than under the safeguard mechanism.

The safeguard mechanism requires Australias 215 biggest industrial emitting sites to cut their emissions intensity by 4.9% a year until 2030, but export facilities such as the North West Shelf could apply for a lower rate. The rate of emissions reduction for each site has not yet been released. Required cuts after 2030 will be set in 2027.

The state EPAs recommendations in 2022 said the site should have to reduce its emissions progressively, with limits set in five-year blocks, to reach net zero by 2050. It said companies were expected to demonstrate that they were acting to first avoid, then reduce and finally offset emissions.

Guardian Australia asked the WA government if it had an analysis that showed there would be no greater climate impact once its regulations were removed and if that analysis was publicly available. It did not directly answer the question.

It said its decision followed a review of environmental approval processes and constitutional advice from the states solicitor general. Constitutional lawyers have responded that there was nothing to legally prevent state governments legislating to cut emissions.

The federal legislation governing the safeguard mechanism says it is not intended to exclude or limit the operation of a law of a state or territory that is capable of operating concurrently with it.

Related: Battery-powered electric vehicle sales plunge by 25% as Australian drivers choose hybrid models

The removal of state emissions regulations was welcomed by Woodside, Australias biggest oil and gas company. It called on other states to remove climate regulations.

The Greens MP Brad Pettitt said the change showed the WA government was not even pretending to try to reduce WAs emissions any more.

WA is the only Australian state without a 2030 emissions reduction target, and the only state in which climate pollution has increased over the past 20 years. National data says climate pollution in the five eastern states fell by at least 27% between 2005 and 2022 while rising 8% in WA, largely due to the states expanding gas export industry.

Pettitt said the states policy can only have been influenced by one thing  big gas corporations who will save millions under the lower emissions standards required by the federal safeguard mechanism.

Western Australias sycophantic support of gas and lack of climate action is dragging down the whole countrys climate ambition and also slowing the uptake of renewable energy in Asia, he said. This is a globally irresponsible decision.

Beckerling said: The North West Shelf extension is Australias biggest climate decision and the WA government is trying to wash its hands of its responsibility to hold Woodside to account.
Former Labor senator Chris Evans served as immigration and workplace relations minister under the Rudd and Gillard governments. He has been appointed Australias first anti-slavery commissioner. Photograph: AAP

The former Labor minister Chris Evans will be Australias first anti-slavery commissioner, with the attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, announcing that the longtime senator will take up a five-year term in December.

Evans served as immigration and workplace relations minister under the Rudd and Gillard governments, and is a former chief executive of anti-slavery group Walk Frees faith-based arm Global Freedom Network.

Modern slavery deprives victims of their dignity, fundamental rights and freedoms, Dreyfus said, announcing Evanss appointment.

It encompasses a range of exploitative practices, including human trafficking and slavery-like practices such as forced marriage, forced labour, deceptive recruiting and debt bondage.

Walk Frees Global Slavery Index estimates there are 41,000 people living in modern slavery in Australia  a rate of 1.6 people per thousand.

The Be Our Guests report, released in September by the New South Wales anti-slavery commissioner, Dr James Cockayne, estimated 16,400 people were trapped in modern slavery in Australias most populous state.

In response, the NSW parliament has launched an inquiry into modern slavery risks for temporary migrant workers. The inquiry is now accepting submissions and will hold public hearings in the new year.

The Be Our Guests report focused on temporary migrant workers employed in rural and regional NSW, including Pacific islanders employed in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (Palm) scheme.

Cockayne said while temporary migration was largely well managed  benefiting workers, their home communities, and businesses in rural and regional areas  there was an urgent need to address the situation of a minority of workers at risk of modern slavery.

Temporary migrant workers, particularly low-wage workers in agriculture, horticulture and meat processing in rural NSW, face risks of debt bondage, deceptive recruiting, forced labour and, in extreme cases, servitude, sexual servitude or even human trafficking, the report said.

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Thousands of Palm workers have disengaged from the scheme, leaving exploitative workplaces, but because their visa and right to stay in Australia is tied to their particular employer, leaving the program means they are left without rights.

In becoming undocumented or disengaged, workers frequently lose their access to accommodation, health insurance and, of course, formal income, the report said.

Cockayne said: We need systems in place  so you dont end up with this kind of emerging humanitarian crisis.

Hundreds of former Palm workers have been sleeping in campsites in the NSW Riverina, and community groups offering support have been overwhelmed trying to assist them.

Local community service providers have literally run out of tents to provide the hundreds of disengaged migrant workers that are showing up in Griffith and Leeton, Cockayne said in a speech. Literally run out of tents. And these people cannot access crisis accommodation because theyre out of visa status.

Moe Turaga, a Fijian survivor-advocate, was enslaved at 17 on a grape farm in Victoria after his passport was confiscated and his wages stolen. He works now in Queensland advocating for migrant workers facing exploitation.

People like me come to Australia hoping for better job opportunities and a better future for our families, but many are confronted by harsh realities once they arrive, he said. Right now, too many people are being denied their basic rights.

Sophia Kagan, principal policy adviser on labour migration at the NSW commissioners office and co-author of the Be Our Guests report, said women were particularly vulnerable to modern slavery.

Shortcomings in the current schemes have led to an increase in disengaged female Palm workers reporting violence, coercive control and sexual exploitation, she said.

The Palm scheme has grown rapidly over the past five years  from just under 6,000 in June of 2019 to more than 32,000 in the middle of this year  an increase of 450%. The majority of workers are positive about the program  92% in a self-reporting survey expressed a desire to return.

But significant numbers  up to 10% in some sectors  are abandoning the scheme: some are working in the informal economy, a rising number are making claims for asylum in Australia.

And Pacific governments providing the labour to Australian agriculture, horticulture and meat works are increasingly raising concerns about working conditions and the safety of workers.

The Timor-Leste president, Jose Ramos-Horta, told the National Press Club in September the Palm scheme had been marked by exploitative practices, particularly around exorbitant costs for substandard accommodation and travel.

We need this program to help us help our economy, but it has to change, it is unfair, it is exploitative.

Fijis minister for employment, Agni Deo Singh, said the Fijian government would investigate allegations of racism and bullying, threats, unsafe workplace practices, and forced labour to ensure that the welfare and wellbeing of our Fijian workers.

Related: The Babadook at 10: how a tiny Australian film became a horror hit  and an unlikely queer icon

Samoas prime minister, Fiame Naomi Mataafa, has said the scheme risked reducing Pacific nations to just these outposts where we grow people.

When were feeling the impact of losing our human resources through these various labour schemes, we really do have to look at how we respond.

Last month Australias minister for employment and workplace relations, Murray Watt, said the government had seen unfortunately, far too many abuses of the Palm scheme [by employers].

It is a concerning rise that we have seen in the number of Pacific workers disengaging from the program, he said.

Watt said while the government had reformed the program in terms of minimum work hours and accommodation, he was open to further changes.

Wherever there is exploitation going on  we will continue to make changes.
Jacinta Allan said Victorians deserve the information and the facts around how treaty is being negotiated. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, has warned against American-style division surrounding the states nation-leading Indigenous treaty, ahead of negotiations beginning this month.

The First Peoples Assembly  Victorias democratically elected Indigenous body  will begin negotiating a statewide treaty with the Allan government in the coming weeks.

The assembly has publicly outlined ideas raised by Indigenous community members during consultations. These include dual naming of places, a public holiday to celebrate Indigenous culture and early access to senior cards.

The opposition spokesperson for Aboriginal affairs, Peter Walsh, told the Herald Sun on Sunday the government was commencing secret treaty negotiations.

Asked about the transparency of treaty negotiations on Sunday, Allan said all Victorians deserve the information and the facts around how treaty is being negotiated.

Lets not bring American-style division, any more, into our community. Lets not create division, she said.

Lets not bring this misinformation, disinformation, fake news information into something that is just so important.

Allan said the whole focus of treaty was to work with First Nations people to improve equity of outcomes.

Thats of a benefit to all of us. That creates a better, fairer, stronger society, she said.

You would really hope that any member of the Victorian parliament would want to be on a unity ticket about making a stronger, better, fairer society for all.

A statewide treaty will tackle issues affecting all First Nations Victorians to improve outcomes like health and education.

Traditional owner groups will also be able to enter into separate treaties with the state about issues in their areas and priorities for their communities.

Related:Inside Australias first truth-telling commission  podcast

While giving evidence at the states Indigenous truth-telling commission in April, Allan stressed she would not pre-empt treaty negotiations before they began.

But she hinted at some reform the government would be open to pursuing if it was on the table. She said the Yoorrook Justice Commissions findings could be embedded in the curriculum to ensure all children learned about the states past and about the inequalities that persist today.

Yoorrook is due to provide a final report to the state government, which will include recommendations for reform, before the end of June next year.

The Allan government faced backlash from the assembly, Yoorrook, Indigenous advocates and human right groups after it sought more time to consider major recommendations that would overhaul the states child protection and criminal justice systems.
Jamie Oliver has had to withdraw his book Billy and the Epic Escape from sale - PA

Jamie Oliver has withdrawn his childrens book from sale after it was criticised for causing offence to indigenous Australians.

The celebrity chefs book, Billy And The Epic Escape, is set in England but features an Australian subplot where the storys villain abducts a First Nations girl near Alice Springs.

An Aboriginal rights group said the book perpetuated a number of harmful stereotypes that it said Australian authorities have historically used to justify removing children from indigenous communities.

Sharon Davis, the chief executive of Australias National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation (Natsiec), criticised the books alleged implication that Aboriginals are easily swayed by money and neglect the safety of their children.

[It] perpetuates a racist stereotype that has been used to justify child removals for over a century, Ms Davis said. This portrayal is not only offensive but also reinforces damaging biases.

I am devastated to have caused offence

The book incorrectly uses indigenous words, with an Aboriginal character from near Alice Springs using words from the Gamilaraay people of New South Wales and Queensland.

Ms Davis said such errors exposed Olivers complete disregard for the vast differences among First Nations languages, cultures, and practices, and that the books reduction of indigenous religious beliefs to magic was a longstanding stereotype that diminishes our complex and diverse belief systems.

In a statement, Oliver 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.

Penguin Random House said on Sunday the book would be pulled from sale in all countries where it holds rights, including the UK and Australia.

A spokesman for the publisher 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.
Positive energy: the dining room at Josephs near High Street Kensington. Photograph: Sophia Evans/The Observer

Josephs Brasserie, 221 Kensington High Street, London W8 6SG (020 3337 9356; josephsbrasserie.co.uk). Wraps from 9; mezze 8.50  16; main courses 16.25  26.50; desserts 8.50. Wines from 26 a bottle

In one corner of the lengthy menu at Josephs Brasserie, a lovely new Lebanese restaurant in Londons Kensington, is a description which may give some people pause. Its listed under Signature Dishes and begins Tender lamb intestines stuffed with a savoury mixture of rice The sweet word tender, used for kisses and caresses, has to do an awful lot of heavy lifting there, when its shepherding the word intestines into view. Its just too duodenal, isnt it? Too redolent of lunch on the way out of the body as waste, rather than on the way in as pleasure.

Ah, the curse of nouns. Of course, if you look up a picture of fweregh, the Lebanese name for the dish, what you get is a pleasingly gnarly sausage; a sibling to the haggis and a cousin to bangers the world over. You did know thats what sausages are made of, didnt you? Good. We didnt order it, as it happens: the fweregh weighs half a kilo, costs 80, was not suitable for everyone at our table and would have dominated lunch. But it says something about the place: that if you know where to look or, better still, ask for guidance from the eponymous Joseph, you may well find a few Lebanese dishes cooked here by his father, Yazbek, that you havent before encountered.

Other things, however, are familiar. Very familiar. At least to me. Only as I was striding down Kensington High Street did I clock that Joseph occupies the same location as Pascor, a Middle Eastern-themed restaurant I reviewed just over 18 months ago, but which obviously has gone the way of too many other hospitality businesses. This, I realise, hands a loaded gun to those who complain about the geographic spread of these columns. He doesnt just review occasionally in the same London tube zone; sometimes he reviews in the same bloody square footage. On the one hand, guilty as charged; on the other, if Id been put off by that, wed all have missed out  or at least I would have.

Downstairs little has changed, save that fat spits of lamb and chicken shawarma now turn slowly behind the counter for their sandwich business. There are fryers for falafel and a grill for lamb kofta, skewers and the like. Smoke pirouettes upwards and the air smells like a narrow Middle Eastern street after dark, even in daylight. All of this is served with the flatbreads made from scratch, which are soft and pillowy on one side, and crisp and friable on the other. The upstairs dining room has, however, had a makeover. Now there are turquoise walls with gold edging, and hung on the walls are antique etchings, picked up in Portobello Market. On one side there are Victorian views of London, on the other equally venerable images of Lebanon, of grand ancient vistas and cypress trees punching the sky like insistent exclamation marks. I could perhaps have added the words in happier times to that description of Lebanon, but the tragic carnage and political chaos unfolding there is so obvious, it barely needs referencing in a restaurant review. For now, lets celebrate the food culture.

The menu is long and detailed and covers the usual. There are three takes on hummus, including hummus Beiruti, spiky with free chilli. There are stuffed vine leaves, platters of labneh and the whacking chilli and red pepper fire of muhammara. There are kibbeh and cheese rolls. We have a deep, verdant bowl of tabbouleh to bring greenery to the table and another of moutabal, the soothing bash of roasted aubergine, which is the best kind of beige. In the middle is a well filled with grassy olive oil in which sparkle beads of pomegranate. It demands a sweeping through with torn wedges of the still hot bread. To the familiar we add the unfamiliar, soft folds of sliced lambs tongue, sauteed in lemon and garlic, a self-saucing dish which demands more bread. There are small, coarsely ground lamb sausages made on site with an edge of offal and a hit of chilli, and which come in a liquor that is sweet and sharp with pomegranate molasses. Now we have an extra use for the mdardara, a nutty mix of rice and lentils, threaded with sweet, caramelised onions like toffee.

A mixed grill of lamb kofta and both lamb and chicken shish is solid enough, but it is completely overshadowed by another signature dish listed as Sultan Ibrahim. It brings four floured and seasoned red mullet, deep-fried until golden, so that the flesh pulls away from the bone. We find ourselves using our fingers to pick at the good stuff right up to the top of the head. Through the crust there are flashes of silver skin and they lie on a rustling mound of shredded flatbread that has also been deep-fried, then dusted with the purple of sumac. On the side is a bowl of sticky tahini sauce. Its the kind of dish you fantasise about eating at some restaurant on a corniche at the eastern end of the Med, with the smell of salt and seaweed in your nostrils, as a blisteringly hot day gives way to the close, sagging warmth of an evening by the sea. Its not cheap at 40, but consider the sheer volume of fish. Also, I will from now on be furiously shredding and deep-frying flatbreads.

We finish with their knefe, a wedge of sweet and salty melted cheese spreading gently across the plate and topped by a lozenge of syrup-soaked pastry, fragrant with rose and pistachio. Alongside is a bowl of a set milk pudding, dressed with orange blossom and rose water. Finally, we have thimbles of thick, dark coffee, heavy with black cardamom. We are alone in the dining room this lunchtime which, as ever, seems completely wrong. No, Josephs is not cheap. You may find cheaper Lebanese food amid the community clustered around the Edgware Road, but it is not outrageous for Kensington High Street, and you can get a shawarma wrap here for 9. As we are leaving Joseph asks us sweetly if we will leave a positive review on Google. In the sense that this will indeed turn up somewhere on Google, I like to think that Ive done as he asked.

News bites

StreetSmart, the charity that tackles homelessness, has launched its annual campaign to raise funds in the run-up to Christmas through an extra 1 added to restaurant bills. More than 600 restaurants and pubs are participating this year, including veterans of the campaign like St John and the River Cafe, alongside Mana in Manchester, Box E in Bristol, Upstairs by Tom Shepherd in Lichfield and Ynyshir in Wales. To find out more about what the charity does with the cash raised and for a full list of participating restaurants, visit streetsmart.org.uk

Theres good news for those who dont want to schlep to an out-of-town flatpack furniture warehouse to get their fix of Swedish meatballs and Dime Bar cakes. Ikea has opened its first standalone restaurant, in Londons Hammersmith. The 75-seat cafe, which occupies the site of a what was a branch of Wasabi, is next door to the newly renovated Ikea Hammersmith City Store, and will also be open for breakfast.

Chef Claude Bosi and his wife, Lucy, are opening a second Josephine Bouchon, the bistro celebrating the food of Bosis native Lyon, which opened to such acclaim in Londons Fulham earlier this year. The new restaurant will be in Marylebone and will take over the site of what was Daylesford Organic on Blandford Street (josephinebouchon.com)

Join Jay Rayner and Grace Dent on Monday 16 December as they discuss his new cookbook Nights Out At Home, live at Kings Place and livestreamed globally. Book tickets here or at guardian.live

Email Jay at jay.rayner@observer.co.uk or follow him on X @jayrayner1
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump got a larger share of the vote in San Francisco in 2024 than in 2020. Evan Vucci/Associated Press

Although results are far from final, its clear that like other blue states, California shifted to the right.

San Francisco, the bluest county in the state, was no exception.

Its only the second time since 1984 that Californians have given more support to the Republican candidate than in the previous cycle. As the numbers stood on Saturday, San Diego County had shifted toward President-elect Donald Trump by 7 points, L.A. County by 13 points and Fresno County by a whopping 16 points, possibly shifting from blue to red in the process. While further returns are likely to reduce the magnitude of those red shifts, analysts think they will still be considerable.

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Related: Map shows which California demographic shifted most toward Trump

San Francisco currently shows a 7-point swing to Trump, a number that isn't likely to change much based on historical patterns of ballot counting. Harris had an 80.7% to 15.5% lead on Trump in the county on Saturday, compared to Biden's 85.3% to 12.7% final result. A Chronicle analysis of precinct-level data shows that like elsewhere in the nation, wealthy white residents didnt much change their preferences  but unlike elsewhere, it wasnt Latino voters who drove the county's shift right.

Asian and less-educated voters moved towards Trump

You dont need fancy statistics to see where Trump did the best in San Francisco. According to precinct-level results as of Friday, though Trump did not receive a majority in any precinct, he received the highest share of support in the southern and western peripheries of the city, as well as in Chinatown. In other words, a cluster of mostly Asian neighborhoods the Chronicle has identified as among the citys least progressive.

That was as true in 2020 as it was in 2024. But not only were Asian areas the most pro-Trump to begin with, they also shifted the furthest toward him this year.

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The Chronicle ran a precinct-level regression analysis to measure which demographics best correlated with the shift toward Trump. We found that the best predictor of whether a precinct swung toward Trump wasnt income, poverty rates, or the foreign-born share. Rather, ethnicity best predicted vote shifts: the most Asian areas were likeliest to move toward Trump, and the whitest areas the least.

But race wasnt the whole picture: after accounting for ethnicity, the Chronicle found that less-educated areas were also likelier to shift to Trump. That helps explain why Trump put up some of his best numbers in neighborhoods like Visitacion Valley and Bayview-Hunters Point, which are heavily Asian but also have relatively low shares of people with college degrees  as opposed to the Sunset District, a heavily Asian part of the city where residents are more likely to have college degrees.

The shifts among Asian parts of San Francisco were not unique. Asian neighborhoods in Los Angeles County and Queens in New York City also moved strongly to the right.

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Latino, white and Black areas hardly budged

Latino voters in California, predominantly of Mexican and Central American origin, remained more steadfastly in the Democratic camp in 2020. But this cycle, that seems to have changed: preliminary data suggests some of the strongest shifts toward Trump in California occurred not in wealthier, whiter coastal counties, but in more Latino and working-class Central Valley and Inland Empire communities.

Here, San Francisco proved a slight exception. The city has only a few majority- and plurality-Latino precincts, mostly in the Mission and Outer Mission. Despite being working-class, most of these areas showed only modest movement toward Trump, true to their progressive voting history.

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The same was true of majority-Black areas of the Bayview and Western Addition, which like Black neighborhoods in cities like Philadelphia and New York moved right by smaller margins than immigrant-heavy Asian or Latino areas.

Majority white parts of the city, as in other prosperous urban white areas, stayed the firmest in their support of Vice President Kamala Harris. Thats in keeping with national trends too. Across the country, places with higher shares of white voters, whether majority Democratic or Republican, changed their preferences by less than in places with non-white majorities.

Senate candidate Steve Garvey ran ahead of Trump

California bucked another nationwide trend. Its Republican U.S. Senate candidate outran Donald Trump.

In states from Montana to Michigan, Democratic senate candidates outperformed Harris, in many cases by margins wide enough to win election even as Trump carried their states. Not so in California, where old Republican strongholds like Orange County appear more comfortable with Steve Garvey, a more traditionalist Republican, than they were with the more iconoclastic Trump.

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That trend reached as far as San Francisco, where Garvey outran Trump almost universally  especially in the Marina, and least so in Asian parts of the city.
Thousands of people are expected to pay their respects at the remembrance event. Photograph: WPA/Getty Images

King Charles will lay wreaths at the Cenotaph and lead the nation in a two-minute silence at 11am to remember the dead who gave their lives in two world wars as well as those who have died in other conflicts involving British and Commonwealth forces.

The Prince and Princess of Wales will join the king and senior politicians for the national service of remembrance at the Cenotaph to honour all those killed.

The Remembrance Sunday silence marks the historic moment fighting in the first world war came to an end in 1918 at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month  six hours after the armistice was signed. Armistice Day itself is on Monday this year  11 November.

About 10,000 veterans will march past the Cenotaph in Whitehall on Sunday, representing 326 different armed forces and civilian organisations for the Royal British Legion, the charity behind the annual Poppy Appeal.

Thousands of people are expected to pay their respects at the remembrance event and participate in the two-minute silence, according to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

It is also the 80th anniversary of the D-day landings in the second world war this year, the 25th anniversary of the end of the war in Kosovo, the 75th anniversary of Nato and the 120th anniversary of the entente cordiale between the UK and France.

More than 800 sailors, soldiers and aviators are expected to be on duty at the Cenotaph and at commemorative services at Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral.

The prime minister said the courage and sacrifice of so many over the generations brings the country together in a spirit of the most profound gratitude and respect.

Keir Starmer said: This weekend, we come together to honour those who laid down their lives to keep our country safe.

The freedoms we enjoy today  our democracy, our values, our way of life  have been hard-won over generations.

We are forever in debt to those brave souls who fought to defend this country, and who made the ultimate sacrifice.

We honour them today and always. We remember them today and always.

In total, nearly 6,000 personnel will be deployed on operations and overseas bases around the world on Remembrance Sunday.

The defence secretary, John Healey, said it was a duty to educate future generations about their courage and commitment to defending Britain.

He added: On Remembrance Sunday, we unite behind our armed forces community and honour those who gave their lives for our freedom.

We think of those who fell liberating Europe on D-day 80 years ago. And we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country in the conflicts before and since.

Kemi Badenoch, who will be attending the event as Conservative leader for the first time, said: We owe so much to our armed forces and the families who support them, adding that she wanted to pay tribute to those who have fallen.

The DCMS said people of all ages would be among those marching, from the bereaved British forces children supported by the Scottys Little Soldiers charity through to the D-day veterans of the Spirit of Normandy Trust.

The defence minister Al Carns, who served in Afghanistan, will also parade past the Cenotaph as part of the Royal Marines Association.

Philippa Rawlinson, the director of remembrance at the Royal British Legion, said: We owe those who choose to serve in the armed forces our gratitude and this weekend we encourage people to take a moment to reflect and remember their service.
Stella Creasy MP: Trumps election shows the risks to the UK of going it alone in an uncertain world. Photograph: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/PA

Keir Starmers government is coming under fire for having failed over more than four months to appoint new MPs and peers to a key EU-UK inter-parliamentary forum, as pressure grows for closer co-operation with the European Union after Donalds Trump re-election to the White House.

Today in an article for the Observer online the MEP and former Italian government minister Sandro Gozi, recently elected as the new chair of the 70-strong UK-EU parliamentary partnership assembly (PPA), and the chair of the Labour Movement for Europe Stella Creasy MP say failure to reconstitute the PPA since the July general election is an issue that urgently needs to be addressed.

They write that since Labour took office, the body, set up in 2021 to scrutinise the workings of the post-Brexit Trade and Co-operation Agreement and build closer working links, has been unable to function because the UK has not taken any steps to establish which 30 Westminster parliamentarians will form the countrys delegation. A parliamentary source, while critical of the governments failure to appoint new MPs, suggested one reason for the delay was a request from the Conservatives to wait until the conclusion of their leadership election.

Calls for the UK to work more closely with the EU on everything from foreign policy to defence and trade  as well as immigration  have been growing since Trumps stunning re-election success.

The president-elect has promised to impose substantial tariffs on all US imports in a move that could seriously damage a UK economy already suffering from having lost access to the EUs single market as a consequence of Brexit. With Trump also talking of ending US funding for Ukraine in its war with Russia, the UK government finds itself in a position of potentially dangerous isolation from both the US and the EU on issues of economic and security importance.

Against this background, senior diplomats and Labour MPs now want Starmer to accelerate moves to get closer to the EU.

Privately diplomats and Labour politicians are astonished and despairing that many such public appointments including new trade envoys have not been named since the election. One key source said: Whether it is all the trouble at No 10 I dont know, but it is pretty astonishing. Another said: They have just not wanted to have any focus on what they are doing with Europe. With Trump back though that has to change.

Peter Ricketts, former UK ambassador to Paris and one of the countrys leading ex-diplomats, who was appointed to the UK-EU PPA on its formation, said that he hoped the Starmer government would speed up the building of closer ties with Brussels.

I would move away from the rather cautious and incremental approach to improving relations with Europe, he said. It is really important that we are getting in close and talking much more regularly to the French, the Germans, the Poles, the Italians.

I think this is less about changing the treaty, which will inevitably take time, and more about working on foreign policy issues such as Ukraine, and on finding practical solutions on issues such as migration.

Creasy told the Observer: Trumps election shows the risks to the UK of going it alone in an uncertain world. We have to rebuild our relationship with Europe as part of protecting the public from the economic, security and climate shocks heading our way.

Yet the democratic structures designed to do that arent up and running as the Government hasnt set out what will replace the Parliamentary European Scrutiny committee it abolished or appointed people to the UK EU Parliamentary Assembly. With so much at stake we cant waste any more time  getting this right has to be a priority before the new president is in post.

In her article with Gozi, they add: When the UK left the EU it didnt just abandon the biggest trading bloc in the world. It also left the room where decisions are made affecting our mutual security, climate and equality. Whether protecting the future for Ukraine or Israel or Palestine, managing the need to transition our economies or the challenge of migration, both are now poorer for this break-up. The last UK government took Brexit as permission to isolate, building further trade barriers at its borders in the name of Global Britain.

The new government has made clear it prioritises collaboration with its neighbours, not the grievances of the past. This weeks events mean that defining what that means in practice must now be fast-tracked.
Migrants in Escuintla, Mexico, prepare to travel to the US - Reuters/Daniel Becerril

Left-wing lawyers are preparing to take on Donald Trumps plans for mass deportations of illegal immigrants.

Civil rights groups and law firms have spent months analysing the president-elects statements on the campaign trail as part of plans to challenge those policies in the courts.

Mr Trump has repeatedly pledged to bring about the largest deportation of migrants in history, and said this week that there would be no price tag attached to what is expected to be a massive programme involving multiple federal agencies.

On Sunday, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) took out a full-page advert in The New York Times pledging to fight his deportation efforts.

When you target immigrants, dissidents, and your political opponents  we will challenge you in the courts, at state legislatures, and in the streets, it vowed.

The ACLU claimed to have brought hundreds of legal challenges to Mr Trumps anti-civil liberties agenda in his first term, winning landmark lawsuits on family separation, the US Census, and immigrants rights.

Any attempt to roll back the nations civil liberties on our watch will be hard fought and met with the full power of our resistance, it added.

Blueprint to take on Trump

Immigration lawyers have spent months preparing for Mr Trump to launch a crackdown including large-scale workplace raids, asylum restrictions, and the dismantling of programmes that shield migrants from deportation.

Becca Heller, founder of the International Refugee Assistance Project, said she had a blueprint of what an incoming Trump administration would do.

We had months and months to figure out how to protect people none of us having any illusions about what we are up against this time, she told The New York Times.

Trump has told us what to expect  hate and persecution and concentration camps, she said, referring to plans drawn up by the Republicans advisers to build detention facilities which can hold up to 70,000 migrants.

Benjamin Johnson, who leads the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said his organisation had also been preparing litigation to challenge Mr Trumps immigration promises.

The president-elects plans would violate his clients right to have their cases heard and properly processed under the law, he added.

Camille Mackler, chief executive of Immigration Arc, told the newspaper: The Trump team might think they are ready. But so are we.

Lee Gelernt, a lawyer for the ACLU, said: We have spent the last nine months planning for this, and are prepared to go to court as often as necessary, just like the first time.

Several Democrat governors, including Californias Gavin Newsom, have also pledged to fight Mr Trump enacting an immigration crackdown in their states following his election victory this week.

Mr Trump was forced to fight a series of long-running court battles during his first term in the White House, and it is unlikely that his second will be any different.

His Muslim ban, which stopped flights from several Muslim-majority countries and is widely expected to be revived, was blocked by the courts before it was finally upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.

07:24 PM GMT

Thats all for now

Thanks for following our live coverage today. This live blog is now closed.

07:24 PM GMT

Pictured: Joe Biden heads to Delaware beach before leaving for White House

Joe Biden waves as he and First Lady Jill Biden walk on the beach at Gordons Pond in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware - TING SHEN/AFP via Getty Image

07:02 PM GMT

Harris aides commited political malpractice

Kamala Harris aides committed political malpractice, pollster Frank Luntz has said.

He told ABC News that the vice president should have focused on introducing herself to voters rather than launching attacks on Donald Trump.

It was too much defining what Trump was. We all know what Trump is - we experienced him for four years, he said.

Whoever told her to focus on him committed political malpractice. You cannot change someones point of view on him - it was all about her.

06:24 PM GMT

The 97pc Latino county where nobody is scared to be a Republican anymore

When he retired from the army and returned to his rural hometown on the South Texas border, Ross Barrera was judged for being a Republican.

Residents in Rio Grande City, a Democrat enclave which until Tuesday hadnt elected a GOP candidate in over 128 years, teased the retired military colonel and accused him of abandoning his Mexican heritage.

When he wore his MAGA hat in public, people would shake their heads and try to take him to task about his politics.

Eight years later, the veteran holds up an enormous Trump/Vance 2024 sign as a convoy of trucks adorned with MAGA flags drive by honking their horns and flashing their hazard lights.

Read the full dispatch from Susie Coen, our US correspondent, here.

05:56 PM GMT

How Harris failed to answer the money question

Kamala Harris lost the presidential election because she failed to distance herself from Joe Biden, Bill Clintons former campaign manager has said.

James Carville said that Ms Harris claim in October that there was not something that comes to mind when asked if she would have done anything differently to Mr Biden was devastating to her campaign.

We are in a 65 per cent wrong-track country, the country wants something different, Mr Carville told The Bulwark podcast.

And shes asked, as is so often the case, in a friendly audience, on The View, How would you be different than Biden? Thats the one question that you exist to answer, alright? That is it. Thats the money question.

And you freeze! You literally freeze and say, Well, I cant think of anything.

He added: When we go back and history unearths this, its going to be right there... thats the most devastating answer you could imagine.

05:18 PM GMT

Kari Lake to lose Arizona senate race

Kari Lake has lost the Arizona Senate race, projections show.

Democrat Ruben Gallego will beat Ms Lake and replace outgoing independent senator Kyrsten Sinema, according to a forecast by Decision Desk HQ.

Mr Gallego, a former marine and congressman, led his Republican rival by 45,000 votes as of Sunday morning with 89 per cent of the vote tallied.

Other authorities are yet to call the race.

04:06 PM GMT

Eric Trump: Make America great again

Make America Great Again!  Eric Trump (@EricTrump) November 9, 2024

03:50 PM GMT

Wealthy Democrats race to buy London boltholes

Wealthy Democrats are racing to snap up multi-million pound boltholes in London in the wake of Donald Trumps US election win.

Mr Trumps election triumph this week has sparked a flurry of interest from ultra-wealthy Americans who want to buy prime British property as a safety net because they disagree with the president-elects rhetoric, buying agents report.

Becky Fatemi, executive partner at Sothebys International Realty, said she received five calls in two days from Americans looking to move as an immediate reaction to the election result.

03:22 PM GMT

Bitcoin soars to record high after Trump win

Bitcoin soared to a record new high on Sunday as the price of the digital currency continues to rise in the wake of Donald Trumps election victory.

The cryptocurrency reached almost 62,000 per coin shortly after 12am GMT, surpassing a previous high of 58,000 on Wednesday.

Its all-time previous peak of 57,000 was reached in March.

The price of Bitcoin has been rising since the election over sentiments that Donald Trump will ease regulations on cryptocurrencies.

Dogecoin, another cryptocurrency backed by Trump ally Elon Musk, surged by more than 15% after Tuesdays election result was announced.

03:01 PM GMT

Republicans on verge of taking control of US House

The Republican Party is five seats away from taking control of the US House of Representatives, a win that would grant Donald Trump more power to push through his ambitious agenda.

With votes still being counted from the November 5 elections, Republicans had won 213 seats in the 435-member House, according to US exit poll provider Edison Research.

The GOP needs to win just five more seats for a majority in the House, while the Democrats would need to win 13 of the remaining 17 seats to take control.

With Mr Trump already retaking control of the Senate, taking the House of Representatives would give the GOP full control of Congress.

A trifecta of the House, Senate and the presidency will make it much easier for Republicans to pursue Mr Trumps plans for radical immigration reform, tax cuts and import tariffs.

Donald Trump took control of the House and Senate in 2016, but lost control of the House in the 2018 US midterm elections.

After 2018, the House blocked some of Trumps plans, including preventing him from building a wall on the US-Mexico border after he had declared a national emergency.

12:04 PM GMT

Kremlin sees positive signals from Trump

The Kremlin said on Sunday that it saw positive signals from statements made by Donald Trump during his election campaign.

The signals are positive. Trump during his election talked about how he perceives everything through deals, that he can make a deal that can lead to peace, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlins press secretary, said.

Mr Peskov however went on to say that it was hard to predict to what extent hes [Trump] going to stick to statements that he made on the campaign trail.

11:44 AM GMT

Labour unlikely to accept Farages Trump offer, minister says

Treasury secretary Darren Jones has said Labour is unlikely to accept Nigel Farages offer to act as a link between the UK and the US when Donald Trump returns to the White House in January.

I think thats probably unlikely, Mr Jones told Sky News.

My advice to Mr Farage would be he might want to concentrate his efforts on the constituents in Clacton that elected him into office, as opposed to spending his time in the United States, he added.

The Reform UK leader has said he has a great relationship with Mr Trump and would be willing to act as an intermediary for the Government in the name of the national interest.

11:18 AM GMT

Trumps former treasury secretary says he wont join next administration

Donald Trumps former treasury secretary has said he will not seek to join the president-elects new administration, but that he is ready to offer advice.

Serving as treasury chief during Trumps first term was the experience of a lifetime, and Im happy to advise on the outside, Steven Mnuchin said.

It was reported on Friday that two prominent hedge fund investors, Scott Bessent, founder of Key Square Group, and John Paulson had emerged as the top contenders for treasury secretary, and that Mr Bessent had met with Trump.

09:55 AM GMT

Watch: Donald Trump Jr mocks Zelensky saying his allowance is about to run out

Donald Trumps son has appeared to mock the idea of Ukraine and Volodymyr Zelensky losing US funding when his father returns to the White House.

In a post on Instagram, Donald Trump Jr re-shared a video of Mr Zelensky looking unhappy alongside Donald Trump with the caption: POV: Youre 38 days from losing your allowance.

The camera focusses on Mr Zelenskys face as the video turns to black-and-white and US dollar notes fall in front of the Ukrainian president.

The video was originally posted by Sarah Palin, the former Republican governor of Alaska.

On Saturday, senior Trump adviser Bryan Lanza said that Mr Trumps priority for Ukraine will be achieving peace rather than helping it regain territory captured by Russia.

Mr Trump has also ruled out giving former secretary of state Mike Pompeo, a pro-Ukraine Trump ally, a role in his incoming administration.

Credit: donaldjtrumpjr/Instagram

09:31 AM GMT

Four things Trump could do with full control of Congress

Donald Trump has claimed an unprecedented and powerful mandate to govern in his victory speech. If Republicans control all of Congress, he will have exactly that.

Rozina Sabur describes here how US funding for Ukraine would almost certainly be ended and plans to fund tough, ambitious immigration policies would push ahead.

09:28 AM GMT

Ultra-wealthy Democrats race to buy London boltholes after Trump win

Wealthy Democrats are racing to snap up multi-million pound boltholes in London in the wake of Donald Trumps US election win. Mr Trumps election triumph this week has sparked a flurry of interest from ultra-wealthy Americans who want to buy prime UK property as a safety net because they disagree with the president-elects rhetoric, buying agents report.

You can read the full story here.

09:27 AM GMT

Welcome to our live coverage

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of events in the US after Donald Trumps election win. Well be keeping you up to date throughout the day.
One person has died and two injured following a stabbing - Geoff Pugh for The Telegraph

Two men were killed in just half an hour, following separate violent attacks in South London on Sunday.

A man armed with a knife went on the rampage stabbing to death one man and injuring two others at the busy East Street Market in Walworth.

Meanwhile, one man died and two people suffered gunshot wounds following a shooting in Sydenham. The gunman remains at large.

The incidents are not thought to be connected but a Metropolitan Police commander said he understood the public would be shocked by such senseless acts of violence.

Police were called at 10.40am after receiving reports a man armed with a large knife had charged through the popular market just off Walworth Road apparently randomly attacking people.

Police were called after receiving reports a man armed with a large knife had charged through a market in south east London - UKNIP

Footage posted online showed paramedics performing CPR on one of the victims as shoppers, many of whom had had to flee, looked on in horror. A man in his 60s died at the scene. Two people  a man and a woman  suffered stab wounds and were taken to hospital.

A man, believed to be in his 60s, was arrested at the scene. Police have confirmed they are not treating it as terrorism and the incident is believed to be mental health related.

A fabric seller who witnessed the attack from his stall said the man appeared to lunge at people in apparently random and unprovoked attacks.

The man, 53, who asked not to be named, said: I just saw a bloke running through the market stabbing people willy-nilly. It seemed completely at random. He went for a few people near me.

His knife was big. I saw him stab two men. He and they seemed like complete strangers. Everyone was screaming and shouting and running. The man was running towards the end of the road. It was about 10.30am so the market was just picking up.

I went up to the two guys who got stabbed. One of them seemed like he wasnt in too much danger, but I knew the minute I saw the other man that he was in a bad way. I rang the police straight away.

Police have confirmed they are not treating it as terrorism and the incident is believed to be mental health related - Geoff Pugh for the Telegraph

Benaisa Lourdjane, 57, who has lived in the area for 42 years, claimed he held the suspect down before police arrived.

Me and a big white guy ran after the man and caught him and held him until the police came.

I saw him stab a man who passed away. Ive never seen the knifeman in this market before. Ive been shaking since it all happened. Everyone was very scared.

Another street vendor, who works at his brothers vegetable stall, said the suspect tried to attack him.

He tried stabbing me from about a metre away from me. I had to run away.

A man has died and two others are injured following a shooting incident in Sydenham - UKNIP

Commander Peter Stevens said: Tragically, a man lost his life this morning, and officers are working hard to establish exactly what happened and to provide support to his family. My thoughts and sincere sympathies are with them, and with the other people injured.

Our investigation is at a very early stage. One man was rapidly arrested by officers responding to the incident. At present, although inquiries are ongoing, nobody else is sought.

Officers are not looking for anyone else in connection with the attack but say their investigation is at an early stage.

In Sydenham, police were called at 10.10am to reports of a shooting in Wells Park Road. A man died at the scene, while a woman was also discovered with gunshot wounds to her legs. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said she was taken to hospital where her condition is not thought to be life-threatening. A third person attended hospital with gunshot injuries.

Commander Stevens added: I know people will be shocked by this senseless act of violence, all the more so on a Sunday morning in a residential area.

I share their concerns and can assure the local community that the Mets response, alongside our partners, has been rapid.

We are determined to safeguard the community, to get to the bottom of what happened here and bring those responsible to justice.
Ukraine has carried out its biggest drone strike on Moscow since Vladimir Putins full-scale invasion in 2022, Russian media said on Sunday, as the Kremlin launched its own record air attack over Ukraine.

Three airports in the Russian capital were temporarily closed and flights were diverted. At least one person was injured. Russia said its air defences shot down 70 drones, nearly half of them in the skies above Moscow and the rest in western Russia.

The general staff of Ukraines armed forces said it successfully targeted an ammunition dump near the Russian city of Bryansk. Video showed multiple explosions coming from warehouses on the military site. Fires could be seen burning in the night sky.

Other footage posted on Russian Telegram channels recorded drones buzzing above urban areas including suburbs of multistorey buildings and a lorry park.

Ukrainian commentators said the strike on Moscow was in response to a massive Russian drone barrage directed at Kyiv on Thursday, soon after Donald Trump was elected as US president.

On Saturday and Sunday, Moscow sent over another wave of 145 drones, the largest number yet. There was damage to the Black Sea port of Odesa. Ukrainian officials said 62 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were downed and others lost en route.

Russias defence ministry said it had thwarted a terrorist attack on its territory using airplane-type drones. At least 36 planes were diverted, the countrys air transport agency said.

Both sides have developed innovative and increasingly sophisticated UAV programmes. Ukraine has established its own drone command and has improved the range of its systems, with attacks hundreds of kilometres into Russia. It has hit weapons storage units, oil processing facilities and enemy airstrips near the Arctic Circle, as well as naval vessels in the Caspian Sea.

Russia has begun using drones steered by fibre-optic cables in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian troops control a salient around the Russian town of Sudzha. The new drones cannot be jammed with regular electronic countermeasures.

Related: They will just die uselessly: Ukrainians ready for North Korean troops joining Russias war

The air attacks happened as Russia reportedly massed 50,000 soldiers to launch a major assault aimed at recapturing Ukrainian-held territory in Kursk oblast.

The force, which includes North Korean reinforcements, is likely to attack in the coming days, according to a US assessment cited on Sunday by the New York Times. Pyongyang has sent 11,000 troops to take part in Russias war against Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last week.

Russia has seized a dozen or so villages and has shrunk the area controlled by Ukraine. But despite carrying out numerous attacks  using guided bombs, kamikaze drones, and infantry groups  it has been unable to dislodge dug-in Ukrainian combat units.

Trumps victory has fuelled speculation that Russias 10-year-old war against its smaller neighbour may be coming to a close. Zelenskyy spoke to Trump last week and also chatted to Elon Musk, after Trump passed the phone to the billionaire.

The president-elect famously boasted he could fix the war in Ukraine in 24 hours. Vladimir Putin has indicated he is ready to listen to what Trump has to say, with a pre-condition that the US cease military assistance to Ukraine before bilateral relations can be improved.

Zelenskyy is ready to fly to the US this week and hold substantive talks with Trump, sources in Kyiv indicated. Their most recent phone call was very positive, they added. The two met last month in Trump Tower when Zelenskyy flew to New York for the UN general assembly meeting.

Trumps aides have previously sketched the outlines of a Russia-friendly peace plan. It would involve current frontlines being frozen, with the de facto loss by Ukraine of Crimea and much of the east of the country, plus a veto or a long-term pause on Kyivs Nato application. What Trump will actually propose in office remains unclear.

Musks views on Ukraine are wildly contradictory. He has provided Ukraine with Starlink satellite internet, which is used extensively on the frontline and is a crucial tool for Ukraines military. Zelenskyy thanked Musk for Starlink during their conversation. At the same time, Musk has echoed Kremlin talking points, calling for Crimea to be made part of Russia and for Ukraine to remain neutral. He has held secret talks with Putin, the Wall Street Journal recently reported.

There was no sign of panic on Moscows boulevards after the drone attack, agencies reported on Sunday. Muscovites walked their dogs, and the bells of the onion-domed Russian Orthodox churches rang out across the capital.
No arrests made after Tuskegee shooting that occurred early Sunday morning, and killed one person who was not affiliated with the university. Photograph: JaysonPhotography/Getty Images/iStockphoto

One person was killed and 16 others were injured when gunfire erupted at Tuskegee University in Alabama on Sunday, the fourth reported shooting at homecoming events across the US within the last three weeks.

The Tuskegee shooting occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning. The person who was killed was not affiliated with the university, and their parents have been notified, according to the university.

No arrests were immediately announced.

Twelve people were wounded by gunfire, and four others sustained injuries not related to the gunshots, the Alabama law enforcement agency said in a Sunday afternoon update.

The parents of this individual have been notified. Several others including Tuskegee University students were injured and are receiving treatment at East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika and Baptist South Hospital in Montgomery, the university said in a statement.

An autopsy on the person killed, who is male, was planned at the states forensic center in Montgomery, the Macon county coroner, Hal Bentley, told the Associated Press on Sunday. The citys police chief, Patrick Mardis, said the injured included a female student who was shot in the stomach and a male student who was shot in the arm.

University officials added that several other students were injured and were receiving treatment at East Alabama medical center in Opelika and Baptist South hospital in Montgomery.

The Alabama bureau of investigations said it was conducting an investigation into the shooting.

The university is in the process of completing student accountability and notifying parents. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available, the statement from Tuskegee University said.

On 19 October one person was killed and four were injured by by gunfire at Albany State University in Georgia during its homecoming weekend festivities. A suspect has since been arrested, according to the Georgia bureau of investigation.

That same day, three people were killed and eight were injured in a shooting at a homecoming event on the outskirts of Lexington, Mississippi.

On 12 October, a mass shooting during a Tennessee State University homecoming parade in Nashville left one person dead and nine injured. Two suspects were arrested days later on murder charges, ABC reports.

The Associated Press contributed reporting
Sir Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch and former prime ministers at the Remembrance Sunday service - Alberto Pezzali/REUTERS

A record number of former prime ministers have gathered at the Cenotaph for Remembrance Sunday.

Standing close to the Cenotaph on Sunday was an unprecedented eight former prime ministers: Sir John Major, Sir Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Lord Cameron, Baroness May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak.

They joined Sir Keir Starmer to pay their respects for those who died while fighting for their country.

A number of spouses watched the remembrance event from the balcony overlooking the Cenotaph, but Carrie Johnson, Samantha Cameron and Cherie Blair were absent.

While Ms Johnson has not attended the service at the Cenotaph since 2020, she has repeatedly attended official events with her husband since he stepped down as prime minister, including the Coronation.

Former prime ministers, Baroness May, Lord Cameron and Gordon Brown were at the ceremony - Chris Jackson/Chris Jackson Collection

The spouses of the former prime ministers watched the ceremony from the balcony of the FCDO building - Stefan Rousseau/PA

During the ceremony, Sir Keir stepped forward to pay tribute to the fallen on behalf of the Government with his floral tribute, as did Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative Partys new leader, other party leaders, senior members of the Cabinet, military chiefs of staff and high commissioners.

Among the crowds lining barriers on Whitehall were military veterans proudly wearing their medals, while others waited nearby to take part in the Royal British Legion march past the memorial.

The Princess of Wales, who is making a gradual return to work after chemotherapy, watched the service with the Duchess of Edinburgh from a central balcony of the Foreign Office in Whitehall. It was the first major event she has attended since finishing her treatment.

A volley from a gun, fired by the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery from nearby Horse Guards Parade, rang out to signal the start of the two minutes of silent reflection, punctuated by the sound of London traffic, and another booming blast marked its end.

The King laid his wreath on behalf of the nation, after buglers from the Royal Marines played the Last Post. He was followed by the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal, and Maj Ollie Plunket, the Queens equerry.

His wreath closely resembled a floral tribute produced for his grandfather King George VI  41 open-style poppy petals made from bonded fabric mounted on black leaves, traditional for a sovereigns wreath and featuring a tied ribbon in the colours of the Kings racing silk, scarlet, purple and gold.
The Princess of Wales watched from a balcony as the King laid a wreath at the Cenotaph and led the nation in a two-minute silence on Remembrance Sunday.

Thousands of people gathered in Whitehall for the National Service of Remembrance to commemorate both world wars and other conflicts involving British and Commonwealth forces.

Following a two-minute silence at 11am, the King laid a wreath at the foot of the Cenotaph before saluting the UKs war dead. Wreaths were also laid by the Prince of Wales and the Prime Minister before veterans took part in a march past the war memorial.

The Princess, who is making a gradual return to work after chemotherapy, watched the service with the Duchess of Edinburgh from a central balcony of the Foreign Office in Whitehall. It is the first major event she has attended since finishing her treatment.

Elsewhere, ceremonies and marches have been held at war memorials in cities, towns and villages across the country.

02:04 PM GMT

We are now ending our live coverage

Thank you for following our live coverage of Remembrance Sunday..

You can watch highlights from this mornings event in the video above.

02:02 PM GMT

Queen watches moving service from home

The Queen watched the moving Remembrance Sunday service from home while she recuperates from a chest infection.

Camilla observed the two minutes silence privately as she followed the proceedings live on television at Raymill, her Wiltshire house, after doctors ordered her to miss the annual ceremony.

She was said to be disappointed not to be able to join the royal family including the King and the Princess of Wales at the Cenotaph to see the veterans parade in remembrance of the servicemen and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Royal doctors ruled out her attendance during the commemorative weekend, urging Camilla to take a few more days rest to fully recover after she caught a seasonal bug following her long-haul trip to Australia and Samoa.

There was also concern she might pass on the illness to others, with the King still undergoing treatment from cancer, and Kate recovering from the disease.

Camillas wreath, as is the custom even if she had attended, was placed at the Cenotaph on her behalf by her equerry Major Ollie Plunket, of The Rifles.

01:56 PM GMT

Swinneys tribute to uncle killed in WWII

First Minister John Swinney led tributes at the Remembrance Sunday service in Edinburgh, saying he will particularly remember his uncle who died in the Second World War.

Mr Swinney joined the citys Lord Provost and other civic leaders to lay wreaths at the Stone of Remembrance outside the city chambers, alongside veterans and military personnel.

The First Ministers uncle, Corporal Tom Hunter of 43 Royal Marine Commando, died on April 3 1945 in Comacchio, Italy.

He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for offering himself as a target to German guns in order to save his own troop during the battle.

Mr Swinney said: He was 21 years of age. He laid down his life to protect his troop and consequently he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for bravery in the United Kingdom.

Although that award was given to my late grandmother and my late grandfather, it was of limited comfort to them because they had lost their son, my mum had lost her brother, and her brothers had lost their brothers too.

We remember fondly the sacrifice he made so we could live in freedom.

01:05 PM GMT

Watch: Remembrance Sunday in full

Our live video stream of Remembrance Sunday has ended, but you can watch all the events from this morning here.

12:48 PM GMT

Pictured: Young and old pay their respects across UK

Lance Corporal David Clyde with his son Matthew Clyde, 5, after the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Stone of Remembrance outside the City Chambers in Edinburgh - PA

In Staffordshire, military personnel paid their respects at the Armed Forces Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas - PA

Standards were lowered in Portsmouth as the Last Post played ahead of a two minute silence in Guildhall Square - PA

12:30 PM GMT

D-Day veterans join Cenotaph march

The pace of the Cenotaph march past does not change, even if the faces of those marching do.

This year, just seven D-Day veterans were about to join, with the elderly of the forces veterans in wheelchairs.

Service dogs, men with prosthetic legs as a result of their heroism in conflict, a little girl with a red ribbon in her hair: all join the steady march forwards to pay their respects.

As the Chelsea pensioners in their distinctive red coats follow a troupe of veterans in matching red electric wheelchairs, the biggest cheer and applause of the day rings out.

The Chelsea Pensioners take part in the Royal British Legion march past the Cenotaph. - Geoff Pugh for the Telegraph

March

12:09 PM GMT

Record-breaking number of ex-Prime Ministers

In another first...

Eight former prime ministers gathered at at the Cenotaph for Remembrance Sunday for the first time ever.

Sir John Major, Sir Tony Blair, Lord Cameron, Gordon Brown, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak all attended the service alongside Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Their spouses also attended, with Lady Starmer and Akshata Murty standing side-by-side, although Carrie Johnson appeared to be absent.

Former PMs

11:45 AM GMT

A day of firsts in Northern Ireland

For the first time, a leader of Sinn Fein has taken part in the official national day of remembrance.

Northern Irelands First Minister Michelle ONeill became the first senior Sinn Fein figure to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph in Belfast, in an act she said was to build bridges. While Sinn Fein politicians have laid wreaths in previous years, this is the first time they have attended the main Sunday ceremony.

The message on Ms ONeills wreath said: As First Minister I wish to take our society beyond old limits, to build-bridges, and to a shared future together. Today I remember all lives lost in the horror of war and conflict - past and present.

Explaining her decision on social media, Ms ONeill said: As an Irish republican who believes in a united Ireland, I have my own perspective also. As we move towards a better future I am committed as First Minister to moving beyond old limits and building bridges.

She added: I will never shy away from my responsibility to take decisions - no matter how personally challenging - that will help build a new Ireland, defined by inclusion and respect for all traditions.

However, her attendance at the Cenotaph has caused division among Ireland. Many who were victims of the IRA, or whose relatives were killed by the IRA, as well as relatives of IRA members who also died in the Troubles, have been critical of the First Ministers decision.

First Minister of Northern Ireland, Michelle ONeill, lays a wreath during the Remembrance Sunday service in Belfast

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Wreath

11:37 AM GMT

Touching moment on the balcony

As the wreath laying finished, and the Bishop of London delivered a short address, the crowds joined in to chant the Lords Prayer.

God Save the King rang out, the Royal family singing heartily from the balcony. As that part of the service concluded, the King departed followed by his elder son and two siblings.

The Princess of Wales and Duchess of Edinburgh turned to walk back inside, the Duchess placing a hand on the Princesses back as they went.

The Duchess of Edinburgh placed a hand on the back of the Princess of Wales

11:29 AM GMT

Tributes paid at Piccadilly Circus

A display of falling poppies is shown on the advertising boards of Piccadilly Lights at Piccadilly Circus - AFP

11:25 AM GMT

Princess of Wales watches service from above

The Princess of Wales is watching the annual Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph from the central balcony of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in Whitehall.

In 2023 Kate stood next to the Queen but in Camillas absence this year due to a chest infection the princess was accompanied by the Duchess of Edinburgh.

The pair emerged just before 11am to join the nation in commemorating those who have died or suffered in war and conflict.

It is the first time since the start of the year that Kate, who is recovering from cancer, is carrying out two consecutive days of public official engagements.

Dressed in sombre black as is the tradition, she wore a netted hat with her hair in a twisted chignon, and a military-style coat featuring black epaulettes and embellished at the neck with a black velvet bow.

Her diamond and pearl drop earrings belonged to the late Queen, and she also wore her silver Queens Dragoon Guards brooch - in a nod to her role as the regiments Colonel-in-Chief - beneath three red poppies.

The Princess of Wales (left) and the Duchess of Edinburgh during the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in London - PA

11:22 AM GMT

Royals pay respects

The Royal family have led the nations commemoration, with the King laying a wreath at the Cenotaph for the fallen.

His face showing some emotion amid the military precision of the ceremony, King Charles took nine steps forward, holding a wreath of poppies, climbing two low steps to lay it.

He was followed by the Queens equerry, representing her as she rests at home with a chest infection. The Prince of Wales laid his distinctive wreath, topped by the three feathers, and saluted, followed by the Duke of Edinburgh and The Princess Royal.

The Princess of Wales watched the ceremony from the Foreign Office balcony above, staring straight ahead, the Duchess of Edinburgh next to her. As the women emerged onto the balcony moments earlier, they were seen to look across the sea of 10,000 veterans and servicemen and women, remarking to one another.

At times, the Duchess- wearing a wide-brimmed hat - appeared to glance at the Princess, who has been unwell this year and is making a gradual return to public life. This is the first major event she has attended since finishing her chemotherapy.

11:21 AM GMT

Veterans fill Whitehall ahead of march

Thousands of veterans have filled Whitehall ahead of their march past the Cenotaph organised by the Royal British Legion.

Some of those in the crowd have brought dogs with poppies attached to their collars.

People at the Trafalgar Square-end of Whitehall are watching the wreath-laying on big screens.

11:18 AM GMT

Pictured: Former Prime Ministers at Cenotaph

British former Prime Ministers David Cameron, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and John Major attend the annual Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall - REUTERS

11:12 AM GMT

The Prince of Wales lays wreath

11:10 AM GMT

Starmer and Badenoch pay tribute

The Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch laid wreaths at the Cenotaph after the King

Starmer

Starmer

11:05 AM GMT

King lays wreath as two-minute silence ends

The King laid a wreath at the Cenotaph to honour those who have died in conflict after leading the nation in a two-minute silence in one of the annual Remembrance Sunday services most poignant moments.

King Charles, dressed in his Royal Navy uniform of the Admiral of the Fleet, saluted after stepping back from the Cenotaph.

His wreath closely resembles one produced for King George VI, with 41 paper poppy petals mounted on an arrangement of black leaves, as is traditional for Sovereigns wreaths, and adorned with a scarlet, purple and gold ribbon and bow.

The colours of the ribbon and bow are from the Kings racing silk.

Other members of the royal family laid wreaths, including the Prince of Wales in his Royal Air Force uniform in the rank of Wing Commander.

11:01 AM GMT

UK falls quiet for two-minute silence

Big Ben has chimed and the country will now fall quiet for the two-minute silence.

10:47 AM GMT

Farage watches as military bands play

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer are among the politicians watching the Remembrance Sunday service from a balcony at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Only the heads of parties with six or more seats in Parliament, plus the leaders of the largest party from each of the devolved nations, lay a wreath at the Cenotaph during the service.

Reform has five MPs and the Greens have four.

Nigel Farage on a balcony at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in Whitehall ahead of the Remembrance Sunday service - PA

The sounds of Rule Britannia and Flowers of the Forest sound out across Whitehall from military bands - Geoff Pugh for the Telegraph

Bands

10:39 AM GMT

Whitehall is ready to do its duty

The streets around the Cenotaph are full and silent.

A sea of black and red, 10,000 veterans and members of the Armed Forces have mustered in formation, ready to march. The crowds, all wearing poppies, gaze from face to face: from the nonagenarian D-Day veterans in wheelchairs to the children of Scottys Little Soldiers.

The drizzle has stopped and Whitehall is ready to do its duty.

10:28 AM GMT

Veterans prepare to march

Thousands of veterans are lined up in the middle of Whitehall as they prepare to take part in the Royal British Legions march past the Cenotaph.

A military band is performing as it marches at the Parliament Square end of the central London street.

Veterans gather before the march past the the Cenotaph - Geoff Pugh for the Telegraph

10:21 AM GMT

Pictured: Poppy Fields at the Tower

The Poppy Fields at the Tower, a sound and light show over the Remembrance period at the Tower of London

Tower of London

10:18 AM GMT

Crowds gather ahead of Cenotaph service

Crowds are gathering in central London ahead of the annual Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph.

Thousands of people are lining each side of Whitehall, with many wearing poppies on their coats on a cool and overcast morning in Westminster.

A quiet has descended over the central London street as the crowds watch preparations for the memorial, with some taking photographs as Big Ben chimed nearby.

10:06 AM GMT

Pictured: Veterans share touching moment as crowds gather

World War II veterans Alec Penstone and Mervyn Kersh hold hands on the Horse Guards Parade ahead of the Royal British Legions march past the Cenotaph - REUTERS

Veterans gather near Guards Memorial on the Horse Guards Parade - REUTERS

10:02 AM GMT

Wrexham captain refuses to observe Remembrance Sunday

Wrexham captain James McClean stood separately to his team-mates and refused to wear a poppy as the club observed a minutes silence for Remembrance Sunday ahead of their fixture against Mansfield.

Games across the country this weekend will pay their respects to those fallen in war by wearing a traditional poppy on their shirts or black armband with the flower on it and holding a minutes silence but the 35-year-old was pictured standing separately to his team-mates at the Racecourse ground and opted to not wear the black armband for the match.

The 35-year-old Irishman has stood against the annual tradition throughout his career after he first refused to wear a poppy in 2012. Wrexham fans were heard singing he hates the f--- King after the silence concluded, to which the former Stoke winger reportedly applauded ahead of kick-off.

James McClean and his lovely family being adored by the Wrexham fans



The Wrexham fans singing "And he hates the f******* King" and Jimmy Mac absolutely loving it



What a man  pic.twitter.com/pTCvo3NQsz  IrishPropaganda (@IrishPropaganda) April 15, 2024

Separately, The Telegraphs George Chesterton has written about why Britains young people are scared to wear the poppy.

09:44 AM GMT

Pictured: Princess of Wales at Royal Albert Hall last night

The Princess of Wales joined the Royal family at the Royal Albert Hall last night 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.

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.

The Royal family stood to applaud Second World War veterans as they entered the hall, in the 80th anniversary year of D-Day.

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 Prince and Princess of Wales keenly applauded those on stage Credit: Chris J Ratcliffe/Reuters

The Princess was wearing a black dress with a clutch bag, high heels, pearl earrings, her distinctive engagement ring and a poppy brooch Credit: Chris J Ratcliffe/Reuters

The Princess of Wales was at her first major event since finishing chemotherapy Credit: Chris J Ratcliffe/Reuters

09:33 AM GMT

Queen will not attend Remembrance Sunday events

The Queen will not be attending Remembrance Sunday events this weekend amid her ongoing illness, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.

It comes after Queen Camilla, 77, was diagnosed with a chest infection and cancelled several engagements this week.

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 that the Queens doctors urged a few more days of rest at home in Wiltshire as a precautionary measure while she recovers from the chest infection.

09:31 AM GMT

Pictured: Veterans gather in London

Veterans and servicemen, seen here in Trafalgar Square, are gathering across London ahead of The National Service of Remembrance in Whitehall - London News Pictures Ltd

09:14 AM GMT

Princess of Wales to attend Cenotaph service

The Princess of Wales is to join the Royal family for the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph today, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.

The Princess, who is making a gradual return to work after chemotherapy, will watch commemorations at the national service in Whitehall.

She will join the King, her husband the Prince of Wales and other senior members of the Royal family for the event.

It is one of only a handful of public appearances for the Princess of Wales this year following her illness.

Last night, she joined the Royal family at the Royal Albert Hall for the annual Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance.
Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Monday. Photograph: Manon Cruz/Reuters

Keir Starmer has joined Emmanuel Macron in Paris for the French Armistice Day service, in a pointed show of European solidarity days after Donald Trumps re-election, with Ukraine and defence on the agenda for private talks between the two leaders.

Starmer became the first UK leader to attend Frances national commemoration event since Winston Churchill in 1944.

No 10 and the Elysee are said to be hoping the meeting will be a significant European moment for France and the UK, two leading Nato powers, amid fears on the continent about the future of the alliance after Trumps re-election.

The prime minister flew to Paris early on Monday to attend the event with French and British veterans. He also had a breakfast reception with representatives of the British defence community in France.

A spokesperson for No 10 said Starmer and Macron discussed how to put Ukraine in a strong position.



The leaders started by discussing the situation in Ukraine, including how best to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position going into the winter, they said.

Turning to the Middle East, both underscored their deep concern at the situation in Gaza and Lebanon. They also reiterated the need for stability in the West Bank.

Reflecting on the situation in the Channel, the prime minister set out his mission to disrupt and deter smuggling gangs across Europe, and the leaders strongly agreed on the importance of bearing down on illegal migration at every stage of a migrants journey.



Related: Boost UK defence spending to win Trumps support, former navy chief urges Starmer

Whitehall officials have been tasked with examining how Trumps victory will affect the final shape of the strategic defence review (SDR) due to be reported in the spring. Starmer and the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, are understood to be planning to set out a path before that deadline on how the UK can reach the 2.5% of GDP defence spending target for Nato member states.

Starmer and the foreign secretary, David Lammy, have cited the defence target as an area of common ground with Trump, who has repeatedly called for Nato countries to provide more funds and to reduce their reliance on US spending.

Trump has previously urged Nato allies to spend 3%, a marked increase from the current UK level. Speaking at a campaign in August, he said: Ill insist that every Nato nation must spend at least 3%. You have to go up to 3%  2% is the steal of the century, especially as were paying for it.

During the US election campaign, he said he would find a solution to end Vladimir Putins war in Ukraine within a day, but did not explain how he would do so. His vice-presidential nominee, JD Vance, has been vociferously opposed to providing more funds to support Ukraine.

The Wall Street Journal reported that among Trumps plans to bring about an end to the conflict was the establishment of an 800-mile demilitarised zone between the Russian and Ukrainian armies, policed by European troops.

Bryan Lanza, a political adviser to Trump since his 2016 presidential campaign, suggested on the BBC this weekend that Trump would force territorial concessions from Ukraine.

When [Volodymyr] 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. But a spokesperson for Trumps presidential transition team said later on Saturday that Lanza had not been speaking on behalf of the president-elect.

On Sunday, a UK cabinet minister said the government was examining all possible options in terms of a potential change of approach to Ukraine by the US.

Whitehall officials were considering and planning lots of different scenarios, Darren Jones told Sky News on Sunday. Jones said the UK would not be stepping back from its own commitments. We dont want any countenance of the idea that were stepping back from that. Thats why were offering them 3bn a year, which you know, in the fiscal context here in the UK, is difficult but the right decision for us, he said.

Officials will be considering and planning lots of different scenarios  as they would do under any administration  to make sure that the UK is in the strongest possible position.

However, Jones said he would not specifically commit to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence by the end of the current parliament, saying security and defence were a priority but that meant trade-offs in other areas.

Military experts have said the incoming Trump administration has given new impetus to the need for Nato allies to mend fences.

Dr Karin von Hippel, the director of the Royal United Services Institute thinktank, said it was a symbolic moment to have the French president and Starmer stand united.

Its important for the United Kingdom and the EU to mend fences and forge a stronger relationship now that Trump has won. The same applies to UK bilateral relations with European countries.

America will no longer be a reliable partner for any European country, including the UK. So as much bridge building and scenario planning that can be done now is critical, including deciding where they will push back on the United States when they disagree.

In Paris on Monday, Starmer will also meet the new French prime minister, Michel Barnier, the former Brexit negotiator whom Starmer met several times as shadow Brexit secretary.

Starmer said: I am honoured to be in Paris to stand united with President Macron in tribute to the fallen of the first world war who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom we enjoy today.

These events are vital in ensuring the memory of millions of young soldiers, sailors and aviators live on for generations to come.

Announcing the visit, Starmer promised 10m of government funds for the 80th anniversaries of VE Day and VJ Day on 8 May and 15 August next year, promising events to involve tens of thousands of military personnel.

The prime minister has repeatedly said the UKs commitment to Ukraine would be ironclad no matter the US presidents approach, although officials in Kyiv have told the Guardian they are frustrated over Britains failure to supply additional long-range missiles.

On Sunday, the UKs chief of the defence staff said approximately 1,500 Russian troops were being killed and injured every day. Adm Sir Tony Radakin said Russia was still paying an extraordinary price for Putins invasion and October was the worst month for losses since the conflict began in February 2022.

 This article was amended on 11 November 2024. The Armistice Day event in Paris marked the formal ending of the first world war, not the 80th anniversary of the start of the liberation of France in the second world war, as an earlier version said.
Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron will meet in Paris for Armistice Day - LAURENT BLEVENNEC/PRESIDENCE DE LA REPUBLIQUE

Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron are expected to plot a last-ditch attempt to thwart Donald Trumps efforts to scale back US support for Ukraine.

The British and French leaders on Monday will discuss whether Joe Biden, the US president, can be persuaded to give Ukraine permission to fire Storm Shadow missiles deep into Russia, according to UK Government insiders.

The Telegraph has been told there are hopes in London that Mr Biden will finally give the approval Kyiv has sought for months in a bid to secure his foreign policy legacy.

The talks will take place in Paris as Sir Keir becomes the first UK leader to attend the Armistice Day ceremony in the city since Winston Churchill in 1944.

The knock-on impact of the impending Trump presidency on the Middle East and the possibility of a trade war with Europe are also expected to be discussed.

The efforts come as world leaders attempt to work out how drastically Mr Trump, who won the US election last week, intends to change US policy on Ukraine.

Mr Trump talked about ending the Ukraine war on day one throughout his presidential campaign, leading to fears he will force Kyiv to accept land lost to Russia.

Donald Trump met with Volodymyr Zelensky in Trump Tower in New York in September - EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

A senior Whitehall source said: We are very keen to make sure we can make the most of the time between now and Jan 20 [when Mr Trump becomes US president] and not just put everything on hold until the next administration.

Another source said Mr Biden was expected to turn on the taps by handing over more financial aid owed to Kyiv in the weeks before he leaves the White House.

Fears surrounding Mr Trumps plans for Ukraine were fuelled over the weekend with news that Mike Pompeo and Nikki Haley, two pro-Ukraine former cabinet members in his first administration, would not be given positions this time round.

Donald Trump Jr, the president-elects son, said there is no place in his fathers administration for war hawks, in another sign a stark change in approach could be coming.

In a post on Instagram on Saturday, he posted a video appearing to mock Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukraines president, over losing his American allowance when his father returns to the White House.

In the clip, Mr Zelensky looks unhappy alongside Mr Trump with the caption: POV: Youre 38 days from losing your allowance.

Credit: donaldjtrumpjr/Instagram

Elbridge Colby, a Trump ally tipped for a job in the White House, also said on Sunday that Mr Trump would bring an end to the Ukraine war and make sure our Nato allies step up.

The president-elect told Russia not to escalate the war in Ukraine in a phone call on Thursday, The Washington Post reported. Sources also told the newspaper that Mr Trump expressed an interest in follow-up conversations to discuss the resolution of Ukraines war soon.

Sir Keir has pledged to work closely with Mr Trump despite cabinet ministers including David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, and Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, criticising the president-elect in the past.

However, Sir Keirs plan could be seen by Mr Trump as an attempt to undermine US foreign policy, which could antagonise him and threaten the relationship before he even takes office in January.

EU and UK leaders are expected to discuss ways to persuade Joe Biden to support Ukraines use of Storm Shadow missiles - SEAN GALLUP/GETTY IMAGES EUROPE

Since Mr Trumps election victory, Mr Biden has attempted to secure US support for Ukraine. On Thursday, the White House said he will continue surging humanitarian and military aid for Ukraine using funds already authorised by Congress.

Mr Biden will lobby Mr Trump not to abandon Ukraine when the pair meet on Wednesday, Jake Sullivan, US national security adviser, said on Sunday.

President Biden will have the opportunity over the next 70 days to make the case to the Congress and to the incoming administration that the United States should not walk away from Ukraine, that walking away from Ukraine means more instability in Europe, he said.

The use of Storm Shadow missiles in Ukraine has been widely debated by leaders for months - LEWIS JOLY/AP

The debate over whether Ukraine should be allowed to fire Storm Shadow missiles, made by the UK and France, deep into Russian territory played out for months behind the scenes. The missiles require US technology to be fully effective.

Ukraine is understood to currently only be allowed to use the missiles in limited circumstances on Russian land, such as to hit troops just by the border - though the specifics of any agreements have never been made public.

Mr Zelensky has been calling for permission to fire the missiles further into Russia for months as it could help stop Russian planes taking off before bombing Ukraine.

Well-placed UK government sources said Sir Keir and Mr Macron had become supportive earlier this year.

Previous hopes that Mr Biden would approve further use of the missiles were dashed in September over fears of retaliatory attacks on Western military bases.

Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, was supportive but Mr Sullivan was against the move, fearing it would escalate the stand-off with Russia and further entangle America, according to the Foreign Offices analysis of internal debates.

Should Kyiv be given permission to fire Storm Shadows deep into Russian territory before Mr Trump took office it would be more difficult for the approval to be reversed.

Sir Keir Starmer previous attempts to persuade Joe Biden on Storm Shadow missiles in September were unsuccessful - TING SHEN/BLOOMBERG

On Monday, Sir Keir will have a short meeting with Michel Barnier, the new French prime minister, who was the European Unions Brexit negotiator.

Sir Keir hopes to negotiate a defence and security pact with the EU in the new year, another topic that is expected to be discussed with Mr Macron.

Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, on Sunday failed to promise that Labours ambition to spend 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence will be achieved in the next five years.

Sir Keirs attendance at the Armistice Day ceremony in Paris marks the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale, and the 80th anniversary of the start of the liberation of France

He said: I am honoured to be in Paris to stand united with President Macron in tribute to the fallen of the First World War who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom we enjoy today.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi speaks Saturday during the San Francisco Legion of Honors 100th anniversary celebration. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

During her first public speaking event since Donald Trump regained the presidency, Rep. Nancy Pelosi stressed the importance of the arts in the countrys future, stating my hopes are riding on the arts.

The arts are unifying to our country, and I think its going to be the salvation of our country, she said Saturday at San Franciscos Legion of Honor, where we can come together, forget our differences, be inspired, laugh together, cry together.

The former House speaker was among several dignitaries invited to kick off the free, weekend-long celebration in honor of the San Francisco institutions 100th anniversary. She presented a Congressional Certificate of Honor to the museum during a program that also included remarks by Grand Chancelier de la Legion dHonneur, Paris, Francois Gerard Marie Lecointre; San Francisco Supervisors Connie Chan and Aaron Peskin; and Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco Director Thomas P. Campbell

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For his part, Lecointre mentioned the shared values of brotherhood, freedom, liberty, equality and the dignity of human beings between France and the United States. Commenting on the history of Franco-American friendship, Pelosi noted the daytime event was hosted in the museums courtyard, where noted French sculptor Auguste Rodins contemplative statue The Thinker loomed nearby.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi chats with Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin during the San Francisco Legion of Honors 100th anniversary celebration Saturday. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

Lets focus on the future with the unity that the arts bring to us, with the beauty of it all and the recognition of the creative spirit of America in friendship with our friends the French, she said.

More Information Legion of Honor Centenary Weekend: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Monday, Nov. 9-11. Free. Legion of Honor, Lincoln Park, 100 34th Ave., S.F. www.famsf.org

Evoking other leaders, from President John Adams to his wife, Abigail Adams, and President John F. Kennedy, she highlighted the essential value of the arts and arts education in American life.

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Pelosi also paid tribute to the roles of women in the history of the Legion of Honor, under the auspices of FAMSF, which also includes the de Young Museum. She particularly acknowledged founder Alma de Bretteville Spreckels and FAMSF Chair Emerita Dede Wilsey for their entrepreneurial and philanthropic spirits.

Indeed, during her remarks before Pelosi spoke, Wilsey, the sponsor of the museums popular free Saturdays for Bay Area residents program, noted: It often takes a woman to make things happen.

The San Francisco Legion of Honor is celebrating its centennial with a yearlong series of special events. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

While Pelosi did not directly address Trumps reelection or take questions from the media at Saturdays event, she bemoaned President Joe Biden for his late exit in the presidential race in an interview with the New York Times published a day before.

Had the president gotten out sooner, there may have been other candidates in the race, she said, according to the Times story.

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In San Francisco, she told the crowd, What comes next will happen because of all of you here today.

Amid Saturdays afternoon festivities, which drew an estimated 6,000 and included performances by the George Washington High School Marching Band, San Francisco Ballet School and others, as well as an organ concert by Jonathan Dymmock, Campbell told the Chronicle that institutions like the Legion of Honor serve as a reminder that while leaders may come and go, certain things, certain values remain constant.

The Legion of Honor has been a center of learning, inspiration and joy and reflection for a century now, he went on. It will continue to be that through thick and through thin.

A cake party helps mark Saturdays celebration of the Legion of Honors 100th birthday. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

Saturdays celebration also included a cake picnic in the morning, which saw hundreds of guests bringing sweet treats to mark the museums birthday.

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Events continue Sunday, with the openings of the exhibitions Celebrating 100 Years of the Legion of Honor and Dress Rehearsal: The Art of Theatrical Design.
Donald Trump, the US president-elect, suggested he would likely speak with Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, on Nov 7 - Brendan Smialowski /AFP

Donald Trump will hurt America if he allows Putin to win in Ukraine, Natos top military official has said.

In the strongest criticism of Mr Trumps so-called peace plans since he won last weeks election, Adml Rob Bauer said Ukraine is of strategic importance to the US.

He also warned that North Koreas entry into the war on Russias side was a problem for the US.

It came as the Kremlin welcomed what it said was Mr Trumps openness to a deal that could bring an end to the war.

Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman for the Kremlin, said: The signals are positive. Trump during his election talked about how he perceives everything through deals, that he can make a deal that can lead to peace.

Last week, Mr Trump was reported considering a plan that would freeze the conflict on the current front lines, with European peace-keepers deployed to an 800-mile buffer zone.

On Saturday, Donald Jr, Mr Trumps son, mocked Volodymyr Zelenksy on social media, resharing a video that said Ukraines financial allowance from the US is about to run out.

In his first term, Mr Trump threatened to pull the United States out of Nato, calling on European nations to increase their own defence spending rather than rely on the protection of America.

Adml Rob Bauer said North Koreas entry into the war on Russias side was a problem for the US - Olivier Matthys/AFP

Speaking at a defence summit in Prague, Adml Bauer made an appeal for the US to remain engaged in the Ukraine war, saying it connected to the rules-based international order [and to] the heart of Europe.

He added: It is connected to the ambitions of Russia, and indirectly, the ambitions of China. I cannot imagine that it is in the interest of the United States to allow Putin to come out of this conflict as a winner.

Warning of Russias growing military cooperation with belligerent countries such as North Korea and Iran, Adml Bauer said Russias export of nuclear and ballistic missile technology was a challenge and a problem for the United States.

China plays a role here as well. He [Trump] cannot solve Ukraine without looking at all these other plays as well, because otherwise the United States will hurt itself.

At a defence summit in Prague, Adml Bauer made an appeal for the US to remain engaged in the Ukraine war - Olivier Matthys/AFP

Adml Bauer, as the chairman of Natos military committee, links forces to the alliances political leaders. He commands no troops of his own but is one of the most influential military officers in the alliance.

Earlier in an exclusive interview with The Telegraph, he suggested Mr Trumps idea of a 24-hour peace plan for Ukraine needs to be viewed through a wider aperture.

The fact that Russia and China have allowed North Korea to change from being the most isolated country in the world with a large set of UN Security Council resolutions against it  supported by Russia and China  they are now, suddenly, a player.

That is a problem for the US.

Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraines president with Adml Bauer at the Nato-Ukraine council working dinner early this October - Olivier Matthys/Shutterstock

Russia has massed some 50,000 troops including North Korean soldiers in an attempt to push Ukrainian forces out of its Kursk border region.

US officials said they have been attacking Ukrainian positions with missile strikes and artillery fire, but they have not yet begun a major assault there.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials say they expect an attack involving the North Korean troops in the coming days.

On Saturday, Mr Trump announced that he would not appoint Mike Pompeo, the former CIA director, to his new cabinet.

The news came as a blow to those who hoped Mr Trump might pursue a more aggressive policy towards Russia, as Mr Pompeo has long advocated for increased aid to Ukraine.
Donald Trump, left; and Vladimir Putin. Photograph: Elijah Nouvelagealexander Nemenov/AFP/Getty Images

Donald Trump spoke on the phone with Vladimir Putin on Thursday and discussed the war in Ukraine, the Washington Post reported on Sunday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The US president-elect advised the Russian president not to escalate the war in Ukraine and reminded him of Washingtons sizeable military presence in Europe, the Post reported.

It added that Trump expressed interest in follow-up conversations on the resolution of Ukraines war soon.

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.

According to one former US official who was familiar with the call and spoke to the Washington Post, Trump probably does not want to begin his second presidential term with an escalation in the Ukraine war, giving him incentive to want to keep the war from worsening.

Related: Trumps world order: election win brings fears of a combustible US foreign policy

In a statement to the outlet, Trumps spokesperson, Steven Cheung, said: President Trump won a historic election decisively and leaders from around the world know America will return to prominence on the world stage. That is why leaders have begun the process of developing stronger relationships with the 45th and 47th president because he represents global peace and stability.

Trump had also spoken to the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on Wednesday, according to media reports.

Biden has invited Trump to come to the Oval Office on Wednesday, and on Sunday, the national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said that Bidens top message will be his commitment to ensure a peaceful transfer of power. He will also talk to Trump about whats happening in Europe, in Asia and the Middle East.

President Biden will have the opportunity over the next 70 days to make the case to the Congress and to the incoming administration that the United States should not walk away from Ukraine, that walking away from Ukraine means more instability in Europe, Sullivan told CBS.

Washington has provided tens of billions of dollars worth of US military and economic aid to Ukraine since it was invaded by Russia in February 2022, funding that Trump has repeatedly criticised and rallied against with other Republican lawmakers.

Ukraines foreign ministry disputed a claim in the Washington Post article that Kyiv was informed of the call and did not object to the conversation taking place. Reports that the Ukrainian side was informed in advance of the alleged call are false. Subsequently, Ukraine could not have endorsed or opposed the call, a foreign ministry spokesperson, Heorhii Tykhyi, told Reuters.

On Friday, the Kremlin said Putin was ready to discuss Ukraine with Trump but that it did not mean that he was willing to alter Moscows demands.

On 14 June, Putin set out his terms for an end to the war: Ukraine would have to drop its Nato ambitions and withdraw all its troops from all the territory of four regions claimed by Russia.

Related: Ukraines MPs hopeful Donald Trumps victory not a catastrophe for war effort

Ukraine rejected that, saying it would be tantamount to capitulation, and that Zelenskyy had put forward a victory plan that includes requests for additional military support from the west.

Also on Sunday, Trump spoke to the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz. The chancellor emphasised the German governments willingness to continue the decades of successful cooperation between the two countries governments. They also agreed to work together towards a return to peace in Europe, a German government spokesperson said.

In a call last week with the South Korean president, Yoon Suk Yeol, Trump said the US was interested in working with Seoul in the shipbuilding industry, particularly in naval shipbuilding, as well as promoting genuine peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region, the South Korean leader said.

Trumps call with Putin comes just a day after Bryan Lanza, a senior political adviser to Trump, told the BBC that Ukraine should focus on achieving peace instead of a vision for winning.

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, Lanza told the BBC.

After his comments, a Trump spokesperson said Lanza was a contractor for the campaign and that he does not work for President Trump and does not speak for him.
The UK declines to commit more than its current budget of 11.6 billion in overseas development aid - Alexander Nemenov/AFP

The UK is facing calls to pay into a $1 trillion fund to help developing countries tackle climate change at this years COP29 summit.

Developed countries will be under pressure to commit money to help poorer nations invest in renewable energy and adapt to climate change during the two-week summit, which starts on Monday in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.

Leaders from developing nations are pushing for a fund of up to $1 trillion, funded via grants from richer countries and investment from the private sector.

The UK has agreed in principle that more money is needed, but so far declined to commit more than its current budget of 11.6 billion in overseas development aid, which runs out next year.

Evans Njewa, the chairman of the Less Developed Countries group at the United Nations negotiations, said: A failure to conclude COP29 without a bold new finance goal would be a tragic disservice to both the planet and vulnerable populations.

Evans Njewa insists a lack of new finance goals would be a disservice to developing countries - ZUMA Press Inc.

Negotiations over financial contributions are likely to be more fraught in the wake of the US election result after Donald Trump promised to pull out of the Paris Agreement.

The Biden administration will be negotiating during the two-week conference in Baku, but countries may be wary of making commitments that may be undone by Trump.

The EU and the US argue China should be considered a wealthy nation and pay its fair share of climate finance, in what is likely to become a growing row at the summit.

Although Chinas climate finance is already estimated at around $4.5 billion a year, it has pushed back against formalising its funding into a commitment at the COP meetings.

Sir Keir Starmer is expected to announce a new target at COP29 for cutting emissions in the UK by 2035 - Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing

Some countries at COP29, including France, are pushing for innovative financing to help pay for the $1 trillion funding, including taxes on flying and fossil fuel extraction.

Sir Keir Starmer will speak in Baku on Tuesday, and is expected to announce a new target for cutting the UKs emissions by 2035.

The climate change committee, the Governments advisers on net zero, recently recommended an 81 per cent drop on 1990 levels of emission within a decade.

Sir Keir is expected to tout his Governments commitments to net zero, including bringing forward the date to achieve 100 per cent green power by 2030, a goal that many in the energy industry say is unviable.

A spokesman from the Foreign Office said: Tackling climate change is in the UKs national interest. By acting decisively and early, the UK has an opportunity to lead the world in the clean industries of the future.

Were honouring the last governments commitment to 11.6 billion of climate finance from 2021/22 to 2025/26.

Catherine Pettengell, the executive director of Climate Action Network UK, has likened funding climate finance for poorer nations to abolishing slavery or rebuilding Germany after the war.

Ahead of the talks developed countries, including the UK, have not been propositional or ambitious enough in discussing the scale of public grant finance needed, she said.
Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy met at Trump Tower in New York in September. Photograph: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

Ukrainian politicians are expressing tentative hopes that the return of Donald Trump to the White House will not necessarily lead to a rapid and humiliating forced peace.

An initial 25-minute post-election call between Trump and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, during which the president-elect handed the phone to Elon Musk, is said to have been positive in tone and no specifics of any peace proposals were discussed.

Zelenskyy also thanked Musk for making the Starlink satellite internet service available for use by his countrys military, for whom it is a vital communications tool on the front line.

Though Trump promised to stop wars in his first speech after his victory over Kamala Harris became apparent last week, there are no settled outlines of a peace plan yet, giving Kyiv breathing space to press its own case.

Related: Moscow targeted as Ukraine and Russia trade large drone attacks

Oleksiy Goncharenko, a Ukrainian opposition MP, said: I dont think that Trumps victory is a catastrophe. Ukraine is now his business and if negotiations lead to a disaster it will be his, like Joe Bidens decision to withdraw from Afghanistan. This is a person who loves to win.

Trump spoke to Vladimir Putin on the phone on Thursday and discussed the war in Ukraine, the Washington Post has reported. The US president-elect advised Putin not to escalate the war in Ukraine and reminded him of Washingtons sizeable military presence in Europe, according to the Post.

Ukrainians emphasise the complexity of negotiating with the Russian president, who they hope may overplay his hand with maximalist demands or irritate the notoriously prickly American leader.

At some point, Trump has to present a plan to Putin and we will see if Putin wants to stick to it. From that moment there is a new reality, Goncharenko said. In the meantime, we have to work with the US and with US public opinion.

Putin has already praised Trumps courage for his defiant behaviour after surviving an assassination attempt in July, describing him as a real man, though Moscow has said its goals in invading Ukraine  once described as demilitarisation and denazification  remain unchanged.

The Russian president congratulated Trump on his victory and said: He turned out to be a courageous person. People show who they are in extraordinary circumstances. This is where a person reveals himself. And he showed himself, in my opinion, in a very correct manner, courageously. Like a man.

He said he was ready for dialogue with Trump. 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.

On Sunday, the Kremlins spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, was upbeat but non-specific. Trump during his election talked about how he perceives everything through deals, that he can make a deal that can lead to peace, he said, though he added campaign trail statements were not always borne out.

A day after his phone call with Trump, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraines president, acknowledged that the president-elect thought he could move fast. I believe that President Trump really wants a quick decision, he said at a meeting of the European Political Community in Budapest. He wants that. It doesnt mean that it will happen this way.



Specific proposals for a peace deal in Ukraine from senior Republicans are competing and to some extent contradictory. A critical factor will be Trumps appointments to the state department and Pentagon as well as his choice of national security adviser.



In June, the retired Lt Gen Keith Kellogg and Fred Fleitz, who previously both served as chiefs of staff in Trumps national security council, presented a proposal to Trump that would force Ukraine to negotiate by threatening to cut off military aid, freezing the conflict along the current frontlines.

In September, JD Vance, now the vice-president-elect, proposed something similar, a plan that would allow Russia to take control of the 20% of Ukraine it currently occupies, and stipulating that Ukraine would never be allowed to join Nato.

Another plan partly proposed by Mike Pompeo, a former secretary of state under Trump now considered to be a candidate for defence secretary, involves a de facto partition based on the current frontlines while lifting all restrictions on the type of weapons Ukraine can obtain and use  including British Storm Shadow missiles. This would be paid for with money obtained from Russian foreign exchange reserves; $50bn in loans from G7 members was announced last month.

Over the weekend, the Trump campaign distanced themselves from a comment made by another campaign adviser, Bryan Lanza, who said Crimea is gone, arguing the occupied territories were lost for good. Lanza does not speak for Trump, a spokesperson for the Republican said.

All such proposals are diametrically opposed to Zelenskyys own victory plan presented publicly last month, which called for Nato membership plus unrestricted use of western weapons to force a restoration of its internationally recognised territory.

Across Ukraine there is a certain fatalism. Maria Avdeeva, a Kyiv-based fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute thinktank, said: I think Ukrainians have already learned the lesson that we have to count on ourselves  a refrain that crops up repeatedly in conversation.

Ukraine is already struggling on the battlefield to a degree not seen since the spring of 2022, particularly on the southern part of the eastern from, where Ukraine has lost 9km in a week in some areas as Russia presses forward aggressively, incurring, according to UK estimates, numbers of troops killed and wounded of as high as 1,354 a day.

The numbers of cases of Ukrainian desertion (18,196) and soldiers going absent without leave (35,307) between January and September are double those of the whole of 2023, according to leaked figures from the prosecutor generals office, suggesting a growing weariness in parts of the armed forces.

Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraines most senior military commander, said on Saturday: The situation remains challenging and shows signs of escalation. The enemy, leveraging its numerical advantage, is continuing offensive actions and is focusing its main efforts on the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove directions.
Demonstrators in Valencia demand the resignation of the regional president, Carlos Mazon. Photograph: David Ramos/Getty Images

The Valencian regional government, which has been heavily criticised over its response to the deadly floods that have killed at least 222 people in Spain, has ruled out any imminent resignations over the matter, arguing that the departure of senior leaders would constitute a betrayal of the victims of the disaster.

Growing public anger over the authorities handling of the emergency brought 130,000 people on to the streets of the city of Valencia on Saturday night to call for the resignation of the regional president, Carlos Mazon.

Mazon, a member of the conservative Peoples party (PP), is under mounting pressure after it emerged he had a three-hour lunch with a journalist on Tuesday 29 October, the day the torrential rains hit the region, and did not arrive at the emergency command centre until 7.30 that evening.

There are unanswered questions about why, despite a series of red weather alerts from the state meteorological office, his administration waited almost 14 hours before sending emergency civil protection messages to peoples mobile phones.

On Sunday morning the regions vice-president, Susana Camarero, was emphatic that no one would be stepping down as Spain faced its biggest crisis in recent memory.

Given the magnitude of the catastrophe and the damages inflicted on towns and on people, given that magnitude and all the damages caused, we cannot abandon the victims, she said. This government wont abandon the victims. This government will be, as it has been from the first day, at the side of the victims. Any resignations at the moment are not an option. Theyre not an option. All we can think about is working on the recovery efforts and on repairing the damage that has been done.

Mazon himself promised to offer answers when he appears in parliament this week. Ill be providing political explanations and giving an account of the events with full details on Thursday, he said. I think its also important  for the sake of the victims and because of whats happened  to explain things well and in an orderly fashion so as to avoid the fake news phase that we had to waste time refuting when we could have been getting on with what was really important.

The Valencian president has previously attempted to point the finger at Spains socialist-led government, and even at the armed forces military emergencies unit (UME), whose personnel have been deployed to the region in huge numbers.

Mazons colleagues in the national PP have defended his actions and claimed he is assuming full responsibility. They accuse the central government of refusing to take charge of the crisis.

Spanish government sources insist they have done everything they can, having sent more than 18,000 soldiers and police officers to the region. They point out that Mazon has full command and control over the relief effort because the crisis remains a level 2 emergency and so a matter for the regional authorities.

Were the Valencian government to say it could not cope with the situation, a level 3 emergency could be declared, transferring command to the central government.

Although the central government has stopped short of calling for Mazons resignation, describing the matter as a debate for when the time is right, it has said the facts speak for themselves.

Many of those who took part in Saturdays protests chanted Mazon resign! and carried signs reading You killed us, and Our hands are stained with mud, yours with blood. Some of the demonstrators clashed with riot police in front of Valencias city hall, prompting officers to use batons to push them back.

Camarero said that while she understood peoples anger and pain, she suspected some had used the demonstration for political and violent ends.

Probably on that march, given the damage and acts of vandalism weve seen, there were people whod attended because they really wanted to shown their outrage and pain, and there were also people who were using it politically, she said. I totally respect those who were protesting but they werent represented by those committing violence. What some people do has nothing to do with what other people do.
Stormonts First Minister Michelle ONeill has participated in the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at Belfast City Hall  the first time a senior Sinn Fein figure has taken part in such an event in Northern Ireland.

Ms ONeill, who said her attendance is a demonstration of her determination to fulfil her pledge to be a First Minister for all, laid a laurel wreath at the Cenotaph in Belfast.

A message on the wreath read: As First Minister, I wish to take our society beyond old limits, to build bridges and to a shared future together.

First Minister Michelle ONeill, left, stood alongside deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly for the ceremony (Liam McBurney/PA)

Today I remember all lives lost in the horror of war and conflict  past and present.

Asked about republicans expressing discomfort with her attendance, Ms ONeill said she understood there were different perspectives but added: This is about looking forward to the future

The Sinn Fein vice president attended the commemoration alongside DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, who also laid a wreath and said the focus should be on remembrance rather than who had attended.

Ms Little-Pengelly said it was a privilege to lay a poppy wreath: Remembrance Day is about remembering those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, who were injured in defence and for our freedom and the many, many tens of thousands who continue to mourn the loss of loved ones

Pressed on whether she acknowledged Ms ONeills attendance was significant, she said: Today is not about politics  it is not something I am going to engage in.

Hundreds of people lined the streets outside City Hall as Armed Forces members participated in the ceremony.

In a statement, Ms ONeill said: I am committed to representing everyone equally. Through my words and actions, I will honour that commitment.

We each have our own identity, experiences, and perspectives. As an Irish republican who believes in a united Ireland, I have my own perspective also.

As we move towards a better future I am committed as First Minister to moving beyond old limits and building bridges.

It is through understanding and respect for our differences that we can build a stronger, respectful, and united society.

I will never shy away from my responsibility to take decisions  no matter how personally challenging  that will help build a new Ireland, defined by inclusion and respect for all traditions.

Elsewhere, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn attended the annual Remembrance Sunday commemoration at Enniskillen, where hundreds gathered to pay their respects.

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.

Irish premier Simon Harris said he decided not to attend the commemoration on advice from officials that it would not be attended by the senior representatives of the Executive.

Mr Harriss absence was a rare break with the tradition of the sitting Taoiseach attending the event. The commemoration falls two days after he formally announced an election in Ireland.

The Irish Government was represented by Mr Harriss Fine Gael party colleague and Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys, who is not seeking re-election.

Members of the Armed Forces during the Remembrance Sunday service at Belfast City Hall (Liam McBurney/PA)

Mr Benns engagement with the Poppy Day bombing families was welcomed by victims group the South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF).

Kenny Donaldson, the SEFFs director, said: Mr Benn listened intently to what the families shared with him and demonstrated empathy with what theyve been through.

The families requested a follow-up business meeting over the coming weeks with the Secretary of State and his officials where they might fully explore issues pertaining to the Enniskillen case and their quest for justice and accountability.

The Secretary of State was visibly moved when families shared images with him of their loved ones, they made a pointed appeal to him that any future efforts taken on his part should be centred around building real, genuine and durable peace.

He was cautioned against continuance or an approach which, yes, has achieved stand-off, but which has fallen short from delivering real peace, never mind the prospect of reconciliation.

A range of other events to pay tribute to the war dead took place across Northern Ireland on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Irish President Michael D Higgins laid a wreath in remembrance of all those who have died in war as he attended the National Service of Remembrance at St Patricks Cathedral in Dublin.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald also attended the Dublin service.
One man has died and two people have been injured in a shooting in south-east London.

Police were called at around 10.10am on Sunday to reports of a shooting in the area of Wells Park Road, Sydenham.

Emergency services attended and found a man with gunshot injuries who died at the scene.

A woman was also found with gunshot wounds to her legs and has been taken to hospital, but the Metropolitan Police said her condition is not life-threatening.

One man died and two people were injured in a shooting on Sunday morning (Aaron Chown/PA)

A third person attended hospital with what are believed to be gunshot injuries, the force added, although their condition is unknown.

The Met has appealed for information as it condemned the senseless act of violence.

The areas MP Ellie Reeves called it mindless violence, taking to social media to say: I know that our whole community will be concerned about the fatal shooting in Sydenham earlier today.

There can be no place for this mindless violence & I hope the perpetrator is brought to justice swiftly. My thoughts are with all those affected.

No arrests have yet been made and police are trying to establish the victims identity and contact his family.

Commander Peter Stevens said: I know people will be shocked by this senseless act of violence, all the more so on a Sunday morning in a residential area.

I share their concerns and can assure the local community that the Mets response, alongside our partners, has been rapid.

Police at the scene near Wells Park Road in Sydenham, south-east London (Aaron Chown/PA)

We are determined to safeguard the community, to get to the bottom of what happened here and bring those responsible to justice.

You will see a considerable number of additional officers in the area, including forensic experts. Police cordons are likely to remain in place for some time so that they can carry out their vital work.

Officers will also be patrolling the area. I urge anyone with information to speak with those officers.

A number of people have already contacted us, and we need that flow of information from anyone who saw or heard anything of note to continue. We also need to hear from anyone who has phone, CCTV or doorbell footage that may help the investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or message via X on @MetCC with reference number 2527/10nov, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously.
Excuse us, our hearts just melted a little. We saw the sweetest Pocket Pittie at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control in Charlotte, NC and we can't get over it. Trixie is the cutest girl ever. So we're really hoping that someone will see her story and bring this good girl home.

The Pit Bull is only 3 years old. Which means she has so many more years of love and cuddles to give.

The dog was first spotted by Avery, who definitely sees the Pittie's potential as a pet too. Trixie is a tiny Pit, with a wiggly body and a wagging tail. She's a sprightly girl! She needs someone who also has a lot of pep.

Related: Pit Bull Gets to Plan Out His Own Day in Irresistible Video

Sadly, Trixie came from a "pretty bad home situation," Avery explained. "Lots of malnourished pups were found on a property and one had unfortunately passed. Luckily Trixie is on her road to better health but needs a foster or adopter to continue to do so!!"

People were just as in love with Trixie as we are. "She wants love so badly! Please go show her your love and take her home!!!" one commenter exclaimed. "Boosting!! Lets get this baby rescued or adopted please!!!" agreed another commenter. "She is such a cute baby! She would be so sweet. Hope she finds the best home," a third person added. "Omg she looks just like my girl. This broke my heart," lamented another person.

Adopt or Foster From Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control

If Avery has touched your heartstrings, you can apply to bring her home today. Some important things to know: she's 3 years old, spayed, 30 lbs., potty trained, and is non-reactive to other dogs. For the right family she's a godsend.

If you want to adopt or foster the pup, head over to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control website and check out the dog's profile. Then call or place a visit to the facility and arrange a meeting. You want to see if you're a match!

It's good to know what you're looking for in a dog. Do you want a dog that has a lot of energy or one that is more chill? Do you live in an apartment or a house? Do you have kids? A dog's temperament is so important to how well they'll acclimate to your house. So ask the hard questions when adopting any animal and things will surely go so much better.

As for Trixie, we really want the best for her. Someone go get this cutie! She is without a doubt the pet of your dreams.

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.
Sir Keir Starmer will mark Armistice Day at a ceremony in Paris on Monday, as Number 10 announced more than 10 million to mark VE and VJ Day in the UK next year.

The Prime Minister will travel to the French capital on the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron.

He will mark the armistice alongside British and French veterans and is expected to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe, and memorials near the Champs Elysees.

According to Number 10, he is believed to be the first UK Prime Minister to have attended these commemorations since Winston Churchill joined General de Gaulle in 1944.

It comes as Sir Keir announced more than 10 million to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day and VJ day.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer met Chelsea Pensioners at a reception for military veterans and their families in Downing Street last week (PA)

The Prime Minister has pledged a moment of national reflection in 2025, with events on May 8 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the allied victory in Europe, and also on August 15 to mark the end of the Second World War.

Sir Keir said he is honoured to be in Paris to stand united with President Macron in tribute to the fallen of the First World War who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom we enjoy today.

He added: These events are vital in ensuring the memory of millions of young soldiers, sailors, and aviators live on for generations to come.

That is why this Government will bring the nation together in a moment of national reflection to mark the 80th anniversaries of VE and VJ Day next year, delivering on our commitment to strengthen community spirit and cohesion and remember the fallen.

Sir Keir is expected to take part in a bilateral meeting with Mr Macron, where they will likely discuss the situations in Ukraine and Gaza. He will also meet the French Prime Minister Michel Barnier for a short time ahead of the ceremony.

The Prime Minister is also expected to host veterans, defence charities and members of the British military at the ambassadors residence.
England head coach Steve Borthwick has the backing of the Rugby Football Union in response to Autumn Nations Series losses to New Zealand and Australia.

The Wallabies 42-37 victory at Allianz Stadium on Saturday inflicted a fourth successive defeat on England and their fifth in six games, albeit three of them were to the All Blacks.

They have lost half of their 26 matches under Borthwick, whose 50 per cent win ratio since replacing Eddie Jones at the end of 2022 means only Andy Robinson has a lower success rate in the professional era.

Steve Borthwick (left) replaced Eddie Jones (right) in 2022 (Andrew Matthews/PA)

However, the PA news agency understands the 45-year-old has the full support of the RFU, which sees the current campaign as very different to the 2022 autumn that resulted in Jones being sacked.

Jones seven years in charge were brought to an end after his side had lost to Argentina, drawn with New Zealand and been routed by South Africa.

A disappointing series continued a trend of ongoing decline under the Australian, whose record in 2022 was Englands worst since 2008, comprising of six defeats, a draw and five wins.

He also presided over three Six Nations that produced three losses, resulting in two fifth-placed finishes.

The RFU believes that England are on a different trajectory under Borthwick, with the setbacks against New Zealand and Australia both narrow defeats that could have gone either way.

The way this months results have unfolded continues the theme evident over the last 12 months of the team proving unable to convert winning positions against top-tier opposition.

South Africa, France, New Zealand on three occasions and now Australia have all edged tight encounters that went down to the final whistle.

The Springboks are the next visitors to Twickenham, with their arrival on Saturday followed by Japan seven days later.
Who among Democrats will challenge Donald Trump in four years? After Kamala Harris crushing defeat, it may not be another Californian like Gov. Gavin Newsom. Evan Vucci, Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

Regarding The Democratic Party is now Gavin Newsoms to lead. Does he have what it takes? (Emily Hoeven, SFChronicle.com, Nov. 6): Democrats suffered an overwhelming loss in the presidential election, in large part due to the ability of Republicans to paint Kamala Harris as a California liberal.

If Harris loss to Donald Trump had been closer, perhaps Gavin Newsom would have a political future. But the nation repudiated all that we take for granted in California  policies that lead to the highest gas prices in the nation, rampant retail theft, widespread homelessness, and the list goes on and on.

Circumstances forced the Democratic Party to nominate Harris for president. Democrats wont nominate another California liberal any time soon.

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Tim Dilley, San Francisco

Filibuster is over

Now that Donald Trump is president-elect and with Republicans heading toward controlling both chambers of Congress, Democrats will quickly pivot from their support for ending Senate filibuster rules and adding more justices to the Supreme Court.

Remember the Democrats eliminated Senate filibuster rules during the Obama administration for the confirmation of federal judges. This backfired when Hillary Clinton lost the 2016 election and Republicans took control of the Senate under the first Trump administration. They extended the change to cover the confirmation of Supreme Court justices, too.

This is why only 51 votes in the Senate are needed to confirm federal judges and Supreme Court justices instead of the 60 under the filibuster rules.

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Getting rid of the Senate filibuster for all legislation would be catastrophic for our country. If our republic is to stand for everyone, the Senate filibuster rules must remain so that the minority party retains its influence.

Now since the Democrats opened the can of worms, again, Trump will probably try to eliminate the Senate filibuster so he can move his agenda through a likely Republican-controlled Congress.

David Sander, Martinez

Put women in charge

Despite being abused and silenced for millennia, women have used their focus and inventiveness to quietly keep the world going while it repeatedly collapses around them.

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Its time for the Womens Party, a party in both senses of the word, with an agenda that will nationalize the oil industry and convert the Pentagon into the Peace Department all while celebrating life. By adopting womens values and using their creative survival skills, we can cure our social and planetary problems.

About Opinion Guest opinions in Open Forum and Insight are produced by writers with expertise, personal experience or original insights on a subject of interest to our readers. Their views do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Chronicle editorial board, which is committed to providing a diversity of ideas to our readership. Read more about our transparency and ethics policies

The Women's Party will be nonhierarchical, community-based, and, of course, open to everyone who supports these goals: public control of fossil fuels, spending the current military budget on community needs and having fun.

Patriarchy has run its course. The time for the Women's Party is today.
First Minister John Swinney led tributes at the Remembrance Sunday service in Edinburgh, saying he will particularly remember his uncle who died in the Second World War.

Mr Swinney joined the citys Lord Provost and other civic leaders to lay wreaths at the Stone of Remembrance outside the city chambers, alongside veterans and military personnel.

The RAF Central Scotland Pipes and Drums band led a military parade down the Royal Mile, with members of the three armed forces marching in columns to the service.

When the gun fired from Edinburgh Castle at 11am, the city nation fell silent for two minutes to remember those who have died in conflict.

On Remembrance Sunday, I think especially of my Mothers brother Cpl Tom Hunter  who died at Comacchio in Italy on 3 April 1945  posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. Greater Love hath no man than this. pic.twitter.com/iCltF8o7zv  John Swinney (@JohnSwinney) November 10, 2024

Rev Dr George J Whyte, interim moderator at St Giles Cathedral, led a short service of remembrance.

Speaking to journalists ahead of the service, Mr Swinney said it is vital to pay respect to those who died to preserve our freedoms.

He told the PA news agency: All of us thought that the Second World War would be the end of conflict in Europe.

Yet today, we find a conflict in Europe, in Ukraine, where the Ukrainian people are fighting for their liberty and freedom in the face of Russian aggression.

We must stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and we must remember today especially the sacrifices made by previous generations so we can live in liberty today.

The First Ministers uncle, Corporal Tom Hunter of 43 Royal Marine Commando, died on April 3 1945 in Comacchio, Italy.

He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for offering himself as a target to German guns in order to save his own troop during the battle.

The wreath-laying ceremony followed a military parade down the Royal Mile (Jane Barlow/PA)

Mr Swinney said: On Remembrance Sunday I remember particularly all those who lost their lives, but especially my late uncle.

He was 21 years of age. He laid down his life to protect his troop and consequently he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for bravery in the United Kingdom.

Although that award was given to my late grandmother and my late grandfather, it was of limited comfort to them because they had lost their son, my mum had lost her brother, and her brothers had lost their brothers too.

We remember fondly the sacrifice he made so we could live in freedom.

Mr Swinney said the Victoria Cross medal was presented to his grandmother in the 1970s and is in the custody of the Royal Marines.

Other remembrance ceremonies took place elsewhere in Scotland, including one in Glasgows George Square which was attended by Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes.
Whitehall officials will be considering lots of different scenarios, a Treasury minister has confirmed, amid concerns about the possible impact of tariffs under the incoming US Trump presidency.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said that Donald Trump recognises the important relationship between the UK and the United States.

But there are fears about the potential impact on the UK economy should the US president-elect introduce tariffs as he has previously suggested.

Mr Trump said before his victory he would raise tariffs on Chinese goods to 60% and impose a universal tax of at least 10% on imports from other countries.

Asked about possible tariffs on Sky Newss Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme, Mr Jones said: Officials will be considering lots of different scenarios but the position of the Government is that we support free trade and we support the trading relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom.

Its a very strong, very fruitful relationship, both for us but also for the American economy and of course we want to protect that and strengthen it in the years ahead.

He added: And I think President-elect Trump has said that. He recognises the important relationship the US has with the UK, and thats the basis on which we will be co-operating in future years.

President-elect Donald Trump has spoken previously about increasing rates on goods imported into the US from around the world (Evan Vucci/AP)

A Government source confirmed on Saturday that officials would continue to take advice to ensure that Britain was in the best possible position.

We look forward to working closely with President Trumps team to strengthen UK-US trading relations to support businesses on both sides of the Atlantic, the source said.

Pushed further on Sunday morning for a fuller response, Mr Jones declined to comment on sensitive hypothetical future scenarios.

He said: Youll have to forgive me, Im not a commentator, Im a Cabinet minister. As Ive said, its appropriate for officials to plan for different scenarios but you are asking me to comment on sensitive hypothetical future scenarios.

But the governor of New Jersey state Phil Murphy has suggested his gut is telling him President-elect Donald Trump could not pursue tariffs against allies like the UK.

Asked about the issue, Mr Murphy, a Democrat, told the same Sky News programme: Do I believe it? Im not sure.

I think if you and I were sitting and speaking about the Peoples Republic of China, Id believe it.

He added: I dont know that that makes sense  or even that he would pursue it against allies like the UK.

My gut tells me no, but if Im China, Im fastening my seat belt right now.
You'll never buy boxed stock again.

Kimberly Holland/Southern Living

I generally agree with Ina Garten, and when it comes to stock, homemade is best (and a good way to put food scraps to good use). At Thanksgiving, theres a lot of cooking going on though, and making stock can feel like a lot to add to an already long to-do list. But you need it for gravy, dressing, casseroles, and more. This is where Better Than Bouillon comes inthe $6 pantry staple that I always keep on hand, especially at Thanksgiving.

Related: The Ultimate Thanksgiving Grocery Shopping List

What Is Better Than Bouillon?

Its a concentrated paste made from meat or vegetables (depending on the flavor) used to make broth or flavor dishes. For Thanksgiving, I like to keep the original chicken flavor on hand, but the product comes in many other varieties, including beef, vegetable, roasted garlic, and also turkey.

Because so little of the product is typically needed on Thanksgiving, I like to buy the more versatile chicken flavor, which I can continue to use long after the holiday is over. Just one teaspoon of the product dissolved in one cup of hot water is needed to replace a cup of broth or stock.

Ingredients

The ingredient list on Better Than Bouillons original chicken base is pretty self-explanatory. Its primary ingredient is roast chicken, followed by salt and sugar for flavor, starch, a few other ingredients for seasoning, and turmeric for color. For an even more streamlined ingredient list, opt for their organic series which aside from using organic ingredients, also swaps out corn syrup for cane sugar.







Don't Be Salty

For those concerned about the salt content, grab one of the low-sodium varieties of Better Than Bouillon, which contain one-quarter less salt than the regular.







Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

What Makes It Better Than Boxed Or Canned Stock?

I could write a thesis on why its a superior product, but Ill stick to this streamlined list:

Flavor: Unlike bouillon cubes or powder, which often just taste like salt, Better Than Bouillon (which I will hereby abbreviate as BTB), actually tastes like meat. This goes back to the fact that the first ingredient listed on the jar is roasted chicken (or beef/ vegetables, if using other flavors).

Long shelf-life: Cans and cartons of broth or stock often expire a few days after opening, but BTB can last about two years from the date of manufacture if stored properly in the fridge after opening.

Small footprint: The jar takes up almost no space in the pantry or fridge unlike cans, boxes, or containers of homemade broth and stock do.

Price conscious: Its affordable! An 8-oz. jar of the original roasted chicken base costs $6 on average and contains 38 teaspoons of the product. Since you only need one teaspoon of it to make one cup of stock that means the jar makes 38 cups of stock. (Thats about $0.16 per cup, if youre doing the math.) For comparison, a 32-oz. carton of stock (which is four cups), costs about $3 on average, or $0.75 per cup. Thats more than five times as expensive.







Best Buy

If you fall in love with the product like I did, the best value when buying Better Than Bouillon is at Costco. The retailer is selling a 21-oz. jar for only $8.99 (at least in Birmingham, Alabama, where Southern Living is based), and it happens to be on sale for $6.99 through November 24, too.







Other Uses For Better Than Bouillon

Beyond making stock, a dollop of the product can transform many other Thanksgiving dishes:

Fold some into the braising liquid for your greens.

Mix it into the water for rice.

Whisk it into your mac and cheese sauce.

Thin it out slightly and toss with veggies before roasting.

Add some to your mashed potatoes, along with the cream and butter.

Stir it into just about any casserole for extra depth, from green bean casserole to cornbread dressing.

Just remember a little goes a long way.

Outside of the holiday, I like to add BTB to homemade stocks to deepen the flavor, bolognese, and pan sauces for extra oomph.
Mikey Madison is the heel-clacking heart of Anora, a screwball Cinderella story about a tenacious Brooklyn stripper.

But watching Sean Bakers Oscar-bound dramedy (now in theaters), its impossible not to be smitten by her scene-stealing Russian co-stars: Mark Eydelshteyn, 22, whose boisterous Ivan leaves Ani (Madison) high and dry after an impromptu Las Vegas wedding; and Yura Borisov, 31, whose stoic fixer Igor is tasked with returning Ivan to his incensed oligarch family.

The two actors first met at the Berlin Film Festival in 2022. They became best friends while shooting Anora early last year, sharing an apartment in Brooklyns Brighton Beach neighborhood.

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"Anora" actors Vache Tovmasyan, left, Karren Karagulian, Mark Eydelshteyn and Yura Borisov at a Los Angeles screening last month.

Every day Id get up and yell, Markos! How are you? Good morning! Borisov recalls with a smile. We did everything together; we discovered New York, went to lots of museums and vintage stores. It was interesting to be in America, like, Wow! It used to only be in video games and cartoons, and now its reality.

I cant imagine going on this whole amazing adventure without this guy, Eydelshteyn adds. My whole life, I dreamed about having an older brother. Now I have him.

'Anora' interview: Mikey Madison wanted to do sex work 'justice.' An Oscar could be next.

Mark Eydelshteyn's 'fully nude' audition led to his casting in 'Anora'

Ani (Mikey Madison, right) and Ivan (Mark Eydelshteyn) get hitched in Las Vegas, much to his parents' chagrin.

Baker wrote Igor specifically for Borisov after seeing him in the 2021 film Compartment No. 6. Ani initially finds the shy and soulful Igor off-putting, but the two kindle an unlikely repartee as they run around Brooklyn searching for Ivan. He gave me this incredibly subtle performance, Baker says. It was up to me to just hold the camera on him.

Ivan, meanwhile, is anything but subtle. Hes a debaucherous yet oddly endearing rich kid who meets Ani at the strip club and pays her to be his live-in girlfriend. Borisov recommended Eydelshteyn to Baker, who remembers the playful young actor submitting an unusual audition tape.

He was fully nude, facing away from the camera: butt visible, sunglasses on, smoking and giving this really funny performance, Baker recalls with a laugh. After that moment, we couldnt see anybody else for the role.

I used to vape a lot as a way to fight stress, Eydelshteyn says of the audition. I just tried to do a lot of improvising. Although Ivan is a wild child, we come to learn that his constant revelry is how he copes with loneliness: Hes trying to save the kid inside himself, but he cant. His friends arent real friends, and partying is just his protection. He finds his own little world with Anora, but his family breaks that, too.

'Anora' review: Mikey Madison comes into her own with saucy Cinderella story

Yura Borisov liked getting punched by 'beautiful' co-star Mikey Madison

Yura Borisov is a tender standout as Igor, a Russian henchman who looks out for Mikey Madison's Ani.

Borisov is predicted by many Oscar pundits to earn a best supporting actor nomination. Madison praises her co-star as one of the most talented people Ive ever worked with. Hes a very loving person and his humor just sneaks up on you.

The actor found a lot of space to explore within his quiet character, but says he was mostly there to support Madison. I just tried to be (present) with her in every scene. Mikey is super professional; she could work seven days, 24 hours, and still turn it on whenever Sean said action. Shes also very beautiful.

"Anora" stars Yura Borisov, left, and Mikey Madison pose for a portrait in Toronto in September.

Their most grueling moment together was a raucous fight scene when Ivans parents send Igor and some Russian gangsters to force Ani to annul the marriage. Ani quite literally bites back, leading to smashed furniture and broken noses.

The sequence took about eight days to shoot, largely because there was glass everywhere, and we had to do a lot of rehearsal for safety, Borisov recalls. At some points, we really had to fight, which was very funny. I got punched by Mikey and I liked it.

For the breakout Russian actors, real life feels like 'a movie'

One of Baker's favorite memories working with Borisov and Eydelshteyn was a weekend getaway to Woodstock, New York, where they played charades and hiked to a frozen waterfall in winter. "They're such sweet, down-to-earth guys," the filmmaker says. On the last night of shooting in Coney Island, he also remembers "everybody hugging and eating cupcakes and Yura just starts singing Forever Young in that Russian accent. I dont even know if he knew the lyrics aside from forever young!'"

"We just love our life," says Borisov, who hopes the movie will lead to "more work and more opportunities" in America and beyond. For both actors, the most exciting moment so far has been the Cannes Film Festival, where Anora won the top prize in May. Eydelshteyn heard the news while he was on the set of a new project, shooting a scene set in a mental hospital.

Yura called me and said, Hey, man, we won the Palme dOr, Eydelshteyn recalls. I just started to run and scream around the hospital. People looked at me like I was crazy, like Im not an actor but a real mental illness patient. It was really funny. I thought, For this surreal and hilarious moment, I feel like my real life is a movie.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Anora' movie's Russian actors talk fight scenes, nude audition
A Chinese coast guard vessel stays beside suspected Chinese militia ships near Thitu island, locally called Pag-asa island ahead of a Philippine military multi-service joint exercise at the disputed South China Sea (AP)

China has published new details of its claims to a contested shoal in the South China Sea in the latest clash over maritime territory with the Philippines.

Officials from the Chinese foreign ministry shared new coordinates for what it considers to be the countrys baseline, a term used in defining a countrys territorial waters that normally matches its coastline.

Beijing set its baseline around the Scarborough shoal, however, claiming that the contested atoll should be the starting point for considering much of the entire South China Sea as Chinese territorial waters or its exclusive economic zone.

A statement by the Chinese foreign ministry said delimiting the Scarborough shoal was a natural step by the Chinese government to lawfully strengthen marine management and is consistent with international law and common practices.

The move from Beijing came a day after the Philippines signed two laws defining the countrys maritime zones and right to resources, including in the South China Sea, with codifying claims that overlap significantly with Chinas.

Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr signed the two laws  the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act  in a nationally televised ceremony attended by top military and national security officials. The new law stipulates jail terms and stiff fines for violators of these zones.

Beijing said in its statement on Sunday that the first of the two laws signed by Marcos violates Chinas sovereignty over most of the South China Sea.

China firmly opposes it and will continue to do everything necessary in accordance with law to firmly defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, the foreign ministry said.

China disputes control of the South China Sea, which includes some of the worlds busiest shipping routes, with several Southeast Asian nations including the Philippines and Vietnam.

On Friday, the Chinese foreign ministry summoned the Philippines ambassador to China to mark their stern protest to the proposed laws, which it called an attempt to solidify the illegal ruling of the South China Sea arbitration case through domestic legislation.

That statement refers to a 2016 ruling by an international court of arbitration, which found that most of Chinas claims in the South China Sea were invalid. Beijing has rejected the ruling.

"We strongly condemn and firmly oppose this situation. Chinas territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea are firmly based on historical and legal grounds, Chinese foreign affairs ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said.

Both China and the Philippines claim Scarborough shoal and other outcrops in the South China Sea. China seized the shoal, which lies west of the main Philippine island of Luzon, in 2012 and has since restricted access to Filipino fishermen.

Tensions between the Chinese and Philippine coastguards and naval forces have surged at an alarming rate since last year, sparking fears that the US and other regional powers may get drawn into a major conflict over the disputed waters in the South China Sea.
Donald Trump

He won it bigly.

President-elect Donald Trump has nabbed the highest raw count of the popular vote of any Republican presidential hopeful ever, according to projections of the 2024 election.

As of Sunday morning, Trump clinched 74,650,000 popular votes, eclipsing his prior record of 74,224,000 votes in the 2020 election, per the Associated Press.

At the moment, that puts the incoming president ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris 70.9 million votes  though there is still a large swath of votes uncounted, including in California which has an estimated 66% of the vote tabulated.

Other states, including Alaska, Arizona, Maryland, Oregon and Utah still have outstanding votes. Roughly 5 million votes are estimated to be left outstanding.

The incoming Republican president pulled off a stunning political comeback last week. AFP via Getty Images

Vice President Kamala Harris conceded defeat to President-elect Donald Trump but insisted the fight isnt over. Getty Images

Republicans havent won the popular vote in a presidential contest since 2004  when President George W. Bush got 62 million votes.

Ronald Reagan won 54 million votes in his landslide election in 1984  when the country had 100 million fewer people than it does now.

President Biden still has scored the largest raw count of the popular vote of any presidential contender in US history, with 81.3 million votes for him in 2020.

Follow along with The Posts coverage of the 2024 election

Trump, 78, had swept all seven battleground states and won the Electoral College by 312 to 226. Thats the largest victory since 2012 when then-incumbent President Barack Obama notched 332 to 206.

For context, Trumps 2016 victory was 304 to 227. Biden won the Electoral College 306 to 232.

Republicans have also recaptured the Senate and are within striking distance of retaining the House of Representatives.

Harris backers teared up as she delivered her concession speech at Howard University last week. Getty Images

The soon-to-be 47th commander-in-chief is the second president in US history to win a second nonconsecutive term after Glover Cleveland.

Trump is now working to staff up his second administration. On Saturday, he announced that he would not bring back former US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley nor former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Those two individuals had faced flack from the MAGA base due to their hawkish foreign policy views and past criticism of Trump.

The president-elect is set to meet with Biden at the White House this coming Wednesday.
What's happening with phenylephrine? (Photo Illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Getty Images)

With cold and flu season about to kick into high gear, its time to restock our medicine cabinets. But you may want to reconsider buying one longtime favorite, which is still available at some stores.

On Nov. 7, the Food and Drug administration announced a proposal to remove oral phenylephrine  a decongestant found in products by brands including Sudafed PE, Vicks DayQuil and Theraflu  from the market. The proposal comes over a year after advisers to the FDA unanimously concluded that phenylephrine is not actually effective.

So why are you still seeing medications with phenylephrine on pharmacy store shelves? Yahoo Life spoke with the FDA and top pharmacies to get the latest on where things stand.

Here's a recap of what happened

In September 2023, an FDA advisory committee of 16 experts held a two-day meeting, which culminated with the announcement that oral phenylephrine is not effective, and works no better than a placebo pill at relieving congestion.

As Yahoo Life reported last year, when taken in oral form, phenylephrine is metabolized so quickly that the amount absorbed into the bloodstream ends up being less than 1% of what was originally ingested, which experts concluded is not enough to be effective.

Its important to note that the FDA advisory committee didnt review nasal sprays or drops containing phenylephrine, so the announcement didnt affect those forms of medications. The panel also didnt find any safety concerns about oral phenylephrine, so if youve taken it in the past, you dont need to worry.

The advisory panels conclusion wasnt a surprise to many experts in the field, who had been flagging efficacy concerns about phenylephrine for years.

Brigid Groves, the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) vice president of professional and regulatory affairs, tells Yahoo Life that the APhA had submitted comments in support of removing oral phenylephrine from nasal decongestant products before the advisory committee meeting began.

Pharmacists are aware of the lack of efficacy of oral phenylephrine because they see it firsthand, Groves says.

If phenylephrine doesn't work, why are you still seeing it on store shelves?

The FDA advisory committees decision last year was nonbinding  meaning the FDA itself makes the final call on whether oral phenylephrine is considered effective and whether it needs to be removed from the market.

Until then, Groves says its still up to individual pharmacies and businesses whether they want to continue selling oral phenylephrine products.

Last October, a few weeks after the FDA advisory committees conclusion, CVS Health announced that the pharmacy chain would be removing certain phenylephrine products from stores. In a statement to Yahoo Life, CVS confirmed that they have removed oral decongestant products that contained phenylephrine as the only active ingredient from CVS Pharmacy stores  but continue to offer many other oral cough and cold products to meet consumer needs.

When Yahoo Life asked rival pharmacy chain Walgreens if they have chosen to remove oral phenylephrine products from store shelves, a spokesperson said: We work with our suppliers to follow FDA regulations and guidelines.

Will phenylephrine ever disappear entirely? What are next steps?

As an FDA spokesperson explained to Yahoo Life in September, if the agency decides oral phenylephrine is no longer considered generally recognized as safe and effective (or GRASE) as an over-the-counter nasal decongestant, the agency initiates a proposal to have it removed from store shelves.

But this Nov. 7 proposal doesn't immediately take oral phenylephrine off the market. The public has six months to comment on the proposed order and to provide any additional data for the FDA to consider. Only after the FDA issues a final order will manufacturers be required to reformulate or remove over-the-counter oral phenylephrine products.

What should you use instead?

If youre congested, there are plenty of effective alternatives to oral phenylephrine.

Theres so many other products out there that really do work, Dr. James Tracy, vice president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, previously told Yahoo Life. Almost all the nasal sprays, like nasal antihistamine sprays, they all work and they are also over-the-counter, but they dont say decongestant.

In addition to steroid nasal sprays and antihistamine sprays, Tracy says phenylephrine is still considered effective in nasal spray form  though Tracy warns it can be habit-forming if used regularly.

The most common oral decongestant that experts recommend is pseudoephedrine, though youll likely need to ask a pharmacist for help accessing it behind the counter.

This article was originally published on Sept. 10, 2024 and has been updated.
Editor's Note: This page is a summary of news on the California wildfire for Sunday, Nov. 10. For the latest news, view our story for Monday, Nov. 11.

VENTURA, Calif.  Improved weather conditions allowed firefighters to increase containment on the blaze raging northwest of Los Angeles and keep it from growing over the weekend, but residents from about 1,000 evacuated homes still had to stay away.

More than 130 structures have been destroyed and another 88 have been damaged by the Mountain Fire, which ignited Wednesday. Ventura County emergency officials said the fire was 31% contained by Sunday evening  up from the just 7% on Friday  as nearly 3,000 firefighting personnel battled it.

The fire erupted Wednesday morning in Ventura County and, fueled by ferocious Santa Ana winds and dry conditions, quickly exploded in size and jumped a highway toward homes, forcing more than 10,000 people to evacuate. Several evacuation warnings and orders remained in effect for the city of Camarillo, as well as the unincorporated areas of Camarillo, Somis, Santa Paula, and Fillmore on Sunday.

The blaze had burned 20,640 acres by Thursday evening when winds started tapering down and firefighters began to make progress. By Sunday, Venture County emergency officials said the fire was currently estimated at 20,630 acres.

Clint Swensen, operations section chief for Cal Fire, said Sunday that efforts are now focused on the Santa Paula and Camarillo Heights areas of Ventura County.

A firefighter works near the remains of a home that was destroyed in the Mountain Fire on Nov. 8, 2024, in Camarillo, California. Fueled by strong winds, the fire burned across more than 20,000 acres and destroyed over 100 structures, many of which were homes, since it began Nov. 6.

Some injuries, none life-threatening

At least 10 people were injured, most from smoke inhalation, but there were no reports of life-threatening injuries or deaths so far, Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff said.

As crews grappled with low water pressure and power outages that slowed their efforts, images of destruction surfaced from the hardest hit area of Camarillo Heights. Homes were burned down to their skeletons and brick chimneys.

"The devastation is absolutely heartbreaking," Fryhoff said.

Fryhoff said residents who evacuated 3,500 homes have been permitted to return, and authorities hoped to allow residents from half of the remaining 2,000 evacuated homes back over the weekend. At one point, more than 10,000 residents had to flee their homes.

Weather starts to cooperate

Red flag warnings have expired throughout the area as winds shifted. The National Weather Service said lighter winds blowing off the ocean were expected over the weekend.

Santa Anas brought in wind and dry air from the northeast on Wednesday and Thursday. Cooling ocean air started coming in late Thursday, and conditions improved over the weekend.

Unlike Santa Ana winds, ocean winds typically mean rising humidity levels. But the strength of the Santa Anas pushed dry air far offshore, said Robbie Munroe, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.

The forecast calls for more Santa Anas by Tuesday, though current models show a much different impact than the county has just experienced. Winds are expected to be significantly weaker, Munroe said.

Still, forecasters said there would be elevated fire weather conditions inland from the coast through Sunday. There's also a small chance of light rain on Monday.

Air quality improves

An air quality alert was in place across Ventura County through late Saturday because of persistent smoke and ash from the fire.

The weather service said particulates in the air were at unhealthy levels and could remain unhealthy but noted that conditions could change quickly because of the fire's behavior or the weather. Officials cautioned people to stay indoors as much as possible and said anyone participating in outdoor activities should wear an N95 mask.

The air quality improved considerably with the arrival of the onshore breezes and the enhanced fire containment, and by Sunday it was at "moderate'' on the AirNow scale, very close to the "good'' level.

Agriculture industry takes a hit

An initial assessment pegged the damage to the Ventura County agriculture industry at $2.4 million, with the biggest losses to avocado, citrus and berry crops. County Agricultural Commissioner Korinne Bell said that estimate only covered 2% of the burn scar, which includes about 12,000 acres of farmland, so the figure is certain to grow.

Weve just begun our surveys. We have a lot more work to do, Bell told the Ventura County Star, noting that losses go beyond crops and trees. Impacted areas probably include agricultural infrastructure like fences, irrigation lines and outbuildings.

Contributing: Jeanine Santucci and Tom Kisken, USA TODAY

(This story was updated to add new information.)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: California Mountain Fire 31% contained, over 130 structures destroyed
Some teachers in Florida have used phone sleeves to comply with a new law mandating that phones not be used during class.

More than 200,000 students at one of the largest school districts in the nation have started the school year with a major change: no cellphone use allowed.

Ive noticed such a big difference in the classroom. Students talk more. They actually do their work, Dominique Mayorga, a teacher who installed a sleeve in her classroom that can hold around 30 phones, said.

Over the summer, Floridas Broward County Public Schools made the decision to ban students from using cellphones and other communication devices for the entire school day. Students are to keep phones off or in airplane mode the entire day and relinquish them to designated areas, like Mayorga's sleeve, during class, or face disciplinary action. The new policy, which went into effect in August, quickly sparked debate among parents, students, teachers and administrators.

Critics of the ban have raised safety concerns, arguing it could hamper communication during an emergency. It's a particularly sensitive topic in Broward County after the 2018 Parkland shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, which is in the district.

Response to the ban was quick. Parents flooded the comments of posts the district made on X and Instagram announcing the changes, circulating a change.org petition asking for the school to reverse the ban. It has garnered over 25,000 signatures.

Carline Dumoulin, a mother of two students at Browards Cypress Bay High School, is one of those signatories. Cellphones, she said, are the way for us to communicate if theres any type of problems going on at school, and I dont need to go into the details  we know whats happened before.

Students need to be able to communicate with the outside world, with their parents or their guardians, to let them know that theres a problem, Dumoulin added.

For many at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, cellphones were an important resource during the shooting. Some students used their devices to text loved ones, post live updates or even take pictures and videos, some of which would later be shown at the gunmans trial, where he was sentenced to life in prison for killing 17 students and faculty at the school.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.

Broward County school board member Lori Alhadeff said she understands parents safety concerns all too well: She lost her 14-year-old daughter Alyssa in the Parkland shooting.

But Alhadeff supports the ban, explaining that emergency protocols are in place to help alleviate those concerns. In schoolwide emergencies, for example, district policy says students will be able to access their devices from the place that their teacher has designated.

On Feb. 14 [of 2018], all I wanted to do was hear from Alyssa. I texted Alyssa during that day, told Alyssa to run and hide, that help was on the way, Alhadeff said. I know its scary, but we have and will communicate with parents as soon as possible to let them know that their kids are safe.

But Alhadeff said shes open to adjusting the rules as time goes on. I talked to students. I heard them loud and clear that they would like to use their phone during lunch and transition times and study halls, she said. And Im absolutely open to the conversation.

A full ban

The cellphone ban was put in place to adhere to a new law signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in May 2023. The law restricts the use of all wireless communication devices in public school classrooms, saying that they must be powered off during instructional time and placed in an area designated by the teacher.

Floridas law is one of the first of its kind to go into effect in the U.S., but similar legislation has spread across the country, with at least 15 states including Indiana and Ohio adopting similar policies against cellphone use in public school classrooms. The most recent state to adopt restrictions was California, passing its Phone-Free Schools Act on Sept. 23.

Broward County took the Florida bill a step further and banned the use of devices for the entire school day.

Broward County school board member Debra Hixon was present at the meeting where the rule was approved, but had left before the vote. She said she would have voted against it because it should have allowed students to use their phones during lunch, as it is their time.

But during her time at the meeting, Hixon said, the board agreed to allow students to leave their phones on airplane mode so they could have quick access in case of emergency. Hixon, who lost her husband, Chris, in the Parkland shooting, said complaints and concerns have really leveled off and that parents understand cellphones will be easily accessible to students when needed.

On its website, Broward County nods to some concerns that inspired the legislation, including cyberbullying. Last year, a video of several students fighting at West Broward High School circulated online, gaining thousands of views on X. Following the fight, the schools principal sent a message to parents warning that students who videotape fights were also at risk of disciplinary action.

Board member Allen Zeman is a strong proponent of maintaining the cellphone ban for the entire day. He emphasized the negative impact cellphones can have on students, including how theyve worsened mental health and caused distractions.

If nobody has social media, if nobody has an ability to like you or to do any kind of action, or to share something with you that everyone else has seen, so you have to see it too, your day is better, Zeman said. You can breathe. You can take a little longer to enjoy a lecture or to sit on the grass and enjoy your lunch, rather than be buried in your cellphone. Thats why Broward County did it from bell to bell, and its why its important that its enforced for everybody.

Zeman also emphasized the alarming decrease in literacy rates in public schools. A report by the National Assessment of Educational Progress found that reading test scores have been declining since 1992.

Max Schachter, who lost his son Alex in the Parkland shooting and has since become an advocate for safe schools, also said he is in full support of the cellphone restrictions and believes that the safety protocols will protect students even when they are without their devices. He added that in emergency situations, students should focus on following safety procedures, not be on their phones.

During an emergency, kids should not be contacting their parents. Parents are not going to be able to do anything to help their children anyway, Schachter said.

The state has also taken steps to address school safety. Following the 2018 shooting, Florida passed school safety legislation creating Alyssas Alert, which requires schools to install a mobile alert system that will call the authorities in an emergency, as well as the Marjory Stone Douglas High School Public Safety Act, which increased school security personnel and surveillance in public schools. The district has also invested over $2 million in installing metal detectors in its schools.

Classrooms and hallways

Keeping students off their phones when outside of classrooms has proven hard to enforce.

Two teachers and a student who spoke to NBC News said that inside the classroom, the rules have been in full force, but passing periods and lunch are where things get murky. A spokesperson said the district has been collecting survey data that will be reviewed in November to assess how the ban has been going.

Leo Jimenez, a science teacher at Cooper City High School, said enforcement during class has been going well and that he has seen improvement in his students focus during class time. He already had rules regarding cellphone use in his classroom before the ban, he added, and the district rule has helped back him up.

However, during lunch and passing periods, Jimenez said, its been rare to see enforcement, and he doesnt believe many other schools have been enforcing it during those times either.

Its a battle that I dont think anybody wants to fight. Jimenez said.

Board member Hixon said that she has been hearing similar things about enforcement of the rules.

In the hallways, theyre using it, and theyre just not really doing it to the fidelity of the law, Hixon said. Again, my concern [is] with the lunchtime restriction, because whos supposed to be monitoring and enforcing that?

However, board member Zeman has been hearing different feedback.

The enforcement has been no issue in Broward County Schools, Zeman said. Where we want to enforce the rules, we do a very good job of it, as do most school districts across the country.

The solution that many teachers have found to get students off their phones during class are cellphone pocket sleeves. Jimenez said he has installed a sleeve in his classroom, like Mayorga.

Marlena, a sophomore at South Broward High School, said shes seen virtually no enforcement of the rules during lunch and passing periods.

If they did enforce it during their lunch and passing period, I wouldnt want that, Marlena said.

Room for improvement

Mayorga, the art teacher, said she believes theres still room for improvement in enforcing the new rules, pointing to Orange County Public Schools, another school district in Florida that has implemented a similar policy to Browards. Mayorga said having resources such as additional school personnel to enforce the ban during lunch and passing periods, as she said Orange County has done, could help its efficacy. A Broward County Public Schools spokesperson said a variety of staff members  including administrators, security personnel and teachers  are tasked with supervising the use of cellphones in the hallways and in lunchrooms, but the number of staff assigned to the role is determined by each school.

In Broward County, the conversation around the ban is set to continue. A district spokesperson said the board would be discussing the survey results and feedback on the ban.

At the end of the day, we need to make sure that the end user, which is our students, that theyre happy and that the policy is being followed with fidelity, Alhadeff said. I think it is a very difficult thing to have teachers constantly be phone watchdogs, and so I do believe that the board is open to some solutions that might make everybody happy.
More than 80 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon, northern Gaza and Syria since late Saturday, according to reports.

The National News Agency (NNA) reported airstrikes on the town of Almat in central Lebanon on Sunday. Lebanons Health Ministry said 20 people were killed there, including three children. Video from the scene shows that at least one building was reduced to rubble, with heavy machinery trying to remove the debris.

The local member of parliament, Simon Abi Ramia, said: The targeted house belongs to one of the well-known residents of the area, and it is possible that it received displaced people.

Three people were killed in a strike on Mashghara, a town in south-central Lebanon, and an air raid was carried out on the town of Debaal in the Tyre district of southern Lebanon, the agency added, while intermittent Israeli artillery shelling continues on the town of Khiam.

At least 2,513 people have been killed and 11,719 injured in Lebanon since September 16, when Israel stepped up its campaign against Hezbollah, according to a CNN tally of Lebanese health ministry statements.

The latest strikes follow attacks on more than a dozen separate locations in Lebanon since late Saturday.

A man walks on rubble near damaged buildings, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, during a Hezbollah media tour on November 9, 2024. - Mohamed Azakir/Reuuters

Smoke rises after an israeli airstrike has struck the southern suburbs of Beirut. November 9 2024 - Nael Chahine/AFP/Middle East Images/Getty Images

The highest number of casualties came in an air strike on what NNA said was a civil defense center affiliated with the Islamic Al-Rissala Scouts Association in the town of Deir Qanoun.

Seventeen people were killed in the strike, NNA said, adding rescue teams were continuing search operations in the rubble. Video from the town showed extensive destruction.

Five people were killed in an airstrike on the town of Hanawaih, and listed strikes on buildings in nearly a dozen other locations. Additionally, artillery shelling hit the towns of Majdal Zoun, Tair Harfa, al-Dhaira, and elsewhere.

The Israeli military said Saturday that airstrikes had been carried out in the areas of Tyre and further north in Baalbek.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said late Saturday that the air force had eliminated dozens of Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon over the past day.

The IDF said Sunday that rockets continued to be fired from southern Lebanon. Approximately ten projectiles were identified crossing from Lebanon into Israeli territory. Some of the projectiles were intercepted and the rest fell in open areas, it said. No injuries were reported.

Mourners gather next to the bodies of Palestinians killed in an Israeli strike on a house in Jabalya, at Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City on Sunday. - Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters

Separately in northern Gaza, at least 41 people died when Israeli strikes hit two homes early on Sunday morning, according to the director general of the Ministry of Health in the enclave.

Dr. Muneer Alboursh said one of the homes was in Jabalya, while the other was in Gaza City. He added that at least half of those killed were children.

International NGO Save the Children said in a post on X that parents, children and grandchildren were among those killed in Israeli strikes on the Jabalya residence.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had struck a terrorist infrastructure site in the area of Jabalya in response to CNNs request for comment.

These terrorists posed a threat to IDF troops operating in the area. The details are under review, the Israeli military said, adding numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians, including the use of aerial surveillance and precise intelligence prior to Sundays strike.

Palestinians check the rubble of the Alloush family's house, levelled in an Israeli strike in Jabalya in the northern Gaza Strip on Sunday. - Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP/Getty Images

CNN has reached out to the IDF for comment on the reported strike on the house in Gaza City.

Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, said the hospital had received many distressed calls from people, among them those still trapped under the rubble who we could not assist.

The catastrophic conditions continue at Kamal Adwan Hospital in besieged northern Gaza, Safiya said in a video recorded on Sunday and posted to X by Alboursh.

The reported strikes in Gaza come as a deadline from the United States for Israel to improve humanitarian conditions in the enclave looms. Last month, the Biden administration asked Israel for urgent and sustained actions for more aid to enter the strip within the next 30 days or risk violating US laws governing foreign military assistance.

A World Health Organization report on the availability of food in Gaza concluded Friday that there was a strong likelihood that famine is imminent in areas within the northern Gaza Strip, where many of the recent Israeli operations have focused.

The report cited UN data that the number of aid shipments into the Gaza Strip was now lower than at any time over the past year.

The Israeli agency that handles the transfer of aid to Gaza rejected the claims, saying such reports in the past have been systematically based on organizations with vested interests and partial, inaccurate knowledge.

In Syria, at least seven civilians were killed and 20 injured in an Israeli airstrike targeting a residential building in the Sayyida Zainab area of the Damascus countryside, Syrian state news agency SANA reported Sunday, citing a Syrian regime military source.

SANA said women and children were among those killed and that private properties were damaged.

CNN has contacted the IDF for comment but has not received a response.

Social media videos verified by CNN show damaged buildings in Sayyida Zainab, with rubble strewn across the street. One video filmed from a building shows damage to one of the upper floors of a structure across the street. The video then reveals damage and rubble on the ground floor of the building the video is filmed from.

The Sayyida Zainab area, south of Damascus city, is known to have a Hezbollah presence and has come under Israeli attack in the past. On November 4, SANA reported Israeli strikes in Sayyida Zainab the same day the IDF said Israeli Air Force fighter jets struck Hezbollah intelligence infrastructure in the Damascus area.

CNNs Abeer Salman, Michael Schwartz, Tamar Michaelis, Eyad Kourdi and Benjamin Brown contributed reporting.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Abortion rights supporters protest outside the Supreme Court in April during deliberations to decide if a federal law allowing emergency abortions supersedes an Idaho law that criminalizes most abortions. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Mifepristone tablets are seen in a Planned Parenthood clinic in Ames, Iowa. Use of the drug could be banned with Republicans likely controlling of both chambers of Congress when Donald Trump becomes president again. Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press

Once upon a time I was an international drug smuggler in San Francisco  and got busted for it.

Looking back though, Id do it all again without hesitation.

In 1988, I was an aspiring public health professional at UCSF. One afternoon, I was sitting in the medical center library, listlessly leafing through medical journals when a brief news article jumped out at me. France had approved a pill that triggered abortions in early pregnancy. The medication, then called RU486, had already been shown to be safe and effective.

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A wave of excitement surged through me. I knew immediately a medication like that would be a game changer.

Although abortion had been legal for over a decade at that point, it was still controversial. Clinics that offered it were protested and attacked, and in some cases, doctors were even murdered. The new pill would make it much harder to target doctors and their patients.

But as word spread about RU486, then-President George H.W. Bush vowed the medication would never be allowed in America. Under pressure from conservative lawmakers, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the import of it in June 1989.

Thats when I and other medical professionals got to work  writing articles about RU486s safety and efficacy in papers like UCSFs student newspaper, the Synapse, and a review in the Journal of American Medical Association. Soon our activism started to pay off. A policy statement I helped draft urging that RU486 be made available in the U.S. began circulating nationally. Eventually the American Medical Association adopted our position.

By the early 90s, RU486 was available in France and Britain and, now with the backing of the American Medical Association, it was finally tested in the U.S. and shown to be safe and effective. Yet, American women still couldnt access it. Why? Because the FDA wouldnt approve its release without a company filing for a new drug approval, and no company was willing to do so out of fear that their other products and services would be boycotted by abortion opponents.

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It was around this time that I got a call from Lawrence Lader, a veteran New York City abortion rights activist whod seen my writings. He said he was coming to San Francisco and wanted to meet and asked if I might bring a few good OB/GYN physicians with me. We gathered at the San Francisco Medical Society with Lader where he laid out his proposal: Find a woman with an early unwanted pregnancy, fly her to Europe to pick up the pills and back, tip off federal authorities and the media so she would get detained and even arrested, and make RU486 a big public and political story.

It was an audacious plan but worth a try.

The doctors in our group started sending me potential candidates. My job was to give them informed consent  to make sure they knew that their participation in our plan might land them all over the papers and TV, and perhaps even get stalked and threatened. Basically, I tried to talk each potential candidate out of doing it. But I also assured them theyd have all medical care and any other related costs covered. A few understandably thought it over and decided they just couldnt participate, but one young woman, Leona Benten, emphatically said, OK, stop trying to talk me out of this, lets go.

Our stunt worked as planned. Only July 1, 1992, Benten arrived in New York at John F. Kennedy International Airport from London with the illegal pills and was detained and searched. As expected, her pills were confiscated and as we hoped, the media descended. The story made the front page of the New York Times. At her request, we hid Benten from the swarms of media requests demanding to talk to her. I and a few others were sent out instead to do countless interviews. One reporter informed me that I might be indicted for our smuggling efforts. My only thought was how many smugglers tip off the authorities in advance?

With all the media coverage, the story inevitably became an issue in the presidential election. Then-candidate Bill Clinton pledged to bring these pills to American women. Time magazine ran a cover story on RU486 calling it the pill that changes everything. The tide eventually turned.

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It would take another eight years though before the FDA finally approved RU486, then renamed mifepristone. For the next 22 years, Americans gradually began to take access to mifepristone as a given. Women started choosing the pills over surgery, with that proportion slowly but steadily increasing over the years. According to a study from the Guttmacher Institute, 63% of abortions in the U.S during 2023 were via medication. Telemedicine provided much of this access, making the service available in an essential timely manner in areas with less medical services.

However, that assumption of access changed, of course, with the fall of Roe v. Wade two years ago. Today, many states are trying any tactics they can  legislative, legal, regulatory  to restrict the availability and use of abortion medications. Some have tried reclassifying them as controlled substances, like heroin, and even used drug-sniffing dogs to detect them in the mail.

With Donald Trump the president-elect and Republicans in control of the Senate and likely the House, any federal protections for abortions, let alone mifepristone, are a remote dream. In fact, there are fears that anti-choice policies will be enacted to limit access via telemedicine and to track doctors, nurses and patients via medical records  if not outright ban mifepristone.

But this doesnt have to be the end of the story if we dont allow it.

No one person or group made mifepristone accessible in this country. It was a grassroots, collective effort by activists of all kinds, each contributing the best they could. While my health care colleagues and I were pushing the medical aspect of the campaign, thousands of activists took to the streets across the country. At the time of our 1992 stunt at JFK, San Francisco had its biggest ever pro-choice demonstration, with tens of thousands of people marching up Market Street in solidarity.

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We are now at another moment of collective action and it will take all of us to protect our freedoms, including access to medication abortions.

About Opinion Guest opinions in Open Forum and Insight are produced by writers with expertise, personal experience or original insights on a subject of interest to our readers. Their views do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Chronicle editorial board, which is committed to providing a diversity of ideas to our readership. Read more about our transparency and ethics policies

Before arriving in San Francisco, I was studying public health at UCLA. Ill never forget a senior medical professor taking me and other students on a tour of the hospital there. He walked us into a big room and quietly said, Back in the 1960s, before Roe v. Wade legalized abortion, this was a ward for women suffering from the effects of illegal abortions. There were dozens of beds, almost always full. Many died. Blood had to be mopped from the floors. It reminded me of my time as a medic in wartime.
By scanning three consecutive days of the Times Recorder on Sept. 22, 23 and 25, 1944, I discovered the Times Recorder kept its readers abreast of all that was happening with our local soldiers. At least those things which the public was allowed to know. The Sunday edition for Sept. 24 was printed with the Signal.

A Zanesville pilot from his German hospital bed, where he was a prisoner of war, wrote to his commanding officer some time ago, asking that this story be written. On its 100th mission the Emily Ann (a P-47 Thunderbolt) with its pilot, First Lt. John Englehart, of 564 Wayne Avenue, took off with the Holt ...(German) Hunter group. The target was reached and the mission accomplished, but on the return trip, the Emily Ann was shot down by German gunners, forcing Lt. Englehart to parachute to earth. He subsequently was taken prisoner by Germans. He pointed out that the Emily Ann had accomplished her hundredth consecutive mission without malfunction and that it was no fault of the crew that she did not return to the base.

During World War II the Zanesville Times Recorder kept the community informed about local soldiers and sailors serving domestically and abroad. This photo of two unnamed servicemen is just one of many published during World War II.

Lt. Englehart did return, however: Meanwhile, it has been learned that Lt. Englehart has escaped from the Germans and at last reports was being treated for a broken leg in an American hospital in France.

There was good news: Lt. (J. G.) Eugene Archer, of 1825 Euclid, was among the survivors of the destroyer, Warrington, sunk during a hurricane off the Virginia coast. Then there was the news no parent, spouse, sibling or child ever wants to hear: Sgt. Charles Anderson, Crooksville, has been missing in action over Hungary since September 1...

Technical Sergeant Carl S. Lambert of Corning was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross: Veteran of great bombing attacks against Berlin, Hamburg, Leipzig, and other principal enemy cities, T-Sgt. Lambert is officially credited with 35 combat missions as a Flying Fortress radio operator. In addition to his new DFC, he holds the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters.

Mrs. Carrie Trevinger (of Thornville) entertained at her home Sunday evening in honor of her nephew, Cpl. Lester R. Auspach of Camp Haan, California. Corporal Auspach is home on furlough at the present.

One article was titled Soldier and Son:" Corporal Harry R. Smalley of 168 Ninth Street, is pictured here (in a TR photo) with his 21-month-old son, Larry Lee. Corporal Smalley is at present confined to a Lincoln, Nebraska, hospital with a back injury that he sustained a few weeks ago while on maneuvers. He is stationed at Camp McCook Field, Nebraska.

The names of residents of this area who are being held prisoners of war, together with the next of kin, were announced yesterday by the Muskingum County Red Cross chapter. The long list began with these soldiers: S. Sgt. Walter R. Davis, Stalag Luft 6, Germany. Pvt. Harold E. Edwards interned in Italy. Pfc. Clayton Fink, Stalag 3B, Germany. Sgt. Herbert Gordon, Tokyo Camp, Tokyo, Japan. Albert Inman, Roseville, German prison camp. Capt. George Kappes, Japanese prisoner. Pvt. Ronald Loveall, Stalag 7A, Germany.

Of course, war is hell. The casualties continued to mount: Private Oscar Bramovich, 29. son of Mrs. Mary Bramovich of East Fultonham has been killed in action and Electrician's Mate Third Class Clarence Morgan, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Morgan of near Duncan Falls, has been officially declared lost at sea.

Private Bramovich was serving in the Southwest Pacific and was killed on August 31. He was assigned to the Air Corps and entered service May 12, 1943. Morgan was serving aboard the U. S. S. Warrington which was sunk by a hurricane off the Virginia coast. He had been previously reported as missing.

On Sept. 25, the Times Recorder featured an article about three brothers in the service: Three sons of Mr. and Mrs. John U. Galigher, Riverside Drive, are in service, one in the South Pacific, another on his way overseas, and the third in naval training at Boston. They are Sgt. Edward F. Galigher, who is with the 364th station hospital in New Guinea; Pfc. John R. Galigher who has been with the infantry at Camp Phillips, Kansas, and is now being sent overseas, and Petty Officer 1-c Norris Galigher, stationed at Boston.

On the 25th, subscribers read about a local man receiving a medal for heroism: Photograph above shows Brig. Gen. D. R. Goodrich congratulating Pfc. James H. Denny of Zanesville upon whose uniform he had just penned a Soldier's Medal for heroism. Pfc. Denny, the son of Mr. and Mrs. James R. Denny, 401 North Seventh Street, was decorated for his part in extinguishing a fire following an airplane crash in England.

Pfc. Wilford E. Barker, who has just returned to this country, following 17 months serving with the army in Italy, is spending a 21-day furlough with his wife, Mrs. Myrtle Barker and his mother Mrs. Edith E. Barker, at their home at Philo, Route 1. Pfc. Barker, who has been in the service since July 11, 1942, received a silver star medal for gallantry in action during his fighting in Italy.

Two locals met in the Pacific: Ensign Murl W. Clark and Petty Officer 2 c Gerald D. Updyke, brothers-in-law, met recently in the South Pacific, it has been learned by relatives in this city. Ensign Clark serves on an aircraft carrier and Petty Officer Updyke is in the naval submarine service.

Ensign Clark's wife resides with his mother, Mrs. Ruth Clark of Philo. He entered service two years ago. The wife of Petty Officer Updyke and their two-year-old daughter, Linda (?), are making their home with his mother, Mrs. Maebelle Updyke of 343 Luck Avenue. He also visited recently with his father, Lee H. Updyke, who is employed with the navy at Pearl Harbor.

So many men and women of Muskingum County served their country honorably during World War ll. We should always cherish and remember their sacrifices, especially those who, as Abraham Lincoln said in his Gettysburg Address, gave the last full measure of devotion. We should also congratulate those Times Recorder reporters from long ago who gave the public such good coverage of our soldiers.

Lewis LeMaster is a retired teacher of the Zanesville area.

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Times Recorder provided detailed coverage of World War II servicemen
When a 17-year-old Aaron Taylor joined the United States Marine Corps in 1998, it was to find a way out of a difficult situation in Fairfax County, Virginia. Little did he know it would lead to the creation of a nationwide dog training business that empowers veterans from the top down.

I had the typical kind of  very, very poor upbringing, broken home, family members that had just committed crimes, he said. My meal ticket out of that was joining the Marine Corps.

His difficult upbringing, which led to him and his sister, Beth, to be left home alone for days at a time while he was in middle school, led to both negatives  35 school suspensions  and positives  developing a sense of entrepreneurship that would follow him into adulthood.

Following his 35th suspension, many of which were due to fighting while defending others or truancy, he was expelled and sent to an alternative school. After a year at the alternative school, he returned to Fairfax County Public Schools and joined Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program as part of his conditions for return in the 10th grade.

That kind of changed everything, he said. ROTC became my home.

He knew then he wanted to be a Marine. So much so that he needed his mothers signature to join before his 18th birthday.

I literally graduated high school on a Friday and I left for bootcamp the next Monday, he said. Marine Corps for me was a blessing, it was an awesome time.

In his six years in the Marine Corps, Taylor spent three in infantry and recon and three in diplomatic security with the State Department, leaving as a 100% combat-disabled veteran. His time in service took him out of the US for the first time in his life, and he was able to explore 47 different countries, from South Africa to Burma.

Ridgeside K9 (aol)

After leaving the service, Taylor joined the Loudon County Sheriffs Office in Northern Virginia, where, during his 16 years, he was able to be a K-9 officer and get a degree in psychology from George Washington University.

It was those two experiences that led to him starting Ridgeside K9.

Taylor had been helping friends and neighbors with their dogs for free, but when he learned how much he could earn by turning it into a business, he changed course.

I spent 48 hours researching pet dog training, he said. I realized something about the pet industry, which is theres never been a negative year in the pet industry since the Great Depression. People treat their house pets like children and the amount of dog training companies that are out there are massive.

He started the company, Ridgeside K9, with one wire crate in his living room, to three more in the basement, to converting a horse barn into kennels. All while still working at the sheriffs office.

I said, as soon as I can make $100,000 training dogs, Im going to quit [the sheriffs office], he said. Well, I made $100,000 pretty quick, but then I got scared and said, hold on, I need to double my salary, so I need to make $200,000, and when I can make $200,000 in a year, then Ill quit. So 2017 comes, and I make $200,000, but Im still scared to leave the sheriffs office, because the sheriffs office was a constant.

k9 (k9)

I said, alright, in 2018, if I make $300,000, Im [expletive] leaving, he said. And in August 2018, I had hit my money.

Following a difficult and busy night of police work, Taylor recorded a video on his phone at 2 a.m., saying, Tonight, Im retiring from law enforcement. Im done. Im not going back.

And he hasnt.

Instead, he has used his psychology degree and K9 training to develop training methods used across the nearly 30 locations in seven states. Taylor uses what he calls tone avoidance training, which takes learnings from working with nonverbal and autistic children.

Thats the only thing Ill ever take credit for, Taylor said. Before I was doing tone avoidance, it did not exist in the pet dog world at all.

It took off like wildfire, he said. And it works. It works phenomenally."

After proving his concept in 2018, Taylor wanted to expand and help other veterans at the same time. He developed a licensee program, where locations are 100% owned by the owners through a license agreement with Taylor, which provides training, web development and marketing services and other benefits for helping the new owners start the business. While each location is owned by a 100% combat disabled veteran or a seasoned police officer, according to Taylor, another 60% of employees are also veterans or officers.

I could have never predicted any of this, he said. Our business model is providing veterans and law enforcement officers with entrepreneur and employment opportunities.

Check out Ridgeside K9 here.
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.

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.

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.
When an old, cherished magazine copy vanished, I spent months tracking down Martha's perfect fall muffin recipehere's why it was worth the hunt.

Ana Cadena

There's something special about the way particular recipes become part of your life's rhythmlike an old friend who shows up exactly when you need them. For me, that recipe was Martha Stewart's Pumpkin Seed Muffins, which I discovered in a 2004 fall issue of Everyday Food magazine. Back then, getting that little digest-size magazine in my mailbox was the highlight of my week. I'd curl up on the couch, sticky notes in hand, marking every recipe that caught my eye. Part of the fun was trying the new monthly and seasonal recipes. But these muffins quickly became a mainstay. For years, when the temperatures started dipping, this was the recipe I'd reach for whenever I needed something seasonal, comforting, reliable and just a little bit special.

Related: 23 Cozy Fall Breakfast Recipes

When I lost my cherished copy of the magazine several years ago, it felt like losing a piece of my baking history. Each year I'd search for it again, hoping I'd somehow missed the recipe online or would find it posted on someone's blog. But I never had any luck. Early this summer, I went on a mission to track down the recipe, justifying the time spent as "research" for work. I scoured Facebook groups, asked fellow writers to dig through their old copies, searched Martha Stewart fan sites, read through every one of her cookbooks, reached out directly to her publications and even messaged someone in the U.S. on Facebook marketplace to see if she'd send her copy to me (I'm in Canada). On a casual trip to the library with my kids, I explained my situation to a local librarian, hoping she'd somehow have access to the old magazines. My search intrigued her, and she began asking me about the recipe. Because she says she "likes a good challenge," she spent an evening (of her own time) searching old, archived websites that I didn't even know existed. (I should note that I just met her in the library that day.) As I was putting my son to bed that night, I saw an email come in on my phone. She found it! And I was thrilled! I picked up a can of pumpkin and made them the very next day. Yes, they were just as good as I remembered, perhaps even better.

Related: We Taste-Tested 7 Brands of Canned Pumpkin PureeThis One Was the Best by Far

How could I not pitch this story? (See, it was for research purposes!) And here I am, writing it for you. But the coolest thing about how everything unfolded is that when my editors reached out to their colleagues at Martha Stewart to get permission to use the archived recipe, they decided to republish it. (My personal search influenced them to change what was on the internet!) A few weeks ago, it went live on Martha's site for everyone to enjoy. And, as it should, it already has a 5-star review.

Why I Love Martha's Pumpkin Seed Muffins

What makes these muffins so special to me isn't just how they taste (though that would be reason enough). It's how they manage to be both humble and sophisticated at the same time. The simple addition of pumpkin seeds doesn't sound that exciting, but it adds a deeply satisfying textural contrast to the tender muffin base. And toasting them first brings out their nutty flavor in a way that elevates the whole muffin. The muffins also come together in about 15 minutes, including the time it takes to toast the seeds. The warm spices mingling with the sweet scent of pumpkin and toasted seeds make your kitchen feel like a warm hug.

For years, these muffins were my go-to for every fall occasion: lazy weekend breakfasts, welcome gifts for new neighbors, and countless work lunches. Now that I have kids, these muffins appear at breakfast, get packed into lunchboxes and will be making their way to school bake sales. I love to prep a batch on the weekend or even a lower-key weeknight (they're so quick and easy) and eat them throughout the week. I've also found that they freeze beautifully, so I can always have a stash ready for unexpected guests or busy mornings.



Related: 23 Comforting Desserts You Can Make With Fall Spices

How to Make Martha's Pumpkin Seed Muffins

Ana Cadena

The recipe is decidedly simple. You start by toasting raw pumpkin seeds until they're golden and fragranta step that's tempting to skip but absolutely worth the extra few minutes. They're what make these muffins great. While they're toasting, whisk together your dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, allspice and salt. Only allspice, you say? Yes! However, I also make substitutions sometimes (see below). Allspice provides all the warm fall flavors you want without overwhelming the delicate pumpkin taste.

Ana Cadena

The wet ingredients come together in a separate bowl. It's a simple mixture of brown sugar, pumpkin puree, melted butter and eggs. I love that it uses a full cup of pumpkin pureeenough to really taste the pumpkin and keep the muffins moist for days. When you combine everything, you'll notice that the batter is thick but still spoonable. This is exactly what you want; it helps the pumpkin seeds stay suspended throughout the muffin instead of sinking to the bottom. From there, bake them for 20 to 25 minutes until lightly browned. They honestly couldn't be easier.

Ana Cadena

Related: Martha Stewart's Pumpkin Grilled Cheese Recipe Is the Perfect Way to Use Up Leftover Canned Pumpkin

Tips for Making Martha's Muffins

Ana Cadena

The recipe is perfect as is, but over the years, I've played around and settled on a few tips, tricks and substitutions that I'm happy to share.

Easy freeze: I freeze leftover canned pumpkin in 1-cup portions so I can make these muffins anytime. Simply thaw it and add it to the wet ingredients.

Go low: My sweet-tooth daughter, who devoured an unmentionable amount of Halloween candy post trick-or-treating, finds the original recipe too sweet. I usually reduce the brown sugar to a loosely packed 3/4 cup. They're still perfectly sweet and moist.

Zest it up: When I'm craving brightness, I'll add some orange zest to the wet ingredients to liven everything up.

Salty-sweet: Sometimes, I'll toss the toasted pumpkin seeds with salt after they come out of the oven. Or for more savory notes, Ill toast them in a pan on the stove with olive oil and salt or roast them in the oven like this. I always make extras for snacking when I do this, too.

Flour power: If I'm making them for breakfast for my kiddos, I'll often substitute half of the all-purpose flour for whole-wheat flour, whole-wheat pastry flour, or oat flour for some added fiber and nutrients.

Spice is nice: I make my own pumpkin spice blend and sometimes sub it for the allspice, plus a little extra cinnamon.

Nuts for chocolate: I think the pumpkin seeds are "chef's kiss," but chocolate chips are a fun addition. And if I'm making them for others, I'll swap in toasted walnuts or pecans for the seeds. Toasting is key, though! Don't skip this step.



Ana Cadena

Related: 8 High-Fiber Muffins Packed with Fall Flavors

The Bottom Line

After months of searching, I couldn't be happier to have this nostalgic recipe back in my life and to share it with you. Should it ever go offline again, I have it safely stored in multiple places (including an already well-worn recipe card in my kitchen). I'm never letting it go again. These muffins have earned their place in my permanent recipe collection, and I hope they'll find a home in yours, too. They're the perfect example of how sometimes the simplest recipes become the ones we treasure most. Kudos, Martha. You did it again!


"He's the calm, deep waters, and I am the rushing, bubbly water," the actor tells PEOPLE

Luke Evans and Fran Tomas are one dynamic duo!

While appearing on PEOPLE in 10, the actor, 45, opens up about his relationship with Tomas and how they mesh so well together.

"We're a great team in life. He's my best friend. He's the calm, deep waters, and I am the rushing, bubbly water. And between the two of us, we can solve anything," Evans says.

Noting that they "work together as a team," the Weekend in Taipei star adds that also collaborating on work ventures together, such as their clothing and lifestyle brand BDXY, was a no-brainer.

"Having a business together just is an extension of our life together. We work really well together," Evans says. "He blows my mind. He's so impressive in everything he does, in the business  and in life."



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.

Dave Benett/BAFTA/Getty Luke Evans and Fran Tomas in February 2024.

Related: Luke Evans and Boyfriend Fran Tomas Hit the Miami Shore in Speedos After Red Carpet Debut as Couple

Evans and Tomas, who works as a construction project manager, confirmed their relationship when they attended a gala arm-in-arm in December 2022.

The Beauty and the Beast actor told Out magazine for its September-October 2024 cover story that Tomas is one of the people who keeps him sane amid his hectic lifestyle.

"My partner, he keeps me grounded and keeps me calm in this strange world that I live in," said Evans.

"He's a great human being. He's the best part of me for sure. He's kind, calm. He's happy. He's positive. He's a hard worker," he added of Tomas. "He literally makes me a better person. And he has to put up with my s---, which I can't imagine what that would be like."

Weekend in Taipei is in theaters now.
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.

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.

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.

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.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

While 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.

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."


This is a locator map for Iran with its capital, Tehran. (AP Photo) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  A militant attack near the Pakistani border with Iran left five Iranian forces dead, the state-run IRNA news agency reported Sunday.

The report said the dead were ethnic Baluch members of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guards volunteer Basij force and were killed in Saravan city in Sistan and Baluchistan province. Saravan is some 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) southeast of the capital Tehran.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

Earlier in the day, state TV reported that Revolutionary Guard forces killed three terrorists and arrested nine others in a military operation. The report did not specify which group the suspects belonged to.

Last month, unknown gunmen killed four people, including the chief of the Revolutionary Guard in the province.

In September, gunmen killed four border guards in Sistan and Baluchistan province in two separate attacks. The militant group Jaish al-Adl, which seeks greater rights for the ethnic Baluch minority, claimed responsibility for one attack in which one officer and two soldiers were killed.

The province, which borders Afghanistan and Pakistan, has been the site of occasional deadly clashes involving militant groups, armed drug smugglers and Iranian security forces. It is one of the least developed parts of Iran. Relations between the predominantly Sunni Muslim residents of the region and Irans Shiite theocracy have long been strained.
By Karen Freifeld and Fanny Potkin

NEW YORK/SINGAPORE (Reuters) -The U.S. ordered Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co to halt shipments of advanced chips to Chinese customers that are often used in artificial intelligence applications starting Monday, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The Department of Commerce sent a letter to TSMC imposing export restrictions on certain sophisticated chips, of 7 nanometer or more advanced designs, destined for China that power AI accelerator and graphics processing units (GPU), the person said.

The U.S. order, which is being reported for the first time, comes just weeks after TSMC notified the Commerce Department that one of its chips had been found in a Huawei AI processor, as Reuters reported last month. Tech research firm Tech Insights had taken apart the product, revealing the TSMC chip and apparent violation of export controls.

Huawei, at the center of the U.S. action, is on a restricted trade list, which requires suppliers to obtain licenses to ship any goods or technology to the company. Any license that could aid Huawei's AI efforts would likely be denied.

TSMC suspended shipments to China-based chip designer Sophgo after its chip matched the one found on the Huawei AI processor, sources told Reuters last month.

Reuters could not determine how the chip ended up on Huawei's Ascend 910B, released in 2022, viewed as the most advanced AI chip available from a Chinese company.

The latest clampdown hits many more companies and will allow the U.S. to assess whether other companies are diverting chips to Huawei for its AI processor.

As a result of the letter, TSMC notified affected clients that it was suspending shipments of chips starting Monday, the person said.

The Commerce Department declined comment.

TSMC has had regular discussions with the government on export control issues and has made it clear that it will comply with domestic and international regulations, Taiwan's economy ministry said in a statement to Reuters, referring specific questions to TSMC.

A spokesperson for TSMC also declined to comment beyond saying it was a "law-abiding company...committed to complying with all applicable rules and regulations, including applicable export controls."

The Commerce Department communication - known as an "is informed" letter - allows the U.S. to bypass lengthy rule-writing processes to quickly impose new licensing requirements on specific companies.

Ijiwei, a Chinese media site covering the semiconductor industry, reported on Friday that TSMC notified Chinese chip design companies it would suspend 7 nanometer or below chips for AI and GPU customers beginning Nov. 11.

The action comes as both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns about the inadequacy of export controls on China and the Commerce Department's enforcement of them.

In 2022, the Commerce Department sent is-informed letters to Nvidia and AMD restricting their ability to export top AI-related chips to China, and to chip equipment makers like Lam Research, Applied Materials and KLA to restrict tools to make advanced chips to China.

The restrictions in those letters were later turned into rules that apply to companies beyond them.

The U.S. has been delayed in updating rules on tech exports to China. As Reuters reported in July, the Biden administration drafted new rules on some foreign exports of chipmaking equipment and planned to add about 120 Chinese companies to the Commerce Department's restricted entity list, including chipmaking factories, toolmakers, and related companies.

But despite plans for an August release, and later tentative target dates for publication, the rules still have not been issued.

(Reporting by Karen Freifeld and Fanny Potkin; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei; editing by Chris Sanders and Chizu Nomiyama)
U.S. Army veteran Myron Hennen hadn't had a car in 18 months - not easy in Grand Forks, North Dakota, a small city with frigid temperatures for most of the year, large open expanses and a tight-knit veteran community.

The 68-year-old said he was struggling with mental health issues and was arrested for various charges including theft and possession of drug paraphernalia. His car was impounded by police and he was assigned to veterans' treatment court, where Hennen said he got help for the first time.

"By the time I got it diagnosed and treated and started to get my life under control, I had very little money," he wrote in a September letter.

Hennen told CBS News he didn't have enough to get his car back.

Myron Hennen stands with his 2007 Honda Accord donated by Miracles for Vets, Inc. / Credit: Larry Mendivil Jr.

Hennen said he was living off a small Social Security payment and was isolated in his home in East Grand Forks, Minnesota, right across the river from Grand Forks  until he met Larry Mendivil Jr. through a coordinator at the court.

Mendivil, an Air Force veteran who had been deployed five times and worked on inspections and repairs, struggled to ease back into civilian life.

"I was actually homeless for a little while," he said.

The military, he said, "trains you for war but don't train how to live when you get out."

Larry Mendivil Jr. stands in front of a plane during a deployment in Qatar. / Credit: Larry Mendivil Jr.

Navigating life in Grand Forks, or other rural areas without a car can be daunting.

"The most important thing in North Dakota is you got to have something here to drive. Everyone here knows how important a car is," said Mendivil.

Sobriety and stability can come with transportation

Nearly a quarter of U.S. veterans  4.4 million  live in rural communities and a large portion struggle with poverty, isolation and access to healthcare. Transportation can be key for many military members returning to civilian life  but researchers found it's often an afterthought.

Researchers Andrea Lubin and Stephanie Dipetrillo found transport access should be considered "an essential service" without which veterans "can have a difficult time reintegrating into civilian life," they wrote in a 2015 report for the U.S. Department of Transportation.

For many, a vehicle is a necessity: 71.6% of workers living at the poverty level use personal vehicles to get to work. Without transportation, veterans can become isolated and that can exacerbate underlying mental health issues and other struggles. About 35,574 veterans, like Mendivil, experienced homelessness in 2023 in the U.S., according to Veterans Affairs.

Experts say that since American society is organized around automobiles, having a vehicle is essential to making money.

Larry Mendivil Jr. fixes a vehicle for a veteran in his garage in North Dakota. / Credit: Larry Mendivil Jr.

Mendivil told Hennen he had a 2007 Honda Accord that needed a new battery, alternator, and starter but he would fix it, for free. It was a kindness, Hennen said, that changed his entire situation.

Lubin, managing director at Rutgers University's Voorhees Transportation Center told CBS News veterans interviewed for their report said "transportation costs" or cars were rarely discussed with assisting organizations after they returned stateside.

Mendivil, 42, found his way back to sobriety and stability through cars. He started helping his uncle, a mechanic, around his shop. Mendivil was fixing cars when he got a call from an old Air Force buddy.

His Suzuki truck had stalled and his buddy couldn't get to his new job, a setback he was sure would get him fired and imperil the fragile life he just started to rebuild. Mendivil drove an hour to his friend's house, picked him up and dropped him off at work. But then he went the extra step, and fixed the truck, showing his friend some mechanical skills in the process.

He then launched the nonprofit Miracles for Vets, or Mv4, which assists veterans with rides, fixes their cars and donates repaired vehicles to veterans who don't have transportation.

"It's a brotherhood"

On a scrappy budget of less than $50,000 a year, Mendivil said he's helped 300 veterans fix their cars over the years and just gave away his 45th vehicle. His methods, he says, are relatively straightforward. He keeps it about the veterans and the vehicle.

"We are so small and we've all been in the military. It's a brotherhood," Ross Weiler, the foundation's board chair, told CBS News. He said, "Larry is a gearhead, and I'm a gearhead."

Miracles for Vets works out of a garage on Dyke Avenue in Grand Forks, partnering with different suppliers to fix the cars that come through. Auto Glass and Automakers have donated four windshields to cars for veterans, and Mendivil said the company gives "a free install for the windshield if we are out of money and if it's for a veteran."

Grand Forks Treatment Court sends mandated workers to help out at the garage in the afternoons, Mendivil said, otherwise it's mainly just him and one other mechanic fixing cars. Veterans sometimes congregate at the garage just to see the vehicles the organization is working on or get a tune-up of their own.

Donald Lapham stands in front of his 2006 GMC Sierra truck which was fixed by Miracles for Vets., Inc. / Credit: Larry Mendivil Jr.

Donald Lapham, 61, said Miracles for Vets has helped him with his 2006 GMC Sierra truck when the transmission doesn't work. He spent 17 years in the Army reserves and now lives in his truck, Lapham said, "dealing with depression and bad knees."

Mendivil said there hasn't been one car he hasn't donated at least $500 in parts and $2,000 for labor. His girlfriend does all the accounting, and his son,11, helps out in the garage.

"I'll never be an important person, yet helping veterans to stay mobile and giving them free cars is super important to me," Mendivil said.

Hennen, the veteran who got the 2007 Honda Accord agreed. Once he had his car he didn't have to take the bus to the grocery store. That trip, he said, would take him about an hour each way, and was tough in the "rough winters." Now Hennen said, he jumps in his car and drives 10 minutes each way. He is planning on visiting his three granddaughters who live 300 miles away.

"Having a car in my life gave me a feeling of freedom," said Hennen. "I could go anywhere I want to go, how I want to go and I could go where I wanted to go."

He said he hadn't felt that way since he was a young man. "Life is a lot better than it was before."

Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna says party needs "to be emphasizing the economic issues"

National Security Adviser says Biden in final days to call for Ukraine aid to continue

U.K. ambassador says "it's no say" for European leaders to discuss what Trump will do
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.

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.

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.

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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San Francisco Supervisor Joel Engardio supported Proposition K, which bans cars from a portion of the Great Highway, but a majority of voters in his district opposed it. Benjamin Fanjoy/Special to the Chronicle 2023

Some of San Francisco Supervisor Joel Engardios constituents say he could face political repercussions for supporting Proposition K, a successful ballot measure that will permanently close a 2-mile stretch of the Great Highway to cars.

A majority of voters in the Sunset District, the neighborhood closest to the Great Highway, opposed the proposition, which passed with 54% of the vote in returns released Saturday afternoon.

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Engardio, a moderate, became the first person in 20 years to unseat a previously elected incumbent supervisor when he defeated progressive Gordan Mar for the District 4 seat in 2022. Some of his constituents said he has lost their vote when he comes up for reelection in 2026.

I dont know who hes representing, but hes certainly not representing us and that infuriates me, said Albert Chow, a Sunset resident and president of People of Parkside Sunset, a merchants association and neighborhood group. Chow said 75% of his organizations membership opposed Proposition K.

Asked about Engardios political future, Chow said, I dont think he has one.

Engardio was one of five city supervisors, with the support of Mayor London Breed, to propose putting Prop K on the ballot in June. For the past three years, a section of the citys westernmost coastal boulevard, an area between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard known as the Upper Great Highway, has been closed to cars on weekends as part of a pilot program scheduled to end on Dec. 31, 2025. Prop Ks passage will make those pilot closures permanent and extend them around the clock.

Results of Tuesdays election show a stark divide along San Franciscos east-west lines, with western precincts largely voting against Prop K and nearly every eastern precinct favoring it. In the Sunset, at least 60% of voters opposed the measure in most precincts, with close to 70% opposing it in some areas.

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Engardio has argued that voters citywide deserved to weigh in on the proposition, which expands the citys recreational opportunities for pedestrians, joggers, bicyclists and skateboarders. The measures passage opens the door to a potential Great Highway Park, though its just the first step in what will probably be a lengthy public process of securing necessary approvals  and funding.

But some Sunset residents said putting Prop K on the ballot was an effort to offset local opposition, with many concerned the permanent closure will increase commute times and saddle the neighborhood with congestion and noise pollution.

I am very disappointed, upset, that (Engardio) bypassed the entire district and silenced us with a citywide vote, said Selena Chu, who lives blocks away from the Great Highway. Im definitely not going to vote for him again in 2026.

Chu said she spent hours campaigning for Engardio in 2022 but that after his support for Prop K, she would favor a recall effort.

I think if the recall comes, thats karma for him, Chu said. He said the citywide vote is democratic  so maybe another election to vote on his fate is fair and democratic.

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The Upper Great Highway attracts bicyclists and pedestrians in September during its closure during a pilot program. On Tuesday, voters approved the permanent car ban on a 2-mile stretch of the Great Highway. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

In a statement posted on X Friday, Engardio reiterated his support for the measure but acknowledged that a majority of Sunset residents voted against it, adding that opponents have valid concerns.

But Engardio said giving residents on the east side of the city a voice was unavoidable. After a yearslong battle between both sides over the Great Highways fate, a definitive resolution was needed, either through a ballot measure or a Board of Supervisors vote, he said.

Engardio promised to engage with both opponents and proponents during the implementation process.

The Sunset is united  including both supporters and opponents of Prop K  in wanting safe residential streets and better traffic flow, Engardio said on X. We can work on this together as the park is planned, and Im committed to ensuring the implementation of Prop K goes as smoothly as possible for the Sunset.

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Engardio did not immediately return a call asking for comment Saturday.

Sunset residents who supported the proposition cheered Engardio.

The idea that opponents of Prop K are upset about Joel Engardio misunderstands that what theyre upset about is a democratic outcome, Lucas Lux, board president of pro-K group Friends of Great Highway Park, told the Chronicle. The coast is a special place that belongs to all San Franciscans, and every person should have an equal voice.

Josephine Zhao, front, president of Chinese American Democratic Club, rallies against Prop K in August. Manuel Orbegozo/Special to the Chronicle

State Sen. Scott Wiener defended Engardio from political heat on X on Saturday, calling him an extraordinary Supervisor.

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Agree or disagree with Prop K, the ocean front belongs to everyone & voters have spoken, Wiener said. Many of us have Joels back.

Nonetheless, some Sunset residents said Engardios lost their backing.

Vin Budhai, who founded the anti-K group Open the Great Highway, said Engardio could do nothing to regain his trust.
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, is the chair of the Judiciary Committee, but control of the House is still up in the air, and NBC News hasn't yet projected the results of several battleground House races.

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, the chair of the House Judiciary Committee, on Sunday said that he and his House Republican colleagues are not taking anything off the table related to investigating special counsel Jack Smith.

We want the facts, Jordan told CNNs State of the Union, days after Smith and the Justice Department started the process of winding down two federal investigations into President-elect Donald Trump, who was projected to win the presidential election last week.

I assume theres going to be some report. But all were saying is, preserve everything, so we, the Congress, who have a constitutional duty to do oversight, can see everything, Jordan added.

Asked specifically multiple times whether Jordan would call on Smith to testify, Jordan repeatedly dodged the question, saying simply, Maybe thats been the norm, but were not taking anything off the table. Im not saying for sure, but we want the information.

Special counsel Jack Smith on Friday began officially winding down his criminal investigation of allegations Donald Trump sought to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

On Friday, Jordan and Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Ga., sent a letter to Smiths office requesting that the staff preserve all existing and future records and materials related to the Office of Special Counsels investigations and prosecutions of President Trump.

With President Trumps decisive victory this week, we are concerned that the Office of Special Counsel may attempt to purge relevant records, communications, and documents responsive to our numerous requests for information, the letter added.

We do want the facts, and thats why we sent the letter. Mr. Loudermilk and myself sent the letter saying, Hey, Mr. Smith, preserve this information, Jordan told CNN on Sunday.

Jordan currently serves as the chair of the House Judiciary Committee, but control of the House is still in the air and NBC News has not yet projected the results of several battleground House districts.

If Democrats succeed in flipping the House, it is unlikely Jordan would remain as chair of the committee.

On Friday, Smith began the process of officially winding down a criminal investigation alleging Trump sought to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, which he lost.

Later Friday, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan upheld Smiths request to hit pause on the case, giving him almost a month to tell her how he plans to proceed.

The Justice Department has a long-standing policy against prosecuting sitting presidents.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., on Sunday defended keeping Justice Sonia Sotomayor on the Supreme Court, after some Democrats have reportedly considered pressuring her to step down while President Joe Biden is still in office.

No, Sanders said, when asked by Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker whether he thinks Sotomayor, who is 70, should step down from her post while Biden can nominate a liberal replacement.

He added that hes heard a little bit of talk from Democratic senators about asking Sotomayor, who is serving a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court, to step aside.

I dont think its sensible, Sanders said, without elaborating on his position further.

Since President-elect Donald Trump was projected to win the presidential election last week, theres been chatter behind the scenes among Democrats about asking Sotomayor to step down, though no elected Democrat has so far publicly called on the justice to resign.

Sonia Sotomayor, who is 70, is serving a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court.

The impetus behind such calls could be that for the next two months, Biden, a Democrat, is still president and the Senate has a Democratic majority that could confirm a liberal justice to replace Sotomayor.

Beginning in January, Trump, a Republican, will control judicial appointments, and hes projected to have the support of a Republican Senate majority.

If Sotomayor were to die during Trumps term, she would likely be replaced by a conservative justice, pushing the now 6-3 conservative court further to the right.

Democrats were previously confronted with this scenario when Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg chose not to step down during the first half of President Barack Obamas second term, a time when Democrats had a 55-seat Senate majority.

She died in September 2020 and Trump, then serving his first term, appointed the conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett to replace her, leading to the courts current conservative makeup.
The Rio Grande is visible at left as the Elephant Butte Dam holds back water on June 18, 2023.

Editor's note: Reporting supported with a grant from The Water Desk at the University of Colorado Boulder.

DENVER  When Judge D. Brooks Smith traveled from Pennsylvania to Colorado, he passed over the 98th Meridian, the longitude line separating the water-rich East from the arid West.

The former chief judge of the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals left a land of rushing rivers and ample rainfall in western Pennsylvania to gather facts in a case called Texas v. New Mexico Supreme Court over water rights from the Rio Grande.

Now a senior judge in the Third Circuit, Smith is serving as a special master to advise the U.S. Supreme Court on what is one of the longest-running disputes over dwindling water in the West, which also involves the federal government.

Smith traveled for a five-hour status conference late last month at Denvers federal courthouse involving attorneys representing the states, the federal government and several intervenors known as friends of the court.

At issue is the water Texas and New Mexico are entitled to under the Rio Grande Compact, signed in 1938 to allocate the waters of the Rio Grande between the states. Texas brought the current lawsuit against New Mexico in 2013, alleging that farmers pumping from groundwater wells in southern New Mexico were diverting water that the compact allocates to Texas.

The states reached a proposed settlement agreement in 2022 out of court. But the federal government opposed the deal. The Supreme Court then ruled in June that the case could not be settled without the federal governments consent. Now the states and the federal government must resolve their disagreements to avoid going to trial in federal court, and Smith has ordered the parties to return to mediation no later than Dec. 16 in Washington, D.C.

The outcome of Texas v. New Mexico could fundamentally change how groundwater is managed in the Rio Grande basin in New Mexico and far west Texas, both for the agricultural industry and cities like Albuquerque and Las Cruce, in New Mexico, that pump water from aquifers. It will also be a bellwether for how deeply the federal government can intervene in inter-state water conflicts, which are likely to increase as drought and aridification grip the western United States.

Boats are seen at a marina in Elephant Butte Reservoir on June 18, 2023.

(The United States) is going to have to take some sort of action to get a handle on groundwater over-pumping, said Burke Griggs, a professor of water law at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. They really do want to keep the case alive.

Groundwater pumping complicates water agreements

The Rio Grande forms in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado before flowing south through New Mexico to the Texas border. By the turn of the 20th century, disputes over Rio Grande water were brewing between farmers in southern New Mexicos Mesilla Valley and those in El Paso, Texas, and neighboring Ciudad Juarez in Mexico.

To address these concerns, Congress extended the Reclamation Act of 1902 to the Rio Grande in 1905 through the Mesilla Valley and El Paso. This allowed the Bureau of Reclamation, the federal agency responsible for water management and dam building in 17 Western states, to undertake the Rio Grande Project, which included construction of the Elephant Butte Dam and irrigation infrastructure downstream.

Once completed, the Bureau of Reclamation began delivering water stored at Elephant Butte to two new irrigation districts: New Mexicos Elephant Butte Irrigation District, and the El Paso County Water Improvement District No. 1 in Texas.

Further complicating matters, the U.S. and Mexico signed a treaty in 1906 committing the U.S. to providing 60,000 acre feet of Rio Grande water to Mexico at Ciudad Juarez annually.

Meanwhile, over the ensuing three decades, farmers in Colorados San Luis Valley and along the Rio Grande near Albuquerque were using more and more water for irrigation. Texas farmers worried this could jeopardize their irrigation water; an agreement was needed to ensure the water wouldnt be all diverted upstream.

Thus, in 1938, Texas, New Mexico and Colorado signed the Rio Grande Compact, designating how much water Colorado must ensure would reach New Mexico, which in turn had to ensure a fair share of water would reach Texas.

A deep drought gripped the region in the 1950s. With less river water available for irrigation, farmers began to drill wells and pump groundwater.

Water in the Rio Grande flows east in Sunland Park, New Mexico, on Monday, May 15, 2023. Water released into the river from Caballo Dam on Friday began to approach the Borderland for the annual allotment of water for Southern New Mexico, Texas and Mexico.

Hydrologists now understand that wells drilled into the aquifer can reduce the flow of water into connected streams and rivers, and New Mexico state law evolved to manage groundwater and surface water together. The state was a pioneer in understanding this connection, according to Fred Phillips, emeritus professor of hydrology and environmental science at New Mexico Tech in Socorro, New Mexico.

However, the Rio Grande Compact was put together long before that all happened, he said in an interview. It was entirely based on surface flow measurements, and nowhere in the compact is the effect of pumping even considered.

When the Bureau of Reclamation releases water from Elephant Butte and Caballo Lake in New Mexico, it must travel roughly 100 river miles to the Texas-New Mexico state line. Texas brought the suit in 2013, arguing that groundwater pumping in this stretch of New Mexico siphoned off water destined for Texas under the Rio Grande Compact. The United States and Colorado later both became parties to the lawsuit.

In 2022, Texas, New Mexico and Colorado proposed a consent decree to settle the case.

The states wanted to install a new water gauge at the Texas-New Mexico border on the Rio Grande, which would measure Texas share of water.

Under the agreement, southern New Mexico would receive 57 percent of the water released from the upstream reservoirs and Texas 43 percent, accounting for drought and groundwater pumping. The states proposed calculating water deliveries based on whats known as the D2 period between 1951 and 1978, when significant groundwater pumping had already begun.

But the federal government opposed the agreement. Its attorneys argued the deal did not reflect the United States treaty obligation to deliver water to Mexico, the Bureau of Reclamations role in water deliveries and its contracts with the irrigation districts. The federal government advocates for a return to a 1938 baseline for water deliveries, before the advent of widespread groundwater pumping.

This June, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to reject the consent decree, ruling that the states cannot reach a settlement without the federal government.

Water released from Caballo Reservoir mixes with ground water that has reached the surface in the Rio Grande during the first release of water from Elephant Butte Dam for the 2024 cycle on March 8, 2024.

That Texas litigation strategy has since changed, such that it is now willing to accept a greater degree of groundwater pumping, does not erase the United States independent stake in pursuing claims against New Mexico, Justice Ketanji Jackson wrote for the majority.

We cannot now allow Texas and New Mexico to leave the United States up the river without a paddle, she wrote.

Justice Neil Gorsuch delivered the dissenting opinion.

Where does that leave the States? After 10 years and tens of millions of dollars in lawyers fees, their agreement disappears with only the promise of more litigation to follow, he wrote.

Gorsuch added that the decision could also hinder future cooperation between states and the federal government in water disputes.

I fear the majoritys shortsighted decision will only make it harder to secure the kind of cooperation between federal and state authorities reclamation law envisions and many river systems require, he wrote.

How to manage a declining river

Washburn Universitys Griggs, the author of a forthcoming paper in the Idaho Law Review on the case, said many water law experts were surprised when the Supreme Court rejected the consent decree.

States that settle water disputes are now going to think twice, he said. Its a real wrinkle we havent seen before, where a non-party to a compact can intervene and then block a settlement.

Griggs said that settlements are preferable in these inter-state water disputes because expert attorneys can craft the agreements.

Do we want to leave the water future of millions of Westerns in the hands of nine Eastern justices? he said. You want negotiated settlements that are done by the level and talent of the lawyers involved in this case.

But he acknowledged that the Supreme Courts ruling is legally understandable because the Bureau of Reclamation has a clear role in executing the Rio Grande Compact.

Thomas Snodgrass, a Justice Department attorney representing the Bureau of Reclamation, articulated this role in his presentation to Judge Smith. He said that the bureau must release more water because of New Mexicos failure to regulate groundwater pumping.

Water begins to fill the Rio Grande under the Lou Henson Highway near Santo Tomas after water was released from Elephant Butte Dam for the annual allotment of water for New Mexico, Texas and Mexico.

Simply put, groundwater pumping is not sustainable, Snodgrass said.

The New Mexico Pecan Growers, the city of Las Cruces and the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, among those filing amicus briefs, have sided with the states but technically are not parties to the case.

The Albuquerque water authoritys attorney warned against the federalization of groundwater and said the federal governments position could be disastrous for existing groundwater permitting in New Mexico.

Griggs argues in his forthcoming paper that the United States does not trust New Mexico to protect the irrigation rights of the Elephant Butte District. If New Mexico has a shortfall of water to send to Texas, the state could cut back allocations to the Elephant Butte District.

The Elephant Butte and El Paso irrigation districts have filed amicus briefs that support the United States in the litigation.

These surface irrigators see that their days are numbered regardless whether theyre in Texas or New Mexico  if groundwater pumping continues, Griggs said.

Meanwhile, farmers who rely predominantly on groundwater favor the states consent decree because it does more to protect existing groundwater pumping.

The conflict between surface irrigators and groundwater irrigators is such an important theme to this case, Griggs said.

Phillips, the hydrologist at New Mexico Tech, emphasized the contribution of climate change and drought to the water constraints on the Rio Grande. He pointed out that Elephant Butte Reservoir has been at low levels for years and is unlikely to refill as it once did. Climate change contributes to decreased snowmelt in the mountains of Colorado and increased evaporation at the reservoir.

The system was sustainable under the climate conditions of the early 20th century, he said. But with the effect of global warming, the balance between consumption and replenishment has shifted.

Scientists predict that within 50 years, New Mexico will have 25 percent less water available in rivers and aquifers. A 2022 paper modeled climate change scenarios for water availability at Elephant Butte. The authors projected that the volume of water released from the reservoir would be 10 percent lower between 2021 and 2070 compared to 1971 to 2020.

Whatever agreement is arrived at needs to have provisions for how its going to be implemented in the case of a steadily declining water supply, Phillips said of the ongoing case.

What Happens Next?

Oct. 23 was Smiths first in-person hearing since the Supreme Court appointed him special master. His predecessor, Judge Michael Melloy, retired last year.

Attorney Stuart Somach, representing Texas, proposed the trial begin as early as April 2025. However, the lead attorney for the United States said that they would need more time to prepare.

The parties also discussed a site visit to the Rio Grande in 2025 so that Smith could see the river and irrigation infrastructure. The attorneys reminded the judge that water is not reliably flowing in the river below Elephant Butte until June.

In ordering the Washington mediation in December, Smith indicated that if the case goes to trial, he is inclined to hold it in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh.

Smith, who has a reduced caseload as a senior status judge, said he would continue his own education on the Rio Grande, first by reading Paul Horgans 900-page history of the river. He quipped that he hoped to live long enough to finish the book and to see the end of the case.

I hope, he said before adjourning court, we can reach an end to this odyssey.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: NM, Texas and federal government seek to resolve water disagreements
President-elect Donald Trump revealed Saturday night that he will not ask former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley or former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to join his administration.

Trump said on his Truth Social that Haley, who ripped him when she ran against him for the GOP nomination, and Pompeo, who some supporters criticized for not backing Trump strongly enough, will not be invited to join him when he re-enters the White House in January 2025.

President-elect Donald Trump announced which ex-officials wont be in his administration. AFP via Getty Images

I will not be inviting former Ambassador Nikki Haley, or former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to join the Trump Administration, which is currently in formation, Trump posted.

I very much enjoyed and appreciated working with them previously, and would like to thank them for their service to our Country. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

Since winning Tuesdays election in a landslide victory against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump and his team have been working behind closed doors at Mar-a-Lago to staff the 47th presidents administration, with loyalty the primary job requirement.

Haley, 52, ran against Trump during the GOP primary but dropped out in March when Republican voters overwhelmingly showed they still supported the 45th president to run for the White House a third straight time.

The former US Ambassador to the United Nations slammed Trump on the campaign trail and argued she was the only GOP candidate who could top President Biden before the 81-year-old Democrat dropped his reelection bid and publicly declared that Harris would become the next president if Trump remained the Republican nominee.

In a Wall Street Journal op-ed published just two days before Election Day, Haley attempted to walk back her criticism arguing the future commander in chief is clearly the better choice over Harris.

Haley, who has been both publicly supportive and critical of her former rival, publicly announced back in August that she had no interest in serving in Trumps administration  stating the campaign was never about a position.

Pompeo, who served as both secretary of state and CIA director in Trumps first administration, has been widely criticized for remaining silent throughout the presidential race until just days before Election Day.

Mike Pompeo is also out. ZUMAPRESS.com

Republicans have also blasted him for supporting special counsel Jack Smiths investigation of Trump over the possession of alleged classified documents.

Republican strategist Roger Stone took to his website Friday night to publicly warn the President-elect that Pompeo  who was rumored to be eyeing a seat in his cabinet after flirting with a presidential run himself  was not to be trusted.

Now that Trump is back on top, it becomes far more difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff, Stone wrote on his website.

Trump said his former UN Secretary Nikki Haley will not be chosen to serve in his next administration. Getty Images

If Pompeo is placed into the next Trump administration, his history shows he would promote the hegemony of the deep state rather than an authentic America First agenda.

Trump recently tapped his 2024 campaign co-chair, Susie Wiles, as his next White House chief of staff.
President-elect Donald Trump has won Arizona, NBC News projects, putting its 11 electoral votes in his column after he narrowly lost the state to President Joe Biden in 2020.

Trumps projected victory over Vice President Kamala Harris comes after years of a shifting political landscape in the Sun Belt state, following Trumps victory over Hillary Clinton by 4 points in 2016.

Since then, the once firmly GOP-controlled state has put into office a Democratic governor, two Democratic senators and other statewide elected officials. A fast-growing Latino population and a revolt against Trump among some old-line Republicans put the once-red state into battleground territory. And Bidens 2020 win in Arizona was just the second time in 28 years that Arizonas electoral votes went to the Democratic presidential nominee.

Donald Trump at the Rally to Protect Our Elections conference in Phoenix on July 24, 2021.

Still, many of those Democratic victories have been by the slimmest of margins. Arizona was the second-closest state in the country in the 2020 presidential race, with Biden beating Trump by just 0.3 percentage points (10,457 votes).

The state then became an epicenter of Trumps unfounded conspiracy theories about the election being stolen from him, with state Republicans eagerly embracing the claims  and some of those Republicans failing statewide in the 2022 midterm elections.

Yet in the 2024 presidential race, polling over the past several months had given Trump a slight edge against Harris in Arizona, though typically still within the margin of error. But while Trumps campaign, for the most part, was largely outspent and outorganized in Arizona by the Harris campaign, Republicans did see a voter registration surge heading into the presidential election year.

And the state was a good fit for the two issues at the center of Trumps campaign: the economy and immigration.

This summer, Arizona saw some of the highest gas prices in the nation, and both Harris and Trump made visits to the Arizona-Mexico border during visits to the state. Still, Arizona was among the battlegrounds Trump visited least, being geographically separated from most of the rest of the battlefield states.

A spokesperson for the Trump campaigns Arizona operation said in a statement after NBC News projected Trump had won the state that Grand Canyon State voters are eager for President Trump to fix what Kamala Harris broke.

Starting on day one, President Trump and Vice President JD Vance will help to ease costs, secure the border  and Make America Great Again, said spokesperson Halee Dobbins.
by Joseph Masilamany

Fr Christopher Lee was stabbed last night in St Joseph's Cathedral by a person with a history of drug offences. He underwent surgery and is recovering. Violence has no place in the country, said Prime Minister Wong. The diocese is asking Catholics to pray for a speedy recovery, while Singapores Inter-Religious Organisation condemned the incident.

Singapore (AsiaNews)  Parishioners of St Josephs Cathedral in the Bukit Timah district were appalled as a man walked up to the sanctuary, knife in hand, and stabbed Fr Christopher Lee as he celebrated the Saturday sunset Mass.

The suspect, a 37-year-old Singaporean Sinhalese man with a history of serious hurt and drug-related offences, was disarmed by members of the congregation and subsequently arrested by police. Based on preliminary investigations, police believe the suspect acted alone and that the attack was not an act of terrorism.

Singapores Inter-Religious Organisation has since condemned the incident, while Prime Minister Lawrence Wong called for calm, saying: Violence has no place in the country, urging, everyone to support one another in the spirit of harmony and resilience.

He also said on a social media post: I am very shocked and saddened to hear that a priest, Father Christopher Lee, was stabbed at St Josephs Church during Mass. We pray for his full and speedy recovery. Most of all, we must uphold the safety and sanctity of our places of worship, places where people seek peace, solace, and community.

Channel News Asia reported that Sunday Masses were held as usual today under the watchful eyes of police patrol cars and police officers who were present in the vicinity of the church.

Speaking to AsiaNews, a Singaporean Catholic, Stella Hendricks, said that she was shocked and appalled when she heard of the incident. She noted that Singapore is known to be among the safest cities in the world and no one ever expected this to happen in a church, which is also supposed to be a safer place than the streets outside.

An incident like this is never known to have happened before in any place of worship here in Singapore as the government has always encouraged peaceful inter-religious interactions and respect for one anothers culture, religion, and age-old traditions practised by multicultural communities.

Hendricks, who worships at the nearby Mary, Star of the Sea parish church, said that she is glad that the incident was not more serious than this and that the injured priest is recuperating well after surgery.

With 395,000 Catholics, Singapore has a vibrant Catholic community and is one of the most dynamic Christian populations in Southeast Asia.

As of June 2023, Singapore's population stood at 5.92 million citizens, including Chinese, Malays, and Indians. Of these 5.92 million people, 4.15 million are residents, consisting of 3.61 million citizens and 540,000 permanent residents. The remaining 1.77 million people living in Singapore are classed as non-residents, mainly resident workers without political rights who are routinely excluded from official demographic statistics.
10 November 2024 21:03 (UTC+04:00)

It was noted that our serviceman was immediately evacuated to a nearby military medical center. His health is stable.

On November 10, in the territory of Gulustan village of Goranboy district, the military serviceman of the Azerbaijan Army, Ibrahimov Gadim Khalig oghlu, was injured by falling on an anti-personnel mine that had been buried in advance by units of the Armenian armed forces, Azernews reports, citing the Defence Ministry

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Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis.

By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more.

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10 November 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

The foundation of Azerbaijans remarkable achievements lies in the efficient management system of the Republic. At the heart of the nations successful politics is a thriving economy.

President Ilham Aliyev has consistently emphasized the importance of a robust economy as a cornerstone of national success. Reflecting on the nation's victory, he stated: If we didnt have economic power, it would not have been possible to achieve this victory. First, economic independence had to be ensuredand it was. Today, Azerbaijan is economically independent. It does not rely on anyoneneither any country nor any international financial institution.

Under President Aliyev's leadership, Azerbaijan has embarked on large-scale energy and transport projects, established new regional cooperation platforms, and assumed key roles in prestigious international organizations. The countrys increasing global standing is further demonstrated by its hosting of major global events, such as the upcoming COP29 UN Climate Change Conference. The choice of Azerbaijan to host this critical international event is a clear reflection of the growing prestige and influence the country holds on the global stage.

President Ilham Aliyevs successful governance has laid the groundwork for Azerbaijans economic prosperity, strengthened its position within the international community, and solidified its place among the worlds leading and most powerful nations.

A key aspect of Azerbaijans economic policy is its focus on improving citizens' living standards while fostering trust between the state, society, and economic actors. Through systematic efforts to diversify the economy, the government has significantly reduced dependence on the oil and gas sector, while simultaneously expanding the non-oil sector and increasing non-oil exports.

The diversification of Azerbaijans economy is a work in progress, supported by key state programs and macroeconomic projects that aim to balance the oil and non-oil sectors. This strategic diversification strengthens Azerbaijans geopolitical position, cementing the country as a regional leader and an important partner in global peace and security.

Azerbaijans energy exports further demonstrate its strategic importance. Azerbaijani natural gas is now delivered to eight countries, including seven European nations. The completion of the Serbia-Bulgaria Gas Interconnector in Nis, Serbia, is expected to make a significant contribution to Europes energy security.

Azerbaijans oil exports via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Supsa pipelines serve Mediterranean and Black Sea markets, while the Southern Gas Corridora 3,500-kilometer infrastructure projectplays a vital role in ensuring Europes energy security. Additionally, a Memorandum of Understanding on strategic energy partnership has been signed between Azerbaijan and the European Union, which envisions a doubling of Azerbaijans gas exports to Europe by 2027.

Azerbaijan advances green energy development with strategic projects and international partnerships

Alongside traditional energy sources such as oil and gas, Azerbaijan is also placing significant emphasis on alternative energy, actively pursuing joint projects with key companies and countries in this sector. As part of its commitment to renewable energy, President Ilham Aliyev has issued directives to utilize renewable energy resources in the countrys newly liberated territories.

Under the economic development strategy set by President Aliyev for the liberated regions, transforming these areas into a "green energy" zone is a key priority. Following the 44-day war, during a meeting on January 6, 2021, which reviewed the economic outcomes of 2020, President Aliyev presented a strategic vision for the establishment of a Green Energy Zone in the liberated territories, highlighting the substantial renewable energy potential available in these regions.

To date, Azerbaijan has actively promoted its green energy agenda through several large-scale projects, including the commissioning of a 230-megawatt solar power plant and the imminent completion of a 240-megawatt solar power station. Furthermore, in June, the foundation stones for three solar and wind power plants were laid in Baku, with a total capacity of one gigawatt. These projects signal Azerbaijans growing role in the renewable energy sector.

Recognizing the country's vast energy potential, leading global energy companies such as Masdar, ACWA Power, and BP have invested in Azerbaijan, capitalizing on its renewable energy opportunities. Azerbaijan is well-positioned in both technical and economic terms to harness its renewable energy resources. The countrys renewable energy potential includes 135 gigawatts on land and 157 gigawatts at sea. Economically, Azerbaijans renewable energy potential is estimated at 27 gigawatts, with wind energy contributing 3,000 MW, solar energy 23,000 MW, bioenergy 380 MW, and mountain river potential adding 520 MW.

The strategic focus on renewable energy and economic diversification in Azerbaijan highlights the countrys forward-looking approach to sustainable development. Following the significant victory in the 44-day war, Azerbaijan has not only reclaimed its territories but is also positioning itself as a regional leader in green energy. The President's vision for transforming these newly liberated areas into a "green energy" zone reflects the nations commitment to long-term, environmentally sustainable growth.
10 November 2024 11:00 (UTC+04:00)

Nakhchivan hosted a commemoration in memory of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkiye.

As part of the ceremony, the monument of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in Nakhchivan was visited. During the event, the dear memory of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, and the martyrs of the two brotherly countries were commemorated with a minute's silence.

Consul General of Turkiye in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Asip Kaya laid a wreath in front of the monument.

Representatives of the state and government, officers of the military attache of the Turkish Armed Forces in the Republic of Azerbaijan, Turkish citizens and students studying in Nakhchivan laid flowers in front of the monument and paid their respects to the memory of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

The commemorative event was continued at the Consulate General of Turkey in Nakhchivan.

First, the national anthems of both countries were played, the life and military-political activities of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk were discussed in the speeches, and videos were presented.
Press Release

November 10, 2024 CHIZ SAYS CREATE MORE LAW TO GENERATE MORE JOBS, MAKE PH MORE APPEALING TO NEW INVESTORS Senate President Francis "Chiz" G. Escudero expects the creation of new jobs domestically with the influx of new investors into the country now that a more predictable and consistent tax incentives regime will be in place under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) Act. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to sign into law the CREATE MORE Act tomorrow, a priority legislation of the administration meant to spur economic growth in the country. The law amends Republic Act 11534 or the original CREATE Act that was crafted to help enterprises recover from the impact of the pandemic by lowering the corporate income tax rates and make the country more appealing to businesses by rationalizing fiscal incentives. "CREATE MORE seeks to encourage more investors to come to the Philippines by providing a more predictable and sustainable playing field," Escudero said. The new law will simplify and streamline the value added tax provisions of RA 11534, particularly on the processing of VAT refund claims and the VAT zero-rating on local purchases. According to Escudero, the discrepancies on the rules for the application of these incentives have led to confusion among the stakeholders, but with the kinks ironed out, CREATE MORE has the potential to turbocharge foreign direct investment flow into the countryone of only two ASEAN countries which have not bounced back to their pre-pandemic FDI catch. "The bottomline is that it will create a more favorable investment climate that will create more jobs, spur progress without harming our revenue base. Ang hanap lang naman ng mga negosyante ay clear, coherent, consistent rules subject to uniform interpretation and implementation," he said. The corporate income tax rate of local and foreign companies will be reduced to 20 percent from 25 percent under the enhanced deductions regime, as CREATE MORE increases the deductions in power expenses of registered business enterprises (RBEs) to 200 percent. "The Philippines has among the highest power rates in the region so this will help us in becoming competitive in bringing in investors," Escudero said. Essential services such as janitorial, security, financial consultancy, marketing and human resources are exempted from the VAT. RBEs would also be allowed to implement work-from-home arrangements for up to 50 percent of their employees. In effect, local businesses will benefit just as much as the foreign investors with the clarity on tax and other incentives and the expected uptick in economic activity. "This is in line with our commitment for the Senate to make life easier for our people and for those who choose to do business with our people. This will also result in the creation of more jobs and the transfer of technology and know-how that will empower our workers and uplift their lives in the long-term," Escudero said. "Hopefully we'll also be able to provide needed jobs here in the Philippines and give Filipino workers an option to work here instead of simply exploring options to work abroad. Para 'di na kailangan pang umalis ni Juan dela Cruz at maging OFW. Nandito na ang trabaho kaya 'di na nila kailangan pang mawalay sa pamilya nila," he added. Senate Bill No. 2762 is the consolidation of SBN 2564 authored by Gatchalian; SBN 2684 of Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri; House Bill No. 9794; and Senate Resolution Nos. 219, 244 and 567 filed by Senators Risa Hontiveros, Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III and Gatchalian, respectively.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., arrives ahead of Kamala Harris concession speech Wednesday on the campus of Howard University in Washington. Stephanie Scarbrough/Associated Press Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker Nancy Pelosi greet President Donald Trump just ahead of the State of the Union address on Feb. 5, 2019, in Washington. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

WASHINGTON  After playing a critical role in persuading Joe Biden to end his reelection bid, its possible Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi might have viewed a Kamala Harris presidency as an ideal time to end her decades-long political career.

With Donald Trump taking back the White House and Democrats likely losing control of Congress, however, she could once again become a key anti-Trump force. Though Pelosi hasnt spoken publicly about when she plans to retire, two Democratic members of Congress, who were granted anonymity in order to speak freely about a sensitive issue, said they believe Trumps election could persuade her to stay in office.

Pelosi was active during a House Democratic Caucus call Nov. 7, one lawmaker said, suggesting that the party should replicate the work of a group formed during the Trump administration focused on preserving and defending Obamacare.

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In a lengthy New York Times interview after the election, Pelosi steadfastly rejected the idea that the election was a repudiation of Democrats. She did not answer directly when asked whether this would be her last term, but she did hint that there was some fight left in her. Im not here to talk about that, Pelosi told the Times. Im here to fight the fight so that we win in the next election. I must have thought Ive had the last term over and over again, but as fate would have it, the mission called.

We dont agonize over what happened, she said. We organize about what comes next.

Pelosi reportedly considered retiring from office in 2016 until Trumps unexpected win changed her mind.

She had also been expected to retire after a brutal attack on her husband, Paul Pelosi, in October 2022, and after Democrats lost control of the House the next month. She stepped down from leadership in November 2022 but decided to stay in office, a move she said was shaped by the attack. It wasnt initially clear whether she would seek another term, but she bucked expectations and sought (and won) a 20th term last week. When Trump takes office, it will mark the first time she is not a member of leadership during a Republican administration since George W. Bushs first term.

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She will have a close ally in opposing Trump in the Senate, with Senator-elect Adam Schiff winning Californias seat as a result of her critical support in the primary.

Pelosi has a unique ability to get under Trumps skin and went viral several times for opposing him during his presidency, including smirking while conspicuously applauding him during the 2019 State of the Union  a move that some saw as sarcastic, and ripping up a copy of his 2020 State of the Union address after he finished delivering it. In his final campaign rally Nov. 5, Trump appeared poised to call Pelosi a bitch, but trailed off before finishing the slur.

Pelosi appeared confident ahead of election results, but quickly changed her tune.

We will win the House; that Hakeem (Jeffries) will be speaker, Pelosi predicted in an interview with PBS News Hour on election night. It is necessary from the standpoint of our policies, but also in terms of our democracy that, on Jan. 6, just as I had the gavel last time, its important for him to have the gavel to make sure that the election is accepted by the Congress.

Across the country is a mobilization like we have never seen before in every state, not just the targeted states, but in every state, which leads me to believe that we will win the House, she told PBS News.

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After Pelosis predictions didnt come to pass, she told the Times that Harris loss was heartbreaking, reporter Lulu Garcia-Navarro told CNN.

Pelosi is widely seen as the figure who helped end Bidens reelection bid. While she has denied playing a significant role, shes acknowledged the reasons that she believes necessitated the ticket switch.

Prior to Biden ending his campaign and endorsing Harris, however, Pelosi suggested that there should be a competitive process in which Harris could participate during a July 10 meeting of the California Democratic congressional delegation.

While some believed her comments were about wanting to build the most credible and viable ticket, others viewed Pelosis push for a competitive process as an effort to create an opening for contenders other than Harris.

Pelosi essentially confirmed those comments in an interview with the New York Times Nov. 7, in which she suggested the election may have gone Democrats way had Biden dropped out earlier in the campaign and had there been an open primary.

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Had the president gotten out sooner, there may have been other candidates in the race, Pelosi said. The anticipation was that, if the president were to step aside, that there would be an open primary.

If Pelosi does stay in office in order to challenge Trumps policies, it means the shadow race for her successor will continue.

San Francisco political observers expect the race to replace Pelosi, when it eventually takes place, will be a heated contest between state Sen. Scott Wiener and Pelosis daughter Christine Pelosi, an attorney and longtime Democratic Party leader and activist who has never held public office.

Wiener began quietly amassing support and fundraising in 2023 for the possibility that Nancy Pelosi might decline to run for another term. She has waded into local and state issues in the last year  including criticizing Wieners bill to regulate large-scale artificial intelligence models and endorsing progressive Supervisor Dean Preston, who challenged Wiener-backed candidate Bilal Mahmood  moves some have viewed as jockeying to position Christine Pelosi in the proxy fight for the House seat.
10 November 2024 12:23 (UTC+04:00)

On the occasion of Siyavush Karimi's birthday, a traditional book exhibition called "People's Artist, Professor Siyavush Karimi" was presented to users in the National Library, Azernews reports.

The exhibition displays literature in Azerbaijani and foreign languages about the life, rich, valuable scientific and pedagogical activity of People's Artist, professor Siyavush Karimi, books compiled and edited by him, foreword authored by him, and collections of notes.

The exhibition will last one week.

It is worth noting that the outstanding composer and people's Artist, Professor Siyavush Karimi was born on November 9, 1954, in Baku. In 1961-1969, he studied at secondary school number 159 in Baku. In 1969-1972, he graduated from the tar class of the Secondary Specialized Music School named after Bulbul. He was a student of master musician Ahsan Dadashov. In 1972-1977, he continued his studies at the Azerbaijan State Conservatory named after U. Hajibeyli. Starting from 1979, one of the soloist musicians in the orchestra of the State Song Theater named after Rashid Behbudov, music director of "Azkonsert", "Ashiglar" group, "Jangi" variety-folk ensemble, the variety-symphonic orchestra of Azerbaijan Television and Radio, "Azerbaijanfilm" named after J. Jabbarli. " worked as an artistic director in the music studio named after Rafig Babayev of the film studio. During these years, he became a close friend of People's Artist Rafig Babayev, whom he worked with, and was influenced by his music.

Professor Siyavush Karimi, who has had special services in the training of national musicians in Azerbaijan for a long time, is the rector of the Azerbaijan National Conservatory, and a professor of the "Popular Music and Jazz Performance" department.

Siyavush Karimi is the author of many musical works. It is his lyrical songs that make him known to a wide audience. He is also famous as a composer and a beautiful and mysterious arranger of folk songs.

The professor contributed to the development of modern Azerbaijani theater art with the music he wrote for many theater performances. Among them, "Malikmammad", "Butterflies", "Farhad and Shirin", "Timon of Athens", "History Molla Ibrahimkhalil Chemist", "Adventure-Mirza Fatali Akhundzade" and others can be mentioned. His activity in this field began in the early 2000s. In 2003, he was awarded the "Golden Dervish" award for the music he wrote for the play "Hamlet" by the genius English playwright V. Shakespeare, which was staged on the stage of the Academic National Drama Theater, and the "Zirva" award for the play "The Alchemist" in 2013.
10 November 2024 14:05 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijan has brought its security to the attention of the world community by hosting international events. The representation of world countries in such events hosted by Azerbaijan is an indicator of the recognition of our country in the world. The holding of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Baku shows that Azerbaijan's economic development, independent policy-making, and security are at the center of the attention of the international community.

Azernews reports that Ramin Nuraliyev, an expert on specialty selection and career, education expert, said these thoughts in an interview with Azertag.

He said that Azerbaijan's hosting of COP29 will have a positive effect on the study of foreign students in our local universities.

"Official representatives of foreign countries coming to the event will want to cooperate with Azerbaijan in several directions, as well as in the field of education. Azerbaijani universities will be a good choice for foreign students who want to study in a safe country. Azerbaijan will exchange students with many of its foreign partners within the framework of Intergovernmental Scholarship Programs (HTP). In parallel, dual diploma programs between Azerbaijani universities and higher education institutions of foreign countries will be expanded."
10 November 2024 10:00 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijan's Finance Minister, Samir Sharifov, represented Azerbaijan at the conference in London under the patronage of British King Charles III, dedicated to strengthening international climate action ahead of COP29.

Azernews reports that the event, attended by business leaders, ambassadors, industry leaders, and officials from Azerbaijan, the UAE, and Brazil, which are members of the COP Troika, was co-chaired by the British Minister for Energy Security and Zero Emissions, Ed Miliband, the British Minister for Development Affairs, Anneliese Dodds, and the Environment Minister, Steve Reed.

Speaking at the discussions dedicated to financing the transition to alternative energy during the conference, the Minister of Finance, Samir Sharifov, touched upon the importance of the green energy transition to reduce carbon emissions in the world and said that the COP29 event to be held in Azerbaijan is an increasingly important moment in terms of reaching an agreement on international climate finance and advancing climate action in general. The Minister said that Azerbaijan is doing everything within its power to ensure the success of the event.

In his speech, British Minister for Energy Security and Zero Emissions Ed Miliband emphasized the crucial importance of COP29 and noted that his country would be represented at the event in Baku with a high-level delegation and play a leading role in agreeing on climate finance.

Later, British King Charles III hosted a banquet at Buckingham Palace in honor of the participants of the event. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy also attended the banquet.

During the banquet, Finance Minister Samir Sharifov also had a brief conversation with British King Charles III, who always pays attention to the issue of international sustainability and climate action. Minister Samir Sharifov conveyed the greetings of the President of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, to the British King. In turn, King Charles III expressed his gratitude and asked to convey his greetings to the President of Azerbaijan. Continuing the conversation, the British King emphasized the important importance of COP29 and wished the event a successful outcome.

In the final document adopted at the end of the event, global business and industry leaders expressed their support for COP29 to be held in our country.

Information about the conference was published on the official website of the British government. The information noted that preparations are underway for the British government to actively participate in COP29:
10 November 2024 13:33 (UTC+04:00)

The chief of staff of the Ministry of Science and Education of Azerbaijan Metin Karimli and other officials welcomed the guest at the Heydar Aliyev International Airport.

Muhammad Abdulsalam, Secretary General of the Council of Muslim Elders, visited the Republic of Azerbaijan on November 10 to participate in the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), Azernews reports.

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10 November 2024 15:51 (UTC+04:00)

The UK Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Fergus Auld, has made an interesting post regarding COP29 which will take place tomorrow in Baku.

According to Azernews, in his post on X, the Ambassador says:

The biggest climate conference COP29 starts tomorrow!

The countdown is over. It's time to act!

The biggest climate conference @COP29_AZ starts tomorrow!



The countdown is over. It's time to act!  pic.twitter.com/U7qLP8oE54  UK in Azerbaijan (@ukinazerbaijan) November 10, 2024

The British diplomat also has posted a video sharing his excitement about the biggest UN event that is going to host thousands of guests across the world.
10 November 2024 17:22 (UTC+04:00)

The event "Salute to the Turk's Flag" was organized by the Federation of Turkiye-Azerbaijani Associations (TADEF) and the Azerbaijan Culture and Solidarity Association of Manisa, dedicated to November 8 - Victory Day.

Azernews reports, citing the State Committee on Diaspora Affairs that at the event organized at the "Irfan Majlis" in the Yunus Emre Culture Park located in Manisa, the dear memory of the martyrs of Turkey and Azerbaijan was commemorated with a minute of silence, and the national anthems of the two countries were played.

Chairman of Manisa Azerbaijan Culture and Solidarity Association Shenturk Hosgul, who spoke later, for his participation in the event dedicated to Victory Day and his support, Yunus Amre Municipality Chairman Semih Balaban, Manisa Buyukseher Municipality Secretary General Burak Daste and other municipalities of Manisa, local executive structures, public institutions, political expressed his gratitude to his parties and media representatives.

Invited to the event, professor Vafa Kurban, head of the Turkish World Public, Economic and Political Relations Department of the Institute of Turkish World Studies of Ege University, made a speech on the policy of aggression, ethnic cleansing, separatism and terrorism implemented by Armenia against Azerbaijan. The speaker, who demonstrated the crimes committed in his presentation with facts, talked about the double standards displayed in the global arena and their serious consequences. In the report presenting the occupation plan of Karabakh and the chronology of these processes, it was emphasized that the genocides committed repeatedly against Azerbaijanis were proven by the discovery of mass graves in those territories freed from occupation.

Speaking about Azerbaijan's Victory Day, the scientist pointed out that the Victory of our country in the Second Garabagh War was ensured as a result of the determination and will of the Azerbaijani people, economic strength, modern army building, and people-power unity. It was noted that with the great skill and determination of the President of Azerbaijan, the victorious Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, and the heroism of our soldiers who demonstrated high professionalism, the Patriotic War ended with the Great Victory of our people.
10 November 2024 16:02 (UTC+04:00)

On November 10, Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, met with Chandrikapersad Santokhi, President of the Republic of Suriname, Azernews reports.

Expressing his satisfaction with the meeting with the President of Suriname, the head of state thanked Chandrikapersad Santokhi for accepting the invitation to attend the COP29 event, emphasizing that this marks the first high-level official visit in bilateral relations. The President of Azerbaijan noted that this visit provides an excellent opportunity to exchange views on the prospects for bilateral ties and expressed hope that it would yield productive results.

The President of Suriname expressed gratitude for the kind words and emphasized the honor of meeting with the Azerbaijani President. He acknowledged President Ilham Aliyev's leadership in the COP29 process and thanked him for organizing such a prestigious event. President Chandrikapersad Santokhi stated that the presidency of COP is a challenging task but emphasized that Azerbaijan has shown leadership in this regard.

During the conversation, the two leaders reaffirmed the friendly relations between their countries peoples and noted the close cooperation between Azerbaijan and Suriname within international organizations, including the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

The Presidents discussed cooperation in agriculture, food security, and education. President Chandrikapersad Santokhi highlighted the provision of scholarships to students from Suriname at Azerbaijan's higher education institutions and the establishment of cooperation between the two countries universities.

They agreed to organize reciprocal visits of delegations to advance issues related to the prospects for bilateral cooperation.

Additionally, they exchanged views on the COP agenda and the cooperation between their countries within the COP, as well as in the field of renewable energy.
10 November 2024 16:16 (UTC+04:00)

On November 10, Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, met with Patrice Emery Trovoada, Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Azernews reports.

The head of state mentioned that the visit of the Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe to Azerbaijan marked the first such visit in bilateral relations and emphasized its significance.

Expressing his gratitude for the kind words, Prime Minister Patrice Emery Trovoada noted that the beauty of Baku had made a strong impression on them.

He conveyed his congratulations on Victory Day and highlighted the importance of ensuring peace and stability.

Patrice Emery Trovoada emphasized the significance of his visit to Azerbaijan in terms of discussing the prospects for bilateral relations.

The Prime Minister wished Azerbaijan a successful COP29 and noted that this event would contribute to addressing global climate change challenges.

The Prime Minister also expressed his gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for paying special attention to the problems of small island states at the COP, adding that Azerbaijan had demonstrated a leadership role in this regard.

Expressing hope that COP29 would produce effective results, the President of Azerbaijan noted that a separate summit on small island states would be held. President Ilham Aliyev also highlighted that Azerbaijan had provided financial support to small island states through the Commonwealth association and would offer further support for collecting and analyzing information on the impact of climate change on these states through Azercosmos.

During the conversation, the sides discussed cooperation between the two countries in the field of renewable energy.

The Prime Minister acknowledged Azerbaijan's strong experience in this field and pointed out that such expertise would be of interest to his country. In this regard, both sides highlighted the importance of an upcoming visit by the Azerbaijani delegation to the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe to discuss joint projects on the ground.
10 November 2024 16:42 (UTC+04:00)

On November 10, Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, met with Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Azernews reports.

President Ilham Aliyev expressed gratitude to the President of Zimbabwe for attending COP29.

Stressing the significance of the visit at this level in bilateral relations, President Ilham Aliyev stated that there are great opportunities to establish strong cooperation between Azerbaijan and Zimbabwe.

The head of state noted that the visit of the President of Zimbabwe to Azerbaijan created an excellent opportunity to discuss the prospects for the bilateral agenda.

Expressing his gratitude for the kind words, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa expressed his satisfaction with the meeting with President Ilham Aliyev.

He congratulated Ilham Aliyev on his victory in the presidential election, describing it as a demonstration of the people's trust in the President.

The meeting highlighted the strong political relations between the two countries, emphasized the importance of strengthening the mechanism for political consultations, and noted the role the economic aspect could play in the development of cooperation. The two leaders hailed effective cooperation within the framework of the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, and other international organizations.

They acknowledged that developing countries are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and discussed cooperation in this area, as well as in the field of renewable energy.

During the conversation, the Presidents emphasized the importance of establishing a working group to develop cooperation in agriculture, education, and other areas, as well as organizing reciprocal visits of delegations.
10 November 2024 16:49 (UTC+04:00)

On November 10, Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, met with Umaro Sissoco Embalo, President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Azernews reports.

The President of Guinea-Bissau expressed his gratitude to the President of Azerbaijan for the excellent organization of COP29 and the hospitality extended to him, expressing confidence that the event would be a success.

During the meeting, the sides first discussed cooperation between the two countries in the field of education and exchanged views on the support and provision of scholarships for training engineers and medical specialists from Guinea-Bissau in various fields.

President Ilham Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan supports this area by allocating grants to member countries of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. They also explored the potential for providing grants to students from Guinea-Bissau.

The conversation also covered the expansion of economic and commercial relations, the organization of reciprocal visits of delegations, and the holding of political negotiations through their foreign ministers.
10 November 2024 19:26 (UTC+04:00)

From November 11, COP29's live broadcast of the "Daily Show" television program, prepared in cooperation with the British broadcasting company "Hi-Impact", will be aired.

The daily events of COP29 will be covered in the 30-minute "Daily Show" television program designed to attract the attention of the global audience to the UN Conference of the Parties, which will be held in Baku on November 11-22, which is the most significant event of this year. Also, world leaders, scientists, public figures, and climate innovators will be guests of this program, which will be broadcast in an innovative format.

Twelve episodes of the "Daily Show" program will be broadcast daily online in cooperation with 47 television studios, covering four continents, and millions of viewers will be able to watch this program free of charge. In addition, broadcasts will be uploaded to COP29's official YouTube and other social media channels after each day's broadcast.

The "Daily Show" program, broadcast for the first time in this format, was created in cooperation with "Hi Impact", a well-known agency and broadcasting company in the field of communication. The show embodies COP29's commitment to inclusivity by enabling an international audience unable to attend the conference in person to follow COP29 events in a unique format.

It should be noted that the program, which will be broadcast from a specially created studio in the Green Zone of COP29, will be hosted by Rosanna Lockwood, a journalist and international presenter with rich experience in the field of news and interview programs broadcast on TV channels in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. He was the host of programs such as "News UK", "Prime Time with Rosanna Lockwood".

The program will feature prominent figures in the field of climate change as guest reporters, as well as bloggers who cover climate issues in order to reach a young audience away from traditional media. The tone and style of the show is designed to engage viewers from all walks of life on climate change. So the main goal of the show is to make the sometimes complex and technical climate debate accessible to a wider audience.

It should be noted that media and broadcasting companies provide opportunities for free broadcasting of "Daily Show".

Companies interested in broadcasting the show can apply through the e-mail address [email protected] .
9 November 2024 23:45 (UTC+04:00)

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz signaled hes open to discussing the timing of an early election as long as opposition lawmakers back legislation he wants to pass before his term ends, Azernews reports.

After dismantling his coalition with the Greens and Free Democrats on Wednesday and losing his Bundestag majority, Social Democrat Scholz said he was ready to submit to a confidence vote on Jan. 15, the first step in triggering a new national ballot in March.

Germanys three-party ruling coalition collapsed on Wednesday evening after Scholz announced he had fired the former finance minister, Christian Lindner, which effectively ejected Lindners fiscally conservative Free Democratic Party (FDP) from the troubled coalition. Linder and the FDP had been threatening to pull the plug on the coalition for several weeks due to disagreements over spending and measures to stimulate Germanys ailing economy.
10 November 2024 08:00 (UTC+04:00)

The International Criminal Court will launch an external probe into sexual misconduct accusations against its top prosecutor Karim Khan, Azernews reports.

The external probe will keep alive a case that the courts internal watchdog had closed within five days.

Karim Khan has categorically denied the accusations that he tried to coerce a female aide into a sexual relationship, and the claims come amid reports of an ongoing Israeli intelligence campaign to discredit the courts prosecution of Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes in Gaza.

The external investigation was approved this week at a meeting of the court's oversight body, the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute, according to three people familiar with the matter who spoke to AP on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door deliberations.

It was unclear exactly who would conduct the probe, the people said, noting that possibilities included law enforcement officials from Europe and a law firm. The United Nations internal watchdog has also been discussed for such a probe but that could be fraught with conflict-of-interest concerns because Karims wife, a prominent human rights lawyer, had previously worked at the agency in Kenya investigating sexual harassment.
10 November 2024 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

The US has charged an Iranian man in connection with an alleged plot ordered by Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards Corps to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump, the Justice Department said, Azernews reports.

In a statement, the department said that Farhad Shakeri had informed law enforcement "that he was tasked on Oct 7, 2024, with providing a plan to kill" Trump, the department said.

Shakeri allegedly told law enforcement he had no plans to formulate a plan to kill Trump within the IRGC's timeline.

The department described Shakeri, 51, as an IRGC asset residing in Tehran.

It said he immigrated to the US as a child and was deported in or about 2008 following a robbery conviction. Shakeri is at large and believed to be in Iran, the prosecutors said.

Two New York residents whom Shakeri had met in prison, Carlisle Rivera and Jonathan Loadholt, have also been charged for helping Shakeri plot to kill a US citizen of Iranian origin in New York, described as an outspoken critic of Iran's government who had previously been targeted for murder.

Prosecutors did not identify the target, but it matched the description of Masih Alinejad, a journalist and activist who has criticised Iran's head-covering laws for women.

Four Iranians were charged in 2021 in connection with a plot to kidnap her, and in 2022 a man was arrested with a rifle outside her home.

Rivera and Loadholt have both been ordered detained pending trial. Their lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
10 November 2024 12:48 (UTC+04:00)

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a treaty on the countrys 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 others aid in case of an armed attack.

Russias 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.

The treaty galvanises closer ties between Moscow and Pyongyang since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
10 November 2024 20:12 (UTC+04:00)

World leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim condemned a terror attack in Pakistan's southwestern province of Balochistan that killed at least 26 people.

At least 26 people were killed and many others injured in a bomb explosion at Quetta city railway station in southwestern Pakistan early Saturday, police said.

The UN secretary-general strongly condemned the heinous attack and called for the perpetrators to be held accountable.

In a message to Pakistani President Asif Zardari, Guterres sent his condolences to the families of those killed, as well as to the people and government of Pakistan.

Wishing a speedy recovery to all those injured, he hoped that those responsible for this heinous attack would be held accountable.
10 November 2024 22:42 (UTC+04:00)

Mirzoyan says that Armenia is looking to carry on the discussion in Stockholm as he finds more opportunities.

"Armenia is interested in further expanding political dialogue and partnership with Sweden, both on the bilateral agenda and in various formats, including within the EU," the Armenian spox said.

As reported by Azernews, citing Armenia's MFA Spokesperson Ani Badalyan FM Mirzoyan will discuss expanding political dialogue and partnership with Sweden.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan will pay a working visit to Sweden on November 11-12.

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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.
After a comedian whose ancestry was part Puerto RIcan made a joke about Puerto Rico at a Trump rally, the Democrats pounced, screaming their usual "racism" and predicted it would crush Trump with Puerto Rican voters. Funny thing about that because the opposite happened. As with other Hispanic voters Trump's numbers climbed significantly.

The largest Puerto Rican vote in the country by percentage of population is Osceola County, Florida, south of Orlando, which is over 26% Puerto Rican. It had been a reliably Democrat county for twenty years until Trump won it this year with 56.1% of the vote, a 13 point spread over Harris. In contrast, Biden won the county by almost 14 points and Hillary Clinton won it by almost 25. This was a 27 point swing in Trump's favor in four years and a 38 point swing in eight years.

Exit polls show that among Puerto Rican voters in Osceola County, Trump received 50.2% to Harris' 48.7%

Similar patterns emerged among the Puerto Rican community in many locations, although not as much so in the northeast.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14065419/trump-flip-county-puerto-rico-voters-2024-election.html

It is great that the British media provides us with information like this which the American MSM does not. As least the conservative media in the US are taking note of the movement of Hispanic voters:

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/3224070/hispanics-shift-right/
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.
Kate's family hen house was burnt in the early hours of Sunday morning

Kate Grant has been left upset and distressed over the incident

Kate Grant took to social media to appeal for support

NIs first model with Downs syndrome has expressed despair at her familys hen houses being set on fire in Co Down.

Kate Grant took to Facebook to post an image of herself looking visibly distressed, alongside a photograph of the burnt chicken sheds in Kilcoo.

She questioned how cruel people could be, adding: For the third time, someone has burnt my family farms two hen houses in a month.

Im so so upset. Thank goodness the hens were gone. I cant cope with this.

Please SHARE and hopefully catch these horrible people.

A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service said that the cause of the fire is believed to be deliberate ignition, but remains under investigation.

A spokesperson added that fire fighters were called to the scene at 2.43am in the early hours of Sunday (November 10).

Flame were extinguished and operations were finished at 5.15am.

Three fire appliances were in attendance from Rathfriland and Newcastle, they added.

The Belfast Telegraph has also contacted the PSNI for details.

Kate Grant, who is from Co Tyrone, is well known throughout NI for her services to the modelling and disability community.

Her life changed dramatically in 2017, when her mum Deirdre posted an appeal on Facebook for someone to help her fashion-loving 19-year-old daughter realise her dream of becoming a model.

She featured on BBC1 programme Role Models, in which the documentary followed her as she pursued her dream and took her first steps on the catwalk.

Kate was then asked to represent Northern Ireland in the Ultimate Beauty of the World beauty pageant, which she won aged 19, accelerating her fashion career.

The young woman became the first model with Down syndrome to take part in Belfast Fashion Week and be signed by the ACA Models agency.

In 2019, she was recognised for her achievements in the Queen's Birthday Honours list, and was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for "services to the community in Cookstown".
Latest | Remembrance Sunday: Sinn Fein First Minister Michelle ONeill lays wreath in Belfast for first time

Michelle ONeills wreath had the message: Today I remember all lives lost in the horror of war and conflictRemembrance Sunday services took place across Northern IrelandDUP leader Gavin Robinson laid a wreath at the National Service of Remembrance in LondonKing Charles, the Princess of Wales and other members of the Royal family attended the service in London

First Minister Michelle ONeill lays a wreath at the Cenotaph in Belfast during Remembrance Sunday November 8th 2024 (Photo by Kevin Scott)

Ralph Hewitt Sun 10 Nov 2024 at 12:06







Michelle ONeill has said she is committed to representing everyone as First Minister after laying a wreath at Belfasts Remembrance Sunday service.
The Ryanair chief executive has endorsed Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke in the LongfordWestmeath constituency (Brian Lawless/PA)

Ryanair boss Michael OLearys endorsement of Fine Gael was offensive to teachers, a Fianna Fail minister has said.

It comes after the airline chief announced his support for a Fine Gael candidate in the General Election, adding it was important to elect a government that gets shit done.

Mr OLeary endorsed Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke in the LongfordWestmeath constituency, adding that he would give his second preference to Fianna Fail candidate Robert Troy.

The multimillionaire based part of his endorsement on Mr Burkes background in the private sector, as he criticised TDs who were teachers in the past. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin is among those who has a background in teaching.

The Dail is full of teachers  nothing wrong with teachers, I love teachers, but I wouldnt generally employ a lot of teachers to go out and get things done, he said.

Reacting to the comments, Fianna Fail Minister of State James Browne said the remark was offensive, adding that he was the chair of a board of management of primary school.

One of the most effective things you can do with your life is being a teacher, he said.

Fianna Fail candidate for Dublin Bay South Jim OCallaghan added: As the son of a primary school teacher, I can tell him hes absolutely incorrect  teachers are very effective at getting things done.

In an apparent reference to Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach Simon Harris, Mr OCallaghan added: We need people from different backgrounds in Dail Eireann, teachers, all walks of life  it cant be the case that everyone just decides at 19 years of age that Im going to be a politician and stay in politics for the rest of their lives.

Michael OLeary has endorsed Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke (Brian Lawless/PA)

Elsewhere, Labour leader Ivana Bacik said it was very disappointing to hear someone in public life taking snipes or sneers at teachers, as she called on Fine Gael to distance themselves from the comments.

She said: Were all conscious of the enormous contribution that teachers have made.

She added: Its particularly disappointing at a time when we know theres a crisis in education, the recruitment and retention of teachers.

Mr Burke later distanced himself from Mr OLearys remarks, telling RTE radio that he absolutely disagreed with the businessman about teachers.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said Mr Harris should clarify his partys position, adding: For teachers to be jeered and demeaned in this way is unacceptable.

She also said the public were exhausted with Fine Gael, after Simon Coveney claimed that Mr Harris was exhausting the opposition

Speaking at Mr Burkes campaign launch in Mullingar, Mr OLeary also took aim at Sinn Fein and continued a long-running feud with the Green Party.

Mr OLeary, who grew up and lives in Mullingar, said the November 29 vote would be one of the most seismic elections within the next three decades because of the expected population boom.

He added: So it is vital this time that we elect a government that delivers.

We need a government that delivers for enterprise, that creates jobs. We need a government that delivers infrastructure that fixes the problems we face today, and above all, its vital that we elect a government that gets shit done.

Because, frankly, Im fed up with the left-wing politicians telling us that if they tax us more and spend more, all will be well.

Mr OLeary urged the crowd to also support Fianna Fail candidates but urged them not to vote for the Green Party or Sinn Fein.

I would also urge everybody to give your number two to somebody in Fianna Fail as well, he said.

Its important, I think, in this election that Fine Gael and Fianna Fail supporters transfer to each other.

Ryanair has repeatedly criticised the Green ministers for transport and tourism, Eamon Ryan and Catherine Martin, over what the airline sees as a lack of action on the Dublin Airport passenger cap.

What is most important in this election is we weed out the Greens. Weve learned after five minutes that the Greens are just weeds, Mr OLeary said.

They poison enterprise. Theyve destroyed transport.

He added: Please dont vote for Sinn Fein. I would ignore Sinn Fein. If you cant run your own party, you havent much chance of running a government or a country either.
The Rho Ophiuchi Nebula in Scorpius, taken over the course of 25 nights from May 2011 to June 2012 in Almeria, Spain, by Tom ODonoghue (Tom ODonoghue/PA)

Breathtaking images of the night sky taken by a Dublin photographer are to feature at Irelands biggest art fair.

Tom ODonoghue, 50, delved into the world of astrophotography when he was made redundant in 2008, and now captures high-resolution images of far-flung galaxies.

His work will appear for the first time alongside the biggest Irish and international artists at the Art Source event in Dublin next weekend.

A 2017 total eclipse of the sun, taken from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, by Tom ODonoghue (Tom ODonoghue/PA)

The astrophotographer, originally from Tuam, Co Galway, but now living in Malahide, north Dublin, has travelled the world to capture solar eclipses, galaxies and nebulae  vast clouds of dust and gas.

But he often drives to the south and west of Ireland, away from the light pollution of urban areas, to snap astronomical wonders in pure darkness.

Mr ODonoghue said: I spent three years living on top of a mountain in Spain and photographing the Aurora Borealis, eclipses, galaxies, nebulae and nightscapes.

A view of the Milky Way, taken from Dunquin Pier on the Dingle Peninsula in Kerry (Tom ODonoghue/PA)

The highlight of my career so far is capturing two total solar eclipses. The effort to get into the shadow area only 150km wide at that one time a year, with clear skies, and then to see the universe in 3D as the Moon moves in front of the sun, is the best thing you will ever see.

Theres nothing quite as calming and relaxing at looking up at the night sky and all its twinkling wonders.

Mr ODonoghue, who works as a tech contractor by day with Lam Research, has had an interest in astronomy since the age of 16, and began Toms Astro Prints (www.astrophotography.ie), an online enterprise selling his work, in 2008.

He says one of his crowning images is a spectacular Orion Mega Mosaic, featuring the Sword of Orion, the Three Belt stars and the triple Flame, Horsehead and Orion Nebula.

An auroral outburst seen over Glassilaun Beach in Connemara in May (Tom ODonoghue/PA)

In 2015, it was a joint runner-up in the Stars and Nebulae category of the Astrophotographer of the Year competition run by the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London.

One of the furthest images his telescopes managed to capture is the M51 Whirlpool Galaxy, an estimated 30 million light years away.

His work will be on display at Dublins RDS venue.

Art Source features a huge selection of affordable art as well as a wide range of pieces from some of the biggest names in the sector.

Dublin-based astrophotographer Tom ODonoghue (Tony G Murray Photography/PA)

Over the past number of years we have seen that the Irish public have shown an enormous appetite for art, and Art Source has become a major destination for buyers who are interested in art from some of the worlds most recognisable artists, said show organiser Patrick OSullivan.

As a reflection of that demand, this will be the biggest Art Source to date.

The reason the fair is growing so much is that Irish people are interested in art and culture at heart, and many people make a point of returning to the fair annually.

Art Source opens on Friday and runs until Sunday evening.

For more information and tickets visit artsource.ie.
The Tanaiste has been accused of putting the cart before the horse by announcing a new complaints process for the Defence Forces.

It comes after Micheal Martin appointed Kevin Duffy, former chairman of the Labour Court, as the interim grievance manager for the Defence Forces for 12 months, supported by external HR professionals.

The new procedure is designed to allow for an external and independent investigation of interpersonal complaints involving members of the Defence Forces.

The Women of Honour support group for former and current Defence Force members said the move was premature, pending the outcome of the tribunal of inquiry which was established to investigate bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment within the Defence Forces.

The Government committed to a full statutory inquiry into allegations of sexual misconduct, bullying and discrimination in the Defence Forces after the recommendations of a report by an independent review group (IRG).

In a statement to the PA news agency, Women of Honour said: Any final processes for the Defence Forces should only be statutorily established based on learnings that come from revelations at the upcoming Tribunal of Inquiry.

Claiming to be transforming the Defence Forces before a Tribunal has diagnosed its cultural problems is putting the cart before the horse and such claims are more of the State and its institutions closing ranks to protect themselves.

Many, many Defence Forces personnel are too afraid to give statements to the Tribunal for fear of retribution, so non-statutory processes such as this latest PR exercise by the Tanaiste will encounter difficulties too until the daylight of a proper investigation sterilises the past and confidence builds for the future.

That will not happen overnight.

Tanaiste and leader of Fianna Fail Micheal Martin (Gareth Chaney/PA)

The Women of Honour group said it had no input in designing this complaints process.

Mr Martin said the new independent and external grievance process is another important step in the cultural transformation of the Defence Forces.

He added: My priority is to make it available to personnel without further delay.

The Defence Minister said he had constructive engagement with the external oversight body, Defence Forces representative associations and the womens networks in developing the process.

He said the new strategy would provide a strong basis to legislate for a permanent complaint resolution process.

The Department of Defence said it addresses a key recommendation contained in the Independent Review Group (IRG) Report, that members of the Defence Forces should have access to an independent and external complaints system.

Mr Martin said stakeholders will be consulted and their views fully reflected in a review of the interim process next year.

Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sean Clancy welcomed the development.

He said: It will be a further key enabler of cultural transformation within the organisation.

I encourage all members to support this initiative and to engage fully with the process whether they are a complainant, a respondent or a witness.

Mr Martin also progression on the development of a complaints system for civilian employees and civil servants who work with the Defence Forces.
The King during the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in London (Aaron Chown/PA)

The nations war dead have been commemorated by the King as the country fell silent in remembrance of the servicemen and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Charles laid the first wreath at the Cenotaph in recognition of the fallen from conflicts dating back to the First World War, and other floral tributes followed from members of the royal family, Sir Keir Starmer, other political leaders and foreign diplomats.

The solemn ceremony was held after a two-minute silence was observed in the heart of Whitehall and at war memorials in villages, towns and cities across the country.

Watching from a Government building balcony overlooking the Cenotaph was the Princess of Wales, making a rare public appearance this weekend to attend events marking Armistice Day.

Kate joined Charles and the Prince of Wales at the Royal British Legions Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday evening but missing from the events was the Queen, who is recovering from a chest infection.

The Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Edinburgh on a balcony at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

Among the crowds lining barriers on Whitehall were military veterans proudly wearing their medals, while others waited nearby to take part in the Royal British Legion march past the memorial.

A volley from a gun fired by the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery from nearby Horse Guards Parade rang out to signal the start of the two minutes of silent reflection, punctuated by the sound of London traffic, and another booming blast marked its end.

The King laid his wreath on behalf of the nation, after buglers from the Royal Marines played the Last Post. Charles was followed in doing so by the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal, with the Queens equerry Major Ollie Plunket laying her wreath.

The Prince of Wales salutes during the Remembrance Sunday service (James Manning/PA)

Charles wore military dress, as did the other royals, and after laying his wreath he saluted in his greatcoat worn over his uniform of an Admiral of the fleet, with a sword by his side.

His wreath closely resembled a floral tribute produced for his grandfather King George VI  41 open-style poppy petals made from bonded fabric mounted on black leaves, traditional for a sovereigns wreath and featuring a tied ribbon in the colours of the Kings racing silk  scarlet, purple and gold.

The royal family and political leaders attended the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph (James Manning/PA)

Prime Minister Sir Keir stepped forward to pay tribute to the fallen on behalf of the Government with his floral tribute, as did the Conservative Partys new leader Kemi Badenoch, other party leaders, senior members of the Cabinet, military chiefs of staff and high commissioners.

Standing close to the Cenotaph were an unprecedented eight former prime ministers: Sir John Major, Sir Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Lord Cameron, Baroness May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak.

From left, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Speaker of the House of Lords, Lord McFall, Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, DUP leader Gavin Robinson, NP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, former prime minister Theresa May, former prime minister Lord David Cameron, former prime minister Gordon Brown, former prime minister Tony Blair, and former prime minister John Major, during the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

Watching from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office building were Kate standing with the Duchess of Edinburgh, in a neighbouring balcony was Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence with the Duke of Kent, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester stood together in another.

A short service followed the laying of the main wreaths, with Bishop of London Dame Sarah Mullally delivering a prayer.

She told those gathered: O Almighty God, grant, we beseech thee, that we who here do honour to the memory of those who have died in the service of their country and of the Crown, may be so inspired by the spirit of their love and fortitude that, forgetting all selfish and unworthy motives, we may liv only to thy glory and to the service of mankind through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Kate listened intently as the ceremony progressed and could be seen exchanging words with Sophie.

The Duchess of Edinburgh, right, put her hand on the Princess of Waless back as the pair left the service (Aaron Chown/PA)

Whitehall was filled with thousands of spectators who watched the detail of the event on large screens.

As the ceremony drew to a close, Sophie was photographed putting her hand gently on Kates back as the pair left the balcony.

The princess has recently completed a course of chemotherapy and is making a slow return to royal duties after being diagnosed with cancer.
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.
Violence flared after a football match involving an Israeli team in Amsterdam on Thursday (RTL Nieuws/AP)

Police have detained dozens of people for taking part in a demonstration in central Amsterdam that had been outlawed following violence targeting fans of an Israeli football club, local media reported.

Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema banned all demonstrations over the weekend in the aftermath of the grim scenes of youths on scooters and on foot attacking Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters on Thursday and Friday in what was widely condemned as a violent outburst of antisemitism in the Dutch capital.

Late on Sunday afternoon, the municipality, together with Amsterdam police and public prosecutors office, extended the ban on demonstrations until Thursday morning.

Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema, centre, had banned protests throughout the weekend (Mike Corder/AP)

Israels ambassador to the Netherlands said that 2,000 Israelis were brought home on special flights from Amsterdam over the past few days.

Before the match against Ajax, Maccabi fans also tore a Palestinian flag off a building in Amsterdam and chanted anti-Arab slogans on their way to the stadium.

There were also reports of Maccabi fans starting fights.

Amsterdam newspaper Het Parool reported that about 100 people were detained, and media said they were taken away in buses.

Police confirmed they were detaining demonstrators, but did not give numbers.

The protesters yelled slogans including Free, free Palestine.

Amsterdam Municipality said on X that police had begun arresting demonstrators who refused to leave the square, which is in the heart of the citys central shopping area and close to the historic canal network.

Organisers of the protest went to court on Sunday morning seeking an injunction to allow the demonstration, but a judge upheld the ban imposed by the municipality.

Police in riot gear run towards protesters, after pro-Palestinian supporters marched near the football stadium, in Amsterdam, Netherlands (RTL Nieuws via AP)

At the hearing, senior Amsterdam police officer Olivier Dutilh said that there were again incidents overnight targeting people thought to be Jewish, including some being ordered out of taxis and others being asked to produce their passports to confirm their nationality.

Police launched a large-scale investigation on Friday after gangs of youths conducted what Amsterdams mayor called hit and run attacks on fans that were apparently inspired by calls on social media to target Jewish people.

Five people were treated at hospitals and more than 60 suspects were arrested.

Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar rushed to the Netherlands on Friday and offered Israels help in the police investigation.

He met on Saturday with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof and said in a statement that the attacks and demands to show passports were reminiscent of dark periods in history.

In France, Paris police said on Sunday that 4,000 officers and 1,600 stadium staff will be deployed for a France-Israel football match on Thursday to ensure security in and around the stadium and on public transportation.
Ciara Mageean is sitting on her couch when we speak, four weeks post an operation on her ankle to remove bone spurs and repair a tear in her Achilles tendon.

She is on crutches, wearing a boot she has to leave on even to sleep, with a 5cm scar on the back of her heel. Getting back to running is months away  six from her operation, her surgeon told her.
Exclusive | IRA victims vowed to boycott over Michelle ONeill invite to Enniskillen Poppy Day event

Man who lost his father in 1987 atrocity vowed to boycott ceremony

The Enniskillen bombing in 1987 and (inset) Sinn Fein First Minister Michelle O'Neill

Christopher Woodhouse Sun 10 Nov 2024 at 08:33

Victims of the IRAs Poppy Day massacre planned to boycott todays Remembrance Sunday service after learning First Minister Michelle ONeill had been invited.
Social club split over portrait of ex-Sinn Fein text pest

Picture of Niall O Donnghaile may be stripped from wall

Niall O Donnghaile (centre)

John Toner Sun 10 Nov 2024 at 10:39

A row is brewing at a Belfast social club over a portrait of disgraced ex-Sinn Fein Lord Mayor Niall O Donnghaile.
The whole city is grieving: Valencia-based Belfast artists fury at response to Spanish flooding disaster

Expat joins Valencia protest march as anger grows in city over inaction by authorities

Lisa Gingles in her studio (Photo by @ezequielgimenezstock)

Ivan Little Sun 10 Nov 2024 at 11:00







An award-winning Belfast-born artist who has lived in Valencia since 1998 has joined thousands of protesters on a march to vent their fury at the Spanish authorities over the flooding fiasco.
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Days after Massachusetts voters embraced Auditor Diana DiZoglio's mission to audit the Legislature, the Methuen Democrat formally notified top Beacon Hill leaders that her office is reviving its recent probe and seeking missing information.

DiZoglio, in a letter to House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka on Friday, said her office intends to conduct a "performance audit" of the Legislature, including both branches and joint committees. The audit "will cover all of the topics we were unable to fully review in our previous audit, due to your refusal to participate in the audit process," DiZoglio wrote.

"Our work will start with a review of high-risk areas, such as state contracting and procurement procedures, the use of taxpayer-funded nondisclosure agreements, and a review of your balance forward line item  including a review of all relevant financial receipts and information," DiZoglio, a former lawmaker, wrote. "Section 12 of Chapter 11 of the General Laws of the General Laws requires organizations being audited to provide our audit team with books, documents, and other records pertaining to the audit. We may also make inquiries regarding audit issues with the members of your staff responsible for the functions involved in this audit, and request, from management, written confirmation of statements your staff made to us during the audit."

She wrote that her office would be in touch with legislative leaders about an "entrance conference" to be scheduled for this month.

DiZoglio copied other top Democrats on the letter, including House and Senate Ways and Means Chairs Rep. Aaron Michlewitz and Sen. Michael Rodrigues, and the Rules Committee and Post Audit and Oversight Committee chairs.

Fifteen days before Election Day, DiZoglio's taxpayer-funded office released its first attempt at auditing the Legislature. The office said House and Senate Democrats refused to participate as DiZoglio's team sought information about legislative finances, operations and communications. Auditors said the branches didn't ensure independent financial audits of their operations were completed for fiscal years 2021 and 2022, and they also criticized the transparency and navigability of the Legislature's website.

Mariano and Spilka, who have repeatedly insisted that DiZoglio lacks the authority to audit the Legislature, accused her of electioneering. Spilka spokesperson Gray Milkowski had said DiZoglio is "singularly focused on the upcoming election and promoting her ballot question, while the legislature has been busy doing the people's business."

But on Tuesday night, DiZoglio gained new ammunition, with nearly 72 percent of voters casting their ballots in support of Question 1, which gives the auditor the explicit authority to audit the Legislature. Shortly after the race was called, DiZoglio told the News Service that she intends to return to her office's 77-page audit of the Legislature.

"It was missing a lot of information that was refused to us by the Legislature," DiZoglio said. "The plan is to go back to that audit and go back to legislative leaders for the missing information so that we can complete the audit."

In her letter Friday, DiZoglio signaled she's looking for prompt action this time from lawmakers, writing that all requested records and information should be provided "within 72 hours of the date of request." Once the audit is complete, DiZoglio said lawmakers will have the opportunity to review and make comments on the draft copy.

"Your comments should be forwarded to us within 15 days of notification. Also, if you would like a formal exit meeting, please request the meeting at this time," DiZoglio wrote. "My office will be in touch to make arrangements for an entrance conference to be scheduled during November 2024."

The audit will be based on Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards, which are produced by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, DiZoglio wrote.

Mariano and Spilka ahead of Election Day left open the possibility of altering Question 1 should the measure pass. Mariano, asked whether he would seek to amend or repeal the law, had told reporters, "We'll see how big the margin is."

Only 28 percent of voters rejected Question 1. A Mariano spokesperson on Friday did not immediately say how the margin has impacted the speaker's thinking, and referred the News Service to a statement from Mariano and Spilka on Tuesday night.

"Consistent with how the Legislature has moved forward with every voter-approved ballot question in the past, we will consider next steps regarding how to best respect the Question 1 election results in a manner that aligns with the fundamental principles of the Massachusetts Constitution, including separation of powers," they said.
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SALEM  Oregon voters have rejected Measure 118, which would increase corporate taxes and give all residents a yearly rebate.

The Secretary of States Office showed that 79% of voters opposed the measure while 21% voted in favor, according to results posted Wednesday morning.

One of two statewide citizen initiatives on the ballot, Measure 118 would add an extra 3% tax on most businesses on sales over $25 million a year. Those proceeds would then be distributed to every resident, regardless of their age or situation, provided they lived in Oregon for at least 200 days in the applicable year.

Shortly after 9 p.m., Tuesday the campaign released a statement saying it was disappointed, but not particularly surprised, in the results.

Oftentimes, Goliath beats David, the statement said. In this case, the opposition to Measure 118 raised over $16 million to defeat it  more than 26 times what we raised. One thing is quite clear: If they didnt believe Measure 118 could pass, they would not have burned through millions of dollars to fight it.

The measure was the most controversial on the ballot and united an unusual coalition of political opponents and executives against it, including Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek, about 50 lawmakers from both parties, labor unions and more than 200 companies and business groups. Opponents, led by the Oregon Business & Industry lobby group, raised $19.4 million and flooded the airwaves with TV ads, saying the measure would amount to a sales tax and cost consumers money. The idea is that corporations would raise prices to pay the tax and then raise consumer prices to pay for it.

The size and diversity of our coalition show just how flawed Measure 118 was, said Angela Wilhelms, chair of the campaign opposing Measure 118 and president and CEO of Oregon Business & Industry. But defeating even flawed ballot measures requires a huge amount of work and financial support. The many businesses and organizations that helped spread the message deserve a great deal of credit. So do the elected leaders who joined our coalition early.

Supporters included the Oregon Progressive Party, the Pacific Green Party, Teamsters Local 206 and a few other groups, along with Californians who support adopting a universal basic income that would give everyone a guaranteed amount of income every year, regardless of need: Josh Jones, a Los Angeles investor; the family and foundation of the late Gerald Huff, a California software engineer; and Dylan Hirsch-Shell, a former Tesla engineer and current candidate for mayor of San Francisco, who donated $100,000 to the campaign.

Supporters said it would mark the start of a basic universal income  though the rebate would be far from that. It could have ranged from $1,000 to 1,300 in 2026 and increase to $1,600 per person in 2027, according to a state analysis. The analysis also found that the program would reduce total personal income taxes by 33%, including reducing or eliminating personal income taxes for filers who earn less than $40,000 a year.
November 10, 2024: Some things never change. Take Egypt and its continued domination of North Africa. For over 5,000 years, the Egyptian civilization has dominated North Africa. For most of that time the local religion was one based on worshiping multiple gods. Two thousand years ago Christianity took over and after six hundred years Islamic Arab armies invaded and enforced a multi generation effort to convert all these Christians to Moslems. That effort continues because five to ten percent of Egyptians remain Coptic Christians. The current government tolerates Copts as most foreign tourists are Christians and admire the way Egypt supports the continued existence of the Copts.

Egypt is less happy about the Tuaregs, a North African Berber group that dominated the region for over two thousand years until European colonial forces showed up in the early 19th century. The word Tuareg is translated as Free Men and that freedom comes at a cost. The Tuaregs continued to feud with their North African and sub-Saharan African neighbors. The colonial powers left most of Africa in the 1960s. This was bad for the Tuaregs who were outnumbered by the people of Niger, Mali, Algeria, Libya, and Burkina Faso, countries the Tuaregs used to dominate. The French colonial governments used the Tuaregs as their enforcers and this backfired on them when the French left and the newly independent governments of Niger, Mali, Algeria, Libya, and Burkina Faso sought to suppress Tuareg power in the region. This effort is still underway as Tuareg power and influence continues to decline.

The Tuaregs put up a fierce resistance to the French and were not defeated in Mali until 1905. There are currently about four million Tuaregs who live west of Egypt extending to Morocco on the Atlantic coast and south as far as in the Sahel as well as southern portions of the Sahara desert and south to nations like Mali and Nigeria. Recent DNA studies show that Tuaregs were present in southern Egypt over 3,000 years ago and some of these Tuareg invaders still exist in southern Egypt. .

As Egypt expands its influence in North Africa, it continues to bump into rebellious Tuaregs, who are not alone in opposing Egyptian influence, While Egypt has the largest economy in North Africa, the other 37 North African and Sahel states would rather get their imports from Europe and North America.

Egypt isnt aggressive about using its status as the largest military and economic nation in the Maghreb (North Africa) and Sahel. Algeria and Morocco are nearly as powerful as Egypt but these three nations are not a threat to each other. Israel and Egypt, who share a common border, cooperate when dealing with local Islamic terrorists and Bedouin smugglers. The Bedouin are another curious minority that exist from the Arabian Peninsula into Egypt, Israel and North Africa. The Bedouin are entrepreneurial and currently dominate smuggling activities in areas where they are present. Bedouin are accommodating and willing to make deals. Egypt and Israel had problems with Islamic terrorists and the Bedouin helped out with that in return for reduced interference with their smuggling.

Bedouin tend to be loyal to the government of countries they live in. As a result there are Bedouin in the Israeli and Egyptian armed forces. One reason Egypt is the North African superpower is because they made peace with Israel in 1979 and have maintained that status ever since. This made it easy for Egypt to develop natural gas deposits that were first discovered in 1967. Back then Egypt was still at war with Israel and losing every time they fought the Israelis. This led to the 1979 peace deal that enabled both Egypt and Israel to peacefully develop their new natural gas fields. One Egyptian natural gas pipeline runs through Israeli territory.

Arab states still at war with Israel criticize Egypt for their cooperation with Israel. Egypt points out that they are not Arab and, aside from being invaded by Arab armies 1,300 years ago, generally stay out of Arab affairs. The other North African states also have some Arabs in residence, but do not act like Arabs. There is little Islamic terrorism in North Africa and a lot of economic ties to Europe, the United States and, to a lesser extent, Israel. Egyptian ties with the United States enabled the Egyptian army to obtain over a thousand M1 tanks, many of them built in Egypt under license. Egypt has access to many other modern American weapons, as well as arms salesmen from European nations. While Egyptian forces do not train with the Israelis, the Americans do and the United States continues to be a major supplier of military equipment to Egypt and Israel.
An Irishman has been arrested on suspicion of murdering an American tourist in Hungary, and has allegedly admitted killing her and hiding her body near a lake.

Mackenzie Michalski, from Portland in the US state of Oregon, was last seen with the 37-year-old man in a nightclub in Budapest according to Hungarian police.

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Police subsequently arrested the 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 man claims he killed Ms Michalski during an "intimate encounter" and claimed to police that it was an accident. He allegedly dumped her body near a woodland area.

Mackenzie "Kenzie" Michalski, 31, was a nurse practitioner.

Police also said his internet search history included procedures in missing person cases, whether pigs eat dead bodies, and if there are wild boars around Lake Balaton.

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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."
Stormonts First Minister Michelle ONeill has participated in the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at Belfast City Hall  the first time a senior Sinn Fein figure has taken part in such an event in Northern Ireland.

Ms ONeill, who said her attendance is a demonstration of her determination to fulfil her pledge to be a First Minister for all, laid a laurel wreath at the Cenotaph in Belfast.

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A message on the wreath read: As First Minister, I wish to take our society beyond old limits, to build bridges and to a shared future together.

Today I remember all lives lost in the horror of war and conflict  past and present.

First Minister Michelle ONeill, left, stood alongside deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly for the ceremony (Liam McBurney/PA)

Ms ONeill attended the commemoration alongside DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, who also laid a wreath.

Hundreds of people lined the streets outside City Hall as Armed Forces members participated in the ceremony.

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In a statement, Ms ONeill said: I am committed to representing everyone equally. Through my words and actions, I will honour that commitment.

We each have our own identity, experiences, and perspectives. As an Irish republican who believes in a united Ireland, I have my own perspective also.

As we move towards a better future I am committed as First Minister to moving beyond old limits and building bridges.

It is through understanding and respect for our differences that we can build a stronger, respectful, and united society.

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I will never shy away from my responsibility to take decisions  no matter how personally challenging  that will help build a new Ireland, defined by inclusion and respect for all traditions.

Elsewhere, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn attended the annual Remembrance Sunday commemoration at Enniskillen, where hundreds gathered to pay their respects.

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 8th, 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.

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Taoiseach Simon Harris said he decided not to attend the commemoration on advice from officials that it would not be attended by the senior representatives of the Executive.

Members of the Armed Forces during the Remembrance Sunday service at Belfast City Hall (Liam McBurney/PA)

Mr Harris absence was a rare break with the tradition of the sitting Taoiseach attending the event. The commemoration falls two days after he formally announced the general election.

The Government was represented by Mr Harris Fine Gael party colleague and Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys, who is not seeking re-election.

A range of other events to pay tribute to the war dead took place across Northern Ireland on Sunday.

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Meanwhile, President Michael D Higgins said he would lay a wreath in remembrance of all those who have died in war as he attends the National Service of Remembrance in St Patricks Cathedral in Dublin.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald also said she would attend the Dublin service.
Democrat Kamala Harris lost Michigan by more than 80,000 votes amid a nationwide shift to Republicans, as union workers, Black voters, Arab Americans and Muslims either failed to show up at the polls, or cast their ballots for Donald Trump.

It was a bracing loss, given the state is run by a high-profile Democratic governor who expanded voting rights, and it had only backed a Republican president once before in the past 22 years - Mr Trump in 2016, and then by fewer than 11,000 votes.

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What happened in Michigan highlights issues that ail the Democratic Party nationwide, community leaders, voters and political experts say. Working class voters, people of colour and immigrants voted in lower numbers or moved to Mr Trump, high grocery and housing prices loomed large, and national party leaders ignored local organisers.

Exit polling offered some insights about the challenges Ms Harris faced in her three-month campaign.

The economy was the top issue in Michigan, as across the country, said Ameshia Cross, a Democratic strategist, but the Arab American and Muslim vote, immigration concerns and a high concentration of Black voters also played a big role.

"There's only so much you can do in 107 days," Ms Cross said, referring to the amount of time Ms Harris' campaign had after president Joe Biden dropped out of the race. "However, I do think that there should have been more time spent in Michigan."

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Ms Harris visited the state 11 times, and high profile Democrats campaigned here, including both Barack and Michelle Obama.

Ms Cross faulted the "consulting class" of the Democratic Party for relying too much on polling instead of local organisers.

"Listening to people on the ground is always going to be more vital than the modelling and the projections that we've seen," she said.

Local opposition to US support for Israel's wars in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon also loomed over the campaign.

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The Harris team said the vice president held closed-door meetings with some Arab American and Muslim leaders, and pointed to outreach efforts in Michigan that included a large ground presence with 52 offices and over 375 staff.

Trump wins over Muslims

Michigan is home to at least 300,000 Arab Americans and Muslims, who overwhelmingly supported Mr Biden in 2020.

Both Green Party candidate Jill Stein and Mr Trump spent considerable time in Dearborn, the biggest US city with a majority-Arab population. Ms Harris never visited.

Ms Harris did meet privately in August outside the city with Dearborn mayor Abdullah Hammoud, a Democrat who later declined to endorse any candidate, and with selected community leaders who did endorse her.

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Dearborn backed Mr Trump by 42 per cent to Harris' 40 per cent, with Ms Stein receiving over 15 per cent, city data showed. In 2020, Mr Biden won 69 per cent of the city's vote to Trump's 30 per cent.

The issues may have reverberated in other states too. The Council on American-Islamic Relations, the largest US Muslim advocacy group, said Ms Stein won 53 per cent of the vote in an exit poll of 1,575 verified Muslim voters. Mr Trump won 21 per cent and Ms Harris 20 per cent.

Mr Trump's campaign blasted text messages and mailers to a list of 100,000 mostly Democratic-leaning Arab Americans in Michigan in the last months, portraying Mr Trump as a "president of peace" and linking Ms Harris with the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine.

They seized on Ms Harris' town halls with former representative Liz Cheney, whose father former vice president Dick Cheney played a large role planning the US wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and they sent a mobile billboard truck with the words "Stop Kamala, Stop the Wars" driving around Dearborn.

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Ms Harris did not meet "Uncommitted" organisers who mobilised 101,000 votes during the Democratic primaries, and Democrats did not allow a Palestinian speaker at the August party convention, angering these groups and progressives.

"We have failed leadership. It's exhausting, it's daunting, it's frustrating, because it didn't have to be this way," Lexis Zeidan, a Democrat and co-founder of the Uncommitted National Movement told reporters in Dearborn.

Begging for yard signs

In Detroit, the largest majority-Black city in the US., where the Harris campaign had hoped to offset expected losses among Arab and Muslim voters, city data showed turnout fell to 47 per cent from just under 50 per cent in 2020, despite new laws on early voting and absentee ballots.

Hazen Turner, a 24-year-old Black auto worker who canvassed for Ms Harris in Detroit, said many of his friends and co-workers felt defeated by rising costs and their inability to get ahead.

A lot of the young Black universe, they don't really have faith in the system," he said. "The more we work, we really don't have anything to show for it."

Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, a Detroit school board member and former Democratic member of the Michigan House of Representatives, said officials with the coordinated party campaign were dismissive of her concerns. She said she had to beg for yard signs to help energise voters in the city who were less inclined to vote.

"I'm telling them we're getting 20 to 30 pieces of mail from Trump daily, and we've heard nothing from Harris," she said. "And then you see on TV they're raising a billion dollars. Like, what the hell?"

Michigan's voters without a college degree make up 62 per cent of the state's total, and they remained sceptical of Democrats.

The campaign also failed to address concerns including around electric vehicles that were raised by many United Auto Workers, a growing number of whom backed Mr Trump even though Mr Biden and Ms Harris supported their strike last year against General Motors.

Isaiah Goddard, 24, a white UAW member, said he met Mr Trump when he visited a non-union shop during the strike. He said he trusts him to protect his job and keep out illegal immigrants.

We were better off when President Trump was president," said Mr Goddard, who attended two rallies with Mr Trump and his running mate JD Vance before the election.
An Israeli air strike on the northern Gaza Strip has killed at least 17 people, according to local hospital officials.

Dr Fadel Naim, director of the Al-Ahly Hospital in Gaza City, said nine women are among the dead and the death toll is likely to rise as rescue efforts continue.

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He said they were killed in a strike on a home sheltering displaced people in the urban refugee camp of Jabaliya, where Israel has been carrying out an offensive for more than a month.

The Israeli military is yet to comment on the strike.

Israeli forces have encircled and largely isolated Jabaliya and the nearby towns of Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun for the past month, allowing in only a trickle of humanitarian aid.

Hundreds of people have been killed since the offensive began on October 6, and tens of thousands of people have fled to nearby Gaza City.

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Meanwhile in Lebanon, the health ministry said at least 20 people were killed in an Israeli air strike on Sunday.

It said the incident occurred in the village of Aalmat, north of the capital Beirut and far from the areas in the south and east of the country where the Hezbollah militant group has a major presence.

On Friday, experts from a panel that monitors food security in Gaza said famine is imminent in the north of the territory or may already be happening.

The northern third of Gaza, including Gaza City, was the first target of Israels ground invasion and has suffered the heaviest destruction of the 13-month war, which was triggered by Hamass attack into southern Israel. As in other areas of Gaza, Israel has sent forces back in after repeated operations, saying Hamas has regrouped.

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The military says it only targets militants, whom it accuses of hiding among civilians in homes and shelters. Israeli strikes often kill women and children.

Israels offensive has killed more than 43,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities who do not distinguish between civilians and militants in their count but say over half the fatalities were women and children.

Ceasefire talks mediated by the United States, Qatar and Egypt have repeatedly stalled since the start of the year.

Qatar, which has served as a key mediator with Hamas, said over the weekend that it had suspended its efforts and would only resume them when the parties show their willingness and seriousness to end the brutal war and the ongoing suffering of civilians.
The Taliban will this week attend a UN climate conference for the first time since its takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.

The Cop29 conference begins on Monday in Azerbaijan and is one of the most important multilateral talks to include the Taliban, which does not have official recognition as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan.

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The Talibans National Environmental Protection Agency posted on social media platform X that a technical delegation has gone to Baku to participate.

Matiul Haq Khalis, the agencys head, said the delegation will use the conference to strengthen co-operation with the international community on environmental protection and climate change, share Afghanistans needs regarding access to existing financial mechanisms related to climate change, and discuss adaptation and mitigation efforts.

Experts have said climate change has led to numerous and negative impacts on Afghanistan, creating serious challenges because of the countrys geographical location and weak climate policies.



Two brothers fill canisters with water from a stagnant pool about two miles from their home in Kamar Kalagh village outside Herat, Afghanistan (Petros Giannakouris/AP)

Hayatullah Mashwani, professor of environmental science at Kabul University, said: Climate change has resulted in higher temperatures, which reduce water sources and cause droughts, significantly affecting agricultural activities.

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The reduction in water availability and frequent droughts pose severe threats to agriculture, leading to food insecurity and challenges to livelihoods.

In August, the international aid agency Save the Children published a report saying Afghanistan is the sixth most vulnerable country to the impacts of climate change and that 25 of its 34 provinces face severe or catastrophic drought conditions, affecting more than half the population.

Afghanistan also had the highest number of children made homeless by climate disasters of any country as of the end of 2023, according to the report.

Professor Abid Arabzai, also from Kabul University, said the climate conference will help to secure international assistance and funding to address Afghanistans climate challenges.

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Afghanistan can clarify its climate actions and commitments to the global community, enhancing its international reputation, he said.
A design firm boss is dragging his siblings through court over a barrage of explosive emails in which they called him a serial child rapist and a junkie in a spectacular family conflagration that has ensnared the citys councils, lawyers and top defamation silks.

Farah Georges, co-founder and director of the architecture firm Design Cubicle, was one of many cced on the emails that began hitting inboxes in April 2022.

Farah Georges in the closing days of his defamation trial against his brothers this month. Credit: Kate Geraghty

I will also FINALLY be commencing criminal proceedings against Farah Georges for sexual and physical abuse towards me as a child, one email read.

The trauma over all these years has been held in to not embarrass my family. Now its time.
Turning to news of another tragedy in Victoria: One adult is dead and a child has been injured after a truck crashed into a kindergarten north of Melbourne.

The truck careened into the Macedon Ranges Montessori Preschool on Main Road at Riddells Creek, 55 kilometres north of Melbourne, earlier this afternoon.

A truck veered into Macedon Ranges Montessori Preschool (pictured) about 2.20pm on Monday local time. Credit: Nine News

A Victoria Police spokeswoman confirmed one adult, who is yet to be formally identified, died at the scene.

A child was injured and has been taken to hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries, she said.

The driver of the truck has also been taken to hospital for observation. The exact circumstances are being investigated.

It comes less than two weeks after 11-year-old Jack Davey was killed and four other students injured after an SUV crashed through a fence at Auburn South Primary School in Melbournes east.

A private funeral was held for Jack on Sunday.

Read more here.
Regional teachers are moving interstate in pursuit of better pay, as Victorian schools warn NSW has the upper hand in a border war for staff.

Victorian graduate teachers are the worst paid in the country, earning more than $13,000 less than the countrys best-paid graduates in the Northern Territory and more than $8700 less than those in NSW.

Wodonga Senior Secondary College principal Vern Hilditch says he has lost teachers across the border. Credit: Joe Armao

That gap will widen to $10,588 from October next year, after NSWs historic 10 per cent increase signed last month, sparking fears the new deal will worsen Victorias teacher shortage.

If you can go across the border now and get about a 15 per cent pay rise for the same job without moving your house  were talking about six kilometres away  why wouldnt you? principal Vern Hilditch said.
Voters were split on how to respond if Trump imposed tariffs on Australian exports, with 46 per cent saying the government should put tariffs on US exports in return. Another 13 per cent were against retaliation and 41 per cent were unsure. Resolve director Jim Reed said the findings were in line with months of results showing that Australians preferred Democrat candidate Kamala Harris over Trump. The fact that more Australians believe this is a bad outcome for Australia undoubtedly reflects a dislike of Trump and the fact that our political spectrum is centred more to the left, he said. But there are also misgivings, or at least uncertainties, about what Trump might do that will affect us on trade and defence.

Australians clearly dont want to abandon the US alliance on the strength of this new result, with few believing we should cancel the AUKUS order for submarines, for example. But they do think we should have the leeway to react to changes that dont go our way, like imposing our own tariffs or seeking closer trade relationships elsewhere. Trump remains a divisive figure in Australia, with 54 per cent of Australian respondents saying they had a negative view of him and 26 per cent taking a positive view. This led to a net likeability rating of minus 29 per cent after rounding. Harris, however, had a net likeability of 16 per cent among Australians after her defeat. While 25 per cent had a negative view of her, 41 per cent had a positive view.

The Resolve Political Monitor found that 35 per cent wanted to cement the AUKUS agreement with the US and Britain to buy nuclear-powered submarines, but 27 per cent said Australia should pause or halt the alliance. It also found that 29 per cent wanted to continue plans to host US nuclear submarines in Australian naval bases, although 37 per cent said Australia should rethink this policy, which is also part of the AUKUS plan. The survey found that 44 per cent were in favour of forming closer relations with other countries in the region, including China, in reaction to the Trump victory. Another 19 per cent disagreed with this, while 37 per cent were unsure. Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Trump in recent days and held several talks with the former president after he lost power at the 2020 election, as revealed by investigative journalist Bob Woodward. Trump has claimed he could end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours, leading to conjecture he would reduce support for Ukraine and its president, Volodymyr Zelensky. Loading

But 53 per cent of Australian voters said Australia should continue to support Ukraine if the US withdraws its support. Another 19 per cent disagreed and 29 per cent were undecided. The Resolve Political Monitor surveyed 1621 people from Wednesday to Sunday, producing results with a margin of error of 2.4 per cent. This means all changes in the primary vote were within the margin of error. Questions about the US election were asked after Trumps victory became clear. In one of the biggest gains for Dutton, the number of voters who thought he was doing a good job rose from 40 to 45 per cent over the past month. The number of voters who thought he was doing a poor job fell from 41 to 39 per cent. As a result, his net performance rating climbed to 5 per cent, his strongest result in the Resolve Political Monitor. Albanese had a net performance rating of minus 14 per cent in the latest survey. While the number of voters who thought he was doing a good job rose from 35 to 38 per cent, this was not enough to give him a positive net rating.

Dutton is making some underlying gains that are not yet translating to vote, said Reed. Loading Both his preferred PM and net performance ratings are at new high points, and hes certainly now viewed as stronger, more principled and competent in our analysis. Voters still think Albanese is a nice guy, and I rarely see anyone display any anger towards him. Instead, its like that most cutting remark made by parents  its not that theyre angry, just disappointed. Its the word that comes up most often. They were expecting something different.
Recently, a Russian hacking group launched cyberattacks on South Korea's critical infrastructure. According to official news agencies, such a move serves as a response to Seoul's proposal to send military experts to Ukraine to trace North Korean troops who are allegedly assisting Russia's war efforts in the country.

Those accusations by the hacking group Z Pentest, blamed for incursions into facilities at South Korean facilities, had created security breaches in the country.

Russian Hackers Breach South Korean Grain Warehouse Controls

Z Pentest publicly boasted of accessing equipment at a warehouse in Naju, South Jeolla province, where it allegedly stored Ukrainian grain supplies. According to Reuters, the group put up a video on social media about how they allegedly tampered with the electronic controls of grain elevators and spewed lots of grain onto the ground.

Furthermore, they boasted that their equipment's performance remains at a high level of efficiency through wastage resources. This video proclaimed their intentions to ground South Korea's infrastructure as a revenge measure due to Seoul's supportive stand for Ukraine.

"Our specialist just turned everything off. Let them dry up," the alleged hackers said on Wednesday, Nov. 6.

South Korean Agricultural Systems Under Fire

Apart from the warehouse break-in, Z Pentest boasted of having hacked into the South Korean cultivation and irrigation system, which they asserted totally crippled. The group boasts of their actions by saying they had shut down the whole system and left it to dry, trying to cause potential agricultural damage.

This escalation marks a shift from mere cyber intrusions into South Korea's physical infrastructure to the involvement of agricultural resources in the country in the collision course of international political conflicts.

Hacking Group Defends Attacks Over South Korea's Policy on Ukraine

In another report by South China Morning Post, Pentest said the attacks were a direct response to South Korean Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun's proposal to send military officials to Ukraine to monitor North Korean troops assisting Russia.

According to both South Korean and Ukrainian officials, over 10,000 North Korean soldiers are serving in Russia currently. The first encounters by Ukrainian forces with North Korean troops were also confirmed in Russia's Kursk region, further escalating international tensions.

North Korean troops may also increase over the coming weeks, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said.

South Korea Confronts Home Debates Over Whether to Support Ukraine Militarily

Reacting to this, South Korea is now rethinking its time-honored policy of no involvement in current wars. So far, South Korea has not taken its hands off from sending direct weapons to Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the inclusion of the North Korean military "opens up a new page in the history of the planet" and inserts a new page of uncertainty into the book of time.

The defense ministry website of South Korea was service-disrupted on Tuesday, Nov. 5, with officials suspecting an attack. As of Wednesday, the website had been reinstated, and the ministry started an investigation to track the hackers.

For its part, South Korea's cybersecurity watchdog called on local institutions and businesses to step up data protection measures amid spiking tensions and growing cyber attack risks.

Russian and North Korean Cyber Actors Unite

Cybersecurity fears have risen since earlier this year when Microsoft announced that state-backed hackers from Russia and North Korea have begun using advanced AI tools to improve their surveillance capabilities.

According to Microsoft, it had already taken measures to limit the capability of such groups to get hold of similar technologies, as cyber threats linked to global conflicts continue to become more sophisticated.

South Korea will keep a watchful eye out for attacks on its critical infrastructure from hackers. It will be more alert since the enemies can attack in land, air, water, and of course, in the digital space.
In 2020, I published the Respect@Work Report, which looked into the prevalence of sexual harassment within Australian workplaces.

One of the key lessons at the time was that when employees made complaints to their employers, leaders often thought of how they should respond. But it was evident that there was still much more they could do to prevent the conduct in the first place.

Former sex discrimination commissioner Kate Jenkins says encouraging results leave room for improvement. Credit: Arsineh Houspian

The report came off the back of a national inquiry, in which I read hundreds of submissions from Australians working across all sectors and at all company levels experiencing harassment or discrimination within their workplaces.

We heard reports from employees of a take a joke, get along, dont be a whinger culture that was pervasive throughout many workplaces. Their stories illustrated the entrenched issues that came together to contribute to an environment in which workers felt compelled to tolerate harassment and discrimination rather than report it and risk losing their jobs.
Ryan had his first bet at just 15. He entered the TAB in his school uniform to place the bet and no one asked for ID or even questioned him. They just took his money, which was meant for his lunch. Ryan was addicted before he was 18.

The Albanese government is proposing that the Ryans of this world be protected from social media with a ban to be imposed on those 16 years or younger. It is compelling to hear the reasons proffered. The government questions the social licence of these media companies, saying they have failed to protect children.

Credit: Matt Golding

While my instinct is to support this measure, I am aware of the pushback. Companies and commentators say there are difficulties of age identification and the loopholes for enforcement. But what amazes me is that the Albanese government, in proposing this, still rejects these very same arguments that were part of the Murphy inquiry into online gambling.

The parliamentary panel  which included Labor, Liberal, National, Greens and independent members and was led by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy  recommended a total ban on gambling ads, both online and via free-to-air media, phased in over three years.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters has blasted the Australian governments inquiry into the handling of the pandemic while warning Canberra against taking further steps to make deporting New Zealand-born criminals easier.

The veteran politician urged Australians to show a bit of gratitude to Kiwi migrants for their economic contribution to the country, pointedly noting that an Australian man committed the 2019 Christchurch massacre, the worst terror attack in New Zealands history.

Ned Kelly should show a bit of humility on this matter, and dont come the raw prawn with us, to use an Aussie expression, Peters said about the federal governments recent efforts to allow more foreigners to be deported if they committed crimes in Australia.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters urged Australians not to take his country for granted. Credit: AP

The 79-year-old leader of the conservative New Zealand First Party is in his third stint as New Zealands deputy prime minister, having previously served in the role in Jacinda Arderns Labour government and Jim Bolgers National government.
We cant afford to be the people saying something about somebody. Theres two sides to the story, and only one is coming out. Wouldnt he like to see it brought to a conclusion? Theres one conclusion  just leave [Tom] alone, walk away.

Nevilles wife, Julia, says shed like to see Tom and the kids come home, but she was reassured that they appeared well in the pig hunters video. She says people guess that she and Neville are helping Tom and their grandkids, but its not true. Do people think wed put up with the police, the media, the lawyers and Oranga Tamariki [New Zealands Ministry for Children] if we knew where he was? You think wed put up with all this hassle if we knew? So we dont. And were not helping.

Neville says: Let them guess. The whole things a rort right from the beginning, so weve just got to stop it somehow. A lot of stuff has been made up. The media ... and the police have allowed it to carry on. Despite several sightings since going on the run, Tom Phillips has evaded police for almost three years. Credit: New Zealand Police Not only are the police liars, so are the media. Twisting the truth is not good.

Hes also critical of reporting on matters that are before the Family Court. Thats wrong. Attempts to speak to Toms brother, Ben, who lives a couple of kilometres away, are unsuccessful. Were driving along Marokopa Rd when a ute briefly crosses the centre line towards us, the driver yelling obscenities and telling us to p--- off, angry weve been filming the farm. In the main street of Otorohanga, where Phillips and the children were living before they disappeared for the first time in late 2021, we approach a man who sources say is one of Phillips best mates. Stuff.co.nz understands it was his ute that police allege Phillips took on a shopping expedition to Hamilton in August last year, visiting Bunnings wearing a disguise.

Last year when I knocked on this mans door, he and a friend later forced me off the road in their vehicles and threatened me, furious Id been going around asking questions. Hes no more forthcoming today. F--- off, c---, he says, before jumping in his ute and roaring away. We get a better reception at a property not far from where Phillips took the ute. Large painted signs say free to be me and I do not submit, while a giant spider hangs from a tree near the gate. The occupant, Rachael Membery, explains that her nickname is the Black Widow.

Rachael Membery, who lives near Otorohanga, says Phillips is giving his kids a good education. Credit: Stuff.co.nz Its men being stupid. You come to town [Otorohanga] and they look at you like youre fresh meat if youre newly divorced or whatever. You might as well take [the name] and own it. Membery has degrees in law and philosophy, and describes herself as right-leaning politically and a social justice warrior. As the signs on her property attest, she was fiercely opposed to the previous governments vaccine mandates. Perhaps not surprisingly, she sees Phillips as a fellow victim of state persecution.

Of course, people should root for the underdog because one day, any of us could be that underdog, any of us could be persecuted by the state. She says an awful lot of people have sympathy for Phillips. I think hes a father that loves his children. Im sure he believes hes doing it for them. Phillips is wanted by police on charges including aggravated robbery, aggravated wounding and unlawful possession of a gun, among other alleged crimes, but Membery says those are just allegations. If Phillips and the children were to show up at her place, shed probably help them and she probably would not call police, Membery says.

A youth rides a horse through the quiet streets of Marokopa. Credit: Stuff.co.nz Overall, she questions what Phillips has done wrong. Theres lots of people who bring their children up alternatively, education-wise. I dont know that what the children are being taught in schools these days is necessarily beneficial to them ... certainly not more beneficial than learning self-survival in the bush. In Te Kuiti, a 15-minute drive further south, people are still talking about a dramatic bank robbery of an ANZ bank in May last year, when two offenders escaped with bundles of cash and shot at a neighbouring supermarket worker.

Loading A witness said one of the offenders was a girl, and both she and the man had guns. Police accuse Phillips of robbing the bank and they have a warrant for his arrest. But plenty of locals reckon it wasnt him. One business owner is adamant Phillips wasnt involved. Asked how she knows, she says, I just know. Sue Hilton agrees. Locals reckon they know who did it, and they were young people. Wheres the proof that [Phillips] did it?

Hilton, a vaccine sceptic who used to run a cafe in Te Kuiti until the government vaccine mandates were introduced, says people need to stop judging Phillips and leave him alone. Theyre his kids. He knows what hes doing  hes a good parent. Hes teaching the kids some really great life skills. She has a solution for ending the saga. The police need to offer him immunity [from prosecution], and then maybe hell bring the kids out. I see so much judgment and its not right. As far as the kids not going to school  so what? The life skills theyre learning at the moment are just as important. Were living out in the country, so kids out here learn different stuff than they do in the city.

Ross Dempsey, another Te Kuiti local, doesnt agree with what Phillips is doing, but he says he can understand it. Ive actually been a solo father myself, and I know how men are treated in the court system, he says. I do understand why hes done a runner, but I dont agree with keeping the kids out of school. Dempsey also doubts Phillips was behind the ANZ robbery. I think the police are using that as a decoy for the public to try and rein him in. I respect the police are trying to do their job, but I think theyve got a little bit of egg on their faces.

Hes been on the run for quite a while now and hell continue to be on the run as long as the public and people of Marokopa are supporting him. Anaru Moerua believes Tom Phillips needs to bring the kids home. Credit: Stuff.co.nz We come across a figure dressed in red walking on the highway north of Te Kuiti. Anaru Moerua, an unemployed shearer, is walking to town because hes got a flat tyre. Moerua doesnt share the view that Phillips should be left alone. On the contrary, the kidsll be traumatised by the experience, he believes. Its so wrong.

Others we spoke to shared this view, but generally, support for Phillips remains strong. Dickie Green is sunbathing on the verandah of his house near Waitomo Caves. Green saw the video of the Phillips family and reckons they look fine. They seemed pretty happy, eh? They had food. Green says its a peaceful place to live until theres a sighting and dozens of police cars descend.

Dickie Green says hed help Tom Phillips if he showed up at his place. Credit: Stuff.co.nz The kids will probably be loving it out there, eh? Doing what they wanna do, shooting guns, why not? Its better than going to school, eh brother, learning how to live and how to supply your own food and that. I try to live off the food I catch, saves going to the shop where its all been processed, eh. If Phillips and the kids came to his place, would he help them?
Donald Trump's Speech Slip-Up at Bronx Rally Sparks Concerns About Cognitive Health (Photo: U.S. Army photographer / Public domain )

Since Donald Trump's election win, a variety of Asian companies have seen significant stock price surges, including shipbuilders in South Korea, electronics manufacturers in India, steel suppliers in Australia, and industrial parks in Vietnam. According to Bloomberg's analysis on November 9, these sectors share a common trait: they stand to benefit from stricter global trade restrictions. Although such policies may strain supply chains, companies that can adapt quickly are positioned to capitalize on new opportunities.

Nirgunan Tiruchelvam, an analyst at Aletheia Capital in Singapore, noted that some emerging market investors are shifting away from the "top-down" Trump trade strategy, focusing instead on sector-specific opportunities to achieve alpha returns. This industry-focused investment approach is gaining traction.

In recent weeks, South Korean shipbuilding stocks have soared despite broader market weakness. Hanwha Ocean's stock rose by 30% over two days, with Hyundai Heavy Industries and Samsung Heavy Industries following suit with gains. This rally was sparked by a phone call between Trump and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, where Trump expressed his desire to strengthen cooperation with South Korea. This statement significantly boosted market confidence in the South Korean shipbuilding sector, with investors anticipating that the industry will benefit from warmer U.S.-South Korea ties.

In Australia, the steel company BlueScope Steel, listed in Sydney, saw its stock follow the trend of U.S. steel stocks, climbing more than 5% for two consecutive days. Nearly half of the company's revenue comes from North America, primarily from its Ohio-based subsidiary, North Star. The company stands to gain from potential tariff policies, even though these may pose challenges to the Australian economy.

In India, electronics manufacturers such as Dixon Technologies and Kaynes Technology saw stock price increases of over 8.5% this week, with local investors reacting positively to Trump's victory.

Charu Chanana, chief investment strategist at Saxo Markets, warned that concerns over tariffs and fiscal risks have resurfaced as the market reacts to the evolving political climate.
I OFTEN complain about the fact that the friendly tag we Irish so enjoy talking about is really a myth. Tourists come here thinking all they have to do is show up and suddenly everyone will be their best friend, willing to offer a helping hand in a crisis and go that extra mile for a complete stranger.

I know a wonderful story of a Hollywood film star who came to Ireland to get away from it all during a time of personal crisis and did, in fact, meet a complete stranger who did go that extra mile and now, nearly 30 years later, they are still best friends.

Sadly  for me  I have never had the opportunity to write that story. First, if I did, I would lose the friendship of the person who told me that story  and any money I would get for writing it would not make up for that. Second, I also have no doubt both parties to that chance meeting at an Irish airport would deny the incident ever took place.

However, whenever I am ticked off when people ignore others in a crisis or a minor inconvenience, when a helping hand could make all the difference, I think back to that story to generate a smile.

We are coming up to Christmas  God, I both love and hate this time of year: I love it because of the colour and festive spirit it brings out in all of us and hate it because of the stupid behaviour and downright inconsiderate attitude of people and, hopefully, this year I wont be too disappointed.

By disappointment I mean when I see people travel the length and breadth of the country in search of a deal for a gift, when all the time the gift is on sale on their own doorstep, often at the same price. I agree it is important to get value for money, but it is also important to know what side your bread is buttered on. I am talking about all the advertisements bombarding us for the past couple of weeks about the super deals that will be available on Black Friday.

That tradition began in America, where retailers displayed special offers at the end of November to kickstart the shopping season. Naturally, the trend has extended across the Atlantic, but as usual the marketing people on this side of the ocean have borrowed that time slot to such an extent that Black Friday seems to be happening every weekend.

A retailer gave me a heads-up on all these so-called deals some time ago when explaining that often  not always  these special offers are really last years stock which they havent managed to shift and that the bargain really isnt the bargain you think it is.

Shopping around is a good thing; I did it recently when it came to the renewal of car insurance. For 14 years I had insurance with Liberty Insurance, or whatever they are now called, but when the renewal notice came through the door, I decided to shop around and, guess what, I found a better policy  I didnt, but Abbey Insurance on Tullow Street did  for a quarter of the price for me. It was on my doorstep all the time, but I was too lazy and sold on the idea of doing things on the internet to get a 10% discount and wasted several thousand euro as a result.

Im not saying everyone will be as lucky as I was in that instance, but truly, when you take all the hidden expense of travelling elsewhere for that deal, it really isnt as good a deal as we think it is.

Every local retailer, no matter what they are selling, deserves a shot at a sale. But remember, they also must make a profit to cover their expenses. Most will tell you that they are not out to make a killing; all they want to do is make a living for themselves and their employees.

Anyone who has ever dealt with Joe Public will tell you there are far easier ways to make a living. The reality is that we have all become too demanding, inconsiderate and, at times, downright rude to those serving us.

We have got too used to the faceless and emotionless laptop, acting on behalf of a faceless organisation which is probably located on the far side of the world, pays a pittance to its workforce and contributes nothing to where we live, making it easy to charge less for goods which they will not have to stand over if and when something goes wrong.

I was thrilled to see Dooley Motors celebrate 35 years in business last week. They are not the only family business in this area who have stood the test of time and continue to provide an invaluable service to the public. They and all the other family businesses have done so because their word means something. We know and trust them and, while we may not always get our way, we know there is someone we can talk to when we do have a problem and nine times out of ten they will help us.

We may not always get our own way but more often than not, these businesses we take for granted will meet us halfway.
Violet Larrabee, 93, died comfortably at home on November 6, 2024, in McDonald, Tennessee, after a brief illness.

Violet was born in Austin, Mn. on Dec. 23, 1930, to her Polish-immigrant father, John Kereluk (1894-1982) and her Austrian-immigrant mother, Mary Kereluk (1899-1943). After her mothers death, 12-year-old Violet was raised by her sister Anna Babb (1915-2001).

Violet was graduated as Valedictorian of the Class of 1949 from Maplewood Academy, Hutchinson, Mn., and went on to receive her Bachelor of Science degree from The College of Medical Evangelists School of Nursing, Loma Linda, CA, in 1953.

Two years later, she married Lawrence G. Larrabee (1934-1999). They lived in 13 different communities, including the country of Peru, where they were missionaries.

They are survived by their children; Jon (Lisa); Clark (Jeannie); Jodi (Michael) Brewer; grandchildren Kelsey (David) McAuliffe; Connor (Angela); and David; along with great-grandchildren Miles, Violet, and Nevin.

Of all the places she lived, Maine was her favorite, and she loved spending time at the lake (including this past summer) watching her family enjoy lake life.

Violet excelled at being a nurse, wife and mother. Later in life, the professional job she enjoyed the most was as an office nurse in a pediatricians office in Maine, where she was loved by the doctor, parents and patients alike.

She was a lady of faith and a member of the Fletcher (NC) Seventh-day Adventist Church, and also regularly attended the Collegedale (TN) Seventh-day Adventist Church in recent years. Her Bible and prayer life sustained her throughout the good times and bad. Violets favorite Bible chapter was the 103rd Psalm of David, which perfectly describes her walk with the Lord. As she neared the end of her life on earth, she was excited to finally be able to meet Jesus.

Violet's life was a testament to her kind spirit and nurturing heart. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and all who were fortunate enough to have known her.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Community Foundation of Henderson County, specifically to the Hurricane Helene Disaster Relief Recovery and Rebuilding Fund. For more information, please contact (828) 697-6224 or visit cfhcforever.org.

Visit the online obituary www.heritagechattanooga.com to post tributes and share memories.

Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Chapel.
The Mocs came up short in their Southern Conference bout against The Citadel on Saturday, with Chattanooga volleyball dropping a 3-1 result to the Bulldogs in Charleston.Despite out-hitting (.182 to .179) and out-blocking (6 to 1) The Citadel on their home floor, a determined Bulldog side led by Ali Ruffin forced its way past the Mocs in a narrow result. A highlight from the evening for UTC came from senior setter Elaine Redman, whose 31-assist and 16-dig double-double helped the Chattanooga native officially surpass 4,000 assists over her college career.To open the match, set one proved to be a slugfest as both teams traded blows back-and-forth with neither team really mustering up much of an advantage over the other.The score would stay tight all the way to a 23-23 deadlock, making each and every points that followed even more pivotal. Unfortunately for the Mocs, fate would be in favor of the Bulldogs to open the match as a 26-24 result saw UTC in an early 1-0 hole.The Mocs bounced back in set two, however, barreling past The Citadels defense in what ended up being a 25-15 Chattanooga victory. Now back to level ground, the match was anyones to win.Flipping the script on Chattanooga, the third set was The Citadels opportunity to build up an impressive lead as the Bulldogs eventually gained a 25-16 set win to once again put UTC on its backfoot. Now needing just one more set to take the match, The Citadel was moving in for the kill.In the fourth set, the Mocs left it all out there with veterans and freshmen alike doing their part to keep the Mocs hopes of victory alive. Even so, it wouldnt be enough as the Bulldogs ended up claiming the final frame 25-20, sealing the 3-1 victory for The Citadel in the process.Outside of Redmans double-double and milestone-filled evening, the Mocs also saw a solid performance out of Sydney Jackwin, who notched a double-double of her own by leading the team with 12 kills paired alongside her 15 digs.Libero Paige Gallentine was seemingly everywhere on the court for the Mocs, putting up a match-leading 29 digs in the match. Other UTC standouts included Charde Vanzandt, who finished with 11 kills as well as a team-high three blocks, as well as Kynli Kirkendoll, who ended her match with 10 kills and a pair of blocks of her own.UP NEXTItll now be a busy week for Chattanooga volleyball with the Mocs closing out their final week of the regular season with three matches over the course of five days. The Mocs will open their week on Tuesday, with UTC traveling to Greenville, South Carolina, for a makeup match against Furman. That match is slated for a 6 p.m. ET start time. Chattanooga then travels to Cullowhee, where Western Carolina will be waiting to host the Mocs on Friday, November 15 at 6 p.m. ET. UTCs regular season finale will then be the following day, with the Mocs heading to Johnson City to close out the conference play with their in-state rival, ETSU, on Saturday, November 16 at 6 p.m. ET. All three of this weeks matches will be available to stream on ESPN+.
Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) said Saturday he supports Rick Scott for Senate Majority Leader.

He said, "President Trumps massive coattails delivered a historic Republican Senate majority. As a result of President Trumps leadership, we saw Republican Senate victories in seats (i.e. PA, OH, MT) that have eluded Republicans for decades. Any leader of this new majority must be able to work hand-in-hand with President Trump to advance his America First agenda.

"The Senate must lean into advancing this agenda. Thats why I want to see a Senate Majority Leader who can join me in embracing the Trump agenda, which will unify Senate Republicans.

"On Wednesday, I will be voting for Rick Scott.
Home News 'Spiritual battle': Watchdog group urges Christians to help persecuted believers, calls for prayer

One of the challenges to supporting persecuted Christians abroad is that many in the West don't realize just how much their brothers and sisters in Christ suffer for their faith, according to the head of a leading advocacy group.

Global Christian Relief (GCR) is an advocacy group dedicated to uplifting persecuted Christians through practical support and providing the Gospel to those in need. The organization serves five regions worldwide, including Central and East Asia, Latin America and Southeast Asia.

GCR also seeks to remind Christians to stand in solidarity with their oppressed brothers and sisters and not to remain ignorant of their sufferings.

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There has been a rise in the persecution and oppression of Christians over the last 15 years or so, GCR President and CEO David Curry told The Christian Post. And we need to awaken to that and do a couple of things.

Last Sunday, GCR hosted a livestream for the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, an observance for Christians around the world who are subjected to violence and discrimination for their beliefs.

The event included a kit with short stories about several individuals who overcame adversity, including a survivor of Boko Haram massacres in Nigeria and an advocate for the underground church in North Korea. The kit also features testimonies from persecuted Christians whose stories of oppression might not be as well-known, such as a woman from Nepal who faced discrimination for leaving Hinduism.

While many in the West are familiar with the plight of Christians in Nigeria, considered by various advocates to be one of the deadliest places in the world for people of faith, Curry noted that Nepal doesn't appear to be on most peoples radar.

One reason for this, he suggested, is that reports of Christian persecution in Nigeria typically involve more physical violence, which tends to draw more attention. Even if the level of violence is not the same in Nepal as it is in Nigeria, Curry emphasized that Christians in the South Asian country still face persecution.

We don't want to see people get hurt, but what we really want is to start at the top and say, Do you know whats happening to your brothers and sisters around the world? Curry said.

Including Nepal and the pressures they face just to do the simple things like read Scripture, go to church peacefully and practice their faith. That's not a given in Nepal.

As GCR and other advocacy groups like Open Doors have noted, while Nepal is no longer a Hindu State, Nepali Christians face the threat of being attacked by their families or even forced out of their homes for believing in Christ. The government also oppresses Christians through anti-conversion laws and the shuttering of churches.

Another challenge is that many people in Nepal are illiterate and rely on oral communication, making it difficult for Nepali Christians to read the Bible. GCR has tried to help by working with local partners in the area to distribute audio Bibles in local languages to Christians throughout the country. Last month, GCR reported delivering around 40,000 audio Bibles to Nepal.

Still, Curry stressed that one way Christians in the West can continue to stand up for their persecuted brothers and sisters is to pray.

Because we have to recognize this is a spiritual battle, Curry stressed. First, we've got to start with prayer. It's life or death. So we've got to understand it's more than just politics; thats why we start with prayer, and then theres advocacy.

I think once people get into this and they see that their voice makes a difference, then we can start talking about this with our representatives, having our churches pray about it, and we can move the needle on Western governments, the U.S., the U.K., France, speaking out for Christians who are being persecuted for their faith.
Home News Pastor who led double life, murdered girlfriend on wedding day, sees life conviction upheld

The Georgia Supreme Court has upheld the life sentence of a pastor who led a double life and murdered his fiancee on their wedding day. William Pounds, a former church pastor, was convicted of killing Kendra Jackson in 2015, and the court affirmed that the evidence presented at trial was sufficient for his conviction.

The jury had ample evidence, the state Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday, 13WMAZ reported.

Pounds, who served at Kings Chapel Memorial CME Church in Perry, Georgia, reportedly led a deceptive double life for years.

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The ex-pastor had two girlfriends simultaneously, both believing they were his true love. The two women discovered each other in May 2015 when they both showed up to surprise him on National Pastor Appreciation Day, leading to turmoil.

The Georgia Supreme Court noted that Pounds lied to both women, manipulating them into staying with him.

In June 2015, Pounds was set to marry Vicinda Crawford, but on the day of the wedding, his other girlfriend, Kendra Jackson, was found dead from a gunshot wound. Pounds claimed Jackson had shot herself in his bedroom after learning of his plans to marry Crawford, but evidence at trial contradicted this.

Forensic testimony showed no evidence that [Jackson] had the gun in her hand when shot. Experts also testified that Jackson had been left facedown for at least 10 minutes before being moved, countering Pounds claims of calling for help immediately.

During the trial, prosecutors highlighted discrepancies in Pounds statements, including changes in his story during the 911 call.

Pounds initially claimed Jackson shot herself while trying to grab the gun but later altered his story, suggesting he was trying to take it from her, according to The Macon Telegraph.

A firefighter at the scene testified that Pounds initially claimed he wasnt in the room when Jackson supposedly shot herself. Police also discovered two bullets had been fired  one into Pounds bed and another into Jacksons head  raising further suspicions. Prosecutors argued that Pounds tried to cover up the evidence by making his bed to hide the bullet hole.

Upholding the conviction, the Georgia Supreme Court pointed to Pounds inconsistencies, his history of violence and forensic evidence.

Prosecutor Jason Martin presented text messages between Jackson and Crawford, where Jackson wrote, What happens in the darkness always comes to light, referring to Pounds deceit. Martin also referenced Pounds use of a Bible during the trial, accusing him of using it as a facade to manipulate the jury. Perhaps he should have spent more time reading his Bible instead of juggling two fiancees, Martin remarked.

After the guilty verdict was read, Pounds closed the Bible in front of him, focusing more on his appearance than expressing remorse for Jacksons death.

During the sentencing, Judge Howard Z. Simms said, Mr. Pounds  and Im not gonna dignify you by calling you Rev. Pounds, you didnt earn that  you are a liar, you are a manipulator, and frankly, you are an outright charlatan. Simms added that he had never heard so many lies in his courtroom.

Pounds was sentenced to life in prison without parole, a sentence now upheld by the Georgia Supreme Court.

Pounds lawyer, Franklin J. Hogue, admitted during closing arguments that his client had been deceitful, describing Pounds as a self-centered hypocrite. However, he argued, Hes not a murderer.

Pounds will spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Home News Retail chain pulls Gay in a Manger Christmas sweater amid outcry

Retail chain Debenhams has removed a controversial Gay in a Manger Christmas sweater following backlash from Christian groups in the United Kingdom. The retailer pulled the item, produced by alternative clothing brand Grindstore, after religious leaders and advocacy groups denounced it as disrespectful and called for a boycott.

The purple sweater, adorned with an LGBT rainbow, was priced at 38.99 ($50.37) and available on Debenhams online marketplace. It also featured a Gay in a Manger slogan that critics saw as a mockery of Christianity.

Grindstores product was listed on the Debenhams website through seller Pertemba Global, and the company has since also removed other Christian-themed products, including Ah-men greeting cards and a Bad Religion T-shirt depicting Jesus on a motorcycle, the Daily Mail reported.

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The advocacy group Christian Concern had opposed the product, encouraging a boycott of Grindstore.

Andrea Williams, CEO of Christian Concern, stated that the merchandise was offensive to Christians and declared, The company producing these products should be boycotted.

The group also took to social media platform X, calling for accountability. Disgraceful that @Debenhams were selling this product. A full public apology must follow.

Pastor Rikki Doolan of the Spirit Embassy church in London was also among those who voiced their criticism, demanding equality in treatment across faiths.

On X, Doolan wrote, The main issue at hand here is, if you are going to mock peoples faith then why do you only do it to Christianity? What is it that makes you feel its ok to do it to us? Unless you have gay Muhammad and Buddha T-shirts that we dont know of?

Later, celebrating Grindstores removal of the products, Doolan posted, RESULT! @grindstore have removed all of their Jesus related products from their store. Well done saints, we are more unified than ever before.

Debenhams responded to the uproar by acknowledging the concerns raised.

We are aware that a product line featured on our marketplace has raised some questions, the company said in a statement. In line with our policies, we are reviewing the products and have temporarily paused them while we investigate.

Grindstore, the Norfolk-based company responsible for creating the sweater, also released a statement. As a small business we are always open to listening to feedback, the company said. We have now removed the highlighted products, our apologies ... the intention was not to offend or insult anyone.

Public figures have also commented on the issue.

Former Conservative Member of Parliament Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg criticized Debenhams, stating, Debenhams would not mock Islam in this way.

Debenhams, which was bought by Boohoo in 2021 following its closure of physical stores, now operates as an online-only retailer.

In 2017, bakery chain Greggs issued an apology for using a sausage roll to replace Jesus in a nativity scene advertisement, which also sparked backlash from Christian groups.

The contentious products were also available on other major online retail platforms such as Amazon. It was not clear if Amazon had taken any action in relation to the items.
Adam Smith-Connor (Photo: Alliance Defending Freedom UK)

An army reservist who was prosecuted for praying silently in an abortion clinic buffer zone has appealed to the UK to stand up for fundamental freedoms at home as well as overseas.

Adam Smith-Connor was ordered by Bournemouth Magistrates' Court to pay 9,000 in legal costs for breaching the "buffer zone".

In a special message shared on Remembrance Sunday through the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF UK), which is supporting him, the father-of-two said he was still "in disbelief" that he was convicted in a ruling that effectively makes silent thoughts a crime.

"For 20 years, I proudly served our country as an Army Reservistincluding a tour of Afghanistanand I continue to serve my community today as a physiotherapist and a volunteer at my local church," he said.

"But I never imagined that the country I lovea nation that has given me so muchcould turn against me for something as simple as offering a silent prayer concerning my late, unborn son."

Abortion clinic 'safe access zones' were rolled out across England and Wales last month, imposing a 150-metre boundary around all clinics and hospitals offering abortion services.

Under the new regulations, it is a criminal offence "to intentionally or recklessly influence any person's decision to access or facilitate abortion services at an abortion clinic" or "cause harassment, alarm or distress" to people accessing the facilities.

People handing out leaflets, protesting against abortion rights, praying silently or holding vigils could all fall within the scope of the new laws. The Crown Prosecution Service has said in guidance that prosecutors need to consider each case individually and show that there was "intent" or "recklessness" in the activities. Being found guilty of breaching the buffer zones risks an unlimited fine.

Smith-Connor said Britain had reached the point of criminalising silent prayer because it has "forgotten the core principles upon which our nation was built".

He said that Christians "must respectfully and firmly hold the Government to account".

"Remembrance Sunday is a day of collective commemoration and gratitude, a reminder of the freedoms we have today thanks to the courage of those who served our nation. But now I question if those freedoms are truly honoured," he said.

"God gives us our inalienable rights and freedoms, and it's the Government's job to uphold them, not suppress them.

"How can we ask British troops to put their lives at risk defending freedom abroad while, at home, we are fining, arresting and imprisoning people for a thoughtcrime of silent prayer?"
In the shadow of the Afghan mountains, a man sits in a small, windowless room. This is how he has lived for the past three years, since 2021, when U.S. troops withdrew and the Taliban reclaimed control of Afghanistan. Once, he was an interpreter for NATO forces, navigating the complexities of language, culture, and combat to support the mission. His work saved lives, helping countless U.S. soldiers avoid ambushes and giving them the ability to communicate with local leaders. But today, he lives as a hunted man under a false identity, unable to step outside without risking his life.

He listens to the footsteps outside his door daily, fearing who might be coming for him. He never stays in one place for long. When the risk becomes too great every few months, he moves to a different part of the country, blending into the shadows and erasing any trace of his past. His family cannot contact him directly, and he hasnt seen his children in years. To the Taliban, he is a traitor  a man who worked alongside the foreign invaders and deserving of the ultimate punishment.

His story is not unique. Since the U.S. withdrawal, thousands of Afghans who served as interpreters or supported NATO forces have been living in this same constant fear, moving from safe house to safe house, hoping that one day they will be able to escape. They burn documents, erase phone numbers, and delete photos that could link them to their service. They no longer speak of their work except in trusted confidants hushed tones. The Talibans retribution is swift and brutal, and for these men and women, one wrong move could bring immediate death.

Some have tried to flee the country, taking perilous journeys across borders to Pakistan or Iran, only to find themselves stuck in limbo, unable to secure passage to safety. Others remain in Afghanistan, waiting for the day when their Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applications will finally be approved. But that day may never come. Bureaucratic delays and a lack of resources have left many in limbo, their applications pending for years. They live in constant uncertainty, knowing that at any moment, the Taliban could discover their true identities.

Life under Taliban rule has stripped these former allies of everything they once had  freedom, safety, and hope for a future. They are forced to remain invisible, pretending to be someone they are not, to survive. Their sacrifices during the war have been forgotten by many, but the danger they face is ever-present. For them, the war has not ended. It continues daily in the quiet terror of hiding and the isolation of exile within their own country.

Cleveland-trained lawyer Howard Manuel sits on the board of No One Left Behind, a Virginia nonprofit supporting U.S. resettlement for Afghan interpreters and others who supported the U.S. military during the Afghan war and other Global War on Terror conflicts.

In the haze of our domestic issues and following an emotional and divisive presidential election, we must remember these individuals and our promises to them. They stood by us when we needed them, risking their lives to help U.S. and NATO forces navigate a foreign land. Now, it is our turn to stand by them. We cannot allow them to be forgotten, left to face the wrath of the Taliban alone.

As individuals, we can make a difference. Contact your elected officials in Washington and urge them to pave the way for safe passage for these brave men and women so that we can continue to honor our promise to them. Their fight for survival is far from over, and they need our help. Now, more than ever, we must honor our commitments and stand by those who stood by us.

Howard Manuel, who obtained his law degree from Cleveland State Universitys College of Law, is a Washington, D.C.-based lawyer. He serves on the Board of Directors for No One Left Behind. This nonprofit promotes Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) for interpreters and translators who worked with U.S. and NATO troops during Afghanistan and Iraq military operations.

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* Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication.

* Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this opinion column to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com.
MBABANE - In order to clear the political confusion, MSF hints on a plebiscites significance.

Sivumelwano Nyembe, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Swaziland Multi-stakeholder Forum (MSF), said a free and fair plebiscite can determine the attitudes and will of the people. Nyembe said everyone can make any claim they desire without the evidence of the plebiscite. He said: To determine the attitudes and will of the people, the country must conduct a specific, free and fair plebiscite. Asked to define the plebiscite, Nyembe said it is essentially a direct vote by the people of a country or district to decide on a crucial issue, such as choosing a ruler, governmentor national policy.

He said it is a powerful tool for gauging public opinion and ensuring that the government represents the peoples will. In the context of Eswatini, the spokesperson said a plebiscite will provide a clear, scientific view on whether the people support or reject a multi-party democratic system. The people of Eswatini deserve a democratic system that reflects their true aspirations, he said. He added: To illustrate the importance of plebiscites, consider the Brexit example.

Nyembe said the 2016 referendum allowed the British people to decide whether to leave the European Union, providing a clear mandate for the government to act. Similarly, he said a plebiscite in Eswatini will offer a direct expression of the peoples will, helping to build a more democratic and representative government. By conducting a free and fair plebiscite, he mentioned that Eswatini can ensure that the peoples voices are heard, and their desires for democracy are respected.Reacting to the call for the plebiscite, Alpheous Nxumalo, the Government Press Secretary, said it is absolutely unnecessary. Nxumalo said the country is currently at peace with itself in the present political architecture. Whats the plebiscite for? wondered Nxumalo.

Counterfeit

He said the call or hint on the plebiscite is just a political counterfeit demand. He said it is one way of peddling, stocking and agitating for national dissatisfaction without genuine causes. Plebiscites and referendums are consultations with the people to decide on issues of relevance to the nation, particularly matters of a constitutional, legislative or administrative nature.

It is said that the main distinction between them is that the plebiscite is called prior to the creation of the legislative or administrative Act that deals with the subject at hand, and the referendum is called later, and it is up to the people to ratify or reject the proposal.

Section 246 of the Constitution refers to a referendum when specially entrenched provisions are to be amended. On January 31, 2023, Cleopas Sipho Dlamini, the former Prime Minister, addressing the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Extraordinary Summit of the Organ Troika plus Eswatini held in Namibia, took the heads of State through the referendum process in 1964. Dlamini said it was held among the people in Swaziland (Eswatini) to determine whether they wished to be governed under a system of multiparty democracy advocated by the colonial rulers or under the authority of the King-in-Council under traditional law and custom.

The former prime minister told the presidents and senior government officials that 99 per cent of emaSwati voted in favour of being ruled under the authority of their King-in-Council.

The former prime minister also said less than one per cent voted in favour of multiparty democracy. He said less than one per cent of the people voted in favour of a Constitution with a foreign system of multiparty democracy. He said a Westminster styled Parliament had been imposed on the people of Eswatini. In 1973, he said, parliamentarians met at a joint sitting and resolved unanimously to revoke the foreign Constitution and restore the authority of the King-in-Council under Eswatini Law and Custom.
MBABANE  The Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) aims to raise over E8.7 billion through its proposed tariff increase.

The Times SUNDAYs analysis has revealed that the government company wants to increase the tariffs by at least 52 per cent. This money would be raised in two tranches, E4.2 billion will be raised in the financial year 2025/26 and over E4.5 billion in 2026/27. According to the Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority (ESERA), the 2025 increase amounts to 25.51 per cent and 27.06 per cent the following year  translating to 52.57 per cent. The request for additional funds, comes at a time when last year, ESERA, the regulator, approved a 10.14 per cent increase for the 2023/24 financial year and a 8.02 per cent increase for 2024/25.

ESERA is expected to decide by February 1 next year whether to grant or not, the request. The organisation, which is also a public entity, has launched a public hearing to span three months. It is meant to assist the entity in making its final decision. EEC is a Category A State-owned enterprise in terms of the Public Enterprise Control and Monitoring Act No.8 of 1989, wholly-owned by the Eswatini Government. The power utility companys objectives are to generate, transmit, distribute and supply electricity, and also to import and export it into and out of Eswatini.

Operational

Meanwhile, the request comes in the backdrop of a very healthy operational position for the company. While keeping the lights on and moving the country towards First World status, over the past five years, the company posted impressive earnings, accumulating a total profit of E2.297 billion. This then begs the question as to what happened to this money?

EEC made history by declaring and paying a dividend to government as the sole shareholder. The dividend paid amounted to E19 million and was in respect of profits for the year ended March 31, 2021. The dividend payment is guided by the Dividend Policy on Public Enterprises for the Kingdom of Eswatini.

Meanwhile , in 2023 alone, EEC made a profit of E83 million, following a E211 million profit in 2022, E379 million in 2021 and E438 million in 2020. Even further back, the company posted profits of E649 million in 2019 and E537 million in 2018. This strong financial performance is coupled with a healthy asset base valued at E5.7 billion. Additionally, EEC has made significant progress in providing electricity to the nation. As of 2023, 249 014 households are connected to the grid, with 10 316 new connections made that year. The company also serves 937 major clients and 19 380 commercial clients. However, it is these same consumers who will bear the brunt of EECs pursuit of greater revenue. Despite the companys clear profitability, its push for a substantial tariff increase raises concerns about the impact on households and businesses already grappling with rising costs.

Major challenge

The public company cites current electricity prices inability to cover the full costs of supplying power across the various tariff categories as a major challenge. According to the Tariff Review Proposal for the financial years 2025/26 and 2026/27 (two years), EEC highlighted that currently, electricity prices do not cover the full costs of supplying electricity across the various tariff categories.This application, therefore, continues the migration to cost-reflective tariffs. EEC also needs the money to cater for its expansion plans and ensure the sustainability of its operations as per the 10-year master plan to 2031.

The companys 2023 financial report outlines its ambitious strategy to provide 100 per cent electricity access to all citizens, while maintaining long-term financial stability. The focus of the strategy prioritises generation efficiency and expansion. Over the period to date, there has been numerous feasibility studies conducted in relation to future generation expansion. There are also a lot of efforts being made to secure funding to implement the projects that have been identified. We have set ourselves to work harder to ensure that the strategy is effectively implemented for EEC to give 100 per cent access to electricity to all citizens and also ensure that the business remains financially sustainable.

Last year, EEC increased the overall distribution lines from 23 193 kilometres to 24 537 in the last financial year and the organisation seeks to increase this network. However, the critical question remains to be answered: Why should the electrification of the entire country come at such a high cost to consumers, especially when the company appears to be in a financially stable position? The tariff increase is being sought in the first year of EECs new five-year corporate strategy, dubbed Vutsela 20222027.

Expansion

This strategy aims to ensure that EEC remains financially viable and continues to contribute positively to Eswatinis gross domestic product (GDP). The central focus of this strategy is the expansion of local power generation capacity. Several major projects have been identified to boost EECs capacity, including the augmentation of the Maguga Power Plant, adding 10 megawatts (mW) of power and the construction of a new Lower Maguga Power Station that will add 23mW. Together, these projects will contribute 30mW of additional capacity, on a combined cost of E1.8 billion. There is also a thermal power project that is also in the pipeline. The goal is to meet the countrys growing electricity demand and ensure a reliable energy supply for future developments.

However, the question remains: Should the financial burden of these projects fall primarily on consumers, especially when the company is already profitable? While EECs investment in energy infrastructure is crucial for Eswatinis economic growth and energy sustainability, the timing and scale of the proposed tariff increase has raised concerns about its impact on the general public. With a solid profit track record and significant assets, it begs the question of whether the company could explore alternative funding mechanisms to reduce the burden on consumers.

Could a more gradual approach to its expansion strategy be more prudent? Rather than implementing a steep increase all at once, could EEC phase in the tariff hike over a longer period? Additionally, could the company explore other sources of financing, such as public-private partnerships or external loans, to ease the financial pressure on consumers?

Solutions

Consumer Mandla Dlamini says the ongoing debate over the tariff hike underscores the need for equitable solutions that balance the countrys long-term energy goals with the immediate needs of its citizens. As EEC moves forward with its ambitious plans to electrify the nation and enhance its power generation capacity, it must consider how to fund these initiatives without placing undue strain on the very consumers it seeks to serve, he said.He said the companys strategic vision is essential for Eswatinis future, but it is equally important to ensure that the journey toward electrification is inclusive and fair, taking into account the financial realities of the population. The Eswatini Consumer Association has complained about the proposed tariff increases. Prime Minister Russell Dlamini said there was no way Cabinet can approve of the proposed tariffs because emaSwati cannot afford them.
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Riyadh, Nov 10 (UNI) The Saudi-led coalition forces in Yemen announced Saturday the death of two Saudi officers in an attack in central Yemen, according to the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

An officer and a non-commissioned officer were martyred and an officer was injured as a result of an attack on Friday evening inside a military camp in the city of Seiyun, SPA said, citing defence ministry spokesman Turki al-Maliki.

The spokesperson identified the attacker as an affiliate of the Yemeni Defense Ministry.

He underscored that it was a "lone wolf" attack that did not represent "the honorable members of the Yemeni Ministry of Defense."

The spokesman said the attacked camp provides counter-terrorism training for Yemeni military personnel and aids humanitarian and development initiatives in Yemen.

He noted that the coalition and the defence ministry would launch an investigation into the case.

Saudi Arabia mobilized an international coalition to intervene in Yemen in support of the internationally-recognized government in 2015, after the Houthi group seized the capital Sanaa the previous year.

UNI/XINHUA ARN
People collect belongings among the debris of a house after the passage of Hurricane Rafael in Alquizar, Artemisa province, Cuba on Nov. 7, 2024.

A 6.8 magnitude earthquake shook eastern Cuba on Sunday, after weeks of hurricanes and blackouts that have left many on the island reeling.

The epicenter of the quake was located approximately 25 miles (40 km) south of Bartolome Maso, Cuba, according to a report by the United States Geological Survey.

The rumbling was felt across the eastern stretch of Cuba, including in bigger cities like Santiago de Cuba. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

Residents in Santiago, Cuba's second largest city, were left shaken on Sunday. Yolanda Tabio, 76, said people in the city flocked to the streets and were still nervously sitting in their doorways. She said she felt at least two aftershocks following the quake, but that among friends and family she hadn't heard of any damages.

"You had to see how everything was moving, the walls, everything," she told The Associated Press.

The earthquake comes during another tough stretch for Cuba.

On Wednesday, Category 3 Hurricane Rafael ripped through western Cuba, with strong winds knocking out power island-wide, destroying hundreds of homes and forcing evacuations of hundreds of thousands of people. Days after, much of the island was still struggling without power.

Weeks before in October, the island was also hit by a one-two punch. First, it was hit by island-wide blackouts stretching on for days, a product of the island's energy crisis. Shortly after, it was slapped by a powerful hurricane that struck the eastern part of the island and killed at least six people.

The blackouts and wider discontent among many struggling to get by has stoked small protests across the island.
Iraqi militia claims 2 drone attacks on N. Israel

Baghdad, Nov 10 (UNI) The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a Shiite militia group, on Saturday claimed responsibility for two drone attacks in northern Israel.

In online statements, the group said its fighters launched separate drone attacks, one on a "vital site" and the other on a "military site" in northern Israel.

It did not provide further details about the targeted sites or report any casualties.
Ill admit that Im not thoroughly familiar with the details of the papal conclave. I know theres voting and colored smoke, but the nomination process is far beyond me. Specifically, how much, if any, vetting is done before someone is up for the big hat itself.

Being the head of an entire religion seems like something that would require a fairly squeaky clean record, or at least a thorough salvation from former sins. So it makes you wonder how the Vatican felt about a deceased Popes secret erotic novel becoming a bestseller three years after he kicked the bucket.

Public Domain Not the most sensual man I  ve ever seen.

Outside of some seriously sacrilegious corners of the internet, the Pope isnt a sexual figure  by necessity. When one of the main downsides of your job is celibacy, it seems like being a particularly horny dude would be tough.

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But Pope Pius II was indeed a man familiar with the sins of lust, having reportedly borne multiple children without a marriage in sight before he became a man of the cloth. This same appetite seemingly inspired him to author an erotic novel titled The Tales of Two Lovers. Thankfully for the Vaticans reputation, it was secular in its subject, instead focusing on a classic married woman and representative of the Duke of Austria romance.

Coming out after his death, already with the selling point of being a Popes secret dirty story, everyone was eager to read it  and they did. Which I understand, because I also read it as soon as I heard about it.

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Here are some things a future pope wrote while horned up at his desk:

 A small and well-shaped mouth, coral lips made to be bitten.

And your ring will never leave my finger, where I make it wet with many kisses, instead of you.

Come, my chief delight, fountain of my pleasures, my spring of happiness, my honeycomb.

She was deep-bosomed, and her breasts swelled out on either side like two pomegranates, so that one longed to touch them.

And sometimes, raising the blanket, he gazed at those secret parts he had not seen before, and cried: I find more than I had expected. Thus must Diana have appeared to Actaeon, when she bathed in the spring. Could anything be lovelier or whiter than your body? Now I am rewarded for all perils. What would I not suffer for your sake? Oh lovely bosom, most glorious breasts! Can it be that I touch you, possess you, hold you in my hands? Smooth limbs, sweet-scented body, are you really mine? Now it were well to die, with such a joy still fresh, before any misfortune could befall.

You definitely cant read any of that in church, last time I checked.
British Airways has just produced a book called Flavour Of Flight, which chronicles the food and drink served on board its planes from 1919 until the present day.

It starts with an effusive foreword by its chief executive Sean Doyle. 'We know that our in-flight meals punctuate the travel experience and are eagerly anticipated,' he says. 'In fact, customers tell us it's the part of the journey they look forward to most.'

I'm not so sure about that. Not if you're sitting at the 'back of the bus' on a short-haul flight and are handed a micro bag of corn bites and the world's smallest bottle of water. And especially not if you've downloaded the first episode of Rivals, the TV adaptation of Dame Jilly Cooper's racy novel, which features a Concorde flight to New York in the 1980s, with passengers merrily smoking, scooping up caviar and guzzling champagne.

The main character, dashing Rupert Campbell-Black, leads astray a young journalist in the WC  but never mind the Mile High Club because in those heady days it was the food and service that added a frisson of excitement.

Today? Well, silver service has been replaced by sliver service and, sadly, BA, our national carrier  which once styled itself 'the world's favourite airline'  appears to be cutting corners on the gruel front.

British Airways has just produced a book called Flavour Of Flight, which chronicles the food and drink served on board its planes from 1919

Above - the 'wonderful lower deck cocktail lounge of the Boeing Stratocruiser

We all have our stories. I once came across a squashed fly in my egg sandwich on a flight to Thailand (stock photo)

It has begun swapping lunch for brunch on some of its flights  even though it may be well into the afternoon before your sausage with mushrooms and hash browns arrive. The Great British Brunch, as it's called, is served in First Class or in Club World (BA's business class cabins) on long-haul flights departing Britain between 8.30am and 11.29am.

It's a complicated arrangement  and 'crackpot', according to one travel insider  but BA is having none of the criticism.

'We're incredibly proud of our premium dining experience, which includes a wide range of meal options to suit the preferences of our customers depending on the time of day they're travelling,' the airline says.

Even so, the suspicion is that cost-cutting is partly responsible. After all, Mr Doyle's predecessor, Alex Cruz, did away with all free drinks and snacks in economy class on short-haul flights in 2017. That move prompted wails of protest and negative headlines about passengers deciding to fly ABBA ('Anyone But British Airways') in defiance at the removal of the ancient right to enjoy a cheeky G&T at any time of day.

To his credit, Mr Doyle did bring back a free tiny snack and gulp of water. However, an experiment to serve free tea and coffee on short-haul flights was scrapped because Mr Cruz  who previously worked at a no-frills airline  reportedly had crammed so many seats into BA's short-haul jets that there was not enough space in the galley to brew and serve hot drinks.

This might be apocryphal but it has been reported that a customer was charged double for a cup of tea. When he complained to the cabin crew, he was told: 'You asked for strong tea, so we used two bags and we charge by the bag.'

We all have our stories. I once came across a squashed fly in my egg sandwich on a flight to Thailand. 'Sorry about that but I can't replace it because we've run out,' said the steward. Leafing through Flavour Of Flight, it's no wonder our taste buds are aroused when we see menus from the 1950s. One of these is beautifully illustrated with a line drawing that features the Greek mythological character Daedalus and his son Icarus.

Passengers started with cream of cauliflower soup, followed by Cornish lobster salad, then braised beef a la mode with leaf spinach in butter and Parisienne potatoes, before moving on to a dessert of chilled souffle Montmorency with fresh cream, then assorted cheese with biscuits, plus a basket of fruit, and coffee.

The Great British Brunch, as it's called, is served in First Class or in Club World (BA's business class cabins) on long-haul flights departing Britain between 8.30am and 11.29am (stock photo)

Silver service has been replaced by sliver service and, sadly, BA, our national carrier  which once styled itself 'the world's favourite airline'  appears to be cutting corners on the gruel front. (Above - the first-class experience onboard a 1950s Comet)

Passengers being served a meal on the C Class flying boat in the 1930s - 'possibly roast chicken or York ham'

Even in the 1980s, those in the posh seats on BA's London to New York service enjoyed chilled sevruga caviar, and medallions of loin of lamb 'grilled to perfection and served with a delicate sauce of tomatoes, olive oil and lemon juice, flavoured with basil, chervil and coriander'.

Standards have certainly slipped. This is reflected by the sartorial failings of most modern travellers  but who can blame them for turning up at airports in flip-flops and singlets when they're unlikely to be given little more than a granola bar?

It's a different matter for those who turn left on the snazzy new Gulf carriers such as Singapore Airlines or Turkish Airlines. They are investing billions to entice First and Business Class passengers, with upscale food and drink.

Emirates also has an extensive cocktail list, including three different kinds of martini  something of which Queen Elizabeth II would have approved. Apparently, Her Majesty insisted on drinking a gin martini before entertaining guests in the royal suite on Concorde (along with a specific type of mint during take-off).

Securing the services of a celebrity chef (albeit in name only) has become a popular marketing weapon. Qantas has engaged Australia's much-acclaimed Neil Perry for more than a decade.

His speciality is to produce dishes that either wake you up or put you to sleep. On a night flight, that means roast chicken broth with shiitake mushrooms and sugar snap peas because 'protein, complex carbohydrates and dairy all generate tryptophan, which produces melatonin, the sleep- inducing hormone,' he says.

Standards have certainly slipped. This is reflected by the sartorial failings of most modern travellers (stock image)

Even in the 1980s, those in the posh seats on BA's London to New York service enjoyed chilled sevruga caviar (stock photo)

'As premium guests become ever more demanding, especially as they pay higher prices to be at the front of the plane, the pressure is on airlines to deliver the finest culinary quality in the sky,' says Paul Charles, boss of travel PR company The PC Agency.

This extends to the trimmings. BA's crockery, cutlery and glassware are designed by leading British designers, while Emirates goes in for the finest linen tablecloths, Royal Doulton china and Robert Welch cutlery.

So all is not lost. It could just be that (with or without BA's Great British Brunch) we are entering a golden age of in-flight dining  on some carriers, at least.

The only problem is that the gulf between what you get at one end of the plane compared with the other has never been wider. Still, perhaps that's preferable to the days when only the well-heeled could board a BOAC flight and receive 'Bolly and trolley' service at 39,000ft.
Most of us are currently languishing under skies the colour of mushroom soup. Standards slump at flagpoles. Lake-waters lap lifelessly and more days of the same are forecast.

Across the country there spreads a mood of ennui, plus a certain unease among eco-campaigners who hope we wont notice that wind turbines have stopped rotating. With the sun almost unseen, solar panels are not much cop, either.

November should be a month of autumn gusts and mornings so crisp that your nose pinkens. Usually you can pretend those tear-filled eyes on Remembrance Sunday are caused by the biting chill. Not this year.

Everything is just dull and flat. This autumn of 2024, the kingdom of Keir is as becalmed as the sea in Coleridges The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner:

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is Dunkelflaute made flesh, say Quentin Letts

Down dropt the breeze, the sails dropt down

Twas sad as sad could be;

And we did speak only to break

The silence of the sea!

Anglophone meteorologists say we are experiencing anticyclonic gloom when high pressure blocks incoming weather fronts and nothing much happens.

As ever, when it comes to pessimism, the Germans have a better term. They talk of Dunkelflaute.

This may sound like something youd expect to find floating at the top of your bowl of Schnusch. If not vegetable soup, could it be a brand of new Bavarian lager? Ein Stein von Dunkelflaute please, landlord.

Dunkelflaute is actually a mash-up of the German words Dunkelheit (darkness) and Windflaute (weak winds)  exactly what assails us right now and possibly for several glum days to come.

Dunkelflaute is not only a satisfying word; it may also be a metaphor. As well as evoking our current climatic quiescence it arguably applies to a broader spiritual and emotional torpor that afflicts our country.

While the British Isles crouch under this blanket of dull clouds can the same not also be said of our politics, economy and culture?

In its weather sense Dunkelflaute is worrying enough. Ed Miliband, energy secretary, is determined we will lead the world in ditching fossil fuels. Labour sneered at the Tories talk of global Britain but now we are apparently going to be global leaders on climate change, even if it plunges us into blackouts.

No matter that coal-fired power stations in China and India are pumping fumes into the atmosphere. No matter that Donald Trumps America is about to drill, baby, drill and that Vladimir Putins war is blasting as big a hole in the ozone layer as it is in Ukraines eastern flank. Mr Miliband is going to spend billions on measures to ensure that we show the world how noble we are by becoming Net Zero by 2030. Yippee.

Red Ed is doing this partly for political reasons, hoping Labour can see off any electoral threat from the Greens and the Lib Dems, and partly because he wishes to reinvent himself after leading Labour to defeat in the 2015 General Election.

It is not impossible that he also genuinely believes this stuff. Much of the British elite claims to do so. In a country now largely secular, Net Zero has become an alternative to religion.

Politicians and officials and prominent corporatists make a point of being seen to genuflect at its altar, just as Establishment figures in Victorian Britain made sure they were seen attending Anglican church services. It makes them feel virtuous and it is good for their career prospects, even if it leaves the rest of us (literally) cold.

Swathes of agricultural land are being lost to solar farms. Wind turbines are to be imposed on the shires. Domestic gas boilers will be banned. Petrol and diesel cars scrapped. Our entire energy system, which already has the highest industrial prices in the world, is to be weaned off oil and gas.

At which point a small child in the crowd might ask the naked emperor what happens during future Dunkelflauten?

Mr Miliband and friends will not quite say but they did tell us last week that we could need to start rationing our use of electricity. We would all have to make Herculean efforts to achieve 2030 Net Zero.

By way of context, there was a day last week when wind and solar generated just 3.6 per cent of our energy needs. Facing such data, even the mighty Hercules might have put Net Zero in the too-hard basket.

At least Mr Miliband is lively. He flashes those cow-catcher teeth and waves his arms like conductor Sir Simon Rattle in full flow.

Sir Keir Starmer, by contrast, is a prosaic, inert, lacklustre proposition. Platitudinous, droning, a serial life-sapper, Sir Keir is Dunkelflaute made flesh.

If that sounds mean, let us broaden it to his policies.

Starmerism, if such a thing exists, is a reversion to 1970s trade unionism, a throwback to collectivism shrouded in expectations (much whipped up by Sir Keir and Rachel Reeves) of impoverishment and decline.

We can all feel it. It is there in the higher taxes being applied to private businesses and pensions, though not to those in the state sector. It is there in the surrender of the Chagos Islands to hardly-mighty Mauritius.

You can feel it in Sir Keirs craven, knee-bowing acceptance of identity politics and in his traipsing back to the EU in the feeble hope that Brussels will let him all but rejoin the single market.

Verve has vanished. Flair and national self-confidence have been blocked like those weather fronts.

And as with weather fronts, people seem to be having a better time overseas. We look west across the Atlantic and see an America suddenly re-energised by the re-election of Donald Trump. He is talking of lowering taxes, slashing the bureaucracy and reasserting national self-interest.

We look south east to Germany, where the government has just collapsed, and we see the likely abandonment of high-tax, mass-immigration policies and eco-activism.

In South America, there is an astonishing story of political reinvigoration in Argentina under the flamboyantly right-wing President Milei. The economies of India, Gambia, Ethiopia and Cambodia are all forecast to grow by six per cent this year.

But here, in the Starmer Isles, we are muffled by Dunkelflaute.

Politics is only part of it. A wider sense of stasis is found in our arts and manners. Our music is in a rut. Publishers seem stuck on stale formats of dystopian fiction and celebrity memoirs.

Theatre has become the captive of wokeish agitprop. Films are invariably journeys of discovery or supernatural franchise sequels. Television has ceased to be watchable, so bound is it by cliches and bromides and a patronising terror of seriousness.

Where is the novelty, the invention, the intellectual bombast, the sunshine?

Instead, the positive is displaced by hand-wringing from an elite ashamed of our history, an elite that claims to be egalitarian but will not trust the people.

Think  dream!  how different things could be.

Rather than mushroom soup, we could have horizons of dazzling blue. Flags could snap in an invigorating breeze. Windermere could be a mass of white horses. And we could have a country that encouraged aspiration and talent and new ideas.

Donner und Blitzen, it would be better than this 1970s socialist Dunkelflaute.
A man who works as a 'cult deprogrammer' has lifted the lid on the gruesome realities of his job - from dealing with 'pedophiles' to constantly fearing for his life due to 'threats' from powerful leaders.

Back in the 1980s, Rick Alan Ross, 71, from Ohio, was left horrified after he found out the nursing home that his grandmother was living in had been 'infiltrated by an extreme religious group that targeted the elderly.'

After working with the head of the facility to 'expose' the corrupt staffers, it sparked a fierce passion in him to want to aid other victims.

Rick has since dedicated his life to helping members of cults break free from their sects by staging 'cult interventions,' and over the last four decades he has helped more than 500 victims.

He has worked alongside law enforcement on some of the most infamous cases, and has been called to the stand to testify in trials against powerful cult leaders and sadistic pedophiles.

Cult deprogrammer Rick Alan Ross, 71, has shared the four steps that he takes to help victims realize they've been 'brainwashed'

He helped put NXIVM founder Keith Raniere behind bars, and he was 'consulted' by the FBI before the 1993 Waco 'standoff' because he was the only 'cult expert' who had 'deprogrammed' its members in the past.

Now, he has given DailyMail.com a fascinating look inside his job, revealing how he helps even the most brainwashed victims return to their families.

And while aiding in cult victims cutting ties with the horrific sects is certainly rewarding, he has also spoken out about some of the downsides to profession, like being 'harassed' by cult leaders.

In fact, Rick told DailyMail.com that his 'life has been threatened a number of times,' and that he has had to have protection from the government.

But that hasn't derailed him from his quest to help cult victims.

'I've testified in criminal trials, in child custody cases. I've worked with law enforcement,' he shared. 'And I've launched the largest database online with information about cults.'

But most importantly, he has performed more than 500 successful 'cult interventions' across the U.S.

So how do they work? Well, first, Rick explained that families who believed a loved one had joined a cult reached out to him.

And while aiding in cult victims cutting ties with the horrific sects is certainly rewarding, he also spoke about some of the downsides to profession, like being 'harassed' by cult leaders

Rick helped put NXIVM founder Keith Raniere (seen) behind bars, and he was 'consulted' by the FBI before the 1993 Waco 'standoff'

Cult deprogramming interventions last days

He said they needed to have 'some level of communication with the cult-involved family member' before he could stage an intervention.

'I come in as a complete surprise. Much like a drug or alcohol intervention, the person does not know the family is gonna do an intervention,' he dished.

'Initially, they may be shocked, they may be angry that the family has done this.

Rick's four steps to 'deprogramming' a cult victim Rick said there are 'four blocks of discussion' during a cult intervention: 1. Define what a destructive cult is to the victim 2. Examine persuasive coercive techniques and ask them, does the group use these techniques? 3. Share information on the group or its leader that the members may not know 4. Give family members a chance to explain why they decided to stage the intervention Advertisement

But you never tell the person in advance because they would then probably communicate with members of the group who would try to sabotage the intervention or tell them they should not attend or insist a member of the cult is present for the intervention.

'You want it as a surprise so you could talk to them separately from the group and have an opportunity to present information and so the family to express their concerns.'

Rick said the interventions involved him and the family members talking to the victims for 'eight hours a day' for about three to four days, totaling around '24-32 hours of work.'

He said there were 'four blocks of discussion' during the intervention, and the first was to 'define a destructive cult.'

He explained that there were 'three core characteristics' that made a group a cult, and he broke down each one to the victim.

'The first is, there's an absolute authoritative leader who becomes an object of worship,' he explained.

'Whatever he says is right has to be right and whatever he says is wrong has to be wrong. He makes the decisions for the group.

'Second, the leader or the group uses identifiable coercive persuasion techniques to gain undue influence over the people in the group.'

The last characteristic is that the group does some sort of 'harm' to its members, which can vary.

'That usually means people are acting against their own best interest but in the best interest of the leader or the group instead,' he continued.

'Or it could mean the group is micromanaging people's lives to their detriment, estranging them from family or friends.

Rick said there were 'four blocks of discussion' during a cult intervention: the first is to define what a destructive cult is to the victim

'And it can escalate to physical abuse, criminal activity, or even death depending on the group.'

After Rick defines what a cult is to the victim, he moves on to the second phase: 'examining persuasive coercive techniques.'

'Then I ask the question, does the group use these techniques? Do they break people down deliberately and knowingly?' he explained.

'Do they manipulate them in that broken state to change their mindset and way of thinking?

'And do they try to lock them down in that changed state of mind through peer reinforcement, control of information, or control of the environment?'

The third block of discussion involves sharing information on the group or its leader that the members may not know.

'I will have a research file in and I'll share whatever information I've accumulated [about the group],' he told DailyMail.com.

'For example, has the leader of the group been sued or involved in any kind of criminal activity? What does the public record show?

'Have there been complaints or litigations against the group? What do you not know about this group or leader that you should know to make a more informed decision.'

Last but not least, Rick said he gave the family a chance to explain to the victim why they decided to stage the intervention.

'At the end of those four blocks, that person will then decide what they want to do,' he added.

'They may decide they want to continue with the group, or they may decide to take a break, or in most cases they'll decide to end their involvement.'

He said his success rate was about 70 per cent.

Then he examines persuasive coercive techniques and asks them, does the group use these techniques?

He then shares information on the group or its leader that the members may not know and gives family members a chance to explain why they decided to stage the intervention

'My life has been threatened,' cult expert says

While reflecting on his decades-long career, Rick admitted that he'd worked on some extremely 'dangerous' cases.

'I dealt with a group that encouraged members who had diabetes to not use their insulin or see their doctors and instead meditate as a cure,' he shared.

'I did an intervention in Europe for a young father and he had been hospitalized three times, he almost died.

'His family was deeply distressed. It was very important that we succeeded or he might have died, but we did. The consequences can be very severe.'

He also recalled a time that he helped a 14-year-old boy who had been 'sexually exploited' by a 'pedophile.'

His own life has been put in danger during his work, as he revealed: 'My life has been threatened a number of times.

'I've been harassed by private investigators. I've been sued five times but all were dismissed. I prevailed in all of them.'

When asked about what advice he had for parents, he said moms and dads should always be aware of what their kids are doing online, since most cult leaders were luring people in on social media lately.

As for what you should do if you ever think a loved one had become involved with a cult, he said you should never respond with anger.

'My advice is not to be confrontational or make statements like, "That's a cult,"' he recommended.

'Do your research and read and understand how cults operate before you decide how to respond.

'During that time, maintain communication and make a real effort to maintain your relationship with that person.

'Don't shun them, listen to them, and try to understand what exactly they're involved in.'
Dear Jane,

My boyfriend and I have been together for almost a year, and we just went on our first vacation to Europe.

Up until the trip, I believed he was perfect. I found him so attractive, and thought he was hilarious, smart and kind. But one thing he recently did totally put me off.

It all started on our long-haul flight from the US to London. Mere minutes into the flight, he took his shoes and socks off and remained barefoot for the entirety of the eight-hour flight.

His feet smelt bad and it honestly just grossed me out to see his hairy toes in such a public place. But I kept my mouth shut because everyone has different preferences when it comes to long flights.

My boyfriend and I have been together for almost a year, and we just went on our first vacation to Europe.

After a week in London, we flew to Paris. The flight was one hour long, and yet, for some reason, he felt the need to take his shoes and socks off yet again.

He did this on every single flight we took across Europe, and after I questioned him about it, he said it's because his feet get sweaty and claustrophobic. Vomit.

I know my feelings may seem like an overreaction, but ever since I have not been attracted to him  which is shocking because I used to be obsessed with him.

It seems so silly to throw away our entire relationship because of this. Is there anything I can do to recover from the ick?

From,

Put A Sock In It

Dear Put A Sock In It,

International best-selling author Jane Green offers sage advice on readers' most burning issues in her agony aunt column

As someone with a lifelong foot phobia, I share your horror at your boyfriend's actions.

I remember going to my aunt and uncle's house for Christmas and all my cousins would lie around on the sofas with bare feet, which horrified me. And, as best as I can remember, they didn't even smell.

You have my utmost sympathy. Nobody wants to be exposed to smelly feet, particularly not in confined circumstances, like an eight-hour flight.

Someone needs to tell your boyfriend  and damn pronto  that this behavior is not acceptable and I'm afraid that person needs to be you.

As for giving you the ick, well, of course, it gives you the ick. Tell him it gives you the ick, and that his disregard for fellow passengers  and you  is making you fancy him less.

The good news is, often once we express the ick, it passes. The other good news is that once you've told him, your future together is very clear.

Either he's the kind of man who cares about the impact his behaviors have on the world around him (in which case he will stop them) or he's the kind of man who thinks he is allowed to do whatever he feels like (in which case, you are better off without him).

Either way, you win.

Dear Jane

For a while now I've been struggling with self-esteem and self-worth.

One of the ways that it manifests is through celebrity adulation. I get an urge to look up a female celebrity I find intriguing... and then I get fixated.

For instance, I research their skin-care regime and exercise routine, then try to emulate them.

At first, it makes me feel excited  but then that feeling is replaced by sadness and anxiety when I can't replicate their life exactly.

I get it into my head that the celeb must be perfect and convince myself she never makes mistakes. Rationally I know that's not true, but I still feel upset.

Then when I'm at my lowest I fixate on every detail of their life. I think about what time they wake up, which toothbrush they use, whether they shower use a bathtub and what their life goals are.

But that's not all. I even find myself thinking about how many times they might blink in a minute. Or how many times they wear a pair of jeans before washing them. Or how many countries they have visited.

Then, I Google their interviews and try to express myself the way they do by using the same hand gestures and mannerisms.

I know that it's absurd. I try to do things I enjoy for myself, but this way of thinking has become too much to deal with.

Is it possible to change this unhealthy habit?

Regards

Uninhibited Hipster

JANE'S SUNDAY SERVICE In today's busy, fast-paced world, it is easy to ignore feelings that are troubling us. Often, we are reluctant to ask for help as it exposes weakness. Many of us associate weakness with vulnerability. Admitting that we cannot figure things out by ourselves can be terrifying. But, professional help can be a very effective tool for getting through difficult times. Never be afraid of reaching out and asking for help. There is great strength in admitting vulnerability. Advertisement

Dear Uninhibited Hipster,

I am so sorry that you are struggling, and understand how hard it is to live in a world where so many of us are constantly on our screens, watching how celebrities (and indeed friends/acquaintances) lead lives that seem unattainably perfect.

I know that on some level you know that no one's life is as it appears on social media.

Most celebrities use a myriad of filters to give themselves perfect skin, remove their eye bags and wrinkles, slim their waists and enlarge their butts.

It's rare to find famous people who allow candid shots on social media, and brava to those who do. For that demonstrates to women everywhere that it is okay to age, to have saggy skin and imperfect bodies.

As someone with a social media presence myself, I know how curated our feeds are. Followers may think that they are seeing into my life, but the piles of papers on my kitchen counter have been moved out of the shot and the clutter in my home has been swept into a closet.

However, I suspect that reality check won't provide a huge amount of comfort to you, because you are dealing with something that may require the help of a mental health professional.

When we get stuck in repetitive thoughts or circular thinking, it's often an indicator of anxiety or depression.

There are effective therapeutic techniques that can redirect your thoughts and replace these unhealthy habits with healthy ones. Please look at Cognitive Behavioral Therapy  CBT  as an option.

Wishing you much luck.
The elusive world of OnlyFans is filled with success stories as creators boast about the millions they've made after quitting their day job and committing to full-time content.

But - peel the layers back - and you might see that beyond a sultry photoshoot of what a subscriber considers to be a beautiful woman they're paying hundreds for attention from is actually a 27-year-old man in Venezuela.

MailOnline looked into the murky underground world of OF 'chatters' - anonymous employees taken on by agencies to carry out conversations with clients.

From satisfying online fantasies via suggestive dialogue to simply sending heartening messages of support, staff are hired for work - usually making a measly $5 an hour or so and often balancing other part-time work.

Speaking to FEMAIL, Brendan Koerner - contributing editor at Wired who once went undercover to try find work as an OF chatter for a piece - said these workers are an essential part of the 'business model'.

Google 'OnlyFans management' and dozens of companies come up, promising creators help 'fulfill their potential and conquer the world of men'.

The Bunny Agency for instance boasts of their dedication to 'getting their models into the top 0.5% of Creators to earn five & six figures a month', with case studies flaunting their 'chat team' and 'secret marketing methods'.

Elsewhere another Amar Agency has 'a team of experts that are specialized on the chatting with fans'.

The elusive world of OnlyFans is filled with success stories as creators boast about the millions they've made after quitting their day job and committing to full-time content. Pictured, OnlyFans creator Bonnie Blue, who is not understood to use chatters nor has she spoken about it

From satisfying online fantasies via suggestive dialogue to simply sending heartening messages of support, staff are hired for work - usually making a measly $5 an hour or so and often balancing other part-time work. Stock image used

'That doesn't only bring you tons of money, but also gives you way more free time,' the website promised.

Banx Management meanwhile says: 'Transform your OnlyFans direct messaging into a relentless revenue-generating machine with our 24/7 Chatting Profit Maximization Service.

'Banx Management introduces a groundbreaking approach to monetization - where our expert sales team takes the helm of your direct messages, driving content engagement and sales around the clock.

'Imagine earnings multiplying even as you sleep, setting a new standard for passive income in the digital content realm.'

However, information on where and how 'chatters' are sourced is less straightforward.

Brendan revealed it took him six to eight weeks to find work, trawling through Reddit and online forums to find clarity on how the process works and what employers are looking for.

'I initially thought it would be more of like a literary job or something where you know, the primary skill they were looking for is writing,' he said.

'And in fact, what they're really looking for is salesmanship. The whole economy really depends on chatters being able to sell exclusive content to subscribers.

Speaking to FEMAIL, Brendan Koerner - contributing editor at Wired who once went undercover to try find work as an OF chatter for a piece - said these workers are an essential part of the 'business model'. Stock image used

'So basically additional content on top of what they already obtain through their monthly subscription fee.

'I eventually went through a lot of rigmarole, got a job working for a German agency as a chatter.'

Brendan said it was 'a lot more difficult than it than he thought it would be' to secure work - as most tended to not want candidates from nations like the United States or the UK.

'I think what's important to point out is that most of the chatters are people who reside in low wage countries,' he said.

'And so the economics of it - obviously, I live in the US - $4 an hour is below our national minimum wage. So that's that's not really enough to, you know, exist here essentially, but a lot of chatters are based in places like the Philippines, Venezuela, Colombia.

'One chatter I spoke to is based in Argentina. So the the money goes a little farther in those places, and it's a job you can do from home. You have flexible hours.

'This Argentinian chatter, for example, she was a college student and also worked in a pizzeria, and then she would come home and and do a shift from like 10pm to like 6am on OnlyFans.'

However, while there's certainly flexibility there is also a myriad of 'abuses in the industry towards chatters', Brendan expressed.

Brendan said there is 'certainly money to be made' in the work, despite the whirlwind it took him to land employment for his story, which ended up being a four-month process from looking to doing the shifts. Stock image used

'This is something that came across in my conversations, especially with Filipino chatters,' he said.

'People that get ghosted... Basically, they don't get paid, they're made to do extremely long tryouts or additions. And then they're like, not hired officially.

'But they've given away a lot of free labor, and there's obviously no unionization of labor in this space. So, yeah, chatters are certainly working at a power disadvantage.'

However, Brendan also dismissed the 'old saw' that the clients chatting with what they thought were gorgeous young women would in actuality be middle-aged men in another continent.

He said that both age and gender varied when it came to chatters.

There's notes about how freely you spend. If you're a good spender I might take something out of the vault and send you like a clothed tease - but only if you're a big spender. You lose that privilege, I guess, if you're not spending enough money, but generally, if you want extra content, you have to pay for it.

'I would say most of the people were generally in the age ranges of, let's say, like 19 to 26 or 28,' he revealed.

'I did run into maybe one person who was a little bit older than that who actually resided in the UK. But you know, generally it was younger people.

'It was oftentimes people who lived in countries where they had learned incredibly good English in the school or the university system but maybe English wasn't their their first language.

'People that reside in low wage countries that have really strong command of English are obviously at a great advantage in the competitive marketplace to be hired for these jobs.'

He said that it's 'tough' to give an exact percentage of how many women undertook the work, but 'it certainly wasn't all men'.

Brendan said there is 'certainly money to be made' in the work, despite the whirlwind it took him to land employment for his story, which ended up being a four-month process from looking to doing the shifts.

'I didn't end up receiving any money - obviously that would be unethical for me to be paid, so anything that were made were donated - but in my chatting job, I believe the pay was $4 an hour was my starting pay and I didn't initially start on commission,' he said.

'I think the promise was that if I stick with the job I could work my way up to a higher base pay and commission. At the end of the piece I was interviewing, and pretty close to landing a job with a much bigger agency and I believe there I think their base pay was $5 an hour, but I think there was either a half percent or 1% commission on all sales.'

In his Wired piece, Brendan reflected on how he struggled with the ethics of the chatting world - not just on the side of the people seeking work but the clients who believe they are having a private conversation with a woman, and oftentimes sending explicit photos they believe will be for her eyes only.

'I worried that if I lingered in the chatting world for much longer, Id be forced to lose something that so many of us have struggled to retain: the ability to empathize with people we know only through words on a screen,' he wrote.

And speaking with FEMAIL, he spoke about the strange salesman-esque etiquette chatters are honed to employ.

For instance, what happens if they ask for a spicy photo in return to the nude pic they sent?

'Well, they ask for content, but they have to pay for it. You don't really get freebies unless you're a proven spender right?,' he revealed.

'You know, we see in the software interface, we see how much you spent in the past.

'And there's notes about how freely you spend. If you're a good spender I might take something out of the vault and send you like a clothed tease - but only if you're a big spender.

'You lose that privilege, I guess, if you're not spending enough money, but generally, if you want extra content, you have to pay for it.'

He added that the chatters kept everything in notes files to make sure they understood the client better.

I initially thought it would be more of like a literary job or something where you know, the primary skill they were looking for is writing. And in fact, what they're really looking for is salesmanship.

'Obviously, people send explicit photos to the chatters all the time. And I don't think that's gonna change. I think that's really important to some of these these clients that they do that for whatever reason.

'So I I haven't seen that discussed of like "oh, we need to change the the privacy of the settings of this".

'You send like a an explicit photo to a chatter and of course they might put it on a server that ends up on the Internet somewhere.

'Next thing, you don't even know, but your explicit photo is on like a pornographic website that's being run out of another country.

'I haven't seen any real agitation for if that happens. But I haven't seen anyone discussing about ways to solve that issue, I guess.'

Chatters are also given 'dossiers' on the creator to ensure that clients are none the wiser.

'You don't want people to realize that you are impersonating the person.

'So you want to make sure all your chatters are on the same page about what music the Creator likes, what food she likes, what she likes to do in her spare time, what words she never uses, what her punctuation and capitalization quirks are, etc.'

Brendan admitted that the experience was 'strange' - as it demanded the skills and open prowess of a salesman in a deeply intimate and secrecy-shrouded industry.

'I'm a naturally kind of chatty person. I like talking to people so I feel like engaging people and conversations just about you know what their day was like,' he admitted.

'Trying to just have casual conversation and make them feel less alone. I mean, that was pretty natural for me.'

However, the 'sexual nature' which included 'catering to fantasies so these customers can have sexual gratification' was more challenging.

'And knowing I'm doing it in someone else's guise. So that was, I wouldn't say it was difficult. It was just kind of bizarre,' he recounted.

'I think it was sort of disorienting, but I mean, ultimately it was all kind of predictable, and not that tough to navigate.'
An influencer has hit back at online trolls who have criticised her decision to remain child-free, as she admitted she'd 'regret' having children.

Karina Irby, 34, from Brisbane, Australia, addressed her followers' concerns during a recent Q&A on her Instagram page, @karinairby.

The influencer, who boasts 1.1 million followers and serves as CEO of swimwear brand, Moana Swim, often shares glimpses of her life online - though she's often found herself in the firing line of critics who question her choice to remain child-free.

In the Q&A, she was aptly quizzed: 'Do you plan on having kids?' to which Karina responded with a snap of her and her husband, adding: 'Nope. Children by choice couple over here.'

The response appeared to anger a number of critics, with one person writing: 'You will retrete [sic] this decision if you don't have kids.'

Karina Irby, 34, from Brisbane, Australia, has hit back at online trolls who have criticised her decision to remain child-free, as she admitted she'd 'regret' having children

However, Karina stood her ground, and, while correcting the critic's spelling, fired back: 'Regret* How can you be so sure I'll regret it? You don't know me or my husband? I'd regret having them.'

The content creator and her husband, Ryan, have been vocal about their decision to remain child-free, explaining that they're simply happier without kids.

Following the exchange, Karina showcased a series of disturbing comments directed at her, many of which she noted were from men who insulted her for her choice.

One commenter wrote, 'Men will save the world while stupid women like you will destroy it,' while another said, 'The men are back in charge now w***e. Your body OUR rules.'

In a follow-up post, she called out 'sexist men' and referenced the U.S. election while pointing to the messages from self-identified supporters of recently re-elected President Donald Trump.

She wrote: 'For people wondering how the US Election impacts other women not in America Here a little taste of my DMs

'Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and beliefs, whatever. But the projection and pure anger in some people makes my blood boil. What does a woman's reproductive choices and organs have to do with you?'

'ITS SCARY BEING A F*** WOMEN. And it's 2024!? Not all Trump supporters are abusive, sexist pigs. But all abusive, sexist pigs are Trump supporters.'

The content creator and her husband, Ryan, have been vocal about their decision to remain child-free, explaining that they're simply happier without kids

Karina has found herself in the firing line of critics who question her choice to remain child-free

Following the exchange, Karina showcased a series of disturbing comments directed at her, many of which she noted were from men who insulted her for her choice

Despite the pushback, the influencer remains firm in her decision, encouraging her followers to consider that personal choices - especially around family and reproduction - are private matters.

It comes as a single woman has shared the 'relatable' reason why she doesn't want children and why she's perfectly content being the 'cool aunt' in her family.

Bree, from Canada, said now that she's in her mid-20s everyone always asks if she has any kids and her response is always the same: 'Absolutely not'.

The 25-year-old says she doesn't want children and the responsibility that comes with being a mum, while dads have all the fun.

'I would love to be a parent, I would love to be a dad. I don't get that choice - I would have to be a mother - and there is no way in hell I would ever wanna be a mother,' she said in a TikTok video.
An ex-prison worker who fell in love with an inmate has revealed her plans to have a baby with the murderer - despite losing friends and family over the controversial romance.

Larissa King, 34, from Vancouver, Canada, met her now-husband, convicted felon Ryan King, 42, in 2020, while she was working in the kitchen of the prison he's residing in.

But they didn't grow close until one year later, after she was let go from the job and studying to get her certification to become a probation officer.

At the time, she wanted to reach out to prisoners to discuss measures that could help them readjust into society upon release, and she thought of Ryan, who is currently serving a sentence of 15 years to life for second degree murder.

The two started writing letters back and forth, before they began speaking on the phone - and soon, things turned romantic.

'We wrote a couple of times and then I gave him my phone number because I thought it would be easier that way and then we started talking on the phone maybe once a week,' she explained recently.

An ex-prison worker who fell in love with an inmate has revealed her plans to have a baby with the murderer - despite losing friends and family over the controversial romance

'It was very limited and then that turned to twice a week, three times a week, every day, multiple times a day.

'When we really started talking on the phone it was the end of 2021, I'd say around November and then by February I knew I loved this man.'

Larissa admitted that her feelings were 'very confusing' at first, given his past and how they had met, but after she went to see a therapist, she knew she couldn't fight them anymore.

'I actually spoke to a therapist to understand my feelings. Like why is this happening? Is this real?' she recalled.

'I was very confused and my therapist was like it seems like it was just an unconventional meeting but it seems like your feelings are valid.'

After a year of dating over the phone, Larissa went to see Ryan in prison for the first time - and by her second visit, he had proposed.

'I thought I was going to puke,' she said of the moment he got down on one knee.

'We're talking and we were sitting at this table with two chairs right by a window - a nice scenic background of barbed chain link fence and there was a playground there.

Larissa King, 34, from Vancouver, Canada, met her now-husband, convicted felon Ryan King, 42, in 2020, while she was working in the kitchen of the prison he's residing in

But they didn't grow close until one year later, after she was let go from the job and studying to get her certification to become a probation officer

'He asked me to get up so he could see my outfit. He made me do a twirl. When I came back around he was on his knee with a fake [ring].

'Obviously there was nothing in his hand because he can't bring anything into the visiting center.'

The two started writing letters back and forth, before they began speaking on the phone - and soon, things turned romantic

Larissa, who had stopped pursuing a career as a probation officer, said yes, and Ryan's mother wired her money from his account so she could purchase a ring.

The couple had a prison wedding in March 2023 and now, the two lovebirds are trying to have a baby together.

Larissa explained that they started having conjugal visits in July, which take place in private cabins on the prison grounds away from the general population units.

'I was so nervous for [the first time we were alone together],' she admitted. 'We had never been intimate at all. The most we'd had was light kisses in the visitors center.

'It was difficult to wait that long. But it was worth the wait. It was nice to have that important time together.'

She explained that they try to align the meetups with her ovulation phase, but because she suffers from a condition called AMH, which means her ovaries produce fewer eggs, getting pregnant has been difficult.

She is now looking into intrauterine insemination, but that would involve Ryan leaving prison to visit a fertility clinic.

'It's proving very difficult,' she shared. 'It's deemed a non-emergency medical procedure which they are allowed to do but [he has to pay] out of pocket for the van transportation and for a guard to come with him.'

After a year of dating over the phone, Larissa went to see Ryan in prison for the first time - and by her second visit, he had proposed

The couple had a prison wedding in March 2023 and now, the two lovebirds are trying to have a baby together. They're seen at the wedding

Larissa admitted that while most of her friends and family are accepting of their relationship, she has lost some loved ones because of it.

'It's a very weird concept that I don't think a lot of people understand and I know even some of my family members questioned it,' she revealed.

'I was always very forthcoming with them. My mom is coming around, she's spoken to him a couple of times. My dad and my stepmom were supportive from the get-go.

'[Some loved ones] have stepped away from my life because [they] are uncomfortable with my husband's charges and I've always said I would never force my relationship on any of them... it's not for everybody and I understand that.

'Hopefully we can reconnect eventually. It was a little premature that they axed us because my husband is still incarcerated.'

Larissa already has a 12-year-old daughter, named Elia Thomas, and she said the youngster is completely supportive of her marriage.

'She's so well-informed - too informed - about everything. She has known about him since I told my whole family back in 2022 and she has spoken on the phone to him before meeting him in person,' she shared.

Larissa explained that they started having conjugal visits in July, which take place in private cabins on the prison grounds away from the general population units

Larissa already has a 12-year-old daughter, named Elia Thomas, and she said the youngster is completely supportive of her marriage

Ryan has now served his minimum sentence and is eligible to apply for parole, but Larissa said it's likely it'll be denied.

That means he may not be present to raise their baby if she is able to get pregnant - but it's something she is prepared for.

'It would suck if he wasn't around to raise our child together, of course, and it's very likely because he does have a life sentence, most lifers don't get parole the first, maybe not even the second time,' Larissa explained.

'I had to really sit down and [contemplate if I] could do this alone if we are successful with conception.

'My finances are established. I could afford to be on maternity leave with a single income house.

'I've raised my daughter on my own so I've done it once before and I always said I don't want to do that again... but this is my person, and I'd like to expand my family now.'
The jewels chosen by the Princess of Wales for the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday night held huge personal significance.

Kate's highest-profile appearance since undergoing cancer treatment saw her wear two items once owned by her late mother-in-law Princess Diana - as well as a military brooch that remembered her own grandfather, an his military service.

The 42-year-old, who has stepped back into the public eye to honour lost servicemen and women this weekend, wore a stylish mid-length black dress with a deep v-neck collar, and a mini black clutch bag, as she arrived at the Kensington venue with Prince William.

The royal donned William's mother's engagement ring, which boasts a 12-carat Ceylon sapphire surrounded by a cluster of 14 solitaire diamonds set in white gold.

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 Princess of Wales looked radiant as she arrived at the Royal Albert Hall for the Festival of Remembrance on Saturday, wearing the dazzling earrings were once worn by the late Princess Diana

The ring was designed by the crown jeweller Garrard and inspired by the sapphire and diamond cluster brooch that was made for Prince Albert in 1840, which he went on to gift Queen Victoria as a wedding present and she wore it as her 'something blue'.

At the time, it was referred to as the 'commoner's sapphire' as the ring was available in the Garrard's catalogue, meaning that anyone could have purchased it for 47,000.

But Princess Diana loved her engagement ring so much that she continued to wear it after her divorce from Prince Charles in 1996 - and it seems the Princess of Wales is just as fond of it.

A beaming Kate, who wore her shoulder-length hair down, also wore a pair of large drop pearl and diamond earrings once owned by Diana.

Kate also donned Diana's engagement ring, which features an oval 12-carat Ceylon sapphire surrounded by a cluster of 14 solitaire diamonds set in white gold

Kate's ring originally belonged to William's late mother Princess Diana and cost 28,500 in 1981

The Princess of Wales has frequently won the earrings, including at the Queen's procession in 2022 (right). Pictured, Diana wearing the earrings in Washington DC in 1985

Princess Diana received the beautiful earrings them from Collingwood Jewellers in London as a wedding gift ahead of her marriage to Charles in 1981.

Princess Diana wore the pair on her wedding day, as part of her going away outfit.

And last night Kate's gold winged brooch also saw her paying tribute to her own side of the family.

Last year, the royal was named the Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm, Colonel-in-Chief of the 1 Queens Dragoon Guards, and the Royal Honorary Air Commodore of the Royal Air Force Coningsby.

The Princess of Wales, under a single royal poppy, wore the winged brooch that signifies her role as Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm - her grandfather Peter Middleton was a fighter pilot during the Second World War.

Pictured: Prince Philip shakes hands with Heathrow manager Mr. C.D. Waldron in October 1966 as Peter Middleton (seen in a pilot uniform) smiles in their direction

Kate Middleton's maternal grandparents Valerie Glassborow and Peter Middleton (centre) pictured on their wedding day in December 1946

Kate's paternal grandfather Peter Middleton served as a fighter pilot during the Second World War.

Captain Middleton died at the age of 90 just days before the Prince and Princess announced their engagement in 2010.

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.

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 rounded off her outfit on Saturday night with a stylish 128 Monica Vinader necklace

The beaming royal wore her shoulder-length hair down, with a pair of large drop pearl and diamond earrings and a pearl necklace

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.

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.
Prince William and Kate Middleton shared an emotional moment at the Festival of Remembrance on Saturday night - after a hymn from their wedding was played.

The Prince and Princess of Wales joined senior members of the royal family for a special concert at Royal Albert Hall in honour of Britain's fallen soldiers.

And the royal couple appeared visibly moved during a rendition of Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer during the concert last night.

It was one of three prayer songs chosen for their wedding service in 2011, including Love Divine All Love Excelling and Jersualem, and was a fitting symbol of the couple's enduring commitment to each other - 13 years after they promised 'for better or for worse'.

An official announcement about the music for the royal wedding stated that all three hymns were chosen 'because they are favourites of the Couple'.

The Prince and Princess of Wales appeared moved as the hymn from their wedding - Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer - was played during last night's Festival of Remembrance at London's Royal Albert Hall

Prince William and Kate on their wedding day in 2011, the couple chose the hymn for the Festival of Remembrance on Saturday evening

The song, written by William Williams, was also picked as a heartfelt tribute to Prince William's mother, Princess Diana, as it was the last hymn to be sung at her funeral in 1997.

There was not a dry eye inside Royal Albert Hall on Saturday night, as Charles, William, and Kate all stood for the moving version of Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer, with the royal emblem laid over the rail in front of the royal box.

The poignant event marked Kate's first major official engagement since announcing she had completed chemotherapy treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer, as she makes a gradual return to public life.

It comes days after William opened up about his family's health ordeal in an emotional interview, admitting he has had 'the hardest year in my life' following his wife and father's cancer diagnoses.

Kate and William appeared more in love than ever before, as royal fans noticed the future king's touching displays of affection for his wife - who recently revealed she had completed chemotherapy for an undisclosed form of cancer.

As they entered the renowned music venue together, William placed a comforting arm around Kate, adoringly clasping her upper waist and back as they walked into Royal Albert Hall.

'The Prince and Princess of Wales are at The Royal Albert Hall! Love William constantly putting his arm around Catherine,' one fan wrote on X.

Footage from the event showed the beaming Royal couple shaking hands with officials, as the Princess of Wales lovingly and gently rubs William's lower back - appearing delighted to be back by his side.

A bearded Prince William entering the Royal Albert Hall upbeat in a blue suit alongside Princess Kate

The event marks the Wales' most high-profile public appearance since Kate announced she had completed a course of preventative chemotherapy after being diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer earlier this year

The Prince of Wales and the Princess of Wales put on a loving and affectionate display as they head into the Royal Albert Hall

The Royal couple appeared happy as they looked forward to the Remembrance weekend ahead

The couple could be seen glancing and whispering in each other's direction several times during the ceremony, giving us a glimpse of the 'mutual affection' they share.

Body language expert Judi James told MailOnline their behaviour towards each other last night indicated the royal couple 'couldn't keep their hands off each other' and they will be 'far more open about showing the strength of their love' in the future.

'For a couple that usually limits their touch rituals or PDAs to one or two per appearance, this brief arrival walk to greet their hosts contained an ongoing volley of affectionate, loving and mutually protective touches, glances and truncated hugs,' she said.

'The cliche "They couldn't keep their hands off each other" really does apply here and this behaviour between the couple answers a question that has been hanging since the very romantic, openly loving video they released to update on Kate's health.'

She added: 'This glimpse already suggests an upgrade in their PDAs, which in turn should suggest they will now be far more open about showing the strength of their love after keeping their emotions rather under wraps in a bid to avoid the kind of attention William's mother Princess Diana suffered from.'

James also revealed that Prince William's rush to join the Princess's side as they mutually placed their hands on each others waists, stepping closer to one another showed 'mutual support, protection and affection'.

She continued: 'He seems to glance at her face lovingly and when her arm drops he places his own around her as they stand with their heads close.

'This is followed by two more hands placed on Kate's back, with an almost endless ritual of PDAs.'

Saturday night's proceedings at the Royal Albert Hall in London were also attended by His Majesty, who became a patron of the Royal British Legion earlier this year, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, as well as Princess Anne.

Pictured: Veterans at The Festival of Remembrance, Saturday November 9, 2024

Pictured: King Charles leads the senior members of the royal family who attended the poignant Festival of Remembrance last night

While Queen Camilla was absent, as she recovers from a chest infection, Princess Anne dutifully watched over her brother, the King

Queen Camilla was notably absent from Charles' side, as she recovers from a seasonal chest infection.

The Princess of Wales is expected to join the royal family for the Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London, later this morning.

Earlier this week, William revealed he has had the 'hardest year in my life' after Kate and Charles were both diagnosed with unspecified forms of cancer at the beginning of 2024.

He opened up about navigating their health challenges in a remarkably candid and, at times, emotional interview at the end of his official visit to South Africa.

William was in Cape Town to announce the 2024 winners for his environmental initiative, the Earthshot Prize.

When asked how the past year had been for him, as a husband and son, the heir to the British throne lowered his voice ever so slightly and 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.'

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.
The Princess of Wales paid sweet homage to her late in-laws today

The Princess of Wales has paid sweet homage to Queen Elizabeth ll and Princess Diana at the National Service of Remembrance today.

In a touching ode to the late monarch and her mother-in-law, Kate, 42, donned a 30,000 dazzling set of pearl drop earrings from Her Majesty's personal collection while in London for Remembrance Sunday.

The annual event - which takes place on the Sunday closest to November 11 - was held at the Cenotaph on Whitehall, and was led by King Charles, who laid wreaths to honour the war dead and mark the end of the First World War.

The Princess turned out in force to support her husband Prince William for the second time this weekend - marking day two of consecutive royal duties for the first time since it was revealed earlier this year she was being treated for cancer.

For the sombre occasion, she selected the Bahrain pearl diamond drop earrings from the late Queen's private collection, which were also worn by Princess Diana at a banquet in 1982.

The Princess of Wales, 42, donned a dazzling set of pearl drop earrings from Her Majesty's personal collection for Remembrance Sunday today - the late Queen is said to have favoured pearls at solemn events

The earrings were crafted from pearls gifted to the Queen and Philip from the ruler of Bahrain at the time of their wedding in 1947. (Pictured: The Queen dons the earrings for the first time in a Royal Command portrait by Dorothy Wilding in July 1952)

The Queen herself famously wore the jewels in her first Royal Command portrait by Dorothy Wilding in July 1952. The earrings were crafted from pearls gifted to the Queen and Philip from the ruler of Bahrain at the time of their wedding in 1947.

The Queen wore the earrings several times throughout her reign, and she has also lent them to her daughter-in-law Sophie Wessex, 59, on occasion.

According to Laura Taylor, jeweller at Lorel Diamonds, the Collingwood pearl drop earrings are valued at around 30,000, and Kate's choice to sport them today showed understated 'simplicity' and 'respect' for her in-laws.

She said: 'The late Queen Elizabeth frequently chose pearls for national mourning and reflective occasions, valuing their subdued beauty.

'By wearing these meaningful pieces, Kate not only honours her personal connections to Diana and the late Queen but also embraces the solemnity of the events in a way that feels both respectful and deeply personal.

'The simplicity and grace of pearls make them a respectful choice, acknowledging the significance of the event without drawing undue attention'.

Describing the prestigious jewels, she added: 'The earrings feature a classic design with a pearl drop suspended from a round diamond stud, embodying a timeless elegance that aligns with the occasion... These earrings consist of a large diamond stud supporting a trio of smaller diamonds with a single pearl drop, creating a sophisticated yet subtle design'.

Kate styled the historic jewellery with a black military jacket and matching velvet bow. She paired the look with a headpiece set with a mini veil and black flowers.

In another nod to family she wore three poppies to honour her great-grandmother's three brothers, who all lost their lives in the First World War.

For the sombre occasion, The Princess of Wales selected the Bahrain pearl diamond drop earrings from the late Queen's private collection. It was also a sweet not to the late Princess Diana who also wore them to a banquet in 1982 (right)

The future Queen appeared emotional and seemingly closed her eyes while reflecting on the day

Her make-up was fitting for the occasion as she opted for a natural base, a touch of blusher on the cheeks, mascara and a pink lip.

Her hair was pulled backward behind her headpiece and tied into a neat bun, perhaps to make way for the glitzy sweet nod to her in-laws.

It's not the first time the Princess has borrowed the stunning pearl drop diamond earrings. She first wore them in 2016 for the Remembrance Day service at Westminster Abbey. She also wore them to attend Prince Philip's funeral in 2021.

In 2022, she styled them with a gorgeous lemon dress and a Philip Treacy hat - a favourite milliner of the royal family - to a thanksgiving service in the late Queen's honour at St Paul's Cathedral.

The annual event - which takes place on the Sunday closest to November 11 - was held at the Cenotaph on Whitehall, and was led by King Charles, who laid wreaths to honour the war dead and mark the end of the First World War. Also in attendance to pay their respects were Prince William, the Princess Royal and the Duke of Edinburgh

Today, the Princess appeared emotional as she watched Remembrance Sunday on the nearby Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office balcony in central London, alongside Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh.

At times during the ceremony she was seen quietly closing her eyes in remembrance and bowing her head in respect, while at one point her and the Duchess of Edinburgh sang hymns read from a sheet.

A two minute silence was held at 11am to commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women.

Members of the royal family, together with senior politicians and high commissioners laid wreaths during the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph to mark the Armistice of the First World War and all other conflicts involving British and Commonwealth forces.

In 2022, Kate In 2022, the earrings with a gorgeous lemon dress and a Philip Treacy hat - a favourite milliner of the royal family - to a thanksgiving service in the late Queen's honour at St Paul's Cathedral

It is speculated that Queen Camilla, 77, was not in attendance after being forced to lay low due a nasty chest infection.

The jewels chosen by the Princess of Wales last night for the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall also held a huge personal significance.

Kate's highest-profile appearance since undergoing cancer treatment saw her wear two items once owned by her late mother-in-law Princess Diana - as well as a military brooch that remembered her own grandfather, an his military service.

The 42-year-old, who has stepped back into the public eye to honour lost servicemen and women this weekend, wore a stylish mid-length black dress with a deep v-neck collar, and a mini black clutch bag, as she arrived at the Kensington venue with Prince William.

The royal donned William's mother's engagement ring, which boasts a 12-carat Ceylon sapphire surrounded by a cluster of 14 solitaire diamonds set in white gold.

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 Princess of Wales looked radiant as she arrived at the Royal Albert Hall for the Festival of Remembrance on Saturday, wearing the dazzling earrings were once worn by the late Princess Diana

The ring was designed by the crown jeweller Garrard and inspired by the sapphire and diamond cluster brooch that was made for Prince Albert in 1840, which he went on to gift Queen Victoria as a wedding present and she wore it as her 'something blue'.

At the time, it was referred to as the 'commoner's sapphire' as the ring was available in the Garrard's catalogue, meaning that anyone could have purchased it for 47,000.

But Princess Diana loved her engagement ring so much that she continued to wear it after her divorce from Prince Charles in 1996 - and it seems the Princess of Wales is just as fond of it.

A beaming Kate, who wore her shoulder-length hair down, also wore a pair of large drop pearl and diamond earrings once owned by Diana.

Kate also donned Diana's engagement ring, which features an oval 12-carat Ceylon sapphire surrounded by a cluster of 14 solitaire diamonds set in white gold

Kate's ring originally belonged to William's late mother Princess Diana and cost 28,500 in 1981

The Princess of Wales has frequently won the earrings, including at the Queen's procession in 2022 (right). Pictured, Diana wearing the earrings in Washington DC in 1985

Princess Diana received the beautiful earrings them from Collingwood Jewellers in London as a wedding gift ahead of her marriage to Charles in 1981.

Princess Diana wore the pair on her wedding day, as part of her going away outfit.

And last night Kate's gold winged brooch also saw her paying tribute to her own side of the family.

Last year, the royal was named the Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm, Colonel-in-Chief of the 1 Queens Dragoon Guards, and the Royal Honorary Air Commodore of the Royal Air Force Coningsby.

The Princess of Wales, under a single royal poppy, wore the winged brooch that signifies her role as Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm - her grandfather Peter Middleton was a fighter pilot during the Second World War.

Pictured: Prince Philip shakes hands with Heathrow manager Mr. C.D. Waldron in October 1966 as Peter Middleton (seen in a pilot uniform) smiles in their direction

Kate Middleton's maternal grandparents Valerie Glassborow and Peter Middleton (centre) pictured on their wedding day in December 1946

Kate's paternal grandfather Peter Middleton served as a fighter pilot during the Second World War.

Captain Middleton died at the age of 90 just days before the Prince and Princess announced their engagement in 2010.

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.

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 rounded off her outfit on Saturday night with a stylish 128 Monica Vinader necklace

The beaming royal wore her shoulder-length hair down, with a pair of large drop pearl and diamond earrings and a pearl necklace

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.

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.
Prince Harry surprised bereaved children marching past the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday with the charity Scotty's Little Soldiers with bags of sweets.

The Duke of Sussex, 40, is Global Ambassador for Scotty's, which was established in 2010 by Army widow Nikki Scott to support bereaved military children and young people.

Nikki was motivated to set up the charity after witnessing the impact of the death of her husband Corporal Lee Scott in Afghanistan in 2009 on their two young children.

Speaking of Harry's long-term involvement, Nikki said: 'He's very much in contact. He sent the children sweets today as well.

'They all have sweets in their pockets from Prince Harry.'

Scotty's Little Soldiers founder Nikki Scott (left) with Lexie Pallett, 16, in Horse Guards Parade after the march past the Cenotaph as part of the annual Remembrance Sunday service

Lexie, whose father died after serving in the RAF, was one of the children to receive sweets (pictured) from Global Ambassador of Scotty's Prince Harry

Scotty's has supported more than 700 bereaved military children and young people so far this year and has a long-term goal to support over 1,000 children annually by 2030.

Lexie Pallet, 16, was one of the children marching with Scotty's to receive sweets from Prince Harry ahead of Remembrance Sunday.

The teenager has told how she was 'proud' to march past the Cenotaph to 'honour' her father who died after serving in the RAF.

Lexie, who also marched in 2022, said: 'I'm immensely proud of me being here today, but I'm also proud of the fact that I'm here to honour my dad and honour the things that he did while he was in service.'

Her father Sergeant Oliver Pallett died in 2020 by suicide and Lexie joined the charity two months later.

Throughout her time at Scotty's, Lexie and her family have been supported through respite breaks, emotional bereavement support, group events and grants to help towards their education and development.

Discussing her experience of the charity, Lexie said: 'You also talk about everything else so that's really nice.

'There's a sense of family - you don't have to talk about your loved one if you don't want to, because everyone knows why you're there.'

The Duke of Sussex (pictured) has been connected to Scotty's Little Soldiers for several years

Around 100 people from the charity, including 53 children and young people - many of whom were wearing their parent's medals - attended the Royal British Legion's march past the Cenotaph on Sunday.

The children were accompanied by a parent or carer, and the charity said those marching wore a yellow and black scarf to help them 'feel united in their grief and part of Scotty's supportive community'.

Nikki said funding had been a 'real challenge' this year and the charity had been unable to put on a winter festival for the children it supports in 2024.

On Thursday, Prince Harry penned a letter to the children who belong to Scotty's Little Soldiers, explaining that he 'understands the weight' of losing a parent at a young age.

In his letter, which was addressed to 'Scotty's Little Soldiers', Prince Harry wrote that he wanted to 'take a moment to reflect on the profound significance of this occasion and what it means for each of you' as we approach Remembrance Day.

'This day is a time not only to honour the extraordinary sacrifices made by our service members but also to recognise the impact these sacrifices have on families, especially ones like yours,' he said.

The letter comes after the couple made their first joint appearance in a video yesterday, talking about creating online safety for children

According to the Prince, each of the letter's recipients 'carries a unique story shaped by the bravery of a parent who served our country'.

He added: 'I understand, perhaps more than most, the weight of losing a parent at a young age. It can be overwhelming and isolating. Yet, in the midst of that heartache, we find strength in the love and memories left behind, and I have seen how communities like yours can offer deep comfort and healing.'

According to Harry, Scotty's Little Soldiers 'embodies this spirit of community'.

He added that when people come together to support each other, they can both 'honour the memories of your loved ones' and 'forge bonds that can and will carry you through the toughest times'.

'The tears and laughter, the shared experiences, and the moments of joy you create together are powerful reminders that love endures,' he wrote.

He encouraged readers to reflect on the value's their loved ones had instilled in them, including courage, compassion, and a sense of purpose.

Doing this, he said, will 'serve as your guiding light, helping you navigate the challenges ahead'.

He also reminded readers that they are 'part of a larger community that stands with you, ready to uplift and support you'.

He concluded the letter writing: 'Your resilience is a testament to the legacy of your loved ones, and I have every confidence in your ability to make them proud and to shine brightly in the world.

'All they want is for you to be happy.'

Speaking about Prince Harry's involvement with the charity, founder Nikki Scott said: 'Prince Harry is completely dedicated to Scottys and takes his role as Global Ambassador very seriously.

'He understands what it is like for our members to grow up without their parent, and he also knows the sacrifices made by servicemen and women.

'Its become a bit of a tradition now, for The Duke to write to our members at Remembrance. They also received letters from him in 2022 and 2023 and it means so much to them to know he is thinking about them and their parents at this proud but difficult time.'

Prince Harry's letter which he penned in his role of Global Ambassador for the charity Scotty's Little Soldiers

It comes after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made their first joint appearance in over three months, sharing a new video message on Thursday.

Harry and Meghan, 43, both wore dark blazers with poppy pins fastened on their lapels, in a short clip about online violence against children - a cause that is deeply important to them.

The video message was played at the inaugural Global Ministerial Conference on Violence Against Children in Colombia, as the Duke and Duchess called for greater protections for 'the most vulnerable in our world' against the threat of digital violence and harm.

It appears to have been filmed in California, where the Sussexes reside with their children, Archie and Lilibet.

Their last official appearance together was in August, when Harry and Meghan embarked on a four-day tour of the South American country.
Ellie Rogers was 38 when she felt a lump the size of a ballpoint pen on her collar bone and almost dismissed it - only to receive a devastating diagnosis that would change her life a few days later.

The Melbourne mum, now 45, was busy juggling two children and personal creative endeavours when she noticed something was wrong.

Speaking to FEMAIL, Ellie revealed how discovering she had an aggressive form of breast cancer was a 'lucky fluke' because she was 'perfectly healthy' and had no symptoms.

'I got home after dinner with my husband and was lying in bed with my hand on my chest,' she said about a night in August 2017.

'I found a tiny bump very high up - almost on my collar bone - and I remember thinking it was unusual.'

Ellie didn't feel like the bump was anywhere close to her breast - but alarm bells started to go off in her head.

'One of my best friends is a breast surgeon so I sent her a photo of where the lump was, and she told me to make a doctor's appointment.

'She said it was very high up, but breast tissue does sometimes travel up towards the neck.'

Ellie Rogers was 38 when she felt a lump the size of a ballpoint pen on her collar bone and almost dismissed it

When Ellie went to the doctor for an ultrasound the next day, it was as if the lump had disappeared entirely.

'I couldn't find it anymore, but I insisted on a scan anyway because I was sure I felt something off the night before,' Ellie said.

'I'm lucky I did that because the lump had travelled down and was sitting between my ribcage.'

A technician immediately said the results were 'really dangerous' and that it 'looked like breast cancer'.

'I completely freaked out because they're not supposed to say that - they weren't doctors. I still had to get an MRI and wait for an official physician's call, but I was already told by someone that I had breast cancer,' Ellie said.

She revealed the time in limbo was 'anxiety inducing' and she felt like her whole life was on pause.

'A doctor called me a few days later to confirm my diagnosis, and then I was taken in pretty soon afterwards to get a lumpectomy for my doctors to take the tumour out and test it,' she said.

The growth was 2cm and it was an early stage of triple negative breast cancer - which is the most aggressive kind.

When Ellie (left) went to the doctor for an ultrasound the next day, it was as if the lump had disappeared entirely

'I was lucky I caught it so early because it would have been a fast-growing tumour,' she said.

The mum went to several oncologists afterward to figure out the best course of action - which ended up being four months of chemotherapy.

She said the treatment was 'horrible' and 'made [her] feel like a sick person'.

'I wasn't sick when I started - I was perfectly healthy. But the chemo completely rocked me off my perch,' she recalled.

Ellie said her children were one of the main reasons she fought so hard to get better.

'My kids were three and five at the time - they were so little that I couldn't talk to them about it. I didn't want to worry them, and they were too young to understand, anyway,' she said.

'It was difficult pretending like nothing was going on while I felt so awful. I had so much mum guilt about missing bedtime stories or school drop offs and pick ups - I really wanted to do that for them.

'I wasn't sure how long I had or if I was even going to make it. All I wanted to do was be around my children. My main fear was not watching them grow up.'

The Melbourne mum was busy juggling two children and personal creative endeavours when she noticed something was wrong

Ellie leaned on her husband and her sister [right] for support during chemotherapy

Going through treatment was also difficult because Ellie 'went into hiding' while she was recovering.

'I didn't want any help from people, I only had my husband and my sister. My husband was amazing - he did all this research into effective treatments,' she said.

'He found out that the more movement you do before and after chemo sessions, the better it is because it gets your blood flowing.

'My husband would have me up doing exercises and it wasn't great because I was feeling horrible.

'It was so surreal to be a person going through chemo - I felt like I didn't know what was going on. It felt like the world's worst hangover and it was constant.'

Ellie wore an ice cap during her sessions to protect her hair follicles and preserve a sense of normalcy.

The mum received her BRCA gene diagnosis soon after finishing with chemotherapy.

The BRCA gene is a mutation which dramatically increases a woman's lifetime risk of developing cancer.

Ellie elected to get a double mastectomy and hysterectomy as a preventative measure.

She revealed her awe that being able to feel the ballpoint-sized lump saved her life.

'It wasn't far enough into developing for any symptoms to have occurred,' Ellie said.

Going through treatment was also difficult because Ellie 'went into hiding' while she was recovering

The now 45-year-old spends her time working as a philanthropist and co-founded the Two Sisters Foundation which raises awareness and funds for breast and ovarian cancer research

The now 45-year-old spends her time working as a philanthropist and co-founded the Two Sisters Foundation which raises awareness and funds for breast and ovarian cancer research.

The charity is working with the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI) in Melbourne.

Ellie has since moved to Noosa with her family and has a newfound respect for life.

'I just wanted to be where I wanted to be and live the life I wanted to live,' she said.

'My husband and I wanted to get out of the city and raise our kids by the beach. I didn't know if I was going to be unwell and not make it, I just knew that I wanted to be up there.'

The main lesson Ellie wants everyone to know is to trust your instincts and advocate for yourself.

'If anything feels wrong or if you have an inkling, just go and talk to your doctor and get tested.'
A woman who says she is an heiress to the cereal giant Kellogg's has urged people to boycott the company over its use of ingredients linked to cancer.

Victoria Kellogg  who claims to be the great, great, great granddaughter of the firm's founder  has accused Kellogg's of 'betraying' her family's original vision.

The company is facing mounting pressure to remove colorings and flavorings that have been associated with cancer, ADHD and migraines.

Froot Loops and Apple Jacks in particular have been blasted because the US versions contains many ingredients banned in Europe, Canada and Australia.

Victoria said in an interview with anti junk food campaigner Vani Hari: 'I would absolutely boycott Kellogg's.

'[The founder's] intention was to help people, and now people are getting really sick and it is really, really sad.'

She added: 'I would hope that Kellogg's would live up to my family's legacy and just do the right thing, take food dyes out of its products.'

Victoria  who also has vaccine skeptic views  says she is related through her father's side to Will Keith Kellogg, who founded the company in 1906 in Michigan.

Victoria Kellogg (bottom) was interviewed by Vani Hari about her views on the company's use of food dyes and additives. The above grab is from the interview

The US arm of the company is worth $1.5billion today.

Victoria said that she has spoken to some cousins since who were 'surprised' by her actions but 'supportive'.

Several Kellogg's cereals contain additives that have been outlawed or restricted in Europe, Canada and Australia, including Apple Jacks and Froot Loops, where the cereals are made with less harmful ingredients.

US Froot Loops, for example, contain with Red 40, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6, which have been linked to cancer, tumors and hyperactivity in children.

Apple Jacks contain Blue 1, which has also been linked to hyperactivity and kidney tumors in mice.

The above graphic shows that the US version of Rainbow Krispies contains a number of ingredients that are banned or restricted in Europe

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Victoria is just the latest to join a growing urging Kellogg's to remove the chemicals from its products.

Actress Eva Mendes also revealed she 'won't eat Kellogg's anymore' after learning about the additives.

Victoria said in the interview with Ms Hari: 'I would absolutely boycott Kellogg's.

'I am willing to lose money over this if people are safe. Money is not everything in life, but when you are sick in bed and your children are sick in bed for their whole life because they have health problems, money doesn't really matter.

'[The founder's] intention was to help people, and now people are getting really sick and it is really really sad.'

She added: 'They should apologize for makin a false vow and correct their wrong.

It was the same for Froot Loops, which an ex-FDA food chief has previously branded as Europe's worst cereal

Ms Hari is spearheading efforts to get Kellogg's to update its practices. She has also launched a petition which has gained more than 400,000 signatures

Ms Hari is spearheading a movement aiming to get Kellogg's to take the potentially harmful dyes out of its cereals.

She has spoken to the Senate about the issue, and also started a petition urging Kellogg's to make the change  which now has more than 400,000 signatures.

Ms Hari told DailyMail.com: 'Kellogg's voluntarily removed their artificial food dyes from their cereals in Europe because they were going to have to put a cigarette-type warning on their products.

'So to me they are liable knowing they are harming children but continuing to use these ingredients in America.

'I think every single American needs to boycott Kellogg's until they make these changes.'

Kellogg's has been silent on social media since late October amid mounting pressure from her campaign.

In a TikTok video it posted in September, the company was blasted with comments from the public asking when it was going to remove additives from its cereal.

One viewer said, 'do your CEOs eat the European version or the American version?', and a second added, 'can we get the European one?'.

Red 40 is a synthetic food dye made from petroleum.

Europe restricted its use in 2010 after a study suggested that it was causing hyperactivity in children, requiring companies that use it to slap a cigarette packet-style warning onto their products.

Actress Eva Mendes took to Instagram last week to call for Kellogg's to remove 'harmful' food dyes and additives from its cereals

The above compares Apple Jacks sold in the US and in Autralia, revealing they use many ingredients in America that are not in the version on the other side of the Pacific

Froot Loops have been criticized in the US for the number of additives they contain that are restricted or banned in other countries

The Cleveland Clinic says the dye has also been linked to irritability and depression, skin irritation, migraines and was suggested to have caused tumors in animals that were exposed to very high doses.

Pictured above is Kellogg's founder Will Keith Kellogg

It has not been outlawed in the US, but California is set to ban products that contain the coloring from its schools by December 2027.

Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 are made from coal tar, and used to give foods a bright and 'appetizing' bright yellow color.

Some studies have also linked it to hyperactivity in children, and studies in humans have also suggested it can damage the DNA in white blood cells and raise the risk of tumors forming.

A 2019 study also found that high concentrations of Yellow 5 given to flies caused them to die.

European regulators require foods that contain Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 to carry a warning label, but there are no such restrictions in the US.

Blue 1 is now made from oils, although initially was also made from coal tar, and used to give them brilliant blue.

It has also been linked to hyperactivity in children, and has been banned in Europe. There are no such restrictions in the US.
Britain is battling an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug norovirus thats being fuelled by a new, highly transmissible form of the infection.

Over the past fortnight alone the number of cases rocketed by more than 40 per cent in England, reaching double the average for this time of year.

And with Covid, flu and the serious lung infection respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) also on the rise, the norovirus spike has increased fears that emergency services and hospitals could become overwhelmed.

Symptoms of norovirus are particularly unpleasant, and include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. It can be especially severe in infants and the over-60s, who may end up in hospital.

Over the past fortnight alone the number of norovirus cases rocketed by more than 40 per cent in England, reaching double the average for this time of year

Last week, The Mail on Sundays GP columnist Dr Ellie Cannon wrote how worried she was about the outbreak. In response, we had many letters and emails from readers affected by it.

A 69-year-old women described suffering the most aggressive diarrhoea and sickness after babysitting her granddaughter. Another talked about her 29-year-old son being completely flattened by the virus.

Paul Pardon, 73, says he came down with the unbearable virus after returning from holiday. It came out of nowhere, says the former IT consultant from Reading. I couldnt move more than few yards from the toilet before having to run back again.

This went on for days. During that time I couldnt eat all. I also had a terrible fever and was constantly shaking.

Days later Pauls wife Manju, 75, was struck down by even worse symptoms. I was getting really worried as she was struggling to get out of bed and constantly vomiting, says Paul.

After being prescribed anti-sickness tablets, her symptoms eventually subsided, but they say they have never experienced anything like it.

So just how worried should you be about the outbreak of this super norovirus? What can you do to escape the terrible infection  and is there any way to make the symptoms go away once you catch it? Our experts have the answers...

Ive heard about the new super strain of norovirus  do we need to be concerned?

A dose of norovirus has always been very unpleasant, although it is nowhere near as life-threatening as Covid or flu, experts say.

For most people its symptoms clear up after a few days. However, for some there can be more serious consequences.

Across the UK the bug usually leads to about 12,000 hospital admissions each year, with the elderly and children most at risk, often due to severe dehydration brought on by the loss of fluids.

About 80 people die as a result of norovirus every year. By comparison, the flu virus contributes to the deaths of around 25,000 people annually.

The new norovirus variant, nicknamed Kawasaki after the Japanese city where it was first detected, does not trigger more severe symptoms than previous outbreaks, but it is thought to be far more infectious.

NHS data suggests that about 70 per cent of all norovirus infections are now due to Kawasaki.

The new norovirus variant, nicknamed Kawasaki after the Japanese city where it was first detected, does not trigger more severe symptoms than previous outbreaks, but it is thought to be far more infectious

The biggest risk from catching it is dehydration, says Professor Paul Hunter, a virus expert at the University of East Anglia.

Excessive vomiting can increase the risk of severe dehydration, particularly in the elderly, so watch out for light-headedness and thirst.

What can I do to avoid catching it?

The virus is spread through direct contact with someone infected or via contaminated food, drink or surfaces.

Those who are infected with norovirus shed millions of viral particles in vomit and faeces, so even tiny traces on the hand can quickly pass it to others. Studies suggest the virus can float, meaning it can be inhaled.

This is why the infection spreads rapidly where people are living in close quarters  including care homes, hospital wards and even cruise ships.

Norovirus has a relatively short incubation period  it is roughly 48 hours from contracting the virus to when symptoms strike  and it can be passed on during this time.

Experts say the most effective way to limit exposure is to regularly wash your hands, as it has been detected in stool samples for up to eight weeks after the initial infection. Its important to note that the virus is resistant to alcohol-based hand sanitisers. Instead, washing with water and soap will remove the vast majority of particles.

Although there is some evidence that the virus is airborne, experts do not recommend wearing masks.

If you are looking after a patient in close quarters it may be useful to wear a mask, but as the airborne spread is from particles in diarrhoea and vomiting general mask wearing would not be that helpful in stopping the spread of the virus, says Professor Catherine Noakes at the University of Leeds. Ventilation in the bathroom is really important if someone in your household has been infected  make sure you have a working fan and I would advise you dont use the toilet straight after them.

Professor Mark Fielder, a virus expert at Kingston University, adds: A good clean of all the surfaces in your house is critical, as the virus can live for a long time in this environment. I recommend a bleach-based product to further reduce the risk of infection.

Professor Mark Fielder, a virus expert at Kingston University, recommends cleaning the surfaces in your home with a bleach-based product to reduce the risk of infection

Patients are advised, where possible, to self-isolate for a minimum of 48 hours or as long as it takes for the symptoms to stop. If someone infected is living with other people, experts say they should avoid close physical contact or sharing food.

This is a highly transmissible virus, so you need to be pretty strict when it comes to self-isolating, says Professor Fielder. Stay indoors for at least two days, even if your symptoms get better. And do not go into work as its very likely you will pass it on.

Ive heard that children are more likely to carry norovirus  is it safe to see my grandchildren?

Schools are prone to norovirus outbreaks, as children tend not to wash their hands properly. Moreover, research shows children often experience only mild symptoms, so it can be hard to spot if they are infected.

Although young children are at high risk of spreading the virus, experts dont say that you need to avoid seeing your grandchildren.

Prof Hunter says the risks of norovirus have to be weighed up against the downsides of isolation.

Yes, cases are high, but norovirus comes around every year and the vast majority of people never know about it, he says. I have five grandchildren and I wont be changing who I interact with or worrying about seeing them.

The only thing I might suggest is that older people not mix with children who have clear symptoms.

However, he adds: The risk does vary, increasing with age, and if you are in a care home, for example, so it is about being sensible with your decisions.

I caught norovirus last year  does that mean I am now immune?

There is no cure for norovirus, or even a specific treatment. But you can mitigate the more unpleasant symptoms

Unfortunately, no. The reason the Kawasaki variant is proving so infectious is because barely anyone has had it before. This means there is no immunity in the general population, allowing it to quickly spread from person to person.

A similar phenomenon was seen during the Covid pandemic, with the arrival of each new variant leading to a surge in cases.

What were seeing now is a lack of immunity against the Kawasaki variant, says Prof Hunter. So even if you suffered through a bad case of norovirus last year, you should still be wary of catching it again.

What should I do once I have the virus?

There is no cure for norovirus, or even a specific treatment. But you can mitigate the more unpleasant symptoms.

The majority of people will not need to speak to a doctor about a norovirus infection.

In most cases, it will clear up on its own.

But the NHS does recommend taking paracetamol to help with the fever, aches and pains, getting lots of rest and drinking plenty of water.

Rehydration drinks, such as Dioralyte, which replace crucial salts as well as water, can be bought from a pharmacist.

Parents are advised to avoid giving fizzy drinks or fruit juice to children with norovirus, as this can make the diarrhoea worse.

Many patients also ask doctors for antibiotics, but these are ineffective against viruses. Patients with particularly severe projectile vomiting and diarrhoea can, however, get anti-sickness medicines from a GP.

If you are someone who has severe health problems, such as heart disease or diabetes, we would see you as a high-risk patient and may prescribe you anti-sickness tablets, says Dr Dean Eggitt, a Doncaster-based GP.

We use these to help reduce vomiting, dehydration and overall risk of death. But if you are fit and healthy there is not really a need for these.

Experts also warn against using the over-the-counter anti-inflammatory painkiller ibuprofen while infected with norovirus.

This is because, in dehydrated patients, the tablets can damage the kidneys and irritate the stomach lining. This can raise the risk of stomach bleeds and ulcers.

There is a real risk to taking ibuprofen when you have norovirus, says Dr Eggitt. So stick to paracetamol and lots of fluids.
The seemingly innocuous, if uncomfortable, symptom is suffered by millions: a mouth ulcer. And when Sinead Marland noticed she had one, she thought little of it.

It had stubbornly refused to disappear after three weeks  so the mother-of-two, saw her GP. It was nothing to worry about, she was told.

The small, raised white lump on her tongue was irritating rather than painful. But reassured, Sinead, then 39, put it down to the stress of running around after her children.

Two months later, Sinead visited her dentist for a check up. She had learnt to live with the uncomfortable ulcer but the dentist was concerned, and referred her to a specialist.

A series of tests finally revealed the shocking truth: it was a mouth cancer.

When Sinead Marland noticed she had a mouth ulcer, she thought little of it, but a series of tests later revealed it was mouth cancer

I was a smoker so knew there was a risk, but the doctor had said I was fine, says Sinead. I was incredibly lucky that it was caught.

Sinead is now cancer-free after surgery. However, a large section of her tongue was removed in the procedure. For months she struggled to eat or speak. Her speech has still not fully returned to normal.

She says: I had to relearn how to speak, but I sound different now. And I have scars on my arms and torso where skin grafts were taken to rebuild my tongue.

Sinead is not alone  doctors, dentists and patients are all failing to spot early symptoms of the cancer, with the number of deaths soaring over the decade as a result.

Cases in the UK have reached a record high, surpassing 10,000 for the first time, according to data collected by the Oral Health Foundation. In the past 20 years, diagnoses have risen by 133 per cent.

As a result, the charity is holding Mouth Cancer Action Month throughout November, to raise awareness of the early signs and prevent thousands of deaths.

Symptoms include persistent ulcers, red or white patches in the mouth and lumps in the mouth, head or neck. Ulcers caused by cancer usually appear on or under the tongue, but may occasionally appear elsewhere in the mouth.

The issue is the early signs of mouth cancer are very similar to a lot of other conditions, and many people suffer from mouth ulcers, says Dr Ben Atkins, a dentist based in Manchester.

Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the Oral Health Foundation, adds: The demographics of people with the cancer have changed  it used to be we would only be diagnosing heavy smokers and drinkers in their 70s but we are seeing a lot of younger cases.

The disease is also being caught later. Over half of cases are diagnosed at stage three or four.

Five-year survival for the most advanced cases is 35 per cent  its 85 per cent at stage one. As a result, an estimated 3,637 people in the UK died of mouth cancer last year  61 per cent more than a decade ago.

Catching the symptoms early is critical. So it is important that if you have a persistent ulcer you visit a dentist, says Dr Atkins.

However the data comes as people across the country struggle to get a dental appointment.

We are telling people to see either a GP or a dentist, as both can spot the signs of mouth cancer, says Dr Carter.

Research shows the surge in cases is mostly driven by sufferers in their 40s and 50s. Experts believe this is due to lifestyle.

In 2013, actor Michael Douglas revealed that he had developed mouth cancer as a result of an HPV infection. He is now cancer-free

Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption remain significant risk factors, but we are seeing a growing number of cases linked to the human papillomavirus (HPV), says Dr Carter. About 70 per cent of mouth and throat cancer cases are caused by HPV, says Cancer Research UK.

In 2013, actor Michael Douglas revealed that he had developed mouth cancer as a result of an HPV infection. Douglas, now 80, had a walnut-sized tumour removed from the base of his tongue and intensive chemotherapy. He is now cancer-free.

There is an HPV vaccine but figures show that the number of children getting it is falling. The highly effective jab has been offered to all girls in Year 8 since 2008, and all boys since 2019, but nearly half of all eligible children are not getting it, which makes them vulnerable later in life.

For some, the introduction of the vaccine came too late.

My mouth was a mess, it was really sore, so when I found out I had cancer I was almost relieved to know what was wrong,says Rachel Parsons

Mother-of-five Rachel Parsons, 53, visited her dentist and GP three times with a persistent mouth ulcer before she insisted on a referral and her cancer was diagnosed. Later tests showed that HPV was the likely cause.

My mouth was a mess, it was really sore, so when I found out I had cancer I was almost relieved to know what was wrong, Rachel says. That first year, I was in and out of hospital. It also put a strain on my marriage.

Luckily Rachels insistence on a test meant it was caught early enough to be removed with surgery. She is now cancer-free and has been able to repair the damage to her relationship.

But the care worker from Coventry says she has a scare almost every year, with an ulcer or pain in her mouth: I am still concerned that its not getting picked up by doctors, but Im not afraid to open my mouth now and ask for answers.

With cases on the rise and early diagnosis key, if you have a mouth ulcer for more than three weeks, see a dentist or a doctor.
Overflowing bins have become a significant concern across Australia with calls for more to be done to combat the problem.

Sydney locals have become frustrated by the amount of rubbish constantly being left at beachside area. Source: Facebook

'Disgraceful' scenes witnessed in a beachside suburb this week have ignited concerns among locals who say the 'disgusting' problem will likely worsen during summer months. And it's an issue sadly faced in populated coastal communities across the country, Yahoo News was told, as more people flock to outdoor areas.

Images shared by a Sydney local on social media show the aftermath of a busy weekend at Brighton-Le-Sands beach in the city's south. They show overflowing bins with rubbish littering the surrounding pavement with other items carelessly dumped beside them.

"This is the end result of a very busy day at Brighton Beach yesterday," the local said suggesting more bins are needed to help contain the rubbish, especially as more and more people visit the area on warmer days.

'Increasing levels of tourism' partly to blame for waste issue

According to Snap Send Solve, beach littering and overflowing bins have become significant concerns across Australia. Data shows notable increases in reported incidents throughout October, CEO Danny Gorog confirmed to Yahoo News.

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"In New South Wales alone, reports in beach suburbs surged by nearly 30 per cent, with Victoria seeing the highest spike at over 35 per cent. This highlights the ongoing impact of seasonal crowds on local infrastructure," he said.

"Increasing levels of tourism and the challenges of waste management  such as the limited amount of bins and lack of resources  may be contributing to these cases. However, littering impacts everyone, including residents, wildlife, and the environment."

Council says it increases the amount of bins close to the beach and parks in the area during summer months when more people flock to the area. Source: Google Images.

Council address bin complaints ahead of summer months

The upsetting scenes in Sydney sparked debate among residents with some deeming it council's responsibility to "clean up more often", and consider placing "more bins" throughout the area. Others however said people should "use common sense" and not continue to use the bins if they're already full.

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"Wouldn't you look at the bin that is obviously full and just take your rubbish home with you and dispose of it...... seriously is it that hard?" one asked.

When Yahoo questioned Bayside Council about their bin maintenance in the area, they confirmed ample steps are already being taken to manage the influx of visitors and to keep the local parks and beaches tidy.

"Over summer (starting from October) beachside bins are emptied daily during the week. On weekends and public holidays bins are emptied in the morning and afternoon,' a spokesperson told Yahoo. "Dedicated waste teams also conduct regular patrols along the 8km foreshore collecting litter, and the beach is raked every day over summer."

Council said it "encourages all visitors to the foreshore to put their rubbish in the bins provided or take it with them" if they're full. "Council staff also issue customised waste bags to beachgoers to encourage them to dispose of their waste," they added.

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Extra bin capacity introduced to account for increased waste

Councils Summer Foreshore Program, which involves increased maintenance of the beach and surrounding area, runs from October to March. During this time, approximately 40,000 litres of additional mobile bin capacity are utilised along the beach, and the adjacent park and open space areas to account for an increase in waste, they confirmed.

"Regulation staff also conduct foot patrols of the beaches and parks to deter the practice of littering by patrons during summer".

The Sydney council joins others around the country attempting to tackle the waste issue on and around its beaches. Last month, a Queensland council was praised for its 'brilliant' bin idea at beachside parks.

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"Were calling on the community to help make a difference. With the free and easy-to-use Snap Send Solve app, residents can report litter and bin concerns in under a minute, enabling local authorities to address these issues promptly," Gorog said.

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Thankfully, there has been a significant shift in many doctors' attitude towards hormone replacement therapy (HRT). It won't come as a shock to most women reading this that, for far too many years, peri and post-menopausal women have had to fight for their right to access this medication.

Finally, an increasing number of doctors are open to the idea that prescribing HRT can have real benefits for their patients  and undoubtedly for many women this has made a life-changing difference.

Even though 13million women in the UK are going through the menopause, it is estimated that one in four have to visit their GP at least three times before getting appropriate treatment.

Last year's official draft guidelines advising GPs to consider alternative treatments, such as talking therapies 'alongside or as an alternative to' HRT to help reduce menopause symptoms such as insomnia, low mood and hot flushes  have now been revised.

Dr Max believes believe low mood and anxiety during menopause are a result of complex social and psychological factors, rather than simple biology

Health officials backtracked after accusations of 'medical misogyny', the implication being that menopausal symptoms were 'all in the mind'.

Indeed, this week NICE changed its guidance, advising that HRT should be offered as the first line of treatment.

A positive development you might think, but I'm not sure. Regular readers will know I am quite a fan of HRT and have seen many patients' lives transformed by it, but HRT isn't suitable for everyone and talking therapies can help women presenting with symptoms that have a psychological component.

For instance, many women talk about no longer feeling like themselves, a disconcerting sense of something having changed; a vague undercurrent of unease, despair and discombobulation.

But what causes all this turmoil? Can this be put down to simply a blip in hormones that's addressed by HRT? Can we explain away a woman's dissatisfaction with life and her sense of loss and malaise as a chemical reaction? I honestly don't think so.

I believe it's far more complicated than that.

That's not to say that hormones don't play an important part, and this is one of the reasons I'm an advocate for HRT. We know fluctuations in hormones can be directly responsible for low mood.

Over the years, I've seen far too many women struggling to cope and for whom HRT has been a godsend  helping them manage anxiety triggered by the menopause.

It's a fact

Rates of norovirus, the winter vomiting bug, which can also cause diarrhoea, are up almost a fifth in just a fortnight. Doctors are now urging people with symptoms to stay at home for two days after the symptoms end. For the frail or elderly this bug can be deadly. So please, take this medical advice and warning seriously! Advertisement

But I do think there are other factors that contribute to a woman's sense of losing herself. I strongly believe low mood and anxiety are a result of complex social and psychological factors, rather than simple biology.

Changes to the body, disrupted sleep, hot flushes and so on can make any woman feel out of control and depressed.

But there are other issues I've heard women talk about  for example, erratic mood swings and out-of-character behaviour. I've heard stories of women having affairs, quitting their jobs or leaving their husbands around the menopause.

While some would seek to blame this all on fluctuations in hormone levels, actually the evidence isn't that compelling.

It's not at all clear that drops in oestrogen and progesterone, the female sex hormones that start to decline in menopause, are entirely responsible.

Instead, I believe the menopause acts like a ticking clock. It suddenly makes women open their eyes and review their lives.

I believe a lot of the trauma and emotional turmoil that besets many women as they navigate menopause isn't the consequence of fluctuating hormones but of a re-evaluation of their situation.

For many, their sense of self and identity is closely bound up with their roles within their family, particularly those who are mothers, who may feel bereft at the prospect of an empty nest.

It is also a cruel aspect of the inequality between the sexes that women have to contend with a society that's more judgemental about how women age than men.

For a lot of women in their 50s and 60s, they have given the best years of their lives to other people and their careers, and now, they're not sure why.

They feel they're now invisible. I've had so many menopausal and post-menopausal women attending my clinics and telling me they no longer feel like a woman. It's incredibly sad.

These people would surely benefit from having the time and space to explore and discuss their feelings and situation? That's where talking therapies can play a vital role for many who are desperately unhappy.

In my opinion, the answer to many complex problems precipitated by the menopause aren't always going to be found in HRT pills, patches and gels.

I know why Coleens so worried

Coleen Rooney has reactive arthritis  which is caused by an infection but may also be brought on or exacerbated by stress

Coleen Rooney, strongly rumoured to be heading into the Im A Celeb jungle this Sunday, has been through a lot over the years. From the Wagatha Christie case featuring fellow WAG Rebekah Vardy to husband Waynes cheating scandals - all must have taken their toll.

So, it was no surprise to read Coleen has reactive arthritis  which is caused by an infection but may also be brought on or made worse by stress. Sufferers have painful joint or joints which can impact their mobility and mental health. It caused anxiety and there were lots of tears, said Coleen, discussing the condition. It was not a nice place to be.

My mum developed reactive arthritis after a bout of food poisoning. While waiting for a knee replacement op, her world shrank with the pain. It can steal your independence and sense of joy.

The Advertising Standards Agency issued a warning to a GP surgery after it misled patients about the level of training physician associates - or assistants as I call them - have had.

The GP practice website stated that PAs train in and are examined in all areas of medicine and that training encompasses medication and prescribing, just as a trainee doctor would receive.

In fact, PAs are not trained in all areas of medicine and the surgery was warned not to conflate the roles, training and duties of PAs and GPs. Worryingly, this is not an isolated incident and feels like an attempt to hoodwink the public.

In Bradford, a series of posters designed to show the range of healthcare workers in GP surgeries used words such as physician and cancer specialist to describe PAs. This is disgraceful and only causes confusion among the public.

Few doctors who are not consultants in oncology would ever dare describe themselves as cancer specialists. How is it OK for people who are not even doctors to do this? Is it any wonder that people are confused whether theyve actually seen a doctor or not when there are adverts like these?
Out Of Character by Alison Steadman (HarperCollins 25, 320pp)

Out of Character is available now from the Mail Bookshop

During her first trip home to Liverpool from drama school, Alison Steadman decided to show off her newly acquired skills. Dressing up as their neighbour Mrs Grey,

she began to conduct a conversation with her mother. Halfway through, Alisons grandmother came in. It was some time before her grandmother realised that the woman in front of

her was in fact her granddaughter, not Mrs Grey. Youre very good, you know, she told Steadman. You should be an actress.

More than half a century later, the recommendation is still bearing fruit. Those of you waiting impatiently for Steadman and her co-stars in the Gavin & Stacey Christmas special can spend your time reading this intelligent, illuminating account of how Mrs Greys doppelganger became one of Britains best-loved film and TV stars.

The young Alison was a regular at The Beatles early Cavern Club concerts, where the ticket price included a bowl of tomato soup and a roll. One day she managed to get the autographs of Paul McCartney (who added (Beatles) after his name, explaining that in the future someone is going to look at that and think who the hell is Paul?!) and a taciturn John Lennon  take no notice of him, said his bandmate, hes always like that.

Thats a rare example of a celebrity anecdote. Steadman prefers to concentrate instead on analysing her work, the way shes crafted the roles that have brought her such success. You dont need to be a fan of luvviedom for her approach to draw you in.

Shes a self-confessed people-watcher: indeed thats where much of her inspiration comes from. Her eye for everyday drama, and ear for a striking sentence, make for a very enjoyable read.

Her first job was in a probation office, where her boss warned: Some of these lads, theyd nick the blue out of your shirt.

Her breakthrough role was as Beverley in Abigails Party, directed by her then-husband Mike Leigh. She based the character partly on a make-up woman shed seen in Selfridges, hence her guidance to another woman on applying lipstick: Can you take a little bit of criticism?

TV's Royal Family: Larry Lamb, Matthew Horne, Alison Steadman as Mick, Gavin and Pamela Shipman

These days shes best known as Pam (Pamelaaaar) in Gavin & Stacey, where she delights in her memorable lines. There are the malapropisms (ours is not to question while), and the simply comic: What you said then was really boring, I switched off after banana.

So invested in their parts did the actors on the series become that when Steadman straightened the wedding-day tie of her on-screen son Gavin (played by Mathew Horne, left, with Steadman), the tears in her eyes were real.

One of Steadmans themes is the circularity of life. While filming Pride And Prejudice (the version in which Colin Firth got his shirt wet), she and the rest of the cast and crew went bowling. The next day, on set, and in costume as Mrs Bennet, she compared notes with a crew member.

He mentioned how irritated hed been by the woman on his team whod kept saying, Come on, we can do this! Steadman turned away  the woman had been her. Her grandmother would have understood.
Marks & Spencer will learn the fate of plans for its flagship Oxford Street store within weeks as it plans to open ten more shops.

After a planning row, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is set to block or approve proposals for the London shop before or on December 5.

And boss Stuart Machin has planned to open even more stores, the Mail understands, as a turnaround at the High Street retailer is in full swing.

M&S is seeking permission to raze its 1929 art deco flagship near Marble Arch and build a larger ten-storey retail and office block in its place.

Former housing secretary Michael Gove blocked the plans last year and an appeal was delayed by the general election. Machin branded the decision 'utterly pathetic' and said the proposals would help revitalise the area.

Planning row: M&S is seeking permission to raze its 1929 art deco flagship near Marble Arch and build a larger ten-storey retail and office block

The M&S boss accused Gove of 'an anti-business approach, choking off growth and denying Oxford Street of thousands of new quality jobs'.

Machin scored a victory in March when High Court Judge Mrs Justice Lieven concluded that Gove had made a series of errors in his interpretation and application of planning policy.

But the retailer has also faced opposition over the plans from heritage campaigners, including London Eye architect Julia Barfield and Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud.

Last week M&S hailed bumper profits of 391.9m for the six months up to October, 20 per cent higher than last year.

And Machin was 'very confident' of a great Christmas with a range of party frocks designed with actress Sienna Miller flying off the shelves since their launch earlier this month.

In its half-year results, sales rose 5.8 per cent to 6.5billion  thanks to the group appealing to a broader base of shoppers.

M&S has approval for 70 more stores, under plans for 180 full-line shops and 420 food outlets by 2028.

The proposals now include five extra full-line shops and five more dedicated food stores, The Mail understands.
Bitcoin hit $80,000 for the first time yesterday in the wake of Donald Trump's thumping victory in the US election.

The cryptocurrency continued its run today, climbing 4.6 per cent to trade at $84,090.10 at 4pm London time. Bitcoin has now rocketed more than 90 per cent this year.

President-elect Trump has insisted he will make the US 'the crypto capital of the planet'.

Geoff Kendrick, global head of digital assets research at Standard Chartered, predicts Bitcoin will continue to soar  with a $100,000 valuation 'easily achievable' by the end of the year.

Boost: Donald Trump has insisted he will make the US 'the crypto capital of the planet'

There has been a huge Bitcoin rally since the Republican's victory last week, hitting $75,000 on election night, with recent gains driven by his wins in swing states Nevada and Arizona.

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said Bitcoin was 'always going to soar' if Trump won the election.

'Trump has already declared his love of the digital currency and crypto traders now have a new narrative by which to get even more excited about where the price could go,' he added.

Why has Trump boosted Bitcoin?

Trump was clear on the campaign trail that he wants to harness innovation in cryptocurrencies, writes Harvey Dorset

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.

President Trump could bring a big push to increase that dramatically. On the campaign trail, Trump said: 'If crypto is going to define the future, I want it to be mined, minted and made in the USA.'

The more that bitcoin and other cryptos are pushed into the financial mainstream, with regulated products available to invest, the increasing chance there is of big institutional investors allocating funds to crypto.

Even if they allocate only a tiny percentage of investments to crypto, their financial firepower creates substantial demand.

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.'

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.

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.

> Read more: Why is crypto flying after Trump's election victory?
A California city has been ranked the worst place in the country to drive after a year packed with crashes, thefts and higher-than-average expenses for motorists - and surprisingly, it wasn't LA.

Out of the country's 100 largest cities, Oakland was dubbed the worst and most expensive place to be a driver for the second year in a row.

Finance website WalletHub compiled the list based on four key factors: cost of ownership and maintenance, traffic and infrastructure, safety, and access to vehicles and maintenance.

Oakland was also rated the second least safe city for driving.

When compared to the national average, the city is among the most accident-prone.

Traffic clutters an Oakland, California roadway in this stock image. The city was ranked the worst place to drive in America

Oakland City has reported 23 fatal crashes this year so far

Car thefts are also high in Oakland, with the city ranked the eighth worst on WalletHub's Car Theft Rate list.

Last year, 33 people died in car crashes in Oakland. As of September of this year, 23 people had died in car crashes, the city reported.

Two people died on October 12 when the driver of a stolen car crashed into a telephone pole, KTVU reported.

In July, a woman died and another was fatally injured after a driver struck an interstate overpass pillar, The Mercury New reported.

The most common causes of crashes in Oakland are 'speeding, failure to yield, dangerous turns, running red lights, and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol,' according to a report from GJEL Accident Attorneys.

The city of Oakland reported that 60 percent of all the city's crashes occurred on just 8 percent of its roads, according to data collected from 2017 to 2021.

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The city stated that some areas are more prone to fatal car crashes than others (stock image)

'Crashes don't impact our communities equally. Our data analysis shows that there are clear racial, geographic and age disparities in crashes,' the report reads.

The city pointed to historic red-lining and stated that black Oaklanders were twice as likely to be killed or severely injured while driving than anyone else, according to the most recent Citywide Crash Analysis, which used data from 2012 to 2016.

Black residents were also three times more likely to be killed or hurt while walking.

Thirty percent of streets in predominately Asian neighborhoods fall in the City of Oakland Pedestrian High Injury Network, a map showing where the most fatal car accidents happen.

Senior citizens are two times as likely to be killed in a crash as other residents, the report said.

Additionally Oakland and neighboring San Francisco experienced tens of thousands of car thefts last year.

In 2023, the city had over 15,000 car theft incidents - a staggering 45 percent increase from the previous year.

Raleigh, North Carolina was ranked the best city to drive in America

In March, an outraged driver slammed her SUV into the car of someone who stole her purse.

In April, an 80-year-old man was heartbroken when his $200,000 vintage Corvette was stolen from his garage. The victim, Dave Lechthaler, blamed Oakland for being too light on crime.

'There are no consequences in this city. People can steal and rob,' Lechthaler told KTVU.

In January, shocking video captured the moment a brazen car thief stole someone's vehicle at an Oakland gas station.

'We are f***ed,' an exasperated police officer declared at the Chevron station.

Three gas stations surrounding Oakland Airport have become hot-spots for car thefts.

Police claimed that within a single square mile, criminals strike a dozen times or more per day, mainly targeting victims who are headed to and from the airport.

'We can't do a car chase on nonviolent crime,' the officer told DailyMail.com. 'I can go behind the cars and try and turn on my lights, but why would they stop?'

Oakland's car-theft crisis is linked to a crime wave sweeping the city. Oakland's budget only allows for 678 officers, including those off work for disability, which is the legal minimum.

In a previous ranking, Oakland was named as one of America's worst-run cities.

Forbes conducted its own research to find the worst places to drive across the country - with Oakland landing in the top spot.

Nationally, the city had the sixth highest gas prices, averaging at $4.52 per gallon of regular gasoline, Forbes reported in April.

Oaklanders also pay the eighth highest amount for car insurance, at an average of $3,680 per year.

In terms of infrastructure, the city is in the process of addressing a major pothole problem, ABC7 reported.

Despite the city's best efforts, a lack of workers and bureaucratic processes have made the Department of Transportation's goals hard to achieve.

City planner Warren Logan told ABC7: 'We actually do have money to pave our streets.

'But it does require that your City Council gives the authority to the Department of Transportation to go get a contractor to pave our roads.'

A traffic-filled Oakland street. The city also ranked poorly last year

He admitted that he was once sent to the emergency room after riding his bike over a pothole in Oakland.

After Oakland, WalletHub ranked Philadelphia the second worst driving city. It fell short in the categories of safety and traffic and infrastructure.

San Francisco and Los Angeles were ranked third and fourth on the list. Detroit was ranked the fifth.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Raleigh, North Carolina was crowned the best city for driving, with the second cheapest ownership and maintenance costs.

Forbes also ranked Raleigh in the top spot, citing its affordable car costs and relatively safe roads.

Boise, Idaho was ranked the second best city overall, and the safest city for drivers to operate a vehicle.

Corpus Christi, Texas came in third place.

A cleared street in Raleigh. Car ownership and maintenance costs in the city are among the nation's lowest

Close behind in the overall rankings were Greensboro, North Carolina - the cheapest place to own and maintain a car - and Jacksonville, Florid.

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported that 87 percent of daily trips are made in personal vehicles, for a collective 11 billion miles.

'Living in one of the best cities to drive in can make owning and maintaining a car much cheaper,' WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said.

'However, costs aren't the only factors that matter; the best cities for drivers also minimize commute times and traffic congestion, have accident rates well below the national average and keep their roads in good condition.'
Harvey Williams Jr took a million-dollar gamble when he opened a distillery in Helena-West Helena, Arkansas, to help revive its forlorn main street.

The agricultural engineer grew up in the area, and moved back there and made plans to reverse urban decline in his part of the Mississippi River delta.

'It was a dying Main Street,' he told The Wall Street Journal. 'It was shocking to see how downtown became a ghost town.'

He's not alone.

Budding entrepreneurs across the US are opening businesses to revive shabby-looking main streets, which only decades ago were bustling hubs and a backbone to communities.

Harvey Williams Jr pours a glass of liquor at his distillery, which helped revive ailing Helena-West Helena, Arkansas.

America's main streets have had a tough few decades, as retail moves online and brick-and-mortar stores shutter.

Some are surprise hits, but others cannot turn the tide against deep economic forces.

Williams spent $800,000 of his retirement savings plus $230,000 in bank loans to renovate 430 Cherry Street.

His Delta Dirt Distillery makes sweet-potato vodka using produce from his family's farm.

Locals questioned Williams's business sense when it opened in April 2021.

But they helped spread word of the place on social media.

His gamble paid off.

Sales last year hit $340,000  5 percent online, 95 percent from in-store shoppers and distributors across Arkansas, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.

Tourists travel from afar to visit the store.

Some also take a tour of Williams' family's 86-acre vegetable farm, which his grandfather bought in 1949 with money from cotton and moonshine sales.

Williams says he looked beyond Helena-West Helena to sell his vodka far, wide and on the web.

'It's important for Main Street businesses to be diversified these days and not just to rely on the local population to succeed,' he says.

He plans to expand distribution, offer new products and open a pizzeria next door.

Joseph Whitfield, executive director of the Phillips County Chamber of Commerce, says Williams lured business and visitors back to a struggling area that was losing population.

'Harvey has developed a blueprint on how to open a successful world-class business in rural America despite all the challenges he had to overcome,' says Whitfield.

Main streets in America's small towns and cities were once the lifeblood of local and mom-and-pop businesses.

But small local stores have for decades been losing sales as shoppers migrated online or to big-box stores and shopping malls.

The Delta Dirt Distillery makes sweet-potato vodka using produce from Williams' family's farm.

The distillery's sales hit $340,000 last year, mostly from in-store shoppers and distributors across Arkansas, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.

Brian and Jennifer Jones, center, took the plunge and moved from California to Virginia, where they opened a pizzeria and pub.

Nowadays, many small town main streets are reeling, as industries close down and people move to find jobs.

They're often peppered with shuttered storefronts and ailing businesses.

For some entrepreneurs, this can be part of the attraction in chancing a new business.

Some have roots in the community and want to help turn it around.

Others are drawn to small-town charms, or the chance to create a dream business in a quaint location.

Jennifer Jones and her husband, Brian, are among those who took the plunge.

They owned a water-filtration company in northern California, but got worn down by the area's crime rates, taxes, high living costs and wildfires.

They moved to Big Stone Gap, a former coal town of some 5,300 people in Virginia's Appalachian Mountains, which they found on a vacation.

'We fell in love with the town, its beauty, and its people; they were so nice and welcoming,' Jones says.

'We felt like we stepped back in time 30 years ago.'

In April 2022, they bought a struggling vegan pizzeria and its building on an increasingly dilapidated Wood Avenue East.

The street was lined with failed and struggling stores in a town that had been losing residents since its coalfield closed in the 1990s.

They spent $223,000 of their own money and borrowed $187,000 more to create the Good Times Coal-Fired Pizza and Pub, which hosts live music.

Enthusiastic locals helped them lay floors, build the bar and paint the restaurant, while town manager Stephen Lawson and others promoted the venue on social media.

The shared effort breathed new life into an ailing community, said Lawson.

'The Joneses' pizzeria and restaurant has had a positive impact on our town and has inspired other entrepreneurs to set up shop on Wood Avenue,' he said.

Bill Waterhouse's struggling outdoors good store had to shutter, so he went into partnership with local guiding business Adventure Calls Outfitters.

'We are seeing more business activity and some population growth as people move here from all parts of the country in search of a better life.'

Bill Waterhouse, a former finance administrator, and his partner, Sonja Olbert, a home health aide, also spotted an opportunity for a local startup.

Four years ago, the hiking enthusiasts quit their jobs and left Massachusetts for Dansville, in upstate New York, to care for aging parents.

They lived near Leicester, a hamlet of 2,500 people, which had seen its main street suffer as the rust belt spread in the 1980s.

With a $25,000 local grant they in April 2020 opened Trail Otter, selling boating, hiking, and camping gear, at 134 Main Street.

It is close to Letchworth State Park and its trails, waterfalls and scenic gorge.

The pandemic was a good time to start a business for outdoor sports, and thanks to some clever marketing, they hit $40,000 in sales.

But sales plunged last year thanks to competition from online and big-box stores.

The couple in March decide to quit retail and go into partnership with a guiding business, Adventure Calls Outfitters, which is set to make $50,000 next year.

Waterhouse says main street business need a 'wow factor' in a tough market.

'This is something we learned the hard way,' he told The Journal.
Valarie Clark Miller endured years of abuse, from the age of 13 until 15.

The men who systematically tormented her - threatening to kill her and her family if she ever spoke up  were members of the devout Mormon community in which she lived.

Memories of the abuse were so traumatic - and the shame so debilitating - that they remained repressed for years.

Meanwhile, a conspiracy of silence resulted in a decades-long cover-up within the police department and in the Utah town she called home.

But when her family decided to hire an investigative team and uncover the truth, they discovered that the appalling acts inflicted on Valarie were part of a much wider web of pedophilia and abuse that thrived on small-town loyalties and generational secrets beyond their own community.

Valarie in high school - when looking at this photo after the truth of her abuse had been revealed, her father Denzel said: 'Maybe she wasn't as happy as we thought'

Here, her ex-husband John tells his story exclusively, in his own words, to Dailymail.com.

I met Valarie in the hallways of our Cache Valley, Utah, high school in 1969 and was blown away by her beauty. Like  wow! - she was really, really pretty.

It was my junior year and her sophomore year and Valarie stood out from the crowd, with glossy dark hair and wide-set, piercing eyes.

She was also a star athlete, and whip smart, earning straight As throughout high school and college. Valarie was a real catch.

We married in her last year of college, and were blessed with four beautiful children - three girls and one boy.

When our oldest child, Annie, was six years old, she was nearly killed by a car while riding her bike. The accident plunged our family into months of medical uncertainty. And, while Annie survived, the experience left Valarie exhausted and vulnerable.

In the aftermath, she experienced increasingly crippling anxiety attacks, and memories of the repeated, violent sexual abuse shed endured as a teenager started to surface.

She was also a star athlete, and whip smart, earning straight As throughout high school and college. Valarie was a real catch

Valarie with her beloved horse Leo. She stood out in high school with her glossy dark hair and wide-set, almond-shaped eyes

The men who raped Valarie held positions of trust in her small community of Clarkston, Utah

The two adult men who raped her held positions of trust in her small, rural community - one was a relative and one was a local law enforcement officer. The men threatened her life and the lives of her siblings if she did not comply or if she spoke out.

The sexual and physical abuse was systemic, long-lasting and deeply damaging. The scars it left were not just emotional or psychological; they cut to the very core of who she was.

As debilitating as it was for Valarie to deal with each memory resurfacing, she faced her reality with courage and hope. She wanted to heal.

After years of intensive therapy, including a full year at a live-in facility, Valarie and I went together to officially file a police report and make a claim against the men who had impacted her life so profoundly.

But even when she finally felt able to confront her abusers, like too many victims of sexual violence and abuse, she was failed by a system that was supposed to protect her.

As we filed the report, I knew deep down that the case would be covered up. I was quickly proven correct. A hasty, superficial investigation ensued, and the case was casually dismissed. Valarie was labelled a schizophrenic who had lied about her own rape and attempted murder.

We were devastated.

I cannot adequately emphasize the impact this had on our family. The fallout from sexual victimization includes poverty, substance abuse, depression, and suicide, and impacts not just the initial victim, but also their children and future generations. That continues to be the case in our own family.

I know now that healing from sexual trauma is a lifelong, generational effort. As a young father and husband, I did everything I could to help Valarie but was often at a loss.

Our children were caught in the crossfire, feeling the need to protect her with each mental health relapse and unexpected trigger.

Valarie made tremendous efforts to overcome her PTSD, but her pain was so great that every moment of progress was followed by harsh setbacks.

She became addicted to prescription drugs including tranquilizers and opioids, which she said gave her temporary relief from my dread and anxiety, and a soothing sense that I was safe, nurtured and unconditionally loved.

She passed away in 2017 as the result of a recurring urinary tract infection, without ever seeing justice. She was 61.

Then in 2020, our son suggested hiring a private investigator to gain a complete understanding of what had happened to his mother.

We hired a team consisting of former federal prosecutors and FBI agents who specialized in cold cases to uncover the full truth behind Valaries story, the suspected dismissal of our initial report in 1990, and more details about her perpetrators.

Valarie started to have flashbacks of the abuse she'd suffered as a child and teenager

The Miller family in 1991. From left, John, Ryan, Valarie, Brooke, Erin, and Annie

The truth was staggering. Valaries abuse and assaults were validated through more evidence than we ever could have imagined.

We also learned that her case was not an isolated one. In our small community, there were many more victims, abusers, and instances of systemic failure than just one womans story. More than 20 pedophiles were identified in a single town.

Lies had been allowed to spread unchecked. The police officer who dismissed our case admitted that he did not want to anger a fellow police officer. He traded a womans justice and healing for security in his career.

Throughout my marriage to Valarie, I felt a deep compassion for her, but I also felt a great deal of anger. I was incensed at what these men had done and so easily got away with.

In December of 2021, we took all the evidence that our investigation had gathered to the Attorney General of the State of Utah. The state recognized the extensive and disturbing evidence presented by our investigative team. They acknowledged the investigation over 30 years earlier had been a sham.

In an unprecedented move, the Utah Department of Public Safety issued a public apology to our family. The apology included a renewed dedication to review their systems for investigating claims like ours.

While the State recognized the horrors their actions subjected our family to, no official legal recourse could be taken. By this point, two of the three perpetrators of Valaries abuse were dead, and one was in prison for solicitation of a minor.

For Valarie, justice came too late, and she never received the chance to live with her name cleared and her truth acknowledged.

Still, the public apology meant a great deal to our family. We held the men responsible for her abuse accountable, and their names will forever be associated with the hurt they caused.

We found closure after decades of watching a beloved wife and mother suffer. And while justice took over 30 years in our case, we hope to encourage others in similar situations to know they can still come forward.

For every story like Valaries, there are thousands of others that will never be told. Our family wanted to do our part in raising awareness and breaking the cycle of abuse.

In the days following the Utah public apology, I received texts and calls from many friends and acquaintances. One moved me particularly.

A woman Id known my whole life wrote me a note saying that after almost two decades of marriage, her husband told her hed been abused by his uncle from age two until seven. The effects had, of course, touched all aspects of their marriage.

Family and reporters gather as the state of Utah issues a formal apology

The woman told me that, at age 65, after much agony and pain, her husband finally decided to go speak to a therapist, one who specialized in adult males who had been sexually abused as children.

But on the day of his appointment, her husband was admitted into the hospital with chest pains and was taken off life support two days later. He never got the chance to unburden himself.

Corruption and a small-town culture of secrecy led to Valaries abuse being hidden, covered up, and lied about for years. I have seen the worst of humanity and its impact on those I love most.

But I am not without hope. Bold, honest conversations about sexual violence will always create positive momentum. We can address the broken parts of our systems to ensure that they serve instead of hurt. We can bring light to the realities of sexual abuse and give hope to those suffering silently.

Valarie was full of life, faith, and love. Though she never fully overcame her abuse during her life, I think we have given her the peace she deserves. I know she would be proud of her family.

Hometown Betrayal: A Tragic Story of Secrecy and Sexual Abuse in Mormon Country by Emily Benedek is published by Greenleaf Book Group. 100% of profits will be donated to GenerationAll, a nonprofit whose mission is to drastically minimize the generational impact of sexual violence.
A charming coastal town in Maine is in uproar after being overrun by tourists.

The town of Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island has attracted increasing numbers of visitors in recent years, with crowds often arriving in huge cruise ships and flocking to see to the stunning Acadia National Park nearby.

Resident Charles Sidman, 74, who is among those leading the Bar Harbor's anti-cruise movement, told AirMail he thought the first ship to arrive in the tiny town in the late 1980s was 'the coolest thing in the world'.

'But in the years since then, they just keep multiplying like bacteria. Do you want a McDonalds in the Grand Canyon?' he said.

As the new arrivals clog the roads on and around the isle and in neighboring Ellsworth, city officials are now desperately attempting to push back.

Bar Harbor, a charming town home to a host of wonderful shops and a lively public marina seen here, is being overrun by tourists, officials admitted this month

Increasing by the year, the influx of tourists bring with them an abnormal amount of traffic to the Maine city

Bar Harbor's town council vice chair Gary Friedmann and others raised a series of complaints at a meeting at the end of last month, and discussed the idea of a temporary ban on new tourist lodgings.

'There's a lot of different things we could do about that,' Friedmann declared at the October town meeting attended by The Bangor Daily News.

'It's a regional problem, but I think any action that is done to address this needs to start at home,' the town vice chair continued.

'I'm interested in seeing a discussion of a moratorium on transient accommodations at our next council meeting.'

This is not the first time the idea of a temporary ban on tourist lodgings has been suggested over the past year.

Yet just days after the meeting, a proposal to build a 20-room hotel on one of the town's busiest arteries was obtained and leaked by The Quietside Journal, with schematics showing a three-story monstrosity that would loom over the village.

The bold concept, if approved, would be set on less than a half-an-acre located along Route 3, which serves the main road between Bar Harbor and Ellsworth.

It would join a plethora of other new hotels opened across both towns to address the surge in tourists.

These include the Hawthorne Extended Stay on High Street and a 72-unit suite hotel called Stone Park, both of which opened in Bar Harbor this year.

Tourism on and around the isle has affected the nearby city of Ellsworth (seen here), along with the few roads connecting the two communities

Many visitors arrive by boat, as the town has been a stopping point for cruise ships for decades

More recently, locals have complained that tourism has hurt the local quality of life - citing congestion and increased foot-traffic. Pictured, Bar Harbor's overrun Main Street

The most pronounced growth in tourism was seen over the past three years during which time the number of annual visitors drawn to Bar Harbor's national park swelled to around four million.

Meeting such a mark did not happened in the park's 105-year history until right after the pandemic. Now, it appears to be the new norm.

However, locals complain that the phenomenon has hurt the local quality of life, citing congestion and increased foot-traffic.

This fury resulted in a successful citizen's referendum that demanded steep cuts in cruise visits, led by local business owner Sidman.

It insisted there should be a daily limit of no more than 1,000 passengers.

Bar Harbor vice chair Gary Friedmann warned onlookers about the phenomenon last week, conceding that 'action' needs to be taken

The cap was upheld in March by a federal judge, but will not go into effect for at least another year.

The decision came after a now quashed lawsuit filed against Bar Harbor by several business owners seeking to welcome visitors with open arms.

However, with town officials yet to implement the approved guidance, Sidman accused the town of delaying the enforcement in an interview with the Bangor Daily News.

He claimed this was to allow cruise lines to honor pre-existing reservations before the caps go into effect.

'They have resisted from the beginning,' Sidman said of the seven-person council, claiming it had been too swayed by citizens and local businesses who would benefit from continued cruise ship visits.

'These people think they're rulers, not public servants,' he continued, weeks after suing the town and all seven councilors as part of a failed attempt to get the enforcement into effect for this past summer.

He went on to state that he is not opposed to the cruise industry - just the rising number of visitors.

A former scientist who finances start-ups in-town, Sidman pointed to congestion seen across Bar Harbor's once-quaint streets as one of the main reasons to take action.

The most pronounced growth in tourism has be seen over the past three years - with the number of annual visitors drawn to Acadia National Park swelling to around 4million

Many visitors are arriving by boat, as a recently upheld cap on arrivals remains in legal limbo

The cap was upheld in March by a federal judge, but will not go into effect for at least another year

Sidman said that while he at first viewed the side-effects of tourism such as noise and exhaust fume as 'just an annoyance', the situation has since worsened.

Yet some accuse residents of just turning their nose up at tourists.

Eben Salvatore, who is a Maine resident and the manager of a cruise business, told AirMail: 'Its social class warfare. Its not [about] congestion, and its not [about] capacity, its not [about] safety. Its just [about] those dirty little cruise ship passengers in my town.'

That's not the case with locals like Charles Sidman who have less of a vested interest in the town's tourism industry

Developers have also started to turn to nearby Ellsworth some 20 miles away - which now has some of the strongest demand for short-term rentals in the country.

Slightly cheaper than increasingly costly Bar Harbor, it emerged the second-best place to start an AirBnB in the country this year, data tracker AirDNA reported.

Driving its popularity was the ever-increasing demand for vacation rentals and hotels around Bar Harbor leaving tourists looking elsewhere for lodging.

However, locals say that traffic between the towns has reached breaking point, calling attention to the region's stretched-thin infrastructure and the busiest summer season ever had on-record.

Seemingly going against other councilors who previously supported the sudden tourism injection, Friedmann demanded a moratorium on new lodgings to quell the clogs - a desire that was later echoed by fellow town council member Maya Caines.

In an interview with The Quietside Journal, the official elected last year claimed she is pressing Town Manager James Smith to make the suspension a priority.

'No more hotels, no more campgrounds. We're done.' she told the small-town paper after it broke news on yet another proposed hotel on High Street.

She added how she would be 'very disappointed' if another hotel was erected during her term on the council, as roads like Route 3 and I-395 from Route 1A remain clogged perpetually.

'They have resisted from the beginning,' Sidman said of the seven-person council, claiming it had been too swayed by citizens and local businesses who would benefit from continued cruise ship visits

However, locals say that traffic between the towns has reached breaking point, calling attention to the region's stretched-thin infrastructure and the busiest summer season ever had on-record

Seemingly going against other councilors who previously supported the sudden tourism injection, Friedmann demanded a moratorium on new lodgings to quell the clogs

That desire, within days, was echoed by fellow town council member Maya Caines, she would be 'very disappointed' if another hotel is erected during her term on the council,

The same remains the case for the cities set along both roads, spurring Friedmann to concede that houses in town and most of Acadia Park were now at 'carrying capacity.'

Citizens in Ellsworth, meanwhile, are now starting to say the same, as tourists now make the trip there not only to find accommodations but to avoid Bar Harbor's steeper prices.

'You can have a whole place here for $200 a night,' Christopher Jones, a local real estate agent, told the Bangor Daily News earlier this year.

'In Bar Harbor, you get a room. You have to walk through somebodys kitchen to get someplace.'

Moguls hoping to open hotels in the area have seemingly had the same train of thought - demonstrated last week by news of yet another proposed creation near Route 3 in Ellsworth.

First reported by the Bangor Daily News last week, the proposal would lead to 16,000-square-feet and 83 rooms being constructed at a site that would bring even more blockage to the primary way into Mount Desert Island.

Bar Harbor's next meeting surrounding town matters is slated for Wednesday, where proposed projects will be discussed.

Developers have turned to Ellsworth - a decision that's seemingly paid off as the town 20 miles away now has some of the strongest demand for short-term rentals in the entire country

Slightly cheaper than increasingly costly Bar Harbor, it emerged the second-best place to start an AirBnB in the country this year, data tracker AirDNA reported

Moguls looking to open hotels in the area have seemingly had the same train of thought - demonstrated last week by news of yet another proposed creation near Route 3 in Ellsworth, the main route to Bar Harbor (seen here)

As of writing, an online agenda does not list any new applications - despite the recent reports on the newly proposed one on Route 3.

Ellsworth's town council has yet to take action, with investors - often the owners of other businesses in Bar Harbor - continue to open hotels.

The arrivals, meanwhile, continue to come, enthralled by the area's majesty.
EXCLUSIVE

The development of a controversial mosque backed by Sonny Bill Williams has been stalled for almost a year after builders allegedly demolished a protected wall, as local residents continue to insist it should never have been approved in the first place.

The Hurstville Masjid and community hub is set to be built on a residential street in Carlton, southern Sydney, following a lengthy battle with the Georges River Council that ended up in the Land and Environment Court in 2022.

The project, which benefited from star power backing from the likes of dual code sensation Williams, boxer Anthony Mundine and Canterbury Bulldogs legend Hazem El Masri, has long infuriated locals.

It will see an abandoned nursing home and a neighbouring property transformed into a mosque capable of holding 120 people for prayers between 5am and 10.30pm, seven days a week, serving up to 20,000 Muslims in the area.

But a single brick is yet to be laid on the estimated $950,000 project after local residents tipped the council off to the alleged unauthorised demolition of a wall in the existing structure earlier this year.

Georges River Council launched an investigation in February and building work has been paused ever since.

The site - which is a pet project of the NRL legend which he has promoted and fundraised for but is not his personal responsibility - was derelict when Daily Mail Australia visited last week.

The nursing home remains half-demolished, mounds of earth are left dotted among the unkempt grass and overgrown weeds and two dump trucks sit abandoned within the fenced-off site.

The Hurstville Masjid and community hub is set to be built on a residential street in Carlton, southern Sydney , following a lengthy battle with the Georges River Council that ended up in the Land and Environment Court in 2022. But a single brick is yet to be laid

The project, which benefited from star power backing from the likes of dual code sensation Sonny Bill Williams (pictured with his wife, Alanna), boxer Anthony Mundine and Canterbury Bulldogs legend Hazem El Masri, has long infuriated locals

A council spokesperson said the 'investigation into this matter is ongoing' and refused to say when building work may resume.

Over 3,000 local residents signed a petition objecting to the development in 2020 and their opposition remains undiminished.

This publication spoke to a almost a dozen residents on the street, all of whom vociferously opposed the plans, claiming the stress associated with the project has massively impacted their lives.

Roslyn Magro, 63, whose family has lived in the street for four generations, said the local community had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars fighting the plans to no avail.

'Do you know how many times I've packed up to move? But the only reason I haven't yet is because my husband has been fighting cancer over the last nine years,' Ms Magro told Daily Mail Australia.

The nursing home remains half-demolished

Meanwhile, mounds of earth are dotted among the unkempt grass and overgrown weeds and two dump trucks sit abandoned within the fenced-off site

A council spokesperson said the 'investigation into this matter is ongoing', refusing to say when building work may resume

'He's just got out of hospital today and they've found some more. It's not just fighting this bull**** across the road and the council, it's all the stress and everything that goes with it.

'Everybody has stressful problems, but I'm just past the point of cracking.'

Although the building work is on indefinite hold, the project had a separate development application approved last week for the installation of 24 external lights on the finished site.

'This place is going to be lit up like a bloody Christmas tree,' Ms Magro added.

Another resident, who like everyone else did not want to be identified, said the external lighting was over the top.

'24 lights? It's not a sports' ground,' they added.

A spokesperson for the council said that a separate DA for the lights had to be submitted as a condition of the original application.

Another neighbour likened the long-running battle to the biblical story of David and Goliath.

Sonny Bill Williams (pictured with Sheikh Kamal Taleb) gave a sneak peek inside the massive work underway on the controversial new mosque in Sydney's south back in June 2023

The project will see an abandoned nursing home and a neighbouring property transformed into a mosque capable of holding 120 people for prayers between 5am and 10.30pm, seven days a week, serving up to 20,000 Muslims in the area (pictured: an aerial shot before building work started)

In 2021, locals left signs at the site opposing the mosque, but Williams hit back and said the complaints were based on racism and bigotry (pictured: Williams pictured at the site)

'We have been branded racist but this has nothing to do with prejudice,' they said.

'We just don't think it's appropriate to build a busy mosque on a quiet, residential street. It should have been built in an industrial area.

'If they have (allegedly) broken the rules during the construction phase, it doesn't give you much confidence that they will abide by the rules around noise when it is finally built.''

Council planning chiefs previously estimated it would need at least 97 car park spaces to cope with the demand - based on just one car for every 10 visitors - but the approved plans only have room for 27 cars.

This, neighbours feel, will cause their street to be filled with cars at all hours as worshippers come and go to pray five times a day.

'We've always been concerned it's not suitable and our feelings have been ignored,' one woman said.

'No one is happy. People are stressed. The frustration and anxiety has got to them. Some are getting ill while others are moving out.'

Previously, some neighbours alleged they had been intimidated with drive-by firecracker attacks.

'We thought a bomb had gone off,' a neighbour previously told this publication.

'It was awful. We didn't know if it was gunfire or what. It shook our house and we are quite far from where they threw it.'

CCTV video footage shows a car pull up outside one home before a sudden bright flash as the firework explodes in a shower of flames.

All of the neighbours Daily Mail Australia spoke to said they had installed CCTV cameras in the wake of the disturbing attacks.

It is not suggested that any of the persons names in this article as backing the mosque are responsible for the incidents.

'We have all put security cameras in. Everyone is too scared to put their names above the parapet now,' one added.

Former Canterbury Bulldogs and All Blacks hero Sonny Bill Williams lives in the Carlton area with his South African-born former model wife Alana, 31, and their five young children

In 2021, locals left signs at the site opposing the mosque, but Williams hit back and said the complaints were based on racism and bigotry.

'Racism is well and truly alive in Botany St, Carlton Sydney,' Williams, 36, posted on his Instagram page alongside a picture of him next to some of the signs at the site.

'God willing we'll be praying 365 DAYS, 5 TIMES A DAY at our new Masjid very soon. May the most high eradicate racism from our society.'

Williams, who played union for the New Zealand All Blacks as well as league with Canterbury Bulldogs and Sydney Roosters, converted to Islam in 2009 while playing in France.

He said his experience of living and working in the Islamic community during his four seasons with the Bulldogs led him to convert.

His mother Lee and brother John have also since converted to the religion as has the father-of-five's South African-born wife, former model Alana, 31.

In recent months, he has been a vocal critic of Israel and has used his position to speak up for the Palestinian people.

He previously branded local opposition to the mosque as 'fear mongering'.

'The Muslim community has been here in the Carlton area since 1950s and has never had a mosque,' he told the Daily Telegraph.

'The more places of worship, Christian churches, Jewish synagogues, mosques in the area makes me happy because I know people are being taught good morals and ethics.'

Last year, Daily Mail Australia revealed video footage of Williams, 39, apparently telling one Chinese-Australian resident resident to 'go to China' in a clash with locals in the middle of the road.

The neighbour started filming the footy star-turned-commentator as Williams stalked the street outside their homes in front of the site of the new mosque.

Williams' then suggested the nearby school should be shut down over noise, as the local asks him to come back to discuss the plans.

The man who filmed the video has since left the street and several other local residents said many had decided to leave the area in the wake of the proposals.

Since the plans for the mosque were given the green light in the Land and Environment Court in December 2022, 13 properties have sold on the street, according to domain.com.au.

'But why should we all have to pack up and leave?', another neighbour said.

'Some of us have lived here for over 30 years and paid out rates. But it's as if the council doesn't care about us.'

Others expressed concern that the mosque would cause their property values to plummet.

Daily Mail Australia approached the Hurstville Masjid and community hub for comment.
A heroic doctor who lost her daughter to a slow painful disease has revealed how she now risks her own life to save hikers and climbers stranded on mountains.

Broken bones, head injuries, avalanches, plane crashes and more - Renata Lewis, 50, of Whistler, Canada, has seen it all during 25 years of rescue missions in the British Columbia mountains.

Each call can be more hair-raising than the last and often requires her to 'long-line' in, which involves hanging thousands of feet in the air from a helicopter.

Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, Lewis described how it is the memory of her brave child that keeps her going in the most terrifying of conditions.

Renata Lewis, 50, of Whistler, lost her daughter Mischa (pictured together) six years ago to dyskeratosis congenita, a genetic form of bone marrow failure that caused her body to stop producing blood aged three

Lewis has been a doctor for 25 years and done emergency search and rescue for nearly as long. She has saved countless people from the mountains of British Columbia, Canada

Lewis, who has one surviving daughter, said she begins every interaction in the same way: 'I'm Dr. Lewis, are you okay?' (pictured: Lewis pulling a patient into the helicopter on a long-line)

For Lewis, the only time she has ever found herself helpless was when her daughter was diagnosed with dyskeratosis congenita, which is a rare, genetic form of bone marrow failure that caused her body to stop producing blood aged just three.

After years of blood transfusions, chemotherapy, and a bone marrow transplant, and more, Lewis said they reached a point where nothing more could be done.

She then recalled the agonizing moment her daughter asked her to 'let her die' and passed away in her arms six years ago.

Now, Mischa's fight for life fuels her mother during daring rescue missions on the mountaintops in British Columbia.

'Mountain rescue really helped me give good to the world, and fix things, and be successful while knowing that my daughter was slowly dying over the years,' she told DailyMail.com.

'It was really hard, but the balance in it, and the ability to go and help people and rescue them and give them life and help them survive certainly helped me personally a lot to get through that time.'

Lewis, who has one surviving daughter, said she begins every interaction in the same way: 'I'm Dr. Lewis, are you okay?'

But some rescue missions are more haunting than others.

Lewis, who is the face of a new FIGS campaign, said her scariest encounter was in the late summer of 2020 while rescuing a male climber who had fallen down a couloir on Wedge Mountain and was stuck 9,500 feet up.

By the time the call came in, it was late in the day and their window to be able to use the helicopter was dwindling. To make matters worse, a storm was rolling in.

Lewis and her team used a long-line to propel down from a helicopter that was hovering in midair near the scene with just packs of gear on their backs. This meant she had to leave behind some 'key' medical tools.

Upon reaching the man, he was unconscious with broken bones and a head injury - and was 'not doing well at all.'

'I thought he actually could die in our hands there,' Lewis told DailyMail.com.

'And just as we were trying to figure out what we were going to do and I was working on him medically, we heard the first bolt of lightning and thunder come through right above us and we also started to get snow.'

Surrounded by metal objects, they were walking targets for lightning bolts.

But the weather only got worse and the helicopter was unable to return to them, leaving them stranded for the next six to seven hours.

'We sat there as the clouds came up and they enveloped us,' Lewis said. 'You couldn't have scripted this movie to have more drama.'

Lewis recalled the agonizing moment her daughter asked her to 'let her die' and passed away in her arms six years ago

Lewis - who is the face of a new FIGS campaign - said her scariest encounter was in the late summer of 2020 when she was rescuing a male climber who had fallen down a couloir on Wedge Mountain and was stuck 9,500 feet up

By the time the call came in, it was late in the day and their window to be able to use the helicopter was dwindling. To make matters worse, a storm was rolling in (pictured: the 2020 rescue)

The man was unconscious and 'not doing well at all.' He had broken bones, chest and head injuries and was in such bad shape Lewis said she didn't know if he'd make it out alive

She continued: 'I thought: "We're going to lose this guy here, and then we might even be in danger ourselves." I was very worried about getting struck by lightning.'

To keep the man alive, they huddled under a tarp, using their body heat to warm him. They also elevated his legs to help with blood circulation and used pelvic and abdominal wraps.

'I had only what was in my backpack to keep him alive,' she said. 'You have to start to be very smart and use what you've learned at very basic levels of anatomy and physiology to try and turn these things around when you don't have technology with you. Time is almost never on our side.'

After several hours, a small window opened up for the pilot to safely fly back to them. They long-lined her and the patient back to the helicopter, while the rest of the rescue party hiked to a lower point on the mountain.

After terrifying ordeal, the man was taken to the hospital where he miraculously survived. He even sent her a thank you note and a photo of himself from hospital.

Lewis said that back at base, she and her crew, who are all volunteers, have a wall of thank-you notes from people they have rescued.

She has even met up with some victims after they have healed.

One meeting she said she still remembers to this day is with a female pilot she saved after a plane crash in the Coast Mountains.

The pilot had been transporting five mountain bikers to a remote destination when she struck the mountains in a fog bank in July a few years ago.

Lewis rushed to the scene where she expected to find mass casualties.

Lewis often encounters novice mountaineers and reminds people to always have a safety plan: 'You are your own help until help arrives'

Lewis has received thank you notes from people she has saved over the years

As she arrived, the doctor could see two people standing near the crash site, one with a shirt tied around his head to stop the bleeding as another person held them.

'We train for that as a team, but we don't train for it on our own, and here I was on my own,' she told DailyMail.com.

When she rounded the other side of the plane, she found the pilot lying unconscious on the ground under the wing, with others surrounding her.

'[She] looked horrible. I thought she was about to die,' Lewis said.

Lewis immediately sprang into action and instructed healthier passengers to help her with the 'most critical interventions' until more help arrived.

Thanks to her fast thinking, the pilot and all the mountain bikers survived.

A week and half after she got out of the hospital, the pilot invited Lewis to lunch.

'She came hobbling in on crutches, [with] black eyes, bruised up, puffy face, and few broken bones,' Lewis recalled. 'And she was so thankful.'

But Lewis said what she needed most was encouragement.

'She needed that encouragement from another woman in aviation to say: "You know what, these things do happen, as much as we never want them to happen, and as much as we train for them not to happen.

'"But now you are your own expert on how never to do this again, and you should use that skill and go forward with it and teach other pilots, and don't be embarrassed. Be open and teach others, and think about how to mitigate risk.

'"And trust me, if you stick with it, you'll you'll be a far better pilot for it. So just keep going." And she really appreciated that,' Lewis said.

Lewis' daughter Mischa's fight for life fuels her mother during daring rescue missions on the mountaintops in British Columbia

The mother-of-two said meeting former patients is often 'an important part of the loop to close.'

'All search and rescue in the mountains are volunteers. And you know, we get money donations and we get in-kind donations to support our team. But I think sometimes people just want the human-to-human moments to say thank you so much for saving my life or saving my daughter's life, or saving my husband's life,' she said.

'And those are really, really special, because that's what keeps us going to.'

The most common rescues Lewis is called in to help with are avalanches, lost hikers, mountain biker and paraglider accidents - as well as general medical calls.

'Most of those who find themselves in sticky situations are those who 'aren't fully aware of their skill set or [have] knowledge of the mountains,' she warned.

'It would be great for them to learn more and have more knowledge around that before going into that sort of playground. But most of the people are oblivious to the risks that they face when they go into the mountains, and we don't realize how quickly things can turn'.

Lewis, who grew up in the mountains and is a guide, now even teaches Hollywood actors how properly perform her type of work for movies.

Her advice to anyone venturing into the mountains is to always 'make a plan'

'You must know what you're doing, where you're going, and what happens if something goes wrong. That is very critical,' she told DailyMail.com. 'Time in the mountains is so critical.

'You are your own help until help arrives.'
Residents across the country are being asked to do just one thing for Australia's wildlife.

The koalas were stranded on the tree stump for over three days. Source: Supplied

A photo of a koala and its joey found at the top of a massive tree stump on a farm has prompted an urgent request to Aussies about the ongoing threat that the iconic marsupial faces.

Those who can do so are being urged to plant trees "now" because it will take "years" before the life-changing wildlife corridors grow and eventually serve their purpose as vital habitats for koalas and other species threatened by human activity.

The two koalas were found trapped on the stump of a massive Cypress tree near Warrnambool, Victoria, for "at least three days" and despite the property owner attempting to help the koalas down, experts from rescue and rehabilitation centre Mosswood Wildlife are "not sure why they didn't move".

Sadly, koalas are facing extinction in large parts of the country, and are listed as endangered as the habitat they once called home is being destroyed to make way for new housing developments. Large backyards that once contained trees have been bulldozed and subdivided as human density increases and koalas and other species are forced out.

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"With all the housing development booming in our area we are taking away the trees and safe passage for many different native animals," a rescuer from Mosswood Wildlife told Yahoo News Australia.

The koalas were seeking a save haven among the ruins of an old tree on a farm. Source: Supplied

"It will take years for trees to become substantial, so we really need to be getting trees planted now to make wildlife corridors and providing food for wildlife like koalas before the habitat destruction we are doing become irreparable."

Why were the koalas on tree stump?

According to wildlife rescuers, the "extremely old" Crypress tree was cut down three months ago after sustaining damage in a storm due to safety concerns.

"Although not eucalyptus it is correct that often koalas spend large amounts of time in other trees," they said. "Cypress trees in particular often are the resting spot for koalas as they provide a lot of shade, shelter, spots to hide and a lot of safety."

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"After being out in the heat and without food for so long, they were brought into Mosswood for some fluids and RnR," the rescue centre shared online.

Rescuers warned that before chopping down trees of any species, homeowners should check for not just koalas but "possums, birds and any wildlife before cutting and removing their home,"

Thankfully, the koalas were able to be returned to the wild a few days later in a more appropriate location.

The two koalas were rescued by Mosswood Wildlife and have since been returned to the wild in a more appropriate location. Source: Supplied

Koalas have 'nowhere to go' in sad trend

Yahoo News has been reporting on the displacement of koalas across the country for years, but the problem has continued to worsen.

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We are seeing that theyve got nowhere to go, Moreton Bay Koala Rescue president Debbie previously told Yahoo. Theyre coming out of what little habitat is left [and] theyve got no corridors, and the corridors they do have are normally across main roads, though housing developments.

Debbie said while the need for more housing is obvious, there is a better way to go about it. Leave corridors, leave some trees standing, you know, work with the environment dont just knock everything down.

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Australians have enjoyed a long-standing love affair with Bali for decades with more than a million of us heading to the holiday hotspot each year.

But after spending 10 days in Uluwatu this month I had little doubt that our obsession with cheap drinks, lax rules and cliffside beach clubs has come at a cost.

I can't help but feel as if the old Bali charm I first experienced as a 12-year-old back in 2010 has all but disappeared - and tourists only have ourselves to blame.

On that first trip I got my hair braided, tried nasi goreng for the first time, visited the rice fields and rode horses along the beach at sunset.

But after my most recent holiday, my image of Bali as a tropical island paradise has been tarnished and I'm in no rush to go back.

My boyfriend and I opted to stay in a private villa in Uluwatu, a small cliffside village on the southwestern coast of the Bukit Peninsula.

The area has become a hub for 'digital nomads' - people who spend half their day in trendy cafes remote working and the other half in the gym or on the beach.

I was struck by how attractive they were. All the time spent on self-improvement and in ice bath or at the spa appeared to be paying off.

But behind their seemingly perfect exterior lurked a rather unpleasant reality.

I'm sad to admit that my decade-long love affair with Bali has come to an end - with the constant construction, sewage smell and polluted beaches leaving me far from relaxed

Despite the picturesque scenes, I quickly found I couldn't relax amid the constant whine of power tools from a construction site just metres from the pool in our villa (pictured)

Uluwatu has earned a reputation as a laidback coastal haven where tourists can escape the craziness of areas like Seminyak, Canggu and Kuta.

But this isn't the impression I got in the wake of a tourist boom. It was unsettling to see the effects of rapid growth and overdevelopment in Uluwatu.

Construction sites for new Santorini-inspired villas, cafes and boutiques have become part and parcel of staying in Uluwatu.

The warnings I got about the 'constant' noise of construction were no joke.

From 8am to 6pm, the high-pitched whining of power tools just metres from our 'private' villa meant I ended most days with a headache.

It became increasingly hard to relax amid the constant drone of an electric saw cutting materials to build yet another Instagram-worthy villa next door.

Traffic is extremely congested on the narrow roads, especially in the evenings as tourists race to secure a front-row seat to watch the sunset.

Surf breaks at beaches like Padang Padang, Bingin and Balangan were more crowded that I remembered - and even got violent.

My boyfriend was shocked to see a furious surfer shove another man clean off his board after he was cut off on a wave.

And I can only imagine the frustration Balinese surfers feel having to compete with a never-ending stream of cocky tourists for the best waves.

Padang Padang Beach in Uluwatu is a popular swim and surf spot for tourists (pictured)

Then, the smell. No matter how much you spend on accommodation in Bali there's no escaping the smell of raw sewerage and rotting garbage.

During my last dip at Bingin Beach, a bag of dog poo floated past my head.

It also became increasingly hard to ignore the stark contrast between the wealth of the tourists and the locals.

A Balinese driver told me hospitality workers earn a flat rate of roughly IDR$3,000,000 (AU$290) a month - less than what it cost for a sunset booth at Uluwatu restaurant Single Fin.

In addition to the constant construction, congestion and crowded surf breaks, Bali is facing an even bigger problem with its fresh water supply.

Several regions are running out of fresh water at an alarming rate with experts warning the entire island will experience a 'water crisis' as early as 2025.

The Gili Islands, a popular surf and party destination, faces total collapse if water sanitation systems are not urgently installed with islands Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceninga monitoring water shortages.

And again, tourism appears to be to blame. Official estimates from an international forum this year revealed the hotel sector uses 56 per cent of Bali's total water supply.

Bali is running out of fresh water at an alarming rate with some experts warning a 'water crisis' will hit the entire island by 2025 (pictured, popular sunset spot Ulu Cliffhouse in Uluwatu)

But the Indonesian government is showing no signs of slowing down with its new President just this week recommitting to plans to build a new airport in Bali.

Prabowo Subianto said the airport would transform his country into the 'new Singapore or Hong Kong' of the region, despite pushback from locals, who previously saw the project shelved due to concerns about overdevelopment.

In the first seven months of 2024, Bali welcomed 3,358,899 foreign tourists - an increase of 22 per cent when compared to the same period last year.

Up to 1.2million Australians visited Bali in 2023 - triple the number of visitors from any other nation with others choosing to move there permanently.

My decade-long love affair with Bali has ended in heartbreak.

But I will always cherish the memories I've made on the island as well as the warmth and hospitality of the Balinese people - something that I hope will never change.
Donald Trump officially flipped the state of Arizona on Saturday to sweep all seven swing states in the 2024 presidential election.

In addition to a remarkable win to take back the White House, Tuesday's election also saw Republicans take the Senate and the party is well on the way to retaining its majority in the House.

With 87 percent of the votes counted in Arizona, Trump captured 52.6 percent compared to Kamala Harris' 46.4 percent. The state had previously been won by Joe Biden in the 2020 election.

The nationwide results will hand Trump virtually unchecked power when he takes his oath of office in January. The Supreme Court, which includes an unprecedented three appointees from Trump, maintains a six to three conservative majority.

After months of neck-and-neck polling with Vice President Kamala Harris in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Michigan, Trump soundly won every single battleground state.

With 312 Electoral College votes, Trump's shocking and decisive win saw him earning the largest margin of victory since the 1988 election for President George H. W. Bush.

Donald Trump won all seven swing states in a shocking and decisive 2024 election victory

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In 2016, six of the seven 2024 swing states went red for Trump with the exception of Nevada. Then in the 2020 cycle, all of the states flipped blue except for right-leaning North Carolina.

This year, Trump took all 93 Electoral College votes across the major battlegrounds and turned Nevada red for the first time in a decade.

When the Associated Press finally called the presidential election results in Arizona, the final swing state to be called four days after Election Day, Trump already had the numbers needed to take back the White House.

Trump delivered a victory speech in West Palm Beach, Florida, just a few hours before the AP called the nationwide race in his favor in the early hours of November 6  and after some networks, including Fox News, had declared him the winner.

'We made history for a reason tonight, and the reason is that we overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible,' Trump said. 'And it is now clear that we've achieved the most incredible political thing.'

The first battleground to call the race for Trump on Tuesday evening was North Carolina, where Harris' team hoped the black electorate would help deliver a win in the state.

Trump had a 3.4 percent edge in North Carolina  a similar margin of victory he had in the state in the 2016 election.

A Democrat presidential candidate has not claimed victory in the Tar Heel State since Barack Obama in 2008. Trump has now won it in three straight elections.

Georgia was the next state called for Trump in the early hours of November 6.

He won 50.7 percent of the vote to Harris' 48.5 percent, handing a huge blow to Kamala Harris in the first clear sign her path to the White House was rapidly narrowing.

Pennsylvania and Wisconsin were also called over night from Tuesday to Wednesday, securing Trump two vital swing states that sent him soaring towards victory. And with both those states under his belt, the Associated Press called the 2024 election for the former president.

Michigan wasn't called until Wednesday morning, but once the results there filtered it secured Trump the coveted 'blue wall' states, which also includes Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

The three rust belt states were essential to clinching a victory, and Democrats were relying on holding them to deliver Harris a win.

Trump, however, absolutely obliterated the Midwest 'blue wall.'

According to calls made by the Associated Press, Trump won Pennsylvania by 2.2 percent, Wisconsin by 0.9 percent and Michigan by 1.4 percent.

Trump won his sixth swing state of the 2024 election early Saturday morning, beating Kamala Harris in Nevada.

He was declared the winner after analysts concluded there were not enough uncounted ballots in the states strongest Democratic areas to overcome the former presidents 46,000-vote lead over the Democratic nominee.

The former president won Nevada 50.7 percent of the vote to Harris' 47.4 percent.

It marks the first time a Republican presidential candidate has won the Battle Born State since the 2004 election for George W. Bush.

Supporters celebrate at the Nevada Republican Party's election night watch party at the Ahern Hotel in Las Vegas on November 5 as it became clear Donald Trump would win the 2024 presidential election

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Trump officially declared victory in the early hours of Wednesday morning  before the Associated Press called the election for him  telling supporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, that it was the 'greatest political comeback' in history.

Early voting in rural areas of Nevada showed days before the election that Republicans held an advantage this year as this electorate showing up by a much larger percentage than in years prior.

And images rolled in through the night of Republicans in Nevada cheering on Trump's win, while it was a sad scene at Democrats election night watch party on the Las Vegas Strip as it became increasingly clear that Vice President Kamala Harris would not be the first female U.S. president.

Donald Trump declared victory at a speech in West Palm Beach, Florida in the early hours of November 6, 2024 with his family, allies and closest campaign staff stand on stage with him

A woman at a Republican watch party at the Ahern Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada wipes away tears as election results filter in and show Donald Trump winning the state of Georgia

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Nevada is consistently one of the last states to call a winner in presidential races  both due to the nature of it being on the west coast time and because of the volume of mail-in and absentee voting in the state.

But even though the state couldn't be called on Tuesday, Trump didn't need Nevada's Electoral College votes to clinch a victory against Harris.

A court ruling recently upheld that ballots can continue to be processed and counted up to the third day after Election Day on November 5, which already caused worries about delays.

Additionally, concerns emerged Tuesday morning over the high number of ballots being rejected in Nevada's most populated counties.

Nevada's Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar said the biggest issue is that signatures of many younger voters don't match the signatures on their driver's license. Many of the discrepancies are due to an absence of a signature in the database.

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As of Monday night, more than 11,300 ballots were reported as needing signature curing in Clark County, home of Las Vegas, and 1,800 in Washoe County, home of Reno and Tahoe.

It's expected that with mail-in ballot processing Tuesday evening, the number of rejected ballots will only continue to grow.

If ballots are rejected due to signature matching issues, voters in the Battle Born State can fix it through November 12.

This means if the election is close  as it's expected to be  the rejected ballots could end up determining the outcome up to a week after Election Day.

Ever since Harris entered the race in late July, polling between her and Trump had been tied or fallen within the margin of error in nearly every single survey.

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Nevada Democrats break down in a Aria Casino ballroom in Las Vegas, Nevada as Fox News called the 2024 presidential election for Donald Trump

Vice President Kamala Harris has not yet conceded in the 2024 election and refused to appear at her election night party in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday evening. Earlier on Election Day, the Democratic candidate was all smiles as she dropped by a phone bank at the DNC headquarters in the nation's capital

Republicans celebrate at the Nevada GOP election night watch party at the Ahern Hotel in Las Vegas as networks began calling the 2024 presidential election for Donald Trump

Women embrace and cry at the Republican's Nevada election night watch party in Las Vegas as it became clear Trump would take a 2024 victory

Meanwhile, over at the Democrats' watch party in Las Vegas, others were embracing for other reasons as it became clear Vice President Harris would not be the first female U.S. president

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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.

Both Harris and Trump spent a considerable amount of time in Nevada this election cycle, along with the six other swing states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Both candidates ended their 2024 campaigning with respective rallies in the western state the Thursday before Election Day to try and win over voters and take the six Electoral College votes.

A massive line of voters forms outside of voters waiting to cast their ballots at the Galleria at Sunset shopping enter in Clark County, Nevada on Election Day, November 5, 2024

Attendees at Democrats' election night watch party at the Aria Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada looks disinterested as results filtered in showing Kamala Harris losing to Donald Trump

Criticism emerged over handling of mail-in ballot counting in the Silver State after the seven members of the Nevada Supreme Court ruled last month to uphold a lower court decision that un-postmarked ballots received three days after Election Day would be counted toward the final results.

This means that while results might be called or presumed Tuesday evening, it's possible that if the margin is slim enough, it could change as more ballots come in.

But this phenomenon is what Trump and his allies have used as fodder to claim Democrats are rigging the U.S. election system in their favor by 'cheating' with mail-in voting.
A respected criminologist may have uncovered bombshell evidence in the horrific case of the notorious 'Toolbox Killers'.

Lawrence Bittaker and Roy Norris went on a five-month murder spree in Southern California in 1979. They targeted teenage girls and made an audio tape of their torturous rampage that is so disturbing it is used by the FBI to train agents.

The remains of three victims - Jacqueline Gilliam, 15, Shirley Ledford, 16, and the youngest victim 13-year-old Jacqueline Lamp - were found after their murders.

But the location of the bodies of Lucinda Schaefer, 16, and Andrea Hall, 18, have long been a mystery.

Now forensic criminologist Laura Brand, who interviewed Bittaker while he was on San Quentin's Death Row, has revealed she may have found Hall's remains.

Brand previously disclosed that Bittaker had shared a map with her before his death in 2019. Here she speaks to DailyMail.com about her quest to track down his victims.

'Toolbox killers' Lawrence Bittaker (pictured right) and Roy Norris (pictured left) were arrested for the rape and torture slayings of five teenage girls in 1979

Bittaker and Norris recorded some of the atrocities on a tape cassette

Brand told the DailyMail.com she spent more than 500 in-person hours interviewing Bittaker over a five-year period after meeting him in 2014.

Her interviews were featured in a Peacock true crime documentary called 'The Toolbox Killer' in 2021.

Then, after years of building his trust, Brand said Bittaker finally revealed the locations of Schaefer and Hall.

He also admitted where the rest of the evidence was buried that had stumped law enforcement for decades, she claimed.

'He initially drew out a map and gave me instructions on where the two girls bodies were located,' she told the DailyMail.com.

I had to get the U.S. survey maps, topical maps and satellite maps and went back to the prison to show Bittaker what I found.'

She said she acquired up to 100 maps of the mountain ranges in the San Gabriel Mountains.

Forensic Criminologist Laura Brand sits next to murderer Lawrence Bittaker in San Quentin's Death Row as he shows her a map of where the bodies of Andrea Hall and Lucinda 'Cindy' Schaefer are located

Brand said she acquired up to 100 maps of the mountain ranges in the area

Over the course of the next year, Brand flew out to see Bittaker every few months and worked on the maps until his death on December 13, 2019, of natural causes.

'If Bittaker did not reveal the locations for us to go on, we would have nothing - so at least these maps give us some semblance of hope for the family,' she said.

Brand claimed neither Hall or Schaefer were ever found because they were 'never properly searched for in the first place.'

She explained that during the investigation, Norris never gave the correct location for Schaefer because he was worried that her death would be viewed as so horrific, he would get the death penalty.

As for Hall, Bittaker said he killed her alone somewhere in the San Gabriel Mountains so was the only one who knew the location.

Teenage victims (L-R) Shirley Ledford, 16, Andrea Joy Hall, 18, and Jacqueline Leah Lamp, 13

Victims Jackie Doris Gilliam, 15 and Lucinda 'Cindy' Schaefer, 16

For the last few years, Brand has been trying to locate the victims but said it has been a challenge because the police do not have the funding to perform a search.

As a result, she said she has been working with some non-profit agencies, partners and friends for assistance.

In June, Brand traveled to Los Angeles where she met with Hall's sister and an LASD sheriff before they went to the San Gabriel Mountains using Bittaker's kill map as a guide.

Brand explained that they used a metal detector to help find the victims as they were killed and tortured with a metal object.

'Our best bet in finding these girls is that ice pick still being wedged in the bone. Andrea has an ice pick in her,' she told the DailyMail.com. 'When Jackie Gillian's skull was found, they found an ice pick through her ear.'

After completing a mile-long sweep of the road the metal detector made a sound on the area Bittaker had pinpointed.

Brand with Andrea Hall's sister and a officer with the Los Angeles Sheriff's department in June when they were using the metal detector to help locate the two young women

'My heart was beating so fast,' Brand recalled. 'I had chills. Andrea's sister said, "She's here ... she's here."'

She said that once she is able to get the use of cadaver dogs approved, she plans to return.

As for Schaefer, Bittaker told Brand that her fractured skull may be somewhere in the same vicinity as Hall's remains.

The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department did not immediately respond to the DailyMail.com's request for comment on the possible location of Hall and Schaefer's bodies. The FBI's Los Angeles office had no comment when reached by DailyMail.com.

Schaefer had been walking home from church on June 24, 1979, when she was abducted by Norris and Bittaker in the Redonda Beach area.

The sadistic duo pulled their van up ahead of her and made believe they had a flat tire.

As she passed them, Norris grabbed her and put her in the van.

The other victims had been hitchhiking near the beach in the South Bay beach area - including Redondo, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.

Bittaker drew this map that shows where he and Norris abducted Jackie Gilliam and Leah Lamb that was located a few blocks from Hermosa Beach where the girls had been hitchhiking

Pictured: A map of how Cindy Schaefer was abducted by Bittaker and Norris

'They would drive them about an hour into the San Gabriel mountains - a very isolated mountain terrain,' she said.

The pliers were one of the heinous weapons used to torture their young victims

The 1977 silver GMC van they used to drive around California to find their victim was named 'Murder Mac' and 'tricked out for murder.'

'They had the doors on the inside locked, they put a makeshift bed in for the rape and put the toolbox under the bed for the torture,' she said.

Screwdrivers, pliers, ice picks and a mallet were used.

'They used the tools everywhere - on their breasts and genitals,' she said. 'It was barbaric.'

The demonic duo would record the savage acts of torture before killing them, and take Polaroids of the victims.

Some victims were then stabbed to death with an ice pick that went through their ear into their brain, while others were bludgeoned to death with a mallet.

During the murder trial held in Superior Court in June 1980, Bittaker went before Judge Thomas Fredericks.

In the trial, part of the 17-minute audio of the horrific torture that 16-year-old victim Lynette Ledford endured was played in the courtroom.

The killers nicknamed the van where they trapped and tortured their victims 'Murder Mac'

A partial view of the van's interior. Once the victim stepped inside, they were tied up

'Bittaker forgot [the tape] was in the cassette player when he was burying everything,' Brand explained. 'The Jackie Gilliam and scream tape are in the buried evidence too.'

A mallet was also used on the victims in the savage torture

According to Brand, the blood-curdling screams were so disturbing that many people in court cried, some vomited, while others ran from the room.

'When you hear Lynette screaming. I couldn't breathe. I cried. I felt sick. It was so hard to describe,' Brand recalled. 'The screams were so loud you can hear it through the courtroom door.'

Today, she explained, the tapes are used for FBI agents for desensitization.

A former FBI profiler and author, Jim Clemente, shared with Brand that 'we certainly used it in the Behavior Analysis Unit when I was there, and it is such a classic and horrific example of sexual sadism.'

Bittaker and Norris had met at San Los Apisco Prison.

Norris was convicted after a vicious rape. Bittaker stabbed a clerk at a grocery store. They were paroled within months of each other.

'Two years they planned and fantasized about these crimes in jail,' Brand said.

'Two years they planned and fantasized about these crimes in jail,' Brand said

Brand thinks there might be up to two dozen more victims of Bittaker's

In April 1981, Norris was sentenced to 45 years to life in prison.

He was convicted on all 26 charges - including murder, kidnapping and rape - and sentenced to death.

Brand believes Bittaker had at least another 12 victims - possibly 26 victims - based on police evidence.

'There is a buried audiotape that witnesses have confirmed that have twelve different girls screaming on it,' she revealed.

When asked if Bittaker ever told her his number of kills, she said he was always tight-lipped about it.

'He told me he didn't want to be regarded as someone who had as many victims as a Ted Bundy, and didn't want to be regarded as a monster even though I told him he was a monster.'

He admitted to Brand that he 'killed a lot more.'

'I always told him if we can look for these girls and find these girls - just like he did for Cindy and Andrea - that he would be less of a monster if he did the right thing,' she said.
Scores of Trump fans who were convicted in connection with the January 6 riots have said they expect to soon receive a pardon from the president elect.

Donald Trump emerged victorious in the 2024 election after sweeping the key swing states of North Carolina, Georgia, and Pennsylvania.

During his campaign, he had pledged to 'absolutely' pardon those involved in the January 6 Capitol storming, frequently referring to them as 'patriots' and 'hostages.'

When Trump is sworn in as the 47th U.S. President, he will have the authority to wipe away these cases. If he were to issue broad pardons, it would repudiate the largest criminal investigation ever conducted by the Justice Department.

While Trump has not clarified the scope or implementation of these potential pardons, lawyers are already moving forward by filing the necessary paperwork.

Lawyers representing individuals convicted in connection with the January 6 riots are now filing motions requesting pardons for their clients (pictured: Karen Jones)

During his campaign, Trump pledged to 'absolutely' pardon some of the 1,500 supporters involved in the January 6 Capitol storming

Approximately 547 defendants were charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers or employees, including around 163 individuals accused of using a deadly or dangerous weapon or causing serious injury to an officer, according to the US Attorney's Office.

In addition, 140 police officers were assaulted at the Capitol on January 6, and about 11 individuals faced charges for assaulting members of the media or damaging their equipment during the events of that day.

In an interview with Time Magazine, Trump said he would consider pardoning those who have been sentenced, even convicted by juries, for their actions on January 6.

Trump stated he would start issuing pardons on his first day in office but has not yet clarified the criteria his administration will use to assess cases, nor whether non-violent offenders will be treated differently from others.

'I am inclined to pardon many of them. I can't say for every single one because a couple of them, probably, they got out of control,' Trump told CNN in 2023.

'If somebody was evil and bad, I would look at that differently. But many of those people went in, many of those people were ushered in. You see it on tape, the police are ushering them in. They're walking with the police,' said Trump.

One such rioter was Karen Jones, who first spoke about her and her husband's participation during the comedy podcast Kill Tony - a show hosted by controversial comedian Tony Hinchcliffe - in June 2023.

Jones claimed that she and her husband, Robert Walter Jones, 72, had RSVP'd for a 'permitted event' called 'Stop the Steal,' which she believed would be just a regular Trump rally.

'Violence has never been a part of anything I've been involved in, and I don't even own a gun,' Jones said.

But investigators said the couple crossed restricted boundaries, entered the Capitol, and remained inside for about 30 minutes, even after being directed to leave.

Jones, 66, pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge of entering a restricted area and was sentenced to 90 days of house arrest, three years of probation, $6,000 in fines, and $500 in restitution, on top of $60,000 in previous legal fines.

Speaking to DailyMail.com about whether or not she will be pardoned, Jones said: 'I don't think I'll have to ask. It's coming.'

She added that her lawyer contacted her and instructed her to begin filling out paperwork for a pardon shortly after Trump was announced as the election winner.

Jones is currently being represented by high profile lawyer Bob Sanger.

He told DailyMail.com he is unsure whether the standard, lengthy pardon application currently used by the Department of Justice will be required for January 6-related cases.

'I can say that, based on the President-Elect's comments (for instance April 30, 2024, in his Time interview), I believe that there will be a process set up by the new administration to process January 6 pardon claims,' Sager said.

'We do not know currently if the existing cumbersome application form to the Department of Justice Pardon Office will be required. It is more oriented toward people who are seeking discretionary pardons based, often, on post-conviction behavior.'

He also speculated that there may be an expedited pardon process, particularly for nonviolent offenders.

Jones, who is currently on house arrest, said she voted for Donald Trump in this year's election through a mail-in ballot. However, she was not allowed to campaign.

'I spent election night for the first time in my life alone with the ankle bracelet on,' she said.

'It was just so weird for me. I couldn't waive flags on corners or do Trump trains - but the judge said that was her intention to make sure that that I did not participate in as many election cycles as possible.'

Karen Jones (left) and her husband (right) said her lawyer contacted her and instructed her to begin filling out paperwork for pardon shortly after Trump was announced at the winner

Speaking to DailyMail.com, Jones, regarding whether or not she will be pardoned, said: 'I don't think I'll have to ask. It's coming'

Conservative influencer Isabella DeLuca was arrested in March for her involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot, which included stealing a table from the government building.

The Trump supporter was taken into custody in Irvine, California, and faced five charges, including theft of government property.

According to FBI documents, DeLuca was filmed 'removing, and aiding and abetting other rioters in removing, a table' from a Capitol office identified as ST-2M, then 'passing it to rioters outside through another broken window.'

The table was 'subsequently used to assault law enforcement officers guarding the Lower West Terrace Tunnel,' the documents stated.

FBI agents were alerted to DeLuca's involvement in the riot three days after the incident, and interviewed her on January 21, the day after Joe Biden's inauguration.

Speaking to DailyMail.com, her lawyer, Anthony Sabatini, said: 'I expect the new DOJ leadership to drop all pending charges; it's not a pardon, it's a voluntary dismissal of the currently pending criminal complaint towards my client.'

David Nicholas Dempsey received the second-longest prison term of those convicted for their participation in the insurrection. In January, Dempsey pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting police officers with a dangerous weapon.

Court documents revealed that Dempsey was recorded in numerous videos on the Capitol's lower west terrace on January 6.

Conservative influencer Isabella DeLuca has been arrested over her part in the January 6 Capitol riot - including stealing a table from the government building

Speaking to DailyMail, her lawyer, Anthony Sabatini, said: 'I expect the new DOJ leadership to drop all pending charges; it's not a pardon, it's a voluntary dismissal of the currently pending criminal complaint towards my client'

He was seen wearing various outfits, most often a black shirt, dark helmet, goggles, and an American flag cloth that covered much of his face, according to federal prosecutors.

In several still photos, Dempsey was shown wielding different objects, such as a crutch and a metal pole, either as bludgeoning weapons or as projectiles aimed at law enforcement officers defending the tunnel near the west terrace entrance.

Additional video evidence captured Dempsey apparently using pepper spray against the police.

His lawyer, Amy Collins, said she does not trust Trump to follow through on his promises of pardon.

'I am skeptical about any politician's campaign promises. And, this campaign promise strikes me as very logistically difficult to fulfill, among other things,' she told DailyMail.com.

'With that being said, I always hope for the best outcome for all of my clients.'

David Nicholas Dempsey received the second-longest prison term of those convicted for their participation in the insurrection

His lawyer, Amy Collins, said she does not trust Trump to follow through on his promises of pardon. 'I am skeptical about any politician's campaign promises. And, this campaign promise strikes me as very logistically difficult to fulfill, among other things,' she told DailyMail.com.

Christopher Carnell, a 21-year-old defendant from North Carolina, was convicted earlier this year on felony and misdemeanor charges related to his involvement in the Capitol attack.

The day after Trump was declared the next president, Carnell requested that D.C. District Judge Beryl Howell delay the status hearing set for later in the week, citing Trump's previous promises to pardon his supporters as the reason for the request.

'Throughout his campaign, President-elect Trump made multiple clemency promises to the January 6 defendants, particularly to those who were nonviolent participants,' their filing said.

'Mr. Carnell, who was an 18 year old nonviolent entrant into the Capitol on January 6, is expecting to be relieved of the criminal prosecution that he is currently facing when the new administration takes office.'

However, his request was denied.

Carnell's attorneys reached out to Trump's office 'regarding the timing and expected scope of clemency actions relevant to his case.'

DailyMail.com has approached Trump's campaign team for comment.
Do you know more? Email Jonica.bray@mailonline.com

EXCLUSIVE

Shocking claims have emerged that a second teenage girl attempted to take her own life at a prestigious, $12,000-per-year private school in Brisbane.

Daily Mail Australia revealed this week how 12-year-old Ella Catley-Crawford's life support was turned off last Saturday after she made an attempt on her own life.

Ella was enrolled in Year 7 at Lourdes Hill College after winning an academic scholarship in February - but the 'bright and quirky' student's family claim that she suffered months of misery at the hands of other students who allegedly bullied her via Snapchat.

Ella's mother Julie Crawford moved her to a new school in April after just one term - but claims that the bullying then 'followed her' online.

Ella's tragic death comes just three years after a Year 8 student tried to hurt themselves on the private school grounds, it can now be revealed.

Emergency services were called to a 'serious incident' on Monday, June 14, 2021 and a 14-year-old student was rushed to hospital.

It is understood that a police van blocked the entry to the school gates and several students were later seen leaving the with their parents shortly after 8am.

In an update to a community forum, a friend told locals that the student since 'made a full recovery. 'She moved schools for obvious reasons and is happy there.

'She likes to volunteer at mental health organisations to help the younger kids that are struggling'.

The family of Ella Catley-Crawford (pictured) turned off her life support on Saturday after she attempted to take her life a week earlier due to online bullying

Lourdes Hill College in Brisbane has come under fire for their response since Ella died

The school Ella (pictured) attended, Lourdes Hill College, has been accused of failing to help victims of bullying

When asked about the tragedy a spokesperson from Lourdes Hill College told Daily Mail Australia

'The Lourdes Hill College community remains deeply affected by the tragic incident in 2021 and our

thoughts and prayers continue to be with all of those affected.

As this an ongoing legal matter, we are unable to provide further comment.

Lourdes Hill College's highest priority is the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff, and we have pastoral care in place to support our community.'

The development emerged as frustrated locals hit out at the school for its response to Ella's death.

Lourdes Hill College principal Kay Gleeson emailed parents on Tuesday afternoon to advise them of Ella's tragic death and to offer students support from on-campus counsellors.

'We understand that the next few weeks will be particularly difficult, and members of the community may have different responses to this tragedy,' Ms Gleeson wrote.

However many parents had already found out via social media.

'We understand that our community will have many questions about this matter, however, out of respect to those affected, I ask that we avoid any speculation or discussion.

'Our students' wellbeing remains our highest priority, and we are committed to providing a caring, safe and supportive environment. We have a zero-tolerance policy against bullying, and all students participate in our age-appropriate Stella Wellbeing Program.

'Our College values remind us of our strength as a community to support each other during challenging times.'

Andrew Laming, the former Federal MP for Redlands, said: 'The claim they have a 'program' is no defence.

'They owe the community answers; but that won't be forthcoming. Just thoughts, prayers and silence...again.'

'Hyper-vigilant' mum Julie Crawford (pictured with Ella) moved her daughter to public school Redlands College after just one term, but the damage had already been done

Three Year Seven girls were suspended from Lourdes Hill College for bullying Ella (pictured) online

Ella's 'hyper-vigilant' mum Julie Crawford, 55, moved her from Lourdes to Redlands College after just one term, but says the damage had already been done.

'She was immediately happier, and the new school was great, but the bullies still got to her via the apps,' Ms Crawford told Daily Mail Australia.

The 12-year-old's torment came as no surprise to her devoted mum who had given Ella her old phone for Christmas to entertain her on the bus to and from school.

She had banned her from using apps like TikTok and Snapchat, but when Ella started Year Seven, she saw her daughter was glued to her phone screen.

'I thought she was just texting her new friends at first,' she said. 'I knew they had a Year Seven group chat, but it was Snapchat.

'I made her delete it straight away even though she told me she was being safe.

'I don't know how but she made another account and hid it from me.'

Despite Ms Crawford's repeated attempts to stamp out Ella's social media use, the bullying quickly escalated and regularly left her daughter in tears.

Then in March Ms Crawford, an HR manager, received a call from the school alleging concerns had been raised that Ella, who was then 11, had been bullying other students online.

'I told them 'I don't think so', that they had it wrong and they investigated it further,' she said.

Days later, three Year Seven girls were suspended from Lourdes College for bullying Ella online.

The school never gave Ms Crawford the details of their findings, but the damage was already done, her mum said.

Lourdes Hill College principal Kay Gleeson emailed parents on Tuesday afternoon to advise them of Ella's (pictured) tragic death and offer students support from on-campus counsellors

'I don't know exactly what it was all about,' she added.

'People had pretended to be people they were not, one girl pretended to be a boy and messages Ella sent to them were shared around to others.

'Friends started to pull away from her and she was uninvited to a birthday party with some of the kids saying they needed a break, that it was too much, that she was too much.'

Ms Crawford moved her 'bright and quirky,' daughter to Redlands College at the end of the first term in April.

But although Ella was instantly happier and making new friends, she couldn't escape the online abuse which followed her.

'Ella was so down I took her to the doctors, and she was diagnosed with depression and on medication,' her mother told Daily Mail Australia.

'But I made sure I was always around and that we had things to do to keep her busy.'

Ms Crawford says that when her daughter was distracted with things to look forward to, her 'best friend and love of her life,' was her former happy self.

But as soon as she was left with her phone, things quickly changed.

'Some days in the holidays she wouldn't get out of bed,' said her mum.

'I just hoped it wouldn't get worse but I never expected her to kill herself.'

Ms Crawford found her daughter apparently lifeless on Sunday, October 27 and began CPR while waiting for paramedics.

Ella was rushed to Queensland Children's Hospital in Brisbane and spent a week on life support before doctors confirmed she had no brain activity.

Queensland Police have Ella's phone and iPad and are now investigating her death.

On Monday, Andrew Johnson, principal at Redlands College, sent a text message to parents of Year Seven students with details of a special counselling service.

Students in Ella's year were told of her death on the same day.

'The college will not make any formal announcements to other year levels but will invite parents to make the decision about if and when they share this news with their son or daughter,' Mr Johnson added.

Ella's heartbroken mum says without her, she has nothing left, so will now dedicate herself to raising awareness in the hope she can help others.

Ella's (pictured with her mother) family has set up a GoFundMe to help pay for the funeral costs, time off work to grieve and to facilitate more awareness

Her family has set up a GoFundMe to help pay for the funeral costs, time off work to grieve and to facilitate more awareness. More than $133,000 has been raised within three days.

Ella mum's issued a heartfelt plea to supporters on the online fundraiser on Wednesday, vowing to lobbying the government.

'Thank you to all of the wonderful people who took the time and their hard earned money to read our beautiful Ella's story, cut so short. Our hearts are broken and our lives changed for ever,' Ms Crawford wrote.

'Your kind and generous donations will help us to give Ella a beautiful funeral, medical bills, time to grieve and to also fund education programs about social media and children.

'If you can write to Snapchat and get them to change some settings to stop bullies and block them. We plan to rally the government in Australia for this to help save the lives of our children.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Lourdes Hill College for comment.

If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline Australia 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 22 46 36.
A sleepy Southern California community which only achieved city status in recent years has rapidly become one of the state's fastest-growing boomtowns.

Part of the Inland Empire, Menifee's population has rocketed from 46,000 people when it officially became a city in 2008, to an estimated 117,000 residents today.

While Menifee's baby boomers grew up in a slow-paced coal mining town, the next generation is rapidly becoming accustomed to metropolitan life.

Located around 75 miles inland from both San Diego and Los Angeles, newcomers only have two complaints - the traffic and the weather.

Temperatures tend to lurk in the low 90s through the summer months, but Shane Bernal, a real estate agent in the area, told SFGate 'you get used to it'.

A sleepy Southern California community which only achieved city status in recent years has rapidly become one of the state's fastest-growing boomtowns. (Pictured: Menifee)

Part of the Inland Empire, Menifee's population has rocketed from 46,000 people when it officially became a city in 2008, to an estimated 117,000 residents today

Meanwhile, highway infrastructure has struggled to keep apace with the city's rapid growth.

On average, residents take a 45 minute commute to work, according to a town survey, Menifee city manager Armando Villa told SFGate.

But the benefits seem to outweigh the issues. Despite its city status, Menifee is home to 45 sprawling public parks, providing plenty of peaceful escapes for residents.

Menifee also has a reputation for being the 'last affordable' area in the region as coastal renters flock to snap up cheap homes.

Data revealed earlier this year that the Inland Empire region of California is thriving, with Riverside and San Bernardino counties collectively adding more than 22,000 people in just last year.

This trend is driven partly by coastal renters moving inland to purchase more affordable homes, as reported by SFGate.

In May, the California Department of Finance published its annual report on population and housing estimates.

This surge in population has attracted significant interest from real estate investors, causing fluctuations in median home prices across the region

New data has revealed that the Inland Empire region of California is thriving, with Riverside and San Bernardino counties collectively adding more than 22,000 people in just last year

Menifee, located in Riverside County, emerged as one of the state's top population growth centers, adding over 2,000 residents in the past year.

Victorville in San Bernardino County also saw substantial growth, pushing its population to nearly 140,000, surpassing cities like Santa Clara and Berkeley, and approaching the sizes of Pasadena and Orange.

The report does not specify the origins of these new residents and whether they moved from other parts of California or from out of state.

Nevertheless, these counties now boast 14 cities with populations exceeding 100,000.

This surge in population has attracted significant interest from real estate investors, causing fluctuations in median home prices across the region.

The average home price in Inland Empire fell 2.5 percent between February 2023 and 2024 to $535,000 - compared to a steep $1.2 million in Los Angeles.

Menifee, located in Riverside County, emerged as one of the state's top population growth centers, adding over 2,000 residents in the past year (Pictured: Downtown Riverside skyline aerial view)

The report also highlights growth in other areas of the state. Imperial County, on the southern border between San Diego and Arizona, saw several cities rank in the top 20 for population growth by percentage.

The San Joaquin Valley also experienced a significant increase, with Bakersfield emerging as a key area for new housing.

The area has attracted residents from Orange County, Los Angeles, and the Bay Area.
For Kamala Harris and the Democrats, it was a $500 million losing bet.

They felt the threat Donald Trump posed to abortion rights was worth that massive a spend on a nationwide campaign of TV, streaming and social media ads and warnings.

But based on Tuesday's results, the half-a-billion-dollar gamble now looks like money out the window.

Americans handed Trump and many Republicans in Congress decisive victories on Tuesday despite Democrats' belief that abortion would be the galvanizing issue for people heading to the polls.

Protecting reproductive freedom has been a rallying cry for Democrats since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade in 2022.

It ended the national right to an abortion and handed the issue back to states.

It was one of the top issues in some key states in the 2022 midterms and helped Democrats avoid a red wave, but it delivered very mixed results this year.

Protesters marching in Arizona after the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v Wade. A majority of voters in the state chose Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election while the state also passed an amendment to protect abortion

In the end, exit polling shows it was the third most important issue behind 'democracy' and 'the economy' with just 14 percent of respondents calling it the most important issue.

While Kamala Harris was seen as better at handling the issue and 65 percent of voters said abortion should be legal in all or most cases, it did not translate to votes and wins for Democrats in key races.

The vice president campaigned heavily on the issue across the country. Her vow to protect reproductive freedom received some of the biggest applause at her events.

She vowed she would sign a law to protect abortion as president if Congress passed one and warned Trump would support a national abortion ban if elected, despite his denials that he would.

Trump while he has previously signaled support for a national ban claimed he would leave the issue to states if he received a second term.

'It's very clear Donald Trump attempted to muddle his message on abortion and did not suffer the same branding issue on that issue that maybe other Republicans have in the past,' said Democratic strategist Joel Payne.

'Voters don't trust and don't like Republicans on abortion period,' Payne said. 'Also, voters have proven they will still vote for Republicans despite that.'

There were several instances where this played out on full display Tuesday.

Donald Trump officially flipped the state of Arizona on Saturday to sweep all seven swing states in the 2024 presidential election.

Arizona voters also passed an amendment to enshrine abortion rights in the state's constitution with more than 60 percent support.

Arizona was one of 10 states where abortion rights were directly on the ballot on Tuesday.

In seven out of 10 of those states, voters chose to protect abortion rights, signaling large swaths of voters overall support access to abortion.

Even in deep-red states such as Missouri and Montana, where Trump and Republicans won, voters moved to protect abortion rights. The Missouri ballot measure passed with more than 51 percent of support. In Montana, a ballot initiative received more than 57 percent.

Even in Florida where the amendment to protect abortion failed to meet the state's necessary 60-percent threshold, some 57 percent of voters supported it while still electing Trump by double digits at 56 percent.

Some strategists have since suggested that ballot initiatives could have, perhaps, even given voters a permission structure to feel comfortable voting for Republicans who might oppose abortion access because they were also able to vote directly on the issue.

Anti-abortion activists saw it differently. They argued that Democrats' fearmongering on the issue did not work as well as it not being the galvanizing issue Democrats thought.

'This election proves that abortion was not the silver bullet Democrats thought it would be,' said Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser.

'Even after Democrats put half a billion dollars behind abortion TV ads in this election, they still lost the presidency, the Senate and potentially the House,' she said. 'The reason? Their extreme abortion agenda is out of step with Americans.'

She claimed 'most Americans support early, reasonable limits on abortion.'

But even as voters chose to protect abortion rights with ballot measures in seven out of 10 states this cycle and in multiple elections since Roe fell, advocates are sounding the alarms on the looming Trump administration.

The Center for Reproductive Rights has warned the Trump White House could move to block the mailing of abortion pills, making it harder to get access even in states where abortion is legal.

The group vowed to fight any effort to pass a national abortion ban and efforts to restrict women from crossing state lines to obtain an abortion.

'We will scrutinize every action of the White House and federal agencies, amass the factual and legal record to counter agency actions, and work to stop harmful policies from going into effect,' said President and CEO Nancy Northup.

'If they do, we will take them to court,' she added.
As Kamala Harris reels in shock from her brutal defeat to Donald Trump, a voter shift has emerged that perhaps stings the Democratic candidate the most.

Young Gen Z women, widely considered Harris' safest demographic, turned their backs on the Democrats in droves to support Donald Trump.

Exit polling from AP reveals 40 percent of women under 30 voted for Trump - a seven-point jump on 2020. The youngest of them, aged 18 to 24, fled Harris in greater numbers with Trump gaining 11 points on his contest with Joe Biden.

Trump's huge rally with young women helped secure the largest portion of voters under 30 than any Republican candidate since 2008.

Hillary Clinton had a 19-point lead with under 30s when she went up against Trump in 2016, Biden stretched that gap to 25 points - but under Harris that margin shrunk to just 6 points.

As Kamala Harris reels in shock from her brutal defeat to Donald Trump , a voter shift has emerged that perhaps stings the Democratic candidate the most

Young Gen Z women, w idely considered Harris' safest demographic , turned their backs on the Democrats in droves to support Donald Trump

Trump, too, targeted Gen Z, but his methods appealed more to young men than women, with appearances on podcasts with Joe Rogan, Theo Von and the Nelk Boys

Harris made no secret of her bid to secure Gen Z female voters, embracing 'brat summer' and appearing on Alex Cooper's hugely popular Call Her Daddy podcast.

She courted the endorsements of female music icons - Charli XCX, Taylor Swift and Beyonce all backed her during the campaign.

The Vice President used terms like 'weird' to describe Trump and his running mate JD Vance, embraced the moniker 'Momala' and created TikTok videos to Gen Z's favorite rising star Chappel Roan's hit song 'Femininomenon.'

And while she may have won the TikTok war - securing 448million 'likes' to Trump's 102million - she was unable to translate that into votes.

Harris put abortion at the forefront of her campaign after Supreme Court justices appointed during the Trump administration overturned Roe v Wade in 2022.

Exit polling from AP reveals 40 percent of women under 30 voted for Trump - a seven-point jump on 2020. The youngest of them, aged 18 to 24, fled Harris in greater numbers with Trump gaining 11 points on his contest with Joe Biden

She warned female voters that reproductive rights were placed at further risk by another Trump presidency.

But only 13 percent of voters under 30 said abortion was their number one concern.

In stark contrast, 40 percent of that age group said the economy was their main worry. Another 11 percent of under 30s said immigration was their top issue.

Psychotherapist and author Jonathan Alpert told DailyMail.com he was not surprised that Trump did better than expected with Gen Z women.

'There's an assumption made about Gen Z - many so-called political experts think that just because someone is in their teens to late 20s and female that means they automatically would vote for Harris,' he said.

'In fact, many told me they felt unsafe in Biden/Harris' America and were wanting a change.'

Harris made no secret of her bid to secure Gen Z female voters, embracing 'brat summer' and appearing on Alex Cooper's hugely popular Call Her Daddy podcast

She warned female voters that reproductive rights were placed at further risk by another Trump presidency

Harris put abortion at the forefront of her campaign after Supreme Court justices appointed during the Trump administration overturned Roe v Wade in 2022

Alpert said there were strong advocates for women's rights and feminists in this age bracket who still opted to vote for Trump because they considered other factors more pressing.

'At the end of the day, Gen Z cared about many things, but safety and prosperity seemed to trump other things that the Harris campaign gave way too much power to,' he said.

Business analyst and political commentator Nadja Atwal said young people didn't 'resonate' with the campaign, despite all the effort that went into learning the lingo and meeting Gen Z on their favored platforms.

'Plain and simple many felt it was not relatable,' she said.

Charli XCX, 31, took to X on Sunday saying, 'kamala IS brat' - an endorsement referencing the name of her album released earlier this year

They've fired off memes of bright green squares, and when the BidenHQ became the 'KamalaHQ' a quick-witted and likely younger member of her staff added the recognizable 'brat' logo to her page

'While the economy looks good enough by numbers, it doesnt matter when people cannot make a living due to high costs. Based on my findings Gen Z felt that Harris' campaign did not address that issue enough.'

Beyond that, Atwal said the stack of celebrity endorsements may have actually worked against Harris.

'Many young people felt downright insulted by the Harris campaign banking on star power,' she said. 'It does not resonate to see Hollywood and music stars that live in big mansions behind fences and protected by body guards.

'Trump went all in on the working class... making and serving fries at McDonalds... driving the garbage truck.

'It was viewed as cool and relatable.'

Trump, too, targeted Gen Z, but his methods appealed more to young men than women, with appearances on podcasts with Joe Rogan, Theo Von and the Nelk Boys.

The 78-year-old made significant inroads with Gen Z men, taking advice from his 18-year-old son, Barron.

Fifty-six percent of men under 30 voted for Trump over Harris, a 15-point increase compared to his defeat against Biden in 2020.

Around 42 percent of young voters cast ballots this year, a lower turnout than the 50 percent in 2020, but roughly on par with the 2016 election.
A signature-gathering firm is accused of blocking moderate Democrats from getting enough support to run against progressives.

Specifically, the firm whose executive director Zee Cohen-Sanchez worked on the campaigns of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders is accused of preventing a Democrat from running oust squad member Rep. Summer Lee, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal.

A lawsuit being filed on Monday alleges Sole Strategies took on as a client Democrat Laurie MacDonald in an effort to prevent her bid to oust Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) in Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district.

MacDonald, the CEO and President of the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Center for Victims, says she believed the effort is a form of 'election interference.'

She hired Sole Strategies to help her gather the signatures in her community needed in order to qualify for the 2024 Democratic primary.

Former Pennsylvania House candidate Laurie MacDonald was not able to get on the primary ballot and is now suing a progressive signature gathering firm for intentionally blocking her ability to take on a squad member

MacDonald paid for 3,000 petitions, but claims they only received 775 valid signatures. To be eligible to appear on the primary ballot against Lee, she would have needed 1,000 signed petitions.

But now, MacDonald claims that the political strategies firm tanked her campaign by intentionally not getting enough support required to get onto the ballot  and even handing over a large amount of invalid signatures.

'She intentionally withholds the signatures until the last minute,' MacDonald said in a statement to DailyMail.com. 'She won't let you verify them.'

'You just have to wait until right before the election to see what they have gathered  mostly bunk signatures  and then it is far too late,' she added. 'Sole Strategies is taking the money of anti-establishment candidates to intentionally tank their campaigns.'

Rep. Lee won with 60.4 percent in her April primary against sole Democratic challenger Bhavini Patel. She went on to win the general election on Tuesday with 56.2 percent to Republican rival James Hayes's 43.8 percent.

Rep. Summer Lee is part of the progressive squad in Congress. She easily won her primary with little competition and won reelection on Tuesday

Cohen-Sanchez worked on Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign. 'It should've been Bernie,' her Twitter bio reads.

She also worked to get elected Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, who began serving her first term after the 2018 midterms. AOC is part of the so-called progressive 'squad' of lawmakers in the U.S. House, which also includes Rep. Lee.

The 'life-long campaigner' founded Sole Strategies in 2020 and serves as its executive director.

MacDonald's lawsuit against Sole Strategies is similar to one filed in 2022 by former New York State Senate candidate John O'Hara after he paid the firm $20,000.

Sole Strategies executive director Zee Cohen-Sanchez worked for Sen. Bernie Sanders' and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's campaigns

A lawyer for MacDonald is demanding Sole Strategies repay her for the funds provided in exchange for 3,000 petitions after the firm only handed back 775 valid signatures

O'Hara received signatures from the firm that came from outside his district where he intended to run, which were therefore unable to be counted towards getting him on the ballot.

'Some of these signatures came from miles out of the district,' he told the New York Post in an interview in 2022. 'A couple were from the Bronx, so these are just people [Sole Strategies] found on the street.'

O'Hara voiced his support for MacDonald's lawsuit and suggested it be turned into a class action due to the widespread affects the signature-gathering hoax has caused.

'Sole Strategies has become the face of election interference,' he said in a statement shared with DailyMail.com. 'They have election lawyers to battle every individual lawsuit and the misconduct is too widespread.'

'I would urge Ms. MacDonald to lead a class action lawsuit,' he suggested.

The seat O'Hara intended to run for in New York State Senate District 17 in 2022 is now occupied by progressive Iwen Chu with the Working Families Party of New York.

She beat conservative Vito LaBella by just 1.5 percent in the general election.
I was fourteen when my journey with vulva anxiety began.

Sitting in maths class, a boy handed me a note with a question that would haunt me for years: 'Do you have an innie or an outie?'

And no, he wasn't talking about belly buttons.

At that age, I had never seen another vulva, so I had no idea where I sat on the vulva spectrum.

Through high school, the words that boys used to describe vulvas - 'kebab,' 'upside-down volcano,' 'octopussy' - further fuelled my self-doubt.

I began to wonder: was my vulva weird? Was I abnormal?

By the time I was in my early twenties, this anxiety had intensified to the point that I was considering labiaplasty, which involves the removal or altering of tissues from the labia, the folds of skin that sit on either side of a woman's vaginal opening.

I hoped surgery could 'fix' what I thought was wrong.

Ellie Sedgwick (pictured) wants to challenge the narrow ideals that have fueled so many of us to question our bodies

Ellie's book, Flip Through My Flaps: An Exploration of the Vulva has been released

I hoped surgery could 'fix' what I thought was wrong.

I went so far as to book two consultations, and both surgeons were all too willing to proceed with the surgery without as much as looking at my vulva.

Ultimately, a consultation in India, where I was working at the time, saved me from undergoing labiaplasty.

When I showed this doctor my vulva, he informed me that what I wanted surgically altered was completely 'normal'.

He explained to me that vulvas are all unique and that it's normal not to have the 'Barbie vagina' that is portrayed in porn, movies and magazines.

He could have easily agreed to give me the Rolls-Royce of vulvas, but instead, he sent me away with the homework to research what real, unedited vulvas look like.

I thought to myself, 'If only there was a book of vulvas I could buy to help me'.

Inspired by this experience, I announced on Facebook in 2018 that I would be creating a coffee table book dedicated to photographs of vulvas to help educate the world about their beautiful diversity.

I began photographing women's vulvas and now, seven years later, my book Flip Through My Flaps: An Exploration of the Vulva is finally here.

It features more than 500 vulvas alongside personal stories covering critical topics about women's health from miscarriage to herpes, and body image.

While this journey was inspired by my experience with vulva anxiety, it's no longer just a personal issue; it's become a public health crisis.

Flip Through My Flaps: An Exploration of the Vulva features more than 500 vulvas alongside personal stories from vulva owners covering critical topics for women's health from miscarriage to herpes to body image

One in six Australian women are anxious or embarrassed about the way their labia looks, according to a study from Women's Health Victoria.

Sadly, this issue is even more pronounced with Gen Z, with one in four aged 18-24 facing vulva anxiety, and almost a third associating their labia with negative words such as 'weird', 'disgusting' or 'ugly'.

One in ten Australians  equivalent to more than half a million women  say they have either had or considered having labiaplasty, which is now the fastest growing surgery in Australia.

This anxiety isn't just an emotional burden; it can impact physical, mental, and sexual health.

In fact, one in eight women admit to avoiding essential health appointments such as GP check-ups or pap smears because of embarrassment over their labia.

This underscores the need for greater education and acceptance, which is why Flip Through My Flaps: An Exploration of the Vulva is needed now more than ever.

My hope is that the book fosters a new narrative around vulva diversity, one that is rooted in acceptance and self-love rather than shame and secrecy.

Through each photograph and story, I want to challenge the narrow ideals that have fuelled so many of us to question our bodies, helping others see what I discovered  that there is no 'perfect' vulva, only the one that belongs to you.

By confronting this cultural silence and creating this resource, I hope we can cultivate a world where vulva anxiety is replaced with acceptance, self-love, and the freedom to celebrate our bodies just as they are.
A family embroiled in an 800,000 inheritance row after an elderly woman partly tore up her will on her deathbed say she would never have wanted her money to go to her sister.

Carry Keats, 92, physically ripped three-quarters of the way through the pages of the legal document during her final illness, in hospital in 2022.

Mrs Keats allegedly tore the will after falling out with other family members after they indicated that they were going to put her in a nursing home if she had another fall.

The move created a family drama pitting her five distant cousins against her younger sister Josephine Oakley- with whom she had a 'love-hate relationship.

Under the terms of the will the five cousins would have inherited up to 800,000 worth of property.

But under a Victorian law passed in 1837 any person can legally revoke a will they have made by tearing it up.

The 800,000 fortune of Carry Keats (pictured), who died aged 92 in February 2022, is now at the centre of a family dispute which has reached London's High Court

The case involves her younger sister Josephine Oakley, pictured outside London's High Court, with whom she is said to have had a 'love-hate relationship'

So long as the act is carried out within certain guidelines the torn will becomes null and void and the deceased is considered to have died intestate.

If Mrs Keats is found to have legally destroyed the document and died without a valid will, her sister will inherit everything she owned.

Now her five cousins say they the Mrs Keats would never have wanted her sister to inherit her fortune.

They say Ms Oakley - known as Jo who has been divorced twice, and denied accusations of infidelity made in court in the battle over the will - had never been close to her older sister, Mrs Keats, who had despaired of her lifestyle.

David Crew said: They hadnt got on for many years, going back to when they were both young.

Jo had a messy life. Her first husband divorced her over her infidelity.

Carry was an upstanding country woman with a high moral code.

Not only did her first husband leave her for adultery but her second husband divorced her as well for reasons we do not know.

Pitted against Josephine Oakley in the legal battle are five cousins, including David Crew who is also seen here outside the High Court in London

David Crew's sister Angela Crew, also bringing the claim, is pictured outside the High Court

Bringing the claim alongside David Crew are his sister Angela Crew, plus cousins twice removed Kevin, Jason and Leon Whitehorn - the latter is seen here outside the High Court

He said Ms Oakley was the polar opposite of her sister. While Mrs Keats had lived an upstanding life and was careful with her money, her younger sister lived an unconventional life.

Mr Crew said: Jo had always lived above her means

Mr Crew said: Carry once phoned me in tears. She was crying her heart out because Jo had been pestering her.

Carry was very clear about what she wanted to do in her wills - she made five - and that is why we are challenging this claim.

In the days before her death she was heavily medicated on morphine. She had gangrene in her leg and doctors wanted to amputate - she wasnt in her right mind when she apparently tore the will.

She didnt even tear the will completely - she merely damaged it. The solicitor tore it the rest of the way through.

Mrs Keats' cousins - who would split most of her fortune under the will - have brought a challenge at Londons High Court.

Simon Sinnatt, for the cousins, told the judge that, under the Wills Act 1837, for the destruction of the will to be valid Mrs Keats had to either intentionally fully destroy the will herself or properly authorise her solicitor to do so.

He said: Did the deceased sufficiently destroy the will? Did the deceased authorise Hafwen Webb to complete the destruction or acquiesce in the same?

Jason Whitehorn, seen outside the High Court, is among three cousins twice removed who are part of the legal challenge over Carry Keats' will

Carry Keats' estate has been valued at 800,000, mainly tied up in her home (pictured) and land in the Wiltshire village of Nomansland

Did the deceased have the requisite intention to destroy the will? If the will was revoked, did the deceased have the mental capacity to do so?

The completion of the tearing by Hafwen Webb raises a problem which potentially invalidates her completion of the process for lack of authority.

Mr Sinnatt argued that Mrs Keats was unlikely to have had the mental capacity to legally approve the solicitor to finish tearing of the will, as she was medicated and in pain.

But in the witness box, law firm partner Ms Webb said Mrs Keats was a well-known and long-standing client,'adding: Her character hadn't changed. She was still the same old Carry. She knew who I was and why I was there.

I told her repeatedly that if she died intestate Jo would inherit. She said their father would be pleased. I told her she could tear up the will to revoke it.

She wasn't happy that the will was in place. She gave me instructions and from that I took it that she had capacity.

The case has concluded but the High Court judge has reserved his ruling on the case to a future date.
Civil servants in the crisis-hit farming sector have been taken off regular frontline duties to take part in training exercises in which they are taught how to talk to each other without causing offence.

The training sessions were described as patronising, ridiculously woke and a colossal waste of time and money by one furious participant - who leaked materials from the session in disgust.

Documents passed to MailOnline reveal a script issued to staff from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) showing an imagined conversation between colleagues about eating lunch.

Its believed the materials were issued to civil servants who were taken off their regular duties to attend training sessions.

These sessions were aimed at teaching them how to address each other during informal office chats without unwittingly causing offence by making comments about issues their colleagues may be privately sensitive about.

Civil servants in the crisis-hit farming sector have been taken off regular frontline duties to take part in training exercises in which they are taught how to talk to each other without causing offence

Farmer Joe Collingbourne (pictured) said farmers will be 'very unhappy' to hear about the civil servants leaving front line duties to carry out the training

In the exercise civil servants were told to assume the names of Aisha, Ben, Carlos and Dana and pretend to either be shy, overweight or health conscious.

A script was issued to staff along with comments they make to each other during a lunch break that centre around food and the amount people eat.

The document  which DEFRA officials have confirmed is genuine  includes detailed instructions for the role play with each of the four characters being given a mini biography as they discuss food and what people eat during a lunch hour.

The character called Aisha is described as friendly and outgoing with mealtimes always a social event.

Ben is described as health conscious and feels awkward when he is the centre of attention while Carlos is the officer joker who has a hearty appetite.

The fourth person in the role play is Dana who is a former hairdresser who is shy but trying to be more outgoing.

Staff were told to repeat the lines for each of the characters with Aisha kicking off the awkward conversation by saying: Hey Ben, youre always eating salad. Are you trying to lose weight or something?

Carlos then chips in saying: If I only ate salad Id probably feel miserable. I need my carbs,

As the role play continues Aisha directs her next question to shy Dana and asks: Is that your natural hair.?

The personal question puzzles Dana who replies: Yeah, it is. Why.

The leaked document reveals that following the role play staff were asked to take part in a discussion and find out what parts of the conversation would have made them feel uncomfortable.

The role play was allocated ten minutes while a further 15 minutes set aside for the group discussion.

The civil servant who passed the information to MailOnline said: I couldnt believe we were being asked to do this. Its so patronising it beggars belief and the timing couldnt be worse. What must people in the outside world think when they see public servants getting their knickers in a twist about identity politics.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has defended her tax raid on farmers  part of 40bn of new taxes announced in the budget

It comes after 78-year-old John Charlesworth (pictured) took his own life 24 hours before the announcement of changes in the budget.

What about letting us get on with our actual jobs? We are becoming a laughing stock with this woke nonsense.

News of the training exercise has also infuriated farmers who were already up in arms over changes to Inheritance tax changes in last weeks budget.

If they are going to do any role playing it should be how to talk to farmers who face losing their livelihood and not how much to eat, said Joe Collingbourne who runs 150 acres Hill End farm in Chippenham, Wiltshire.

They are going to have to deal with lots of unhappy farmers who face losing their livelihood over the tax changes that have been imposed. There are better ways to spend their time.

Another farmer based in Leicestershire, who did not want to be named, said: Its a load of nonsense.

I know they are in an office in London, and they are told to do this, but how is this really helping us? We have farmers taking their own lives because they are so concerned about what will happen.

There must be more pressing things for them to worry about rather than play acting.

The announcement in Rachel Reevess budget last week of plans to remove the Agricultural Property Relief inheritance tax exemption from farms worth more than 1m has been met with a storm of anger across the farming industry.

A protest in London with tractors and other farm vehicles has been planned for November 19th.

Prime Minister Kier Starmer has been accused of having blood on his hands after 78-year-old John Charlesworth took his own life 24 hours before the announcement of changes in the budget.

Mr Charlesworth (pictured) was found dead the day before Rachel Reeves broke an election pledge

His son Jonathan Mr Charlesworth jr (pictured), who now looks after the family's 70-acre farm of sheep and cattle at Silkstone, in the Pennine foothills, himself

Mr Charlesworth Jr said Prime Minister Keir Starmer has 'blood on his hands' over his father's death

The grandfather-of-six ran a 70-acre farm on the outskirts of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, which had been in his family since the 1950s.

His son Jonathon,46, said all the pre-budget news predicting the tax raid  ending the practice of allowing farmers to pass on estates without inheritance tax - had 'eaten away' at him and was the 'final straw'.

He said: 'This government has absolutely zero understanding of agriculture let alone how it works.

'They think we're just jumped-up millionaires riding around in Land Rovers but that's not true.

'This government have killed ambition in this country  what's the point of doing well, building up a business, if it's all going to be taken away?'

The National Farmers Union have spoken out at the devastation the inheritance tax changes will have for farmers and the huge impact on the food production industry.

NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: Ive spoken to a huge number of our members in the past few days and heard some really upsetting accounts of what this tax would do to family farms.

Ive heard about distressed elderly parents who are having to apologise to their children in tears for something that isnt their fault, telling them theyre sorry because they feel theyre now a burden on the family. Ive heard from families who cant see any way they can plan for a future which doesnt result in losing their business. Men and women whove spent years building up farm businesses now wondering whats the point in carrying on when its going to be ripped apart.

These are the working people of the countryside, and I made it clear to Defra and the Treasury today that there has been a clear miscalculation of the impact this will have on them. The Treasury has got its figures wrong. This policy wont protect family farms, it will do the opposite.

A spokesman for Defra told Mail Online: 'We are committed to fostering an inclusive culture in our workplaces.'

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.'

Earlier this year it was revealed taxpayers spent 1.7m a year on woke support groups for civil servants to help them connect with colleagues of the same race, religion, sexuality or lifestyle choices.
Starving British veterans are being forced to forage at foodbanks in 'alarming' numbers, a shock new study has claimed - as military chiefs warned too many forces heroes are now 'falling through the cracks'.

In one of the starkest studies yet on the shameful state of the nation's military services, anti-poverty charity Trussell warned a quarter of retired troops had run out of food in the past 12 months and didn't have enough cash to buy anything to eat.

Alarmingly, the trust claimed this was almost twice the number of people living in households where nobody has ever served in the armed forces, with one-in-seven (14 per cent) relying on foodbanks in the past year.

Charity chiefs called the figures 'heartbreaking' and 'morally inexcusable', while one top-ranking military chief told MailOnline they 'seemed plausible', admitting: 'We know there's a major problem... too many people are falling through the cracks.'

News of the data was revealed today as the nation prepares to mark Remembrance Sunday honouring past and present military heroes - with ceremonies set to be attended by politicians and royalty in London.

Starving British veterans are being forced to forage at foodbanks in 'alarming' numbers, a shock new study has claimed (pictured is a file image of British soldiers on parade)

Anti-poverty charity Trussell warned one-in-seven veterans had relied on foodbanks in the past year (file image)

It comes ahead of Labour's looming raft of 'disturbing' welfare reforms to disability benefits unveiled in the Chancellor's 40billion tax raid Budget bombshell, which charities fear could affect hundreds of thousands of Britons.

'It's shocking that veterans in this country are experiencing this level of hardship,' said Helen Barnard, Trussell's director of policy.

'We know the main reason people are forced to turn to a food bank in this country is insufficient income, and this research shows clearly that many veterans in the UK are having to try and get by on incomes that are simply too low to cover the essentials like food, bills and clothing.'

Staggeringly, almost half of veterans with children said they had gone without essentials like food in the last six months, while one-in-five (19 per cent) had to access emergency food in the past month.

As well as the struggle to put food on the table, the charity also highlighted other difficulties plaguing the armed forces community.

It found more than a quarter of veterans (28 per cent) in England and Wales had reported their households had gone without essentials like medical and dental care in the last six months.

Researchers also said almost one-in-10 ex-soldiers were struggling to keep up with their bills, as soaring food and energy prices continue to batter hard-up families.

It's meant some military families relying on costly, high-interest payday loans to survive - with one-in-seven (15 per cent) having to pawn or sell belongings to get cash quickly.

The news comes as Britain prepares to mark Remembrance Sunday today (pictured in November 2023 is last year's ceremony in London)

Staggeringly, almost half of veterans with children said they had gone without essentials like food in the last six months. Pictured are volunteers at a foodbank in Glasgow, Scotland

Dorinda Wolfe Murray, chief executive of veterans charity FirstLight, branded the figures were 'startling' and 'heartbreaking'.

'There is no excuse for people at all to go homeless, hungry or not supported with their mental health. Its morally inexcusable and downright appalling,' she said.

'What in Gods name is going on? How has this been allowed to happen? Food, roof over your head, safety and warmth: those are the fundamental human rights. And somehow, someway, we have got it skewed.'

Ms Wolfe Murray, whose charity provides help for homeless veterans, said the solution to fixing the crisis was 'simple but not easy' and involved getting 'more boots on the ground' to support those in need.

More funding needs to be pumped into grassroots organisations on the frontline helping forces heroes to put food on the table, she claimed.

And she warned younger veterans, who left the military after serving two years, were falling into debt after taking out 'extortionate' pay day loans, and warned administrative red tape was preventing some from claiming Universal Credit

'To have what is happening, happening is dreadful,' she added. 'There are revolting amounts of money tied up for a rainy day. Christ, it is a rainy day already.'

Mark Warmer, a veteran from London, found himself needing to access a food bank earlier this year after not receiving social security payments.

Speaking about his experience, he said: 'I served in the French Foreign Legion for almost a decade and saw some really difficult things that have stayed in my brain and still affect me.

'After I left the Legion, I moved back to the UK and became a security guard and for the last 28 years I've worked as a concierge, a street warden and in security but in April I had to leave work to care for my mum who has dementia.

Mark Warmer (pictured), a veteran from London, found himself needing to access a food bank earlier this year after not receiving social security payments.

'I applied for Universal Credit but was told that, because I quit my job, I'd be sanctioned. I haven't received anything for the last six months  despite having always paid tax and National Insurance.

'I was struggling to buy food for me and my mum, or pay bills, so I ended up having to go to the food bank and they've been great  they have helped me appeal the sanctions and apply for carers benefits, as well as helping me look for other jobs.'

Responding to these findings, Trussell is calling on the UK government to introduce a long-term plan to tackle hardship.

Ms Barnard added: 'The UK government must swiftly build on its action in last month's Budget to tackle hardship in our communities, to meet their manifesto commitment to end the need for emergency food.

'This must include further updates to our social security system to ensure it is fit for purpose, recognising the needs of groups who are at particular risk of hardship, including veterans.

'Additionally, the disproportionate impact on veterans with mental and physical health conditions shows clearly that the UK government need to ensure that their plans to update disability benefits do not lead to further cuts.

'Rather than pulling disabled people or people with a health condition deeper into hunger and hardship, this government must prioritise reforms to disability benefits which prioritise better employment support and access to healthcare.'

Television writer Jed Mercurio, who served in the Royal Air Force and has recently become an Ambassador for Trussell said: 'It is appalling that anyone is having to go without essentials such as food or heating. Some Armed Forces veterans also face disability and other health conditions that further exacerbate the challenges of living on a low income.

Television writer Jed Mercurio is an ambassador for Trussell and lashed out at the figures

Jed used to serve in the Royal Air Force. He is pictured during his time in the RAF

'It is not right that people who have served our country are having to miss meals, turn to food banks or pawn possessions in order to survive.'

Forces charity Help for Heroes warned that it had seen an 'increase in anxiety from veterans and families about how they will make ends meet'.

'In the last year, we have supported more than 400 households with grants to help pay energy and food bills as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite,' said Sasha Misra, the charity's head of communications, public affairs and policy.

'Some veterans face additional challenges in their daily lives which disproportionately increase their living costs and create barriers to lasting employment. As well as physical injuries, many veterans live with hidden disabilities, such as mental illnesses, PTSD, chronic pain and other non-physical conditions.

'Many of the veterans who leave service due to illness or injury find that there isn't the right support available for them when they make the transition to civilian life, this is where reform is needed.'

A government spokesperson said: "We are fully committed to supporting our veterans who have given so much in defence of the UK.

'This week, the Prime Minister announced millions of pounds of new funding to support homeless veterans, and ministers are continuing to look at how to best support veterans with employment and other needs."

'On top of Universal Credit and the recently extended Household Support Fund to help struggling families with the cost of essentials, veterans have access to the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and War Pensions Scheme, as well as dedicated armed forces champions in job centres.'
A young mother, diagnosed with an extremely rare form of cancer, has been told she has just months to live, after discovering a lump just after the birth of her daughter.

Nikita Jones, 22, from Port Talbot, first noticed a lump between her breasts in the summer of 2023, when her newborn daughter, Vienna, was only two months old.

Initially treated as an abscess, the lump failed to clear up with antibiotics, prompting a referral to the breast clinic.

In August 2023, Nikita received devastating news: she had been diagnosed with a rare form of soft tissue cancer called sarcoma.

Doctors informed her that she was one of just two people in the UK with this particular condition.

Nikita Jones, 22, from Port Talbot, first noticed a lump between her breasts in the summer of 2023, when her newborn daughter, Vienna, was only two months old

Speaking to Wales Online on her behalf, Nikita's mother, Vicki Hughes, described the diagnosis as the beginning of a 'year of hell.'

Despite the initial shock, Nikita underwent a series of intense treatments to fight the disease.

After waiting for the creation of titanium ribs to assist in the delicate surgery, Nikita underwent a double mastectomy and had part of her chest plate removed in October 2023.

Doctors were able to preserve her ribs, and Nikita was sent to London for six weeks of proton beam therapy. However, her mother has said this treatment left her with severe burns.

By March 2024, Nikita was told she was cancer-free - but her relief was short-lived.

In the months that followed, she began experiencing pain and swelling in her legs, along with a persistent cough and repeated chest infections.

A shadow on her lung, which doctors initially attributed to inflammation from her treatment, prompted further tests.

When Nikita underwent a CT scan, the results were devastating. The cancer had returned in her lungs, and doctors informed her that there was nothing more they could do.

Pictured: Nikita with her mother Vicki Hughes, her dad David Hughes, her partner Shaun Williams and daughter Vienna

With chemotherapy, Nikita was given around 16 months to live; without treatment, doctors said she had just six months.

Before finding out the earth-shattering news, Nikita had moved into her first home with her daughter and boyfriend Shaun Williams in the hope of a fresh start.

Vicki Hughes expressed the family's grief, saying: 'There are just no words. I am lost for words.'

In response to her diagnosis, Nikita planned a 'f*** you cancer' party in October, with the hopes of creating lasting memories with her friends and family.

Despite the crushing news, Vicki says that Nikita is supported by a 'whole village' of loved ones, including her grandmother, Catherine, and her two sisters, Jordanna and Tanisha.

Nikita's friend, Demi Williams, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to support Nikita's journey and help her make lasting memories with Vienna

As Nikita faces the reality of her prognosis, the family is determined to make the most of the time they have left.

They are especially focused on ensuring that Nikita can create as many memories as possible with her young daughter.

Nikita's friend, Demi Williams, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to support Nikita's journey and help her make lasting memories with Vienna. You can donate here.

In just two weeks, the fundraiser has raised over 7,000, with Demi writing on the page in response to the donations: 'Thank you so much to everyone who has donated and supported Kitas journey so far.

'Your generosity means the world, and it's helping Kita create lasting memories with her daughter, Vienna.'
The key players who could lead Democrats forward after devastating 2024 loss

Democrats are soul-searching after Vice President Kamala Harris' devastating loss to Donald Trump in the presidential election and a series of down-ballot defeats that handed Republicans Senate control and potentially the House.

The Republican presidential ticket swept every single swing state in the election, appears to have won the popular vote and made gains with nearly every demographic and in every region of the U.S. since 2020.

Exit polling from the election shows 73 percent of voters were angry or dissatisfied with the direction the country is headed in.

The finger-pointing in the Democratic Party over what went wrong is well underway.

Strategists, lawmakers and party staffers are blaming everything from Democrats' messaging and a failure to speak to working class voters to President Biden's late exit from the race.

There have also been questions over the role sexism played against Harris' chances in the race.

Speculation has already begun over who could lead Democrats and run for president in 2028 after the brutal 2024 election with Donald Trump beating Kamala Harris

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'I don't think this is a campaign-, candidate-specific thing,' said Democratic strategist Joel Payne. 'This is a longterm kind of theory of the coalition, theory of the offering to the public that we've got to correct, that we've got to reform.'

On top of calls for a course correction, there is now uncertainty over who will lead the party through the next four years and gear up for another fight to retake the White House in 2028.

Democratic governors and state attorneys general are already bracing to push back on some of President-elect Trump's most extreme agenda proposals.

But which leaders will be able to unify the party and potentially run in 2028 remains to be seen.

Here are the names being floated as key Democratic players for the next election season as the party assesses and regroups:

Gov. Andy Beshear

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is a Democrat who was reelected twice to lead in a red state, first in 2019 and then again in 2023.

The 46-year-old, who also previously served as Kentucky's attorney general, was once floated as a potential running mate for Harris when she locked in the Democratic nomination earlier this year.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear with his wife Britainy after being reelected for a second term in the deeply red state of Kentucky

On Wednesday, he vowed to continue to stand up for 'what is right' and acknowledged the path forward in the coming days will be hard.

'There isnt a red America or a blue America, and we all need to work together to protect this country that we love,' he wrote.

Gov. Josh Shapiro

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is another name that has been floated as a future leader of the Democratic Party.

Many had hoped he would be Harris' running mate and could lock in the state of Pennsylvania where he remains popular among both Democrats and Republicans since being elected in 2022.

Shapiro remained gracious despite being overlooked for the vice presidential spot on the ticket and actively campaigned for Harris throughout his state.

The 51-year-old is also someone who has a track record of going up against the Trump administration and its policies as the former attorney general of the Keystone State from 2017 to 2022.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro speaking ahead of Kamala Harris in Philadelphia on November 4. He's no stranger to taking on the Trump administration having served as the state's Attorney General during the President-elect's first term

After the election results came in on Tuesday, he released a statement that he will continue to listen to Pennsylvanians, show respect for their choices and work to bring people together.

'Let me also make clear: I will never back down from standing up for the freedoms I was elected to protect,' it read.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has been described by some pundits as the next Barack Obama.

The 46-year-old Army veteran and Rhodes Scholar was first elected governor in 2022 after serving as CEO of the charitable organization the Robin Hood Foundation during the coronavirus pandemic.

Moore was another Democratic leader to hit the campaign trail with other governors to help Harris and down-ballot candidates in swing states.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore speaking to supporters at an election night watch party on Nov. 5. He helped elect Senator-elect Angela Alsobrooks in his home state and campaigned for other Democrats across the country

After the election, Moore praised Harris for the campaign she ran and acknowledged Trump's victory, but he also made a promise to the people of his blue state that his administration remains committed to 'leave no one behind' and will 'continue to move forward' as a state.

Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock

Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia knows how to win in the battleground state having succeeded in races twice in the past four years with a special election win in 2020 and then gaining a full term in 2022.

Prior to running for office, Warnock served as a senior pastor at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta which is the same church where Martin Luther King Jr. once served.

Warnock was the first black person elected to represent Georgia in the Senate.

Senator Raphael Warnock at a campaign rally on October 24. The Georgia senator has won the swing state twice in recent years after first being elected in 2020

He aggressively campaigned for Harris in Georgia as well as other Democratic Senate candidates running across the country.

Despite Democrats losing the Senate majority, Warnock will remain a major player in Washington as Democrats push back on the Trump agenda in Washington in the new year.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

Governor Gretchen Whitmer leads a so-called 'blue wall' state and will likely play a role in examining how Democrats lost their advantage in the states they once had locked in.

The 53-year-old was first elected governor in 2018 during the Trump administration by focusing on the local needs of her state including the roads and was reelected again in 2022.

She was among a group of Democratic governors who campaigned furiously for Harris across swing state in 2024 as well as for Elissa Slotkin in the Michigan Senate race, who was able to come out on top in that race despite Trump winning the state.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer at a rally in Detroit on October 22. The Michigan Democrat knows how to win the state in recent years despite Trump turning it red in 2016 and 2024

Whitmer praised Harris for running an incredible campaign despite the loss and congratulated Trump on his victory.

She called for unity looking ahead, writing 'lets root for the success of the new administration and keep working together to get things done. Because were Americansthats what we do.'

Sen. Chris Murphy

Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy was elected to his third term in the November election after first being elected to the Senate in 2012.

Previously, the 51-year-old also served in the House since 2007 and in the Connecticut state legislature.

The senator has been one of the leading advocates for gun control reform in the House having represented the district where the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting took place.

He also serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy speaking during a debate. He was just reelected for a third term

The senator had his own take on the 2024 election results. He said he is all for the messaging and strategy biopsy.

But he said Democrats need to be ready for Trump's actions once he takes office writing on X 'he might not be lying about the round ups and political prosecutions. Job one is to get ready for that.'

Former Mayor Mitch Landrieu

Former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu's name was floated by Democratic strategist and fellow Louisianan James Carville.

Landrieu served as the mayor of the city from 2010 to 2018 and as Louisiana's lieutenant governor from 2004 to 2010.

Former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu served in the Biden administration to implement the bipartisan infrastructure deal. He also was Biden's campaign co-chair

More recently, he worked in the Biden administration to coordinate and advise on the bipartisan infrastructure deal.

The former mayor also served as the co-chair of the Biden reelection campaign.
The last of the day's sunlight is filtering through the trees in woodland outside the small village of Mattexey, in northeastern France.

It is the heart of farming country, where the quiet is punctuated only by occasional birdsong and the crunch of twigs underfoot.

Today's calm belies the tragic events of 80 years ago, when a doomed RAF Lancaster met a devastating end, claiming the lives of all seven crew members.

But to the trained eye, the clues are there.

Almost a century later, four craters remain, likely carved into the ground during the massive impact of each of its Rolls-Royce engines.

The Daily Mail's Kate Pickles places a poppy on the grave of her great-uncle 'Billy' at Choloy War Cemetery, in north-eastern France exactly 80 years after his death

The crew of Lancaster NG176 outside Bates Avenue, Darlington, Co Durham, on Sgt William Raine's wedding day. Left to right, they are Flight Engineer, Sgt Edward Brunskill, 22, Pilot, Flying officer Ian Graham, 30, Wireless Operator, Flying Officer John McFarlane, 23, Navigator, Sgt William Raine, 22, Mid-Upper Gunner, Sgt Henry Sumner (age unknown) Rear Gunner, Sgt Frank Evans, 24, Bomb Aimer, Flying Officer John Frees, 26. They were all killed exactly one month later on October 19, 1944, when returning from a bombing mission over Germany

Little is growing in the holes, tellingly surrounded by young trees, sprung in the decades following the fateful night which also claimed their oak ancestors.

Those who perished on board include its navigator and my great-uncle, Sgt William Raine, whose memorial scroll was proudly displayed on my grandad's living room wall until his death four years ago, at 92.

Until now, reports had been unclear as to where exactly NG176 crashed when returning from a bombing raid on a Bosch factory in Stuttgart, Germany, on October 19, 1944.

Benoit Howson with remnants of the Lancaster NG176 he collected when determining this was the crash site, including parachute, plexiglass, and bullets used by Lancaster gunners

Initially, six of the airmen from the No. 186 Squadron were buried in nearby Luneville before being transferred to the temporary American cemetery nearly 200 miles away in Andilly.

They were eventually joined by the seventh, Sgt Henry Sumner (whose body was presumably found later) at Choloy War Cemetery, near Toul, in 1947 where in the words of poet Lawrence Binyon they now 'sleep beyond England's foam.'

In the confusion of war, some reports had pointed to a crash site further south in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, while others closer to their original interment site here in Meurthe-et-Moselle.

The riddle was finally solved by aviation enthusiast Benoit Howson whose research led him here, a wooded area outside a small village he mused they 'never even knew existed'.

An earlier visit had unearthed bits of fuselage, plexiglass from the windscreen and gunner windows, and other twisted remnants from the 18-ton aircraft.

Pieces off parachute, poignantly still folded as they had never been deployed, had themselves become blanketed by a tapestry of fallen leaves and ivy.

The telegram delivered to his wife Betty on 18 February 1945 informing her of Sgt Williams suspected death 19 October 1944 alongside the rest of the crew

A piece of fuselage found at the crash site on the 80th anniversary (left) and remnants of folded parachute gifted to the family of Sgt Raine in a purse with the RAF motto, Latin for 'Through adversity to the stars

The nieces of Sgt William Raine including the Daily Mail's Kate Pickles standing next to one of the craters at the crash site of the Lancaster NG176 in a forest close to Mattexey. Until now, the crash site had never been confirmed but the marks are still visible 80 years later

Most tellingly of all, his foraging uncovered bullets used by the RAF and specifically Browning machine guns fitted onto Lancasters.

There were three, 303 rounds. One was an armour piercing round dating back to 1944 and manufactured at the Royal Ordnance factory in Spennymoor, County Durham.

'The fact that one hadn't been fired proves that it was onboard the plane that crashed,' he explains.

Benoit, a 46-year-old English teacher at a technical college, has been quietly commemorating the fallen for more than a decade, both in his native France and the UK.

His interest in military history was forged by his French-American heritage, with his great-uncle a US fighter pilot during World War II and second cousin the co-pilot of a B26 bomber.

When he and wife Coralie, 45, moved to the picturesque town of Epinal, in the Vosges, they discovered their home was close another RAF Lancaster crash site, downed in July 1944.

The coincidence sparked a project that would span a decade and immerse him into a hobby that may well last a lifetime.

His research took him to the local American war cemetery, where the crew are buried. There he would strike up a friendship with the superintendent, who he'd watched taking photographs of each of the 5,000 US graves.

Benoit decided to do the same with Bomber Command crews buried there, uploading them to a Find a Grave website for relatives to trace.

After consulting the mayor, he replaced the torn flags flying above the graves, perhaps since the cemetery's inception.

These were carefully folded and sent to Canadian and British relatives of the PB253 crew he had traced and contacted, in what would become a frequent ritual.

Billy posing with a banana during training in Canada in July 1943, when the fruit was scarce in the UK (left), and showing his navigator wings (right)

William 'Billy' Raine, front row third from left, at his passing out parade, thought to be June 1942. His total qualified service was 2 years 115 days before he was killed in action on 19/10/44

The more flags that were retired, the more families he found until he eventually gathered pictures of each of the men, leading to the creation of a new memorial.

It is now one of dozens of commemorative plaques and information boards he has researched, commissioned and often funded himself, to remember those to which he says he owes his 'liberte'.

'My first goal was to make sure that every bomber command that crashed in the Vosges had a memorial. Some did and some didn't, so I started doing that.

'Now that they all do, I've started having plaques made for crews whose planes were shot down in northeastern France.'

Today, is the turn of my great-uncle's crew, who he had seen details for on the memorial website, aircrew.remembered.com, supplied by my late uncle and fellow aviation enthusiast, Ian Raine.

We meet at Choloy to visit the graves and lay poppies, ahead of the planned inauguration of a memorial at Luneville Airfield to mark the 80th anniversary.

Unbeknown to us, a small ceremony has been planned. His children Aaron, 13, and Hannah, 11, take turns to read 'The Soldier' by Rupert Brook, before performing The Last Post and the National Anthem on the melodica and oboe, respectively.

Colonel Pierre-Alain Antoine, a highly decorated fighter pilot and the former director of the Patrouille acrobatique de la France, their equivalent of the Red Arrows, stands and salutes.

The gathering is the culmination of more than a year of Benoit's diligent efforts, tracing historical records including mission details and casualty investigation reports which unequivocally determine the crash site.

Sgt Raine, seen practicing his navigation skills on board a Lancaster in 1943, did not survive

Aaron Howson, 13, flanked by sister Hannah, 11, reads the poem 'The Soldier' written by Rupert Brooke (left) in remembrance of the crew of the NG176 fatally shot down 80 years ago at Commonwealth War Graves Commission's (CWGC) Choloy War Cemetery, near Toul

His interest was captured by the photograph of the seven airmen beaming in their full military fatigues, apparently a rare occurrence as it was considered bad luck.

It was taken on Billy's wedding day outside the family home on Bates Avenue, Darlington, as he prepared to marry childhood sweetheart, Betty Robson. Exactly one month later, she would become a widow at 18.

Born in the village of Eggleston, Co Durham, the family had a bottling factory called the 'Old Pop Shop', which produced drinks including lemonade and tonic water.

The eldest son of Hannah and John William Raine, his brother Tom, would serve in the merchant navy, while my grandad Jack who was too young to enlist, would become a carpenter.

When there was insufficient work, the family moved 20 miles away to Darlington where John started working for Royal London Insurance.

Billy attended Darlington Grammar School for boys before getting a job at the accountancy firm Chipchase Wood, prior to war breaking out.

He was a member of the Local Defence Volunteers, later known as the Home Guard, and was enlisted in December 1941, before joining the RAF the following year.

Like all of the 125,000 who served in Bomber Command, Billy volunteered to become aircrew, which at 44 per cent, had the highest rate of attrition of any Allied unit.

Training took the crew to Canada in April 1943, where he sent photographs home including one he captioned 'A scruffy guy and a banana', when the fruit had become scarce in England.

He would send letters home every few days, including one in the days before his wedding on September 19, 1944, at St Paul's Church, Darlington, asking if someone had bought brylcreem as he 'needed it'.

He writes: 'Everything is now arranged for the 19th. I saw the CO (commanding officer) and told him the new date. He said that would be ok. I have to go over and see him to see what time we can get away.'

William Raine 22, and Betty Robson, who were married in St Paul's Church, Darlington, on September 19, 1944. He was shot down and killed exactly one month later making her a widow at just 18

In another, he describes how neighbour Sgt Edward Brunskill, his pal and flight engineer on NG176, offered to house fellow crew on his big day.

'Wedding getting close. I said I'd put everyone up. Eddie said some could stay with him. But if you've got any beds to move leave them until we all come up.'

His first taste of action came on October 18, 1944 in a daytime operation involving 12 Lancasters in a bombing raid over Bonn.

Their Lancaster took off at 7.59am and dropped its bombs on the target at 11.00am. The attack was a success, with the crew reporting seeing numerous fires on the ground caused by the incendiary bombs.

The pilot, Flying Officer Ian Dundee Graham, from Auckland, New Zealand, safely guided them back to RAF Tuddenham at 1pm.

It was to be their first and last successful mission of a 30-operation tour.

The following day, the crew boarded NG176 to take part in the first of a two-wave attack on the Bosch factory, a key supplier of German military vehicles.

One of 583 bombers from air bases across England, it took off at 5.55pm loaded with a 4,000lb. bomb and numerous incendiary bombs.

The factory was heavily damaged but theirs was one of seven shot down that night and the only of the 12, 186-squadron aircraft taking part in the operation not to return to the air base.

Former fighter pilot and director of the Patrouille acrobatique de la France (French equivalent of the Red Arrows), Colonel Pierre-Alain Antoine, pays his respects at the grave of Sgt Raine

Aaron Howson, 13, plays the last post at Choloy War Cemetery to commemorate the crew of the NG176 Lancaster, fatally shot down 80 years ago (LtoR) Hannah, Aaron and father Benoit Howson, Kate Pickles, David I'Anson, Patricia I'Anson, Gillian Pickles, David Dixon, Colonel Pierre-Alain Antoine and Coralie Lagrange

My grandad would later recall how the family dog Spot had refused to settle that night, instead pacing the hallway and kitchen for hours.

After being reported missing, it would be another four months before a telegraph boy visited his new wife Betty, only weeks after they had returned from honeymoon in Edinburgh.

Hers would be the fate of thousands of wives whose loved ones served with Bomber Command during the Second World War.

Some 55,573 young men died flying with Bomber Command during World War Two; more than those who serve in the entire Royal Air Force today.

An estimated 12,000 planes, mostly RAF and US Army Airforce as it was then (the USAF only formed in 1947), were downed over France during this time.

Only 15 per cent  fewer than one in seven  survived when Lancaster's were critically damaged.

While always told the targets were industrial and military sites, it is estimated between 300,000 and 600,000 civilians died during large-scale bombing raids on German cities.

This uncomfortable history means their vital role in winning the war has, until recently been overlooked, with those who survived never receiving a campaign medal.

This injustice is partly what drives Benoit's acts of benevolence towards these men from the UK and Commonwealth countries such as New Zealand and Australia.

The lava-stone memorial plaque designed and commissioned by Benoit Howson on behalf of the airmen. It is one of more than a dozen he has organised for Bomber Command to remember their role in liberating France in WW2

Benoit Howson shares his research into the Lancaster NG176 crew at the inauguration of a memorial plaque in their honour the Aerodrome de Luneville, Croismare, close the crash site

The crash site of the NG176 was located by Benoit Howson, (left) who is pictured next to wife Coralie Lagrange, Sgt Raine's family members David Dixon, Gillian Pickles, Kate Pickles, Colonel Pierre-Alain Antoine, Patricia I'Anson, David I'Anson, and his children Hannah Howson and Aaron Howson

'I think that we owe them,' he reflects.

'They would sleep in their own beds in England, relatively safe, and then a few hours later they would be through flak, then fighters over Berlin or other cities, and then back. It was like a rollercoaster. I don't know how they did it.

'After the war, I feel people did not want to mention bomber crews. It took a very long time for people to recognise that they had a big impact on the war.

'For me it is just an honour to supply the flags or have a plaque made. I am happy to do it because it is the least we can do, to remember what they did.'

It's sentiment echoed on great-uncle Billy's headstone - 'Love's last gift... remembrance'.
Its classic trench coats have become an enduring staple for fashionistas from Kate Moss to Cara Delevingne.

But Burberry could be the latest home-grown firm to fall into foreign hands amid rumours it is poised to be taken over by Italian brand Moncler.

The British fashion house - whose garments, with their distinctive 'Burberry check', are still made at its factory in Keighley, Yorkshire - is said to be on the brink of being bought by the Milan-based company, which is better known for its skiwear.

Staff at one of Burberry's flagship London stores have already been told about the takeover, according to correspondence seen by The Mail on Sunday.

But with Moncler and Burberry remaining tight-lipped over the plans, the future of one of the country's most recognisable brands remains unclear.

Speculation that a takeover may be on the cards was sparked two weeks ago when fashion industry website Miss Tweed named Moncler as a potential buyer.

Beyonce wearing Burberry on her On the Run II world tour. The garments, with their distinctive 'Burberry check', are still made at Burberry's factory in Keighley, Yorkshire

Burberry's classic trench coats have become an enduring staple for fashionistas from Kate Moss to Cara Delevingne (pictured)

In 2002, former EastEnders actress Danniella Westbrook was photographed with her toddler daughter in Burberry-check kilts with matching pram

Prince Harry (pictured in 2001) with his gift of a Burberry's bag following a polo match

A source said Burberry has paused discussions with business affiliates who sell its merchandise until more details of the Moncler bid have been confirmed.

They added staff had been told not to discuss the offer with outsiders 'until an official statement has come out'.

Founded in 1952, Moncler began as a sleeping-bag manufacturer but is best known for its padded jackets, which are popular with skiers and mountaineers.

In September, LVMH, which owns luxury brands including Bulgari and Stella McCartney, snapped up a 10 per cent share in Moncler's owner Double R, fuelling speculation that the conglomerate and its billionaire French boss, Bernard Arnault, are behind the move on Burberry.

It remains to be seen whether Burberry's new boss Joshua Schulman will address the rumours on Thursday, when he presents the firm's latest financial results.

He is expected to unveil a new strategy which will involve lowering prices and concentrating on its classic designs. Neither Burberry nor Moncler were prepared to comment.

Founded in 1856 by gentleman's outfitter Thomas Burberry, the brand provided outfits for polar explorers Roald Amundsen and Ernest Shackleton, while its camel trench coats were invented to be used by soldiers during the First World War.

Celebrities, including Olivia Colman (pictured) Kate Moss, Sienna Miller and Cara Delevingne, have fronted Burberry adverts

Victoria Beckham has also been seen sporting Burberry clothing over the course of her career

Elle Macpherson wearing a Burberry trench coat (pictured in 2000). A trench coat is now priced from 1,890

Today its trench coats are priced from 1,890 - and have remained much in demand thanks to celebrities, including Olivia Colman, Kate Moss, Sienna Miller and Cara Delevingne, fronting its adverts.

By the 1990s, the label's clothing and accessories were so in demand  from high society to Wags and the Cool Britannia set alike  that it struggled to separate its luxury reputation from an increasingly more downmarket aesthetic.

In 2002, former EastEnders actress Danniella Westbrook was photographed with her toddler daughter in Burberry-check kilts with matching pram.

It led to a drop in demand from its discerning clientele - and saw then creative director Christopher Bailey limit sales of the most distinctive prints. A mix of clever advertising and edgy design collaborations then ensured the brand's survival.

Alexandra Shulman, The Mail on Sunday columnist and former Vogue editor, said: 'If Burberry is taken over by Moncler, it would be a massive blow for British fashion.

'However, Burberry has lost its way for several years - focusing on an outre fashion brand rather than the outerwear it was so successful selling to the world.'
University bosses have been accused of racism after a report blamed a higher drop-out rate of black students on the 'risk' posed by white lecturers.

A 'risk register' report published by Brunel University of London warned that white staff may halt the progress of ethnic minority students because of institutional racism.

It also appeared to blame white lecturers for contributing to the gap in top degrees gained by students with Black or Asian heritage compared to those from white backgrounds.

Brunel university, named after British engineering giant Isambard Kingdom Brunel, specialises in science, engineering and technology, and is one of Britain's most ethnically diverse campuses.

Three quarters of its 16,500 students are from ethnic minority backgrounds. The dropout rate for black students is 20 per cent, compared to about 13 per cent for white and Asian students. Two thirds of the university's lecturers are white.

A 'risk register' report published by Brunel University London warned that white staff may halt the progress of ethnic minority students because of institutional racism (stock photo)

Brunel university, named after British engineering giant Isambard Kingdom Brunel, specialises in science, engineering and technology, and is one of Britain's most ethnically diverse campuses (stock photo)

The risk report states: 'There is a gap in continuation for black students. Underlaying (sic) causes are complex but it is likely that some of the causes are structural and, along with evidence suggesting that trust can be damaged by white educators, this may prevent students from coming forward for academic, personal and financial support.'

The Brunel report cited an American research paper from Miami University, which said that black students do not trust white educators to be genuinely anti-racist.

The controversial claim was criticised by anti-racism campaigners last night as 'victimising' black students and said the claim that white educators hold back the progress of ethnic minority students was racist in itself.

Ike Ijeh, from the Policy Exchange think tank, criticised the 'false narrative of racial victimhood,' adding: 'It's deeply depressing that even when ethnic minorities choose not to identify as oppressed, academic institutions are now prepared to insist that we do.'

He also pointed out that in secondary education, it was more often white working class boys who were the statistically the poorest performing group.

Alka Sehgal Cuthbert, director of the campaign group Don't Divide Us, said: 'It is hard to see how telling students and staff in a white majority country that white educators pose 'a threat' to black students is going to help restore any trust at all.'

She said that differences in dropout rates may arise from complex factors including family background, their prior education and whether students have to work or have family responsibilities.

The controversial claim was criticised by anti-racism campaigners last night as 'victimising' black students (stock photo)

The dropout rate for black students is 20 per cent, compared to about 13 per cent for white and Asian students (Stock image)

Education expert Professor Alan Smithers from Buckingham University said: 'If a particular group consistently does less well than the others, then it must be addressed and, if possible, ameliorated. But to think skin colour is the most likely explanation is strange, and to imply that the very presence of white lecturers could be 'damaging' and some kind of sign of institutional racism, is tantamount to being racist itself.'

Previously, a report from the student union at SOAS, part of the University of London, alleged that all white university tutors were 'potentially racist' and called for mandatory targets for the hiring of black and Asian staff. A student quoted in that report said: 'Both of my tutors are white men. How can I have a rapport and feel comfortable talking to a 60-year-old white man?'

A spokesman for Brunel University said: 'Our Access and Participation Plan seeks to identify potential barriers to student success without making an assumption about individuals. By fostering trust and understanding challenges, Brunel seeks to create an inclusive environment where all students have chance to thrive.'
The Barefoot Investor has insisted HECS is a 'good debt' after a mother revealed her son had racked up $85,000 and was struggling to find work.

Megs wrote to Scott Pape to say her 33-year-old son was left with the huge loan after studying two degrees.

She said her son was employed full-time, but not in the industry he had studied for and that the debt felt like a noose around his neck.

He doesn't earn enough to repay his loan and has serious doubts about his ability to afford a home in the near future.

Meg said his self-esteem has plummeted and that he wishes he did a trade like his brothers had done.

The mum revealed she paid the debt herself, and wanted to warn young people not to be duped by the government loans, adding indexation only worsens the issue.

Mr Pape said her son had made the mistake of racking up a huge bill studying for something that would not set him up for the future.

'I think the lesson for your son is a simpler one: Dont spend $85,000 studying two degrees that you cant find employment for,' he said.

The Barefoot Investor has insisted HECS is a 'good debt' after a mother revealed her son had racked up $85,000 and was struggling to find work

'I mean, what the hell did he study  Middle Eastern pottery?'

Mr Pape congratulated the mother on affording to repay the HECS loan herself and admitted that buying a home in Australia now banks on parents' assistance.

But he said the loans are still a valuable option for Australian students.

'Do I think HECS is still a good debt? Yes I do,' he said in his home finance column penned for NewsCorp.

He said most young people enrol in universities in order to land well-paying jobs.

Though, he said the loans were not quite as fair as the deal given to most politicians' generations who received a free tertiary education in Australia.

But, with no additional interest aside from to be adjusted rates of indexation and no repayment deadline, the loans aren't an entirely poor option for Australian students.

'That being said, you are 100 per cent right: it is yet another piece of lead in the saddlebags of young people trying to buy their first home,' Mr Pape said.

Megs said her son doesn't earn enough to repay his loan and has serious doubts about his ability to afford a home in the near future

'Especially since 2022, when the government regulator changed the lending laws to require banks to take into account your HECS debt.'

He said the loans will still affect young Australians' borrowing capacity when they decide to buy a house.

On a salary of $80,000 a year, he said, if a former student makes HECS repayments of $32,00 their borrowing power will fall by a factor of ten, about $32,000, according to Flint Mortgage Group.

He advised, with that in mind, students would benefit from paying down their HECS debt out of pocket.

He added borrowers would have to consider the payments on Lenders Mortgage Insurance, to insure the bank on your loan, totalling thousands of dollars across the span of the loan term.
A Federal Emergency Management Agency supervisor who told her subordinates to skip Florida homes with Trump signs in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton has been fired.

Marn'i Washington, 38, told workers in a group chat to 'avoid homes advertising Trump' as they worked around the town of Lake Placid in late October and early November, according to The Daily Wire.

Her edict prompted workers to avoid at least 20 homes with signage indicating their support for the President-elect, leaving residents to fend for themselves without any federal aid, employees who spoke with the outlet reported.

Amid the outrage at the nation's emergency department for the apparent discrimination, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell announced Saturday that Washington has been fired from her position.

'This is a clear violation of FEMA's core values and principles to help people regardless of their political affiliation,' she wrote of Washington's actions, which she called 'reprehensible.'

Marn'i Washington, 38, has been fired from her role as a supervisor at FEMA

She told workers in a group chat to 'avoid homes advertising Trump' as they worked around the town of Lake Placid in late October and early November

'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 posted on X, announcing Washington's termination from the agency.

'I will continue to do everything I can to make sure this never happens again,' she added.

According to the Daily Wire, the employees who followed Washington's orders were 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'.

But the Trump-related remarks were reportedly deleted from the group chat a few days after she posted them.

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'

Employees said they wound up skipping at least 20 homes with signage indicating their support for the President-elect

News of Washington's order outraged Lake Placid residents, with Mayor John Holbrook telling the New York Post her discrimination 'really sickens me.'

'There are no parties when we are recovering.'

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 as it caused an estimated $50billion in damage across the state.

An employee under Washington's supervision later filed a complaint about the guidance with the federal Department of Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA.

Now, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna is demanding answers.

She wrote a letter to the agency on Friday, asking Criswell to provide answers about what she knew of Washington's instructions, what actions FEMA had taken and when it first became aware of the guidance.

Additionally, Luna is asking the agency what actions it has taken to ensure that the homes that were skipped will receive necessary aid.

She demanded Criswell respond by November 25.

'My district was one of the most heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene and Milton, and it has been sickening to hear that more than half of my constituents were discriminated against for their political beliefs,' Luna told The Daily Wire on Saturday.

The lack of a response led residents to fend for themselves without any federal aid

She went on to claim that 'big government bureaucrats despise everyday Americans because they are not politically expedient to them.

'I'll demand answers from FEMA Administrator Criswell, and Congress must fully investigate this matter,' Luna said. 'The days of putting Americans and America last are over.'

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has also announced that he has ordered a state investigation into Washington's edict.

'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 said.

'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.'

Trump wound up winning Florida's 30 electoral votes, with the Associated Press calling the race just one hour after polls closed, when the president-elect was ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris by more than 11 percent with 86 percent of the votes counted.
A baby-faced Michigan mother is behind bars after her 2-year-old daughter was found dead inside a trailer home.

Paige Nichole Bohne, 21, of Colon, is being held at the St. Joseph County Jail without bond on charges of open murder.

Officers were called to Bohne's great aunt and uncle's home at Memory Lane Trailer Park in Sturgis Township where they discovered 2-year-old Octavia unresponsive at around 12.45pm Thursday afternoon, Sturgis Journal reported.

But Octavia was pronounced dead at the scene after multiple attempts to revive her were unsuccessful.

Paige Nichole Bohne, 21, of Colon, Michigan, is behind bars on charges of Open Murder without bond for killing her 2-year-old daughter, Octavia

Two-year-old Octavia was pronounced dead at her mother's great aunt and uncle's mobile home in Memory Lane Trailer Park in Sturgis Township Thursday afternoon

'Octavia deserved more,' the child's aunt, who wishes to remain anonymous, told WSBT. 'I know there was many, many people that loved Octavia, and all her mom had to do was reach out to one of us.'

'Anybody would have helped instead of what had happened to her,' she added.

The St. Joseph County Sheriff's Office responded to the mobile home where they deemed the circumstances surrounding the toddler's death as suspicious.

The Major Crimes Task Force was activated to help launch an investigation into Octavia's death leading investigators to take the 21-year-old mother into custody for involuntary manslaughter.

But additional details around Octavia's death remain unknown.

'My heart goes out to everybody that's surrounded by this case,' Jason Bingaman, the St. Joseph County Undersheriff said, KOMO News reported.

'This is a sad and tragic situation that did not have to occur and unfortunately there's a loss of a life of a young person and that's troubling.'

Multiple attempts to revive the 2-year-old girl at the mobile home were unsuccessful but the circumstances surrounding her death were deemed suspicious leading investigators to take her 21-year-old mother into custody

Bohne's great aunt and uncle, who lived in the mobile home and have five children of their own, also served as Octavia's most present guardians

The Sturgis Police Department, Michigan Department of Human and Health Services, Michigan State Police, Tri-Township Fire Department, Sturgis Fire Department and St. Joseph County Victim Services Unit also assisted the sheriff's office in the investigation, Sturgis Journal reported.

Bohne was originally charged with involuntary manslaughter, but the St. Joseph County Prosecutor upgraded those charges after her arraignment on Friday to Open Murder without bond.

Octavia's aunt, who is a mother-of-five, also served as the 2-year-old girl's most present guardian - despite there never being a set schedule on when she would care for her.

And the aunt said her kids loved the 2-year-old girl like she was their own sibling.

The last time she saw her was the weekend before Halloween when she took a bumblebee dressed Octavia trick-or-treating around the neighborhood.

'She just barely was staying with us, because she was just so excited and running up to get all the candy from all the people that were handing it out,' she told WSBT.

'She was wanting to eat the candy as fast as she got it.'

A resident of Memory Lane Trailer Park told KOMO News: 'I wish she would've sought out help before this would've happened. There's a lot of people she could've resolved to before this would've happened'

She said that Octavia was one of the happiest little girls she had ever seen and she wants her to be remembered for her smile.

'The loss of someone is always difficult, but the loss of a child is especially tragic, and it impacts the whole community,' Bingaman added in his statement.

Residents around Memory Lane Trailer Park, where the toddler died, were stunned after hearing the news of her death.

'I wish she would've sought out help before this would've happened,' Thomas James, a neighbor, told KOMO News. 'There's a lot of people she could've resolved to before this would've happened.'

The St. Joseph County Michigan Major Crimes Task Force is investigating the circumstances of her death further.
Discarded wartime service medals found on a street led to the discovery of a WWI soldiers unmarked grave, lost and forgotten for nearly a century.

The remarkable piecing together of William McEwan's tragic story has also sparked the fight to give him and hundreds of other forgotten Aussie war heroes the official posthumous recognition their sacrifice deserves.

'Our William was an ordinary bloke from an ordinary family who went and "did his bit" like so many Aussies but sadly came back physically and mentally broken,' Melbourne military history enthusiast Peter Zabrdac told Daily Mail Australia.

'It is disgusting that his grave was never properly marked and that he was forgotten for 99 years. I am determined to get him the military headstone memorial he is entitled to.'

Mr Zabrdac's father found William's discarded medals in a Fitzroy street in inner-city Melbourne in the early 1970s.

Although they fascinated Mr Zabrdac, who was in primary school at the time, he forgot about them until earlier this year when he found the military honours among his father's belongings.

Now 59 and a semi-retired company director, Mr Zabrdac did some research that led him to get William's full 79-page "beautifully handwritten" army file from the National Archives in Canberra.

'The more I read his file the more human he became,' Mr Zabrdac said.

The unmarked and long lost grave of William McEwan, a WWI Digger gravely injured fighting for Australia

William McEwan was so badly injured in the 1916 WWI battle for the French town of Pozieres the army wrote to his mother saying he was unlikely to survive

William was only 5'3 (163cm) tall, which originally stopped him enlisting for Gallipoli.

Following that disastrous campaign and other fighting the Australian army was forced to drop height minimums to replenish its numbers, meaning William could enlist and he was sent to fight in France.

During the hellish 1916 four-month battle for the French village of Pozieres where the Germans unleashed their full arsenal, including phosphorus shells and poison gas, William joined the 23,000 Australian casualties, with 6800 killed or fatally wounded.

William was shot through both lungs and arms as well as receiving shrapnel wounds to his back.

'He was not expected to live and his poor mum was notified accordingly by the army, Mr Zabrdac said.

'How he lived only God knows.'

William was evacuated to England, where he underwent 18 months recuperation before being discharged in 1917 as unfit for further service.

Returning to live in Melbourne, William married but dramatically and publicly took his own life in 1923.

A death notice from now defunct Melbourne newspaper The Argus stated William walked into a pub in Brunswick, near Fitzroy where he lived, and told the barman to serve 'a pint of poison' and lend him a 'bob' (12 pence in pre-decimal currency).

One of William's medals found apparently discarded in a Fitzroy street in he early 1970s

When this 'unusual request' was refused, William instead ordered a beer, which he drank but then walked out onto the street and 'drank some poison and staggered into the hotel yard, where he died'.

'He had suffered from chest complaints since he returned from the war,' The Argus reported.

Mr Zabrdac said that with the help of Faith Jones from the Virtual War Memorial group and Lois Comeadow from the Brighton Cematorians, he was able to track down not only a living relative of William and also the war hero's grave.

However, Mr Zabrdac was shocked and dismayed to William lying anonymously in an unmarked in Brighton Cemetery, located in the south east Melbourne suburb of Caulfield South.

'Our William was an ordinary bloke from an ordinary family who went and "did his bit" like so many Aussies but sadly came back physically and mentally broken,' Mr Zabrdac said.

'It is disgusting that his grave was never properly marked and that he was forgotten for 99 years and I am determined to get him the military headstone memorial he is entitled to.

The extraordinary 1923 death notice for William contained in his army file from now defunct Melbourne newspaper The Argus

Mr Zabrdac has been told the Department of Veteran Affairs will only designate William as eligible for a war grave and provide a ceremonially engraved headstone, valued at around $7,000, if it can be proven he died from battlefield injuries.

'So far all we have is the statement from his landlady the police took where she stated he "suffered terribly from breathing problems",' Mr Zabrdac said as he prepared a submission.

Mr Zabrdac pointed out that families of US veterans are always given a dedicated place to honor their deceased loved ones.

'The Americans have Arlington Military Cemetery (in Washington) for their returned service people, yet we do nothing in Australia and it's shameful,' he said.

'There are many other Diggers all over Australia in similar situations, forgotten and lying in unmarked graves.'

Peter Zabrdac (pictured left) attends a flag ceremony at William's grave with Victoria RSL State Committee member Ange Kenos

Mr Zabrdac attended a flag ceremony held at William's grave last Friday, which also involved ADF members and Victorian RSL representatives.

He said the heartfelt ceremony was just the beginning of the effort to honor William, with everyone in attendance vowing not to rest until they secure a headstone or memorial plaque for this previously unrecognized soldier.

Mr Zabrdac also intends to give William's medals to the only surviving relative he managed to track down, Wendy Newman who lives in Queensland.

Between 1997 and 2021, there were 1677 confirmed suicides by serving and ex-serving ADF members, which amounts to 20 times the number killed in armed conflict over the period.

The Department of Veterans' Affairs told Daily Mail Australia on Monday for official commemoration a request must be made to the Repatriation Commission to determine whether a veteran's cause of death is attributable to their war service.

'If such a link is found, the veteran will then become eligible for an official commemoration by the Australian Government,' the spokesperson said.

'The Office of Australian War Graves (OAWG) has been unable to locate any correspondence requesting Private McEwans death be investigated to determine if it can be linked to his war service.

'Nor could any determination regarding his death be located.

'The Office of Australian War Graves (OAWG) welcomes applications for official commemorations of First World War veterans whos death related to their service.'

In addition the spokesperson said unmarked graves not eligible for an official commemoration may be eligible for the Marking First World War Private Graves Grants Program, which provides funding to designate Diggers' resting places.

'This program is currently open for applications, and we encourage anyone in the community to apply,' the spokesperson said.
The Prince of Wales has said he is hopeful Kate Middleton will have recovered enough from her cancer treatment for foreign travel next year, as he spoke candidly about putting passion before pageantry as heir to the throne.

In an interview, Prince William said he hopes to connect with the next generation by putting a 'smaller R in royal', as he revealed his optimism that 'Catherine will be doing a bit more next year', following what has been an intense year of health concerns for the royal couple.

William spelled out his philosophy at the end of a major visit to South Africa where he mixed the informal with traditional elements of the monarchy, and said he was trying to do things 'differently' and wanted to be a prince for his 'generation'.

The future king said what mattered to him was 'impact philanthropy, collaboration, convening, and helping people' and stressed 'empathy' was also important 'because I really care about what I do'.

He said he hoped to carry out overseas tours with the Princess of Wales, who this autumn returned to royal duties after completing a course of cancer treatment.

The Prince of Wales has spoken candidly about putting passion before pageantry

He also revealed he is hopeful Kate Middleton will have recovered enough from her cancer treatment for foreign travel next year. Pictured: The couple at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance on Saturday night

William said the last 12 months since his wife and father's diagnosis with cancer had been the 'hardest year in my life'

A shot of Prince William delivering a speech at the Earthshot Prize awards in Cape Town taken from a new video of showcasing his recent trip to South Africa

His comments were made in an interview with British press at the end of a four-day visit to Cape Town, which concluded on Thursday, where the prince staged his Earthshot Prize environmental awards.

Asked about a modern approach to the monarchy he appeared to be adopting, William replied: 'It's hard to describe what that is all about, but I can only describe what I'm trying to do, and that's I'm trying to do it differently and I'm trying to do it for my generation.

'And to give you more (of) an understanding around it, I'm doing it with maybe a smaller "r" in the royal, if you like, that's maybe a better way of saying it.'

During his time in Cape Town, William performed the statesman-like duty of sitting down for talks with South Africa's president Cyril Ramaphosa, but also dressed casually and took part in informal events.

He also enjoyed a walkabout with nature conservationist Steve Irwin's son.

The projects he is pursuing, attempting to find solutions to homelessness and major environmental issues, are contemporary issues growing in prominence that are likely to resonate with a younger generation.

William explained his aims: 'So it's more about impact philanthropy, collaboration, convening, and helping people.

'And I'm also going to throw empathy in there as well, because I really care about what I do. It helps impact people's lives.

'And I think we could do with some more empathetic leadership around the world.

'So that's what I'm trying to bring, that's what Catherine is trying to bring as well.'

Prince William speaks to youngsters participating in the inaugural Earthshot Prize Climate Leaders Youth Programme

The Prince of Wales said on his royal role: 'I'm trying to do it differently and I'm trying to do it for my generation'

William revealed he is passionate about attempting to find solutions to homelessness and major environmental issues, contemporary issues growing in prominence that are likely to resonate with a younger generation

Prince William speaks to young people during his trip to South Africa who were participating in the inaugural Earthshot Prize Climate Leaders Youth Programme

William has described the past year that saw his wife and father the King being treated for cancer as 'brutal'.

During the interview William spoke candidly about the royal family's major health scares, describing 2024 as 'probably been the hardest year in my life' and a 'dreadful' experience.

But he sounded optimistic about possible joint overseas engagements with his wife: 'I think hopefully Catherine will be doing a bit more next year, so we'll have some more trips maybe lined up.'

The last foreign trip the couple made together was when Kate joined her husband in Boston, US for the Earthshot Prize awards ceremony in 2022.

William was joined by a small camera crew, who documented his four day trip.

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.

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'.

William went on a walk up Signal Hill with Australian conservationist Robert Irwin, the 20-year-old son of the late Steve Irwin

Prince William poses with 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

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.

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.

Prince William posed next to Robert Irwin and Nomzamo Mbatha on the green carpet

The winners of the annual Earthshot Awards prize ceremony pose of the green carpet

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

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 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.

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.
Qatar has decided to suspend its key mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel as it threatens to expel Hamas from the country.

Officials in Doha say they have halted their role as arbitrators 'as long as there is a refusal to negotiate in good faith' between both parties - amid reports Hamas' office in the country is being shut down.

It is unclear whether the remaining Hamas leadership in Qatar has been ordered to leave or where they would go, although Iran, Turkey and Lebanon would be likely options.

One spokesperson has said that Qatar is likely to return to ceasefire efforts if both sides show 'serious political willingness' to reach a deal on the war in Gaza.

A diplomatic source said both Israel and Hamas, along with the United States, were informed after the decision was made.

Hamas was told it will have to leave Qatar if it is not ready to engage in serious negotiations, a diplomatic source said.

'As a consequence, the Hamas political office no longer serves its purpose' in Qatar, the source added.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha, Qatar

In Washington, a US 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 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 Qatar's decision to suspend mediation efforts, but said '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.

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 Israel's campaigns against Hamas militants in Gaza or Hezbollah in Lebanon, where Israel's military said that it struck command centres and other militant infrastructure overnight in Beirut's southern suburbs.

Palestinian girls walk above the rubble of a building destroyed in previous Israeli bombardment, in Gaza City

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.

Among the dead were two local journalists, a pregnant woman and a child.

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 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.

Meanwhile, 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 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.

Palestinians gather at the site of an Israeli strike in the courtyard of the Al-Aqsa Hospital

In Jabaliya, Israeli troops stopped one of the convoys bound for nearby Beit Lahiya and ordered the supplies to be offloaded.

The announcement comes just before 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 been 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.

Palestinians at the site of the Al-Aqsa Hospital, where displaced people are living in tents

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 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 October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people - mostly civilians - and abducting 250 others.
Many of the nearly 1,500 Americans convicted for their role in the January 6 Capitol riot are expressing their hope that they will be pardoned following Donald Trump's election victory.

The former president had vowed on the campaign trail that he would pardon some of the convicted rioters, sometimes even suggesting his clemency might extend to leaders of far-right groups like the Proud Boys.

Those pardons would be determined on a 'case-by-case basis when he is back in the White House,' campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt had said.

Still, many of the insurrectionists see Trump's victory as a chance for them to get their convictions overturned, as some seek to delay any further court hearings until after the president-elect is inaugurated in January.

At least one convicted rioter has also argued that the former president's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris is a vindication of their actions.

President-elect Donald Trump had vowed on the campaign trail that he would pardon some of the 1,500 people convicted in the January 6, 2021 riots

Many now see Trump's victory as a chance for them to get their convictions overturned for the riot (pictured), as some seek to delay any further court hearings until after Trump is inaugurated in January

Among those hoping to be pardoned under the new administration, is Christopher Carnell, whose lawyers asked a federal judge to delay a hearing in his case just hours after the presidential election was called.

'Throughout his campaign, President-elect Trump made multiple clemency promises to the Jan. 6 defendants, particularly to those who were non-violent participants,' the attorneys wrote, according to the New York Times.

'Mr. Carnell, who was an 18-year-old nonviolent entrant into the Capitol on Jan. 6 is expected to be relieved of the criminal prosecution that he is currently facing when the new administration takes office.'

Federal judge Beryl A Howell swiftly rejected the motion, without offering an explanation, but attorneys for other January 6 rioters have said they will file similar motions - with even the lawyers for former Proud Boys chairman Enrique Tarrio suggesting they would fight his conviction once Trump is back in office.

The lawyers released a statement following Trump's victory saying they wanted to 'explore every possible avenue' to win Tarrio's release. He is currently behind bars, serving 22 years in prison for his role in the insurrection.

'We look forward to what the future holds, both in terms of the judicial process for our client and the broader political landscape under the new administration,' the lawyers said.

Edward Jacob 'Jake' Lang seemed confident in a post on X that his conviction would be overturned

At least one convicted rioter has suggested Trump's victory is a vindication of his actions

Some January 6 rioters now say they are confident they will be pardoned, with Edward Jacob 'Jake' Lang posting on Wednesday: 'I'M COMING HME!!!! THE JANUARY 6 POLITICAL PRISONERS ARE FINALLY COMING HOME!!!!'

'In just 75 days, on January 20, 2025, when Donald J Trump is inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States, he will pardon all of the J6 Hostages,' Lang asserted.

He is currently serving time in jail, after federal prosecutors charged him with wielding a dangerous weapon against Capitol Police officers and obstruction of an official proceeding.

Footage from the mayhem shows him hitting officers with a bat 'multiple times,' according to an FBI affidavit.

Derrick Evans, who was sentenced to three months behind bars in June 2022, also told Newsweek he is '100 percent confident' Trump will pardon at least the nonviolent offenders.

'And you might even see J6ers joining the administration or going back to DC as members of Congress, or Senate even,' he suggested.

Attorneys for former Proud Boys chairman Enrique Tarrio suggesting they would fight his conviction once Trump is back in office

Meanwhile, convicted rioter Zachary Alam told a federal judge on Thursday he deserved a new classification of pardon, which he called a 'full pardon of patriotism,' ABC News reports.

He argued it should come with monetary compensation, expungement of the charges on his criminal record and assurance he would never be charged again - characterizing anything less as a 'second-class pardon.'

Alam has not denied his participation in the Capitol riot, but has defended his actions by saying he was doing the right thing to protect democracy.

'True patriots do the right thing in spite of everything else,' he argued, claiming his fellow rioters 'fought, cried, bled and died for what is right.'

He then asked whether the insurgency was truly a threat to democracy if the American people re-elected the former president.

'Sometimes you have to break the rules to do the right thing,' Alam claimed.

But federal judge Dabney Friedlich said Alam's actions on January 6, 2021 were a 'full-throated' attack on the US Constitution and 'not the acts of a patriot.'

She went on to call him one of the 'most violent and aggressive rioters' that day, after law enforcement officials testified that he told them, 'I'm going to f*** you up.'

Federal prosecutors also accused Alam of knocking out the glass door of the Speaker's Lobby and pushing up against three Capitol Police officers who were trying to keep the angry mob from entering the floor of the House of Representatives - where Congressmembers were certifying the results of the 2020 election.

Alam also allegedly scaled four floors of the Capitol, kicked doors and threw a velvet rope over a balcony in an attempt to hit officers below, the Department of Justice alleged.

He then allegedly shouted to his fellow rioters they 'need guns' before he fled the scene.

Alam was ultimately sentenced to eight years in prison with three years supervised release - despite Trump's win.
Ella Emhoff has opened up about her mental health woes in a vulnerable post to Instagram.

The activist and fashion designer, 25, had appeared distraught on Wednesday after her stepmother Kamala Harris' presidential bid came to a heartbreaking end.

Ella shared an image of herself looking devastated as she openly cried alongside campaign staffers and family members.

On Saturday she published a curse-laden post on Instagram. The outburst seems to have been prompted by a widely circulated post on X which spread cruel rumors suggesting she had checked into an in-patient mental health facility.

The rumor has since been debunked as fake news with Ella setting the record straight for herself.

Ella Emhoff, 25, has opened up about her mental health woes in a vulnerable post to Instagram dispelling any rumors that she had checked into a mental health hospital

Ella was seen breaking down in tears as Vice President Kamala Harris conceded to former President Donald Trump on Wednesday

'There's a rumor about me having a mental breakdown and getting checked into a hospital. Not true,' Ella wrote.

'Also f*** you if you're out there spreading that. There's nothing wrong with showing emotion and crying. Anyone who says there is probably needs a good cry,' she added.

'I've struggled with my mental health my whole life and I'm not ashamed of it,' Ella admitted.

For those wondering what Ella had been doing since the Democrats election defeat she added: 'I've literally just been here playing fetch with [my dog] Jerry.'

The heartless rumor also led to Ella's mother, Kerstin Emhoff, taking to X to bash those spreading it.

'More MAGA bs against my family. Leave my kids alone!!! Ella is doing great and spending a lovely day with her mom!' Kerstin wrote.

'Having the ability to show your emotions is something we should all hope for. It's ok to not feel great right now. We aren't letting anyone break our family down,' she added.

Emhoff shared this image of herself at Howard University where she struggled to contain her emotions after her stepmother lost the presidency

On Friday, Ella once again shared how she was feeling with another heartbreaking post

Ella had been an huge supporter of her stepmother and even had a sign printed with her father's name on during this summer's Democratic National Convention

On Friday, Ella once again shared how she was feeling with another emotional post.

'Truly no words,' she 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.'

On Wednesday Ella urged her 500,000 followers to stay strong following Harris' concession speech at Howard University after Donald Trump's landslide win.

Ella'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 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.'

Ella's following grew significantly during her stepmother's vice presidency and candidacy, as she became known for her liberal activism and trendy fashion choices

Ella 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'

Ella 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. That's normal, and it would be weird if we weren't. I know I've gone through about 10 cycles of sadness, rage, and stressand that was just this morning.

'I think it's important to feel them all so they don't fester inside.

'One way I always make myself feel better is by harnessing that anger and sadness into creativity. I know that's not for everyone. It can be really hard to create when things feel so uncertain.'

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'

Harris waited until the afternoon of the day following 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.

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.
A gangster jailed for assisting the murderer of an innocent woman could walk free from prison after serving less than a third of his sentence under the Government's early release scheme.

Thomas Waring, 21, hid the submachine gun and burned the getaway car used in the killing of beautician Elle Edwards outside a pub in Wallasey, Merseyside, on Christmas Eve 2022.

Waring was jailed for nine years last July, but Elle's devastated father Tim Edwards has now been told he could be released as early as April 2026  meaning he will have served just two years and nine months.

Sir Keir Starmer's Government announced in July that thousands of prisoners would be released early to combat prison overcrowding.

And Mr Edwards, 53, said he feels like Waring is being rewarded for aiding the slaughter of his 26-year-old daughter. 'I'm angry,' he said.

Thomas Waring, 21, (pictured) could walk free from prison after serving less than a third of his sentence

Elle Edwards (pictured) was gunned down outside a pub in Wallasey, Merseyside, on Christmas Eve 2022

Connor Chapman, 24, (pictured) was jailed for a minimum of 48 years for Elle's murder last year

Undated handout file photo of a generic photo of a Skorpion sub-machine gun, similar to that used in the shooting which killed Elle Edwards

Waring hid the submachine gun and burned the getaway car used in the killing of beautician Elle Edwards

A screengrab of police arresting a person in connection with the Christmas Eve shooting of Elle Edwards, at the Lighthouse pub

Chapman opened fire outside the Lighthouse pub shortly before midnight, killing Elle and injuring five others, in the culmination of a gang feud

Waring was jailed for nine years last July, but Elle's devastated father Tim Edwards has now been told he could be released as early as April 2026

'I've kept calm and cool and been very dignified for the last two years, but this has really boiled me. I'm sick and tired of being dignified, I want action.

'As far as I'm concerned, he should be in prison for ten or 15 years.'

Connor Chapman, 24, was jailed for a minimum of 48 years for Elle's murder last year.

He opened fire outside the Lighthouse pub shortly before midnight, killing her and injuring five others, in the culmination of a gang feud.

Afterwards, Chapman drove a stolen Mercedes to the home of Waring, who destroyed the car and concealed the weapon.

He was convicted of possessing a prohibited weapon and assisting an offender.

Mr Edwards received the devastating news about Waring's early release in a letter from a victim liaison officer at the Ministry of Justice, which cited 'significant issues with the prison population' as the reason for Waring's early release.

In response, Mr Edwards wrote to the PM demanding answers. He said: 'He's basically been put in the same class as a shoplifter. How can that be right?

'I started a foundation in Elle's name to discourage kids from joining gangs. But it feels like the government is trying to undermine this by failing to punish serious criminals.'
An Aussie CEO has revealed he was rejected from the perfect rental because the real estate agent claimed he was single and too young.

Kyle Hunt, 25, who juggles executive work for three companies, was eager to find a home close to work and spotted a promising listing in Melbourne last month.

He arranged for a private viewing of the property and was elated to inspect it.

'I'd been looking for an apartment for three months and I finally found one in the perfect location, beautiful,' he said in a TikTok.

'And I spoke to the real estate agent over the phone, super nice, and I booked the inspection.'

But the agent appeared a little apprehensive when he met with Mr Hunt.

'When I arrived, his demeanour completely changed.'

'He was like very standoffish and I was like, "okay, maybe he's had a bad day".'

An Australian CEO has been left shocked by a bizarre encounter with a real estate agent

He claimed exclusive property agents were blacklisting clients in the competitive national rental market (stock image)

He said the home had everything he was looking for, despite the abrasive agent.

Mr Hunt said he continued the inspection, silently. The agent didn't show any of the individual rooms and sprung a bizarre question upon the 25-year-old toward the conclusion of the inspection.

Then the agent asked if Mr Hunt had a partner.

'I said "no", and he said "oh",' Mr Hunt told news.com.au.

The property had also been listed as a fully furnished home, but when Mr Hunt enquired about which furniture would stay in the property he was told that 'wasn't part of his job'.

Regardless, Mr Hunt asked for the application forms to be sent to him.

The agent obliged, but after two days Mr Hunt still hadn't received any email from the agent.

He contacted the agency who passed him on to the agent again.

He asked to receive the forms for the application and the agent told him he wouldn't.

'I asked super politely ... And his immediate response is "I'm not doing that", and I was like, huh, why?'

'He says, "I'm going to be straight up with you Kyle, I shouldn't have shown you the property because of your age but you came to the property alone, you're single.'

The agent reportedly said Mr Hunt was not what the agency were looking for despite his well-paying jobs and mature age.

'He said "we wanted desirable candidates to view the place," I was like what the hell?",' the CEO said.

'I call back to the office, to another real estate agent, [but] when I was on the phone with the real estate agent they said, "sorry you've been black-listed so we can't offer you any of our properties so I'm going to have to refer you to another real estate agent".'

'I don't know what's going on with the real estate agents,' he said.

The Tenant's Union is clear that it's unlawful for landlords and real estate agents to discriminate against would-be renters.

The union states it is unlawful for agencies to deny opportunities to renters based on their race, sexual orientation, gender, marital status, disability, or age.

The CEO estimated it took him a further three months to find a property following the ordeal.

Another agent found him a suitable apartment.

He joked the whole experience was 'cooked' and said he didn't want to have to move again.

Viewers to his story on TikTok were quick to sympathise with the 25-year-old.

One viewer warned the experience could have been worse.

'Imagine if you had a dog! It gets even worse,' they joked.

Mr Hunt replied, saying: 'It felt like I was the dog'.

'That is not on,' another simply said.

'The amount of times this has happened to me,' one viewer concurred.

But some viewers said the ordeal could have been a blessing to the 25-year-old.

'Rejection is redirection,' they said.
The SAS will mount its biggest security operation in London in more than forty years due to the threat of a terror attack at the National Service of Remembrance.

They will be at the Cenotaph watching over the thousands of veterans, members of the public and dignitaries who will meet at Whitehall at 11am.

It is understood to be the largest deployment in London since the Iranian Embassy Siege in 1980 - though exact numbers have not been disclosed for security reasons.

It comes after Ken McCallum, MI5 chief, warned that the security service has 'one hell of a job' on its hands' in protecting the public from Islamic groups, right wing groups and hostile nations such as Russia and Iran.

Special forces soldiers will be deployed in large numbers in an attempt to target lone wolves.

Around 10,000 veterans from all conflicts are set to gather in London for Remembrance Day.

Chelsea Pensioners parade during the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in central London

Ken McCallum, Director General of MI5 warned that the security service has 'one hell of a job' on its hands' in protecting the public

The Prince and Princess of Wales at the Festival of Remembrance tonight

SAS troops will be drawn from the Special Forces Group and operate under the Met's Counter Terror Command.

A counter-terror source told the Sunday Express: 'For Remembrance Day our focus is on radical Islamists and the radical Left, financed by Iran.'

The two-minute silence will be led by King Charles, alongside the Prince and Princess of Wales.

The Princess of Wales' made her first high profile appearance since being diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer, at the Festival of Remembrance Tonight and will be present at the ceremony tomorrow.

Princess Kate appeared alongside Prince William in the lavish Kensington venue to celebrate Britain's servicemen and women this evening.

Kate donned one poppy this year, despite being renowned for pinning three to herself in previous years for the Remembrance weekend events.

William recently described this year as the 'hardest' of his life, and remarked upon how proud he was of his father and wife for their bravery.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: 'We are forever in debt to those brave souls who fought to defend this country.

Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch said: 'We owe so much to our Armed Forces and the families who support them.'

It will be the biggest deployment of the SAS since 1980, when six Arab gunmen occupied the Iranian embassy in South Kensington, seizing 26 hostages including a British policeman.

Sim Harris escaping from the Iranian Embassy during a siege in 1980

A photograph taken from the incident at the Iranian embassy in London in 1980

Six young Arab gunmen  the self-styled Group of the Martyr occupied the building in Princes Gate, South Kensington, seizing 26 hostages in the process

They took the hostages in a protest against the theocratic rule of the Ayatollah Khomeini after he ousted the Shah, the Iranian monarch.

The SAS team, climbed their way into the building from the Royal College of General Practitioners next door.

They were able to rescue all but one of the hostages as they killed five of the six gunmen.

The surviving gunman, |Fowzi Badavi Nejad, was sentenced to life in prison but was released in 2008, reportedly remaining in the UK under a new name.

Fifty men took part in the assault: 34 inside the building and 16 in the reception area and on sniper detail.

The SAS Special Projects team were each equipped with a sub-machine gun with four 30-round magazines, a 9mm semi-automatic pistol with two spare rounds of ammunition, a respirator, gloves, balaclava helmet, body armour, boots, belt and weapons-cleaning kit.

Vans carried tear-gas launchers and canisters, stun grenades, sawn-off pump-action shotguns, explosives, gun torches, food, water, radios, medical equipment and spare weapons.
A white beluga whale suspected of being a Russian spy that was found dead off the coast of Norway may have been guarding Kremlin property, a new documentary has claimed.

Nicknamed Hvaldimir - combining the Norwegian word for whale, hval, and Vladimir Putin's first name - the body of the whale was found floating at the Risavika Bay in southern Norway in September.

The 14ft whale was first spotted by fishermen near the northern island of Ingoya in April 2019 wearing a harness and what appeared to be a mount for a small camera and a buckle marked with the text: 'Equipment St Petersburg.'

That sparked allegations that the beluga was a 'spy whale' but the answers to the mystery of his true identity and covert missions may have been unearthed in a new BBC documentary, Secrets of the Spy Whale.

After 10 months of investigations into the secret underwater agent, makers of the documentary found evidence that suggested he may have been trained as a covert 'guard whale' rather than being sent out to sea to carry out maritime espionage.

The harness and camera mount sparked allegations that the beluga was 'a spy whale'. It has now been revealed the beluga was likely guarding something

When Hvaldimir was found he was wearing a harness and what appeared to be a mount for a small camera and a buckle marked with the text: 'Equipment St Petersburg.'

Nicknamed Hvaldimir - combining the Norweigan word for whale and Vladimir Putin - the body of whale was found floating at the Risavika Bay in southern Norway in September

'Our latest findings about the potential role that Hvaldimir had been trained to do brings us closer to solving the mystery, but they also prompt many further questions about what Russia might be seeking to guard in the Arctic, and why,' Jennifer Shaw, director of the film told The Observer.

As Shaw and her team looked into the mystery, they met with one of the last remaining veterans of an early US Navy programme and former dolphin trainer who explained the advantages of using such creatures as guards.

Blair Irvine told the newspaper that bubbles are created from the movements of swimmers, which in turn create noise.

As a dolphin's hearing is so sensitive, it was a foolproof method to catching intruders - and the Soviet Union quickly launched its own programme using similar techniques.

A phalanx of dolphins were allegedly used to guard the Black Sea fleet in Crimea, and while kept in floating cages, they were trained to give a signal if any underwater intruders were approaching.

Shaw also revealed to the newspaper that it was clear Hvaldimir was trained in a similar way, as she had witnessed him placing his nose on anything that appeared to be a target.

This suggested to her that the beluga had shown signs of being recruited as part of a security patrol - rather than a spy.

Hvaldimir was found dead on September 1, and at the time of death animal rights groups claimed he has been shot.

Hvaldimir, a white beluga whale who was first spotted near Russian waters wearing a harness and ignited rumours he may be a Moscow spy, was found dead in September

The 14ft whale was first spotted by fishermen near the northern island of Ingoya, not far from the Arctic city of Hammerfest, in April 2019

But a forensic examination carried out just a week later concluded that human activity did not directly lead to the death of the animal, which had died after a stick became lodged in its mouth.

An autopsy showed the 35cm in length and 3cm wide stick was stuck in the animal's mouth, and police said Hvaldimir had also sustained some 'completely superficial' injuries, adding 'there was no evidence suggesting that Hvaldimir was shot'.

'There is nothing in the investigations that have been carried out to establish that it is human activity that has directly led to Hvaldimir's death,' police said.

Over the years, the beluga was seen in several Norwegian coastal towns and it quickly became clear that he was very tame and enjoyed playing with people, NRK said at the time of his death.

Marine Mind said on its site that Hvaldimir was very interested in people and responded to hand signals.

'Based on these observations, it appeared as if Hvaldimir arrived in Norway by crossing over from Russian waters, where it is presumed he was held in captivity,' it said.




A view of China's Huangyan Island. [Photo/Xinhua]

Global Times-The Philippines has consistently sought to make waves regarding the South China Sea issue. The two-week combat drills initiated by the Philippine military on Monday, which include exercises aim at seizing an island in the South China Sea, are currently ongoing. On Tuesday, the Philippines' Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro claimed at a security forum in Manila that he would prefer ASEAN to recognize that China was "overstepping" in the South China Sea, noting that "getting some principles or some reactions regarding the expansive activities" in the South China Sea is a "good first step" for ASEAN. It's evident that The Philippines has attempted to "hijack" ASEAN for its own interests, sparing no effort to portray the South China Sea issue as a problem between China and ASEAN.

On one hand, Manila seeks to gain sympathy from ASEAN countries and the international community. On the other hand, it hopes that ASEAN nations, especially other South China Sea claimants, could form a "united front" against China. However, inflammatory political remarks, failed maritime provocations and close ties with the US will only put the Philippines in an awkward position among ASEAN member states.

The South China Sea issue does not hinder relations between China and ASEAN, nor does it affect the relationships between China and most South China Sea claimants in ASEAN. If a country fixates on the South China Sea and panders to external powers, it is clearly using sovereignty as a pretext while neglecting its own long-term interests. Many South China Sea claimants in ASEAN have maintained good relations with China and have managed this issue approximately. Malaysia serves as a typical example.

Unlike Manila's aggressive approach on the South China Sea issue, Malaysia's stance is much more moderate and pragmatic. As Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim recently stated in an interview, "China and Malaysia have problems as most countries have problems with their neighbors, but these problems do not in any way affect our strong bond, friendship and cooperation." Malaysia's position in addressing the South China Sea issue is based on dialogue and negotiation, rather than catering to external powers, or flexing military muscles.

China and ASEAN as a whole have always shared the same expectations for peace and stability in the region. The situation in the South China Sea has been generally under control for years, which is the result of the joint efforts of China and ASEAN countries.

China's consistent position on the South China Sea issue is that disputes should be settled peacefully through negotiation and consultation, and managed through rules, norms and operating mechanisms. Its primary concern is to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, which is also in the common interest of China and ASEAN countries.

ASEAN has maintained a prudent stance on regional security issues. Li Kaisheng, vice president of the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, believes that once conflicts arise due to the South China Sea issue, Southeast Asian countries will suffer the most. Therefore, many of them have recognized the consequences of smaller countries picking sides and are unwilling to serve as proxies of any external powers.

ASEAN countries have a clear view of the Philippines' intentions. Regarding the actions of the Philippines on the South China Sea issue, no other ASEAN member state has provided the kind of "response" that Manila expected. Most ASEAN countries believe that these actions will only escalate confrontational sentiments, exacerbate maritime friction, and further complicate the regional situation, which in turn heightens ASEAN's concerns and objectively undermines the unity of ASEAN.

Not long ago, ASEAN called for a swift agreement on a code of conduct for the South China Sea. It's a signal that China and ASEAN insist on solving the South China Sea issue through political means regardless of Manila's provocations, and the attempts of some countries outside the region to fan the flames will become eventually futile.
EXCLUSIVE

A teenager allegedly stabbed to death while camping with mates has been remembered as the 'most selfless boy' - as new details emerge about his accused killer.

The 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was camping with friends at Wilton, just past the outskirts of south-west Sydney, on Friday night when he was allegedly stabbed by Jacob Greig, 32.

His body was found in bushland off Wilton Park Road on Saturday morning, with Greig arrested shortly after 4pm after presenting himself at Narellan Police Station.

Greig was charged with murder and remanded in custody to front Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday, where he was refused bail. Police will allege he stabbed the boy, who was not known to him, during a physical altercation.

Tributes have begun to pour in online for the young boy, who was a member of the Picton community.

One friend said the teenager had the purest heart and kindest soul.

'Last night heaven gained the precious wings of [name redacted].

'At that same time, we lost the most caring and selfless boy to exist.

A teenage boy (pictured) allegedly murdered has been remembered as the 'most selfless boy'

A teenage boy's body was found in bushland off Wilton Park Road at Wilton (pictured), in south-west Sydney on Saturday

Jacob Greig has been arrested and charged over the alleged murder

'To my dearest friend, you made the world a better place. Nothing could brace me for this gut-wrenching event. Ill forever miss your presence and sense of humour.

'Rest easy sweet boy.'

Another friend said the boy would 'forever hold' the memories they shared with him.

'You'll be forever missed,' they continued.

'Fly high.'

A third friend wrote: 'You were way too young to leave so soon.'

'You will be forever missed by this community, by your friends, by your family.

'Rest easy.'

Greig, a professional chef and father, changed his profile picture on Facebook on Friday - just hours before the boy was allegedly killed.

Tributes have poured in online for the young boy as the community mourns the loss

Greig, a chef, is pictured posing for a photo in a commercial kitchen

Police are pictured talking to people at the campgrounds on Saturday as they investigated the incident

According to his social media profiles, Greig is originally from the NSW Central Coast, but now lives in the Tahmoor area.

Photos posted online show him dressed in his chef's attire working in kitchens and spending time with loved ones.

Police believe roughly a dozen young campers may have gathered on Friday evening near the area where the boy's body was found.

Acting superintendent Tim Calman said state crime officer were called to the location to help as there were 'a lot of moving parts'.

His family had been notified of his death, Supt Calman said, and were being supported by police.

Greig's aunt is pictured leaving court on Sunday

Another relative is seen leaving court after showing up to support Greig

'We put our thoughts out to the family,' he said. 'They will be doing it tough this afternoon.'

Police are appealing for anyone with knowledge of the incident or dashcam or mobile footage to come forward, as well as anyone who might have been in the area since 6pm on Friday.

Greig is due to appear before Campbelltown Local Court on January 8.
The Princess of Wales is set to make her second appearance today at the Cenotaph after wowing the public at the Festival of Remembrance yesterday.

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 at the Royal Albert Hall.

It was 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.

In the wake of Kate completing her cancer treatment, the Prince of Wales said at the end of his visit to South Africa that 2024 had been 'brutal' and he hoped to carry out oversees tours once again with Kate in the future.

After making a glowing appearance at the renowned London music hall, the beaming Princess is set to carry our a second consecutive day of honouring Britain's fallen heroes with the King at the Cenotaph in Whitehall.

The Princess of Wales beamed as she appeared 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 attended the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on November 12, 2023

The National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in London on November 12, 2023

The Prince and Princess of Wales also led the applause as the crowd touchingly honoured the families of fallen soldiers at the Festival of Remembrance last night.

The Royal couple appeared solemn as the applause erupted at the Royal Albert Hall in tribute to the servicemen and women who sacrificed their lives for Britain.

The lavish venue eagerly clapped as military personnel laid roses to honour those who had passed in Afghanistan, with Ben O'Donnell the son of late warrant officer Gary O'Donnell placing the final flower.

There was not a dry eye in the house, as the crowd - including the Royals stood in silence with tear-filled eyes to remember those who had sacrificed everything for King and Country.

King Charles also received a standing ovation and applause upon entering the Royal Albert Hall, as he sat next to the Princess Royal, with the Queen notably absent from the Festival.

Buckingham Palace confirmed Camilla will not attend 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.

Princess Kate glowed as she shook 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 entering the Royal Albert Hall upbeat in a blue suit alongside Princess Kate

The Prince and Princess of Wales honouring Britain's servicemen and women at the Royal Albert Hall

A bearded Prince William and Princess Kate were all smiles this evening as they clap as the performers take to the stage

The Royal couple appeared happy as they looked forward to the Remembrance weekend ahead

'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.

She is said to have dearly wanted to pay tribute in person to the nation's fallen servicemen and women this weekend.

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 including laying wreaths at the Cenotaph today.

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 Shand's military service.

Members of the Royal family will, together with senior politicians, lay wreaths during the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph to mark the Armistice of the First World War and all other conflicts involving British and Commonwealth forces.

The Royal British Legion's veteran parade will see 10,000 veterans, representing 326 different armed forces and civilian organisations, march past the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London.

King Charles arrived solo after Queen Camilla announced earlier she would not be attending tonight's event due to an ongoing chest infection

The King looked upbeat as he arrived at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance

Britain's King Charles and Britain's Princess Anne applauding during the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance tonight

The King and the Princess Royal also appeared emotional as the crowd stood in silence and petals fell from the sky

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

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria Starmer attending the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London

The Prime Minister and his wife were seemingly happy as they enteredthe Royal Albert Hall tonight

Thousands of people are expected to line Whitehall to take part in the two-minute silence.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in the Second World War and the 25th anniversary of the end of the war in Kosovo.

It also marks the 75th anniversary of Nato and the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale between the UK and France.

More than 800 sailors, soldiers and aviators will be on duty on Remembrance Sunday, representing their services at the Cenotaph and at commemorative services at Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral.

On Sunday Kate will watch, as is tradition, from above, on the nearby Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office balcony overlooking Whitehall, taking part in the solemn two-minute silence and viewing the veterans' march past.

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.

Alexandra Burke (left) looks emotionally to the ground as she pays her respects

Poppy petals raining from the sky at the Royal Albert Hall tonight

A serviceman leading the tributes at the Royal Albert Hall tonight

A band has taken to centre of the stage at tonight's festivities at the Royal Albert Hall

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

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.

Princess Kate, 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.

In a video the princess 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'.

Regarding the Remembrance weekend, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the 'courage and sacrifice of so many over the generations' brings the country together on Remembrance Day 'in a spirit of the most profound gratitude and respect'.

While Defence Secretary John Healey said it was a 'duty' to 'educate future generations about their courage and commitment to defending Britain'.

According to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport 'people of all ages' will be among those marching - from bereaved military children of the Scotty's Little Soldiers charity through to D-Day veterans of the Spirit of Normandy Trust.
Armed police officer Martyn Blake has been promoted just weeks after he was cleared of the murder of gang member Chris Kaba.

The Met Police marksman, 40, is set to become an inspector, having passed the relevant exams prior to the fatal shooting two years ago.

Last month, Sgt Blake was dramatically cleared after being accused of firing his weapon and killing the 24-year-old 'without justification' to stop the suspect escaping police.

He shot Mr Kaba through a car windscreen in Streatham, South London, on September 5, 2022 after he failed to stop for officers.

Footage of the incident showed Mr Kaba using his car as a 'battering ram' by driving forwards and backwards in an attempt to force his way between a marked police car and a Tesla parked nearby, leading the officer to open fire.

Armed police officer Martyn Blake has been promoted just weeks after he was cleared of the murder of gang member Chris Kaba (pictured)

Footage of the moment armed officers ran towards Mr Kaba's vehicle in Streatham, South London, on September 5, 2022 after he failed to stop for officers

At trial at the Old Bailey, the married father-of-two said he had taken a shot because he believed his colleagues were about to die.

Having been cleared of murder, the Met Police has said Sgt Blake can proceed with his promotion, a move that one former chief said was 'absolutely proper' and shows that the force is behind him.

But his advancement comes as Sgt Blake still awaits a decision by the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) over whether to pursue a gross misconduct case against him.

Former Met Chief Supt Simon Ovens told The Sun: 'Considering the evidence has been scrutinised in court, the misconduct review should not hold up his promotion.

'Although there is a different level of proof for disciplinary hearings, is it likely he would be dismissed? The answer is no.'

He added: 'This shows the Met's confidence in the officer and reinforces the support the commissioner has in him.'

Met Police said it would not comment on anything relating to personal information about an officer's 'potential career intentions'.

Sgt Blake is understood to be moving away from the firearms unit to another section, as is the practice when an officer has been promoted to the rank of inspector.

Met Police marksman Martyn Blake is set to become an inspector as he still awaits a decision by the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) over whether to pursue a gross misconduct case against him

The Chris Kaba murder trial proved to be an extraordinary and controversial case which saw hundreds of firearms officers around the country down their weapons in protest after the officer was charged, as colleagues argued he perceived a genuine threat and was just trying to save them.

During the trial at the Old Bailey, which lasted nearly three weeks, a succession of officers claimed they would have shot Mr Kaba if Blake had not acted.

A fellow firearms officer known as DS87 said he would have taken a shot if Blake had not.

Another identified by the cypher E156 said he was 'fractions of a second' away from doing the same.

One officer known as NX109 was perilously close to being run over after getting the finger of his glove caught in the Audi's door handle, just managing to wrench it free in time before the Audi surged forward ramming into a parked Tesla.

Prosecutor Tom Little, KC, argued that Blake had misjudged the risk and exaggerated the threat to his colleagues in statements following the shooting.

But Patrick Gibbs, KC, defending, said he wasn't 'Robocop' and made a split second decision to save others.

The case has sparked a Home Office review about how firearms officers are held accountable and the length of time officers remain under investigation.
Police have launched an investigation after a woman was allegedly raped at a BMW car garage.

The attack reportedly took place at Peter Vardy BMW on Seafield Road, Edinburgh, at around 1.35pm on Sunday, November 3.

Police have arrested a 34-year-old man in connection with an alleged sexual assault.

He has since been released pending further enquiries as officers conduct an investigation.

A woman was allegedly sexually assaulted at Peter Vardy BMW on Seafield Road, Edinburgh

Police Scotland said the investigation continues after arresting a man, 34, in connection to the incident

In remarks reported by the Daily Record, a Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'Around 1.35pm on Sunday, 3 November, 2024, we received a report of a serious sexual assault of a woman at a premises in the Seafield Road area of Edinburgh.

'A 34-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident and released pending further enquiries which remain ongoing.'

The Peter Vardy dealership group says it is cooperating with the authorities as detectives make enquiries.

A spokesperson for the group told STV News: 'We are cooperating fully with the Police and will communicate further when we are able to do so.'

MailOnline has approached Peter Vardy for further comment.
Nancy Pelosi has hit out at Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders for blaming Kamala Harris' election loss on Democrats 'abandoning working class families.'

The fracas began even before the vice president's concession speech on Wednesday when Sanders blasted her failed campaign in a post on social media.

'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,' the 83-year-old senator wrote.

'While the Democratic leadership defends the status quo, the American people are angry and want change. And theyre right.'

But former House Speaker Pelosi, 84, who remains a major figure within the Democrat Party, told the New York Times The Interview podcast on Thursday she 'completely disagreed' with Sanders and does 'not respect' his remarks.

Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi hit out at Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders for his claims that the Democrat Party 'abandoned working-class voters'

Kamala Harris lost her an election in an embarrassing upset for the Democratic party

She claimed that the 'purpose' of the Democratic Party is to support the working class, and noted that Harris 'ran ahead of Bernie Sanders in Vermont.'

Pelosi said she has 'a great deal of respect' for Sanders, 'but I don't respect him saying that the Democratic Party has abandoned working-class families. That's where we are.'

She then went on to rattle off what she sees as accomplishments under President Joe Biden's administration.

'For example, under President Biden, you see the rescue package, money in the pockets of people, shots in the arm, children in school safety, working people back to work,' she said.

'What did, what's his name, what did Trump do when he was president? One bill that gave a tax cut to the richest people in America.'

Instead, Pelosi suggested cultural issues were to blame for Harris' loss to former President Donald Trump.

Sanders shared his thoughts on Vice President Kamala Harris election loss hours before she gave a concession speech on Wednesday

He wrote on X 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'

'Guns, God and gays - that's the way they see it,' the former speaker said of Trump supporters.

'Guns, that's an issue; gays, that's an issue and now they're making the trans issue such an important issue in their priorities; and in certain communities, what they call God, what we call a woman's right to choose.'

But Pelosi didn't stop there - going on to lay part of the blame for Harris' loss on Biden's refusal to drop out of the race sooner.

It took weeks after his disastrous debate with Trump in June for Biden to end his campaign for president, and when he finally did drop out, he immediately endorsed Harris for the Democratic nomination.

'Had the president gotten out sooner, there may have been other candidates in the race,' Pelosi told the Times.

Pelosi, the former House Speaker, remains a major figure within the Democrat Party

'The anticipation was that, if the president were to step aside, that there would be an open primary,' in which delegates from each state would vote on who they thought the Democratic nominee should be.

'And as I say, Kamala may have, I think she would have done well in [a primary] and [would have] been stronger going forward.

'But we don't know that. That didn't happen,' she argued.

'And because the president endorsed Kamala Harris immediately, that really made it almost impossible to have a primary at the time.

'If it had been much earlier, it would have been different,' she said, arguing it is time to look forward and stop reflecting on what may have gone wrong.
Donald Trump will use the US Army to round up and deport 'the worst of the worst' illegal migrants in an unparalleled crackdown, his former enforcement chief has said.

Tom Homan, who is likely to lead a mass deportation programme in the Trump administration, has said all of the estimated 20 million people residing in the US illegally would be targeted by the unprecedented campaign.

He said: 'Bottom line: if you come to the country illegally, you're not off the table.'

Mr Homan, who was head of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during Trump's first stint in the White House, said he would revive the president elect's 'remain in Mexico' programme, in which Mexicans would have their asylum applications processed on their side of the border.

He also promised to close the southern border and build a wall - another flagship Trump pledge.

Donald Trump could use the US Army to round up and deport migrants in an unprecedented operation, his former immigration chief has said

Tom Homan said the programme would initially target 'the worst of the worst' illegal migrants residing in the US

But the former immigration chief dismissed any suggestion that concentration camps could be used to hold migrants rounded up in the deportation programme.

Instead he said he would explore possible arrangements for asylum seekers to be processed in third countries - in an echo of the Rwanda scheme previously touted under Britain before being ditched by Sir Keir Starmer's Labour government.

Newly built holding centres could be built in the US alongside a larger role for the military in transporting refugees, the Times reported.

'It's going to be a lot different to what the liberal media is saying it's going to be', Mr Homan said.

With his path to the Oval Office secured and a majority in the Senate, and possibly in the House of Representatives where votes are still being counted, Trump will be well positioned to roll out his programme.

Migrants heading to the US in a caravan in Tapachula, Mexico. Mr Homan said that the army could assist with building a wall and reviving Trump's 'remain in Mexico' programme

A high number of people were recorded trying to cross the southern border by the end of last year, however the trend was reversed following a Biden executive order banning migrants seeking asylum from entering.

Mr Homan said while the army would be unlikely to make arrests, it could play a greater role in the logistical operation, such as building facilities and transporting migrants.

He said: 'I dont see them making arrests, they dont have immigration authority, but they can certainly do transportation. . They can certainly do infrastructure-building, they can certainly help build these facilities and help finish the wall with the Army Corps of Engineers.'
Parents whose first child is about to leave home should prepare themselves for the emotional fallout.

But if its their last child flying the nest, they might barely notice theyve gone, the findings of a study suggest.

Researchers said: Experiencing children moving out for the first time is associated with decreasing life satisfaction among parents.

But they added: The last child moving out does not significantly decrease parental life satisfaction.

The findings suggest that the launching phase  when the first child goes  is much harder on parents than the empty nest phase, when all have left.

File photo. Parents are less emotionally moved by their last child moving out

File photo shows students moving into new student accomodation

Study co-author Professor Tobias Wolbring said: Once the last child moves out, parents already know better what to expect and how to handle the situation.

A team from the Institute for Employment Research in Nuremberg and the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany, tracked 5,000 households.

They found that mothers and fathers alike were less fulfilled by family life once the first child had left.

Parents satisfaction with their household income also dropped, possibly because children still need financial support after they have moved out, according to the academics.

Parents with just one child took their moving out particularly hard, highlighting the closer relationship between parents and child.

Mothers who didnt work were more affected when the first child left.

The loss of the parental role may leave these women struggling more with their social identity, the researchers suggested.

Meanwhile, fathers started doing 15 minutes more housework once a child left home, and mothers reduced how much housework they did by about the same amount.

We can only speculate about the reasons, said Professor Wolbring.
Terry Holohan is one of several executives detained in Mali, West Africa

A top mining CEO has reportedly been detained by a military-controlled government overseas.

Resolute Mining Ltd boss Terry Holohan has been detained for questioning by industry and judiciary in Mali, West Africa, on Friday.

Mr Holohan is one of several executives from the mining company to have been placed into custody, according to Australian Federal Police sources.

Resolute Mining Ltd operates on a gold mine in Syama, 300km southeast of the capital Bamako.

The executives were arrested at a hotel in Bamako and taken to a specialised unit set up to tackle corruption, and economic or financial crimes, the judiciary source said.

This is the second time in two months employees of a foreign mining firms have been detained in the country.

Mali's ruling military junta is believed to be seeking to control the country's lucrative mining industry.

Mr Holohan has denied any allegations of wrongdoing against him but he has yet to be released.

Chief executive officer of Australian gold miner Resolute Mining Ltd Terry Holohan has been detained in West Africa for questioning by its military-controlled government

Mr Holohan and the others are being detained over suspicions of false evidence and misappropriation of public goods, a Resolute executive told the Daily Telegraph.

Resolute holds 80 percent of a subsidiary that owns the northwestern mine of Syama and the Malian state controls the rest.

The company owns another gold production site across the border in Mako, Senegal, and has exploration operations in Mali, Senegal and Guinea.

Mali's military junta has vowed to deliver a more equitable distribution of the country's mining revenues since taking power in 2021.

The country is one of the poorest in the world despite its abundance of gold due to several political, security and economic crises taking place back-to-back since 2012.

Gold makes up a 25 per cent of Mali's national budget and 75 per cent of it's export earnings.

Mali's junta has promised more equitable distribution of profits from the country's gold mines, one of which Resolute operates out of (Syama gold mines pictured)

Until recently foreign companies have controlled large sections of the industry but the junta has been stamping down on this.

Barrick Gold, a Canadian mining company, had four of its employees detained in Mali for days before they were released in September.

The company said it reached an agreement to pay the state A$81 million in October but the junta disputed this and threatened to pursue the firm.

Resolute Mining has been contacted for comment.
With Aboriginal treaty negotiations about to start in Victoria, there has been a warning that some Indigenous groups are 'out for blood' due to resentment over the failed Voice referendum.

The talks between the state government and dozens of Aboriginal organisations are due to begin on November 21, with those involved expecting it to be a long haul due to simmering anger over the Voice.

The groups are expected to negotiate on issues such as more control over state policies affecting Indigenous people and having some land handed over to them, but the Coalition has slammed this as 'secret treaty negotiations'.

But the talks could be fraught as some organisations felt 'robbed' by the failed referendum and will be pushing for 'much more', the Herald-Sun reported.

The Victorian parliament, under then premier Daniel Andrews, passed legislation with bipartisan support in 2022 to set up a Treaty Authority with $65million in initial funding.

But the failure of the Voice to Parliament referendum just over a year ago had seen the Opposition's support for a treaty in Victoria go cold.

The Coalition has expressed concern about the impact of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage laws on new developments in the state.

The government, now led by Premier Jacinta Allen, has not ruled out handing over compulsorily acquired private property to Indigenous groups and may also declare a new public holiday to celebrate Aboriginal culture.

With Aboriginal treaty negotiations about to start in Victoria, there has been a warning that some Indigenous groups are 'out for blood' due to the failed Voice referendum

Under Victoria's Treaty Negotiation Framework, the state does not need to seek the public's approval to sign off on any treaty agreements.

Though the state government will seek a statewide treaty, there is also likely to be separate treaties for individual groups, which could contain reparations and land use agreements.

The Opposition Aboriginal Affairs spokesman Peter Walsh said 'Victorians should be alarmed that the Allan Labor government is starting secret treaty negotiations.

'Without openness and transparency, Victorians will never know what rights or access to land and water will be traded away without their knowledge or agreement,' he told the Herald-Sun.

But Natalie Hutchins, the Minister for Treaty and First Peoples, vehemently disagreed.

'If you listen to the people directly affected by policies, you get better outcomes  that's commonsense,' she said.

'Treaty is about making a better and fairer state for every Victorian.'

Federal SenatorJacinta Nampijinpa Price, who was one of the leading Aboriginal voices opposed to the referendum, is concerned with how the negotiations in Victoria are progressing.

'The truth is, if the Victorian and federal governments thought Australians were truly in favour of truth and treaty, there would be no reason for them to be going about these matters in the surreptitious way they are,' she said.

The developments in Victoria follow NSW premier Chris Minns being slammed for also forging ahead with treaty consultations with Indigenous Australians.

Warren Mundine, an Indigenous leader who opposed the Voice, urged Mr Minns to 'stop wasting money', saying a treaty would not solve problems within the Aboriginal community.

The talks between the state government and dozens of Aboriginal organisations are due to begin on November 21. A rally in Melbourne on September 17, 2023 is pictured

'It's not going to  help anyone, it's just a total waste of time,' he said. 'Stop with these stupid, stupid conversations.'

Mr Mundine, who started out as a Labor political operative before later running for a seat as a Liberal, said NSW should instead 'start looking at the crime rate'.

'Let's start getting education, let's start getting jobs and dealing with those government issues that need to be done,' he told Sky News.

'If we take their track record so far it shows like in the Voice campaign they went out on a "listening" tour, and they didn't listen because they got flogged in that vote,' he said.

'My advice to Chris (Minns) is, come on mate, stop wasting money. We know what the issues are within Aboriginal communities.

'We know how to fix things and get things better. Setting out these talkfests (is) just a waste of time, and even if you go ahead with it, it has to be a vote for the people of NSW.'
An Iowa pediatrician's disturbing response to a Trump fan has sparked outrage across the internet.

Dr. Mayank Sharma, 35, is a pediatric cardiology fellow for the University of Iowa Health Care - a fellowship based at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital.

After a Trump supporter told the cardiologist to 'stay mad' during a political conversation on X, Sharma unleashed a vile response.

'Well I hope you lose your kid in a school shooting,' he wrote. 'Already you have nothing to lose, it won't matter to you anyways! Prepare for your kids funeral.'

Now the internet, along with an Iowa lawmaker and a state representative, are pushing for the pediatric doctor to be terminated.

Dr. Mayank Sharma, 35, a pediatric cardiology fellow for the University of Iowa Health Care, sparked outrage across the internet after he told a Trump supporter: 'I hope you lose your kid in a school shooting'

Although his response and X account were deleted shortly after, the internet along with an Iowa lawmaker and state representative are calling for his termination

'I thought it was disgusting,' Carter Nordman, a Republican State Representative, told KCRG.

'He's an individual who works with children and who is being paid by Iowa taxpayers to work with children and is hoping and making claims that somebody dies in a school shooting based off a political belief,' Nordman added in a letter to the university.

'I almost think it's a borderline threat.'

On Wednesday morning, Sharma engaged in a political conversation under a post on X from a pro-Trump account.

His response, along with his entire X account, were deleted shortly after.

But that didn't stop the internet from expressing their fury.

'Wow. This is scary. What would he do if a parent walked in with a kid and they had a Trump shirt on,' one viewer wrote.

Another response said: 'Fire his ass.'

'He should lose his license and never be allowed around children ever again. He's a pediatrician,' wrote another.

Dr. Sharma previously worked at SUNY Update Medical University in Syracuse, New York, where he completed his residency, CBS 2 Iowa reported.

More recently, he was listed as a pediatric cardiology fellow on the University of Iowa Health Care website - but his name no longer appears on the page.

University of Iowa Health Care said in a statement to The National News Desk that they are 'aware of the situation and receiving the matter' in accordance with the facility's policies, CBS 2 reported.

'The University of Iowa strongly objects to violence,' the statement added.

Nordman wrote a letter to the Barbara Wilson, the University President, on Thursday afternoon, where he called Sharma's comments 'repulsive, deeply unprofessional, and not representative of the world-class operations at UI Health Care'.

'I believe the University should terminate his employment to assure Iowans that they can receive proper care from our state hospital, no matter their personal political beliefs or who they voted for,' he wrote.

'Maintaining his employment sends the wrong message to Iowans, who have resoundingly voted for President Trump three times.'

Carter Nordman, an Iowa State Representative, called the cardiologist's comment 'disgusting'

Nordman wrote a letter to Barbara Wilson, the University President, on Thursday afternoon, where he called Sharma's comments 'repulsive, deeply unprofessional, and not representative of the world-class operations at UI Health Care'

Nordman told Des Moines Register: 'I think my letter has made it very clear what I think me and most of my colleagues would like to see'

But some have pushed back, arguing that his termination would be a violation of freedom of speech.

One of those people, Graham Piro, is a fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression - a non-profit civil liberties group that advocates for free speech on college campuses, KCRG reported.

'It harms the culture of free speech,' Piro said. 'It harms the ability of both staff and faculty members to express themselves freely off the clock.'

But according to the university's policies, they can not control what their employees say on social media while off the clock - unless the speech 'constitutes obscenity, incitement of illegal acts or violence, specific threats of physical violence or intimidation or violates the university's policy on harassment'.

The US House of Representatives passed the Respecting the First Amendment on Campus Act in 2024, a law that is similar to state free speech protection laws.

First Amendment protections were also codified on college campuses by Iowa lawmakers - a bill that Nordman himself voted for, KCRG reported.

Sharma's pediatric fellowship is based at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital

His fellowship is active from 2023-26, but the university said that they are aware of the situation and his name is no longer listed on the website

Yet many people, including Nordman, believe that Sharma's response - wishing harm upon a child - has nothing to do with free speech.

'If you're saying something like that on an X post so publicly and so out there, how do you know that the same standard of care can be given to a Trump supporter when they walk in and are seeking your assistance?' Nordman told the outlet.

Nordman also put the doctor's mental health into question, accusing him of suffering from 'Trump Derangement Syndrome', Des Moines Register reported.

'I think my letter has made it very clear what I think me and most of my colleagues would like to see,' Nordman told the outlet.

'I find it difficult to believe that he's mentally capable of providing health care to children when he is making statements like that.'

University of Iowa officials noted that they are still investigating the matter.
Women in the U.S. are shaving their heads and swearing off sex with their partners in protest at Donald Trump's re-election.

They say their inspiration is from the 4B movement, which originated in South Korea.

Those subscribing to the idea are urging other women to adopt the principles of no dating, no intercourse, no marriage and no children to 'punish' the men in their lives for the election of Trump over Kamala Harris.

'I have many thoughts right now, but what Im going to say right now is women you need to stop putting out for men,' wrote one account on TikTok.

'Like Im not even kidding. You need to stop f****** these men they dont give a f*** about you. Stop dating stop f****** these men. You dont need them, go buy a f****** Rose Toy. Stop f****** man. Stop! They dont care about you b****. Like enough.'

'I have many thoughts right now, but what Im going to say right now is women you need to stop putting out for men,' wrote addisonraedefenseaccount on TikTok.

One woman ordered others women to stock up on sex toys for their 'moments of weakness'

'Ladies, Im not saying this to be facetious. I dont care if youre a Rose girl, a wand girl or a monster alien tentacle girl, stock up now for your moments of weakness,' another woman urged, suggesting they buy sex toys to cope.

'Because ain't nothing worse being alive than being stuck with a man. None! We are taking coochie off the table indefinitely,' said rocky__horror to her 23,000 followers.

'As a woman, my bodily autonomy matters, and this is my way to exercise sovereignty over that,' said one TikToker, encouraging 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 don't even need to be gay. It's OK to have a lot of platonic love for the next four years,' she said.

The 4B Movement began after a woman was murdered when she rejected a man's advances. Despite confessing to killing her because he was ignored, local police refused to brand it a hate crime.

Frustrations soared when the country launched a National Birth Map, which outlined what it expected from its female citizens, prompting women to become outraged as they claimed officials viewed them as 'livestock.'

Women ultimately banded together and decided the surest way to avoid pregnancy was to avoid men.

It now appears American women are following the same ideology in an attempt to exact revenge on men who voted Trump back into the White House.

'I know that women are conditioned to feel sadness over anger and so when were angry we cry, I do the same thing, but you need to be angry now. Its time to start acting that way. If youre being loud be louder. They already hate you,' she said

Another woman urged fellow women to behave how they wanted to and lose any inhibitions they might have because 'men hate' them

'Be angry. No one gives a s*** about your tears. Be angry. Hold people accountable. If youre able to leave your piece of s*** partner - do that. Do you want to get a divorce? Do it today. Be angry,' urged. Haiikitto, who has 52,000 followers on TikTok.

'I know that women are conditioned to feel sadness over anger and so when were angry we cry, I do the same thing, but you need to be angry now. Its time to start acting that way. If youre being loud be louder. They already hate you,' she said.

Another woman urged fellow women to behave how they wanted to and lose any inhibitions they might have.

'The good news is that men hate us so theres no point in catering to them. Theyre gonna hate us anyway. Do you know what I mean?', asked Hope Cavendish to her 31,000 followers.

'Theres no point in wondering, "Does he think Im rude? Does this guy think Im rude?" He already hates you. Who cares! Who cares if you think Im rude. "Am I being loud?" They already hate you. Be loud. Are they going to hit you more? They already hate you!' she added.

According to Associated Press, 53 percent of white women supported Trump while Kamala garnered 46 percent of votes from white women.

Trump's win has left many women across the country in fear of what's to come as they have been taking to social media to express their concerns about the state of their reproductive rights.

The movement has grown into an online community where thousands of women engage anonymously in discussions about life without men, offering an opportunity to vent frustrations about living in a conservative and patriarchal society.

One woman left people stunned as she took a razor to her head and chopped off her long locks

One woman left viewers stunned as she took an electric razor to her head and chopped off her locks.

'F*** being skinny, f*** being hot, f*** being all the things that the patriarchy wants us to be, 'cause clearly they don't give a s*** about us,' said one TikToker while shaving her head.

'Stop dating men, stop having sex with men, stop talking to men, divorce your husbands, leave your f***ing boyfriends, leave them,' she added.

Some social media users have expressed their concerns that support for the movement in the US could result in a rapid decline in birth rates, reports Elle magazine.

South Korea has the lowest birth rate in the world, which continues to fall, with many attribute this to the radical 4B movement.

Thousands of people have taken to X to post about participating in the 4B movement following Donald Trump's historic election win. The feminist protest movement was born in South Korea in 2019

Many women took to X to urge others to boycott men altogether
A loyal labradoodle helped solve his owners murder, after he refused to leave the side of her burnt corpse.

Derek Joseph Daigneault, 29, was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday for murdering his cousin Mandy Rose Reynolds, 26.

Prosecutors say he had been living at her apartment in San Marcos, Texas for about a month while he was on felony probation with a warrant out for his arrest when he shot her in the head on April 4, 2023, according to KWTX.

He then stuffed her body in a blue storage container, drove to the town of Robinson, just south of Waco, and set the container on fire.

But he left her dog, Titan, at the scene of the crime.

Derek Joseph Daigneault, 29, was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday for murdering his cousin Mandy Rose Reynolds, 26

He had been staying with Reynolds for about a month before he killed her

When police eventually responded to the scene of a brush fire on April 5, they found a body that was burned beyond recognition.

They also found a white dog that was barking at officers and refused to allow cops to capture it, according to a news release from the McLennan County District Attorney's Office.

The dog was still at the spot where the burning body was found the next day, and a resident called animal control officers - who discovered that the dog was microchipped and belonged to Reynolds.

From there, officers decided to search Reynolds' apartment, where they noticed that all of her belongings had been removed and her Honda Accord was missing, WKRC reports.

An ensuing investigation showed Daigneault leaving a Walmart in Reynolds' car, with her dog sticking his head out the car's window.

Officers eventually tracked her car to Wichita, Kansas, where local police spotted the Accord on April 8 and tried to pull it over, according to Fox 4 KC.

Daigneault, who was found driving the vehicle, then led cops on a highspeed chase, traveling over 100mph in the chase that lasted nearly half a hour.

At one point, he swiped a police cruiser and slammed into another car.

Daigneault then fled the wreck and ran into a busy grocery store, sending shoppers scrambling for their cars as police flooded into the store in pursuit.

They then found him hiding behind a shelf of canned goods, and a search of the vehicle uncovered his grandmother's .380 pistol that was used in the shooting.

McLennan County prosecutors credit her dog, Titan, with helping to solve her murder

'The keys to this case were a heroic and loyal dog named Titan and extraordinary cooperation between law enforcement agencies in multiple jurisdictions and states,' the McLennnan County District Attorney's Office said.

'That combination has delivered justice for Mandy and safety from a violent and dangerous criminal.'

Daignault was ultimately sentenced on Thursday, in a court hearing marked by drama as he yelled at the victim's brother and was escorted out, and a fight broke out between members of Daignault's family and Reynold's family.

Jurors had deliberated for just about 40 minutes before agreeing to put him behind bars for life, KWTX reports.

'Like I told the jury, if they knew nothing else about Derek Daigneault other than what he did to Mandy Rose Reynolds - shooting her in the head, driving her body here to McLennan County and setting her on fire like a piece of trash - if that's all they knew about him, that would have been enough to justify a life sentence,' Ryan Calvert, a McLennan County assistant district attorney, said after the trial.

'But once we got into the punishment phase, the jury learned he had been in trouble his whole life, he was a multiple-time convicted felon, he had been in prison in Kansas before for violent offensses, they even learned he had shot another individual as a juvenile.

'He is just an extremely violent individual, and he cannot be trusted with the safety of this or any other community.

'So life, we felt, was the only just verdict.'
The grieving parents of a unborn baby a horror crash have called on the Victorian government to recognise him as a person.

Elodie and Andrew Aldridge, speaking outside court this week, protested their boy Remi was not considered a person in the eyes of the law when he died at 34 weeks.

'My son was basically nothing in the eyes of the law,' Ms Aldridge said.

The driver responsible for the carnage, Chrystle Olivia Kemp, 26, has pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury for the three-car crash that struck an intersection east of Shepparton in October last year.

But the charge of causing death relates to the death of Kemp's five-year-old niece Savannah, who was a passenger in Kemp's vehicle and suffered catastrophic chest, leg and neck injuries.

The charge of causing serious injury is linked to Elodie, who was pregnant at the time with Remi.

Elodie suffered serious hip and abdomen injuries and paramedics flew her to The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, where Remi was delivered stillborn.

Her husband held Remi in his arms after the tragedy.

Elodie and Andrew Aldridge have called for their stillborn son Remi to be recognised by the state government as a person

Chrystle Olivia Kemp has pleaded guilty to the charges in relation to the Shepparton crash

'I held him. He was a little boy. He was a child,' Mr Aldridge said.

'But in the eyes of the law, he was a foetus, and an injury to my wife.'

Ms Aldridge still gets around on crutches and is waiting on a hip replacement one year on from the crash.

She and her husband are pleading for a change in the state legislation to recognise Remi.

'It's too late for us, but if we can change for other family not to go through it, we'll fight for it,' Ms Aldridge said.

Her husband issued to plea to Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan.

'Are you kissing your kids tonight? Because we're not,' Mr Aldridge said.

'If NSW can do it, if Queensland can do it, why can't we?'

The crash happened at an intersection east of Shepparton in regional Victoria. Picture: 7News

The issue intersects with abortion law in Victoria and the government has warned recognition could affect the rights of women to access abortions.

'A woman or pregnant person can access abortion up to a gestational limit of 24 weeks,' Victoria's Department of Health website states.

'Beyond the 24 weeks, a medical practitioner can provide an abortion if another medical practitioner agrees that an abortion is appropriate in all the circumstances.

Surgical abortions can be provided up to 24 weeks and 'in certain circumstances beyond that', the department adds.

Kemps plea has been adjourned to November 20, with her bail extended until that date.
Staff at the Pullman Hotel in Penrith, western Sydney made a grim discovery on Sunday afternoon when they found the dead body of a woman, covered in blood.

A man was also found at the scene and is being held under police guard as an investigation gets underway.

Emergency services were called to the hotel on Mulgoa Road at about 1.10pm, after the woman's body was discovered.

'The man, believed to be in his 50s, was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being airlifted to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition,' the NSW Police said in a statement. The deceased woman has not yet been formally identified, but a police spokesman told Daily Mail Australia that 'it is believed the couple is known to each other'.

Staff at the Pullman Hotel in Penrith, western Sydney made a grim discovery on Sunday afternoon when they found the dead body of a woman, covered in blood. The scene is pictured

The man, believed to be in his 50s, was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being airlifted by helicopter (pictured) to Westmead Hospital

Emergency services were called to the hotel on Mulgoa Road (pictured) at about 1.10pm, after the woman's body was discovered

Officers attached to Nepean Police Area Command have established a crime scene, with inquiries to be conducted by local detectives, assisted by the State Crime Command's Homicide Squad.

Investigations at the scene are likely to continue for several hours.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

More to come...
The cast of Saturday Night Live wasted no time in unveiling a new 'hot jacked Trump' character while claiming their sudden allegiance to the president-elect.

Donald Trump was declared the victor by a landslide by Fox News early Wednesday after going head to head with Vice President Kamala Harris in the historical election.

And the cast of SNL returned to the stage live from New York City to address the results during a suspiciously MAGA-friendly cold open - and of course, introducing two new characters.

A 'hot jacked Trump' and Dana Carvey as his political buddy, a jumping Elon Musk.

As hot Trump walked out on stage in a black muscle tank and red bandana, he flexed his muscles and protruding arm veins to the audience.

SNL cast members share a post-election message pic.twitter.com/jTXqJCxpIL  Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) November 10, 2024

The cast of SNL took to the stage Saturday to talk about the results during a suspiciously MAGA-friendly cold open - and of course, introducing two new characters - one of whom was 'hot jacked Trump'

'They finally got the body right,' Trump 2.0 said. 'But from now on we're going to do very flattering portrayals of Trump because he's frankly... my hero'

'They finally got the body right,' he said. 'But from now on we're going to do very flattering portrayals of Trump because he's frankly... my hero.'

'And he's going to make an incredible president and eventually KING! We love you buddy,' he added as he blew a kiss to the camera.

As the cast first began the cold open on Saturday, the mood was somber while discussing Trump taking back the Oval Office after his landslide victory.

'Donald Trump, who tried to forcibly overturn the results of the last election was returned to office by an overwhelming majority,' Heidi Gardner sighed.

'Now, thanks to the Supreme Court, there are no guardrails,' Bowen Yang told the audience.

The cold open began in a somber tone while discussing Trump taking a seat back in the Oval Office after his landslide victory

Kenan Thompon said: 'This is the same Donald Trump who openly called for vengeance against his political enemies'

'Now, thanks to the Supreme Court, there are no guardrails,' Bowen Yang said to the audience

But then, the mood quickly started to morph into something celebratory.

'That is why we at SNL would like to say to Donald Trump.... We have been with you all along!' Kenan Thompson said.

'We have NEVER wavered in our support of you!' Yang mockingly said while rolling his eyes. 'Even when others doubted you!'

The cast doubles down on their claims, stating how every person on the stage always believed in the former president and even voted for him... at least once.

'I voted for you 50 times in Pennsylvania,' Gardner smiled.

They continued to explain why they voted for Trump at the ballot, noting that they see themselves in Trump when they look at him.

'That's the man I want my future children to look up to,' Sarah Sherman confidently said.

But the mood quickly shifted as the cast noted how they have never wavered in support of the former president

'I voted for you 50 times in Pennsylvania' Heidi Gardner said while smiling

The cast even went as far as to remember the January 6 riot on the Capitol, which they said the only regret they have is not being able to participate in another one because they 'were ready'

And of course, Weekend Update co-anchor Colin Jost took the time to call out Michael Che.

'We know you say things that are controversial,' Jost added. 'But really, you're just speaking the truth, and I hate how the lame-stream media, Michael Che, tries to spin it to make you look foolish.'

Thompson addressed Trump in the camera and questioned if the former president was keeping some type of list of his enemies before another cast member said: 'Then we should NOT be on that list.'

Ego Nwodim explained to the audience that although 92 percent of black women voted for Kamala Harris, she was one of the 'proud eight percent.'

And in true supporter form, the cast said that if they find out anyone on stage voted for Kamala, they will 'rat them out so fast'.

The camera then panned to 'three disgusting new cast members' who voted for Kamala, along with their names and a cast member in the back yelling: 'You can find their home addresses online. Hail Trump.'

The cast also debuted another new character - Elon Musk - who came out to the stage dancing and shouting

While claiming their loyalty to the future commander-in-chief, the cast panned the camera to their 'three new disgusting cast members' who voted for Kamala Harris

The cast informed the audience that they are so excited about their newest character - Trump 2.0 - and can't wait to see what he does with the country this time around.

'I keep waking up in the middle of the night screaming,' Nwodim said. 'With joy of course!'

And they gave a little remembrance to the infamous January 6 riot on the Capitol - noting how the only regret they feel is not being able to participate in one of those themselves.

'I was ready!' Sherman added as Jost walked into the frame and agreed while dressed as the QAnon Shaman, with a furry bull-horned Viking hat.

But it wouldn't be a post-election SNL message without the mention of the 'loved and trusted' Elon Musk.

At the end of the cold open, the cast brought up the 'unseen young men' who were a key factor in the outcome of the election while singing 'you don't need to be unhappy' in the tone of YMCA

'Worst case scenario, if our planet falls apart, we can all go to Mars!' Thompson exclaimed.

Elon Musk 2.0 - a stuttering, skinny character with a black hat and outfit - walked out dancing upon being addressed.

'But seriously... I run the country now,' Carvey said while fake laughing. He also mentioned his 'super cool and super fun' rockets.

The cold open ends with the cast bringing up the 'unseen young men' who were a critical component in how the election would play out before breaking into song.

'You don't need to be unhappy,' they sang in the tone of YMCA as they danced along with their two newest - and memorable - political characters.
Two Chinese restaurant workers have been rushed to hospital after a violent fight allegedly broke out between the pair at work.

NSW Police attended the Crystal Seafood Restaurant in Carlingford in Sydney's north-west on Sunday afternoon after reports of an allegedly stabbing in the kitchen.

'Police were told two employees had an argument before one man allegedly stabbed the other man multiple times in his head, face and arms,' a police statement read.

A man, 63, suffered non-life threatening injuries and was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital for further treatment.

Police are investigating an alleged stabbing at the Crystal Seafood Restaurant in Carlingford

Another man, 46, believed to be a chef at the restaurant was arrested at the scene.

He was taken to hospital under police guard for treatment for a minor head inquiry.

He was later released from hospital and taken to Gladesville Police Station, where he was charged with wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

He was refused bail to appear in Burwood Local Court on Monday.

Investigators established a crime scene and spent much of Sunday afternoon examining the restaurant and interviewing witnesses.

Inquiries into the alleged melee continue.

A violent argument allegedly broke out between two employees at the restaurant

The restaurant was open for yum cha diners at the time of the incident.

The venue describes itself on its website as Sydneys 'premier Chinese seafood restaurant.
A growing number of American women are fleeing the United States in search of a better life in Europe.

Nearly half of American expats working abroad in 2021 were females, according to a survey by InterNations, as remote work became more prevalent and an increasing number of countries started offering digital nomad visas.

The average age of the expats were 43, with many looking to move to a country that aligns with their values, ranging from universal health care to fleeing the polarized political landscape of the United States, USA Today reports.

'They find that Europe offers a political climate that feels less changed, less divided and generally more tolerant,' said Cepee Tabibian, who founded She Hit Refresh - an online community of American women over the age of 30 who are looking to move to Europe.

'This is also a big driver for our intersectionally-marginalized members, such as our LGBTQ+ members nd our black members who find more welcoming environments and policies in Europe than in the US.'

Cepee Tabibian founded She Hit Refresh - an online community of American women over the age of 30 who are looking to move to Europe

Among those drawn to the European lifestyle was Dee Segler, who moved to the Netherlands - a country she had never been to before - on Monday.

She told USA today she had dreamed of living abroad since she was a teenager and went on a school trip to Europe with her French club.

'I made a promise to myself at 18 years old: I was going to live abroad,' Segler said. 'But life just kind of happened. I went to school, got married and had kids.'

Over the years though, her situation changed.

She is now divorced with children living on their own, and was laid off from her tech job a few years ago. She then went back to school, but could only get a job in a junior role and struggled to make ends meet amid the rising prices in Seattle.

Segler eventually came across the She Hit Refresh Facebook group, which had over 10,000 members, and in June she attended its online training about European visa options, learning how to obtain a two-year visa to the Netherlands as a self=employed American under the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty.

She ultimately decided it was time to go in the summer of 2022, when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade.

'You have to understand, I nearly died after pregnancy complications, and I have two loved ones who nearly died after pregnancy complications, so this is personal for me,' Segler told USA Today.

Soon after, the Supreme Court also ruled that former President Donald Trump has presidential immunity.

Just a few days later, she reached out to Dutch immigration lawyers.

Among those drawn to the European lifestyle was Dee Segler, who moved to the Netherlands - a country she had never been to before - on Monday

Cindy Sheahan, who backpacked the world before settling down in Portugal in 2022 and just moved to Sicily in October, said she sought out life in Europe due to the 'increasingly polarized and divisive climate in the US since 2016.'

She started backpacking right around the time Trump first took office, though her move was also preceded by her divorce.

'Another Trump term is non-negotiable for me,' she said.

Sheahan ultimately found She Hit Refresh when she was looking for a way to permanently move to Europe, ultimately qualifying for Italian citizenship by way of her ancestry.

Other women have been drawn to Europe for its safety, after the 2024 Global Peace Index ranked the US 131st safest out of 162, while countries like Iceland, Denmark, Ireland, Portugal, Germany and the Netherlands earned spots in the top 20.

Rates for age-adjusted firearm deaths in the US are also much higher than in Europe - 19 times higher than in France and 77 times more than in Germany, according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

Cindy Sheahan, who backpacked the world before settling down in Portugal in 2022 and just moved to Sicily in October, said she sought out life in Europe due to the 'increasingly polarized and divisive climate in the US since 2016'

For Tabibian, like Segler, moving to Europe was something she had long dreamed of.

She felt ready to leave her tech job in 2015 and was eager to move to Spain - where she taught English years earlier while earning her master's degree.

But going back to teaching English felt like a 'step backward' at her age, when 'everyone looks like they have it all together.'

When she was looking for resources on making a move to Europe, though, Tabibian said: 'I just didn't find resources made for me.

'They didn't understand the challenges I was facing moving as a woman who had life under my belt and responsibility.

'There is a lot of information for someone doing a gap year at university - a very different life point,' she said, as she wondered whether she would lose her career if she moved to Europe and what would happen to any children or if she had a mortgage.

Once she was in Madrid, though, Tabibian met other female expats and learned more about visa options for staying in Spain.

By 2017, she started a Facebook group in response to friends and colleagues asking her about the move, and eventually She Hit Refresh became a blog and ran its first retreat in 2019.

It now offers four-day live master class trainings on Zoom that breaks down moving to Europe and helps attendees develop a personalized moving plan.

It also offers a monthly membership to fast-track people's moves, including resources and the ability to connect women for support.

Tabibian now says She Hit Refresh is an important resource for women looking to move to Europe.

'There's this pressure to get settled down and have a family and have your life figured out, and those of us out there who want something else, we can feel other or maybe weird about making a different choice,' she explained.

'When I made my move, I felt like a lot of questions I got was a double standard, and maybe if I were a man, people wouldn't be asking me the same questions in terms of safety or would I be able to get married or have kids.'
Farmers are threatening to block 'every port in Britain' as fury continues to grow over Rachel Reeves' inheritance tax raid.

Discussions are also being held to withhold livestock in a bid to slow down the supply to supermarkets which could cause food shortages on shelves.

Farmers are said to have felt 'betrayed' by Sir Keir Starmer as one farmer warned: 'The Government and supermarkets need to realise the control we have as farmers.'

Under plans announced in last week's Budget, inheritance tax will be charged at 20 per cent on agricultural assets above 1million - although Ms Reeves has said that in some cases the threshold could in practice be about 3million.

While the 20 per cent figure still represents a relief of 50 per cent compared to the standard rate, farming unions and opposition parties have criticised the move.

There are fears fresh protests or blockades could bring vital parts of the UK's food industry to a standstill

Chancellor Rachel Reeves outside 11 Downing Street ahead of the Budget last Wednesday

They argue it will make British farms uncompetitive - and, as the backlash continues to intensify, a group of plotters are now considering strike dates around a rally being organised by the National Farmers' Union (NFU) in Westminster on November 19.

What changes to farm inheritance tax were revealed in the Budget? Under plans announced in the Budget, inheritance tax will be charged at 20 per cent on agricultural assets above 1million, although Rachel Reeves has said that in some cases the threshold could in practice be about 3million. The 20 per cent figure still represents a relief of 50 per cent compared to the standard rate. But there are fears it will make British farms uncompetitive. The Chancellor used her first Budget last Wednesday to announce a change to agricultural property relief (APR) and business property relief (BPR) from April 2026 in a bid to secure more money for public services. Budget documents state the Government wants to restrict the 'generosity' of APR and BPR for the 'wealthiest estates'. The first 1million of combined business and agricultural assets will continue to attract no inheritance tax. But for assets over 1million, inheritance tax will apply with 50 per cent relief, at an effective rate of 20 per cent. The Chancellor said 'only a very small number of agricultural properties' will be affected, although the National Farmers' Union warned the reforms could force farmers to sell their family farms to pay the inheritance tax bill. Ms Reeves said many 'difficult decisions' were needed in the Budget in order to fix public services and place the economy on a firmer footing. Advertisement

One farmer with inside knowledge of the potential blockade told the Telegraph: 'They will block every port in the UK if they have to.

'[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.'

Farmers may also stop taking sewage sludge and biosolids - remains of human waste after liquid has been removed - from water treatment plants in another move to down their pitch forks.

Reports claimed that in online message forums, farmers are encouraging others to contact their sludge suppliers and notify them of a temporary halt to all deliveries.

Experts say this could cause chaos for sewage and water companies as farmers in the UK take about 3.6 million tonnes of sewage sludge from water treatment plants and spread it on agricultural land.

Clive Bailye, the founder of the Farming Forum, said that although farmers were 'very worried about going to prison' they felt they needed to do something.

'I've got thousands of messages from farmers asking me how, when, where,' he said.

Merseyside arable farmer Olly Harrison, an unofficial spokesman for the group, told MailOnline this week: 'Never before have farmers been so united - sadly it's in anger over this issue and they will not take it lying down, especially after the worst harvest ever.

The YouTube and Instagram star added: 'Most don't do this job for the money, they do it for the kids, and taking this right away through poorly thought out Government policy is horrifying. We already risk our home with the weather every day playing snakes and ladders, and now the Government has just cut the rungs off the ladders.

'This decision has already proved itself to be costing farmers more than money.'

Mr Harrison also told The Times: 'They say we are only ever four meals away from anarchy.

'What Rachel Reeves doesn't understand is how fragile the food supply chain is, and we saw in Covid how it only took a few days of panic buying to cause shortages.

'If we stop goods leaving farms for a day or two it will happen faster than you think.'

Mr Harrison added that there would be no strike action just yet, given that the US presidential election is currently 'taking up all the headlines'  and there were also no plans to 'interfere' with Remembrance Day or 'wreck' Christmas.

He was speaking after a farmer's son accused the Prime Minister of having 'blood on his hands' over the inheritance tax raid after his father's apparent suicide 24 hours before the budget.

Farmers protest outside the Northern Farming Conference in Hexham in Northumberland against the government's proposals to reform inheritance tax. Pic taken on Wednesday

Farmers drive slowly through central London in protests on food security in March

Farmers demonstrated in London in March over food security fears - and it is feared they could do so again

John Charlesworth, 78, ran a 70-acre farm on the outskirts of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, which had been in the grandfather-of-six's family since the 1950s.

But pre-Budget chatter predicting the tax raid had 'eaten away' at him, according to his 46-year-old son Jonathan, who has been running the farm in recent years.

Mr Charlesworth Jr told the Daily Mail: 'I'm not sure you could publish what I'd say to [Sir Keir Starmer]. He's got blood on his hands. He's totally destroying an industry we rely on.'

He also said worries about the impact of inheritance tax was his father's 'main topic' of conversation in recent weeks, adding: 'This Government has absolutely zero understanding of agriculture.'

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'Losing anyone to suicide is a tragedy and our sincere thoughts and condolences are with Mr Charlesworth's family and friends.'

It also emerged that farmers could end up paying thousands of pounds more in car tax after a loophole that benefits pick-up truck drivers was closed in the Budget.

Vehicles such as the Ford Ranger and Nissan Navara will be classed as cars rather than vans from next April when the benefit-in-kind tax break for commercial vehicles ends, the paper reported.

It comes after the new shadow environment secretary said the 'crass decision' to remove some inheritance tax relief for farms had betrayed the Government's lack of knowledge about the countryside.

Victoria Atkins said the move had 'consigned family farms and businesses to being sold off and split up as families cannot afford massive tax bills'.

Writing in the Telegraph, she added: 'This is a serious mistake that Labour has made in their Budget. Their lack of understanding of the realities of farming was revealed in the crass decision to slash years of careful tax policy to keep family farms intact and protected from inheritance tax.'

She suggested the move would make the UK more reliant on imports, adding: 'If farmers have to set aside money for a potential tax raid rather than investing in the farm, it will no doubt impact food production, increase prices and make British farmers less competitive.'

Merseyside arable farmer Olly Harrison (pictured), a YouTuber and unofficial spokesman for the plotters, said the Chancellor 'doesn't understand how fragile the food supply chain is'

Farmers protest outside the Northern Farming Conference in Hexham, Northumberland on November 6

Ms Reeves has defended her proposed reforms to inheritance tax on farms by claiming it is not 'affordable' to keep the current system.

Meanwhile one of the UK's largest animal feed producers has warned that the changes will have a 'negative' impact on food security.

George Weston, boss of Associated British Foods, which supplies farmers with feed and technology services, said the taxes on farms pose a threat to the country's ability to grow its own food.

He said: 'If we are to grow more of our own food and benefit from the food security of growing things ourselves, then I think policymakers have got to create a more attractive environment for that farming community.

'These changes to inheritance tax obviously operate in a very different direction.'
A British volunteer has been tragically killed while fighting Vladimir Putin's forces in Ukraine.

Callum Tindal-Draper, 22, from Gunnislake, Cornwall, was killed in action on November 5 while serving with the foreign volunteer platoon in the war against invading Russia.

His family was told that Callum died while defending an observation point when it was targeted by Russian forces.

Callum's father Steven Draper said he begged his 'brave' son not to travel to Ukraine.

'We begged and begged and begged him not to go,' his father told the BBC. 'But Callum said "dad, I'm not frightened of bullies and what's going on in Ukraine is awful and someone needs to stand up for these people".'

Callum Tindal-Draper (pictured), 22, from Gunnislake, Cornwall, was killed in action on November 5 while serving with the foreign volunteer platoon in the war against invading Russia

His family was told that Callum died while defending an observation point when it was targeted by Russian forces

In the same interview, his mother Caroline Tindal said she had visited Callum in September and he seemed as if he had found 'who he was meant to be'.

'It was such a transformation and he said to me "mum, coming out here was the best thing that ever happened to me",' Ms Tindal said.

'He found who he was meant to be, he became that person and he lived it.'

Ms Tindal also posted a tribute to him to a group on Facebook.

She wrote: 'He fought till he could no longer hold them off any more and his platoon are calling him a "hero" and "As brave as they come".

'22 is a young age. But you lived and died following your heart, soul and morals.

'May you rest in peace and help watch over those who have passed.'

Mr Tindal-Draper was a former student of Duchy College, in Stoke Climsland, Cornwall.

In a tribute on Facebook, the college's Military and Protective Services Academy said he was a 'model student'.

'He was a passionate, articulate and bright student, who was keen to learn, with a strong moral compass,' the post said.

In the same interview, his mother Caroline Tindal said she had visited Callum in September and he seemed as if he had found 'who he was meant to be'

'He was very proud of his family history in the services.

'He was well liked and respected by his peers, and was not one to shy away from causes he believed in and was instrumental in collecting the 3 minibus loads of humanitarian equipment for civilians that the learners gathered when the war in Ukraine initially kicked off.'

The post added that Mr Tindal-Draper worked for the NHS after finishing the course.

An FCDO Spokesperson said: 'We are aware that a British national has reportedly died in Ukraine and stand ready to assist the family in the UK'.
The British Red Cross has cut ties with Harrods after its late former owner was hit with an avalanche of rape and assault claims.

Donations from the luxury outlet have now been barred as the charity says Harrods does not fit its 'organisational values and fundamental principles'.

The move comes amid the news that 'over 290 individuals' are engaged in Harrods' claims process with some complaining of rape, sexual assault and trafficking.

A source confirmed the Red Cross had cut ties with the store - one of its five community partners - since the September BBC probe into Al Fayed, the Sun reports.

The cutting of ties comes shortly after Harrods announced the appointment of a new advocate to represent survivors of alleged abuse by the store's former owner.

Al Fayed led Harrods for over two decades after acquiring the department store for 615million in 1985

Harrods said the appointment was an extension of its claims process which 'includes counselling as well as payment of all reasonable legal fees incurred by claimants (file photo)

Dame Jasvinder Sanghera will now 'offer support' to alleged victims of Al Fayed.

One source close to the Justice for Harrods Survivors group said they were 'heartened' by the Red Cross' decision and thought it could cause a 'domino effect'.

They said: 'It gives me hope that people are hearing our stories and understanding the impact it has had on our lives.'

After the Grenfell Tower disaster in 2017, Harrods donated 1million to the British Red Cross's London fire relief and it has also donated surplus stock to be sold in the charity's stores.

A spokesman said: 'We have a robust ethical fundraising policy.

'This ensures we only accept donations that are in line with our organisational values and fundamental principles.

A charity spokesman said the guidance was 'to help staff and volunteers feel more confident when speaking with or writing about different people'. Pictured is a British Red Cross van

Five ex-Harrods employees who spoke of Al Fayed's alleged abuse are seen above. Pictured bottom left to right are Jen, Lindsay, and Catherine. Top left to right are Nicole and Gemma

'We are not accepting donations from Harrods and they are not one of our corporate partners.'

Before the damning September documentary and ensuing media coverage, 21 allegations were made against the late billionaire which led to crimes being recorded relating to 21 separate women between 2005 and 2023.

The offences were alleged to have taken place between 1979 and 2013. Four of the reports were allegations of rape, 16 were sexual assault and one related to trafficking, the Met said.

And in October, the force revealed they were investigating 40 new allegations against Mohamed Al Fayed.

The force said that while it would not be possible to bring criminal proceedings against Mr Al Fayed - who died last year aged 94 - it would 'continue to explore whether any other individuals could be pursued for any criminal offences'.

Al Fayed acquired Harrods for 615 million in 1985 and after 26 years in charge sold it to the Qatari royal family for a reported 1.5 billion in 2010.
A legal loophole is allowing smuggling gangs in Germany to store the deathtrap inflatable boats used to ferry migrants across the Channel.

It is not illegal for migrants to be transported through Germany to a nation outside the EU - and since Brexit this includes Britain.

It means people trafficking gangs are able to store their boats just a three-hour drive from the French coast as they make millions preying on desperate refugees.

The revalation comes as Keir Starmer pledges a series of new measures to tackle the 'vile trade' in Channel migrants amid soaring numbers of arrivals across the Channel.

The head of the UK's National Crime Agency Graeme Biggar says that the loophole is curtailing our ability to fight back against the thugs, because British agencies must respect the laws of the countries they are working in.

'They have a very significant illegal migration challenge themselves that they are dealing with and so we really are grateful for the support that we get,' he told The Sun.

'But it is a point we make to them constantly and it would be helpful if they were able to do slightly more.

Small boats and outboard motors used by people thought to be migrants to cross the Channel are laid out at a warehouse facility in Dover, Kent

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'It's obviously a matter for the German government to decide but from our point of view a law change would be helpful.'

More than 50 people have died this year trying to cross the Channel and find refuge in the UK.

The deadly dinghies are first made in China, before they are shipped more than 3,500 miles to smuggling gangs in Turkey.

From there, they are driven to Germany, where they are hidden in a network of warehouses and sold to gangs trafficking migrants across the waters.

They are driven the final stretch of the journey through Holland and Belgium, before taking the final 22-mile stretch across the Channel, crammed with migrants.

Last night, MPs blasted Germany, with Sir Alec Shelbrooke saying EU rules should be 'irrelevant' to tackling a scheme which capitalises on the 'exploitation of vulnerable people dying in their dozens every year'.

Chairwomen of the Home Affairs Select Committee Karen Bradley added that stopping people smuggling should be a 'global priority.

And even Interpol's Director of Organised and Emerging Crime backed Mr Biggar, telling The Sun that gangs 'dont care what the trail of destruction is'.

A migrant reacts after boarding a smuggler's inflatable dinghy in an attempt to cross the English Channel on Ecault beach in northern France on October 30

More than 30,000 migrants have made the perilous journey in small boats across the Channel so far this year Pictured: Arrivals last month at Dover, Kent

It comes after Sir Keir pledged a series of new measures amid criticism from the Tories over his 'weak' record on illegal migrants and soaring numbers of arrivals across the Channel.

Labour's new Border Security Command (BSC) will get enhanced powers to stop and search suspected human traffickers, including seizing their phones and other devices.

Officials will be able to obtain search warrants to seize items from premises before an offence has even taken place - powers currently reserved only for anti-terror cases.

Suspected people traffickers will face invasive financial searches, as the law is changed to allow courts to grant permission for scrutiny of accounts, property and other assets, government sources said.

Serious Crime Prevention Orders will be expanded to suspected gang members before they are even convicted to restrict their access to the internet, banking and travel.

Some of the measures will see the Terrorism Act 2000 expanded to cover immigration gangs, it is understood, including allowing investigators to copy the contents of suspected smugglers' electronic devices.

Shadow home secretary James Cleverly has previously said that people are dying in the Channel as a direct result of Labour 'incompetence' and 'appalling decision-making'.

He added that abandoning the Rwanda plan had sent a 'massive signal' to trafficking gangs that Britain was 'softening' its border defences, fuelling a surge in small boat crossings.

Migrants board a smuggler's inflatable dinghy in an attempt to cross the English Channel, on Ecault beach in Saint-Etienne-au-Mont, near Neufchatel-Hardelot, northern France on October 30

A group of people thought to be migrants, including young children, are brought in to Dover, Kent, from a Border Force vessel following a small boat incident in the Channel on November 8

Speaking in Glasgow at the annual conference of Interpol, the international policing organisation, Sir Keir announced he is doubling funding for the BSC to 150million.

A government spokesman described the smuggling gangs as a 'national security threat'.

Since Labour ripped up the Rwanda deal - which was designed to save lives by deterring crossings - Channel arrivals have increased month-by-month.

More than 17,500 migrants have reached Britain since the election.

The running tally for the year is up 16 per cent to almost 32,000 compared with the same point last year.

A series of tragic deaths in the Channel in the last three weeks have brought 2024's death toll to 59, making this the deadliest year since the crisis began at the end of 2018.

Part of the Government's extra 75million for the BSC will set up a new organised immigration crime intelligence unit, to identify key developments contained in alerts from police forces.

The PM also announced another 24million for the Home Office next year to combat international serious organised crime including drugs and firearms, trafficking, fraud and exploitation.

Some of the cash will fund special prosecutors and operations in the Western Balkans, a key trafficking hub.

Ministers have previously announced the BSC will have 300 officers, while the National Crime Agency (NCA) is to get 100 investigators and intelligence officers to concentrate on human trafficking.

NCA director general Graeme Biggar said: 'We are determined to do all we can to disrupt and dismantle these networks, wherever they operate.'

Interpol's general assembly, being held in the UK for the first time in more than 50 years, is its governing body and features top law enforcement officers from 196 member states.
Michelle O'Neill is facing a furious backlash across the political divide in Northern Ireland over her decision to become the first Sinn Fein leader to attend a Remembrance Sunday event.

Ms O'Neill will lay a laurel wreath at the Cenotaph in Belfast this morning in her role as First Minister, alongside DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.

She claimed her attendance was a demonstration of her determination to fulfil her pledge to be a 'First Minister for all', and it was welcomed by Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn.

But it sparkled a backlash from more hardline figures, with Traditional Unionist Voice deputy leader Ron McDowell boycotting the event in protest.

'I can't normalise Michelle O'Neill's behaviour ... and vindicate (her) by my attendance,' he told the Belfast Telegraph.

He said on X that it was 'a personal decision based on my own conscience'.

And more than 100 relatives of republicans killed in the Troubles attacked her 'shameful' decision to honour those they blame for the violence in Northern Ireland.

Ms O'Neill will lay a laurel wreath at the Cenotaph in Belfast this morning in her role as First Minister, alongside DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.

She claimed her attendance was a demonstration of her determination to fulfil her pledge to be a 'First Minister for all', and it was welcomed by Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn.

And more than 100 relatives of republicans killed in the Troubles attacked her 'shameful' decision to honour those they blame for the violence in Northern Ireland.

In a letter to the Irish News, they said she had turned 'political somersaults' to justify attending.

They said she would be laying a wreath to commemorate 'the same forces that murdered men, women, children, and priests with impunity', adding: 'For many families throughout our county, and beyond, this will be devastating.'

The First Minister said she appreciated some republicans would be 'uncomfortable' with her being there, but insisted it was nevertheless the 'right thing to do'.

She previously raised eyebrows with her decision to attend the coronation of Charles II in May 2023.

Speaking to media in Cookstown, Co Tyrone, on Wednesday, Mr Benn said he 'very much welcomes the decision by the First Minister'.

He said: 'Remembrance Sunday is about the whole of society remembering the sacrifice of our ancestors and there is barely a family in the United Kingdom that hasn't been touched by loss or injury in the First and Second World Wars, and the conflicts that have happened since, and we come together to recall the sacrifice of those who fought so hard so we can enjoy the freedom that we have today, and that is worth remembering always.'

Asked for her view on the move, Ms Little-Pengelly said: 'For me, Remembrance Sunday is all about that focus on those who gave so much, many, many thousands, of course, who gave all and made the ultimate sacrifice, but almost all those that were injured over the many decades and of course those many tens of thousands who mourn the loss of their loved ones.

'So, for me, Remembrance Sunday is very much about focusing on remembering those who gave so much and, of course, it will be a huge honour to be there to lay a wreath on behalf of the people of Northern Ireland in my role as deputy First Minister.'

Asked whether she welcomed that Ms O'Neill would be attending, Ms Little-Pengelly said: 'The focus of this weekend will of course be on remembering those who gave so much. It is Remembrance Sunday and, of course, we all must remember what the focus of this weekend is all about.'
An Oasis-mad bride recreated one of the bands most iconic record covers on her big day as guests got to listen to tracks of the Manchester rock group on repeat in the background.

Robyn Hixon, 38, said she had never actually realised the significance of the special location until she was a teen despite loving Oasis for 'as long as she has been alive'.

She and her 12 bridesmaids recreated the iconic single cover with their wedding photographer in a fun shoot ahead of the festival-themed ceremony.

Robyn and now-husband Tommy, 33, tied the knot on July 20 just weeks before the band's reunion was announced.

But can you guess where they chose to say their I dos?

Oasis mega-fan Robyn Hixon and husband Tommy recreated the cover artwork of Oasis' famous single at their festival-style wedding

Oasis mega-fan Robyn Hixon had her 12 bridesmaids help her in recreating the iconic Oasis scene

Robyn can be seen pushing the iconic wheelbarrow along the platform at the famous station - but opted to cart her friend Karrie Hammersley instead of the original dead fish

Growing up just down the road from Cromford Railway Station in Derbyshire, the bride never realised she lived by a piece of Britpop history until she a teen.

But she would go on to choose the 'Some Might Say' train station as the scene for her wedding, recounting she had always been fascinated by the Grade-II-listed Victorian structure which features on the cover of one of the band's most famous singles.

The Derbyshire station is featured on the cover of Some Might Say - one of the band's most famous singles which helped shoot them to superstardom in 1995.

When Robyn wed Tommy this year she could think of no better place to stay with her bridal party than the holiday cottage at the station.

She can be seen pushing the iconic wheelbarrow along the platform - but opted to cart her friend Karrie Hammersley instead of the original dead fish.

Other hidden details include the 'Education Please?' sign, Noel's watering can to signify 'in the rain' while a friend's dog was even roped in for the shoot.

The Derbyshire station is featured on the cover of Some Might Say - one of the band's most famous singles which helped shoot them to superstardom in 1995

Oasis tracks were played throughout the reception including Robyn's favourite 'Half The World Away' as well as other indie and Britpop tracks

Oasis tracks were played throughout the reception including Robyn's favourite 'Half The World Away' as well as other indie and Britpop tracks.

Robyn had visited the station countless times to catch trains before moving to Australia in her 30s so thought it was the perfect place to stay with her bridal party.

She said it was actually her bridesmaid Joey Hall who came up with the idea of recreating the cover the night before her wedding day.

Robyn, who now lives in Perth, said: 'She said let's do the Some Might Say cover - but in our wedding stuff.

'She gathered the materials we needed. She was collecting all the bits and bobs while we were having our hair and make-up done that morning.

'We asked the owner's permission and ran the idea past our photographer Lucy, who loved it.

Robyn and her now husband Tommy, 33, held a festival-themed wedding and had their favourite indie tunes playing - including her favourite Half the World Away by Oasis

It was actually her bridesmaid Joey who came up with the idea the night before her wedding as the bridal group were staying at the station's cottage

Robyn is not the only Oasis-mad bride to single out the station as her preferred choice

'We've been going to the cottage for years and never thought of doing it before. And it was just before the reunion too.

'We had no idea that was going to happen just a few weeks later - I keep saying we manifested it.'

Robyn is not the only Oasis-mad bride to single out the station as her preferred choice.

She is also not the only one to have been surprised on finding out its significance.

When Tim Collis, 58, and Ryan Phelps, 53, purchased the derelict master house and waiting room at Cromford Railway Station in Derbyshire for 390,000 they hadn't actually realised its link to the Manchester rock group.

It was only when they got inside their new home and saw the artwork for Oasis' first number one single that they realised they had purchased the piece of Britpop history.



Tim said enquiries for bookings had 'gone supersonic' since news of the reunion was announced while fans have been flocking there for selfies and to recreate the cover.

In the cover photo, Liam Gallagher can be seen waving from the railway bridge while brother Noel is sprinkling a watering can on the platform below.

Tim revealed despite being an Oasis fan, he did not know about the historic building's connection with the band until after he bought it.

The restoration was so impressive King Charles visited in 2011, meaning the Gallagher brothers were no longer the most famous people to have visited there

Tim Collis, 58, (pictured) and husband Ryan Phelps, 53, purchased the derelict master house and waiting room at Cromford Railway Station in Derbyshire for 390,000

Bride Robyn said: 'I've been fascinated by this place since I was young so I thought it was the ideal place to stay.

'It's a nice little claim to fame for Cromford. It's a very important song for Oasis too, to have one of their first big songs related to our quiet little village is beautiful.

'But when I was first listening to Oasis I didn't know the link to the station. It was amazing to discover the link to one of my favourite bands.

'We had a festival themed wedding on the day. There were a few Oasis tracks played throughout.

'Our band Waking Vegas played one and then there were some on the playlist and when I was getting ready that morning too.

'My favourite Oasis song is Half the World Away for obvious reasons with living away in Australia.

Robyn pictured with now-husband Tommy

Bride Robyn said: 'I've been fascinated by this place since I was young so I thought it was the ideal place to stay

Robyn has now vowed that she and her bridesmaids will go to the gig in their wedding attire if they can grab enough tickets for them all

'My husband is English but we met in Perth and he's lived in Australia for longer than me.'

Robyn has now vowed that she and her bridesmaids will go to the gig in their wedding attire if they can grab enough tickets for them all.

The bride, who works in construction, added: 'We managed to get some tickets but my bridesmaid needs some. If I get more, I'll wear my wedding dress to the gig.

'If all the girls get tickets we'll definitely go in our wedding gear.

'I absolutely love Oasis. We have Oasis artwork around the house, I've loved them for as long as I remember being alive.

'I screamed the office down when I heard they were reforming, people must have thought I was mad.

'I've seen them a few times, Oasis are the creme de la creme.'
A monk has been beaten to death and seven others have been injured after a break in at a Spanish monastery.

The friar, aged 76, died in a Valencia hospital on Saturday afternoon after an intruder allegedly assaulted him and other monks in their rooms in the Santo Espiritu del Monte Monastery in Gilet.

The attacker, a 46-year-old Spaniard who has since been detained by police, hit the men with a staff from a historic statue and shouted 'I am Jesus Christ', according to local media.

Witnesses said he also used a stick and a glass bottle to carry out the attack.

Seven other monks were injured in the shocking attack, with three clergymen aged 57, 66 and 95 being taken to hospital, one of them reportedly in critical condition.

The friar, aged 76, died in a Valencia hospital on Saturday afternoon after an intruder allegedly assaulted him and other monks in their rooms in the Santo Espiritu del Monte Monastery in Gilet (pictured)

Gilet's mayor Salvador Costa told local press the intruder had entered the building shouting 'I am Jesus Christ' before beginning to physically attack the monks 'with the intention of killing them.'

The man reportedly jumped the monastery fence before he went from room to room kicking and punching his victims, he is also said to have yelled out that he was acting 'in the name of God'.

He fled after being stopped by one of the clergy who went to the aid of his stricken companions.

The man was on the run for nearly 24 hours before he was captured by police early Sunday. He is expected to be brought in front of a court on Monday.

A Provincial superior said in a statement confirming the monk's death: 'It was with deep surprise and pain that we received the news this morning that a disturbed person had entered the Friary of Santo Espiritu del Monte.'

The alarm was raised around 10am on Saturday.

The man who died is said to have suffered head injuries. Only two monks who were working outside in an orchard escaped being attacked.

A spokesman for the Civil Guard in Valencia said on Saturday: 'I can confirm a man has been killed following an attack on clergy at a monastery in Gilet this morning.'

Responding to queries about the number of people assaulted following conflicting reports it was four to seven, he added: 'The information we have is that seven others were targeted. Officers are still hunting the attacker.'

A well-placed source said: 'Detectives believe the man who did this was suffering mental health issues.'
Peter Dutton continues to make polling headway against Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as Aussies admit feeling jittery about the stunning White House return of Donald Trump.

The Coalition Opposition Leader's personal approval rating was the big mover among 1621 voters surveyed in the latest Resolve Political Monitor poll for the Sydney Morning Herald.

The poll was conducted after Trump's thumping US presidential election, where voters expressed trepidation about what the rogue Republican's triumph would mean for Australia.

The percentage of voters who believe Mr Dutton was doing a good job rose five points to 45 per cent.

Those who take a dim view of his performance fell from 41 to 39 per cent, giving Mr Dutton his strongest ever Resolve Political Monitor net approval of five per cent.

In comparison, Mr Albanese's net performance rating has dropped to minus 14 per cent, even though the number who thought he was doing a good job rose from 35 to 38 per cent over the past month.

However, the two leaders are neck and neck at 37 per cent apiece as who would make the PM.

The result has led questions as to why Dutton's approved personal rating hasn't translate into substantial votes.

'He's certainly now viewed as stronger, more principled and competent (than previously) in our analysis,' Resolve Director Jim Reed told the Sydney Morning Herald,

Voters are more 'disappointed' than angry at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured right with fiancee Jodie Haydon)

Mr Reed said voters still see Mr Albanese as a 'nice guy' that they rarely get angry at.

'Instead, it's like that most cutting remark made by parents  it's not that they're angry, just disappointed,' Mr Reed said.

'It's the word that comes up most often. They were expecting something different.'

It comes as primary support for the Coalition has lifted to 40 per cent for the first time since the 2022 election in the latest Newspoll conducted for The Australian.

Mr Duttons net approval now surpasses Mr Albaneses, as the Prime Ministers personal ratings dip to a new low

Support for the Coalition firmed up with with a one point increase to 39 per cent, their highest Resolve result since the last federal election.

Labor's support remained unchanged at 30 per cent while those backing the Greens declined from 12 to 11 per cent.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has recorded his strongest job approval rating in the latest Resolve Political Monitor poll

Mr Trump remains largely negatively viewed by Australians with 54 per cent disapproving and 26 per cent were positive.

Less than 30 per cent felt Mr Trump's second stint at President would be beneficial for Australia compared to 40 per cent who fear a negative impact.

Mr Trump has threatened to impose across-the-board tariffs and voters were split on how to respond if this included Australian exports to the US.

While 46 per cent wanted to put retaliatory tariffs on US imports to Australia, 43 per cent were unsure while 13 per cent were against any response in kind.

With Mr Trump stating his highest tariffs will be imposed on Chinese goods, 57 per cent of voters said Australia should stay out of any developing conflict between the economic behemoths.

Mr Trump's election has also weakened support for the AUKUS nuclear submarine defence pact with the US and UK.

Mr Reed said the poll results were in line with months of results showing that Australians preferred Democrat candidate Kamala Harris over Mr Trump.

'The fact that more Australians believe this is a bad outcome for Australia undoubtedly reflects a dislike of Trump and the fact that our political spectrum is centred more to the left,' he said.

Australian voters are wary of Donald Trump after the Republican triumphed in the US presidential election last week

'But there are also misgivings, or at least uncertainties, about what Mr Trump might do that will affect us on trade and defence.'

While 35 per cent wanted to press ahead with the deal, 27 per cent believed purchasing the submarines should be paused or halted.

Unlike the previous Biden Administration or beaten Democrat candidate Kamala Harris, Mr Trump has signalled he wants to withdraw US support for Ukraine's fight against the invading Russians.

If this happens, 53 per cent still wanted to continue supporting Ukraine, while 19 per cent would follow the American lead by withdrawing military and other aid and 29 per cent were undecided.
Dozens of Aussies stranded on a cruise with thousands of other holidaymakers will finally arrive at their final destination two days later than scheduled after their ship broke down mid-journey.

Melbourne couple Steve and Karen Dermietzel are among 111 Aussies onboard Royal Caribbean's Spectrum of the Seas for a seven-night voyage of Japan.

But their holiday plans were thrown into chaos after the ship spent two days docked at Yokohama due to 'unplanned maintenance', which was reportedly engine issues.

To make matters worse, the 4,500 passengers onboard were confined to the cruise ship while docked at the port near Tokyo and were unable to disembark to explore the city or catch an early flight home.

Passengers also reportedly had their passports confiscated when they first boarded in the Chinese port of Shanghai last Saturday.

The cruise ship has since left Yokohama and has spent the weekend at sea.

It's scheduled to return to Shanghai on Monday morning- two days after it was due to arrive.

The Dermietzels can't wait for the voyage to be over.

Steve and Karen Dermietzel were among 4,500 cruise ship passengers stranded on the Spectrum of the Seas

The Royal Caribbean's Spectrum of the Seas is expected to end its latest voyage on Monday

'They won't allow us onto the Japanese land. It's weird because in the last 16 days, we've been on Japanese land on five different occasions,' Mr Dermietzel told Seven News.

His wife added that lack of communication from crew and the cruise operator have added the nightmare, forcing them to seek assistance from the Australian embassy in Japan.

'They don't give us enough information though, and they blame Royal Caribbean saying it's being handled by head office and therefore due to US time, there's a time-(lag) as well,' Ms Dermietzel said.

The couple added that the company's compensation offer of $600 per passenger to re-book disrupted travel wasn't enough to cover costs, which they hope to recoup through insurance.

It also means the couple's upcoming four-day trip to Hong Kong has been slashed to just two.

Steve and Karen Dermietzel were confined to taking cruise ship selfies while docked at Yokohama

'The people on the ship here are saying Royal Caribbean are dealing with it in their head office in the US, and, of course, with the time difference, it's not fantastic,' Ms Dermietzel told the Herald Sun.

'I've done about eight cruises before but this has been the worst. I've never experienced anything like this.'

Other passengers have lost thousands of dollars worth of flights while one couple will miss a loved one's funeral on Monday, according to the Dermietzels.

A Royal Caribbean spokeswoman said the delay was caused by 'unplanned maintenance'.

'We have adjusted our current itinerary and cancelled our next sailing,' she told Daily Mail Australia on Sunday night.

The Spectrum of the Seas ship (pictured) left Shanghai last Saturday and will finally return there on Monday

'We apologise to our guests for the inconvenience and are communicating with our guests directly.'

Royal Caribbean didn't respond to additional questions regarding compensation and why passengers weren't allowed to disembark from the ship while docked at Yokohama.

Launched in 2019, Spectrum of the Seas can carry up to 4246 passengers.

The ship was diverted to Sydney the following year due to Covid regulations, where free cruises were offered firefighters for their efforts during the bushfire season.

The ship has since returned to Asia to resume cruise journeys in China, Japan and South Korea.
Keir Starmer must urgently dust off Tory plans for a free trade deal to avoid being damaged by Donald Trump's 'terrible' protectionist economic plans, Kemi Badenoch warned today.

The new Conservative opposition leader claimed that the Tories had been drawing up a 'landmark' agreement in 2020 before he lost the election to Joe Biden, who scrapped it.

This meant there was agreement 'on the shelf, ready to be dusted off' when the new president is inaugurated in January.

It comes amid concern at Trump's plan to hammer US imports. The president-elect has proposed a general 10 per cent tariff and a 60 per cent levy on Chinese-made products.

Critics say that if enacted they would would affect the entire economy by pushing consumer prices higher and stoking retaliatory levies on American exports.

He claims the move will protect American jobs, boost the economy and raise revenue.

Writing in the Telegraph today, Ms Badenoch said that a deal was 'one of the biggest Brexit prizes', adding: 'If President Trump does pursue a new protectionist tariff regime it would be terrible news for the UK. Only a Free Trade Agreement will protect us.

'It shouldn't be too much of a challenge for Labour...

The new Conservative opposition leader claimed that the Tories had been drawing up a 'landmark' agreement in 2020 before he lost the election to Joe Biden, who scrapped it.

It comes amid concern at Trump's plan to hammer US imports. The president-elect has proposed a general 10 per cent tariff and a 60 per cent levy on Chinese-made products.

Chief Treasury secretary Darren Jones this morning said Trump 'recognises' the importance of UK-US economic relationships.

'Although President Trump talks often about 'America First', in 2019 his historic and familial links to the UK, the obvious economic benefits and compelling strategic advantages were enough to convince him that a deal was in both countries' interests.

'This time around, I hope the President would see that an FTA with Britain would send strong signals to France and Germany that positive engagement with his administration could yield benefits, and that it could further his agenda with respect to European powers.'

During his 2017-2021 presidency, Trump imposed waves of tariffs on products like steel, washing machines, solar panels and consumer goods from China.

He also slapped a 25 per cent tariff on imports of Single Malt Scotch Whisky as part of a wide-ranging trade war with Europe over aerospace subsidies.

The 18-month price hike cost the Scottish Whisky industry around 600 million in exports. The tariff was suspended for five years in 2021 but is due to return in June 2026.

The Scottish Whisky Association, whose members support 25,000 jobs and generated around 7 billion for the UK economy, said 'zero-tariff trade' must continue.

Chief Treasury secretary Darren Jones this morning said Trump 'recognises' the importance of UK-US economic relationships.

Asked about possible tariffs on British goods imported into the US, the Treasury minister told Sky News's Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme: 'Officials will be considering lots of different scenarios but the position of the Government is that we support free trade and we support the trading relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom.

'It's a very strong, very fruitful relationship, both for us but also for the American economy and of course we want to protect that and strengthen it in the years ahead.

'And I think President-elect Trump has said that. He recognises the important relationship the US has with the with the UK, and that's the basis on which we will be co-operating in future years.

Pressed for a fuller response, Mr Jones replied: 'You'll have to forgive me, I'm not a commentator, I'm a Cabinet minister. As I've said, it's appropriate for officials to plan for different scenarios but you are asking me to comment on sensitive hypothetical future scenarios.'

By contrast, Labour grandee Lord Mandelson was more upbeat about the prospects.

Now seen as the frontrunner to become the UKs next ambassador to Washington, he told the BBC: Were going to be in for a fairly transactional rollercoaster ride. We have to decide how we are going to influence this presidency, what were going to put into it and what were going to get back from it.

He said there was enormous scope for the US and UK to deepen trade based on new technology.

The governor of New Jersey, Phil Murphy, said he thinks President-elect Trump may look favourably on the UK choosing to leave the 'bureaucratic blob' of the EU.

Asked about trade, the Democratic politician told Sky News Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme: 'I have a gut feeling that he looks at the UK's move out of the European Union which, by the way, I have to say was a huge mistake from my perspective.

'But from his perspective, I think it's, 'you know what? These guys had the courage to pull out of this big bureaucratic blob. And I, Donald Trump, have some sympathy with the renegade who has courage'.

'I think there's some of that. I think that's a card that can be played, and we'll see.'
A mum has told of how a gut feeling led her to discover the 'tiredness' and 'grumpiness' of her son after school was in fact something far more serious.

Eight-year-old Mason MacKenzie would routinely feel exhausted but it was only when Carly, 27, took him to the hospital that something shocking was found

Mum Carly, a domestic abuse practitioner from East Lothian, Scotland, went with Mason to the opticians for his yearly eye test.

There she told the practice that her son had been suffering from minor headaches, as well as feeling tired and grumpy at the end of the day and it was then suggested that she should take Mason to the GP.

But following a 'gut feeling' Carly took Mason to the hospital instead where an MRI scan revealed a shocking discovery.

Mason MacKenzie with mum Carly MacKenzie. Carly, a domestic abuse practitioner from East Lothian, Scotland, went with Mason to the opticians for his yearly eye test

Mason MacKenzie before cancer. Carly flagged to the optician that her son had been suffering from minor headaches, as well as feeling tired and grumpy at the end of the day

Just two days after the scan, it was found that Mason had an early-stage, cancerous tumour on the left-hand side of his brain - about the size of a grape.

Thankfully, Mason's prognosis is good, as doctors managed to remove it early but they say they'd be telling a 'very different story' if it weren't for the eye test.

Carly said: 'So many people have asked me about Mason's first signs and symptoms - but the truth is, he didn't really have any.

'Because we managed to catch it early, Mason was strong when he went into surgery and had his treatment.

'But his doctors have said, if we'd waited just a couple of weeks longer, we'd be telling a very different story.'

When Carly had taken Mason to the optician in January his test had come back normal.

The optician routinely asked if he'd experienced any headaches, eye strain or dizziness.

Mason in hospital with his mum. It was when Carly decided to phone the GP for advice, that she was told 'maybe take him to hospital'

Carly told Mason's doctor about his headaches and tiredness at the end of the day and an MRI was suggested

Carly said: 'A brain tumour didn't cross my mind, I don't even know what I was thinking' when reflecting on the news

Carly let her know that Mason had experienced some minor headaches - but due to his autism spectrum disorder (ASD), she believed sensory overload was the cause.

The mum added: 'She told us to maybe keep an eye on it.

'I was told to flag it when I was next at the GP with Mason.

'To be honest, he had all the checks at the opticians - he was all healthy, all fine.'

Weeks later, however, Mason woke up with a 'really sore neck.'

He complained to Carly about it, which raised alarm bells as she said he has a high pain tolerance.

Carly decided to phone the GP for advice, and was told to 'maybe take him to hospital'.

Mason MacKenzie in hospital. Mason underwent the scan in March - and two days later, Carly received a call from Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and was told to come in straight away

On getting a phone call from the hospital, Carly said: 'We picked Mason up from school - and because of his ASD, he was upset that this wasn't part of the plan'

Carly said: 'I can't lie to Mason and say he'll never need treatment again, but it's nice for him to be off now'

She said: 'We went to A&E, and they gave him some ibuprofen.

'They were just sending us on our way, when I thought I'd mention the optician.'

Carly told Mason's doctor about his headaches and tiredness at the end of the day.

She emphasised she wasn't worried, thinking it was down to his ASD.

But the doctor ordered a child-friendly MRI, just to make sure.

Mason underwent the scan in March - and two days later, Carly received a call from Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and was told to come in straight away.

She said: 'A brain tumour didn't cross my mind, I don't even know what I was thinking.

'I phoned my mum, Amanda, and said: "You need to come with us."

'We picked Mason up from school - and because of his ASD, he was upset that this wasn't part of the plan.

Carly and her mum Amanda were told that Mason had a 3cm-by-2cm tumour on the left side of his brain

On March 20, 2024, doctors managed to successfully remove the entirety of Mason's tumour - and eight days later, the family were told that it had been cancerous

'To make things worse, we walked into the room and there were two strangers waiting for us.'

Carly and Amanda were told that Mason had a 3cm-by-2cm tumour on the left side of his brain.

The only 'realistic' way to biopsy it would be to do it at the same time as the removal surgery.

On March 20, 2024, doctors managed to successfully remove the entirety of Mason's tumour - and eight days later, the family were told that it had been cancerous.

'Mason awoke the day after surgery,' Carly said.

'He was really struggling for the first two days, but on day three, he took a huge turn for the better.

'By day five, we were discharged - after they predicted he'd need to be in for around two months.'

Carly said: 'He was really struggling for the first two days, but on day three, he took a huge turn for the better

Mason has received six rounds of three types of chemotherapy, across six months - which he completed in October

Mason will be treatment-free and in remission over Christmas - but Carly has to keep a cautious eye on any signs of relapse

Mason has received six rounds of three types of chemotherapy, across six months - which he completed in October.

He'll be treatment-free and in remission over Christmas - but Carly has to keep a cautious eye on any signs of relapse.

She said: 'He'll be off treatment in November and December - then another scan after Christmas, to see if there's another growth.

'I can't lie to Mason and say he'll never need treatment again, but it's nice for him to be off now.

'I don't like to say he's cancer-free, but we're seeing how this bit goes.

'During our end-of-treatment meeting, Mason's oncologist said his optician's appointment saved his life.'
Queen Camilla has been left heartbroken after being forced to pull out of taking part in today's Remembrance Sunday memorial service in London.

A chest infection meant she had to miss an Olympic and Paralympic reception at Buckingham Palace earlier this week, as well as the opening of the Field of Remembrance at nearby Westminster Abbey.

And it was confirmed yesterday that she would not be well enough to make today's ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in central London.

Her husband King Charles led the nation in remembering Britain's war dead, placing a wreath at the Cenotaph as crowds including military veterans looked on.

His daughter-in-law the Princess of Wales watched from a balcony at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, alongside Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh.

Queen Camilla, pictured attending last year's National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in central London, has been forced to miss this year's event due to a chest infection

Her husband King Charles led today's commemorations on Whitehall in central London

The King laid a wreath at the Cenotaph this morning to honour Britain's war dead

Last night she had attended the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in west London, alongside her husband Prince William.

Also there was the King, who received a standing ovation and applause upon entering the Royal Albert Hall, and sat next to his sister the Princess Royal Princess Anne.

His wife the Queen had also missed out on last night's Festival, with the Palace saying she would stay away to ensure she made a full recovery from a chest infection and to protect others from any risk.

Camilla, 77, is said to have dearly wanted to pay tribute in person to the nation's fallen servicemen and women this weekend - only to be denied.

The service at the Cenotaph is an important fixture in the royal calendar and holds deep personal meaning for the Queen.

She has official connections to the armed forces, as well as an emotional closeness due to the military service of her war hero late father Major Bruce Shand, who died aged 89 in June 2006.

He had joined the 12th Lancers as a second lieutenant in January 1937, before becoming a troop leader of 'A' Squadron and then a lieutenant in 1940.

He served during the Second World War in France as part of the British Expeditionary Force and was awarded the Military Cross in July 1940 after helping cover the withdrawal of forces from Dunkirk.

He was then sent to North Africa as part of the 7th Armoured Division in September, as a captain, and won his second MC in January 1942.

Camilla is pictured with her father Bruce Shand at Westminster Abbey in London in February 2003 after a service to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation

She and her husband King Charles recently paid a visit to Australia and Samoa - they are seen here together at a farewell ceremony in the Samoan village of Siumu on October 26

Though missing out this year, Queen Camilla watched last November's Remembrance Sunday commemorations alongside the Princess of Wales

Princess Kate is pictured here today alongside Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh

Later that year, in November, he was wounded in Egypt during the Battle of El Alamein and taken captive as a prisoner of war, before later escaping then returning to England at the war's end in 1945.

He retired from the armed forces in April 1947 due to disability and was given the honorary rank of major.

During the battle in which he had been wounded, two of Major Shand's crewmen were killed - Sgt Charles Francis and Cpl Edward Plant.

In 2006, Camilla - then the Duchess of Cornwall - visited Egypt alongside her husband Charles and laid flowers at the two men's graves.

Major Shand had written a book in 1990 about his Second War War experiences, dedicated to his grandsons and based on letters and a diary he penned at the time.

These accounts had been sent to England via the Red Cross before being kept in the Historical Section of the War Office until 1970.

Camilla read extracts from the book at an event marking VE Day in May 2020, including his memories of the 1942 battle in which his two comrades died and also of when he escaped capture three years later and met US soldiers before returning to the UK.

She said: 'My father was a soldier in the war and we could never get him to talk about it.

'But when the grandchildren came along, he started talking about it and we got him to write a small book about it.

Camilla, then the Duchess of Cornwall, laid flowers in March 2006 at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in El Alamein, Egypt, paying tribute to two of her father's late comrades

Camilla's father Bruce Shand was twice awarded the Military Cross for his wartime efforts

Bruce Shand was awarded the honorary title of major after retiring from the Army in 1947

Camilla, pictured with her father Bruce Shand, has spoken about the importance of the military to her following his services in the armed forces

'I think it was a huge load off his mind to be able to tell people about it.'

And in April this year, the Queen paid a trip to meet members of her father's old Lancers regiment at their base in Catterick, North Yorkshire - her first visit there since being appointed as their Colonel-in-Chief.

Camilla's husband Charles and his son William were among those in the capital taking part in today's two-minute silence at 11am to honour those who died in conflict, with similar events taking place nationwide.

And Princess Kate carried out her second consecutive day of royal duties for the first time since it was revealed earlier this year she was being treated for cancer.

Wearing a black, military-style jacket, she could be seen wearing her traditional three poppies as she joined the nation in two minutes of silence.

The touching tribute remembers her great-grandmother's three brothers, who all lost their lives in the First World War.

The Princess appeared emotional as she quietly closed her eyes in remembrance, bowing her head in respect.

She was standing alongside the Duchess of Edinburgh, with Sophie seen to place a tender hand on Catherine's shoulder as the pair returned indoors afterwards.

The Queen inspected her father's old regiment, the Royal Lancers, at their Catterick base in North Yorkshire in April this year

It was her first visit there since being appointed the Royal Lancer's Commander-in-Chief

The King took part in today's Cenotaph ceremony alongside his sister Princess Anne

Thousands of veterans took part in the march past the Cenotaph in central London

The Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Edinburgh watched from a balcony at the nearby Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office HQ on Whitehall

Sophie was seen putting her hand on Catherine's shoulder as they went back inside

Queen Camilla was presented with a fan during a ceremony in the Samoan village of Simiu during last month's royal visit with the King to Australia and Samoa

The Royal British Legion's parade involved 10,000 veterans, representing 326 different armed forces and civilian organisations.

And thousands of people lined Whitehall for the annual event, including a two-minute silence at 11am, while current Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was joined by eight former PMs to lay wreaths.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in the Second World War and the 25th anniversary of the end of the war in Kosovo.

It also comes alongside the 75th anniversary of Nato and the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale between the UK and France.
Michelle O'Neill faced down a furious backlash from across the political divide in Northern Ireland today as she became the first Sinn Fein leader to attend a Remembrance Sunday event.

The First Minister joined politicians in laying a wreath at the Cenotaph in Belfast this morning, including DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.

Her decision to attend the event triggered a backlash from hardline figures, with Traditional Unionist Voice deputy leader Ron McDowell boycotting the event in protest. Ms Little-Pengelly also refused to praise it.

And more than 100 relatives of republicans killed in the Troubles attacked her 'shameful' decision to honour those they blame for the violence in Northern Ireland.

But writing on X this morning Ms O'Neil said she was attending as 'an Irish republican who believes in a united Ireland' and would 'remember the tens of thousands of people from across our island who lost their lives in the First World War and in subsequent conflicts.'

'It is through understanding and respect for our differences that we can build a stronger, respectful, and united society,' she wrote.

'I will never shy away from my responsibility to take decisions - no matter how personally challenging - that will help build a new Ireland, defined by inclusion and respect for all traditions.'

The First Minister joined politicians in laying a wreath at the Cenotaph in Belfast this morning, including DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.

Her decision to attend the event triggered a backlash from hardline figures, with Traditional Unionist Voice deputy leader Ron McDowell boycotting the event in protest. Ms Little-Pengelly also refused to praise it.

But writing on X this morning Ms O'Neil said she was attending as 'an Irish republican who believes in a united Ireland' and would 'remember the tens of thousands of people from across our island who lost their lives in the First World War and in subsequent conflicts.'

Mr McDowell told the Belfast Telegraph he would not 'normalise Michelle O'Neill's behaviour' by appearing alongside her.

And in a letter to the Irish News, victims of loyalist violence in Co Tyrone said she had turned 'political somersaults' to justify attending.

They said she would be laying a wreath to commemorate 'the same forces that murdered men, women, children, and priests with impunity', adding: 'For many families throughout our county, and beyond, this will be devastating.'

The First Minister said she appreciated some republicans would be 'uncomfortable' with her being there, but insisted it was nevertheless the 'right thing to do'.

She previously raised eyebrows with her decision to attend the coronation of Charles II in May 2023.

Speaking to media in Cookstown, Co Tyrone, on Wednesday, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said he 'very much welcomes the decision by the First Minister'.

He said: 'Remembrance Sunday is about the whole of society remembering the sacrifice of our ancestors and there is barely a family in the United Kingdom that hasn't been touched by loss or injury in the First and Second World Wars, and the conflicts that have happened since, and we come together to recall the sacrifice of those who fought so hard so we can enjoy the freedom that we have today, and that is worth remembering always.'

Asked for her view on the move, Ms Little-Pengelly said: 'For me, Remembrance Sunday is all about that focus on those who gave so much, many, many thousands, of course, who gave all and made the ultimate sacrifice, but almost all those that were injured over the many decades and of course those many tens of thousands who mourn the loss of their loved ones.

The First Minister said she appreciated some republicans would be 'uncomfortable' with her being there, but insisted it was nevertheless the 'right thing to do'.

'So, for me, Remembrance Sunday is very much about focusing on remembering those who gave so much and, of course, it will be a huge honour to be there to lay a wreath on behalf of the people of Northern Ireland in my role as deputy First Minister.'

Asked whether she welcomed that Ms O'Neill would be attending, Ms Little-Pengelly said: 'The focus of this weekend will of course be on remembering those who gave so much. It is Remembrance Sunday and, of course, we all must remember what the focus of this weekend is all about.'

Elsewhere, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn was scheduled to attend the annual Remembrance Sunday commemoration at Enniskillen.

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.

Irish premier Simon Harris said he decided not to attend the commemoration on advice from officials that it would not be attended by the senior representatives of the Executive.

Mr Harris's absence was a rare break with the tradition of the sitting Taoiseach attending the event. The commemoration falls two days after he formally announced an election in Ireland.

The Irish Government was represented by Mr Harris's Fine Gael party colleague and Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys, who is not seeking re-election.

A range of other events to pay tribute to the war dead took place across Northern Ireland on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Irish President Michael D Higgins said he would lay a wreath in remembrance of all those who have died in war as he attends the National Service of Remembrance in St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald also said she would attend the Dublin service.
Mar 4, 2024

Attention to Calgary Global News Desk Ms. Crystal, and the primary Editor:Subject: Request for Coverage: A Decade-Long Battle Against Discrimination and Injustice

Dear Ms. Crystal and the esteemed editors (Calmela Gentil) at Global News Calgary (Jill Croteau),

I am reaching out to share my enduring struggle against discrimination and systemic issues in a small town, a journey spanning over 12 years. My story is one of perseverance in the face of adversity, underscored by my unwavering belief in justice and equality. You can find more details about my ongoing campaign at: https://chng.it/B4fDptk6DS

My petition: https://chng.it/B4fDptk6DS

My name is Peter (Zhen Guo) Pan. I migrated from Shanghai, China, to Canada in 1987, bringing with me a dream for a better life in a country celebrated for its multiculturalism and freedom. In Shanghai, I was a chef specialist and cooking teacher at the city's only five-star Sheraton hotel. My culinary expertise, recognized by a Canadian Federal Immigration Officer, was seen as a valuable addition to Canadian cuisine. With hope, my family and I embarked on this new chapter.

However, my experience in Canada has been markedly different from what I envisioned. Despite my efforts, I have encountered systemic barriers across various sectors, including social services, government administration, and the legal justice system. These experiences have highlighted a stark contrast between the promises made to immigrants and the reality we face, challenging our pursuit of the Canadian dream.

My personal journey, marked by significant hardship, including the loss of my father and wife and my own battles with mental health, is detailed in my blog. Although primarily in Chinese, key articles are available in: https://blog.wenxuecity.com/myindex/14670/ And the translation can be found here: peterpan1668_Literature City Blog (blog-wenxuecity-com.translate.goog)

This battle is not just mine but reflects a broader issue affecting many immigrants in Canada. Despite support from various societal sectors, including academia and the media, and despite reaching out to multiple levels of government, my pleas for justice and fairness have remained largely unaddressed.

The heart of my struggle lies in a small town where political biases and discrimination have significantly impacted my family and me. The local mayor's assertion of absolute authority and the subsequent targeting by municipal officials underscore a grave abuse of power, highlighting the challenges of "small-town political issues."

Through it all, my resolve remains unshaken. I am currently taking legal action against the Ombudsman, an entity that, despite its mandate to ensure fair treatment, has failed to provide the support needed to rectify the injustices we have faced. My story is not just a call for justice for my family but a plea for systemic change to ensure that all Canadians, regardless of their background, are treated with fairness and respect.

I believe that sharing my story with your audience will not only shed light on the challenges faced by immigrants but also foster a dialogue on how we can collectively address and overcome these systemic barriers. It is my hope that, by bringing my experience to the forefront, we can inspire change and make Canada a truly inclusive society for all.

Thank you for considering my story. I am available for further discussion and can provide additional information as needed.

Sincerely,

Peter (Zhen Guo) Pan

SUMMARY OF LEGAL HARASSMENT AND ITS DEVELOPMENT

Dear everyone,

As we approach the final moments of the Chinese Spring Festival, I extend my sincerest wishes to all of you: Happy Lantern Festival, good health, family harmony, and success in all your endeavors.

Many have wondered how I managed to endure 12 years of struggle alone. Some are also eager to understand the details of my case and my recent progress. Here, I will list the series of actions I've taken in my fight against discrimination and small-town political issues related to the municipal office of Standard (hereafter referred to as the Defendant):

The Defendant abused the Alberta Municipal Act, excessively exercising their powers as law enforcers, and unlawfully renamed my two-bedroom mobile house to "SKID-SHAKE." Under the law, SKID-SHAKE is not allowed to exist in the village. They then towed it to their storage facility, charging $15.00 per day. Despite never initiating any legal proceedings or registering a case with the courthouse, they accumulated charges amounting to $29,000, even though I am not the legal owner of the mobile house dumped in my hotel's backyard.

Since 2016, each year when I went to pay my property taxes, I rejected the rental costs hidden within my hotel's property tax by the Defendant. By 2019, they virulently threatened to auction my hotel if I continued to refuse payment. To protect my business, I invoiced the Defendant for damages incurred from their illegal dumping of street snow on both my properties since I moved in 2012.

The first instance of legal harassment occurred when the Defendant sent me a notice threatening to auction my hotel. The Defendant had shown no concern for their years of illegal snow dumping on my properties until they received my invoice for damages. To halt the auction, my lawyer advised me to postpone it, leading to the first legal actionan injunction I filed with the Jing's Bench Drumheller: 2002-00081.

At the same time, I lodged complaints with the Alberta Ombudsman and Human Rights Commission. The Ombudsman, after investigating for a while, abruptly closed my complaint, disregarding crucial evidence. I subsequently sued the Alberta Ombudsman (King's Bench Calgary, File No.: 2301-05514) for indirectly encouraging the Defendant's harassment against me and my business.

Cross-examination began in the injunction case. I clarified two things: first, the item the Defendant towed from my hotel's backyard was not a SKID-SHAKE but a two-bedroom mobile house, similar to most mobile houses in the village. Second, I am not the legal owner of this two-bedroom mobile house; the Defendant is, as they took possession and kept it in their storage facility after 30 days. From that moment, the Alberta Human Rights Commission accepted my complaint and forwarded it to the Defendant for response.

The Defendant made a settlement offer: withdraw my complaint from the AHRC, pay $7,900, and close the case. I disagreed and instructed my lawyer to make a counteroffer based on the facts. Surprisingly, my lawyer advised me to accept the Defendant's offer, leaving me with no choice but to represent myself in court.

During the pre-trial hearing, where I presented all evidence, I also convinced a CBC reporter to attend. Despite listing instances of discrimination by the Defendant and mentioning Municipal Act 610, the judge found no evidence of discrimination, didn't mention Act 610, and simply convinced me to pay $1,900 for storage costs before closing the case. I disagreed, but the virtual courtroom closed abruptly.

Nevertheless, the judge ruled that I must pay $1,900 and cover the Defendant's $7,900 legal costs. Upon receiving a copy of this judgment, I immediately disputed its validity since I hadn't signed anything during the pre-trial hearing, and both parties hadn't reached a settlement agreement. Furthermore, the virtual court was already closed, and the judge had disregarded the fact that the Defendant had initiated the legal harassment.

Regardless, the Defendant's lawyer ignored my refusal of the pre-trial judgment and my request for a counterclaim. Instead, he proceeded to obtain a grant from the Alberta Law Society for his legal costs and unlawfully seized my hotel's land, marking the beginning of a second wave of legal harassment.

As the Drumheller court kept informing me that my injunction case was closed due to the judge's lack of further instructions, I filed a claim for damages against the Defendant with the King's Bench Drumheller (File No.: 2202-00016).

I also filed a revision with the AHRC Tribunal office to appeal their decision (sas-m-239672-1508) and continued to provide updates on all legal proceedings through the King's Bench, especially the recent lawsuit filed with the King's Bench Drumheller against the Standard municipal office (Defendant A) for illegal snow dumping and false claims of "outstanding property tax arrears." Additionally, I sued TAXervice (Defendant B) for their role in the third instance of legal harassment by ignoring my objections to approvals (File No.: 24021-00011), with a hearing scheduled for April 11, 2024, at 10:00 am.

While awaiting the hearing date, the Defendant changed legal representatives, leading the judge to dismiss my case due to my alleged failure to respond to emails. Despite providing medical proof of major depression caused by the Defendant's relentless harassment, when I contacted the judge's office to file a complaint, the judge promptly declared my claim no longer existed. Consequently, I appealed both judgments to the Alberta Court of Appeal (No: 2301-0096AC).

To ensure the Defendant no longer diverted my property tax payments for legal fees and further harassment, I created an INTRUST account under the Defendant's name in 2022. However, they recently attempted to collect outstanding property taxes, disregarding my explanations. I responded with evidence of my property tax payments updated under the Defendant's INTRUST account, highlighting outstanding payments for the illegal snow dumping. Ignoring my request, the Defendant involved a property tax arrears collection agency, threatening to seize both my properties if I didn't pay the tax arrears by February 23, 2024. I now await the hearing to allow the judge to decide how I can protect my rights against legal harassment and claim damages (File No.: 24021-00011), scheduled for April 11, 2024, at 10:00 am.
An unprecedented eight former prime ministers today joined the current premier Sir Keir Starmer at a poignant Remembrance Sunday memorial service.

Sir John Major, Sir Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Lord David Cameron, Baroness Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak gathered to pay their respects to the fallen at the Cenotaph.

Sir Keir stepped forward to pay tribute to the fallen on behalf of the Government with his floral tribute, as did the Conservative Party's new leader Kemi Badenoch, other party leaders, senior members of the Cabinet, military chiefs of staff and high commissioners.

It is tradition for all current and former prime ministers to pay their respects at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday each year.

Meanwhile the Princess of Wales carried out her second consecutive day of royal duties for the first time since it was revealed earlier this year she was being treated for cancer.

Pictured: 1 - Rishi Sunak; 2 - Liz Truss; 3 - Sir Keir Starmer; 4 - Boris Johnson; 5 - Baroness Theresa May; 6 - Lord David Cameron; 7 - Gordon Brown; 8 - Sir Tony Blair ; 9 - Sir John Major

An unprecedented eight former prime ministers today joined the current premier Sir Keir Starmer at a poignant Remembrance Sunday memorial service

The former prime ministers gathered at the Cenotaph alongside the current premier Sir Keir Starmer to pay their respects to the fallen

Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, and Baroness May stand behind Sir Keir and new Tory leader Kemi Badenoch

Lord Cameron, Mr Bown, Sir Tony, and Sir John attend the annual National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph in London

Wearing a black, military-style jacket, Princess Kate could be seen wearing her traditional three poppies as she joined the nation in two minutes of silence.

The touching tribute remembers her great-grandmother's three brothers, who all lost their lives in the First World War.

She watched today's Whitehall event from above, on the nearby Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office balcony in central London, alongside Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh.

The Princess appeared emotional as she quietly closed her eyes in remembrance, bowing her head in respect.

Last night she attended the Festival of Remembrance ceremony at London's Royal Albert Hall, alongside her husband William.

Charles and William were among those in the capital taking part in a two-minute silence at 11am to honour those who died in conflict, with similar events taking place nationwide - as hundreds of emotional veterans this morning gathered at the Cenotaph.

Members of the royal family, together with senior politicians, have laid wreaths during the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph to mark the Armistice of the First World War and all other conflicts involving British and Commonwealth forces.

Sir Keir carries a wreath during the annual Remembrance Sunday ceremony

Princess Kate watched today's Whitehall event from above, on the nearby Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office balcony in central London, alongside Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh

King Charles and Prince William were among those in the capital taking part in a two-minute silence at 11am to honour those who died in conflict

The Princess appeared emotional as she closed her eyes in remembrance while the nation fell silent

King Charles, the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal join veterans and dignitaries at the Cenotaph

The Princess Royal and The Duke of Edinburgh joined their family in the gesture of respect, saluting towards the cenotaph

Second World War vets Alec Penstone and Mervyn Kersh were among those on Horse Guards Parade ahead of the Royal British Legion march past the Cenotaph today

Military veterans have gathered on Whitehall in central London for the Cenotaph service

Poppy wreaths have been carried for the Royal British Legions march past the Cenotaph

King Charles III salutes during the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph

The Prince of Wales salutes during the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in London

The Royal British Legion's veteran parade was expected to involve 10,000 veterans, representing 326 different armed forces and civilian organisations, marching past the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London.

And thousands of people were anticipated to line Whitehall for the annual event, including a two-minute silence at 11am.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in the Second World War and the 25th anniversary of the end of the war in Kosovo.

It also comes alongside the 75th anniversary of Nato and the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale between the UK and France.

More than 800 sailors, soldiers and aviators will be on duty on Remembrance Sunday, representing their services at the Cenotaph and at commemorative services at Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral.

They included Christian Lamb, 104, who served in the Second World War as a Wren and was the oldest among the number. Alongside her was 101-year-old Joe Randall, of the RAF.

Princess Kate, 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.
Terrifying dashcam has emerged of two men exchanging blows during a vicious road rage brawl while stopped at a busy intersection.

Footage of last Tuesday's incident in the outer south-eastern Brisbane suburb of Chandler has gone viral hours after being uploaded online.

'Managed to capture some ripper road rage Tuesday arvo driving through Chandler QLD,' the footage was captioned on the Dash Cam Owners Australia Facebook page.

As the Bee Gees hit Staying Alive blasts on a sound system, the rear dashcam showed a white Ford ute overtaking vehicles and changing lanes twice before pulling up directly behind the dashcam car as traffic came to a stop at the lights.

A man in a black T-shirt and sunglasses who appeared to emerge from a grey Audi in the right lane is seen sprinting across the road towards the ute.

As a grey-haired man in a white and grey striped T-shirt emerged from the ute, he was confronted with a flurry of punches from the younger man.

The two men grapple before the younger man appeared to brutally knee the ute driver twice flush in the head.

In the footage a man can been seen raining blows on the ute driver as he attempted to exit the vehicle

The two combatants grappled at they exchanged blows and kicks in a fight that strayed between cars stopped at the lights

The melee then spilled into the right lane between other parked cars as the men grappled and traded blows.

The fight was still continuing as the dashcam owner accelerated away

A final glimpse showed the younger man attempting a karate style kick at the ute driver.

A Queensland Police spokesman told Daily Mail Australia on Sunday night that no formal complaint about the incident has been made.

The melee was still continuing as the dashcam motorist drove away

'Police are aware of an incident at the intersection of Old Cleveland Road and Tilley Road on Tuesday, November 5,' a spokesman said.

'No formal complaint has been made.'

The dashcam attracted more than 362,000 Facebook views and almost 250 shares on Sunday night.
Russian forces suffered an average of around 1,500 dead and injured per day in Ukraine during October, according to the UK's chief of defence staff.

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin told the BBC that the Russian people were paying an 'extraordinary price' for Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion, saying that October was the worst month for losses since the conflict began in February 2022.

'Russia is about to suffer 700,000 people killed or wounded - the enormous pain and suffering that the Russian nation is having to bear because of Putin's ambition,' he told the Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme.

He said that while Russia was making gains and putting pressure on Ukraine, the losses were 'for tiny increments of land'.

The cost of the war, which he put at more than 40 per cent of public expenditure on defence and security, is also 'an enormous drain' on Russia.

A view from a drone showing a destroyed Russian armoured vehicle in part of a forest where the hottest phase of the war is taking place on November 9, 2024. The forest is located about 8 kilometers southwest of Kreminna in the Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin (pictured) told the BBC that the Russian people were paying an 'extraordinary price' for Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion, saying that October was the worst month for losses since the conflict began in February 2022

Putin's (pictured) forces suffered an average of around 1,500 dead and injured per day in Ukraine during October, according to Sir Tony

With the election of US president-elect Donald Trump casting doubt on US support for Ukraine, Sir Tony said Western allies would stand with them for 'as long as it takes'.

'That's the message President Putin has to absorb and the reassurance for President Zelensky,' he said.

Writing in The Sunday Times, Sir Tony said the growing threat from authoritarian states, including Russia, North Korea, and the Iranian-backed Houthi movement in Yemen, is putting the international community 'under immense strain'.

'This is a new era of competition and contest that will last for decades and has the potential to be more disruptive to our economy and our security than anything Britain has experienced in modern times,' he wrote.

This comes just two weeks after NATO's top brass said Putin has lost more than 600,000 troops in Ukraine, forcing him to rely evermore on foreign support for his invasion.

The military bloc's secretary general Mark Rutte said that as a result of the heavy losses, North Korean troops have been sent to Russia's Kursk region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed North Korea is training 10,000 soldiers to support Russia.

A handout photo shows Ukrainian servicemen installing anti-tank landmines and non-explosive obstacles along the frontline at an undisclosed location near Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, on October 30, 2024

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (pictured) has claimed North Korea is training 10,000 soldiers to support Russia

'The deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea is a threat to both Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic security,' Rutte told reporters after NATO officials and diplomats received a briefing from a South Korean delegation.

Ukrainian forces staged a major incursion into Kursk in August and remain in the region.

Rutte said the North Korean deployment represented 'a significant escalation' of Pyongyang's involvement in 'Russia's illegal war' in Ukraine, a breach of UN Security Council resolutions and a 'dangerous expansion' of the war.

Rutte said the deployment of North Korean troops was a sign of 'growing desperation' on the part of Putin.

'Over 600,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded in Putin's war and he is unable to sustain his assault on Ukraine without foreign support,' Rutte said.
BBC presenter Mishal Husain has said she's never experienced racism as much as in the past year, that it's 'been hard' and she feels 'shaken'.

Husain spoke out at an awards ceremony this week explaining how the summer riots had made her question her beliefs about Britain.

Speaking at the Charles Wheeler event, the BBC Today presenter said: 'This year I think I have felt racism in a way that I probably haven't at any point in my career before and that's in this country.

'That has been hard, and that's given me pause.'

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'.

Mishal Husain from the BBC acting as moderator for the Airport Operators Association conference in London 2019. Husain spoke out at an awards ceremony this week explaining how the summer riots had made her question her beliefs about Britain

Police officers in riot gear face up to an anti-immigration protest in Middlesbrough next to a burning bin amid the summer riots

Ms Husain, who was born in Britain to Pakistani parents, and began presenting the Today programme in 2013, received an award for Outstanding Contribution to Broadcast Journalism

She added: 'But I kind of always felt that the UK was way ahead of so many other countries on that and I don't 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, and began presenting the Today programme in 2013, received an award for Outstanding Contribution to Broadcast Journalism.

Following receipt of the accolade, the presenter said she was conscious that compared to other British Muslims she is 'incredibly privileged'.

She said: '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.

'But if we're not honest about the way that those things do affect us at times then I think, you know, there's a, well, it's just a lack of honesty.'

She added 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'.

'I've been able to pull myself back together, but I think there's a hard climate personally around,' she concluded.

Among Husain's recent notable appearances are her selection as chair for two televised debates on the BBC in June this year in the run-up to the general election.

There was even some speculation that the 51-year-old might rival Clive Myrie for lead anchor for the channel following the departure of Huw Edwards.

In a Q&A event at the award ceremony, Ms Husain also spoke about ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Palestinians searching for victims following an Israeli strike in which nearly 100 people died, prompting disagreement about the figures between Husain and an Israeli government spokesman amid claims the IDF had killed women and children in a raid on a school

David Mencer attacked the Today programme presenter when she questioned him over claims the IDF had killed women and children in a raid on a school

She said: 'When you're 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 I'm 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.'



In August this year the BBC defended Husain after she was accused of being 'pro-Palestinian reporter of the year' on air by an Israeli government spokesman.

David Mencer attacked the Today programme presenter when she questioned him over claims the IDF had killed women and children in a raid on a school.

Earlier this year an Israeli government spokesman, David Mencer, accused Ms Husain of pro-Palestinian bias during an interview on Radio 4.

Mencer raged that Husain would win the 'award' for most pro-Palestinian reporter as she was 'blindly repeating what terrorist organisations... feed you'.

A BBC spokesman said: 'As the listener could hear, Mishal Husain was asking legitimate and important questions in a professional, fair and courteous manner.'
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This video is no longer available

A young father who suffered a broken jaw, fractured eye socket and nose after he was allegedly set upon by up to 10 strangers after a night out with friends has relived the harrowing ordeal.

Zachary Hepping, 24, was outside a venue on Murray Street in Perth's Northbridge nightclub district early Sunday morning when the 'unprovoked' attack unfolded.

'I was walking past and I bumped shoulders with someone and he asked, 'What's going on?' and from there, yeah, they just started,' the father-of-five told Nine News.

'My lip's swollen, my eye's obviously shut. I can't see out of this eye.'

Mr Hepping was left for 40 minutes bleeding on the ground in a laneway and claimed that police witnessed the assault and 'just stood there basically for ages' before they let the alleged attackers walk away.

'They gave me a water and that's pretty much it,' he claimed.

Paramedics were called to the scene but arrived after Mr Hepping took himself to hospital.

He went to the police station seeking answers shortly after being discharged from hospital.

Perth man Zachary Hepping suffered a broken jaw, fractured eye socket and nose after an alleged 'unprovoked' attack by a group of strangers

Mr Hepping' mother Melissa Ramakkattiyama said her son could have been killed.

'This is just horrible,' she said.

'People can't go out and just enjoy themselves now.

'It comes to this. Shattered face, a broken jaw, broken nose, broken eye socket. Is this what we've come to?'

Mr Hepping has since been re-admitted hospital for further treatment.

He will require surgery to repair the damage to his face.

Mr Hepping claims police watched him being attacked and then lying bleeding on the ground but made no arrests

Police told Nine News officers patrolling the precinct spotted a group of men fighting on the street and moved them on.

No arrests or charges have been laid.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted WA Police for further comment.
At least one person is dead and 16 others were injured in a shooting at Alabama's Tuskegee University early Sunday morning during homecoming week.

The 18-year-old who died wasn't a student but hasn't yet been named, the university revealed in a statement.

The historically black college was in the midst of celebrating its 100th homecoming when shots rang out in the early morning hours on Sunday.

Social media videos showed students ducking in a parking lot as numerous rounds of gunfire were heard.

'Several others including Tuskegee University students were injured and are receiving treatment at East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika and Baptist South Hospital in Montgomery,' the university wrote in a statement.

Social media videos showed students ducking in a parking lot as numerous rounds of gunfire were heard

A shooter opened fire at Tuskegee University early Sunday morning. So far, one person has died and several others were injured

In an update on Sunday afternoon, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency wrote that '12 were injured by gunfire and transported to area hospitals in Montgomery and Lee counties.'

It's not clear what led up to the shooting, and no arrests have been announced.

Saturday was the last day of homecoming, and the campus had large crowds celebrating late into the night and early the next morning.

The university said law enforcement 'have secured the scene,' as the Alabama Bureau of Investigations leads the investigation.

'The university is in the process of completing student accountability and notifying parents,' Tuskegee University said. 'Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.'

The Macon County Coroner's Office told DailyMail.com it's not releasing any information about the deceased at this time.

This comes roughly a month after a shooter killed one man and nine other people near Tennessee State University in Nashville.

The October 12 incident also happened during the college's homecoming week.
Footage from a new docuseries that seeks to prove the existence of aliens appears to show an unidentified aircraft descending into the English Channel.

Netflix's Investigation Alien follows journalist and ufologist George Knapp as he assembles a crack-team to prove their existence - and it has yielded evidence such as this.

An expedition commissioned for the Knapp docuseries captured the clip - their second sighting that night.

First, as they operated an ROV off the French coast of Normandy, they saw an illuminated object roughly 200 yards in the distance, first stationary, then speeding away.

It returned hours later, however, when everyone except the night crew was asleep - before plummeting into the waters below. An eagle-eyed mariner was able to capture it on film - seemingly leaving the minds behind the new series at a loss.

Footage filmed by an expedition commissioned by Netflix's Investigation Alien appears to show an unidentified flying aircraft descending into the English Channel

The brief clip appears to show an unidentified 'flying' object transforming into an unidentified 'submerged' object in real-time, experts said

'[This was] with everybody sleeping, with the exception of our night watch guy,' underwater archaeologist Rory Kremer tells Knapp of the clip, which appears to an unidentified 'flying' object transforming into an unidentified 'submerged' object in real-time

'Don't tell me it's going to go in the water,' Knapp says in response, as the orb descends.

'I'll be damned,' he adds after it happens, showing real confusion.

The series' main investigator and narrator, Knapp proceeds to ask for Kremer's professional opinion.

The archaeologist with over 20 years of experience admits he is equally stumped, despite his crew being the ones to capture the clip,

'So this is what it does when it thinks that nobody is watching?' Knapp asks before turning to Kremer. 'Have you ever seen anything like this?'

'A willy peter flare is the only thing I know like that that will hang up in the air, but that's not a flare, because there's no smoke going off of it,' the archaeologist says, admitting he has no real answers - at least ones that involve human technology.

'Look at that. It's under the water,' he goes on to exclaim, conceding to Knapp he does not know the craft's nature.

Underwater archaeologist Rory Kremer is seen speaking about the footage his crew caught off the Channel Islands with journalist and ufologist George Knapp, the series' main investigator

'I don't got any answers - do you?' he asks - leaving Knapp to posit that it could be evidence of a subterranean base.

'You think it's got a base down there?' Knapp asks his friend.

'It could be. It could be.'

The two begin to speak about previous sightings in the region, which stretch back hundreds of years.

'Archaeology is your thing,' Knapp asks Kremer at this point. 'What do you think?'

Kremer responds by pointing to the native tribes that once inhabited the region - and their tales of unknown objects flying.

'All have oral histories of lights they cannot explain,' the expert said, telling Knapp how these sightings off the Channel Islands were 'usually attributed it to gods.'

'It has gone on a long time,' he continued, before touting the clip's importance.

'Archaeology is your thing,' Knapp asks Kremer at this point. 'What do you think?' Kremer responds by pointing to the native tribes that once inhabited the region - and their tales of unknown objects flying.

'I think we really scratched the surface here. There could very well be something underwater.'

Knapp, in a narration provided after the exchanged, agreed.

Pointing to previous reports of undersea anomalies seen skirting the skies as well, he accused the government of keeping similar evidence under wraps, despite them likely being extraterrestrial in natured.

'I'm going to share this with some insiders I know [to] hopefully get more videos like this released to the public, to get to the bottom of what non human intelligence might be doing in our oceans,' Knapp said of the footage, which has yet to be released to the public.

'This is not us. It's from somewhere else,' he maintained.

The video, meanwhile, does not show the unidentified craft exiting the water after seemingly lowering in.

Investigation Alien - a 'paranormal docuseries [where] renowned UFO reporter [Knapp] investigates new evidence, interviews an array of experts and meets with emerging witnesses who are finally willing to go on the record' - released Friday.

It's now streaming on Netflix.
A senior Labour MP today defended branding Donald Trump a 'racist sexist predator', and warned that the UK should not 'hold hands' with bullies.

Emily Thornberry refused to disown remarks made when she was Jeremy Corbyn's shadow foreign secretary at the time of a state visit to the UK by the former and future US president in 2019.

Mr Corbyn refused to attend the visit, with Ms Thornberry telling the BBC at the time: 'A state visit is an honor, and we don't think that this president deserves an honor. He is a sexual predator, he is a racist, and it's right to say that.'

Today Ms Thornberry, who became chairwoman of the Commons' Foreign Affairs Committee after missing out on a job in Sir Keir Starmer's government, stood by her remarks, telling Times Radio: 'I believe them to be true.'

And she said that while Labour should work with the incoming Republican administration Labour figures should be 'clear about our values... and we should stand up to bullies and we shouldn't hold their hands'.

The latter appeared to be a reference to the infamous times Trump held the hand of then PM Theresa May when they met in the US and Britain.

She is the latest senior Labour figure to be challenged over past criticism of Trump. Foreign Secretary David Lammy has also declined to apologise for remarks he made.

And today Chief Treasury Secretary Darren Jones squirmed on television as comments he made in 2016 were read out.

Emily Thornberry refused to disown remarks made when she was Jeremy Corbyn's shadow foreign secretary at the time of a state visit to the UK by the former and future US president in 2019.

Mr Corbyn refused to attend the visit, with Ms Thornberry telling the BBC at the time: 'A state visit is an honor, and we don't think that this president deserves an honor. He is a sexual predator, he is a racist, and it's right to say that.'

And she said that while Labour should work with the incoming Republican administration Labour figures should be 'clear about our values... and we should stand up to bullies and we shouldn't hold their hands'.

The latter appeared to be a reference to the infamous times Trump held the hand of then PM Theresa May when they met in the US and Britain.

In 2016, before he became an MP, Mr Jones said that 'repugnant' Trump's first election win 'spells a much longer term problem for the centre left of politics than it does just for the outcome of this presidential term'.

He responded by saying: 'We can all go through line by line what people have said in the past.'

Tory shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel was also grilled by the BBC over her past criticism of Trump's actions after the January 6 Capitol riots.

She had said in January 2021 that Mr Trump's comments 'directly led to the violence'.

This morning she told the BBC her comments while Home Secretary were 'absolutely right and fair.

Asked if she wants to apologise for what she said in 2021, Dame Priti told the Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: 'That was a major, major situation. I was home secretary at the time then and we were obviously working with our US counterparts on security issues.

'No-one wants to see violence after elections.'

In 2021, Dame Priti said Mr Trump's statement following the events at the Capitol in which he said 'we love you' to the rioters and repeated his baseless claims of electoral fraud, did 'very little to de-escalate the situation'.

She said at the time: 'His comments directly led to the violence and so far he has failed to condemn that violence, and that is completely wrong.'

She is the latest senior Labour figure to be challenged over past criticism of Trump. Foreign Secretary David Lammy has also declined to apologise for remarks he made. And today Chief Treasury Secretary Darren Jones squirmed on television as comments he made in 2016 were read out.

She told the BBC on Sunday: 'If you go back and you saw the extent of the violence and effectively undermining of democracy those pictures were pretty stark in terms of what happened.'

She later added: 'I think these comments in light of what happened were absolutely right and fair and relevant.'

She said Mr Lammy's comments were however 'much more personal and undiplomatic to the president-elect of the United States'.

Mr Lammy has drawn scrutiny in recent days for past remarks, including calling Mr Trump a 'neo-Nazi sympathising sociopath'.

In January 2021, a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol in Washington DC in an attempt to disrupt the proceedings as Joe Biden was confirmed as the president-elect.

Mr Trump had addressed thousands of supporters at a rally near the White House before the chaos ensued, promising to 'never concede' that he had lost the 2020 presidential election.
A man has been killed and two other people rushed to hospital after a triple stabbing in broad daylight in south London.

Police have arrested a suspect in his 60s after the incident at a street market in Walworth this morning at around 10.30am.

Two people suffering wounds - a man and a woman - were taken to hospital while another man died at the scene.

Commander Peter Stevens, from the Metropolitan Police, said: 'Tragically, a man lost his life this morning, and officers are working hard to establish exactly what happened and to provide support to his family.

'My thoughts and sincere sympathies are with them, and with the other people injured.

This morning's triple stabbings happened by a street market in south London

Poilice and forensics officers have been on the scene in Walworth, south London

Officers were called at about 10.40am on Sunday to reports of people being stabbed

Police are investigating after the triple stabbing in East Street in Walworth, south London

Police have arrested a suspect in his 60s after the incident at a street market in Walworth this morning at around 10.30am

'Our investigation is at a very early stage. One man was rapidly arrested by officers responding to the incident. At present, although enquiries are ongoing, nobody else is sought.

'The incident is not being treated as terrorism. Enquiries continue, led by dedicated detectives from Specialist Crime.

'I want to thank those people who have already shared their accounts of what they saw with police. I urge anyone with information or footage, or any witnesses yet to speak with police, to get in touch.'

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: 'We were called today at 10.39am to reports of a stabbing in East Street, SE17.

'We sent resources to the scene including ambulance crews, members of our tactical response unit, an advanced paramedic, an incident response officer, and Londons air ambulance.

'We treated three people and took two of them to a London Major trauma centre. Sadly, despite our best efforts, one person was pronounced dead at the scene.'

A father has said he worries for the safety of his children after witnessing the aftermath of the stabbing.

Siraj, 46, who lives locally and did not wish to give her surname, was walking through East Street Market when he saw police cars and ambulances going past.

He followed them and found two injured people lying on the ground in the market.

Two people suffering wounds were taken to hospital while a third died at the scene

Commander Peter Stevens, from the Metropolitan Police , said: 'Tragically, a man lost his life this morning, and officers are working hard to establish exactly what happened'

Police investigating the stabbings in Walworth say it is not being treated as terrorism

Police say no one else is currently being south in connection with the attacks

'It was terrifying,' he said, adding he felt lucky the victims were not him or his children.

He added that the area had 'always been safe', but now he was worried.

'I feel unsafe to send my kids to school now,' he said.

Anyone with information or any witnesses are asked to call 101 or message @MetCC on X quoting reference 2690/10nov. To remain anonymous, please contact Crimestoppers.
An RAF reservist has been kicked out of the Armed Forces after he sent unwanted 'dick pics' to a female colleague.

Air Specialist Pieter Potgieter drunkenly tried to strike up a 'flirty conservation' with the servicewoman while on deployment in Cyprus before things quickly spiralled, a court heard.

The 42-year-old spent more than two hours WhatsApping the 'indecent' photos to his colleague who was in the UK at the time after she rebuffed him.

AS1 Potgieter, who was based at RAF Brize Norton, deleted the images and sent an apology message to the reservist when he sobered up and realised what he had done.

The victim said the incident made her worry what AS1 Potgieter could do to other female colleagues or even if he would show up at her house when he returned from his deployment.

Pieter Potgieter outside Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire. The Air Specialist drunkenly tried to strike up a 'flirty conservation' with a servicewoman while on deployment in Cyprus before things quickly spiralled, the court heard

Bulford Military Court Centre, Wiltshire. Sentencing AS1 Potgieter at Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire, Assistant Judge Advocate General Andrew Smith said the offence was 'so serious' he had to be dismissed but acknowledged that the serviceman was 'extremely remorseful'

He has now been dismissed from the air force after pleading guilty to one charge of disgraceful conduct of an indecent kind.

Sentencing AS1 Potgieter at Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire, Assistant Judge Advocate General Andrew Smith said the offence was 'so serious' he had to be dismissed but acknowledged that the serviceman was 'extremely remorseful'.

Judge Advocate Smith said: 'There was no suggestion there had ever been anything but a proper working relationship between you.

'There was nothing in the background to suggest there was anything more.

'You were involved in an inappropriate conversation with her, she tried to close the conversation down, she tried to do it in a light hearted manner.

'You are a man of good character, you are extremely remorseful, you apologised relatively soon after when you sobered up.

'The view of this court martial is that despite the fact this was an isolated offence it is so serious dismissal is justified.'

Lieutenant Commander Andy Ramage, prosecuting, described the offence which began with AS1 Potgieter 'attempting' a 'flirty conversation' with the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

'The defendant and the victim are both RAF reservists, they were known to each other but their relationship was as colleagues,' he said.

'The defendant was deployed to Cyprus and the victim was in the UK.

'The defendant sent several messages attempting to engage in a flirty conversation, he also sent a voice message that indicated he was heavily intoxicated.

'The flirty conversation was rebuffed by the victim and she ended the conversation by saying she was going to sleep.'

Lt Cdr Ramage continued: 'The defendant then sent a number of images of his penis, both flaccid and erect.

'Although the victim did not open them she could clearly see [from the thumbnail] these were images of the defendant's penis.

'The defendant deleted these images and apologised.

'The incident was intentionally indecent, the crown also say this was persistent activity, the defendant sent multiple images of his penis.'

The court heard that the victim reported the images, using screenshots of the message previews to prove AS1 Potgieter had sent them.

When he was interviewed about the incident AS1 Potgieter described his level of drunkenness as 'eight out of 10' and said he was feeling 'horny' when he sent the messages.

Lt Cdr Ramage also read a statement from the servicewoman 'humiliated' by her co-worker's actions.

She said: 'I felt terrified, humiliated and vulnerable, I decided to report it fearing he was capable of repeating this behaviour or worse to female colleagues.

'This has affected my confidence so much I have considered resigning from the RAF reservists.

Close up of the Royal Air Force badge on a UK military camouflage uniform. As well as dismissal AS1 Potgieter was sentenced to a 12 month service community order with 15 rehabilitation days (file image)

RAF Hawker Hurricane. Mitigating, Rachel Beckett said it was 'wholly out of character' and that AS1 Potgieter was feeling 'vulnerable' during his deployment because it was his first trip abroad in 20 years (file image)

'I will not let AS1 Potgieter strip me of my RAF career.

'This incident has left me isolated from my family as I feel too humiliated to tell them what AS1 Potgieter did.

'I am a very balanced individual but this has caused me great anxiety, I am anxious around males I do not know well.'

Mitigating, Rachel Beckett said it was 'wholly out of character' and that AS1 Potgieter was feeling 'vulnerable' during his deployment because it was his first trip abroad in 20 years.

'He has been interested in the RAF from a young age,' she said.

'Whilst it was more than one photo sent, it was in one period of time, about two hours and 20 minutes where photos of his genitals were sent as well as photos of innocuous matters.

'He has a good disciplinary record, he has shown remorse by deleting the images, they were received but by the time the victim looked at them they had been deleted.

'At the time of the offence he was overseas and it was the first time he had been overseas since 2003.

'He was feeling very low, missing his family, he was in a vulnerable state, he had had an argument about politics with colleague.

'It was his decision and his alone to drink alcohol and his decision alone to send these pictures.

'This matter is wholly out of character.'

As well as dismissal AS1 Potgieter was sentenced to a 12 month service community order with 15 rehabilitation days.
A shocking packaging error on Ariana Grande's new 'Wicked' doll shares a URL to an adult content website instead of the movie's official page.

Mattel released a Singing Glinda doll ahead of Universal Pictures' Wicked movie's November 22 release.

But those excited to see Grande starring as the 'Good Witch' have noticed the doll's box features a dreadful mistake completely inappropriate for children.

Instead of the movie's official site 'wickedmovie.com', the box shares a link to 'wicked.com' - a pornographic website.

'The official Mattel Wicked dolls link to a porn site on the box,' someone posted on X with two crying emojis.

Based on eBay sales and social media reactions, this was not just a one-time error.

The Wicked doll's box accidently links to an adult content website instead of the movie's official page

Glinda the 'Good Witch' is being played by Ariana Grande in the highly-anticipated November 22 film

'This may be the worst mistake in official merchandise history,' one X user declared.

By missing just one word from the website, Mattel has triggered an influx of outrage, with many people concerned about kids unknowingly searching for the URL.

'Whoever did this needs to be fired immediately cuz why would they do that knowing that its mostly kids buying these dolls,' someone said on X.

Another said: 'It's so weird knowing that it's a kid's toy.'

Others were simply baffled by how such an error could make its way all the way to production.

'IS THIS FOR REAL?' someone asked.

The Glinda doll is priced anywhere from $24.99 to about $40 in stores including Target and Macy's.

'Mattel was made aware of a misprint on the packaging of the Mattel Wicked collection dolls, primarily sold in the U.S., which intended to direct consumers to the official WickedMove.com landing page,' Mattel told the DailyMail.com in a statement.

'We deeply regret this unfortunate error and are taking immediate action to remedy this.

'Parents are advised that the misprinted, incorrect website is not appropriate for children.

'Consumers who already have the product are advised to discard the product packaging or obscure the link and may contact Mattel Customer Service for further information.'

Grande and Cynthia Erivo star as the two witches in the film. Both characters have dolls, but the error has only been spotted on Glinda's

The Glinda doll has been under the spotlight for a shocking packaging error on its box

But on eBay, some of the dolls in the faulted boxes are listed between $175 to nearly $500.

Other pieces of Wicked merchandise have been unaffected by this mishap, with the LEGO set having the correct website listed, one social media user reported.

There are several kinds of Wicked-themed dolls for sale, but the mistake has only been caught on Glinda's doll.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Universal Pictures for comment.

The highly anticipated film is based on the 1995 book by Gregory Maguire that was later turned into a three-time Tony Award-winning Broadway musical in 2003.

Directed by Jon M. Chu with an eye-popping budget of $145 million, Wicked is split into two feature-length films, with the final chapter slated for November 2025.

Some of the dolls based on Grande's character have been listed on eBay for up to $500

Critics are already calling Wicked: Part One a 'masterpiece' that 'pops and enchants on the big screen' as audiences are welcomed to the fantastical world of Oz.

The film's leads Grande and Cynthia Erivo, who play witches Glinda and Elphaba, respectively, are receiving high praise for their jaw-dropping vocals and onscreen chemistry.

Film and TV journalist Scott Menzel boldly called it the 'very best big screen adaptations of a Broadway musical ever.'
The mother of a ten-year-old boy who suffered terrible facial injuries when an e-bike crashed into him has slammed the 'heartless' rider for fleeing the scene.

Carter Ralph was left with his nose hanging off when he was struck while playing outside his home.

Hearing his scream, Nadine Ralph, 39, ran outside to find her son covered in blood, lying on the ground seemingly unconscious. He required two operations to repair injuries to his nose, mouth and one of his eyelids.

Ms Ralph described the ordeal on October 30 as 'horrendous'. She said: 'I was inside the house and heard Carter scream. I jumped up and ran outside. There was blood everywhere, all over Carter's face and on the ground.

'He looked like he had been badly beaten up  he was so battered and bruised.

Carter Ralph was left with his nose hanging off when he was struck by an E-bike while playing outside his home (Pictured: The shocking extent of his injuries)

'His chest also had a large yellow and blue bruise where I think the bike handlebars had hit him, flipping the cyclist off.' Neighbours in Loughborough, Leicestershire, helped Ms Ralph as she put Carter in her car and drove him to hospital.

But the rider picked himself up from the floor and cycled away on a Barracuda e-bike without waiting to check on his victim.

Ms Ralph called the police to report the hit and run, and detectives launched an investigation. They have obtained CCTV footage from a neighbour, which is understood to show the rider on the pavement on his e-bike. Other witnesses have told Ms Ralph the crash took place on a public footpath.

Ms Ralph told the The Daily Telegraph: 'The fact the cyclist did not stop to check on my child or pick him up off the ground and seek help shows that man has no heart. It is unbelievable behaviour.'

It is the latest in a series of crashes involving e-bikes and other e-vehicles, which campaigners argue are dangerous because they are silent and extremely fast.

In July 2023, Jim Blackwood, a 91-year-old Army veteran who served 26 years in the forces, was killed when he was struck by an e-bike while putting his bins out at his home in Rochester, Kent.

E-bikes are legal in Britain and can be driven without a licence, but their maximum speed limit should be 15.5mph.

Ms Ralph believes more should be done to penalise 'dangerous cyclists who ignore road rules', adding that her son's traumatic experience had left him frightened of being struck again.

The mother of the ten-year-old boy slammed the 'heartless' rider for fleeing the scene. Pictured: A modified e-bike confiscated by police (File image)

Doctors tending to Carter are pleased with his recovery but believe it will be several months before he will be healed.

Leicestershire Police said: 'The person riding the bike left the scene following the incident.

'Inquiries are continuing to establish the full circumstances of the incident, including the type of bike which was being ridden.

'Our investigation remains ongoing, including speaking with the boy and his family, house-to-house inquiries and analysing CCTV.'
Second World War veterans have been paying emotional tribute to fallen comrades at today's Remembrance Sunday commemorations.

Among those paying their respects in central London today, at an event led by the King and watched by the Princess of Wales, was a 104-year-old war heroine whose awards include France's highest - the Legion d'honneur.

Christian Lamb had been given the prestigious prize on June 6 this year, the 80th anniversary of D-Day, at the UK's commemoration event in Ver-sur-Mer in Normandy.

She was not the only centenarian taking part today, with others there including 101-year-old Joe Randall and Michael Woods, 100.

And also lining up on Horse Guards Parade, near Whitehall, ahead of the Cenotaph ceremony were 99-year-olds Alec Penstone and Mervyn Kersh.

Christian Lamb, 104, was one of 11 Second World War veterans in London for today's Remembrance Sunday commemorations

Also there was former Royal Air Force seviceman Joe Randall, 101

Michael Woods, 100, said he was 'so proud' to take part in the march past the Cenotaph

Emotions were running high and tears fell as an estimated 10,000 veterans gathered in central London for the Royal British Legion's march past the Cenotaph.

The laid a wreath at the monument, as did his sister the Princess Royal Princess Anne and his son Prince William, as well as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and eight former PMs.

Thousands more members of the public lined the streets to mark the occasion, joining in a two-minute silence at 11am and honouring those who served and have survived as well as those who died fighting for their country.

Mrs Lamb appeared taken aback by how many people had turned out in the capital for today's commemorations, in scenes she described as 'unbelievable' and 'extraordinarily moving'.

She told the BBC: 'So many hundreds and hundreds of people - you can't believe there are so many in London, let alone the world.'

When told by presenter Sophie Raworth she was one of only 11 Second World War veterans there, she replied: 'I'd like to meet the other 10.'

And when asked what she was thinking when taking part in the procession past the Cenotaph, Mrs Lamb said: 'It was so extraordinarily moving - that all those people, young creatures probably about 17 or 18 some of them, who died there. There they all were.

'All these years later, we're watching an extraordinary situation - being able to say thank you to them for their sacrifice which was so sad.

Mrs Lamb (pictured) was one of the skilled women who served in the Women's Royal Naval Service, better known as the Wrens, to help prepare detailed plans for D-Day

Edinburgh-born Mrs Lamb dropped out of Oxford University to take up a position with the Wrens, painstakingly creating detailed maps to guide the crews of landing craft to shore

French president Emmanuel Macron pinned the highest honour France can bestow, the Legion d'honneur, on the navy cardigan of Second World War veteran Christian Lamb in June this year

'To think, there must be so many of them - but at least there were a lot of them who came to say thank you, and that was good.'

She had been posted in secret to Whitehall in London at the start of 1944, and created detailed maps that guided the crews of landing craft on D-Day.

Mrs Lamb, who was born in Edinburgh and now lives in London, was from a naval background - her father was Rear Admiral Ronald Wolsley Oldham, and served on battleships in the First World War.

At the age of 19, she joined the Women's Royal Naval Service instead of taking up her place at Oxford University and and later helped in the planning of the D-Day landings from Churchill's war room in London.

As a plotting and operations officer in the Battle of the Atlantic, she charted the progress of convoys crossing the Atlantic Ocean amid constant danger from German U-boats.

At last June's D-Day ceremony honouring Mrs Lamb, French President Emmanuel Macron bent down to pin the Legion d'honneur medal on her, before kissing the war hero on both cheeks.

Mrs Lamb had been posted in secret to Whitehall in London at the start of 1944, and created detailed maps that guided the crews of landing craft on D-Day.

She later took on a similar role in Belfast, plotting the movements of convoys that carried supplies from North America.

Among those on Horse Guards Parade ahead of today's procession in central London were 99-year-old military veterans Alec Penstone (left) and Mervyn Kersh (right)

Royal Navy service personnel took part in this morning's parade along Whitehall

An estimated 10,000 military veterans were in London for today's commemorative events

That included staffing her post as the news came in that a convoy escorted by her future husband's ship, the destroyer HMS Oribi, had been attacked by a U-boat wolf pack.

Mr Macron told her at the ceremony in June this year: 'You were, in your own way, among those figures in the shadow of D-Day.

'You were not there in person but you guided each step they took.'

Also present at today's commemorations in London alongside Mrs Lamb was 101-year-old Joe Randall, who served in the RAF.

He had arrived in France shortly after D-Day in 1944, given the challenge of constructing an airstrip from scratch in fields near Caen to help RAF aircraft support the British Army's advance.

And another veteran attending today's event in London was a blind 100-year-old veteran has said he felt '10ft tall' as he marched past the Cenotaph for the first time.

Michael Woods, from Dunstable in Bedfordshire, paraded with more than 40 other blind veterans supported by the charity Blind Veterans UK.

The Second World War vet joined the RAF after being called up for service in 1943, training as an aircraft mechanic.

Pictured left to right are Second World War veterans Jim Grant, Stan Ford and Henry Rice

Second World War veterans (left to right) Joe Randall, Jim Grant, Stan Ford, Henry Rice, Alec Penstone and Mervyn Kersh pose on the Horse Guards Parade ahead of this morning's march

Chelsea Pensioners were pictured on Westminster Bridge on Remembrance Sunday today

Mr Woods said he was 'so proud' to have 'finally' marched in Whitehall, according to a release from the charity.

He said: 'What an amazing experience, I've never felt anything quite like it.

'The crowds cheering for us as we made our way around made me feel 10ft tall.

'I'm so proud to have finally marched here in my 100th year. It's such an honour. And it was all the sweeter knowing that my wife and family were watching me on TV.'

Mr Woods served at RAF Coningsby and Skellingthorpe, both in Lincolnshire, where he was with 61 Squadron and working primarily on Lancaster bomber planes.

He recalled: 'As a mechanic, I wasn't meant to be in the planes flying but used to do so quite often.

'It was illegal, of course, but I remember that the crew would always say that if the mechanic is happy to fly with us then he must be pretty confident in the plane.'

Mr Woods was sent to Palestine after the war, seeing out his service there and taking opportunities to explore the surrounding area, including driving to Egypt to tour the pyramids and Valley of the Kings.

Michael Woods, among the veterans taking part today, is pictured here in a Lancaster bomber during his Second World War service

Crowds gathered near the Monument to the Women of World War II in London today

Poppy wreaths were carried by veterans attending the march past the Cenotaph

He was discharged in 1947 with the rank of Leading Aircraftman, then lost his sight later in life because of age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma.

He said: 'My sight started to go gradually because of the glaucoma at first but I remember having just driven back from the West Country, I got pneumonia and had to go to hospital and after that my vision had got a lot worse.

'I was driving until I was 94 but couldn't do so after that. That's the thing I missed the most. I'd driven since I was a young man in the RAF and it felt like I'd lost my independence.'

Meanwhile, a 99-year-old Royal Navy veteran said today he was thinking on Remembrance Sunday of the men on his ship who 'never came home'.

Stan Ford served on HMS Fratton, which escorted ships taking people back to the UK and was stationed off Selsey Bill on the south coast on D-Day.

Weeks later, on August 18 1944, Mr Ford suffered lifelong injuries when the ship was sunk by what is believed to have been a midget submarine off the Normandy coast - 38 members of the crew were rescued but 31 were killed.

Mr Ford has had to walk with leg callipers ever since and fractured his spine due to the force of the explosion.

Speaking in Horse Guards Parade after the Royal British Legion's march past the Cenotaph, Mr Ford said: 'It's always a great honour to be back on occasions like this but I remember the guys that never came home on my ship when it was torpedoed.

Veterans were seen massing near Horse Guards Patade's Guards Memorial this morning

D-Day veteran Joe Randall is pictured here at the event's 80th anniversary commemorations at Southsea Common in Portsmouth on June 5 this year

Stan Ford, 99, pictured today at Horse Guards Parade in London, served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War

'They never came home, and I always feel it's my duty to put in an appearance and thank God for those that did survive, and to pray for the ones who didn't.'

Mr Ford, who lives in Bath, added: 'I thank God every day that on the day the boat was sinking that I wasn't strapped in.'

The veteran gives talks to primary schoolchildren to tell them of his experience and the importance of avoiding future wars.

Mr Ford, who is an ambassador for the British Normandy Memorial, said: 'I ask the children as they grow old, not to forget, but to remember what the veterans done, and to endeavour to see if they have a possibility of avoiding it in the future to do so.

'It was a terrible thing for a lot of people.'

While a teenager, Mr Ford worked as a runner delivering messages for air raid wardens during the Blitz in Bristol, and subsequently served in the Home Guard.

The veteran turns 100 in May and said he thought the King would 'remember' the occasion after they met in Normandy earlier this year.

Mr Ford said: 'I think the King will remember me because in Normandy in June, the King came by where we were sitting in a big marquee with a lot of veterans on the tables - they were there having their morning coffee and a bun.

Tower Bridge in London was lit up in red today to mark Remembrance Sunday

Stan Ford, 99, gives a wave after taking part in this morning's march past the Cenotaph

The King placed a wreath at the Cenotaph before saluting as part of today's ceremony

'The King and the Queen came by and we had two chairs vacant on my table. One was by the side of me, and the King came and sat down and we started nattering.

'Then he asked me how old I was, and I said, "I was 99, sir". He said, "Oh, when I go home, I must get your card out and start filling it in". He was a very genuine person.'

Mr Ford said that all veterans 'remember our family in our own way' and there was no need for any 'government interference' to change how people should commemorate Remembrance Sunday in the future.

He said: 'I'm 99 and a half - and, well, they say that in 10 years' time, there won't be a veteran around.

'In my particular case, on the mantelshelf, I've got a photo of the whole family - all of us. And I look at that every day and wish the boys the very best.'

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in the Second World War and the 25th anniversary of the end of the war in Kosovo.

It also comes alongside the 75th anniversary of Nato and the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale between the UK and France.

More than 800 sailors, soldiers and aviators were on duty on Remembrance Sunday, representing their services at the Cenotaph and at commemorative services at Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral.

The Princess of Wales watched from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office HQ

Poppy wreaths were placed by royals, politicians and representatives of the services

Princess Catherine was joined on the FCO balcony by Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh

Princess Catherine watched today's Whitehall event from above, on the nearby Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office balcony in central London, alongside Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh.

The Princess appeared emotional as she quietly closed her eyes in remembrance, bowing her head in respect.

In a touching moment following the ceremony, the Duchess of Edinburgh could be seen laying a tender hand on her shoulder as they left the balcony together.

Last night the Princess of Wales - who has been receiving treatment for cancer - attended the Festival of Remembrance ceremony at London's Royal Albert Hall, alongside her husband William.
Nigel Farage and Green Party leader Carla Denyer today put their differences aside to share a balcony in Whitehall at the Remembrance Sunday memorial.

The party leaders at one point looked in deep conversation ahead of the poignant and emotional service.

Farage and Denyer stood from the balcony in London to observe the Horse Guards parade and the Royal British Legion march past the Cenotaph.

Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's wife Akshata Murty and Sir Keir Starmer's wife Lady Victoria Starmer stood shoulder-to-shoulder as they watched their husbands pay tribute to the war dead.

Ms Denyer later said it was an honour to represent the Green Party at the national Remembrance ceremony.

Nigel Farage (second from the right) and Green Party leader Carla Denyer (third from the left) today put their differences aside to share a balcony in Whitehall at the Remembrance Sunday memorial

The party leaders at one point looked in deep conversation ahead of the poignant and emotional service

Pictured: 1 - Sarah Brown, wife of Gordon Brown; 2 - Akshata Murty, wife of Rishi Sunak; 3 - Lady Victoria Starmer, wife of Sir Keir Starmer; 4 - Hugh O'Leary, husband of Liz Truss; 5 - Philip May, husband of Baroness Theresa May

Writing on X, she said: 'And after observing the minute's silence and the laying of wreaths, I walked from Whitehall to Tavistock Square to join the alternative Remembrance ceremony organised by the Peace Pledge Union to remember all victims of war, of all nationalities, and lay #WhitePoppies.

'At this time of escalating conflict I think it's more important than ever to not only remember the fallen - military and civilian - but to remember the original message of the Armistice, "Never again", and to work for global peace.'

An unprecedented eight former prime ministers attended the REmembrance Sunday service.

Sir John Major, Sir Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Lord David Cameron, Baroness Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Mr Sunak gathered to pay their respects to the fallen at the Cenotaph.

Sir Keir stepped forward to pay tribute to the fallen on behalf of the Government with his floral tribute, as did the Conservative Party's new leader Kemi Badenoch, other party leaders, senior members of the Cabinet, military chiefs of staff and high commissioners.

It is tradition for all current and former prime ministers to pay their respects at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday each year.

Meanwhile the Princess of Wales carried out her second consecutive day of royal duties for the first time since it was revealed earlier this year she was being treated for cancer.

Pictured: 1 - Rishi Sunak; 2 - Liz Truss; 3 - Sir Keir Starmer; 4 - Boris Johnson; 5 - Baroness Theresa May; 6 - Lord David Cameron; 7 - Gordon Brown; 8 - Sir Tony Blair ; 9 - Sir John Major

An unprecedented eight former prime ministers today joined the current premier Sir Keir Starmer at a poignant Remembrance Sunday memorial service

The former prime ministers gathered at the Cenotaph alongside the current premier Sir Keir Starmer to pay their respects to the fallen

Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, and Baroness May stand behind Sir Keir and new Tory leader Kemi Badenoch

Lord Cameron, Mr Bown, Sir Tony, and Sir John attend the annual National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph in London

Wearing a black, military-style jacket, Princess Kate could be seen wearing her traditional three poppies as she joined the nation in two minutes of silence.

The touching tribute remembers her great-grandmother's three brothers, who all lost their lives in the First World War.

She watched today's Whitehall event from above, on the nearby Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office balcony in central London, alongside Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh.

The Princess appeared emotional as she quietly closed her eyes in remembrance, bowing her head in respect.

Last night she attended the Festival of Remembrance ceremony at London's Royal Albert Hall, alongside her husband William.

Charles and William were among those in the capital taking part in a two-minute silence at 11am to honour those who died in conflict, with similar events taking place nationwide - as hundreds of emotional veterans this morning gathered at the Cenotaph.

Members of the royal family, together with senior politicians, have laid wreaths during the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph to mark the Armistice of the First World War and all other conflicts involving British and Commonwealth forces.

Sir Keir carries a wreath during the annual Remembrance Sunday ceremony

Princess Kate watched today's Whitehall event from above, on the nearby Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office balcony in central London, alongside Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh

King Charles and Prince William were among those in the capital taking part in a two-minute silence at 11am to honour those who died in conflict

The Princess appeared emotional as she closed her eyes in remembrance while the nation fell silent

King Charles, the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal join veterans and dignitaries at the Cenotaph

The Princess Royal and The Duke of Edinburgh joined their family in the gesture of respect, saluting towards the cenotaph

Second World War vets Alec Penstone and Mervyn Kersh were among those on Horse Guards Parade ahead of the Royal British Legion march past the Cenotaph today

Military veterans have gathered on Whitehall in central London for the Cenotaph service

Poppy wreaths have been carried for the Royal British Legions march past the Cenotaph

King Charles III salutes during the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph

The Prince of Wales salutes during the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in London

The Royal British Legion's veteran parade was expected to involve 10,000 veterans, representing 326 different armed forces and civilian organisations, marching past the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London.

And thousands of people were anticipated to line Whitehall for the annual event, including a two-minute silence at 11am.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in the Second World War and the 25th anniversary of the end of the war in Kosovo.

It also comes alongside the 75th anniversary of Nato and the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale between the UK and France.

More than 800 sailors, soldiers and aviators will be on duty on Remembrance Sunday, representing their services at the Cenotaph and at commemorative services at Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral.

They included Christian Lamb, 104, who served in the Second World War as a Wren and was the oldest among the number. Alongside her was 101-year-old Joe Randall, of the RAF.

Princess Kate, 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.
Kamala Harris was pictured for the first time since she conceded the election on Wednesday to Donald Trump, who decisively defeated her in the 2024 race.

The photos showed the former presidential candidate with her hair tied back into a bun and grinning as she played with Connect Four with her grand nieces.

Vice President Harris, 60, was wearing a Howard University sweatshirt in the pictures posted on Instagram by her niece Meena.

'Back to where it all began only a few months ago. My eternal gratitude to everyone who showed up. We love her so much,' Meena wrote in the caption.

Harris delivered her concession speech at Washington D.C.'s Howard University, her alma mater, where she told her supporters she wouldn't 'concede the fight that fueled this campaign'.

Vice President Kamala Harris was pictured play Connect Four with her two grand nieces

The pictures were posted by Harris' niece, Meena Harris. She is the daughter of Harris' sister Maya Harris

Her voice shook at times as she addressed a massive crowd of supporters at the historically black college.

Her running mate Tim Walz, 60, stood in the crowd, fighting back tears as she spoke. Husband Doug Emhoff stood to the side, looking sad. Meena Harris also held back tears.

Ella Emhoff, Harris' stepdaughter, was visibly distraught during the speech and was comforted by her father throughout.

'My heart is full today. Full of gratitude for the trust you have placed in me. Full of love for our country and full of resolve,' she said in her first appearance since voters rejected her vision for America.

'The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for, but hear me when I say, hear me when I say, the light of America's promise will always burn bright,' she said.

Harris delivered her concession speech at her alma mater, Howard University, on Wednesday November 6, the day after the election

Her running mate Tim Walz, husband Doug Emhoff and her step children Ella and Cole Emhoff were overwhelmed with emotion at times during the speech

Harris thanked President Joe Biden, her family, her staff and her supporters. She also expressed pride in her campaign.

'Look, I am so proud of the race we ran. And the way we ran it,' she said.

'Now, I know folks are feeling and experiencing a range of emotions right now. I get it. But we must accept the results of this election,' she said.

Harris ultimately conceded to President-elect Trump over a phone call on Wednesday, saying she called for a peaceful transfer of power and encouraged him to be a president for all Americans.

The final electoral college results are now in, with Trump winning 312 electoral votes to Harris' 226.

After months of neck-and-neck polling with Harris in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Michigan, Trump soundly won every single battleground state.

Trump has become the first president re-elected to non-consecutive terms since Grover Cleveland did it in 1892.

After Harris' short-lived campaign fell, there's already speculation on who will run on the Democratic side in 2028.

Names like Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro - once both contenders to be Harris' running mate - are being floated by party insiders as possible contenders.
Victims who suffered sexual abuse at the hands of paedophile pop star Gary Glitter are set to bring compensation claims against him and his 6 million fortune.

The 80-year-old convicted sex offender already fears becoming bankrupt over a bill of 508,000 he was ordered to pay by a court to a woman he molested when she was 12.

Now two others are poised to bring their own action against the disgraced former star and it is understood this action relates to abuse carried out in Britain and potentially may cover offending abroad.

In August it was reported Glitter faced dying behind bars with an increased jail term after refusing to engage in the legal process surrounding the first civil claim.

Now his legal woes are set to worsen with other claims on the verge of being brought.

Gary Glitter (pictured) was jailed for 16 years in 2015 for sexually abusing three schoolgirls between 1975 and 1980

Glitter's fall from grace began in the late 1990s when he was convicted for possessing thousands of child abuse images and was jailed for four months in 1999. Pictured: Performing in 1974

A legal source said: 'There are two women who are poised to bring action against Glitter.

'They have been encouraged on the back of one of his victims bringing a substantial claim earlier this year.

'The process is early and it is a case of bringing together enough evidence.

'Glitter's offending spread far and wide. The victims see it as a way of achieving justice for what they went through.

'He ruined lives and left a devastating impact on those he abused.'

The source added: 'There could be many more. The way he has failed to engage in the process will go against him.'

Glitter is said to have gone into a state of depression over facing losing his fortune and no sign of being released.

Taken in Cuba, Nick snapped images of Glitter interacting with young girls by a swimming pool (pictured)

The photographer snapped images of three young girls who spent time with Glitter in Havana, Cuba (pictured)

The disgraced pop star performing in London in 1972 before he was jailed for child sex offences

Glitter has been nicknamed 'the loner' by other prisoners as the full scale of the financial burden he faces has become apparent.

He will remain in jail until 2031 after the Parole Board this year ruled he was unfit for release as he continues to serve a sentence for a string of sex attacks on young girls.

He is currently at HMP Risley in Warrington.

A justice source said: 'Glitter has been nicknamed the loner. He is alone in his cell most of the day and is thoroughly depressed.'

Part of his vast assets still includes a 2 million house in London's Baker Street.

The source added: 'He is full of resentment. There is no longer any swagger.

'It has dawned on him that he faces financial ruin. His arrogance has always given him a way out. He always hoped he would be out and be able to spend his millions freely.

'But he knows he cannot move freely for a long time. If he survives long enough to be released then his fortune would have evaperated.'

Glitter was jailed for 16 years in 2015 for abusing three girls in the 1970s and 1980s but was released last year. Just weeks later he was recalled for breaching his licensing conditions.

The former pop star - real name Paul Gadd - is set to remain inside until 2031 after the Parole Board blocked a bid for freedom, saying he still poses a serious risk to children.

He had previously been jailed in Vietnam for abusing young girls there as well.
A pub has sparked backlash after introducing a 2 surge in price for beer ordered after 10pm.

The increase at a branch of O'Neills in Wardour Street, Soho, London, leaves punters paying up to 9.40 for a pint.

The Irish pub has been accused by consumer experts of ripping customers off by not advertising prices on the menu.

During the day, the branch charges 7.40 for a pint of Brewdog IPA - rising to 9.40 after 10pm.

Meanwhile, bottles of Budweiser cost 8.05 after 10pm, an increase from 6.05.

Non-alcoholic drinks are also included in the price hike, seeing a 46 per cent increase in the cost of tonic water, rising from 2.15 to 3.15.

The increase at a branch of O'Neills in Wardour Street (pictured) in Soho leaves punters paying up to 9.40 for a pint after 10pm

Surge pricing at certain times of day is a commonly used strategy within the hospitality industry (Stock photo)

An A4 piece of paper at the end of the bar reads: 'We operate a variable price list in this venue.'

The emergence of surge pricing happened alongside the licensing requirement for an increase in security staff, as well as the use of plastic glasses in the evening, which came into force in 2022.

Surge pricing at certain times of day is a commonly used strategy within the hospitality industry, with British pub chain Stonegate enforcing a 20p surcharge during 'peak trading' hours at weekends.

Consumer rights expert Scott Dixon told The Telegraph: 'The hospitality industry needs to rethink their business model instead of inventing new ways to rip people off, there needs to be more transparency.

'Their pricing policies are underhand and consumers are being misled into buying decisions they would not otherwise have made.'

The Wardour Street branch of O'Neills is among the largest sites run by parent company Mitchells & Butlers.

A spokesman for Mitchells & Butlers said: 'Dynamic pricing varies on a site by site basis as it reflects the local market conditions, but temporary price increases tend to reflect the need to offset additional costs such as at times when door security is required.'
A pub landlady has been ordered to remove an outdoor marquee after claims it is preventing boats mooring on the river.

Amanda Cooper has been ordered to remove the giant marquee covering her decking at the Boat Inn pub, where punters can enjoy a pint with the riverside views, after boatsmen said it was damaging the market town's heritage.

But the drinking spot has been criticised by the local boat club for obstructing access to the river bank.

The marquee was erected at the watering hole in Chepstow, Monmouthshire, to provide an outdoor space in 2020, when planning rules were relaxed to allow al fresco dining during the pandemic.

A pub landlady is fighting to keep a marquee on the riverside after she was ordered to remove following complaints from boatsmen that it inhibits boats from mooring on the river

The large covering was originally erected during the Covid pandemic, when rules were relaxed to support businesses with al fresco dining

But the local boat club says the drinking spot is obstructing access to the historic river bank

Amanda has now taken her case to the Welsh Government after Monmouthshire County Council refused an application to keep the structure in place permanently in 2023.

Chepstow and District Yacht Club and the Chepstow Boat Club said the beauty spot 'has historically been used for the laying-up of boats since the time Chepstow was truly a port.'

They said there had been an agreement on shared use of the area when the pub reopened in 1997.

Members say without 'full access' to the pontoon for maintenance it would have to be removed - meaning boats could no longer be moored on the river.

The riverside in Chepstow, Montgomeryshire has been 'historically used' for the laying up of boats since the town became a port, campaigners have said

Landlady Amanda Cooper is taking her case to the Welsh Government after her application to keep the covered seating area up was refused by the local authority

The club said the town has lost its deep water wharf to new housing and added: 'We must not lose the only remaining evidence of our maritime history or the ancient port of Chepstow will become just that -history.'

Chepstow Town Council had also objected to the original application on the grounds it would 'compromise safety access to the pontoon' and isn't in keeping with the area.

A final decision will now be made by an inspector from PEDW, the Welsh planning body.
Senator Bernie Sanders has clapped back at former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi after she said she didn't 'respect' his criticism of the Democratic Party for ignoring the working class.

The independent from Vermont appeared on CNN's State of the Union and NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday to double down on why he believes Kamala Harris lost to Donald Trump.

Sanders, 83, sounded off his usual laundry list of policies that he thinks Harris either didn't emphasize or support at all.

These stances include raising the minimum wage, raising taxes on the ultra-wealthy, moving to a universal health care system and expanding social security.

During the NBC interview, Meet the Press host Kristen Welker played a clip of Pelosi telling The New York Times' 'The Interview Podcast' on Saturday, 'I don't respect [Sanders] saying that the Democratic Party has abandoned the working class families. That's where we are.'

Senator Bernie Sanders has clapped back at former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi after she said she didn't 'respect' his criticism of the Democratic Party for ignoring the working class

'I don't respect [Sanders] saying that the Democratic Party has abandoned the working class families,' Pelosi told the New York Times on 'The Interview Podcast'

'Nancy is a friend of mine,' Sanders responded on the air.

'But here is the reality: in the Senate in the last two years, we have not even brought forth legislation to raise the minimum wage to a living wage despite the fact that some 20 million people in this country are working for less than $15 an hour.'

Sanders' criticism was also called into question on State of the Union, where host Dana Bash pointed out: 'But what the voters supported is a man who would never do any of what you just said. I mean, not even close.'

'But what that man named Donald Trump did do is he said, "I feel your pain. I know that you're hurting, and I have an explanation,"' argued the two-time presidential candidate, once in 2016 and again in 2020.

Sanders, a two-time presidential candidate himself, released his damning assessment of the Democratic party shortly before Kamala Harris delivered her concession speech

Sanders said Donald Trump spoke to Americans' fears, even though he thinks the soon-to-be president's solutions are 'bogus'

However, Sanders called Trump's explanation 'bogus,' adding that the millions of people who came across the border during President Joe Biden's tenure aren't the culprit for Americans' economic woes.

'The cause of the problem right now is that we have a small number of people on top who have enormous economic and political power,' Sanders said.

'Look, the working people of this country are extremely angry,' Sanders added to Welker.

'They have a right to be angry in the richest country in the history of the world. Today, the people on top are doing phenomenally well, while 60 percent of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. Millions of families worry that their kids have actually got to have a lower standard of living than they do.'

Sanders released his initial statement on the election results shortly before Harris' concession speech on Wednesday.

'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 wrote.

'While the Democratic leadership defends the status quo, the American people are angry and want change,' he continued. 'And theyre right.'

Sanders, who just won another term in the Senate, said that it was the white working class who first turned on Democrats, but that they had now been joined by black and Latino workers.

Sanders' statement drew the ire of top leaders in the Democratic party, includingand outgoing DNC Chair Jaime Harrison

One exit poll showed Trump more than doubling his support with black voters in the crucial swing state of Wisconsin.

Sanders' scathing critique of the Democrats caught the attention of party leaders, including Pelosi.

'Under President Biden, you see the rescue package, money in the pockets of people, the shots in the arm, children in school safely, working people back to work,' Pelosi added in her podcast appearance. 'What did Trump do when he was president? One bill that gave a tax cut to the richest people in America.'

Pelosi was referring to the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill passed in 2021 that included $1,400 stimulus checks for Americans.

Pelosi instead blamed cultural issues for Harris' loss, as well as Biden's refusal to drop out of the race sooner.

'Had the president gotten out sooner, there may have been other candidates in the race,' Pelosi told the Times.

Jaime Harrison, the outgoing Chair of the Democratic National Committee, also disagreed with Sanders, calling his assessment of the party 'straight up BS.'

'Biden was the most-pro worker President of my life time- saved Union pensions, created millions of good paying jobs and even marched in a picket line,' Harrison wrote on X. 'There are a lot of post election takes and this one aint a good one.'
A TikTok dentist who doesn't believe in braces has been struck off after he shared 'inappropriate and misleading' information on a controversial dentistry practise on YouTube.

Dr Michael Mew is responsible for the 'mewing' trend, which has been adopted by millions of teenagers and consists of a technique that involves pressing your tongue against the roof of your mouth to change your jawline and face shape.

He has now been barred from the profession after he shared a video on orthotropics, a theory developed by his father which states that misaligned bites and dental problems can be fixed by muscle exercises and physiotherapy.

It was heard the dentist, who is the orthotropic practitioner in the UK, advised young children against braces, instead recommending neck gear and expanders so their teeth could 'align naturally'.

The General Dental Council told a professional conduct panel that his advice caused 'harm' to two young patients, with one boy suffering 'seizure-like episodes' after receiving treatment.

The panel ruled that the orthotropic treatment offered by him was 'not clinically indicated' and 'not in the best interests' of the children. As a result, Mr Mew was struck off after the panel concluded he was a 'risk to public safety'.

Dr Michael Mew (pictured outside the General Dental Council in 2022) was behind a TikTok 'mewing' craze that claims to change the shape of your jawline without surgery

Mr Mew now been barred from the profession after he shared a video on orthotropics, a theory developed by his father which states that misaligned bites and dental problems can be fixed by muscle exercises and physiotherapy

Mewing been adopted by millions of teenagers and consists of a technique that involves pressing your tongue against the roof of your mouth to change your jawline and face shape (pictured: A teacher in Los Angeles gives a mewing lesson via video)

The Dental Professionals Hearings Service was told by the GDC that Mr Mew used YouTube to share a video which had 'inappropriate and misleading' advice on orthotropics, on a channel which has amassed some 554K subscribers.

The panel heard that in the video, Mr Mew said that 'if you create enough tongue space', it can influence facial growth and subsequently an 'expansion of the brain'.

It was heard that orthopetrics originated from his father, John Mew, and is not recognised or available within the NHS nor recognised as a speciality by the GDC.

The Professional Conduct Committee was told that in September 2016, the dentist treated Patient A - a six year old girl - by advising her to wear neck gear, and upper and lower arch expansion appliances.

Mr Mew said that the use of the appliances would 'make way for the tongue', 'improve the midface', and 'change the swallowing pattern'.

The dentist said the realignment would correct the 'oral environment' by allowing 'all the 32 teeth to align naturally without the need for fixed braces'.

He relied on the 'Tropic Premise', which said that 'anyone who exhibits a number of features will have permanently well aligned teeth and good facial form'.

This included 'standing up straight' and maintaining a 'butterfly bite' - which involved resting the tongue on the roof of the mouth and swallowing.

Mr Mew told the patient's parents that most orthodontists think orthotropics are bad and not evidence based - 'but they don't have any idea of what we do'.

'For younger children it is also important to push many orthodontists into giving their opinion as to what may happen in the future, as it is too easy to sit on the fence and placate parents for years until it is too late to avoid extractions or surgery,' he told her parents.

The Dental Professionals Hearings Service was told by the GDC that Mr Mew used YouTube to share a video which had 'inappropriate and misleading' advice on orthotropics, on a channel which has amassed some 554K subscribers

It was heard Mr Mew also recommended Patient A undergo a lingual tongue-tie release, which he said would allow her to rest with her tongue on the roof of her mouth and strengthen the jaw.

A year later, the youngster visited an oral consultant who found she had developed a large 'open bite' and a traumatic ulcer.

The consultant said the child should not have had the tongue-release, and the panel noted that some two years later, the open bite was still 'unresolved'.

The panel heard the case of another child, Patient B, who was two years old when he was first seen by Mr Mew.

In 2018, when the boy was six years old, he was fitted with head and neck gear, and upper and lower arch expansion appliances.

It was heard that Mr Mew told the parents how he hoped the appliances would not align the teeth 'but create an environment in which teeth will align themselves as they do in 5,400 species of mammals and our ancestors since the dawn of time'.

Patient B's treatment was ceased within four months, after his parents were concerned about the 'alleged harm' caused by Mr Mew.

His father told the hearing that his son was having 'seizure-like episodes' after he was fitted with the gear.

Mr Mew was reported to the GDC after a consultant saw Patient A and became 'concerned' with what they saw.

It was noted that Patient A's mother 'remains a supporter' of the orthotropic treatment offered by Mr Mew.

The General Dental Council told a professional conduct panel that his advice caused 'harm' to two young patients, with one boy suffering 'seizure-like episodes' after receiving treatment (file image)

A disciplinary panel were told of how both children had 'normal craniofacial development' for their age when they first visited the dentist.

During the hearing, Mr Mew accused the GDC of making assertions that he is a 'maverick' and a 'lone practitioner of orthotropics'.

'The Committee has found proved that the Orthotropic Treatment you provided to Patient A and Patient B, when they were children, was not clinically indicated, not in their best interests and was liable to cause them harm,' the panel concluded.

'It also found proved that the misleading claims you made to the patients' parents in correspondence concerning the need for treatment, your diagnoses, and the assertions you made about the benefits and outcomes of Orthotropic Treatment were inappropriate and on occasion misleading.'

Highlighting the aggravating factors, the panel recognised the 'involvement of vulnerable patients' and the 'lack of insight regarding misconduct', among others.

On the YouTube video, the committee said: 'We found proved that the claims, you made in a video posted on YouTube in or about September 2017 titled 'Orthodontics Beyond Teeth', which included implying that you could increase the intelligence of a child, were inappropriate and misleading as they were made without adequate objective evidence.'

All but one of the allegations he faced were found to be proved.

The panel imposed an immediate suspension order after ruling the dentist is a 'risk to public safety' as he was offering treatments with 'no objective base'.
Joe Rogan shared who he voted for in previous elections and hinted at why Kamala Harris should not have dodged his show in a resurfaced podcast episode.

During a 2020 discussion with comedian Jimmy Dore on The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan said he had 'always been' a progressive voter.

He told Dore: 'I've never voted right wing in my life. Never. Never. I voted Democrat.'

Rogan specifically mentioned his fondness for Bernie Sanders and Tulsi Gabbard - as she was a Democrat before endorsing Donald Trump - but he did point out the one exception to his pattern.

He said: 'Except for [voting] Independent. I voted for Gary Johnson because he did my podcast.'

Joe Rogan revealed that he used to vote Democratic, with the only exception being Gary Johnson because he came on the show

In the 2020 episode, Rogan hinted at why Kamala Harris did not get his vote after she snubbed him

This one-off comment points to why Harris refusing to be on Rogan's show may have cost her his vote and - even more influential - his endorsement.

During the Rogan-Dore episode, Dore mentioned an unnamed senior Democrat who would not go on his podcast because their 'career would be over.' Rogan guessed he was referring to Harris.

Dore laughed, but neither confirmed nor denied the claim.

Rogan chimed in and said, 'They all keep asking to be on my show, I've got requests from all of them.'

The podcaster listed off Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren and 'Mayor Pete' Buttigieg as some of the top politicians who have requested to come on his show, but he turned them down.

Rogan, who previously was vocal about disliking Donald Trump, seemingly made a 180-degree turn by endorsing the candidate just before the presidential election.

Comedian Jimmy Dore said an unnamed Democrat would not go on his show in order to preserve their reputation and Rogan guessed it was Harris

Rogan endorsed Donald Trump just before the election after previously expressing disapproval of the soon-to-be president

The podcaster asserted in 2022: 'I'm not a Trump supporter in any way, shape or form.

'I don't want to help him, I'm not interested in helping him.'

Two years later, Rogan's views took a shocking turn when he welcomed the Republican nominee on his show after rampant speculation from fans.

He publicly endorsed the soon-to-be president after a discussion with Elon Musk.

'If it wasn't for him (Musk) we'd be f***ed,' Rogan wrote on X just hours before the polls open.

'He makes what I think is the most compelling case for Trump you'll hear, and I agree with him every step of the way.

'For the record, yes, that's an endorsement of Trump. Enjoy the podcast'.

He sat with Trump for a three-hour interview and tried to do the same with Harris.

But Rogan revealed that scheduling issues and conflicts over how long and where the interview would take place ultimately prevented it from happening.

Donald Trump also sat down with Rogan just before the election, with Rogan subsequently backing Trump for the White House

He explained he hoped to use the interview as a means of getting to know the candidates better.

Rogan said: '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.'

The Joe Rogan Experience is the most popular Spotify podcast, with more than 14 million subscribers. Rogan also has nearly 18 million YouTube followers, and his videos routinely receive millions of views.

Trump's appearance on the show has been credited for his ability to win over young voters.

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.

Rogan said Harris was in discussions over appearing on his hugely popular show - but refused to travel to his studio or sit for the usual three-hour interview

'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. '
A jewellery technician who was sacked after bullying her cancer-ridden boss and telling her not to undergo chemotherapy has lost a discrimination claim.

Malgorzata Kopec - who believes doctors are 'evil' - told the woman to wash her body and drink hydrogen peroxide and turpentine rather than undergo medical treatment for her breast cancer.

The jewellery technician's 'relentless' campaign of harassment left her boss 'genuinely frightened' of her, meaning she often left work early to make sure they were never alone together.

After being fired for gross misconduct, Miss Kopec sued the British Academy of Jewellery for discrimination, claiming she had been persecuted for her belief in 'a healthy natural way of living free from allopathic drugs and experimental injections'.

However, her claims were dismissed with the tribunal ruling that while her beliefs were genuinely held, her sacking was fair as she had bullied her boss.

Malgorzata Kopec was sacked by the British Academy of Jewellery (pictured) after bullying her cancer-ridden boss and telling her not to undergo chemotherapy

The tribunal in central London heard that Miss Kopec started work as a workshop technician for the Academy - which says it provides 'cutting-edge training and inspiration to the next generation of jewellers' - in March 2020.

Her female manager, referred only as Ms X in the tribunal documents, told some colleagues she had been diagnosed with cancer in January 2022.

When she found out, Miss Kopec 'criticised' her for deciding to undergo chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

'At some point in the first two weeks of February 2022, [Miss Kopec] told Ms X that she knew about her diagnosis and treatment plans and then proceeded to tell her that she had made the wrong decision and to criticise her for deciding to undergo chemotherapy and radiation treatment,' the tribunal heard.

'She told Ms X that the doctors were evil and only wanted money and suggested that Ms X washed her body and drink hydrogen peroxide.'

The tribunal heard: '[Ms X] was noticeably shaken and upset by the encounter and did not want to stay in the building in case she had to see [Miss Kopec] again that day.'

Miss Kopec also gave her the book 'Curing Cancer with Carrots' about a woman who claimed to have cured her Stage 4 colon cancer by drinking carrot juice - as well as a variety of photocopied documents, books and jars of liquids.

She also told her to drink turpentine, a distilled tree resin used as a solvent, which had a label on the bottle warning 'harmful if fatal or swallowed'.

The tribunal heard Ms Kopec 'criticised' her for deciding to undergo chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Pictured: The building where the tribunal was held in central London

The hearing was told that Ms X regularly asked if she could leave work early to ensure that she was 'never alone' with the technician as she was 'frightened of her and of any confrontation that might occur'.

Ms X made a complaint about Miss Kopec in September 2022 and a disciplinary investigation took place into her allegations and also complaints she had bullied another colleague, Ms Y.

The inquiry found that Ms X and Ms Y were both 'genuinely frightened' of Miss Kopec but that she did not seem to 'comprehend the seriousness of her actions' which was thought to be 'not only reckless but extremely dangerous'.

The tribunal also heard that Kopec believed in conspiracy theories, claiming that the Covid vaccine 'was actually Bill Gates attempting to implant microchips in people in order to track them and that it was a poisoned substance belonging to the devil'.

Miss Kopec - who is Polish - was suspended in September 2022, and subsequently dismissed in November 2022.

Among multiple unsuccessful claims, her claims for unfair dismissal and race and belief discrimination were all rejected.

Employment Judge Richard Baty said: 'To be clear, [Kopec] was not dismissed because of the fact that she had a belief in a healthy natural way of living free from allopathic drugs and experimental injections; she was dismissed for bullying Ms X.

'Crucially, there was no remorse whatsoever on [her] part...particularly in relation to her conduct towards Ms X, who was obviously particularly vulnerable as a person with cancer and deeply affected by the claimant's conduct to the extent that she was frightened of her.

'Yet [Miss Kopac] could not see, either at the time of her dismissal or at any stage of these tribunal proceedings, the impact which her actions had had upon Ms X.

'It follows from that lack of remorse that there was every chance that, if [she]remained an employee, this behaviour would continue.'
Police in Amsterdam are hoping a hologram of a teenage sex worker will help finally solve a mysterious 15-year-old unsolved murder.

The life-size visualisation will depict Bernadette 'Betty' Szabo, 19, who was stabbed multiple times in February 2009, behind a window in Amsterdam's Red Light district.

The hologram will show Szabo to be sitting on a stool behind a window in a crop top and shorts as she leans forward, breathes on the glass, and writes the word 'help.

Officers believe that someone will have information on the dead woman, and seeing her moving will 'help people feel a connection to her' and encourage them to come forward.

The Amsterdam force said this was the first time it had used the hologram technique to try and solve a cold case but had hopes it would jog locals' memories and help bring her killer, or killers, to justice.

Police in Amsterdam are using a life-size hologram of a murdered sex worker to try to catch her killer 15 years after her death

Bernadett 'Betty' Szabo was found dead in Amsterdam's Red Light District in February 2009

The visualisation will show Szabo, who was stabbed multiple times on February 19, 2009, sitting on a stool behind a window as she reaches out to passersby for help

The hologram will show Szabo to be sitting on a stool behind a window in a crop top and shorts as she leans forward, breathes on the glass, and writes the word 'help

Szabo was born in Hungary, but left for Amsterdam when she was 18 where she made money as a sex worker in the Red Light District.

She carried on her work in the adult industry after becoming pregnant and gave birth to a son who was placed with a foster family.

But on the night of February 19, 2009, two of her sex worker friends noticed they had not seen her in her work station on Oudezijds Achterburgwal.

To their horror, when they checked on her again at 1am, they found her dead in her room having been stabbed dozens of times.

Dutch police spokesperson, Eline Roovers, told Sky News that the force is in 'close contact' with Szabo's family and that they have given their approval to use a hologram of the dead woman as part of the investigation.

The hologram, created using 3D visualisation technology, shows Szabo with her large dragon tattoo that covered her stomach and chest area.

'This is the first time we've done something like this and, to be honest, we're a bit nervous,' said Benjamin van Gogh, the coordinator of the Amsterdam wanted and missing persons team.

'We want to do justice to Betty, to her family and friends, and to the case. Therefore, before deciding to use a hologram for the campaign, we brainstormed with different parties both within and outside the police on whether we should go ahead with this and how we should set it up.'

The visualisation shows the teenager with her memorable and large dragon tattoo across her stomach and chest

The Amsterdam force said this was the first time it had used the hologram technique to try and solve a cold case

With the district being so popular with tourists, police are also keen to hear from anyone who may have been visiting the area on the night of Szabo's death

He said the police always tried to put a face on a victim with public appeals, but the hologram takes this 'a step further'.

Detectives hope the hologram, as well as a 25,000 reward, will help draw in new witnesses who may not necessarily be locals to the area of the murder.

Anne Dreijer-Heemskerk, of the cold case team, said: ''While every murder case is tragic, Betty's story is especially moving.

'A young woman, only 19, taken from life in such a horrific way. She already had a difficult life, working long hours as a sex worker and continuing until shortly before the birth of her son.

'Her son was placed in foster care and never had the chance to know his mother.

'Betty was murdered in one of the busiest areas in Amsterdam, maybe even in the Netherlands.

'It is really almost impossible that there are no people who saw or heard something unusual at the time. Or heard someone talk about the case, which doesn't even have to have been in Amsterdam, because, after all, the red light district gets visitors from all over the world.'

With the district being so popular with tourists, police are also keen to hear from anyone who may have been visiting the area on the night of Szabo's death.

Noting that 15 years had passed since the killing, Dreijer-Heemsker added: 'We hope witnesses who may have been afraid before or kept silent for other reasons now have the courage to come forward.'

Betty's hologram can be seen from Saturday November 9 to Saturday November 16.
Vicars have launched a petition urging the Archbishop of Canterbury to resign for ignoring sex abuse - and a top bishop has declined to defend him.

Archbishop Justin Welby last week admitted he personally failed the countless victims of sexualised beatings from evangelist barrister John Smyth, by failing to report him to police in 2013, when his crimes were clear.

Critics say that failing left the prolific sadist free to continue abusing children after fleeing Britain in Christian camps in Southern Africa until his death in 2018.

The Archbishop worked at the Bash camps in England where Smyth groomed his victims 40 years ago.

And increasing numbers of clergy are saying apologies are insufficient, following a ringing Church of England report last week singling out the Archbishop for failing to report the most prolific child abuser in its ranks to police in 2013.

The independent review said Mr Smyth's 'abhorrent' abuse of more than 100 children and young men was covered up in the Church for years.

The so-called Makin Report also said it was unlikely Archbishop Welby he was unaware of concerns about Smyth from as long ago at 1981.

Justin Welby (pictured) admitted he personally failed the countless victims of sexualised beatings from evangelist barrister John Smyth

An independent review published earlier this week said John Smyth's (pictured) abuse of more than 100 children and young men was covered up in the Church for years

Yesterday an online petition calling for his resignation faced raced beyond 800 signatories.

The petition was launched by Vicar of St Marys, Kilburn, and Labour councillor, Revd Robert Thompson saying: Given his role in allowing abuse to continue, we believe that his continuing as the Archbishop of Canterbury is no longer tenable.

With sadness we do not think there is any alternative to his immediate resignation if the process of change and healing is to start now.

As signatures and online attacks on the bishop from clergy mounted, the Church of England lead bishop on safeguarding, Bishop of Stepney Dr Joanne Grenfell, yesterday spoke on BBC Radio 4s flagship religious news programme Sunday.

To the surprise of veteran presenter Ed Stourton, she notably failed, several times, to say the Archbishop should stay in post in the wake of the scandal.

Asked directely by the broadcaster whether Archbishop Welby should resign or not, Bishop Grenfell said: I really appreciate that the Archbishop has wholeheartedly apologies for what he could have and should done differently in 2013.

I also recognise his commitment over his tenure to really having tried to change safeguarding - I think theres still an awful lot to do, but I do think that builds on some of the changes weve seen over the last ten years.

The petition was launched by the Vicar of St Marys, Kilburn and Labour councillor, Revd. Robert Thompson

The Archbishop apologised on behalf of the Church in 2017 when the allegations became public

He also made a personal apology in 2021 to Smyth's victims after meeting them

Asked why she could not give a straight Yes or No to the question of whether the Archbishop should resign, the Bishop said: I support the Archbishops apology, Im glad hes made it.

She added that beyond the sexualised abuse at the cases heart, I fully understand this is also about the choice to cover up, and the failure to reveal what should have been revealed, and I absolutely think that people need to take responsibility for that.

Broadcaster the Revd Giles Fraser, well-known for his position as a panellist on Radio 4s The Moral Maze, said in a Tweet: I was beaten at school in the way many of Smyths victims were. Going to bed with blood soaked underpants night after night.

To say I am angry about the cover up in the church doesnt begin to capture it.

I think it seems increasingly unlikely that the Archbishop of Canterbury can survive in post given the growing chorus of calls for his resignation from amongst his own clergy.

The vicar of Charlbury in Oxfordshire, Revd Fergus Butler Gallie, wrote in an open letter to the Archbishop posted online: We will continue to pray for you, but I for one will be praying that you will resign.

Those things you did and failed to do inflicted such damage [which] might never heal...if you will not go for reasons of your own embarrassment or shame, for love of God and Him alone go.

Vicar of Christ Church, New Malden, south west London, Stephen Kuhrt, wrote in an online article: Now is not the time for the classic Anglican fudge, where he decides to retire in the coming weeks.

He should resign specifically on the basis of his response to the John Smyth case and refuse the customary peerage given to ex-Archbishops.

And after it was pointed out that Archbishop Welby suspended Bishop of Lincoln Christopher Lowson in 2019 for mishandling safeguarding, Father Chris Phillips of All Saints, Benhilton, in South London, suggested a formal complaint or motion of no-confidence could be drafted.

The Archbishop said last week he had given a lot of thought to resigning - but claimed senior colleagues advised him not to.

Last night, a spokeswoman for the Archbishop said: The Archbishop reiterates his horror at the scale of John Smyths egregious abuse, as reflected in his public apology.

He has apologised profoundly both for his own failures and omissions, and for the wickedness, concealment and abuse by the church more widely.

 As he has said, he had no awareness or suspicion of the allegations before he was told in 2013 - and therefore having reflected, he does not intend to resign.

 He hopes the Makin Review supports the ongoing work of building a safer church here and around the world.
A former Army instructor at a barracks where five recruits died in suspicious circumstances more than 20 years ago is facing a criminal charge, the Mail can reveal.

For the first time, a sergeant previously stationed there has been investigated by police and is awaiting a decision on charging by the Crown Prosecution Service.

In what is widely regarding as the Armys most shocking abuse scandal, four young soldiers shot themselves and a fifth died of a drugs overdose at the Deepcut barracks in the 1990s and 2000s.

Subsequent high profiles inquiries revealed an appalling culture of rampant bullying, rapes of male and female recruits, physical and sexual assaults and racism.

Yet, to the dismay of the victims families, no staff from the notorious depot have ever appeared in court over the abuse they allegedly meted out.

Deepcut barracks (pictured). Inquiries revealed an appalling culture of rampant bullying, rapes of male and female recruits, physical and sexual assaults and racism

Private Anthony Bartlett, 26, died from a suspected drug overdose in July 2001

Private Cheryl James, 18, was found dead in woods near her abandoned guard post in November 2001

Rather than justice for their lost loved ones, they were forced to content themselves with belated apologies by senior Army officers and defence ministers.

The Mail has learned that, following a fresh investigation by Surrey Police, a former member of the Royal Logistics Corps is facing a charge of misconduct in a public office.

The retired soldier, who is in his 70s, is accused of physically and verbally abusing one of the trainees who lost their lives.

It can also be revealed today how civilian detectives first recommended the charge against him one and a half years ago.

Remarkably, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has spent the interim period considering how to respond.

This delay, which has caused further agony for the victims family, also led to a formal complaint against the CPS being upheld.

Last night, the CPS said it was still carefully considering complex material and could not provide a timetable for when a charging decision would be made.

The lawyer for the victims family, Emma Norton, founder of the Centre of Military Justice, declined to discuss the case.

If charged, the accused would be named and face either a crown court trial or a military court martial.

At the time, the Deepcut deaths sent shockwaves through the UKs military community.

Private James Collinson, 17, was found dead from a single gunshot wound to his head while on guard duty in March 2002

Private Sean Benton, 20, was found dead from five bullet wounds in his chest in June 1995

In June 1995, Private Sean Benton, 20, went on an unauthorised lone patrol of the perimeter of the barracks.

He was found dead from five bullet wounds in his chest. A first and a second inquest into his death both returned verdicts of suicide.

Pte Benton was known to have been emotionally distressed and had engaged in at least two attempts at self-harm in the months before his death.

A coroner heard he had been repeatedly bullied. He was said to have told his sister he had been shackled and forced to parade around a canteen.

Then, in November 1995, Private Cheryl James, 18, was found dead in woods near her abandoned guard post. Her cause of death was a single bullet wound to her head.

A first inquest returned an open verdict, which her family challenged at the High Court. The verdict was quashed and a second hearing determined her death was self-inflicted.

Her parents said there were serious and inexplicable omissions in the investigations of Surrey Police and the Royal Military Police.

Des and Doreen James also accused military chiefs of running a damage limitation strategy rather than searching for the truth.

The third death, chronologically, was Private Anthony Bartlett, 26, from a suspected drug overdose in July 2001.

Remarkably, civilian detectives were not informed about his death at the time. Former Surrey Police chief inspector Colin Sutton said it was staggering he was not told about it. It was revealed in 2021.

There were two further fatal gun incidents. In September 2001, Private Geoff Gray, 17, died from two gunshot wounds to his head while on guard duty.

Private Geoff Gray, 17, was found with two gunshot wounds in his forehead in September 2001

An inquest held the following year returned an open verdict. His family challenged this finding and, 18 years after his death, a second inquest found it was a suicide.

The last to die was Private James Collinson, 17, in March 2002. He too was found dead from a single gunshot wound to his head while on guard duty. A first inquest returned an open verdict.

In 2019 Pte Collinsons family dropped their campaign for a second inquest saying they did not have the strength to continue the legal process.

They were represented by Emma Norton who claimed the Ministry of Defence and Surrey Police had repeatedly stonewalled his relatives in their bid for justice.

The second inquests into the previous deaths eventually led to civilian detectives launching a fresh criminal investigation.

Many former recruits gave evidence, claiming they were routinely assaulted and abused. One soldier described being ordered to rub dirt into his face until he bled.

Fears have also been raised that the RLC sergeant could be made a convenient scapegoat for abuses suffered by Deepcut recruits almost 30 years ago.

The Ministry of Defence declined to comment.

Last night, a CPS spokesperson said: We received a file of evidence from Surrey Police following an investigation into allegations of misconduct in a public office.

We are carefully considering this complex material and cannot provide a timeframe as to when a decision will be made.
A group of workers at a Delaware elementary school have been arrested after a 'detailed investigation' into their alleged abuse of students with special-needs

Makayla Lomax, 31, Marrisa Johnson, 26, and Morgan Donahue, 21, engaged in the 'troubling behavior' for years, officers with the Smyrna Police Department said - after hitting the trio with charges of endangering the welfare of a child Wednesday.

Allegations include physically hitting students - and force-feeding hot sauce and spicy snacks to one kid in particular who had a known digestive disability.

The latter was aired toward two of the suspects, while Lomax is also alleged to have struck and sprayed a student in the face with a water bottle as a form of punishment.

The force-feeding incident, meanwhile, is believed to have occurred at Smyrna Elementary School in 2022, and saw the pair ply the special-needs child with Takis and hot sauce. As for the probe that put them away, it began in February, cops revealed in a statement.

Scroll down for video:

Marrisa Johnson, 26, and Morgan Donahue, 21, force-fed a special-needs child with digestive issues Takis and hot sauce, cops in Delaware said Wednesday following their arrests

Makayla Lomax, meanwhile, struck and sprayed a student in the face with a water bottle as a form of punishment, cops said. The 31-year-old school worker was hit with a third degree child abuse charge as a result

'Smyrna Police Investigators have concluded their investigation into child abuse/neglect allegations that began in February 2024, with arrests this week,' the bulletin began.

'This long and detailed investigation [was] conducted in partnership with the Delaware Department of Justice and with the cooperation of the Smyrna School District.

'[It] has revealed an alleged pattern of troubling behavior in a special needs elementary classroom,' it went on - before laying out the allegations against them.

'Investigation revealed that employees working in this classroom would allegedly throw objects at the students, yell at them, and call them names,' the statement read.

'One of the suspects [Lomax]... is also alleged to have struck a student in the face, as well as sprayed that same student with a water bottle as a form of discipline.

'We also uncovered another alleged incident outside of the affected classroom that occurred in the Fall of 2022 and involved two of the employees feeding hot sauce and hot Takis to a special needs student who had a known digestive disability.'

The update went on to offer onlookers a glimpse at the trio's mugshots, as well as a breakdown of the charges they are facing.

Johnson, for one, was hit with ten counts of endangering the welfare of a child - each a class A misdemeanor.

The pattern of abuse allegedly occurred in a special-needs classroom at Smyrna Elementary, seen here

The charges come in response to the conditions students in the special-needs classroom were subject to, as well as the autumn force-feeding incidents, cops wrote in the release.

Her alleged partner in crime Donahue, officers said, was only hit with one charge of child engenderment - this one pertaining to the Taki and hot sauce incident. She was 19 at the time.

Her bond, however, was only set at $500, whereas Johnson's is $10,000.

Lomax's, meanwhile, was set at a more pronounced $12,500, due to the conditions of the affected classroom and 'striking and spraying a child in the face with a water bottle,' officers said.

The department issued a disclaimer that all three defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The Smyrna School District has since responded to the scandal, insisting that none of the workers have access to any students.

The Wednesday statement went on to reveal how the district, which oversees Smyrna Elementary and seven others schools, were the ones responsible for alerting authorities about the alleged behavior back in February.

The Smyrna School District has since responded, revealing they were the ones to report the alleged behavior. It also appeared to allude others may have been involved. 'The relevant employees have not been in the presence of our students since the district was made aware'

In the months since, the statement said, '[The district has] worked diligently with our law enforcement partners.

'The community and school system have been patiently waiting the conclusion of those extraordinary efforts.

'We appreciate the diligence and thoroughness of law enforcement in bringing closure to this troubling matter,' the update continued.

'Most individuals alleged to be involved no longer work for the District,' it added, alluding more charges could still be to come.

'With regard to the remaining employees, the District will honor employee privacy rights with regard to separation of employment,' the statement, sent after police's Wednesday, added.

'[W]e will make our reports to the Department of Educations Division of Licensure and Certification.'
Elon Musk is fast becoming a central player in Trump's interim cabinet and looking to his X platform for users to weigh in on the future of the GOP.

The Tesla CEO stepped up his involvement on Sunday by asking his 204 million followers on X who should be the new Senate Majority Leader.

Since Republicans have recaptured a 53-seat majority in the Senate, current Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will lose his gavel to the opposition when the new Congress is sworn in on January 3, 2025.

And since Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, 82, took himself out of the running for the role in February, three main contenders have emerged as a replacement to the longtime GOP leader.

They include Rick Scott from Florida, John Thune from South Dakota and John Cornyn from Texas.

In Musk's poll on X, Scott was far and away the favorite to become the next majority leader, with 66 percent of votes by X users.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk asked his 204 million followers on X who they think should become the Senate Majority Leader now that Republicans have 53 seats

Senator Rick Scott of Florida has become the favorite of MAGA supporters, winning in Musk's poll with a huge majority

The next most popular option was 'other' at 22 percent, suggesting that almost a quarter of the people polled want someone else entirely to take the helm.

Thune, at only 6 percent of the vote, had a slight edge on Cornyn who had just 5.1 percent support.

Scott is the favorite among MAGA-world, even though Trump himself dismissed Scott's bid as 'not serious,' Axios reported days after he defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election.

Despite Trump's recent comments, Scott has been eyeing the majority leader role since March.

And MAGA-centric media also seems to part ways with the president's distaste for the senator from Florida.

Charlie Kirk, a popular right-wing podcaster and founder of Turning Point USA, gave his full-throated endorsement to Scott on Saturday.

'The people who just gave Donald Trump a sweeping mandate do not want Thune or Cornyn to lead the US Senate,' Kirk wrote on X. 'They want Rick Scott. It's very clear.'

So too did conservative influencer Benny Johnson.

It's believed that Senator John Thune of South Dakota, left, and Senator John Cornyn of Texas are the establishment picks for the all-important leadership job

Right-wing influencers Charlie Kirk, left, and Benny Johnson both advocated for Scott to become the next majority leader

'A vote for Rick Scott is a vote to END the anti-Trump rot of Mitch McConnell in the US Senate. McConnell is the single most unpopular politician in America for a reason,' Johnson wrote on X.

He continued: 'This is a moment of American renewal. Thune and Cornyn are a continuation of McConnells total failure.'

Tucker Carlson, a former Fox News host, told his 14.5 million followers to call their senators' offices if they want to influence the leadership race in Scott's favor.

'Rick Scott of Florida is the only candidate who agrees with Donald Trump. Call your senator and demand a public endorsement of Rick Scott,' Carlson wrote on X.

Carlson claimed Thune, 63, and Cornyn, 72, 'hate Trump.'

His beef with Cornyn appears to be stronger, with Carlson calling him an 'angry liberal whose politics are indistinguishable from Liz Cheneys.'

Scott, whose bid is still considered a longshot by insiders, managed to score an important endorsement from Senator Bill Hagerty, a Republican from Tennessee.

Tucker Carlson too believes Scott should become the leader of the Senate

Senators Bill Hagerty, Rand Paul and Marco Rubio all support Scott as well

Hagerty believes that Scott will be the best suited to 'work hand-in-hand with President Trump to advance his America First agenda.'

Scott has also won the support of Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky and Senator Marco Rubio of Florida.

Meanwhile, Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri is endorsing Cornyn, much to the agitation of MAGA supporters.

'Im backing John Cornyn for majority leader. In the last two years, nobody has done more to win back the majority than he has,' Hawley said in a statement. 'He tirelessly raised millions of dollars for competitive Senate races including mine.'

So far two senators, one privately and one publicly, have backed Thune's bid to lead the upper chamber.

Senator Steve Daines of Montana is reportedly urging other Republicans to cast their ballots in favor of Thune, while Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota said Thune will 'be a great leader.'

'I think weve got a real winner in John Thune,' Rounds added.

Senators Steve Daines and Mike Rounds both support Thune's bid to become leader, though Daine's backing coming from behind the scenes

Trump could likely sway the leadership struggle with public endorsement, but he appears reluctant to do so.

Thune himself urged the President-elect not to put his thumb on the scale, The Hill reported.

Scott joined Maria Bartiromo's Fox News show on Sunday to make the case for himself, touting his background in the private sector and his 'great' working relationship with House Speaker Mike Johnson.

'I built businesses all my life,' the former governor of Florida said. 'I built the largest hospital company, I built a variety of manufacturing companies, I ran the state of Florida.'

The election for the new majority leader will take place on Wednesday morning.
A woman injured in a horse-riding accident is suing an NHS hospital over claims she was forced to have her leg amputated when they botched her care.

Rachel Rutherford wants 300,000 in compensation from Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, who she says ruined her life.

The 48-year-old underwent five operations before surgeons decided her leg could not be saved, leaving her suffering from severe phantom limb pain, depression and problems with mobility.

According to legal documents lodged with the High Court, in London, Ms Rutherfords leg and knee were badly injured when she was knocked into a fence by a bolting horse in 2020.

She underwent an initial five-hour operation to repair a fractured shin bone, which involved inserting metalwork into her damaged leg.

Rachel Rutherford is asking for 300,000 in compensation from Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (pictured: Royal Cornwall Hospital)

Ms Rutherfords leg and knee were badly injured when she was knocked into a fence by a bolting horse in 2020 (file image)

Jon Matthews, a consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon, instructed colleagues to closely monitor her afterwards for compartment syndrome, a painful condition which occurs when there is too much swelling within a muscle, restricting blood flow to the limb.

But Ms Rutherford claims hospital staff failed to properly assess her leg after surgery and did not comply with Mr Matthewss instructions.

She was in so much pain that she underwent a second operation, lasting nine hours, before later needing more surgery to try to reduce the pressure.

Eventually, after a fifth unsuccessful operation, surgeons decided there was no alternative but to amputate her leg above the knee. The operation took place at another hospital, closer to her family home.

The court will hear that, as well as suffering continued pain, Ms Rutherford, of Helston, Cornwall, requires long-term rehabilitation and physiotherapy and has also been prescribed antidepressants.

She said: I enjoyed long hikes and walked everywhere. However, thats all completely gone and its difficult to find the words to describe how my life has changed. I went from being independent to reliant on others.

Ms Rutherford claims that, had it not been for Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trusts negligence, she would not have needed her leg amputated. She says that if an operation or operations to relieve the swelling in her leg had been carried out sooner, amputation would have been avoided and she would likely have made a full recovery.

The hospital has admitted breach of duty in failing to carry out emergency surgery to release pressure on her leg but denies the breach led to the amputation.

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust was approached for comment.
A supply teacher was escorted out of a Cheshire school after 'losing control of his emotions' at a pupil and branding them a 'pathetic loser'.

Michael Good admitted to lashing out while teaching a class at St Anne's Roman Catholic Voluntary Academy, in Stockport, in September 2021.

A Teacher Regulation Agency (TRA) tribunal heard allegations that Good hit the student on his arm after repeatedly asking him to stop turning around and to be quiet - but these were found not proven.

The teacher admitted he 'unprofessionally' called the pupil a 'pathetic loser' as a witness described him using a 'condescending, belittling and aggressive tone', Manchester Evening News reported.

Following a three-day TRA hearing last month, Good was found guilty of serious misconduct in relation to his comment.

Michael Good admitted to lashing out while teaching a class at St Anne's Roman Catholic Voluntary Academy, in Stockport, in September 2021

Pictured: St Anne's Roman Catholic Voluntary Academy, in Cheshire

He was not present at the tribunal and not represented, but said in a written submission that he had 'let himself down' and was 'very sorry' for shouting at the pupil.

'At the height of Covid-19 with the close proximity of the desk and students to where [he] had to stand, the very close quarters and persistent disruption caused to [his] lesson by one specific student and the sudden and unjustified allegations and threats to get his [REDACTED] and the police onto [him] for assaulting him,' he said.

'This was genuinely a one-off error of judgement and I have learnt from this mistake. It will never happen again.

'I have reflectedand understand and accept I fell below the standard required of a teacher. I cannot change what happened, but I can learn from it.'

The tribunal ruled that the teacher's behaviour in the classroom that day 'amounted to misconduct of a serious nature which fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession'.

But the panel decided not to suspend Good or strike him off from the profession due to his 'unblemished teaching record and compelling character references'.

They wrote: 'There was a strong public interest consideration in retaining the teacher in the profession, since no doubt had been cast upon his abilities as an educator and he is able to make a valuable contribution to the profession.

'The panel considered that the publication of the adverse findings it had made was sufficient to send an appropriate message to the teacher as to the standards of behaviour that are not acceptable.

'Mr Good accepted his response was wrong for any teacher but stated it was perhaps understandable at that moment.

'Mr Good admitted he shouted at Pupil A as he was annoyed and understood this could have upset the student, but there was no evidence of this.

'He stated every student deserves for the teacher in the room to be in control of their emotions, and he failed to do this for a moment, but this was not without context or provocation.

'Mr Good stated he could have used a quieter tone and better words but the reason for the emotion was the disruption needed to stop.'

Following the incident, Good said he has undertaken and passed a course on 'awareness of effective behaviour management in the classroom'.
Black cabs lined the streets of London today, offering to provide free transport to veterans heading to the cenotaph to mark Remembrance Sunday.

Images shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, showed dozens of London's iconic black cabs lined up near Westminster in an act which has become an annual tradition for taxi drivers.

Since 2009, Poppy Cabs have offered free, accessible transport for military veterans attending the annual Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph.

Inspired by the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal, where red poppy badges are exchanged for charitable donations, these dedicated taxi drivers organise themselves under the 'Poppy Cabs' initiative.

Each year, drivers offer complimentary rides to veterans from major train stations across London, ensuring they arrive safely and punctually for the commemorative event

The London black cabs are known for their grand gestures, which have previously included lining the mall down to Buckingham Palace in honour of both the late Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II.

The famous black cabs of London lined Westminster Bridge to take veterans down to the cenotaph for free

Since 2009, hundreds of hackney carriage drivers have offered free, accessible transport for attendees of the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph

A London taxi driver sits in his cab which he has decorated with Union Jack flags in honour of Remembrance Sunday

Lining the bridge and offering free lifts to veterans has become an annual tradition in the trade

The tradition was set up by Poppy Cars, which has been running in the capital since 2009

A vintage London bus next to vintage London taxi in the heart of London on Remembrance Sunday

Vintage cabs were also part of the contingent that turned up to support military veterans

They are also known to offer free lifts to children and their families when travelling to Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Many people, including celebrities, took to X to thank the taxi drivers for their dedication to honouring veterans.

One user wrote: 'A beautiful gesture by London's Black Cab drivers to honor [sic] veteranssuch a lovely way to show appreciation!'

Another added: 'There are still good people in this crazy world. Well done black cabs of London!'

One wrote: 'This longstanding tradition helps honour those who have served, allowing them to gather without worry for travel, in a unique act of respect and gratitude from London's iconic black cab drivers.

'I saw one cabbie halp [sic] a veteran by assembling her electric wheelchair. Test it and made sure the lady was good to go, before going off and collecting another load from the Union Jack, Victory Services, RAF Club and other sites across the City'.

Second World War veterans have been paying emotional tribute to fallen comrades at the Remembrance Sunday commemorations.

Emotions were running high and tears fell as an estimated 10,000 veterans gathered in central London for the Royal British Legion's march past the Cenotaph.

Founded fifteen years ago by London taxi drivers, Poppy Cabs provides free journeys for military veterans attending the annual Remembrance Day Service at the Cenotaph

A London taxi driver stands in-front of his cab, ready to take veterans to the ceremony

A group of military veterans pose with a Poppy Cab marshal having been safely taken to the Cenotaph free of charge

Many had a patriotic display of Union Jacks on their cars to mark the sombre ocassion

Some car enthusiasts also turned up to pay their respects and help out

The King laid a wreath at the monument, as did his sister the Princess Royal Princess Anne and his son Prince William, as well as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and eight former PMs.

Meanwhile, Michelle O'Neill is facing a furious backlash across the political divide in Northern Ireland over her decision to become the first Sinn Fein leader to attend a Remembrance Sunday event.

Ms O'Neill will lay a laurel wreath at the Cenotaph in Belfast this morning in her role as First Minister, alongside DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.

Thousands more members of the public lined the streets to mark the occasion, joining in a two-minute silence at 11am and honouring those who served and have survived as well as those who died fighting for their country.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in the Second World War and the 25th anniversary of the end of the war in Kosovo.

It also comes alongside the 75th anniversary of Nato and the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale between the UK and France.

More than 800 sailors, soldiers and aviators were on duty on Remembrance Sunday, representing their services at the Cenotaph and at commemorative services at Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral.

Princess Catherine watched today's Whitehall event from above, on the nearby Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office balcony in central London, alongside Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh.

Inspired by the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal, where red poppy badges are exchanged for charitable donations, these dedicated taxi drivers organise themselves under the 'Poppy Cabs' initiative

People have been massing near the Monument to the Women of World War II in London

The King salutes after laying a wreath at the Cenotaph during the National Service of Remembrance

Wreaths left after the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in London

King Charles, the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal join veterans and dignitaries at the Cenotaph

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh appeared to gently look over towards Kate as she bowed her head in remembrance

Wearing a black, military-style jacket with epaulettes, she could be seen wearing her traditional three poppies as she joined the nation in two minutes of silence.

The touching tribute remembers her great-grandmother's three brothers, who all lost their lives in the First World War. She also wore a silver Queen's Dragoon Guards brooch, a reference to her role as the regiment's Colonel-in-Chief.

The Princess appeared emotional as she quietly closed her eyes in remembrance, bowing her head in respect.

In a touching moment following the ceremony, the Duchess of Edinburgh could be seen laying a tender hand on her shoulder as they left the balcony together.

Last night the Princess of Wales - who has been receiving treatment for cancer - attended the Festival of Remembrance ceremony at London's Royal Albert Hall, alongside her husband William.

The Queen was absent from the Festival and is also due to miss today Cenotaph ceremony to ensure she makes a full recovery from a chest infection, and to protect others from any risk.

In her place, her Equerry Major Oliver Plunkett laid her wreath at the Service of Remembrance.
Long before the announcement last month that Rosa Coplon nursing home would close, leadership at Weinberg Campus had sent multiple letters to the state Health Department that warned of the Amherst nonprofits delicate financial state.

An April 2022 letter to then-state Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett requested emergency funding because Weinberg was running out of cash.

The situation was even more dire when Weinberg leaders followed up in August 2023 with Bassetts successor, Dr. James McDonald.

We need cash immediately or we will not survive, wrote then-Weinberg Board Chair Kenneth Rogers and President and CEO Robert Mayer.

Only 25 residents remained at Rosa Coplon Living Center as of Friday. While those residents await transfers to other nursing homes, a last-second application is in the works for a nonprofit alliance to take over Rosa Coplon, though that bid faces an uphill climb.

In addition, the rest of the campus, which includes assisted-living facilities, senior apartments and other services, faces an uncertain future, with questions around how long the cash-strapped nonprofit can keep going. In fact, Weinbergs mortgage lender on Wednesday sued the campus for $17.2 million plus interest, after the nonprofit failed to make its monthly payments for the last couple of years.

None of this should be a surprise to the Health Department, said Rogers, who resigned last month.

Its not like we werent letting the Health Department know exactly where we were, he told The Buffalo News. It was their choice to help or not help us.

Rogers said he never heard from Bassett or McDonald after sending those letters. So, Rogers was dismayed to read McDonalds comments this month, when the health commissioner said he was putting the blame for Rosa Coplons downfall on Weinbergs board members, most of whom resigned Oct. 21.

Rogers strongly disagrees. He said communication from the Health Department was spotty and noted that McDonald failed to mention the states Medicaid reimbursement rates are inadequate to cover the cost of nursing home care. Those low reimbursement rates and a failed sale of the campus more than two years ago are the primary drivers behind Rosa Coplons collapse, Rogers said.

That was so amazing that he did that and threw us under the bus, Rogers said.

New York health commissioner blasts Weinberg leadership for situation at cash-strapped Rosa Coplon nursing home New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said Weinberg Campus leadership displayed a "lack of rudimentary financial tools," going so far as to imply that Rosa Coplon had no financial budget in place.

In a statement Thursday, the Health Department reiterated its position that Weinberg leaderships inaction led to this point.

Our top priority is ensuring the safety of Rosa Coplon nursing home residents, which is why the State stepped in after the privately operated Weinberg Campus failed to competently manage its finances, the state said. The State remains committed to working with any entity interested in purchase of the Weinberg nursing home with the goal of sustaining these beds in the long term. As this process continues we will ensure the facility operator and administrator continue to carry out a safe and orderly closure.

The Health Department added that it regularly communicates with nursing home administrators and noted that it is the responsibility of the facilitys operator, not the Department, to establish and implement policies regarding the management and operation of the facility.

The Health Department did award about $4.3 million  $2 million in 2023, and nearly $2.3 million this year  in funding to Weinberg through a program geared toward providing financially distressed nursing homes with the short-term relief needed to implement longer-term solutions.

The state-provided funds, however, were only a slice of what Weinberg had requested.

Theyre regulatory in nature  thats how they think, Rogers said. They know how to beat you up, but they dont know how to prevent it from happening. Its just terribly frustrating.

For Weinberg and its closing Rosa Coplon nursing home, it was a nearly decade-long road to get here.

We wanted to sell it

As long ago as late 2015, the Weinberg board knew it was time to offload the campus.

So the board, under Rogers, hired an investment firm to explore its options, including a possible sale of the 100-acre senior living community.

We knew that the campus could not survive on its own, and we wanted to sell it at a point of strength, as opposed to at a point that we have to sell, Rogers said.

By fall 2017, Weinberg found its buyer: Post Acute Partners, the operators of the Elderwood chain of nursing homes.

No deal: $47 million sale of Weinberg Campus to Elderwood operators has been terminated With the agreement off, Weinberg Campus said it plans to retain control over its assets and operations, with no plans to seek another buyer.

But the $47 million deal ran into a series of delays, caused by changes proposed by Post Acute and a slow state approvals process, Rogers and Mayer wrote in their April 5, 2022, letter to Bassett.

During the 4 years the deal was in limbo, Rogers said Weinberg was unable to make operational changes or undergo capital investments.

Seeing no end in sight, Weinbergs board terminated the sale to Post Acute in February 2022.

We had a turnaround plan

With the Post Acute deal dead, Weinberg needed to figure out a path forward.

Cash was getting tight, and Weinbergs operating loss in January 2022 was about $800,000.

But, Weinberg wrote to Bassett in April 2022, the campus had a solid 2-year transformation plan that it believed could result in positive cash flow by the end of 2022. For those efforts, Weinberg had engaged Grassi Healthcare Advisors as an operational consultant and hired a restructuring counsel.

But the plan needed state funding.

In the letter to Bassett, Weinberg requested immediate approval and payment of its Statewide Health Facility Transformation Program grant application submitted in February 2022. The campus needed that money to pay down its mortgage, already in default and accruing interest.

Weinberg also asked Bassett to consider $5 million in emergency funding to avoid a closure plan process.

We are asking to open a dialogue with the New York State Department of Health as soon as possible about what assistance might be available to address our liquidity crisis, Rogers and Mayer wrote to Bassett. To be clear, we want to open up the dialogue with you preemptively in order to avoid any issues related to resident care.

The key facets of Weinbergs turnaround plan included selling off properties unrelated to Rosa Coplon nursing home and the campus assisted-living facilities, developing an on-site hemodialysis clinic so residents wouldnt have to be transported to outpatient centers and opening up beds at Rosa Coplon that were shut down because of staffing constraints. It was even working with a local refugee services program to lease the campus 64-bed Meadows assisted living center.

Weinberg Campus joins Western New York nonprofit alliance of nursing homes Weinberg Campus has joined the Lineage Care Group strategic alliance, which already includes Niagara Lutheran Health System and Schofield Care.

In addition, Weinberg began working with Lineage Care Group to consolidate back-office functions and other administrative services.

We had a long-term plan, Rogers said. We had a turnaround plan. It was very clear and made very clear, but we needed to have it funded to make it work.

No cash left

By Aug. 17, 2023, that turnaround plan had shown the results we promised to New York State, but Weinberg was still facing a liquidity crisis, Rogers and Mayer wrote to McDonald.

Monthly cash losses persisted. And, Rogers and Mayer warned, there was no cash left to pay our current vendors. Vendors applying pressure included food delivery, resident supplies, lab services, billing software and the employee health insurance provider.

We will shortly be cut off from the very basics required by our residents, they wrote.

The state had come through with some funding, though not as much as Weinberg requested. For instance, Weinberg in October 2022 submitted a $3.2 million grant request through the Vital Access Provider Assurance Program as a bridge to a $9 million Vital Access Provider grant application submitted in August 2022.

The state awarded funding of $2 million, rather than the full $3.2 million.

In the letter, Weinberg asked McDonald to consider immediate approval and payment of the remaining $1.2 million. In addition, they requested one of three options: $2 million in emergency funding; funding of its Vital Access Provider grant application ($9 million, or $4.5 million per year for two years); or funding of its newly submitted Vital Access Provider Assurance Program grant application of $4.2 million.

The letter to McDonald ended with a dire warning: It must be understood that if this does not occur, we will have to begin developing a plan of closure.

It all just started snowballing

In Weinbergs second Vital Access Provider Assurance Program application, the state did award about $2.26 million to the campus.

That was half of what we needed, Rogers said.

Before awarding more money, Rogers said the state wanted to see a progress report in February 2024. Rogers said Weinberg sent the report to the state, which in July said it wasnt going to award the balance of the funding request.

Around the same time, a downstate nonprofit submitted a letter of interest to Weinberg to buy the entire campus. But it fell apart over the summer when the downstate buyer couldnt secure financing, Rogers said.

Weinberg Campus nursing home in Amherst to shut down The financially troubled Rosa Coplon nursing home on the Weinberg Campus is shutting down next month, forcing operators to quickly find a new home for 120 residents.

Things worsened from there, as more lawsuits were filed against Weinberg by its vendors, which were no longer willing to wait for payments.

It all just started snowballing, Rogers said.

So, in August, the board created a closure plan for Rosa Coplon, which Rogers said was submitted to the state in early September.

The darkest hour

As he spoke to reporters in downtown Buffalo on Nov. 1, a visibly frustrated McDonald blasted the majority of Weinbergs board for resigning when the campus needed them the most.

During their darkest hour, the board president and the majority of the board members resigned, said McDonald, who added that the Health Department approved Weinbergs plan to close Rosa Coplon to avoid an emergency evacuation of the nursing home if, for instance, the cash-strapped facility ran out of food or no longer had heat.

This was to avoid an emergency transfer of these beautiful people at Rosa Coplon, who, quite frankly, deserve a whole lot better, McDonald said.

Rogers said he took McDonalds comments personally and wished to clarify that the board resigned when it did because the nonprofit at the end of September lost its directors and officers insurance, a type of liability insurance that protects corporate directors and officers if they are sued. By the time every board member, except Mayer, resigned Oct. 21, Rogers said he had already been named in a lawsuit and is now spending out of pocket to defend himself.

As the chair, I wanted to protect the other board members, said Rogers, who noted that Weinberg board members are unpaid.

And, Rogers said, the board only resigned after several years of trying to sell or save the campus.

We stayed around for over two years when we could have shut down, trying to find new solutions, he said.

Rogers also disputed McDonalds claim that Weinbergs leadership displayed a lack of rudimentary financial tools, implying that Rosa Coplon had no financial budget in place.

Rogers said Weinberg didnt have a standard budget this year, because the financial situation had already eroded beyond balancing revenue and expenses. The campus did have budgets in prior years, he said.

Its like changing the vitamin regimen for a patient in hospice care, he said. A budget doesnt help you when youre in that situation. Its all about cash.

While hes no longer board chair, Rogers said the downfall of the campus is personally devastating to me. He hopes all the Rosa Coplon residents are safely situated in the right environment and hes still hoping a last-second deal to save the nursing home is possible, such as via a receivership with Lineage Care.

Im hoping for a miracle, he said.
Parents are being asked how their three-year-old children identify to register them for a place at school.

Local authority admissions forms ask what gender identity primary school aged children have in addition to their sex.

The form asks parents whether their children are man/boy/male, woman/girl/female or whether they would prefer to self describe.

They are then encouraged to give a more detailed description of the gender identity of their child, who would be aged under five if registering for a place at a primary school.

The software comes from an external provider and is used by more than 100 local authorities across the UK, including by councils in London and the North of England, it is understood.

More than 550,000 school place applications were made using the software in 2021. However only parents applying for a primary school place for their children for the next academic year will be confronted by the question after it was recently updated, it is further understood.

Local authority admissions forms ask what  gender identity primary school aged children have in addition to their sex (file image)

The form asks parents whether their children are man/boy/male, woman/girl/female or whether they would prefer to self describe (file image)

One Buckinghamshire mother who was applying for a school place for her three-year-old son shared the question online and said: It has no place on the form with regard to three-year-olds on any level.

She further noted that parents were not asked about potential allergies or other health or behavioural information that may be useful to schools.

Last night Martin Tett, the head of Buckinghamshire Council, admitted that it was totally inappropriate to ask this question of young and said he has asked for it to be removed as swiftly as possible.

His call was echoed by womens rights campaigners who demanded that local authorities immediately ditch these questions or ditch the software.

Caroline Ffiske from Conservatives for Women said: It is staggering and ridiculous that we have reached the point where parents are being asked for their three-year-olds gender identity.

Buckinghamshire Council leader Martin Tett

We must call out the public authorities who enable this, highlighting that they are actively promoting an ideology that results in irreversible harm for vulnerable children and adults.

Meanwhile Maya Forstater, chief executive of human-rights charity Sex Matters, also demanded that the completely inappropriate question be scrapped.

She said: Little children of that age will have only recently begun to properly notice and understand the differences between girls and boys and women and men. Projecting the adult beliefs and concepts of transactivism onto children is not only ludicrous but also harmful.

Many parents will have been shocked by this question and will be concerned about the nonsense that may be taught to their child at school based on the admissions form alone.

Buckinghamshire Council leader Mr Tett said: This form was brought to my attention on Wednesday evening by a concerned parent. I immediately investigated as the council does not want or need a question about gender identity on our school admissions form.

It was added by the software provider not ourselves, and this form is also used by other councils. It is totally inappropriate to ask this question of young children and I have instructed that it is removed as swiftly as possible.

Until then parents are free to ignore this question - it is currently shown as optional on the form and ignoring it will not interrupt the important process of applying for their childs school place.

We have no need or desire to collect this information and apologise for any distress this may have caused for families encountering this question.
Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Vladimir Putin on Thursday in their first phone call since the Republican won the presidency, according to a report.

Trump advised Putin not to escalate the war in Ukraine and reminded him of 'Washington's sizeable military presence in Europe', according to the Washington Post.

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.

Trump had also spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday, according to media reports.

On Friday, the Kremlin said Putin was ready to discuss Ukraine with Trump but that did not mean that he was willing to alter Moscow's demands.

Trump advised Putin not to escalate the war in Ukraine and reminded him of 'Washington's sizeable military presence in Europe', according to the Washington Post

Russia's President Vladimir Putin delivers a video address on the occasion of the Day of the Internal Affairs Officer in Moscow on November 10

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.

Ukraine rejected that, saying it would be tantamount to capitulation, and Zelensky has put forward a 'victory plan' that includes requests for additional military support from the West.

Trump's call with the Putin comes one day after Republican strategist Bryan Lanza said the incoming president had 'vision for peace' for Ukraine but not a 'winning' outlook for the country at war with Russia.

'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,' Lanza told the BBC.

'What we're going to say to Ukraine is, you know what you see? What do you see as a realistic vision for peace?

Putin previously congratulated the 'courageous' candidate over the phone on November 7

'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.'

Sunday's call between the two leaders isn't the first the two had since Trump won the 2024 election.

Putin congratulated the 'courageous' candidate over the phone on November 7.

At the time, the Russian president said he was 'ready' to hold discussions with Trump, whom he said handled himself 'like a man' during the assassination attempt earlier this year.

'I take this opportunity to congratulate him,' Putin told the Valdai forum in Sochi.

The Russian President was impressed with how Trump handled himself saying 'he turned out to be a courageous person'.

'People show who they are in extraordinary circumstances,' Putin said.

'This is where a person reveals himself. And he showed himself, in my opinion, in a very correct manner, courageously. Like a man.'
A celebrity architect has been rapped by a professional body over a botched renovation project.

Danny Campbell, who judges on Scotlands Home of the Year, was found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct after mishandling the project in Giffnock, Renfrewshire, in 2021.

The Architect Registration Board have reprimanded the 34-year-old for mistakes they said had a significant impact.

His Hoko Design firm was appointed contract administrator for a familys home renovation project, while his other company Hoko Build was made contractor for the works with no compensation cover for delays.

The Architect Registration Board have probed the matter, and this month ruled Mr Campbell failed to appropriately manage a conflict of interest, and he did not supervise staff adequately.

Danny Campbell, left, is one of the judges on Scotlands Home of the Year

In November 2020 Jonathan Rennie, known as the referrer, wanted to develop a property and following an online search contacted Hoko Design.

Then search for a contractor began, and the boards finding said: The referrer was advised ... that Hoko Design worked well with building contractors Hoko Build Ltd as they were in-house.

The referrer did not have a contractor in mind for the project and states that he did not understand the concept of a conflict of interest arising between Hoko Design and Hoko Build if they both were involved in the project.

[Mr Campbell] is the majority shareholder and a director of both companies.

Concerns had been raised about the liquidated damages clause in the building contract was set at zero, but a worker provided them with assurances that these arrangements were usual and the contracts were signed notwithstanding having some reservations.

At this point the start time had already slipped from September to October 2021, the board said, and Mr Rennie felt under pressure to start as soon as possible so work could be completed by November.

It said: The referrer had expected to be in alternative accommodation for approximately four weeks and needed to move back into the property at the start of November 2021.

Mr Campbell was rapped by a professional body over a renovation project

Scotland's Home of the Year showcases some of the most beautiful homes in the country

But, once the project started, it soon fell behind schedule and the end date moved back several weeks causing the Referrer and his family to seek further alternative accommodation with friends and family.

At meeting with Mr Campbell in January 2022 at the property, the family realised he could not be acting in his best interests whilst also acting for Hoko Build.

In March that year the relationship broke down, and the contract was terminated.

The board found: The impact of the referrer and his family was significant.

Mr Campbell is a judge on the BBCs Scotlands Home of the Year, which sees property experts travel across the country and rate homes based on their design.

Becoming a host of the programme last year, he judges alongside Banjo Beale and Anna Campbell Jones.

Mr Campbell has since closed Hoko Build.

Mr Campbell is a judge on the BBCs Scotlands Home of the Year, which sees property experts travel across the country and rate homes based on their design

The board found the blunder arose through a mixture of naivety, inexperience and an absence of more experienced figures that might have curtailed [Mr Campbells] obvious enthusiasm.

They said he misunderstood his regulatory obligations and, by own admission, failed to identify the risk of a potential conflict of interest arising by virtue of the two firms relationship.

But the board said it was satisfied that this case is at a lower level of seriousness as compared to a range of cases that amount to unacceptable professional conduct, there was no finding of a lack of integrity and it was not a wilful disregard of regulatory obligations but was an error from an architect at the start of his career.

Mr Campbell told the Sunday Mail: While it was not a project I was involved in directly, I take full responsibility as the owner of the company.

It is important to understand the oversight came within a growing organisation of 37 staff members managing multiple projects with numerous employed architects, during a period marked by the pandemics significant project backlog and challenges in securing tradespeople.

Hoko Build ceased trading some years ago. We have scaled back our operations and Hoko Design is now the sole entity of the business.

We now fully outsource building on every project.
Heroic street market traders wrestled a suspected knifeman to the ground this morning after one man was stabbed to death and two others were injured.

Police arrested a suspect in his 60s after the incident at a street market in Walworth, south London, at around 10.30am.

Two people - a man and a woman - were taken to hospital while another man died at the scene.

Local shop worker Wasim Hussain said brave market traders wrestled the suspect to the ground and waited for police to arrive who arrested him.

He told The Sun: 'They just put him down, and they waited for the police.

'It was the general public - they work in the market, most of them.'

Meanwhile, traumatised witnesses at the market recounted the shocking ordeal, with one describing the unexpected incident as 'frightening'.

Officers were called at about 10.40am on Sunday to reports of people being stabbed

Police are investigating after the triple stabbing in East Street in Walworth, south London

Poilice and forensics officers have been on the scene in Walworth, south London

This morning's triple stabbings happened by a street market in south London

Police have arrested a suspect in his 60s after the incident at a street market in Walworth this morning at around 10.30am

Police say no one else is currently being south in connection with the attacks

They told MyLondon: 'When I arrived, the cordon was already in place, and everyone who visits the market regularly, including my partner and me, couldn't believe what had happened.

'It's a very busy market, especially on weekends. I know stabbings happen every day in London but experiencing it close to home is frightening.'

A father said he worries for the safety of his children after witnessing the aftermath of the stabbing.

Siraj, 46, who lives locally and did not wish to give her surname, was walking through East Street Market when he saw police cars and ambulances going past.

He followed them and found two injured people lying on the ground in the market.

'It was terrifying,' he said, adding he felt lucky the victims were not him or his children.

He added that the area had 'always been safe', but now he was worried.

'I feel unsafe to send my kids to school now,' he said.

Commander Peter Stevens, from the Metropolitan Police, said: 'Tragically, a man lost his life this morning, and officers are working hard to establish exactly what happened and to provide support to his family.

'My thoughts and sincere sympathies are with them, and with the other people injured.

Two people suffering wounds were taken to hospital while a third died at the scene

Commander Peter Stevens, from the Metropolitan Police, said: 'Tragically, a man lost his life this morning, and officers are working hard to establish exactly what happened'

Police investigating the stabbings in Walworth say it is not being treated as terrorism

Police at the scene in East Street, Walworth following the fatal stabbing this morning

Officers were called at around 10.40am on Sunday with reports of a number of people stabbed

Police at the scene in East Street following the fatal stabbing in south London today

The market area was cordoned off following the stabbing this morning, which took the life of one man

Three people were found with injuries, and one man died at the scene of the stabbing

Police and emergency services at the market after the stabbing in Walworth, south London

Two people - a man and a woman - were taken to hospital while another man died at the scene

Forensic officers at the scene in East Street, Walworth, south London, following the tragedy

'Our investigation is at a very early stage. One man was rapidly arrested by officers responding to the incident. At present, although enquiries are ongoing, nobody else is sought.

'The incident is not being treated as terrorism. Enquiries continue, led by dedicated detectives from Specialist Crime.

'I want to thank those people who have already shared their accounts of what they saw with police. I urge anyone with information or footage, or any witnesses yet to speak with police, to get in touch.'

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: 'We were called today at 10.39am to reports of a stabbing in East Street, SE17.

'We sent resources to the scene including ambulance crews, members of our tactical response unit, an advanced paramedic, an incident response officer, and London's air ambulance.

'We treated three people and took two of them to a London Major trauma centre. Sadly, despite our best efforts, one person was pronounced dead at the scene.'

Anyone with information or any witnesses are asked to call 101 or message @MetCC on X quoting reference 2690/10nov. To remain anonymous, please contact Crimestoppers.
All HECS debts would be wiped for university students under a multibillion-dollar proposal outlined by the Greens.

As the federal government outlined its plans to cut student debt by 20 per cent should it win the next election, the Greens have promised to go a step further and forgive all student debt.

The proposal, being unveiled on Monday, would cost more than $54 billion over the next four years and $74 billion over the decade, according to modelling carried out by the Parliamentary Budget Office.

Modelling had showed university students would save $5500 a year without having to pay back HECS debt under the policy.

Greens higher education spokeswoman Mehreen Faruqi said the measure would provide greater cost-of-living relief.

'Wiping student debt will put money back in the pockets of people who desperately need it to make ends meet, pay rent or save for a deposit for their first home,' she said.

'With everything from rents to grocery bills through the roof, wiping all student debt will make a real, tangible difference to so many people doing it tough.'

It comes as the Greens earlier in November urged the government to lock in its 20 per cent reduction of HECS debt before the end of the year.

Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi: wiping student debt will make a tangible difference to many

As the federal government outlined its plans to cut student debt by 20 per cent should it win the next election, the Greens have promised to go a step further and forgive all student debt

While Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government's measures would only come into effect if it wins the next election, due to be held by May, Greens leader Adam Bandt said there was support for the policy to come into effect sooner.

The government policy would affect $16 billion of student debt, with those with an average HECS bill of $27,600 to have it reduced by $5500.

But Senator Faruqi said the 20 per cent cut needed to go further.

'Student debt can't be fixed because student debt shouldn't exist. All student debt should be wiped,' she said.

'If Anthony Albanese can go to uni for free, so should everyone else.'

The Greens said the total debt scrapping would be a key issue on the table for negotiations in a hung parliament, with polls showing a minority government likely in the next term.
A company is offering a four-year-long cruise for customers looking to escape the upcoming Donald Trump presidency.

Villa Vie Residences, based in Florida, announced the new 'Skip Forward' excursions this past Thursday - hours after Trump's second stint in office was solidified with an electoral win.

Aside from spanning years, the journey will take ticketholders to all seven continents - with an Antarctic sail-by and an eight day trip down the Amazon River.

If four years seems a bit too long, the company also offers one-, two-, and three-year packages - distinguished by names like 'Escape from Reality' and 'Everywhere but Home'.

The two-year option is bitingly billed as the 'Mid-Term Selection' package - a reference to how, by then, the citizens who will be casting ballots for their states' governor, seats in the House, and the Senate. Tickets start at around $40,000 a year, with price fluctuations based on occupancy and length of voyage.

Villa Vie Residences, based in Florida, announced the new 'Skip Forward' excursions this past Thursday. The boat carrying passengers the distance, fittingly billed as the Odyssey, is seen here. It's currently off the east coast of South America

The new offers emerged hours after President-elect Donald Trump's win over Kamala Harris

'A perfect Circumnavigation is different for every resident as we pick up new adventurers along the way in every port' said Mikael Petterson, Chief Executive Officer of Villa Vie.

'With over 425 ports across 140 countries, each circumnavigation presents an unprecedented opportunity to discover the world from their floating home with ever-changing backyards,' the company added in an accompanying press release.

Residents setting out on the all-inclusive voyage will also have the ability to start their journey at any port pegged as a stop on the lengthy adventure, organizers stated - adding how the price of your ticket also includes food and drinks.

A fitness center and spa also awaits those willing to partake - though expect to pay a premium for such a journey, whether it be one of four full years.

For the latter, all-inclusive tickets start at $255,999 - with that granting you just a single-occupancy room.

For couples and those simply traveling in pairs, a double is more expensive, the company said - revealing how that will cost prospective passengers just under $320,000, or the price of a home.

The more moderate 'Midterm Selection' package, meanwhile, will still run you $150,399 for a single, they said - while advertising a two-year-trip for two that costs $187,998.

The one-year 'Escape from Reality' option starts at $79,999, while the least you'll pay for the three-year 'Everywhere but Home' will cost $207,999.

A fitness center and spa also awaits those willing to partake - though expect to pay a premium for such a journey

Residents setting out on the all-inclusive voyage will also have the ability to start their journey at any port pegged as a stop on the lengthy adventure, organizers stated - adding how the price of your ticket also includes food and drinks

Expect to pay a premium for such a journey, whether it be one of four full years. The deck of the 642-long vessel is seen here

For the latter, all-inclusive tickets start at $255,999 - with that granting you just a single-occupancy room (seen here. For couples and those simply traveling in pairs, a double is more expensive - and will cost prospective passengers just under $320,000

The 642-foot long vessel that will ferry those willing to pay such a price, meanwhile, has already set sail - already embarking on a planned three-and-a-half year trip this past September

The 642-foot long vessel that will ferry those willing to pay such a price, meanwhile, has already set sail - already embarking on a planned three-and-a-half year trip this past September.

The voyage began after the aging cruiser reportedly ran into mechanical and certification issues in months before, leaving it moored in Belfast for four months.

In the weeks since, however, passengers already aboard have discussed how they've been 'very impressed' with the vessel despite some delays, according to a recent Business Insider report that also cast a light on some not-so-happy customers.

A pair of buyers for the 3.5-year trip - Bonny Kelter, 66, and 69-year-old Jenny Phenix - were booted from the boat in September because of 'continuous complaints and negativity,' cruise company correspondence reviewed by Business Insider claimed.

'They didn't just complain, they outright threatened with media unless they get what they want,' Petterson, the founder of the firm, told the website in an email.

'At the end of the day, we have the same option as anyone of doing business with people or not.'

Both women went on to deny having threatened the company to go to the media - that is, only until after their contracts were terminated.

After they were, both did so, with Kelter adding how she is now considering legal action.

Passengers who buy in will be met with an air of 'flexibility' once onboard, a Villa Vie Residences spokesperson said - touting the journey as a means to not only escape 'traffic jams [and] the monotony of city life' but 'politics' as well. Tickets are already available

Meanwhile, the more-than-30-year-old vessel is seemingly ready for more, with tickets available immediately.

'The onboard experience features the comforts of home, along with amenities most discerning travelers expect, creating a harmonious blend of convenience and wanderlust fulfillment,' organizers said Wednesday.

Passengers who buy in will be met with an air of 'flexibility' once onboard, a Villa Vie Residences spokesperson said - touting the journey as a means to not only escape 'traffic jams [and] the monotony of city life' but 'politics' as well.

Currently, the boat is sailing along the South America East Coast, with its next stop being Barbados.
Friends of a schoolgirl who died after being hit by a falling tree branch 'screamed for help' as they tried to save her life.

The child, who has been named locally as Brooke, was knocked down by the heavy branches in Grove Place near the junction with Carshalton Road, Banstead at around 4pm on Saturday, November 9.

Residents from a nearby traveller estate attempted to shift the tree and perform CPR, but the youngster had 'already gone', witnesses said.

Brooke had been walking along the grassy footpath - which connects the popular Lavender Fields Farm with the town of Coulsdon - with her mates when the tragic incident took place.

Before her body could be freed using specialist equipment, it is believed she spent between 90 minutes and two hours stuck underneath the branches.

The child, who has been named locally as Brooke, was knocked down by the heavy branches in Grove Place near the junction with Carshalton Road, Banstead (pictured: the fallen tree branches)

Police continue to keep the footpath closed as officers collect evidence at the scene

One passerby told The Sun: 'Moments before I saw them walking down the path, and then I heard screams.

'One of her friends shouted, 'My friend has been crushed. Please help me'.'

People have since taken to social media to pay tribute to young Brooke, with her cousin describing her as 'one of a kind'.

They wrote: 'You don't deserve this. You had your whole life ahead of you.

'You were one of a kind and you would never hurt a soul.'

Another post said: 'This girl had a heart of gold, she didn't deserve half the stuff she went through.'

While a third added: 'I love you so much, you will never be forgotten, you will always be my best friend.

'I can't believe you're gone, I will miss you forever. I'm so sorry I didn't come see you sooner. I love you girl.'

Police continue to keep the footpath closed as officers collect evidence at the scene.

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.'

Police rushed to the area after the youngster, said locally to be a 12-year-old girl, was fatally injured

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.'
Boris Johnson clashed with the King over the issue of slavery, fearing he had been captured by 'woke ideology', a new book reveals.

The former PM 'went in quite hard' on Charles, who was the Prince of Wales at the time, after he said he wanted to 'acknowledge the evils' of colonialism.

It came after Charles had described the Tory governments plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda as appalling, according to political journalist Tim Shipman

In his account of Brexit  Out  he revealed Charles feared the policy would create tension at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in the Rwanda capital of Kigali.

When the pair met at the summit, Mr Johnson privately took Charles to one side to complain about him 'sh**bagging' the policy, the book says.

Boris Johnson meeting the King at the National Memorial Arboretum in Airewas, Staffordshire. The former PM told an aide he 'went in quite hard' on Charles, who said he wanted to 'acknowledge the evils' of colonialism

The King at a reception to celebrate the Commonwealth Diaspora of the United Kingdom in London. The monarch reportedly clashed over with Mr Johnson issues of slavery and reparations, a new book has revealed

'Did you actually criticise government policy?' he asked.

'Mr Johnson reportedly told an aide that Charles replied: 'Well maybe, inadvertently, without intention I may have said something',' Mr Shipman wrote.

The pair then reportedly clashed over the issues of slavery and reparations, with Charles saying he wanted to make a statement.

'Charles revealed that he wanted to respond to the widespread fury about colonialism unleashed by the Black Lives Matter campaign, by acknowledging the evils of slavery,' the book reveals.

'Johnson, despairing that even the monarchy had been captured by 'woke' ideology, was blunt: 'I wouldn't talk about slavery if I were you, or you'll end up having to sell the Duchy of Cornwall to pay reparations to the people who built the Duchy of Cornwall'.'

Mr Johnson then told his director of communications, Guto Harri: 'I went in pretty hard.'

The former PM arriving with his wife Carrie in the Rwandan capital Kigali in June 2022. The King voiced concerns the Rwanda policy would create tension at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in the city

Mr Johnson released his own explosive memoir, Unleashed, last month

Nevertheless, Charles told the meeting: 'I cannot describe the depth of my personal sorrow at the suffering of so many as I continue to deepen my own understanding of slavery's enduring impact.'

Mr Harri added to Mr Shipman: 'I don't think relations ever fully recovered.'

Charles had also made plain his fury about Mr Johnson proroguing Parliament in an attempt to deliver Brexit.

He sought and was granted permission to go ahead by the Queen despite the concerns of some officials. The Supreme Court later ruled Mr Johnson's prorogation unlawful.

The book reported: 'Charles was absolutely furious,' a royal insider said. 'He was outraged that Boris should treat the Queen like that. She wouldn't ever say anything, but he was pretty robust in private.'
More than 100,000 farms could be hit by Labours changes to inheritance tax, the Tories claimed on Sunday.

Owners of an average-sized farm would effectively have to work for two years for free to meet the bill of 140,000, they say.

According to official government estimates, almost half of farms in England (49 per cent) are worth over 1.5 million.

Their analysis found that 102,041 of the 209,000 farm holdings in England could be subject to changes to inheritance tax.

An average farm is worth 2.2million, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and so would face a typical inheritance tax bill of 140,000.

Over 100,000 farms could be hit by Labour's changes to inheritance tax, the Conservatives have claimed

Rachel Reeves announced in her Budget that farms worth over 1million would be liable for inheritance tax at 20 per cent

Farmers protesting against the government's proposals outside the Northern Farming Conference in Hexham, Northumberland on November 6

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced changes to inheritance tax at the Budget that will mean farms worth more than 1million will be liable for the charge of 20 per cent.

She has argued that it will only affect a handful of farms worth more than 3million once other allowances have been used, but these figures have been widely challenged.

The National Farmers Union (NFU) said the Governments own figures suggest two-thirds of businesses could be hit.

Farmers have reacted in fury to the plans, threatening militant action and warning that they could be forced out of business.

They also raised fears it could further fuel a mental health crisis in the community a day after it emerged that farmer John Charlesworth took his own life in fear of the inheritance tax raid.

There are 209,000 farm holdings in the UK over 17 million hectares of land, which is 70 per cent of the UK land total and the average UK farm size is 82 hectares.

The analysis found that up to 102,410 farms in England could now be subject to inheritance tax within a generation.

It came amid warnings that farmers could blockade ports or cause food shortages by refusing to supply their produce over the increases in tax.

They are considering tractor go-slows and a strike on spreading sewage sludge on their land if the Government does not reconsider, Sky reported.

Clive Bailye, the founder of The Farming Forum, said these measures were being considered by some hardcore groups.

The arable farmer from Staffordshire, said he does not support such action himself and is trying to calm the situation ahead of a rally in London later this month.

There are fears fresh protests or blockades could bring vital parts of the UK's food industry to a standstill

Farmers demonstrated in London in March over food security fears - and it is feared they could do so again

The mass lobby, organised by the National Farmers Union (NFU), will consist of hundreds of farmers descending on Westminster on November 19.

Plans for a major rally involving tractors driving around Parliament Square opposite the Houses of Parliament were abandoned due to legal issues.

A Labour spokesman said: This is scaremongering nonsense from the Conservatives who left farmers confidence at record lows when they left office.

Less than 500 claims each year will be impacted and farm-owning couples can pass on up to 3m without paying any inheritance tax.

Our new Labour Government recognises that food security is national security. That is why we are investing 5 billion into farming over the next two years.
Anyone with information is urged to contact police

A desperate search has been launched for a heavily pregnant 15-year-old girl who went missing in Victoria.

Kira Karvountzis was last seen in Drouin, a town in the West Gippsland region of Victoria about 90km east of Melbourne, on November 5.

Police and family have concerns for her welfare as she is almost seven months pregnant.

Polie have launched a desperate search for 15-year-old Kira Karvountzis (pictured) who is almost seven months pregnant

Kira, who is from Footscray, is believed to be headed towards NSW and may be travelling with a man who is known to her.

'Police are concerned due to her age, the fact that she's significantly pregnant and the potential for exploitation,' First Constable Callum Scott said.

She is described as being about 160cm tall, with a medium build and long dark hair.

Anyone with information about Kira's whereabouts is urged to contact Footscray Police Station on (03) 8398 9800.
Labour faced an angry backlash last night after a minister admitted a vital boost to the military may not be delivered within five years.

A Treasury minister refused to confirm that the Government will raise defence funding to 2.5 per cent of GDP by the end of the current Parliament.

Darren Jones also suggested that spending on the over-stretched Armed Forces may lead to 'trade-offs' in other public services.

His comments came despite Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin warning that Britain needs to 'strengthen our Armed Forces' in a 'more dangerous world'.

Last night former top brass and senior Tories said the spending increase  called for by the Mail's Don't Leave Britain Defenceless campaign  was urgently needed.

The row on Remembrance Sunday came as Sir Keir Starmer prepares to discuss with France's president the future direction of the war in Ukraine in the light of Donald Trump's return to the White House.

The row on Remembrance Sunday came as Sir Keir Starmer (pictured) prepares to discuss the future direction of the war in Ukraine with France 's president

Darren Jones (pictured on Sunday) refused to confirm that the Government will raise defence funding to 2.5 per cent of GDP by the end of the current Parliament

Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin has warned that Britain needs to 'strengthen our Armed Forces' in a 'more dangerous world'

Lord West, former First Sea Lord and a security minister under the previous Labour government, said: 'There is no doubt whatsoever that the UK needs to spend more money on defence'

The Prime Minister will hold talks with Emmanuel Macron today as he becomes the first UK leader since Winston Churchill to mark Armistice Day in Paris.

Former head of the Army Lord Dannatt told the Mail: 'With Trump resuming the presidency in the US, the UK Government would be well advised to commit to 2.5 per cent on defence by a definite date, well before 2029, as soon as possible.

'Not to do so is a surefire way of getting on the wrong side of Trump. In any event, it is the right thing to do.'

Lord West, former First Sea Lord and a security minister under the previous Labour government, said: 'There is no doubt whatsoever that the UK needs to spend more money on defence  it is well accepted. If we need to spend it, then we need to spend it now.

'They've decided they're not going to put more money into defence at the moment because they want to balance the books.

'It seems extraordinary to me  why don't they just admit defence and security of our nation is not the highest priority?'

Rear Admiral Chris Parry, who worked on the 1998 strategic defence review, said the 2.5 per cent target needed to be reached 'tomorrow', adding: 'We should start buying ammunition and missiles to send a very clear signal that we're serious. We've got to make a statement.'

And Tory defence spokesman James Cartlidge said: 'Labour must urgently give us a firm deadline for reaching 2.5 per cent to ensure our future national security is maintained.'

Britain is on course to spend 57 billion on defence in the current financial year, equivalent to 2.3 per cent of GDP.

Rachel Reeves (C) operates a drone with Defence Secretary John Healey at the Stanford Training Area near Thetford on October 20

Britain is on course to spend 57 billion on defence in the current financial year, equivalent to 2.3 per cent of GDP

Second batch of 120m F-35 stealth fighter jets fly across Atlantic to join new RAF Dambusters squadron

This is above the 2 per cent minimum set for Nato members but no longer considered sufficient given the threats facing the West and the depleted state of the forces' stockpiles.

Ahead of the election, the Tories pledged to increase military spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030, reaching an estimated 87 billion that year. By contrast, Labour refused to put a date by which the new benchmark would be reached.

Mr Jones told the BBC yesterday: 'We didn't set a date in the manifesto for two reasons. The first is that we needed to conduct a strategic defence review, which is happening at the moment, and will report in the spring.

And the second is because, of course, with all spending decisions, it has to be subject to wider fiscal considerations.'

Asked if Labour would commit to keeping its promise by the end of the current Parliament in 2029, he replied: 'I'm not going to give you a date today because it relies on the outcome of the strategic defence review.'

Told that he could commit to a point by which the promise would be met, Mr Jones said: 'No, because it would be a half-informed answer.'

Asked by Sky News if defence spending will be dependent on growth figures, he said: 'Defending the country is a non-negotiable. That is not a trade-off. The trade-off is then with other areas of public spending.'

Sir Tony told Sky News: 'We're in a more dangerous world. That means we need to strengthen our Armed Forces.'
President Joe Biden was spotted battling with the sand near his home in Delaware over the weekend as First Lady Jill Biden was slammed for not helping him.

The 81-year-old was seen struggling to make his way down Gordons Pond Trail in Rehoboth Beach near his home on Sunday as he took a walk.

Biden nearly faceplanted as he shuffled nervously over the hazardous terrain and appeared to nearly lose his footing completely, while his wife remained surefooted.

Reporters near by who recorded the scene could be heard gasping as he stumbled down the sands, seemingly anticipating that he was going to fall.

Social media users have since criticized Jill Biden for seemingly not offering her husband a helping hand.

The 81-year-old was seen struggling to make his way down Gordons Pond Trail in Rehoboth Beach near his home on Sunday as he took a walk

Biden shuffled nervously over the hazardous terrain and appeared to nearly lose his footing completely, while his wife remained surefooted

One person posted: 'Wouldn't you think Jill could hold her husband's hand or grab his arm for safety's sake?'

Another added: 'Thats just pathetic. Jill just doesnt even care hes about to eat sand at any moment.'

Someone else commented: 'I would be ashamed of myself if this was my dad or husband and I didn't just held is hand to help him out.

'Everyone knows he is old and needs help, it's nothing to be ashamed of. Just help the guy.'

It comes after Biden announced that he would host President-elect Donald Trump in the White House on Wednesday.

Their encounter will be the first time the two have met since Biden's disastrous debate performance in June which saw him bow out of the election.

Such a meeting is traditional between the outgoing and incoming presidents, but Trump did not host his successor following the 2020 election.

Biden said on Wednesday that he had spoken with Trump to congratulate him and 'expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition'.

When asked over the weekend if Trump was a threat to democracy, Biden told reporters: 'I'm going to see him on Wednesday'.

Social media users have since hit out at Jill Biden for seemingly not offering her husband a helping hand

Biden also called Kamala Harris after her election defeat, and reportedly congratulated her on a 'historic campaign'

Biden also called Kamala Harris after her election defeat, and reportedly congratulated her on a 'historic campaign.'

When Biden emerged from the White House to acknowledge Trump's landslide win, many noted how he appeared with a large smile and was seemingly at ease despite the defeat.

In his address, he promised to work with Donald Trump to secure a peaceful transition and urged the country to come together an as he broke his silence on the election.

'I will do my duty as president. I'll fulfill my oath, and I will honor the Constitution. On January 20, we'll have a peaceful transfer of power here in America,' Biden said.

His display on the sand comes after Biden was forced to drop out of the election race over questions about his cognitive abilities.

The president has been left bitter after democratic kingmaker Nancy Pelosi helped orchestrate his campaign cancellation in mid-July.

Pelosi twisted the knife even further earlier this week by suggesting that Democrats should have gotten the opportunity to pick another candidate.

Biden gestures as he walks on the beach at Gordons Pond in Rehoth Beach, Delaware, on November 10

She said that had Biden dropped out earlier, the party she has led for decades would have had time to weigh up its options.

Civil war has since broke out against Biden and Harris' teams for squandering $1 billion in donor cash on their campaign.

Democrats have been in disarray over how their sizable war chest was not able to ward off Trump, who spent a fraction of what they did.

Harris aides are saying it was Biden's debate performance that led to the loss, while Biden staffers say the veep ran a terrible campaign.

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.
A grandmother killed in a horror crash involving a car allegedly stolen by a teenager at gun point has been remembered for her kindness and devotion to her family.

Rosemary Franzidis, 69, died after a high-impact collision at an intersection north of Brisbane.

A 16-year-old boy has been charged with manslaughter after being accused of stealing an Audi at gun point and crashing into Ms Franzidis' Toyota at Murrumba Downs on Thursday morning.

Her family said Ms Franzidis would be sorely missed by her husband of almost 50 years, her three daughters and 'three beautiful grandchildren'.

The 69-year-old would be fondly remembered by friends and family in South Africa, the UK, Australia and the US, the family said.

'Rosemary Franzidis was a much-loved wife, mother, and grandmother, who cherished her family more than anything in the world,' a family statement said.

'A woman of strong faith, she had many church friends who will remember her fondly.

'Everybody who met Rose felt her love, kindness and generosity.'

Floral tributes have been laid at the crash scene, with bouquets attached to a fence near the Murrumba Downs intersection.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli also paid tribute, vowing to ensure tough laws for youth crime would be in place by Christmas.

Rosemary Franzidis, 69, died after a high-impact collision with a 16-year-old in an allegedly stolen Audi at Murrumba Downs, north of Brisbane, on Thursday

A 16-year-old boy has been charged with manslaughter after being accused of stealing an Audi at gun point and crashing into Ms Franzidis' Toyota at Murrumba Downs on Thursday morning

Mr Crisafulli had campaigned hard on youth crime before winning the state election on October 26.

His Liberal National Party government on Friday said it had instructed the Department of Justice to begin drafting the Making Queensland Safer Laws to be introduced to parliament later in November.

They include 'adult crime, adult time' laws and removing detention as a last resort for juvenile offenders.

The premier said while the fatal crash investigation was in its early stages, news of what had unfolded would be 'harrowing' for Queenslanders.

'A family is coming to terms with the loss of a loved one and the thoughts and prayers of an entire state are with them - they are owed answers,' he said in a statement.

Opposition Leader and Murrumba MP Steven Miles said his community was hurting over the 'terrible incident', offering his support to the victim's family before taking aim at the premier.

'We've already seen David Crisafulli rush to politicise this tragedy. I won't be doing that but this has affected my local community,' Mr Miles said.

Ms Franzidis was trapped in the Toyota and died at the scene despite paramedics' attempts to resuscitate her.

The Audi also allegedly hit an unmarked police vehicle at the intersection, hospitalising two officers who were later released.

Police said a firearm was found in the Audi.

The 16-year-old was taken to hospital and placed under police guard.

He was later charged with manslaughter, armed robbery and unlawful use of a motor vehicle as well as two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm.

He was due to appear in Brisbane Children's Court on Friday.
Britons are set to enjoy a return to sunshine and blue skies on Remembrance Day after enduring two weeks of gloomy weather.

The 'anticyclonic gloom' which has left some places in the UK with virtually no sunshine is finally set to pass this week.

As dramatic weather events have wreaked havoc on countries across the world, Britons have endured a windless, rainless, sunless murk for several days.

Forecasters have dubbed the conditions 'anticyclonic gloom' and the Met Office said people living in the south of England have experienced an average of one hour of sunshine this month.

But in a forecast that will be welcomed by Vitamin D deficient Brits, the Met Office has said most of the country will enjoy sunshine and blue skies on Monday, which is Armistice Day.

Britons are set to enjoy a return to sunshine and blue skies on Remembrance Day after enduring two weeks of gloomy weather. Pictured: People enjoy the sunshine in London in May

Britain has been gripped by an 'anticyclonic gloom' for several days. Pictured: The City of London engulfed in a fog

There will be sunshine and clear skies over most of the UK on Monday, with temperatures reaching 14C and 15C in some areas, according to the Met Office

Met Office meteorologist Ellie Glaisyer said: 'After a gloomy and grey start to November, there is some sunshine on the way as we see high pressure redeveloping across the UK into the new working week.'

She added: 'It will be quite a chilly start, particularly for the northern half of the UK, under those clear skies, temperatures dropping into low single figures, perhaps even some frost in places.'

But Ms Glaisyer said the south west and southern coast of England will have a milder start to Monday.

'Plenty of sunshine on offer and plenty of blue skies in store as well,' she added.

Eastern parts of England could be subjected to one or two isolated showers, but these will be scattered.

The Met Office says that temperatures will generally be average for the time of the year, around 11C to 12C in the south and 10C to 11C in the north.

However, some parts of the UK such as Plymouth will soar to as high as 14C on Monday.

Sunny spells are also set to continue on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday following the gloomy period.

Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon revealed earlier this week that the 'atmospheric gloom' is when 'high pressure traps a layer of moisture near to the earth's surface and that brings a prolonged period of dull and cloudy weather, but with pockets of mist and fog as well'.

Sunny spells are also set to continue on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday following the gloomy period. Pictured: Brits enjoying the sun in Wimbledon back in June

A house in the Oxfordshire village of Dunsden next to fields under the gloom on November 6

Gloomy weather in London on November 1, as a view of the Canary Wharf skyline can be seen

A pedestrian walks through misty weather in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, on October 31

People look out from the viewing platform of Horizon 22 in Bishopsgate, London, as the sky is rendered grey by the gloom

He said: 'We've been locked into this weather pattern for a few days now and we've got a bit more of it to come. However, there is a change on the way, with brighter skies early next week.'

Mr Dixon said the 'atmospheric gloom' is 'unusual but not unheard of', but has meant that the UK has so-far had only 5% of the average sunshine expected for the month of November, compared with the 23% expected at this stage in the month.

ITV weather presenter Becky Mantin said early November's stagnant weather was 'creating a staggering lack of sunshine'.

She said: 'For some, there has been no respite at all - Odiham in Hampshire has recorded zero minutes of sunshine so far this November.

'Wales takes the unenviable second place spot with an average of just 12 minutes! Forty eight minutes recorded in Northern Ireland and only a touch more in southern England with 54 minutes.'
Melbourne likes to hide behind the idea it's smarter than the rest of Australia.

Cultured and classy with a love of fine dining, better coffee and a thriving music scene, it has long scoffed at other Australian cities it felt was beneath it.

For seven years, from 2011 to 2017, it was even named the world's 'most liveable city', based on healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.

Then came Covid-19 and with it the world's focus on what had become a city stuck in the planet's longest lockdown.

The pandemic ended what many Melburnians loved about their own city and now the gaping chasm in its facade lays raw and open for all to see.

Today, the city is grappling with youth violence, firebombings and the shocking murders of women.

The populace has lost faith and trust in both its police force and politicians.

Down on the streets there remains what many older residents will argue has been a problem nearly as old as them: drugs.

Drug addicts shoot up in public in St Kilda. They do it without care for who is walking past them

A woman drags on a smoke while sprawled along the footpath as ordinary Melburnians go about their business

Heroin reached epidemic proportions on the streets of Melbourne during the 1990s.

Teens venturing along Victoria Street in Richmond back then, or through the alleys of Collingwood to Victoria Park, will remember the shock of seeing needles discarded like cigarette butts.

Police officers who worked the beat in those days now reflect fondly on that period.

Heroin addicts, while troublesome, were not usually violent in the ways a new breed of addict would become.

Victoria Street, even during its prime period of housing heroin addicts, still enjoyed a thriving Vietnamese community.

Restaurants remained packed and people continued to flock to the area to soak up the gritty atmosphere.

It is a shell of itself today.

Just a few kilometres down the road, in St Kilda, Grey Street residents awaken to scenes straight out of a horror movie.

It is a precinct notorious for illegal sex workers, pimps, addicts and worse.

The tragedy and politics behind the North Richmond injecting room For the people of North Richmond, Ms A was the last straw. She was alone and unconscious when she was discovered in a Hungry Jack's toilet by a young staff member. She was next to a needle and spoon. It marked the end of a decade of addiction to heroin for the 34-year-old mother, who had survived an overdose just three weeks prior. Her death in hospital on May 29, 2016, went unreported until a coronial inquest months later asked the question: could her death could have been prevented by a supervised injecting room for addicts? By then, heroin overdose deaths had surged to levels not seen since the bad old days of the 1990s - a total of 172 in Victoria in the previous year alone. Something had to be done. Following the inquest, and in response to community concerns, a medically supervised injecting room was funded in Richmond. It opened its doors in June 2018, and in that time harm-reduction advocates have said it has saved lives by preventing overdoses. But locals tell a different story - one of needle-strewn streets, fear and politicians turning a blind eye to antisocial behaviour. Advertisement

A drug addled man swats away imaginary bugs as he makes his way along the street

Drug dealers do their dirty trade on the streets of Melbourne

Victoria Street in Richmond has long been a haven for wandering drug addicts. It once had a thriving Vietnamese community that has largely moved on

Drug-affected people sit on the footpath outside a busy supermarket

A mentally troubled, drug-affected (or both) man makes his way down the road

Like Victoria Street, Fitzroy Street around the corner has largely gone to the weeds.

One St Kilda resident tells me the community has had a gutful of 'junkies' littering their streets.

The mother-of-one, who wished to remain anonymous for obvious reasons, moved to Little Grey Street a year ago and says in that time she has had almost daily interaction with addicts shooting up outside her $1,200-a-week apartment.

The terrified young mum, who moved into the area oblivious to its already seedy reputation, admits she often leaves her house to find uncapped needles laying waste on the footpath.

Other days addicts can be found trawling through rubbish bins 'looking for anything they could sell for their next fix'.

'We are packing up and moving in the next month. We've had enough. With a young baby it just isn't safe anymore,' she says.

She isn't being paranoid. A home just a stone's throw away from hers has been on the market since she arrived there, unable to find a buyer.

While heroin has long been a scourge in Australia, the reality is that we are now also one of the most lucrative markets in the world for methamphetamines.

In the year to August 2023, Australians smoked, snorted and shot up about 10 and a half tonnes of the deadly drug known as ice - a 17 per cent increase on the year before.

Unlike smack, meth keeps its users awake and can turn them into violent monsters.

The drug business takes place in broad daylight in and around the city of Melbourne

Many homeless people have hit rock bottom by the time they make it to the injecting facility

Statistics released only recently showed meth was the narcotic of choice for drug dealers in Victoria.

There were 28,770 drug offences recorded in the year to June 2024, according to data published by the Victorian Crime Statistics Agency. Meth made up 34 per cent of all dealing and trafficking charges.

The statistics also showed meth users were not confined to the inner city streets of Melbourne.

Almost 6,000 meth possession offences were recorded statewide in Victoria - 24 per cent of all drug possession offences - with just 392 of them occurring in Melbourne.

The regional city of Geelong, and Dandenong and Knox in Melbourne's south-east, were also meth possession hotspots.

It wasn't hard for a Daily Mail Australia photographer to find evidence of both drugs' hideous effects on those that were addicted to them.

Toothless, pock-marked, filthy and living on the streets in a meth-fuelled haze that kept them detached from otherwise ordinary society.

All around them, people attempted to go about their business in the hope of ignoring a problem that seems will never really go away.

Melbourne Homeless Collective founder and managing director Donna Stolzenberg says her workers are busier than ever.

'So many people have been tipped into homelessness due to the housing affordability crisis... we're doing a full Pajero-load daily of essential goods being delivered out there and we can't keep up. They need everything,' she says.

'If you have a car to sleep in, you're not considered homeless now. People don't realise there are homeless professionals like doctors out there. The landscape of homelessness has changed entirely.'

Daily Mail Australia has blurred the identifying features of those published to hide their identities. Their faces often make for harsh viewing due to years of drug abuse

North Richmond residents are fed up with drug addicts in their area

A homeless man hides the blazing sun from his face as he tries to catch some sleep on the mean streets of Melbourne

In North Richmond, where the Victorian Government has controversially placed a permanent injecting facility, residents endure daily insight into a part of life they have no interest in participating in.

In August, dramatic footage emerged of what appeared to be a schoolgirl being hit in the face by a drug-affected woman outside the facility.

It is the kind of disturbing incident that now goes unreported to police in the area.

'Guaranteed under reported too as many have given up on reporting crimes as police don't have time to investigate,' one resident claims.

A spate of shocking incidents near the injecting room have been reported since it opened in June 2018.

A public Facebook group titled 'Move the injecting room' has more than 1,200 members and contains a smorgasbord of horror stories.

New posts appear practically every day and depict what can only be described as a wasteland of depravity set among suburban family households.

Yarra City Council claims to have spent $1.7million on its 'syringe management services' in and around the precinct sine July 2020 to June this year.

But homeowners around the facility claim the value of their properties have nose-dived by tens of thousands of dollars due to the mess.

The situation continues to be discussed regularly on Melbourne talkback radio years after the facility opened.

Only recently, 3AW's Tony Moclair unleashed on the toxic environment hard-working residents were made to put up with, comparing it with Los Angeles' notorious Skid Row.

'The absolute disgraceful state of the nearby streets, littered with rubbish, excrement and used syringes is inexcusable,' he told listeners.

'The fact that residents have to walk through this filth and children have to walk past disease-ridden drug paraphernalia, discarded mattresses and garbage-filled trolleys in order to get to school is totally and utterly unacceptable.'

Sharon Neven, who is a regular contributor to the Facebook page, told Moclair that while residents understood the facility was opened with the intention of 'saving lives', the surrounding area needed to be maintained.

'There is no accountability, there are no consequences, no one owns the area... you report something, they come around, they pick up a bag of rubbish and drive past all the rest of the needles and rubbish and things that are lying around. It's just a joke,' she said.

A homeless man catches some rest in a residential park in Melbourne's inner suburbs

A distraught woman talks to herself on a busy street

Groups of seemingly homeless and drug-affected people gather near Richmond's drug-injecting facility

On September 3, parents picking up their children from school were confronted by the body of a man who had overdosed just outside its gates.

'It's not just [garbage]; it's dead bodies that they need to walk past,' Ms Neven said.

'When you want to walk to the community health clinic it's full of drug users injecting right in front of your face, abusing you. And they're not being looked after either, which I think is a real tragedy that users you've known for 10 years are still using.

'They're not getting help, they're not doing what they were supposed to do.'

Ms Stolzenberg says the injecting facility deals with people at their 'rock bottom'.

'The injecting place is usually a good place for niceness about homelessness but by default they deal with those who are always at rock bottom,' she explains.

'If you're homeless and not using, you don't need them. If you're using and not homeless you also don't need them.'

A spokesperson for Yarra City Council insists its cleaning teams are on the ground in the Lennox Street area daily Monday to Friday to monitor and collect litter from 'council-managed areas'.

'While we're out there every weekday, keeping the area clean is a massive task and that's why we encourage our community to contact council to report any hard rubbish that's on the street,' the spokesperson says.

It is understood the council is responsible for cleaning and maintenance of the street and footpaths on Lennox, Egan and Elizabeth streets.

The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing is responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of properties it owns, including the North Richmond Housing Estates, North Richmond Community Health and the public open space on the corner of Lennox and Highett Street.

A truck driver expresses concern about what appeared to be a drug-affected man crossing the street

A man hunches over in a Richmond park

St Kilda residents know all too well the scourge of drug-related crime on their community.

Months ago, a young mum said police had been called to her street after a local business owner discovered drag addicts had commandeered a vacant garage.

Inside, they had been storing thousand of dollars' worth of items stolen from the wealthy Bayside area.

When police turned up, they discovered several addicts living in the garage unbeknownst to the owner.

'Their behaviour is so erratic it's not safe anymore to walk the streets of St Kilda,' she says.

'Most of them are like zombies. St Kilda has gone from being this vibrant, idyllic spot to a junkie wasteland. It's the shame of Melbourne.'

Another St Kilda resident claims the addicts there have no regard for people or property.

'All they care about is the next high. It's a disgrace,' the woman says. 'It's certainly not an environment any parent would want their child growing up in or around.'

Local shopkeepers are known to be equally as frustrated as residents.

Many have to deal with addicts camped outside their stores and threatening and intimidating customers, with one business owner saying it's 'a disgrace'.
The Cenotaph in London will once again be central to this year's Remembrance Day service as people congregate across the country to pay their respects.

In London, Whitehall is open to the public from 8am on Sunday, November 10, when many gather to march to the Cenotaph, arriving by 10:30am.

At precisely 11am, guns from The Kings Troop on Horse Guards Parade fire the signal for the start of the two-minute silence, followed by 11 chimes from Big Ben.

In many people's hearts, the most significant moment in the annual Remembrance Day Service is the two-minute silence.

King Charles III during the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in 2023 wearing the uniform of Marshal of the Royal Air Force, the most senior rank possible

At 11.02, the King steps forward and lays a wreath, followed by political leaders from Britain and the Commonwealth

Prince William lays a wreath wearing his distinctive red-collared Officer's Cloak of The Blues and Royals, in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. The wreath featured a new ribbon in Welsh red

Keir Starmer, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak were among former prime ministers at the Cenotaph last year

Veterans marching past the Cenotaph and out of Whitehall on a rainy Remembrance Sunday service in 2023

Its as if the world comes to a standstill. Nothing moves and the silence is complete, ended only when the lone gun is fired, and the Last Post is played.

As Sovereign, King Charles III is Commander-in-Chief of all the Armed Forces in Britain and the Commonwealth and he will appear wearing the uniform of Marshal of the Royal Air Force, the most senior rank possible.

At 11.02, His Majesty, King Charles 111, steps forward to lay his wreath, followed by political leaders from Britain and the Commonwealth, of all major parties, and also the Mayor of London.

Other members of the Royal Family, all in uniform, including Prince William and Anne, The Princess Royal, wearing her Royal Navy uniform, follow suit.

This year, there is hope that Catherine Princess of Wales will attend.

No doubt she will be the focus of attention if she is present, particularly as the last time she was present, she wore three poppies.

The reason? To honour her great-grandmother's three brothers, who all lost their lives in the First World War. Queen Camilla will not be there due to a chest infection but, the last time they were both present was in 2023, where they watched the parade from the balcony of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

During her long and successful reign, The King's mother, Queen Elizabeth II, attended every Remembrance Day Service. Of course, she well remembered the Second World War having served in the Women's Royal Army Corps, and her husband, Prince Philip, had a distinguished career in the Royal Navy, seeing action several times in various areas.

He was on HMS Whelp in 1945 when the surrender was accepted. So his association with the Royal Navy in particular went back many years and he never forgot those days.

Queen Elizabeth II lays a wreath of poppies at the Cenotaph, watched by the Prime Minister and members of the Government on the 60th anniversary of the Armistice

Prince Philip had a distinguished career in the Royal Navy, seeing action several times in various areas. He was actually on HMS Whelp in 1945 when the surrender was accepted

The Princess of Wales famously wears three poppies during the ceremony to honour her great -grandmother's brothers who were killed in the war

At precisely 11am, guns from The Kings Troop on Horse Guards Parade fire the signal for the start of the two-minute silence, followed by 11 chimes from Big Ben

Wreaths laid at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London, on Remembrance Sunday by The King and The Queen

Our present Sovereign, Charles III, has received a unique military training for Kingship, having served in all three branches of the Armed Forces when he was younger.

Back to this year's ceremony. The service ends at 11.25am, which is when those members of the public who have been waiting patiently nearby come to add their wreaths and other floral tributes. Some 10,000 people turn up every year and the number is growing. The respect never diminishes. It is one of few moments when the entire country comes together.
Scores of new witnesses have emerged with more footage of the eerie 'drone' UFO swarms buzzing key US military sites, including 'a big fireball in a cube' over Area 51.

The Las Vegas-area witness who reported this bizarre cube-shaped object claims to have observed similar strange aerial lights in the area 'over 100 times' since June 2020, adding that these craft 'always seem to head towards Nellis Air Force base.'

Nevada's Nellis base and its sprawling complex about 40 miles northwest of Vegas  including top secret Area 51, now legendary within UFO lore  appear to have faced incursions by craft similar to those that plagued the Air Force in Virginia.

For at least 17 nights last December, swarms of noisy small UFOs were seen 'moving at rapid speeds' and displaying 'flashing red, green, and white lights' within the highly restricted airspace over Virginia's Joint Base LangleyEustis.

Vegas natives have posted videos confirming they too have seen more than one red, green or white UFO that 'wasn't flashing like a regular aircraft [or] like a satellite.'

Another witness, who documented one September 4, 2024 case from their own 60-night experience with the odd lights, hoped coming forward might help get answers.

'I live approximately 7 miles from Nellis,' they said. 'Past two months, every single night, I've seen numerous different things going on. Just wondering what it all is.'

General Glen VanHerck of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), has pled with the US Secretary of Defense to authorize a full battery of electronic eavesdropping tools to get to the bottom of the Langley swarm and others like it.

One Las Vegas witness, who documented their own months-long experience with the odd lights near Area 51 on Sept. 4, 2024, hoped coming forward might end their own confusion: 'Just wondering what it all is.' Above, a still from that witness's video, dubbed Enigma #298748

'I lived under a commercial flight pattern near the airport, so I'm very familiar with what airplanes and conventional aircraft look and behave like,' one observer to a September 13, 2022 case (above) stated. 'This was not conventional,' they said of the 'very bright light'

The general, who led the mission to takedown the infamous Chinese spy balloon in February 2023, described Langley's 'drone swarm' wave as unlike any other reported.

And speaking to the Senate Armed Services Committee this past March, General VanHerck's successor as the head of NORAD, Air Force General Gregory Guillot, told lawmakers that still more baffling UFO cases over US bases continue to mount.

'I wasn't prepared for the number of incursions that I see,' General Guillot confessed.

While the new witnesses to the UFO sightings near Nellis were all civilians  working with consumer phone cameras and not the military-grade radar, infrared and NASA imaging tech deployed at Langley  their reports echo the Air Force's own.

'They were flashing weirdly not [like] the normal navigation lights,' one witness reported in their submission to a UFO-spotting app run by start-up Enigma Labs.

The UFOs during this April 16, 2024 encounter, they said, 'were red in color' and 'traveling very close together.'

Another witness, who documented a November 21, 2023 event, stated that they saw an object that looked deceptively monochromatic until they re-examined the video.

'If you zoom into the actual recording various times, you'll see that it's a round shape and it's spinning and it's multicolored, not just green,' as they described it to Enigma.

Both Vegas witnesses said their sightings appeared to be near Nellis Air Force Base.

General Glen VanHerck (above), the commander of the US Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) from August 2020 to February 2024, said: 'If there are unknown objects within North America [we need to] go out and identify them'

For at least 17 nights in December 2023, swarms of small 'drones' were seen penetrating the highly restricted airspace above Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. Above, a photo taken by an eyewitness of one (or more) of these drones as provided to the Wall Street Journal and others

Above, two USAF F-22 Raptors fly over Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia on June 14, 2018

The repeated appearance of terms like 'drones,' 'unmanned aerial vehicles' (UAV) and 'unmanned aerial systems' (UAS) in the Pentagon's own official reports on these unexplained cases has pointed many observers toward terrestrial explanations.

'Typically sightings near bases such as Nellis and Area 51 where there are a lot of experimental aircraft being tested are assumed to be advanced technology under development,' Enigma Labs consultant Alejandro Rojas told DailyMail.com.

'However, given the admission that UAV are flying in secured airspace over other Air Force bases,' he noted, 'we need to take a closer look at these.'

Rojas, a seasoned UFO expert and cofounder of the nonprofit , told DailyMail.com that Enigma has received 'a lot of reports near Nellis Air Force Base.'

'Civilian reports and videos of potential incursions by unknown objects from the public are essential,' he added. 'The Pentagon is scratching its head over these.'

'Most cases we receive include videos, along with descriptions of how they move, what they look like, and the directions they come from and are headed to.'

Although many wished to remain anonymous, several of Enigma's witnesses offered details that spoke to their own credibility, as well as to their efforts to find more prosaic explanations for the odd airborne phenomena that had left them stumped.

'I lived under a commercial flight pattern near the airport, so I'm very familiar with what airplanes and conventional aircraft look and behave like,' one Vegas-based observer to a September 13, 2022 case stated.

'This was not conventional,' they said of the 'very bright light' they witnessed 'for at least 20 minutes' in the wee hours of the morning, around 4:45am Pacific time.

Above, one still from Enigma #298748, a case documented on September 4, 2024. 'I live approximately 7 miles from Nellis,' the witness said. 'Past two months, every single night, I've seen numerous different things going on. Just wondering what it all is'

Above, a second still from Enigma #298748, documented on September 4, 2024

'The light was extremely bright, yellowish orange,' they noted. 'It was pulsing and it remain[ed] stationary [...] it seemed to be situated near Nellis Air Force Base.'

'It was strange,' the witness continued. 'I also checked to make sure it wasn't a star or a planet or any atmospheric phenomenon. Two days later at the exact same time I saw the same object in the same airspace.'

Yet another witness also had repeat sightings around their own December 15, 2023 green light UFO, which made 'erratic movements' before 'just stopping in midair.'

Only one of these half a dozen or so Vegas-area witnesses reached for otherworldly notions to explain what they saw: the witness to the 'big fireball in a cube' who taped a seemingly distant and very different amber-orange UFO, the night of May 6, 2024.

'They always seem to head towards Nellis [AFB],' the witness wrote. 'I don't believe they are man-made, probably in cahoots with the Air Force.'

'I feel they are trying to communicate with me,' the woman continued in her report.

Only one these half a dozen or so of these Las Vegas-area witnesses reached for an otherworldly explanation to explain what they saw: the witness to the 'big fireball in a cube' who taped a different amber-orange UFO on video (above) the night of May 6, 2024

Nevada State Route 375 near Area 51 was named 'the Extraterrestrial Highway' in 1996 by the Nevada Commission on Tourism hoping to drawing tourists to this remote part of the state

'They zoom up and down sometimes [...] back and forth sometimes. They're very playful, and they always know where I am,' she added.

Late last month, the deputy test director for US Northern Command (NORTHCOM) Jason Mayes, explained some of the policy hurdles facing America's domestic defense against any enemy drones encroaching upon sensitive US airspace.

Mayes, commenting during the counter-drone experiment 'Falcon Peak 2025' at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado, spoke to both legal and civilian safety issues that have plagued defensive measures to combat UAVs on US soil.

The entire phalanx of potential anti-drone tech available for US bases abroad  including surface-to-air interceptors, gun systems, lasers and high-power microwave weapons  are all currently 'off limits' for bases like Langley and Nellis.

'They're not appropriate for the homeland,' Mayes told reporters with The War Zone.

More troubling still, even less drastic techniques like signal-jamming have proven tricky for domestic use, over understandable concerns about where a jammed UAV might crash or what other civilian systems nearby might fail due to 'friendly fire' from that jamming.

'Given the impact of GPS denial, just across infrastructure and all that stuff,' Mayes noted, 'it is a very, very difficult capability to get permissions to utilize.'

Above, the Area 51 Center in Nye, NV

Out of any of these methods, Mayes noted that blasting drones out of the sky with a focused laser might prove to be the method that meets with policymaker's blessing soonest.

'I think that we could get to a point where we have approval for that here in the homeland,' Mayes told reporters.

'The biggest thing right now is the impact of the laser when it moves beyond its target. You know, how far is it going? What's that going to do? How long does the laser need to remain on target before it begins to inflict damage and so on, right?'

NORTHCOM's tests, of course, presume the solution to these events are all likely to be earthbound tech  or technology at all  an open question for many observers.

'These incursions highlight the need for a process to identify the objects and get data to the right people, whether that be foreign materials analysis groups inside the military [or] law enforcement,' Rojas told DailyMail.com.

But: 'With more mysterious situations, like any determined to be dealing with material not made on this planet,' the longtime UFO researcher noted that 'getting that data to scientists who can transparently analyze the cases' will be paramount.

'This last group is the exciting stuff,' Rojas said. 'These are the cases where we will discover something new.'
It's often seen as a taboo subject.

But one scientist is finally lifting the lid on our deepest - and darkest - sexual fantasies.

Professor Mark Griffiths, an expert in Behavioural Addiction at Nottingham Trent University, has revealed the most unusual 'paraphilias' he has encountered.

'Paraphilias are uncommon types of sexual expression often described as sexual deviations, sexual perversions or disorders of sexual preference,' he explained in an article for The Conversation.

'They are typically accompanied by intense sexual arousal to unconventional or non-sexual stimuli such as enemas (klismaphilia), statues (agalmatophilia), teeth (odontophilia) and vomit (emetophilia).'

While paraphilias seem strange or socially unacceptable to most people, Professor Griffiths argues that they should be studied by scientists.

'Paraphilias may be laughed off, dismissed or leave some people disgusted, but there's a pressing need for more research into uncommon sexual behaviour given know,' he added.

Here's a look at five of the most unusual paraphilias Professor Griffiths has come across - including getting aroused by farts.

Professor Mark Griffiths, an expert in Behavioural Addiction at Nottingham Trent University, has revealed the most unusual 'paraphilias' he has encountered - including getting aroused by farts (stock image)

Professor Griffiths says that being sexually aroused by cannibalism is very real (stock image)

1. Vorarephilia

Hollywood actor, Armie Hammer, hit the headlines in 2021 after allegedly sending messages detailing his own cannibalistic fetishes.

While he has since laughed off the allegations, Professor Griffiths says that being sexually aroused by cannibalism is very real.

'Vorarephilia  or "vore"  refers to being sexually aroused by the idea of being eaten, eating another person or observing this process for sexual gratification,' he explained.

'Most of the fantasies of vorarephiliacs involve being the ones eaten.

'Devouring someone could be viewed as the ultimate act of dominance by a predator and the ultimate act of submission by the prey.'

Professor Griffiths highlights the case of Armin Meiwes, who was sentenced to life in prison after killing and eating a man.

After posting adverts online, Meiwes received a response from Bern Jurgen Brandes, who agreed to be eaten.

Professor Griffiths highlights the case of Armin Meiwes, who was sentenced to life in prison after killing and eating a man

The mot popular fetishes in the UK in 2024 Bondage Farting Tickling Giantess Female wrestling Face sitting Family taboo Mixed wrestling Foot worship Female domination Advertisement

'They met up only once. Meiwes bit off Brandes penis, which the two of them cooked and ate,' Professor Griffiths detailed.

'Brandes was videotaped being stabbed to death by Meiwes in his bath. The body was then stored for Meiwes to eat.'

While Meiwes was convicted of murder, Professor Griffiths notes that 'although some paraphilias are illegal, most cause no psychological or behavioural problems when they are engaged by consenting adults.'

2. Dacryphilia

Dacryphilia is getting aroused from seeing someone cry and comes in three main forms, according to Professor Griffiths.

'Compassionate dacryphiles are sexually aroused by the compassion of comforting a crier,' he said.

'Dominant or submissive dacryphiles are sexually aroused by either causing tears in a consenting submissive partner or by being made to cry by a consenting dominant partner.'

'"Curled lip" dacryphiles are sexually aroused by the curling of a protruded bottom lip during crying.'

Dacryphilia is getting aroused from seeing someone cry and comes in three main forms, according to Professor Griffiths (stock image)

3. Eproctophilia

While farts make most of us giggle, they can actually sexually arouse some people - known as eproctophilia.

Professor Griffiths first encountered eproctophilia in 2013, when he met a 22-year-old single man from Illinois, called Brad (not his real name).

In school, Brad had a crush on a girl who farted in class, and this 'sparked a strange interest' within him.

Then, in his mid-teens, Brad heard a male friend fart and began fixating on this sound.

'He set up a bet with the wager being the right to fart in the losers face for a week,' Professor Griffiths said.

'He continued to lose such bets once every few weeks for about two years.'

4. Apotemnophilia

Apotemnophilia is the sexual arousal caused by the fantasy or reality of being with an amputee.

'Some apotemnophiles may pretend to be amputees,' Professor Griffiths said.

Apotemnophilia is the sexual arousal caused by the fantasy or reality of being with an amputee (stock image)

Salirophilia, is sexual arousal from soiling or dishevelling someone attractive. This could include tearing or damaging their clothes, covering them in mud, or messing up their hair or makeup, according to the expert (stock image)

'But, for a minority, the behaviour involves obsessive scheming to convince a surgeon to perform a medically unnecessary amputation.

'To most people, this might seem like a type of masochism, but case studies suggest that there is no erotisation of pain  only of the healed amputated stump.'

5. Salirophilia

Finally, Professor Griffiths highlights salirophilia, which is sexual arousal from soiling or dishevelling someone attractive.

This could include tearing or damaging their clothes, covering them in mud, or messing up their hair or makeup, according to the expert.

In 2019, Professor Griffiths met Jeff (not his real name) - a 58-year-old man with salirophilia.

When he was young, Jeff recounted wanting to maturbate in strange places, such as lying under a cabinet in a dirty garage.

And while he had hoped to engage in salirophilic practices with women, it proved difficult to find like-minded women.

'He was also a fan of the television show Fear Factor in which contestants perform revolting tasks for prize money, such as eating rotting food or being submerged in foul fluids,' Professor Griffiths added.

'These were a source of sexual arousal for Jeff.

'He told me: "I just find the defilement of an attractive womans body erotic."'

You can find out more about paraphilias in Professor Griffiths' new book, Sexual Perversions and Paraphilias: An A-Z.
On November 9, 1984 director Wes Craven unleashed a terror that would haunt the dreams - and nightmares - of horror fans for the next 40 years.

In 'A Nightmare on Elm Street', a generation of filmgoers were introduced to Freddy Krueger, a terrifying serial killer who hunted teenagers through their dreams.

Now, four decades after the classic film first clawed its way onto our screens, is there any truth to the idea that dying in a dream means you die in real life?

Speaking to MailOnline, experts say that, while you might not meet a bloody end while dozing, nightmares really could lead to serious health complications and even death.

During a nightmare, our bodies and brains are sent into a frenzy of activity as we live through whatever horrific scenario our mind has conjured up.

In some rare cases, that intense nocturnal fear could really kill you in your sleep by triggering a heart attack.

However, that doesn't mean you should start chugging coffee to stay awake like Elm Street's sleep-phobic teens.

In fact, scientists warn that the biggest danger associated with nightmares comes from missing out on valuable sleep.

As the horror classic A Nightmare on Elm Street turns 40 today, scientists reveal whether dying in a dream really could mean you die in real life

What causes nightmares? Nightmares are dreams with a particularly strong negative emotional content. People typically start getting nightmares at age three and have less as they get older past the age of 10. Research has shown that they are triggered by high levels of stress and anxiety in our waking lives. Witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event can also trigger nightmares. Traumatic nightmares are not necessarily about the incident. Studies in the wake of the 1989 San Francisco earthquake found that people had many more nightmares but not all about earthquakes. Advertisement

What is a nightmare?

Whether it involves having to take a test you didn't prepare for or being chased by a claw-handed murderer, almost everyone will have experienced a nightmare at some point in their life.

At a very simple level, a nightmare is just a particularly distressing dream in which we experience a high level of negative emotion such as fear, disgust, or disappointment.

Typically, people start getting nightmares when they are around three or four years old and start to experience them less often as they get older.

It isn't exactly clear what triggers nightmares at the physiological level, but Professor Tiina Paunio, a sleep expert from the University of Helsinki, told MailOnline that nightmares are likely related to parts of our brains associated with stress.

When we sleep, activity levels of noradrenaline, a brain chemical involved in our 'fight or flight' response, are usually low.

But during a nightmare, we see levels of noradrenaline spike in the amygdala and locus coeruleus - regions of the brain associated with fear, anxiety, and rage.

While the physiological origins of nightmares might be mysterious, their psychological causes are very well studied.

Nightmares typically occur during REM sleep late in the night when the areas of our brains associated with stress and panic start to activate

Professor Paunio says: 'Nightmares usually occur under emotional stress - so acute life stress is one risk factor.

'Lifestyle, in particular alcohol use, is another well-known risk factor for nightmares.'

Additionally, nightmares can be triggered by witnessing something frightening or traumatic.

That might explain why many Nightmare on Elm Street cast members reported experiencing nightmares after filming particularly scary scenes.

What happens if you die in a dream?

If you have ever had a nightmare involving your own death, then you know that the experience can be utterly terrifying and genuinely troubling.

Some experts suggest that this fear could be so powerful that it literally scares you to death.

When you get scared, your body jumps into its flight or fright response releasing a flood of chemicals including adrenaline and cortisol.

Experts say that you could really be killed by a dream of your own death if it is scary enough. During intense periods of fear our bodies release adrenaline which disrupts our normal heart rhythm in a way which could be fatal. Pictured: Heather Langenkamp in A Nightmare on Elm Street

How you could be scared to death Health experts warn that it is possible to be literally scared to death. When we are frightened our bodies secret large amounts of the chemical adrenaline. This binds to receptors on the heart's muscle cells, opening calcium channels in the cell membranes. As calcium ions flood in, this causes the heart muscle to contract. If there is too much adrenaline, the calcium channels don't close and the heart can't relax. This knocks the heart into an abnormal rhythm which can trigger a fatal heart attack. Advertisement

While a jolt of adrenaline could be life-saving if you had to actually run away from a supernatural killer, this chemical is toxic to our organs in large doses.

When adrenaline comes in contact with the receptors on the heart's muscle cells it starts a chemical reaction which tells the heart to contract.

If a massive dose of adrenaline arrives, that signal won't turn off and the heart won't be able to relax, bumping the heart into a fatal abnormal rhythm.

Professor Paunio says: 'Generally, the health risks of nightmares are typically indirect and are linked to the causative factors that underly nightmares.

'In vulnerable individuals, for example, those with a heart disease, nightmares can indirectly contribute to death, although this is rare.'

That means dying in a dream could, in theory, mean you actually die in real life.

However, according to the American Heart Foundation, cases of being frightened to death are incredibly rare and typically involve some underlying heart conditions.

Likewise, the level of fear you would need to experience is likely to exceed even the most horrific of nightmares.

Suffering repeated nightmares causes disturbed sleep which can lead to increased risks of heart attack, diabetes, strokes, and suicide. Pictured: A scene from A Nightmare on Elm Street

Why dreaming might be dangerous

Even if you aren't likely to be killed in your sleep Freddy Kreuger-style, experts warn that frequent nightmares could be dangerous.

Professor Mark Blagrove, a psychologist and nightmare expert from Swansea University, says that there are two ways in which nightmares can lead to health problems.

'People could wake up from the nightmare and be fearful of going back to sleep,' Professor Blagrove explains.

'So one of the big problems with nightmares when they occur is that people can lose sleep as a result of it.'

For the average person, missing out on the odd night of sleep here or there isn't likely to be too much of a problem.

But for the two to six per cent of the population who suffer from frequent nightmares, those lost hours of sleep can start to pile up.

Professor Blagrove says: 'Pretty much everybody has nightmares but on average it's just a few a year.

While Freddy Kreuger can't really kill anyone in their sleep, some people have extremely high levels of 'dream distress' which means that repeated nightmares can lead to a spiral of stress and stress-induced nightmares. Picutred: Johnny Depp in A Nightmare on Elm Street

What are the effects of persistent nightmares? Having nightmares for an extended period of time can cause you to miss out on valuable sleep. Nightmares are particularly disruptive since they occur during REM sleep which is important to our mental recovery. Prolonged sleep interference can interfere with emotional regulation, potentially causing mood disorders. Sleep deprivation increases your risk of heart attacks, strokes, and metabolic conditions like type 2 diabetes. In some cases, persistent nightmares can also trigger depression, and anxiety, as well as increasing the risk of suicide. Advertisement

'But some people have them much more frequently, they may even have them every night.'

If your sleep is frequently disturbed it could lead to an increased risk of metabolic disorders like obesity and type two diabetes, heart attacks, and strokes.

Particularly worrying for those who might be experiencing nightmares as a result of PTSD, persistent sleep interruption also increases the risks of depression, anxiety, and suicide.

In addition to interrupting our sleep, the second way in which nightmares can be dangerous is by increasing our general stress.

Every person has some level of a trait called 'nightmare distress' which measures how badly we worry about nightmares.

Someone with extremely high nightmare distress might be scared of going to sleep for fear of having nightmares or even worry that their nightmares might be real upon waking.

Generally, our levels of nightmare distress decrease as we get older, but for some individuals, this can remain extremely high throughout their entire lives.

Professor Blagrove says: 'For some people who are having lots of nightmares, the nightmare itself can be another source of stress.

Studies have shown that having frequent nightmares means you may be at a much higher risk of suffering from long-term heart problems (stock image)

'You get a spiral where someone who's stressed has nightmares but then the nightmares become an additional form of stress for that person.'

Just like any other stress, that cycle of nightmares can start to cause serious health issues for those with high levels of nightmare distress.

What makes this so dangerous is that there is now a growing body of evidence which shows that frequent nightmares seriously increase your risk of having a heart attack.

Research published this year by Korea Univerity, Seol found that people who experienced nightmares were more than twice as likely to have risk factors for cardiac arrest.

Likewise, a study published last year by researchers from the Durham VA Health Care System, found that people with severe nightmares were more likely to display high blood pressure and heart problems.

This risk is so pronounced that research published by the European Society of Cardiology advised doctors to ask heart patients about their nightmares.

So, while being hunted in your dreams might not kill you then and there, frequent visits from Freddy Kreuger could still prove deadly in the end.

During the 1980s more than 100 men from the Hmong ethnic group living in America mysteriously died in their sleep, baffling medical experts. Some believed that the men were being killed by their nightmares

Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death Syndrome Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death Syndrom (SUNDS) is a condition which mainly affected Hmong men during the 1980s. Men with the condition appeared to die of sudden heart attacks in their sleep, even when they had no family history of heart problems. In Thai, this condition is called 'Lai Tai' which combines the word for a loud groan during sleep and the word for death. The CDC reported 117 cases of SUNDS between 1981 and 1988. Since then, incidents of the disease have largely vanished. Advertisement

The real-life Nightmare on Elm Street

In 1981, the American Centre for Disease Control began to report on a mysterious serious string of deaths affecting young refugees from Laos and Cambodia.

Otherwise-healthy men from the Hmong ethnic group, usually aged between 25 to 44 years old, were dying in their sleep all around the country.

Despite none of the men having any history of heart conditions, autopsies suggested that their hearts simply stopped beating during the night.

A Nightmare on Elm Street Director Wes Craven says he was inspired to make the film after reading about a series of mysterious deaths which were attributed to a 'dream disease' killing people in their sleep (stock image)

Hmong elders claimed these deaths were the work of a spirit known as the Dab Tsog, an evil creature which attacks people by pressing down on their chests.

Some men were reportedly so scared by these deaths that they gave up sleeping altogether for fear of a visit from the Dab Tsog.

Overall, between 1981 and 1988, 117 cases were reported of what became known as Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death Syndrome, or SUNDS.

Reports suggested that fears of the mysterious dream deaths were keeping Hmog refugees awake. However, modern analysis suggests that Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death Syndrome is most likely to be caused by a genetic heart issue

As reports of SUNDS cases gained national attention, some researchers speculated that the fear induced by nightmares could be triggering fatal heart attacks.

Since the victims were largely refugees from the Vietnam War and the 'Secret War' in Laos, many assumed that their nightmares could be so intense that they were simply scared to death.

In interviews, Craven said it was reading about these attacks which formed the original inspiration for A Nightmare on Elm Street.

However, more recent research has cast some doubt over these more cinematic interpretations.

Modern genealogical approaches to SUNDS suggest that the condition is likely a congenital heart defect caused by a genetic condition.

This would explain why the deaths appeared to only affect men from one very specific ethnic group and not everybody experiencing PTSD.

Researchers have found that the genes associated with SUNDS could lead to ventricular fibrillation and acute cardiopulmonary failure as the heart rate naturally slows during sleep.

This means that SUNDS is not only extremely rare but is also unlikely to have any connection to nightmares.
Photos show the popularity of Butlin's holiday camp when it first opened and the development of the pier

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Clacton-on-Sea was named one of the UK's worst seaside towns in a recent Which? survey - but the town was once a leading British beach destination.

The seaside resort was first created on undeveloped farmland by railway engineer Peter Bruff in 1865. Its pier was finished in 1871 and the majority of tourists reached Clacton-on-Sea by steamboat until the development of the railways in the 1880s.

Clacton-on-Sea was extremely popular with East End Londoners, who could easily reach the resort from the city for a daytrip or a short break. Butlin's opened a holiday camp in the town in 1938.

However, the rise of cheap package holidays abroad saw a decline in popularity, with Butlin's closing in Clacton-on-Sea in 1983. The Clacton & District Local History Society says the closure 'destroyed' the 'reputation' of Clacton as a 'one-time leading British holiday resort'.

Despite this - and surveys by Which? - Clacton-on-Sea remains popular with daytrippers and its pier was named Pier of the Year in 2020. Visit Essex describes the town as a 'bustling but affordable seaside resort'.

In this collection of historic photos, MailOnline Travel takes a look back at the resort's past, from carnival queens to the salad days of Butlin's holiday park...

In the top image is the pier in 1967, with its helter-skelter and rides. By 1971 it even opened a dolphinarium. The pier has undergone many changes in the years since, but remains open today with a new set of attractions. It's pictured in the lower image in 2019

The pier and the seafront parade are photographed from the Beaumont Hall Hotel in the top image, which dates back to 1925. The pier remains a defining landmark in the more recent image of the beach below

Clacton-on-Sea was designed in 1865 as a 'quality town for quality people' by Peter Bruff, a land owner and civil engineer, says the team at The Sandrock B&B. The engineer could see the potential of the 'virgin site' with 'sandy south facing beaches'. It quickly became a popular day trip destination for Londoners, who could reach the town by train by the late 1800s. These children are pictured on the beach in 1912

In this image, holidaymakers are photographed on the promenade at Clacton-on-Sea in 1923. The pier, which can be seen in the background, opened in 1871, while the Pavilion (off the picture to the left) was erected in 1893 and 'offered a popular day out for Victorians', according to clactonpier.co.uk

This image captures a bustling Clacton-on-Sea pier in 1925. A casino was added to the pier in the 1920s and the 1,000-seater Ocean Theatre was to follow in 1928

These paddling children were photographed at the town's beach in 1924. By this time, Clacton-on-Sea was established as a classic British seaside resort

Holidaymakers are pictured on the beach in Clacton-on-Sea in 1925. The town's West Cliff theatre opened in 1928

This image shows the carnival King and Queen of Clacton-on-Sea being crowned on the pier in 1927. The Clacton-on-Sea Carnival was first held in the 1920s and still takes place today, with the most recent celebration held in August 2024

Sunseekers are pictured walking along the cliff path by a crowded Clacton Beach in August, 1927

Holidaymakers are photographed on Clacton beach in 1932. This was the same year that an open-air Olympic-sized swimming pool was opened on the pier, the first in the UK to be built on a pier

The Odeon cinema opened in 1937 and is pictured here in 1943. It's showing the American war film Eagle Squadron. The Odeon closed in 1975 and the building was demolished in 1984

This image shows people boarding The Royal Eagle ship for a cruise from London to Margate and Clacton-on-Sea in 1946. The ship was used as an anti-aircraft vessel during WWII but became a pleasure steamer again after the war

This slightly eerie image shows contestants in a beauty competition at Butlin's Holiday Camp in 1952. The contestants are wearing papier mache face masks so the judges are sure to only mark them on their figures. Historic England describes this era as the 'heyday' for the great British seaside holiday

This image depicts holidaymakers roller-skating at Butlin's Holiday Camp in 1956. Butlin's opened in 1937 in Clacton-on-Sea. The Clacton & District Local History Society says: 'By the late 1950s, Butlin's had become a national institution and to some extent Clacton was able to bask in its reflected glory'

Holidaymakers take part in activities at Butlin's in 1959. However, Butlin's faced a decline in Clacton-on-Sea in the 1960s. The Clacton and District Local History Society says: 'Most of Butlin's trade had come from the East End of London, a mere 75 miles away, and most of the rest from the Midlands. Two weeks holiday came to be increasingly the norm, and with the extra time people wanted to go further afield'

In 1964, fights between two rival groups, Mods and Rockers, took place at several British seaside resorts including Clacton-on-Sea. The picture above shows Mods at a jellied eel stand near the town's pier

In 1965, the Southwark Clergy conference was held at Butlin's in Clacton-on-Sea. Pictured above are the Bishop of Southwark (left), the Episcopal Bishop of California and the Bishop of Woolwich. Butlin's holiday camp closed in Clacton in 1983 in what the Local History Society describes as a 'devastating blow' to the town, with 100 permanent jobs and 841 seasonal jobs lost
A Saturday Night Live cold open reacting to Donald Trump's presidential election presidential election was widely panned, with some wondering where the 'comedy' was during the sketch.

The bit from Saturday night started off on an unusually serious note - with cast members solemnly reflecting on the election outcome.

'To many people, including many people watching this show right now, the results were shocking and even horrifying,' Ego Nwodim said.

But as the script progressed, the sketch took a dark turn - and divided some viewers as it made astonishing comparisons between Trump and Adolf Hitler.

One commenter discussed the phrase 'hail Trump' being said twice throughout the skit, saying the cast is 'continuing its nonstop fear-mongering and Nazi-rhetoric over a Trump Presidency.'

SNL cast members share a post-election message pic.twitter.com/jTXqJCxpIL  Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) November 10, 2024

Winner of the November 2024 presidential election Donald Trump was the center of SNL's cold open on Saturday night

'Hot jacked Trump,' played by James Austin Johnson, was debuted on Saturday as SNL's new 'flattering' portrayal of the soon-to-be president

Others agreed and claimed the cast made a tone-deaf connection to Nazism.

'Absolutely disgusting Holocaust trivialization,' someone reacted.

'Can they not understand it offends Jewish people to be called Nazi. We voted trump too,' another Trump-supported added.

The cast rattled off several reasons people may be concerned about Trump's presidency before the tone shift occurred.

Kenan Thompson said: 'We at SNL would like to say to Donald Trump, we have been with you all along.'

They spent the rest of the nearly five-minute segment sarcastically praising Trump, which did not sit well with some MAGA-supporting SNL watchers.

'What a bunch of c**p that they do. They try to make it funny while they mock us,' someone reacted on X.

Dana Carvey's Elon Musk jumped across the stage and shouted 'I run the country now'

At the end of the cold open, the cast brought up the 'unseen young men' in the tone of YMCA

While claiming their loyalty to Trump, the camera panned to 'three new disgusting cast members' who voted for Kamala Harris

Another user wrote: 'I hope Elon Musk buys SNL and makes it funny again.'

This was likely in response to Dana Carvey's comical portrayal of the Tesla CEO toward the end of the post-election message.

After Thompson referred to Musk as 'the other man we love and trust,' Carvey jumped across the stage, pumping his fists in the air and dancing as he shouted 'all right!'

'Seriously, I run the country now,' he said as the crowd laughed.

Before 'Musk' frolicked across the stage, Sarah Sherman introduced a new character - 'hot jacked Trump' - to demonstrate the cast's admiration of the soon-to-be 47th president.

Played by James Austin Johnson, a muscular version of Trump said: 'They finally got the body right.

'But from now on we're going to do very flattering portrayal of Trump because he's frankly my hero and he's going to make an incredible president - and eventually, king!'

Heidi Gardner, Marcello Hernandez, Bowen Yang and Colin Jost cracked jokes as well, with Gardner claiming she voted for Trump 50 times in Pennsylvania, alluding to investigations of voter fraud in the state.

Additionally, 'three disgusting new cast members' who Sherman ousted for voting for Kamala Harris - Jane Wickline, Ashley Padilla and Emil Wakim - were shamed for their ballot choices.

'Hail Trump!' added Thompson after saying their home address could be easily found on the internet.

At the conclusion of the segment, the cast members broke out into song and dance to the tune of the YMCA while addressing the 'unseen young men' who helped elect Trump.

Of the 3,300 comments on SNL's X post of this sketch, many people echoed the sentiment that it was simply unfunny or disconnected from Americans' perspectives.

'Imagine being this out of touch with the majority of your country,' one user said. '49 of 50 states voted more Red than they did in 2020.'

Social media critics slammed the politically-charged cold open, mainly pinning it as unfunny and out of touch

Someone posed the question: 'Was this.. comedy?'

'No one cares what you think! You have ZERO influence and even less credibility,' on angered commenter said.

In response to Nwodim's statement about the election results being 'horrifying' before the cast started making jokes, one user pushed back: 'The results were neither shocking nor terrifying.

'We the People have taken our nation back. I for one hope you liberals never take the time to look at yourselves and continue down the path you are on. You will never win another election again.'

Kennan Thompson and Heidi Gardner made satirical remarks about being Trump-supporters, which sparked a slew of online hate

Marcello Hernandez, Sarah Sherman and Colin Jost grinned through the cold open while praising Trump

Despite some critics panning SNL as not funny or too far left, others seemed to enjoy the cold open for poking fun at the country's political situation.

'Funniest sketch in years,' someone said.

Another user shared a back-handed compliment: 'Congrats! You finally did something funny.'

One user commended the cast's political address: 'SNL cast tackled Trumps victory with humor and some sharp political commentaryclassic SNL style!'
Growing up with parents in the spotlight is bound to open many doors for their offspring.

From the likes of Mel B's daughter Phoenix Chi, Kate Moss' model daughter Lila and Katie Price's daughter Princess - many are now pulling in the cash in the showbiz world thanks to their famous parents.

However, while celebrity nepo babies might seem to dominate the headlines, there are a plethora of famous offspring forging their own path the more ordinary way by attending university - and earning ordinary salaries.

It seems plenty of celebrity children aren't attempting to follow in their parents footsteps instead heading to university to pursue a range of subjects.

And in doing this they are shunning the bigger salaries - making the kind of money most average people in the UK would.

So here MailOnline takes a look at the real hard working anti nepo babies and their potential earnings:

Jamie Oliver's son Daisy - trainee nurse - 24k

Jamie and Jools Oliver's son Daisy has chosen an honorable career path as a nurse - entering the healthcare system at the bottom of the ladder

Jamie and Jools Oliver's son Daisy has chosen an honorable career path as a nurse - entering the healthcare system at the bottom of the ladder.

The 21-year-old has just finished a three-month placement at a hospital in Leeds

Nurses starting work as trainees in the NHS tend to earn around 24,000 per year.

Chef Jamie, 49, shared a snap of Daisy in her nursing scrubs when he paid tribute to her on her 21st birthday in April, describing her as 'amazingly kind'.

Earlier this year Daisy risked landing herself in hot water after sharing a series of graphic posts  which could be deemed unprofessional  on social media about her work and her patients.

Some of the posts appear to go against a strict code of conduct drawn up by nurses' regulator, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) which has the power to strike off nurses.

Jamie and Jools Oliver pose with their family in 2016. Their children from left to right: Daisy Boo Pamela, Petal Blossom Rainbow, River Rocket, Buddy Bear Maurice and Poppy Honey Rosie

The 21-year-old has just finished a three-month placement at a hospital in Leeds Nurses starting work as trainees in the NHS tend to earn around 24,907 per year

Posting on TikTok, and wearing a fleece with her name embroidered under the NHS logo, Daisy  the second of five children born to Jamie and his wife Jools  described in detail too graphic for a family newspaper that she had done a 'bowel evacuation' and added: 'Why am I ok with this?'

In another post, she wrote that she was in A&E for gastritis  inflammation of the stomach lining  which she said was 'most likely caused by the woman who threw her pad in my face'. She also said the incident had left her with faeces in her mouth.

'I wish I was joking but I'm not,' she wrote.

She also described 'crying in public transport... when the reality of wrapping up dead people decides to kick in'. Another image, featuring Daisy in her white nursing scrubs, looks like it was taken on a hospital ward.

NHS hospitals and training institutions have strict rules about posting content linked to the workplace on social media.

Rowan Atkinson's son Ben - Army officer - 15k

Rowan Atkinson's son Ben, 31, chose a life in the military - instead of following his famous father into acting. In 2019 he joined the Gurkhas after spending three months in Nepal

Comedian Rowan Atkinson pictured with former wife Sunetra Sastry in 2005

Rowan Atkinson's son Ben, 31, chose a life in the military - instead of following his famous father into acting.

In 2019 he joined the Gurkhas after spending three months in Nepal.

Lt Ben was put through a 10 week course and taught about the local culture to join the unique unit of the British Army.

The son of Rowan and make-up artist Sunetra Sastry had to learn Nepalese in his role as a Gurkha officer.

Exeter University graduate Lt Atkinson, whose actor father is worth around 90million, provided a guard of honour in 2018 for Emmanuel Macron and Theresa May at Sandhurst.

His father played Edmund Blackadder in all four series of the comedy  which was ranked second in a BBC poll of Britain's greatest sitcoms.

The Gurkhas are soldiers native to the Indian subcontinent that are recruited for the British and Indian army.

They have been part of the British Army for over 200 years.

Gurkha privates start at around 1,200 per month in terms of their salary.

Ulrika Jonsson's daughter Bo - Norland Nanny - 45k

Ulrika Jonsson's daughter, Bo, 24, has shunned a life in the spotlight after completing her training to be a nanny at the prestigious Norland College

Ulrika Jonsson and her daughter Bo together

Ulrika Jonsson's daughter, Bo, 24, has shunned a life in the spotlight after completing her training to be a nanny at the prestigious Norland College.

Back in April 2023 Ulrika, 57, shared snaps with her daughter after she graduated from her university course.

The TV star told how proud she was of her daughter - who was born with a congenital heart condition - for reaching the milestone after always struggling with academia.

Praising more 'practical' degrees and apprenticeships she said Bo was a 'grafter and a doer' as she shared snaps from the ceremony at prestigious Norland College -where the Prince and Princess of Wales's childminder learned her craft.

The training costs 36,000 in total and includes martial arts training and stunt driving to its curriculum to cater for modern clients - many of whom are celebrities and the super-rich.

In London, a Norland nanny with 12 years of experience can earn between 45,00048,000

Molly McFadden - theatre student - 24k

The daughter of Westlife star Brian McFadden and Atomic Kitten's Kerry Katona - has been living a decidedly normal life out of the spotlight that she was born into choosing to study theatre

The 23-year-old lives in Dublin where she is an acting student at the prestigious Lir Academy at Trinity College Dublin, the alma mater of Normal People stars Paul Mescal and Eanna Hardwicke (seen with Kerry in 2020)

She graduated in 2022 with a Diploma in Acting and Theatre Studies

The daughter of Westlife star Brian McFadden and Atomic Kitten's Kerry Katona - has been living a decidedly normal life out of the spotlight that she was born into.

The 23-year-old lives in Dublin where she is an acting student at the prestigious Lir Academy at Trinity College Dublin, the alma mater of Normal People stars Paul Mescal and Eanna Hardwicke.

She graduated in 2022 with a Diploma in Acting and Theatre Studies and it's believed she's progressed to the three-year, full-time, intensive honours degree, which she will complete in 2025.

Far from being a nepo baby, Molly's showbusiness connections didn't play a role in her acceptance because all students are required to audition for their place on the intensive course, which is described as being much more rigorous than other drama schools.

Appearing on Loose Women with Kerry in 2020, the youngster made a telling comment about how seriously she takes her career when she shot down rumours that she was set to appear on Love Island, insisting: 'I'll leave the reality TV to my mum.'

The budding actress instead has turned her hand to Shakespeare, appearing in student productions such as Much Ado About Nothing, in which she played Leonora, a female version of Leonato.

The average drama graduate salary in the United Kingdom is 24,000 per year.

Gordon Ramsay's daughter Megan - police officer - 38k

Gordon Ramsay's daughter Megan, 26, graduated from Oxford Brooks University in 2019 with a degree in psychology and is currently working as a police officer

Megan and Gordon are seen together

Gordon Ramsay's daughter Megan, 26, graduated from Oxford Brooks University in 2019 with a degree in psychology and is currently working as a police officer.

At her graduation Gordon shared a picture on his Instagram of Megan in her cap and gown and penned: 'So proud of this young Lady ... hard work pays off ! Congratulations Megan love you Dad .'

He said in 2023 of his daughter: 'Megan's an incredible police officer.'

Gordon - who has an estimated net worth of $220 million - has previously said his children won't be left his multi-million pound fortune in his will.

The chef, who is known for his Michelin-starred restaurants and heated reality television programmes, said his children will only be getting a 25 per cent deposit on a flat as he prefers them to 'work hard' for their money as it is not his 'number one objective.'

Speaking to The Telegraph, Mr Ramsay said: 'It's [his fortune] definitely not going to them, and that's not in a mean way; it's to not spoil them.

'Last time we went to Royal Hospital Road [his restaurant in Chelsea] was for Megan's 16th birthday, and that was the first time we've ever eaten there with the kids.

'They have served the Chelsea pensioners there for Christmas lunch, but not eaten there.

'They don't sit with us in first class. They haven't worked anywhere near hard enough to afford that...I worked my f------ arse off to sit that close to the pilot and you appreciate it more when you've grafted for it.'

Carol Vorderman's daughter Dr Katie - nanoscientist - 40k

Carol Vorderman's daughter Dr Katie King is a 31-year-old nanoscientist who has proved she's just as smart as her mathematician mother

Carol and her daughter Katie arriving for the 2010 Pride of Britain Awards

Carol Vorderman's daughter Dr Katie King is a 31-year-old nanoscientist who has proved she's just as smart as her mathematician mother.

As a nanotechnologist working in research it's likely you'll earn between 25,000 and 35,000 once you've completed your PhD.

At a senior level, nanotechnologists can earn between 30,000 and 40,000. Salaries at this level vary between sectors. University professors or similar can earn upwards of 60,000.

In January 2024 it was revealed Dr Katie was taking the fight against cancer into space, with plans to build a pharmaceutical factory in orbit.

Dr Katie hopes to use zero-gravity production to change the face of medicine.

Her technology already has the backing of the European Space Agency, and she is in negotiations for her work to undergo trials on the International Space Station (ISS) next year.

The scientist, who takes inspiration from her mother, has focused on antibody cancer treatments - which include immunotherapy drugs for lung, skin and breast cancer.

She aims to make antibodies in a crystalline structure, which could transform the method in which they are delivered.

If successful, it could lead to cancer patients being able to inject drugs at home rather than spending hours in hospital on a drip every few weeks.

'If you form them into tiny crystals, you can get a concentration high enough to then inject into the skin in a few minutes,' she told the Sunday Times.

'You can just do it at home, just like diabetics inject themselves with insulin.'

Dr King's father is Vorderman's second husband, Patrick King.

Gordon Ramsay's son Jack - Royal Marines - 25k

In 2020 Gordon proudly revealed his son Jack has joined the Marines, as he shared a number of celebratory family snaps on Friday

The celebrity chef took to Instagram to announce the news, as he shared snaps of himself and a then 18-month-old son Oscar posing with a uniformed Jack, now 20

In 2020 Gordon proudly revealed his son Jack has joined the Marines, as he shared a number of celebratory family snaps on Friday.

The celebrity chef took to Instagram to announce the news, as he shared snaps of himself and a then 18-month-old son Oscar posing with a uniformed Jack, now 20.

Captioning the heartwarming images, Gordon wrote: 'Can't tell you enough how proud I am of this young man.

'Jack Ramsay you've made me feel like the proudest father today congrats on joining @royalmarines what amazing achievement.'

Royal Marines Commandos have a starting salary of over 25,000, and can earn up to 51,000 as they progress in their careers.

Close family friend David Beckham also took to his Instagram account to mark the momentous occasion, as he shared an adorable snap of Oscar wearing Jack's hat.

Adding a caption to the image, which showed Gordon beaming as he kept the headgear in place on Oscar's head, David wrote: 'And next up is @oscarjramsay.'
On the back of the order of service for her funeral was a photo of Phillip Schofields mum. She is beaming with happiness in a picture taken on her wedding day in the late 1950s.

Clutching a huge bouquet of lilies, Pat holds tight the hand of beloved husband Brian. The joyous occasion was soon followed by the happy arrival of sons Phil and Tim.

On Friday, as Pat was laid to rest at her local church, St Michaels in Newquay, Cornwall, mourners will have reflected on the unhappy fates of those two sons, who had lost their father in 2008 to a heart attack.

Those who know TV presenter Phil say that Pat was extraordinarily loyal to the former This Morning host. It was her, of course, that he turned to when he found his life in tatters back in May last year.

Phillip Schofield at Friday's funeral

Phil with his mum Pat in 2008 at the Community Hospital Summer Fete in Oxfordshire

Without a job after his high-profile exit from ITV, his employers for three decades, his reputation was in disarray, and his wife Stephanie Lowe was said to furious with him for his secret affair with a much younger man who worked on ITVs This Morning.

Phil then openly admitted that he wanted to take his own life and that he was only saved by his daughters Ruby and Molly. Yet in Cornwall he had found some solace and regularly visited his mum at her home in Newquay, where they were seen enjoying long walks together.

He was present on October 14 when Pat, who was originally from Oldham in Greater Manchester, 'passed away peacefully' surrounded by her family after what he described as a 'heartbreaking weekend'.

Phil shared a picture on Instagram of himself smiling with his arm placed lovingly around his mothers shoulders, writing: '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 gave his eternal thanks to the medics who had looked after his mum in her final days.

As Pat was laid to rest on Friday, Phils wife Stephanie was at his side, as were daughters Ruby and Molly. The pair wed in 1993 and though they separated in 2020 after he revealed he was gay, they remained legally married.

The public disclosure of his secret affair was difficult news to bear for family and friends, and saw him shunned by colleagues. But last month Schofield returned to television screens for the Channel 5 television show Cast Away, during which he attempted to fend for himself on island in the Indian Ocean for ten days while explaining his former conduct. He said colleagues had been responsible for an utter betrayal and that he had been chucked under a bus.

Onlookers at the church said that Schofield held it together as he arrived flanked by family members. Along with three others he carried the coffin, made of wicker and topped with a beautiful bouquet of white flowers. Guests were encouraged to 'dress brightly to reflect a life filled with love' and invited to donate to the charity Diabetes UK. His mother had suffered the condition.

Phils 55-year-old younger brother Tim was notably absent. With years still to serve after his criminal conviction last April for child sex offences, it appeared he was not granted any special dispensation to attend the funeral.

At the service in the Anglican church, Phil shared his devotion to his mother. He gave a reading titled Love Story. Mourners also sang along to hymns Morning Has Broken and Love Divine, All Loves Excelling. Nat King Coles 1952 hit Unforgettable was played as was Frank Sinatras Always.

The entertainer seemed overcome with emotion after the service, recalled one onlooker: Phil kept himself together and was really grateful for everyone who came but afterwards, when he left the church, he lost it. It was obviously a really hard day for him.

Following a short cremation service that was for family only, Phil invited mourners to the Oceanside Hotel for a drink to toast Pat.

Touchingly, a Hawaiian farewell song named Aloha Oe was played at the funeral, which features the words until we meet again.

Below the words of the song on the order of service was another photo of Pat and her husband (who worked with a firm that made surfboards), taken just a few years before Brians death from a long-standing illness. Those who gathered to celebrate Pats life will trust the couple are now united once more, beyond the cares and sadnesses of recent years.
She's best known for stately regal roles, but Claire Foy swapped glamour for gauntlets as she got to grips with a massive hawk for her latest acting job.

The 40-year-old was last week seen nervously strolling through Cambridge with the bird of prey perched on her gloved arm.

Ms Foy, who previously played Queen Elizabeth in The Crown and Anne Boleyn in Wolf Hall, is believed to have spent two weeks training with the Eurasian goshawk  the largest species of hawk in Europe  for her new film role.

In H Is For Hawk, she plays Cambridge academic Helen Macdonald, who formed an unlikely friendship with a bird called Mabel following the sudden death of her photojournalist father, Alisdair, from a heart attack.

Claire Foy pictured in the centre of Cambridge with a bird of prey on her arm for her latest acting role

Ms Foy is believed to have spent two weeks training for the European goshawk

Ms Foy plays Cambridge academic Helen Macdonald in her upcoming film H is For Hawk

The film is based on Macdonalds best-selling 2014 memoir which told how her relationship with the hawk helped her deal with the ensuing grief.

Brendan Gleeson, who starred in The Banshees of Inisherin, will play the father, while the film marks a reunion between Ms Foy and director Philippa Lowthorpe, who shot the second series of The Crown.

Game of Thrones actor Lena Headey is a producer, having snapped up the film rights to the story.
Actress Cush Jumbo appears to have fallen prey to the 'curse of the Scottish play'.

Not only was she forced to cancel performances in Macbeth last week, but she now faces a bankruptcy battle.

The Mail on Sunday can reveal that Jumbo, 39, is being taken to court by the taxman over unpaid bills.

HMRC filed a petition for bankruptcy last Wednesday.

The actress, who has an OBE, was forced to miss several days of performing as Lady Macbeth at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London's West End after falling ill last week.

Her co-star David Tennant also became unwell, causing three performances to be cancelled. When the show returned, both stars were replaced by understudies.

Jumbo's co-star David Tennant also became unwell, causing three performances to be cancelled

In 2020, London-born Jumbo started a production company, Big Raffy, but it was dissolved via compulsory strike-off two years later

The actress, who has an OBE, was forced to miss several days of performing as Lady Macbeth at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London 's West End

In 2020, London-born Jumbo started a production company, Big Raffy, but it was dissolved via compulsory strike-off two years later.

She last year endured a painful divorce from Sean Griffin, with whom she has a six-year-old son, Maximillian, and recently admitted she would be 'glad to leave her 30s behind'.

Her spokesman said of the court petition naming Jumbo as a debtor: 'This is a private matter, currently being resolved with HMRC.

'Cush is not, and has never been, at risk of bankruptcy.'
Kim Kardashian seemed to be feeling a little melancholy about the joy and pain of motherhood in a short post on social media on Saturday.

The influencer, 44, who is reportedly a fan of Emily Austen's book, Smarter: 10 Lessons for a More Productive and Less-stressed Life, left an emotional quote in her Instagram Stories.

The mother-of-four shared the sweet sentiment which read, 'The sad part about motherhood is that you're raising the one person you can't live without... to be able to live without you.

Kardashian did not attribute the quote to anyone.

The Skims founder is a single mom to North, 11, Saint, who will turn nine in December, Chicago, who will celebrate her seventh birthday in December and Psalm, five.

Kim Kardashian seemed to be feeling a little melancholy about the joy and pain of motherhood in a short post on social media Saturday, posting an emotional quote for her fans (Pictured in New York City in September)

She shares her children with ex-husband Kanye West, 47.

Her moving Instagram post comes after a source claimed that 'Kanye is sadly not around very much' for the children, to the point that Kim is 'pretty much a single mom.'

The insider added: 'Although she has help, it's still a lot of work for her to balance and coordinate everything.'

Per the source: 'Kim's life is around her kids' schedules. When they are in school, she works. When they are off, she's very much focused on being a mom.'

The insider shared that Kim 'is not even dating anyone now' because her lifestyle is 'all about work and the kids,' via People magazine.

In an interview with Jay Shetty in his On Purpose podcast in May 2023, the reality star spoke about the difficulties of parenting without a partner.

'Obviously, having nannies and a chef to help cook is beyond helpful  But at the end of the day, your kids only want you,' she explained.

'The struggles that my kids go through really have nothing to do with the amount of help that I have.' she said.

Kardashian, 44, shares her four kids Saint, who will turn nine in December, Psalm, five, Chicago, who will celebrate her seventh birthday in December and North, 11, with her ex-husband Kanye West, 47

The Skims founder posted this quote in her Instagram Stories about the beauty and pain of motherhood

Kardashian, a multi-millionaire, has nannies and chefs to help with the day-to day, but told Jay Shetty on the On Purpose podcast in May 2023, 'at the end of the day, your kids only want you'

'There are nights I cry myself to sleep. Like, what just happened?' she revealed, admitting to an issue many single parents face.

'You know, with all the moods and the personalities and sometimes theyre fighting, and you know, theres no one there,' the said, adding, 'Like, its (up to) me to play good cop and bad cop.'

Photos posted in September of her children who had posed for first day of school snaps, show they are growing up fast.

North now has braces and Saint had blonde highlights.

The SKKN BY KIM founder seems to have learned strength from her mother, Kris Jenner, 69, who raised six children, but was married most of the time either to Kim's father, the late Robert Kardashian or former spouse Caitlyn Jenner, 75.

In a birthday post honoring the original 'momager' on November 5, Kardashian wrote, 'Happy Birthday to the queen of our world!

'I am so beyond grateful for the love and support you show each of your kids,' she said.

'It really is unmatched and am just so lucky I get to experience true unconditional love like this. I love you so much and celebrating you today and every day!'
Jackie 'O' Henderson and her former toy boy Jack Tyerman have allegedly had a falling out over the radio star's bestselling memoir The Whole Truth.

The media personality, 49, was first romantically linked to the model in August 2023 when he was spotted at her luxury Sydney pad.

While the relationship is said to have fizzled into a friendship, now it seems the pair don't even have that, as an insider suggests the 'hot tradie' was furious the KIIS FM host mentioned him in her book, reported The Daily Telegraph on Sunday.

'Most people probably wouldn't be able to identify the fact part of the book is about Jack, but he knows it's about him,' a source told the publication.

'Yes, Jackie changed his name, but those close to the pair now know intimate details surrounding their short-lived relationship.'

Jackie and Jack, who is now dating Emily Ratajkowski lookalike Asha Dillon, have also unfollowed each other on Instagram since the release of her autobiography.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Jackie's representatives for comment.

The pair were last spotted on a date in May as they went out to dinner at popular French dining destination Restaurant Hubert.

Jackie 'O' Henderson, 49, (left) and her former toy boy Jack Tyerman (right) have allegedly had a falling out over the radio star's bestselling memoir The Whole Truth

Jackie has previously addressed the pair's relationship on KIIS FM's The Kyle and Jackie O Show when her co-host Kyle Sandilands questioned her about another recent date.

'We went together to the restaurant and I didn't want to drive and told him to drive [my car],' she explained, adding that Jack lives close by.

'He is cute but no there is nothing going on... We went out with his sister and her husband. We were just catching up.'

While the relationship is said to have fizzled into a friendship, now it seems the pair don't even have that, as an insider suggests the 'hot tradie' was furious the KIIS FM host mentioned him in her book, reported The Daily Telegraph on Sunday

She also spoke about the relationship in August last year.

While Jackie admitted she was 'dating' at the time, she maintained that she and Jack were 'just friends'.

'No, Jack is not my boyfriend. We're not in a relationship. He is not my boy toy,' Jackie told her radio co-host Kyle.

'Jack is a good friend of mine. I know him through a friend of ours. We didn't meet on a dating app or anything like that.'

The media personality went on to say she was ultimately 'to blame' for the romance rumours after she told Daily Mail Australia she was dating someone during a Logies interview.

'In my mind, I'm dating and I've been on a few dates, so I said 'maybe' [I'm dating], but I probably should have said, "Maybe, we'll see what happens,"' she confessed.

Not long after that, Jackie and Jack were seen enjoying what appeared to be a romantic moonlit date on the balcony of her Clovelly mansion.
The Strictly judges' honest  often acerbic  verdicts on the contestants' performances have always been part of the show's appeal.

But this year, in a drive to attract younger viewers, the BBC is scripting some of judges' comments for the first time.

And The Mail on Sunday can reveal the move has not gone down well with the judges, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse.

Sources say they complain the scripted lines are 'cringe,' 'overproduced' and at times 'woke'.

One line that attracted particular criticism was Mabuse's verdict on JB Gill and Amy Dowden's dance in week three: 'Both of you are like a box of chocolates getting sweeter every week with every dance.'

The BBC's move to script some of the judges comments has not gone down well with the panel

The Strictly judges have branded the scripted lines 'cringe', 'overproduced' and at times 'woke'

All eyes were on Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola in Saturday's show as they danced the American Smooth to Proud by Heather Small

An insider said that concerns were being raised that judges' comments on dances were being 'over-produced'

Head judge Shirley Ballas commenting on a dance in last week's show

Another considered overly woke was Ms Mabuse's line to former athlete Montell Douglas: 'We've been to India, we've been to Africa, now we're in the Caribbean, everyone feels seen.'

Viewers have also noticed that Revel Horwood has been less abrasive this series.

One Strictly insider told The Mail on Sunday: 'The judges feel that the comments they are being told to make feel over-produced.

'It has been raised and is beginning to cause a problem.'

All eyes were on Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola in Saturday's show as they danced an American Smooth to Heather Small's Proud.

The song holds special meaning for Ms Hadland as her character Stevie often sang it in sitcom Miranda.

Opening the show, Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Skorjanec impressed both audience and judges with an energetic quickstep to Mariah Carey's Fantasy.
Eamonn Holmes shared his gratitude and opened up on his 'tough year' as he attended his first event with his new girlfriend this week.

The TV star, 64, has been dating counsellor Katie Alexander, 43, since his split from Ruth Langsford and had her by his side as he hosted the Irish Post Awards in London on Thursday.

Eamonn has battled many health woes this year and recently revealed he 'can no longer walk or look after himself.'

After surgery on his back in 2022 for a slipped disc, the GB News host has not been able to walk unaided and often relies on a wheelchair.

Speaking at the event Eamonn admitted he was glad to see the end of 2024, while being supported by his girlfriend.

Eamonn Holmes shared his gratitude and opened up on his 'tough year' as he attended his first event with new girlfriend this week

The TV star, 64, has been dating counsellor Katie Alexander, 43, since his split from Ruth Langsford and had her by his side as he hosted the Irish Post Awards in London on Thursday

Speaking to The Sun On Sunday, he said: 'Its been a tough year and Ill be glad to see the back of it.

'But there are lots of things to be grateful for and I hope that my health improves next year.'

Eammon and Katie 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.

An on looker added: 'Katie certainly seems to be able to put a smile back on Eamonns face. They seem genuinely besotted with each other.'

Eamonn and Loose Women star Ruth announced their plans to divorce in June after 14 years of marriage and 27 years together.

Now, 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.

She has been helping Eamonn through the split from Ruth, but her friends say she is at pains to point out that their friendship has only grown close once the marriage was over in May.

In September the former This Morning presenter emotionally revealed he can no longer look after himself.

Speaking at the event Eamonn admitted he was glad to see the end of 2024, while being supported by his girlfriend

In an emotional video, Eamonn admitted his former days of independence have come to an end as he pleaded his followers to adopt a dog as he petted his pooch Bella.

Eamonn, who used to share a rescue dog, Maggie, with his ex-wife Ruth, also revealed that losing his ability to walk also had an impact.

He captioned the clip: 'Think about giving Bella a home. If I could walk and look after myself she would be mine but instead you could be me. Talk to @TheK9Angels . Absolutely lovely Doggie.'

Eamonn uses a wheelchair due to chronic back pain as well as undergoing painful physio sessions.

Speaking in January he said the 'harsh reality' could be that he may never be able to walk unaided again.

In 2016, Eamonn underwent a double-hip replacement operation lasting three-and-a-quarter hours after living with acute pain for many years.

Speaking about his operation at the time, Eamonn said: ' Was I nervous? No! It was just like being on television. In the build-up I was stressed  can I do this? Will I handle it?'

Two years later, Eamonn detailed his battle with shingles and how he was struck with the virus on his son Declan's wedding day.

During an appearance on Loose Women in September 2021, he spoke about his health battle which left him unable to work on This Morning three years ago.

He also shared images of his puffy face covered in marks and scabs during his battle.

Shingles is a viral rash caused by varicella zoster virus, the virus which causes chickenpox, being reactivated. In the UK, 90 per cent of adults have had chickenpox, so will have this virus lying dormant in their nervous systems.

Eamonn underwent spinal surgery in 2022 following years of chronic back pain and previously had a double-hip replacement in 2016

He eventually discovered it was three slipped discs that affected the movement of his right leg

His years of chronic back pain started in spring 2021 - which came completely out of nowhere.

The pain become so severe that it left Eamonn reliant on a walking stick, but soon found out the root cause.

He eventually discovered it was three slipped discs that affected the movement of his right leg.

In September 2022, Eamonn was forced to step away from his GB news show as he underwent vital back surgery to aid his chronic back pain.

Following his surgery, he revealed that despite physiotherapy, he continues to find his lack of mobility stops him from doing simple things and is forced to rely on others, which he described as 'soul destroying'.

His spinal surgery left him with a weakened left leg, too, and just over two weeks into his recovery from the operation, Eamonn fell backwards down 18 stairs at the Surreyhome, hitting the stone floor at the bottom.

The horrific accident could easily have killed him. Instead, he emerged with a broken shoulder, and his legs further weakened.

The former This Morning host admitted at the time that fracturing his shoulder in a fall is a 'massive setback'.

The presenter and Ruth announced their plans to divorce last month after 14 years of marriage and 27 years together

A year after his spinal surgery, Eamonn underwent a spine and neck stretching procedure in September 2023 after admitting he 'couldn't walk'.

Eamonn admitted he 'hadn't recovered' from his back surgery, confessing: 'I can't run, I can't walk, I can't do anything except watch TV and eat.'

He explained: 'I just got problems last year in my back, which I haven't recovered from. It's not good, it's not a good recipe I have to say.'

Prior to their split estranged wife Ruth revealed she feared Eamonn 'might never be 100 per cent right'.
Dwayne Johnson may go by his nickname 'The Rock,' but deep down, he's just a softie.

The Moana actor, 52, was signing an autograph for a fan at the premiere of Red One in London on Wednesday November 6, when the encounter turned emotional.

'What's your name?' the action star asked. 'Ricky,' the young man answered, adding, 'I'm an actor too. I'm a professional actor.'

'It's great to meet you man,' Johnson replied, shaking the hand offered to him and suggesting, 'maybe one day you and I can work together.'

'I hope so,' replied Ricky, giving the actor the name of his talent agency, and revealing he was 13 when Johnson asked his age. 'Call me,' he said.

Dwayne Johnson may go by his nickname 'The Rock,' but deep down, he's just a softie. The Moana actor , 52, was signing an autograph for a fan at the premiere of Red One in London on Wednesday November 6, when the encounter turned emotional

The two ended the encounter with a hug, which resulted in young Ricky getting slightly misty.

The Rock went a step further and grabbed co-star JK Simmons to come meet the young thespian.

'I'm an actor and I really love you,' he told the Oscar winner, referring to his roles in Spider Man and Whiplash.

Simmons pointed to his character on a one-sheet from Red One telling Ricky, 'this guys a much nicer guy,' then pointing to Johnson, saying, 'this guys a nice guy too.'

Revealing his reaction to the sweet interaction, the Jumanji star wrote 'I'm always really moved when young boys cry in front of me.'

'Stops me in my tracks because, us boys never want to be emotional in front of people, let alone cry in front of grown men we look up to.'

The on-screen strongman added, 'It's in our DNA to hide emotions.'

'I'm proud of this kid,' he continued, 'keeping his composure, keeping his sense of humor, keeping his manners - all while fighting back his tears.'

'I'm an actor too,' the young man told the action star, offering his hand. 'm a professional actor.' 'It's great to meet you man,' Johnson replied, shaking the hand offered to him and suggesting, 'maybe one day you and I can work together. I hope so,' the young actor replied

The fan named Ricky, became a little misty during the encounter, which touched the big screen tough guy's heart. 'I'm always really moved when young boys cry in front of me. Stops me in my tracks because, us boys never want to be emotional in front of people, let alone cry in front of grown men we look up to, adding, 'It's in our DNA to hide emotions'

'I'm proud of this kid,' he continued, 'keeping his composure, keeping his sense of humor, keeping his manners - all while fighting back his tears,' Johnson explained, adding it was 'very cool' to meet Ricky and he would 'see you at the top one day'

In a message to his possible future co-star, he said it was 'Very cool to meet you, Ricky and keep working hard young man. See you at the top one day.'

He also sent a 'big shout to my 'big brother', JK Simmons for coming over to make this kid's day. You're a legend.'

The Rock ended the post writing a message of hope. 'One day, we'll all be working for Ricky in Hollywood.'

Red One will be released in theaters November 15.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Dear @ali_naka l am not afraid of u, hv never been or will ever be. I knw u are trying to insult me via this post guess what l'm nt offended, u r 50 wt multiple children that u can't care for. U are almost the president on twitter not in real life. A fan who got lucky get over me pic.twitter.com/Zc4yZNSGTg  PennyLebyanePennyLebyaneDotAfrica (@PennyLebyane) November 9, 2024

This Ali Naka is the same guy who was killing white farmers in Zimbabwe and ran to SA?? Penny nani nihamba nibhebheka yaz. https://t.co/dJarIaZ3GG pic.twitter.com/wCZUZSKz7U  GOD GULUVA (@Zweli_Thixo) November 9, 2024

Media personality Penny Lebyane has taken to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to vent frustration at political commentator Ali Naka in a series of pointed posts, sparking a public feud that has garnered widespread attention.Lebyane is best known as a judge on M-Net's Idols SA and for her work as a DJ on Metro FM.Using the handle @PennyLebyanePennyLebyaneDotAfrica, Lebyane expressed resentment over what she perceives as long-standing grievances related to parenting, financial support, and personal integrity. Her messages suggest a history of conflict with Naka, whom she accuses of failing to support their children financially, while also criticizing his alleged behavior and online presence.Dear @ali_naka, I am not afraid of you, have never been or will ever be," Lebyane began, adding that Naka, whom she referred to as a "fan who got lucky," was "almost the president on Twitter, not in real life."In a series of posts, Lebyane asserted that her career has been shaped by her own efforts and sacrifices for her family, while accusing Naka of financially neglecting their children. She also claimed that he had misrepresented his affiliations with political groups and criticized his alleged involvement in her personal affairs, particularly with mutual friends.One of her most contentious statements involved allegations of fabricated documentation, implying past legal troubles for Naka related to his entry into South Africa. Lebyane further called on Naka to "pay the school fees," stating that shes struggling financially while shes not working.The posts included references to the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and its leader Julius Malema, with Lebyane emphatically distancing Naka from the South African political party.As of now, Ali Naka has not issued a response to the allegations, and representatives for either party have not commented on the matter.
Zendaya and Tom Holland enjoyed a relaxing day at the park in Boston on Friday.

The Euphoria actress, 28, was all smiles as she snapped candid photos of her boyfriend walking her precious pooch, Noon, through the park.

She was sitting on a nearby park bench and enjoying an iced beverage while taking photos of the Spider-Man star, 28, as he posed for the camera.

For their outing, the Challengers star  who cozied up to her co-star while filming her current project, an upcoming romantic drama movie, earlier this week  put on a casual display in Ciao Lucia's sold-out $295 Firenze cardigan.

She sported a pair of black, wide-leg pants and white sneakers to complete her look.

Zendaya and Tom Holland enjoyed a relaxing day at the park in Boston on Friday. The Euphoria actress, 28, was all smiles as she snapped candid photos of her boyfriend walking her precious pooch, Noon, through the park

She had her long, dark hair pinned back into a polished updo and appeared to be wearing little to no makeup.

Meanwhile, Holland sported a light green, pinstriped button-down with the sleeves rolled up.

He donned a pair of taupe-colored pants with white sneakers.

Their outing comes as Zendaya is filming her new movie, The Drama, alongside her co-star Robert Pattinson.

Zendaya and the Uncharted actor have been romantically linked since they met on the set of Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2016 while auditioning for their roles as love interests Peter Parker and MJ.

They also teamed up for 2019's Spider-Man: Far From Home and 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home.

After years of romance rumors, they confirmed their romance in 2021.

Most recently, it was revealed that they were both casted for Christopher Nolan's next movie, which will also feature Anne Hathaway and Matt Damon.

Their outing comes as Zendaya is filming her new movie, The Drama, alongside her co-star Robert Pattinson. Most recently, it was revealed that the power couple was casted for Christopher Nolan 's next movie, which will also feature Anne Hathaway and Matt Damon; pictured December 2021 in Los Angeles

Zendaya and the Uncharted actor have been romantically linked since they met on the set of Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2016 while auditioning for their roles as love interests Peter Parker and MJ; pictured December 2021 in London

After years of romance rumors, they confirmed their romance in 2021; pictured June 2017 in Barcelona

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.

As for her current project, Zendaya is currently filming The Drama and brought along her boyfriend for support.

The premise of The Drama has mainly remained under wraps, but the movie reportedly follows a 'romance that takes an unexpected turn before a couple's big day,' per Deadline.

The director of the film, 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.
Jennifer Garner has been enjoying the beauty of autumn with her mother and sister in her hometown of Charleston, West Virginia.

The 52-year-old actress was born in Houston, Texas, but grew up in Charleston in a devoutly Christian family including two sisters.

Now she has returned to the state where she was raised, and has been delightedly drinking in the changing fall colors and the picturesque landscapes.

She posted a charming Instagram album of her trip, including a picture of herself with her younger sister Melissa Wylie and their mother Patricia Garner.

Melissa and Jennifer walked on either side of Patricia, gently holding her hands as they all crossed a tree-lined suburban street together.

Jennifer Garner has been enjoying the beauty of autumn with her mother Patricia Garner and sister Melissa Wylie in her hometown of Charleston, West Virginia

Jennifer also posted a breathtaking image of dusk in Charleston, with sunset glow reflecting off the dome of the West Virginia State Capitol.

'West Virginia you know how to autumn,' she wrote alongside the album, which included a video of her view from the highway as she passed a wooded area.

By the time she posted the album, she was evidently back in Los Angeles, as she was seen later that night among the star-studded guest list of the annual Baby2Baby gala.

Every year, celebs turn out in force for Baby2Baby, a Los Angeles charity whose aim is to provide essential goods like diapers and clothes to underprivileged children.

At each annual gala, one superstar mother is presented with the Giving Tree Award, and this year's recipient was Charlize Theron.

Jennifer's family now includes her three children Violet, 18, Fin, 15, and Samuel, 12, whom she shares with her amicable ex-husband Ben Affleck.

She has largely managed to hold herself away from the publicity whirlwind around Ben amid the implosion of his marriage to Jennifer Lopez.

JLo filed for divorce in August on her and Ben's second wedding anniversary, after months of rumors that their relationship was on the brink of collapse.

Meanwhile Jennifer Garner has been quietly dating businessman John Miller on and off since 2018, reportedly splitting from him in 2020 only to reunite in 2021.

Last month Jennifer set off a swirl of engagement rumors when she was spotted with a gold band around her left hand ring finger.

However, Jennifer's left hand was bare of jewelry this past Sunday when she was seen taking her two younger children to church.

Jennifer also posted a breathtaking image of dusk in Charleston, with sunset glow reflecting off the dome of the West Virginia State Capitol

The 52-year-old actress was born in Houston, Texas , but grew up in Charleston in a devoutly Christian family including two sisters

Now she has returned to the state where she was raised, and has been delightedly drinking in the changing fall colors and the picturesque landscapes

'West Virginia you know how to autumn,' she wrote alongside the album, which included a video of her view from the highway as she passed a wooded area

By the time she posted the album, she was evidently back in Los Angeles, as she was seen later that night among the star-studded guest list of the annual Baby2Baby gala

Jennifer is pictured with her mother in New York City this June

A source has claimed Jennifer and John are planning a wedding next spring in Paris, where she allegedly recently went shopping for a bridal gown.

'Jen and John have taken a lot more trips to Europe than people realize. Paris is one of their favorite escapes and theyve decided getting married there this coming spring is something they want to do,' the insider dished.

The source also noted that a large ceremony in the French capital would be a marked contrast to when Jennifer and Ben eloped to Turks And Caicos in 2005.

'This time around she wants a big wedding in a dream location and John is all for it.' He loves the idea of giving her something that Ben never did, so hes totally encouraging her to go all out. Hes got plenty of money and wants to totally spoil her,' the insider shared with In Touch Weekly.
James Argent is reportedly hoping 'to marry and start a family with his new girlfriend Nicoline Artursson', according to a new report.

The former TOWIE star, 36, who lost 14 stone and is now clean and sober after battling addictions and 'learning to love himself', has been seen looking very loved-up with the model, 31.

After turning his life around, it seems Arg is now ready to settle down with a source claiming he believes 'she is the one.'

They told OK! Magazine: 'He had a real problem loving himself, outside and in. But now that hes worked on that relationship, the one with himself, hes been able to have a really healthy relationship with someone else.

'He absolutely thinks shes the one and he wants to marry her. He wants a family, she wants a family, it all makes sense.'

James Argent is reportedly hoping 'to marry and start a family with his new girlfriend Nicoline Artursson', according to a new report

The former TOWIE star, 36, who lost 14 stone and is now clean and sober after battling addictions and 'learning to love himself', has been seen looking very loved-up with the model

The source added: 'Hes been asking for advice from friends about rings and proposals, its definitely at the forefront of his mind right now.'

MailOnline has contacted James Argent's representative for comment.

The couple went Instagram official during a lavish getaway to St Tropez in September.

The former TOWIE star seemed besotted with his former Miss Sweden love as the pair enjoyed a romantic date night.

The couple looked happier than ever as they cosied up a the dinner and coordinated in their purple outfits.

James looked dapper in a purple open collar shirt while model Nicoline stunned in a matching lilac plunging maxi dress.

The pair couldn't keep their hands off each other as they were seen dancing in another video before packing on the PDA and kissing.

The reality star gushed: 'I honestly started to think that it might not happen for me but I found you and everything changed! I love you'.

Nicoline won the Miss World Sweden beauty pageant in 2011 and modelled for Abercrombie & Fitch. She was also asked to take part in the French version The Bacherlorette but declined to focus on her studies.

After turning his life around, it seems Arg is now ready to settle down with a source claiming he believes 'she is the one'

Rumours swirled on the pair's romance after James liked a picture of Nicoline shared to her Instagram at the World Vision Gala last month.

Sharing a snap of herself in a navy satin one-shoulder wrap dress, complete with a high-leg split, Nicoline wrote: 'It's an absolute pleasure to be apart of this years WORLD VISION GALA to help everyone come together for a greater cause!

'Huge thank you to everyone who attended for all the support and contributions! 2011 I was crowned as Miss Sweden and it's a Title I've forever cherished and honored for its deep purpose.'

It is James's first relationship since splitting from his ex Stella Turian last November.

In March, Arg told the My Dirty Laundry podcast that he really struggled on Valentine's day because of his single status - and had to stay off social media because it got him down so much.

Having tackled his demons, staying sober for two years and losing 15 stone in weight, James said: 'I'm in a really good place. Everything in my life is perfect, apart from my love life. It would be nice if that would change.

Nicoline won the Miss World Sweden beauty pageant in 2011 and has modelled for Abercrombie & Fitch

James broke up with Stella, 16 year his junior, in November after a year-long romance and said 'It's not that I'm heartbroken or upset, but just because I knew social media was not going to make me feel great because I didn't have a Valentine, I don't have a girlfriend.

Before that, James dated his former TOWIE co-star Lydia Bright - they were childhood sweethearts and dated on and off between 2008-2016 and he now credits her as being one of his best friends (pictured in 2011)

'I'll be completely honest, this year I really struggled on Valentine's Day. I remember, I woke up and thought, I am not going to look at social media.

'It's not that I'm heartbroken or upset, but just because I knew it's not going to make me feel great because I didn't have a Valentine, I don't have a girlfriend.

'But, I couldn't help it. There was times where I'd just have a little glance and all you would see was couples. Everyone's madly in love. Everyone's happy.

'Everyone's out on dates. There's flowers, there's balloons, there's chocolates,there's date nights or trips or happily married couples - and yeah, it did start to affect me a little bit.'
Rebel Wilson and her wife Ramona Agruma celebrated their daughter Royce's 2nd birthday on Friday.

The 44-year-old actress  who recently wed her girlfriend of almost three years  took to her Instagram Story to show off the lavish birthday celebration they hosted for their little girl on her special day.

She shared an adorable herself and Agruma holding up Royce as they showed off her Disney themed cake that boasted gold candles and icing with miniature decorative princess dolls.

It sweetly read: 'Happy 2nd birthday Royce!'

They leveled up the festivities with a full-size carousel, bringing the infamous parks home, as the youngster sat giggling on a horse.

Rebel Wilson and her wife Ramona Agruma celebrated their daughter Royce's 2nd birthday on Friday

The Pitch Perfect actress welcomed Royce via surrogacy on November 7, 2022, having publicly confirmed her relationship with Agruma five months prior.

Rebel and Ramona officially tied the knot in Sardinia, Italy, on September 28, and with their daughter acting as their flower girl.

The Bridesmaids actress and her partner initially intended on getting married in a beach wedding sometime next year, but Rebel decided to move up the date.

The couple first met in 2021 and announced their engagement in February 2023.

DailyMail.com exclusively shared the news of their nuptials last month, revealing that the couple were 'thrilled' to be tying the knot.

'Rebel is really excited to be getting married to the love of her life, she is absolutely thrilled,' a source shared ahead of the big day.

Rebel came out in June 2022 and debuted her relationship with Ramona in a sweet post at the same time, sharing a cozy selfie of them alongside some heartfelt words.

'I thought I was searching for a Disney Prince but maybe what I really needed all this time was a Disney Princess,' she gushed in an Instagram post at the time.

Just days later, Rebel shared a photograph of her and Ramona grinning and holding hands as they holidayed in Sardinia together.

After celebrating Royce's first birthday last November, she revealed to E! News that she intended on undergoing IVF treatments to hopefully welcome a second child.

They leveled up the festivities with a full-size carousel, bringing the infamous parks home, as the youngster sat giggling on a horse

The Pitch Perfect actress welcomed Royce via surrogacy on November 7, 2022, having publicly confirmed her relationship with Agruma five months prior; seen in September 2024

The couple first met in 2021 and announced their engagement in February 2023; seen in September 2024

Rebel came out in June 2022 and debuted her relationship with Ramona in a sweet post at the same time'; seen in October 2024

She told the outlet, 'I'm definitely thinking about it, yeah. I would like to have another child. It's just like, well, is that possible? I have to do IVF. We'll see how it goes.'

Wilson expressed that she was grateful to be a mother, regardless of how many children she has.

'Royce is such a miracle. And if she's my only child, then amazing,' she said.
Jamie Oliver has pulled his second children's book, Billy and the Epic Escape, from Australian shelves following condemnation of its 'damaging and disrespectful' Indigenous plot.

The British chef, 49, has issued two apologies over his fantasy novel, that sees its villain abduct a young Aboriginal girl from foster care in a chapter titled 'To Steal a Child'.

Billy And The Epic Escape came under fire from The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation (NATSIEC).

The education body called for the book, a 400-page fantasy novel for primary school children, to be removed from circulation.

The Natsiec chief executive, Sharon Davis, criticised implications that First Nations families 'are easily swayed by money and neglect the safety of their children'.

On Sunday, Oliver and publisher Penguin Random House UK announced they had pulled the book from shelves in all countries where it holds rights, including the UK and Australia.

This news comes one day after Oliver issued an own apology for 'stereotyping' Indigenous Australians in his second children's book, which was published in May.

'I am devastated to hear I have caused offence and wholly apologise for doing so,' Oliver told The Guardian in a statement.

Jamie Oliver, 49, (pictured) has pulled his second children's book, Billy and the Epic Escape, from sale following condemnation over its Indigenous plotline

'I am listening and reflecting and working closely with my publisher on next steps.'

The celebrity chef is currently in Australia promoting his latest cookbook, Simply Jamie.

'It was never my intention to misinterpret this deeply painful issue,' he said. 'Together with my publishers we have decided to withdraw the book from sale.'

Notably, the chapter titled To Steal a Child appears to be a reference to The Stolen Generations, a dark period of history where the children of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders were removed from their families by the Australian federal and state government.

For about a century, thousands of Aboriginal children were systematically taken from their families, communities and culture.

'These children were taken by the police; from their homes; on their way to or from school,' per the Healing Foundation. 'They were placed in over 480 institutions, adopted or fostered by non-Indigenous people and often subjected to abuse.

'The children were denied all access to their culture, they were not allowed to speak their language and they were punished if they did. The impacts of this are still being felt today.'

'[It] perpetuates a racist stereotype that has been used to justify child removals for over a century,' NAITSEC chief executive Davis said.

'This portrayal is not only offensive but also reinforces damaging biases.'

The British chef sparked backlash when his book (pictured) saw the villain abduct a young Aboriginal girl from foster care in a story which First Nations communities deemed 'damaging' and 'disrespectful

Oliver and his publisher have admitted that there was no consultation with Indigenous Australians prior to the book's publication.

Penguin Random House UK apologised for the 'editorial oversight.'

Davies said 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.

Now Oliver and publisher Penguin Random House UK have pulled the book from the shelves, following its release in May, after issuing an official apology, reported The Guardian on Sunday

The story takes place in England, but 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.

The book also contained errors because Oliver had attempted to use Indigenous words from the Arrernte language of Alice Springs and the Gamilaraay people of NSW and Queensland.

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.

His television and publishing career has seen him sell more than 46million books globally, and reach an estimated worldwide TV audience of 67million.
Sofia Richie looked glamorous as she attended the 2024 Baby2Baby gala in Los Angeles on Saturday night.

The 26-year-old model  who recently shared a glimpse of her six-month-old daughter Eloise  made heads turn in a form-fitting, black velvet dress with a white bow accent and matching straps.

Her stunning ensemble showed off her slim figure and tiny waist as she posed up a storm at the star-studded bash. Richie teamed her look with hoop earrings, various silver rings and a black clutch.

She was joined by her husband Elliot Grainge who looked dashing in a black suit and tie.

The Baby2Baby gala is an annual event that raises funds to provide supplies such as diapers and food for underprivileged children living in poverty.

In 2023, the organization raised a record-breaking $12 million dollars.

Sofia Richie looked glamorous as she attended the Baby2Baby gala in Los Angeles on Saturday

This year, the Baby2Baby gala honors Atomic Blonde actress Charlize Theron for her role in aiding poverty-stricken children and championing childhood education.

Other stars at event included the likes of Heidi Klum, Jessica Alba, Cash Warren and Katy Perry as well as the evening's honoree, Charlize Theron.

Prior to walking the red carpet, Richie took to Instagram to share a sweet photo of herself getting glammed up for the event with her baby Eloise sitting on her lap during the process.

The starlet sat in her chair as she got her hair done by her hairstylist, Kathleen, who she tagged in the post.

'My mini,' she penned in the caption, referring to her six-month-old.

The post was a hit with her 11M followers, racking up over 245K likes, as fans rushed to the comments to praise the new-mother.

'I know you dreamed of moments like this,' one top comment read.

'This is probably THE BEST photo ever! Or at least my fav cuz its amazing!!! ' another fan chimed in.

Richie's post comes just after she celebrated her husband's 31st birthday with a photo dump and romantic dinner date.

She and Grainge welcomed their baby girl, Eloise Samantha, in Los Angeles on May 20. The lovebirds have yet to post a full image of their newborn due to privacy concerns.

And their newborn's middle name serves as a tribute to Elliot's late mother, Samantha Berg, who died tragically young in 2007.

While giving birth to Elliot in 1993, the businessman's mother had an amniotic fluid embolism, resulting in a coma that she remained in until her death.

Sofia and Elliot had been acquaintances for several years before they began dating in early 2021.

They got engaged in 2022 and ultimately said 'I do' in 2023. She was walked down the aisle by her famous father during her lavish wedding ceremony to the music executive in France.

She made heads turn in a form-fitting, black velvet dress with a bow accent

Richie posed up a storm at the star-studded bash

She teamed her look with hoop earrings, various silver rings and a black clutch

She was joined by her husband Elliot Grainge who looked dashing in a black suit and tie

The duo looked loved up as they enjoyed their evening out together

Richie took to Instagram to share a sweet photo of herself getting glammed up for the event with her baby Eloise sitting on her lap during the process

Back in June, a source close to the couple revealed that they are still 'adjusting' to life as parents.

'Sofia and Elliot have been on cloud nine since welcoming baby Eloise. They are still adjusting to becoming parents, but it's come fairly natural to both of them,' they told Us Weekly.

The insider also shared that the pair are trying to keep their newborn from the limelight and are reluctant to let others visit.

'Sofia and Elliot haven't let many people over to see the baby, they're both being very protective,' they claimed.

The insider shared that the new mom 'still has that pregnancy glow' and that she 'can't believe' she has a baby.

'It's all very surreal,' the source claimed of the new parents.

Richie's post comes just after she celebrated her husband Elliot Grainge's 31st birthday with a photo dump

She and her husband welcomed their baby girl, Eloise Samantha, in Los Angeles on May 20

She and the businessman got engaged in 2022 and ultimately said 'I do' in 2023

The model is also slated to release an infant clothing line that can be purchased on Amazon, though no exact release date has been confirmed.

Her forthcoming children's clothing brand, Amazon Essentials by Sofia Grainge, will be available to the public just in time for the winter, according to the WSJ.

Her line, which she serves as creative director for, will include baby clothing and swaddles.
In what looked like a symbolic passing of the torch, original Wicked Broadway stars Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth were on hand for the Los Angeles premiere of the much-anticipated film adaptation on Saturday.

The two legendary stars of the theater, who portrayed Elphaba Thropp/Wicked Witch Of The West and Glinda The Good Witch Of The North, respectively, during the initial run on Broadway in 2003, were there in a respectful show of support.

Their film contemporaries, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, would make their grand arrival holding hands while dressed in their characters' signature colors of green and pink at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Downtown LA.

The duo ultimately met up with Menzel and Chenoweth on the red carpet, where they posed for photos as a group.

Directed by John M. Chu, Wicked is the origin story of 'a green-skinned woman who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West.'

Wicked stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who play Elphaba and Glinda in the film, were joined by the original Broadway stars Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth at the Los Angeles premiere on Saturday

The talented duo were there in a respectful show of support

It serves as a prequel to The Wizard Of Oz, exploring the narrative before Dorothy's arrival and delving into the former friendship between the characters Elphaba and Glinda.

Erivo, 37, was effervescent in a bright green, latex dress with sexy cutouts highlighting her toned midriff while across her arms she accessorized with a dramatic, feather boa-inspired cape in the same bright green color.

The British actress accessorized with a dazzling necklace oozing in diamonds that features a jaw-dropping emerald at the center, as well as a shiny, silver nose ring and massive diamond earrings.

Grande, 31, looked pretty in pink in a gingham-patterned, 1950s-inspired swing dress with a taffeta, puff-sleeve shrug.

Opting for a monochromatic look, the actress and pop star's pink dress featured a voluminous skirt with a high-low drop hem, which was matched perfectly with pink, gingham gloves.

She also strutted her stuff while wearing sparkly, rhinestone encrusted pumps.

Rounding out her overall look, Grande pulled her hair back into a polished bun to showcase her pearl earrings, and added a cute ribbon to the mix.

Menzel and Chenoweth portrayed Elphaba Thropp/Wicked Witch Of The West and Glinda The Good Witch Of The North, respectively, during the initial run on Broadway in 2003 (pictured)

The foursome posed up for the cameras in stylish looks

Menzel, 53, stunned in a floor-length, black one-shoulder gown

Chenoweth, 56, glistened under the red carpet lights in a glitzy gold strapless dress

Idina and Kristin held hands during their red carpet arrival

Menzel, Erivo, Grande and Chenoweth also posed with film producer Marc E. Platt at the invite-only event in LA

After their photos together, Ariana and Cynthia reunited with Idina and Chenoweth, the ladies who originated the roles of Elphaba and Glinda in the Broadway musical Wicked, on the red carpet.

Menzel, 53, looked sensational in a gothic black one-shoulder gown that showed off her hourglass figure.

The New York City native carried a black clutch purse featuring an emerald stone, a clear homage to the iconic Broadway role that earned her a Tony Award in 2004.

Chenoweth, 56, glistened under the lights in a glitzy gold minidress with matching gold pumps that gave her petite frame a boost.

The Oklahoma native had her blonde locks styled long and straight with a prominent center part for the invite-only event in LA.

Chenoweth was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the 2004 Tony Awards for her portrayal of Glinda.

Along with Erivo and Grande, the film's cast also includes Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, Keala Settle, Peter Dinklage, Aaron Teoh, Grecia de la Paz, Colin Michael Carmichael, Adam James and Andy Nyman.

Wicked: Part One hits theaters in the U.S. on November 22, and the sequel, Wicked Part Two, will follow the next year, premiering in cinemas on November 21, 2025.

The movie is about an unlikely friendship that emerges between Elphaba and Glinda, two clashing witches in the magical land of Oz.

Elphaba is wrongfully cast as a wicked witch as she seeks to expose the fraudulent, corrupt Wizard who rules the land.

Wicked: Part One hits theaters in the U.S. on November 22, and then the sequel, Wicked Part Two, will follow the next year, premiering in cinemas on November 21, 2025.
Miranda Kerr showed off her sensationally svelte postpartum figure when she attended the star-studded annual Baby2Baby gala in Los Angeles on Saturday.

The event took place just nine months after Miranda gave birth to Pierre, the third son she shares with her husband Evan Spiegel and her fourth child overall.

Every year, celebs turn out in force for Baby2Baby, a Los Angeles charity whose aim is to provide essential goods like diapers and clothes to underprivileged children.

At each annual gala, one superstar mother is presented with the Giving Tree Award, and this year's recipient was Charlize Theron.

Miranda, who is on the organization's board of directors, attended the gala with Evan, who is one of the founders of Snapchat and the current CEO of Snap, Inc.

Miranda Kerr showed off her sensationally svelte postpartum figure when she attended the star-studded annual Baby2Baby gala in Los Angeles on Saturday

Amid the cavalcade of famous faces, Miranda was a standout in a full-length pink gown that hugged her enviable willowy frame.

Miranda's strapless dress allowed her to serve up a generous helping of cleavage as she posed up a storm for the cameras that evening.

The lower half of the outfit was covered in feathers, spilling out into a luxurious train that added an extra splash of personality to the look.

She accentuated her screen siren features with makeup, including a slick of blood-red lipstick, and she framed her luminous complexion with earrings.

The Australian fashionista, who first shot to international stardom as a Victoria's Secret Angel, wore her dark hair down in silken waves.

Evan and Miranda married in 2017 and have since welcomed three sons into the world together - Hart, six, Myles, five, and Pierre, nine months.

Miranda is also mother to a 13-year-old son called Flynn whom she shares with her ex-husband, The Lord Of The Rings heartthrob Orlando Bloom.

Charlize Theron joins joins a long line of boldface names to be presented with BAby2Baby's Giving Tree Award, including Salma Hayek, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kerry Washington, Amy Adams, Jennifer Garner and Kim Kardashian.

The event took place just nine months after Miranda gave birth to Pierre, the third son she shares with her husband Evan Spiegel (left) and her fourth child overall

Miranda, who is on the Baby2Baby board of directors, attended the gala with Evan, who is one of the founders of Snapchat and the current CEO of Snap, Inc

Amid the cavalcade of famous faces, Miranda was a standout in a full-length pink gown that hugged her enviable willowy frame

When Charlize was announced as this year's recipient, she gushed that she was 'deeply honored' to be recognized, via The Hollywood Reporter.

She showered praise on Baby2Baby, saying: 'Their dedication to serving women, children and families across the country is nothing short of inspiring.'

The Oscar-winning actress, who was born and raised in South Africa, founded an organization called the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project to try to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS among young people on the continent.

After being unveiled as this year's Baby2Baby honoree, Charlize said: 'Through my work with CTAOP, I have seen first hand the power we all can have when we invest in young people and their communities, and completely share in their mission to work towards a more equitable world.'

Baby2Baby also boasts a celebrity-strewn board of directors including Miranda, Jessica Alba, Kelly Rowland and Rachel Zoe.
Saturday Night Live paid a touching tribute to Quincy Jones after the musical icon died last week at the age of 91.

Quincy hosted the long-running sketch show once in 1990, and he decided to invite 10 musical guests on with him - a record for the program.

His performance included a tip of the hat to Nelson Mandela, who was hours away from his historic release from prison after 27 years.

Now, in the first Saturday Night Live episode since Quincy's death, the program has offered its own homage to the legendary composer, songwriter and producer.

At the end of the episode, a card appeared onscreen with a black-and-white promotional photo Quincy took for his hosting appearance 34 years ago.

Saturday Night Live paid a touching tribute to Quincy Jones after the musical icon died last week at the age of 91

Quincy's death was greeted with an outpouring of grief from celebrities, including his daughter Rashida, herself an acclaimed comic actress.

Rashida took to social media on Thursday to pay a heartfelt tribute to her father, music legend Quincy Jones, in the wake of his death at age 91.

The 48-year-old actress posted a throwback photo with her dad taken when she was a baby along with an emotional message to her 'giant, 'icon,' and 'genius' father.

She wrote: ' My dad was nocturnal his whole adult life. He kept jazz hours starting in high school and never looked back.

'When I was little, I would wake up in the middle of the night to search for him. Undoubtedly, he would be somewhere in the house, composing (old school, with a pen and sheet music).'

The filmmaker recalled, 'He would never send me back to bed. He would smile and bring me into his arms while he continued to workthere was no safer place in the world for me. He was a giant. An icon. A culture shifter. A genius.'

Continuing to memorialize her parent, she added, 'His music (and ALL of his work) was a channel for his love. He WAS love.

'He made everyone he ever met feel loved and seen. Thats his legacy.'

Quincy hosted the show once in 1990, and he decided to invite 10 musical guests on with him - a record for the program; pictured on the series with his son Quincy D III (left)

Rashida Jones took to social media on Thursday to pay a heartfelt tribute to her father, music legend Quincy Jones , in the wake of his death at age 91; pictured in 2020

The 48-year-old actress posted a throwback photo with her dad taken when she was a baby

Within the caption, she referred to her dad as a 'giant,' an 'icon,' and a 'genius'

The star, who boasts nearly two million followers on the app, added, 'I was fortunate enough to experience this love in close proximity. Ill miss his hugs and kisses and unconditional devotion and advice. Daddy, it is an honor to be your daughter. Your love lives forever.'

Rashida is Quincy's  who was a father-of-seven  sixth child.

Her mom, the late model and actress Peggy Lipton, was married to Jones from 1974 to 1990.

The music industry heavyweight died on Sunday night, his family announced in a statement on Monday.

Quincy's last Instagram post was an affectionate birthday tribute to his daughter Martina on November 1.

He wrote: 'Happy Birthday to my Tina Beena @martinafotos1!! So proud to be yo papa! Big hug, I love you eternally.'

'He made everyone he ever met feel loved and seen. Thats his legacy,' Rashida wrote about her iconic dad on Thursday

A number of celebrities paid their respects to the record producer following news of his passing; pictured with Will Smith in 1990

Katharine McPhee called Quincy 'the kindest' as she remembered him online

Following his death, Martina similarly used Instagram to remember her dad.

She captioned a post, 'How do I even start ? My dad to me was many things wrapped into one. My friend, my solid, my guidance and my inspiration of what love looks like.

'The hole in my heart will definitely take time to heal. I will hold his humor, his words, his wisdom and love of life close to my heart and move forward with the strength he instilled in me and with every ounce of my being I can only hope to hold up my siblings and loved ones, and love them from the bottom of my heart.'

A number of celebrities also paid their respects to the record producer following the news of his passing.

Among them was Will Smith, Katharine McPhee, and Goldie Hawn.
Paris Hilton got a romantic kiss from her husband Carter Reum at the star-studded Baby2Baby gala in Los Angeles on Saturday.

Every year, celebs turn out in force for Baby2Baby, a Los Angeles charity whose aim is to provide essential goods like diapers and clothes to underprivileged children.

At each annual gala, one superstar mother is presented with the Giving Tree Award, and this year's recipient was Charlize Theron.

Among the cavalcade of famous faces was none other than Paris, 43, who is now a mother of two thanks to her marriage to Carter.

She glowed with happiness when Carter, a venture capitalist, leaned down to gently kiss her temple as the cameras snapped away at them.

Paris Hilton got a romantic kiss from her husband Carter Reum at the star-studded Baby2Baby gala in Los Angeles on Saturday

Paris was the image of showbiz glamour in pale pink dress splashed with silver brocading that dazzled when the lights hit it

Paris was the image of showbiz glamour in pale pink dress splashed with silver brocading that dazzled when the lights hit it.

Her sumptuous gown brought back memories of Old Hollywood, with its extravagant robe-like sleeves and the mesh over her decolletage.

The superstar socialite's trademark blonde hair was teased in an elegantly wavy do, and her unmistakable features with sharpened with makeup.

She could be seen placing a hand at her enviably svelte waistline as she flashed her megawatt smile for the cameras at the glittering gala.

Paris and Carter married in 2021 and have since had two children via surrogacy - their son Phoenix, one, and their daughter London, who turns one Monday.

Carter attended the Baby2Baby gala exuding a classic chic that complemented his wife's - he in a simple black tuxedo with a matched bow tie and watch.

Paris later took to the stage alongside pal Nicole Richie, who stunned in a purple gown, to speak to guests at the charity event.

Charlize Theron joins joins a long line of boldface names to be presented with BAby2Baby's Giving Tree Award, including Salma Hayek, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kerry Washington, Amy Adams, Jennifer Garner and Kim Kardashian.

When Charlize was announced as this year's recipient, she gushed that she was 'deeply honored' to be recognized, via The Hollywood Reporter.

Carter attended the Baby2Baby gala exuding a classic chic that complemented his wife's - he in a simple black tuxedo with a matched bow tie and watch

Paris later took to the stage with her friend Nicole Richie to speak to guests

Nicole stunned in a long sleeved purple gown

Paris and Nicole were all smiles as they chatted away at the charity event

She showered praise on Baby2Baby, saying: 'Their dedication to serving women, children and families across the country is nothing short of inspiring.'

The Oscar-winning actress, who was born and raised in South Africa, founded an organization called the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project to try to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS among young people on the continent.

After being unveiled as this year's Baby2Baby honoree, Charlize said: 'Through my work with CTAOP, I have seen first hand the power we all can have when we invest in young people and their communities, and completely share in their mission to work towards a more equitable world.'

Baby2Baby also boasts a celebrity-strewn board of directors including Miranda, Jessica Alba, Kelly Rowland and Rachel Zoe.
Strictly Come Dancing fans were left raging over the scores once again on Saturday night as they claimed the competition judges were 'over marking' one of the final eight couples.

Former Love Island star Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Skorjanec took to the famous dancefloor to perform the Quickstep during the latest live show.

And her glitzy performance left judges Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke in awe as they gave her a joint score of 37.

Motsi and Shirley even gave the star a perfect 10 but fellow judge Craig Revel Horwood seemed less impressed as he scored the couple an eight.

But BBC viewers did not agree as they dubbed the performance 'flat' and said the house band 'butchered' the song - Mariah Carey's smash-hit track, Sweet Fantasy.

Strictly Come Dancing fans were left raging over scores once again as they claimed the competition judges 'over marked' Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Skorjanec's Quickstep

Her glitzy performance left judges Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke in awe as they gave her a joint score of 37 but Craig Revel Horwood did not seem as impressed

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one user penned: 'Tasha & Aljaz didn't deserve 10s I'm sorry.'

'I liked Tasha's dance but I don't think it was 10 worthy.

'Tasha and Aljaz was Overmarked. I agreed with Craig on this one.'

'As usual Tasha was good, yawn. Sorry I just find her really dull to watch, there's been zero journey and I feel like the judges are favouring her massively.'

'Shirley going in on that when Tasha was bland as anything and she gave a 10.'

And Craig appeared to be on the side of the public as he said: 'I thought it was a little bit safe I've got to be honest,' as the audience booed.

'I felt that it was just missing something tonight. Sorry about that.'

The fresh wave of criticism comes after Shirley hit back at fans who were left outraged to see Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin be the latest couple to leave the competition last week.

BBC viewers did not agree as they dubbed the performance as 'flat' and said the house band 'butchered' the song, Mariah Carey's hit, Sweet Fantasy

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one user penned: 'Tasha & Aljaz didn't deserve 10s I'm sorry.'

'As usual Tasha was good, yawn. Sorry I just find her really dull to watch, there's been zero journey and I feel like the judges are favouring her massively', another wrote

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 head judge, 64, snapped as she confessed she thought it was 'childish' to blame the judges for the outcome.

Shirley was slammed earlier this month after fans of the BBC show revealed that they believe Sam was under scored by the judges.

But now she has hit back and reminded the public that their vote has an impact on who is put into the dance off on Sunday evenings.

The judge said: 'The show's been on over 20 years. The public vote makes a difference.'

The fresh wave of criticism comes after Shirley hit back at fans who were left outraged to see Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin be the latest couple to leave the competition earlier this month

The head judge, 64, snapped as she confessed she thought it was 'childish' to blame the judges for the outcome of the couple

'You the public can vote to save your favourites. It gets childish to blame the judges.'

After being accused of unfairly marking down the female celebrities, Shirley responded, 'I haven't got a mean bone in my body.'

Sam and Nikita were scored 29 for their American Smooth performance during last Saturday's episode which landed them at the bottom of the leaderboard.

Then after a public vote then went head to head in a shock dance off against Montell Douglas and Johannas Radebe, which saw them being voted off by the judges.

But the scoring of the couple left fans outraged as they claimed they were unfairly scored.

Sam and Nikita were scored 29 for their American Smooth performance during Saturday's episode which landed them at the bottom of the leaderboard

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one penned: ''This bottom two when Wynne and Pete are right there?!?!'

'If we don't see Wynne or Pete in the dance off next week i am gunna kick off.'

'I need Pete to be the dance off next week. We're losing decent dancers and he's just not there.'

'#strictly pete shayne and wynne were the weakest!'

'Pete should have gone home this week, he was atrocious. Yes I've read the spoiler & I'm really cross. The other pair should NEVER have been anywhere near the dance off'

'Poor Sam didn't deserve to go. Pete did. Shirley didn't judge him fairly, she hasn't all series. She needs the sack. She has ruined this show in the way she's picked favourites. Len never did.'

'Sam and Montel should never have been in the dance-off. There's some mediocre men that should have been there. Very unfair as they were both what strictly is about. Loved watching them both progress.
The Block's Kylie and Brad Baker sensationally returned on Sunday night in time for auction day after the mother-of-four vowed she would never return to the Channel Nine show during a foul-mouthed tirade last week.

In another shock move, the teams also opted to keep details of their home's reserve price confidential from other competitors.

The controversial couple walked off the set of the show in spectacular fashion last Sunday, with Kylie unleashing a foul-mouthed tirade before disappearing into the night.

In recent weeks, Kylie and husband Brad saw their seven-year marriage implode on-air amid the 'flirt-gate scandal', which saw the Cairns-based tradesman tell fellow contestant Mimi Belperio he would 'follow' her OnlyFans account if she had one.

In a dramatic lead-up to the final round of judging last week, tensions reached boiling point when Kylie ordered her team to stop work just hours before the last reveal and abruptly left.

The couple's return on Sunday night sparked fierce reactions from fans, with many questioning why they were allowed back on the set.

On X, formally known as Twitter, fans voiced their concerns over Kylie and Brad's continued involvement in the show.

The Block's Kylie and Brad Baker sensationally returned to the series on Sunday night in time for auction day after the mother-of-four vowed she would never return to the Channel Nine show during a foul-mouthed tirade last week

'Kylie and Brad should be disqualified and the profits shared between the tradies,' one user exclaimed.

Another user added, 'Being allowed to return just diminished the behavioural standards for future contestants.

'That behaviour should have been used as an example that it will not be accepted.'

The controversial couple walked off the set of the series last Sunday in spectacular fashion, with Kylie unleashing a foul-mouthed tirade before disappearing into the night

'The Block really is turning into MAFS it seems,' they added.

'So Kylie and Brad have come crawling back obviously for the possible $$$,' wrote another viewer.

'They should not be allowed to win anything, what the [expletive],' quipped another.

'The producer's really are milking it,' wrote one more, before adding: 'Fark Kylie and Brad back again'.

On X, formally known as Twitter, fans voiced their concerns over Kylie and Brad's continued involvement in the show

Kylie unleashed a foul-mouthed tirade on the show last Sunday and ordered her tradies off-site.

'F**king leave it, all of you. I want everyone gone, I'm not kidding,' she instructed, before telling Brad to 'get them OUT. GET. THEM. OUT. Tell them to leave, I don't want their help.'

Brad, left with no choice, relayed her orders to their stunned tradies, who reluctantly packed up and left.

Explaining her decision, Kylie claimed, 'I just feel like everyone is against us.'

The following day, as host Scott Cam called 'tools down' for the final time, Kylie was noticeably absent from the celebration.

In an emotional confession on camera, she shared that she and Brad initially joined The Block for a 'holiday,' adding, 'We're always working, always being parents.'

She revealed that, unlike her husband, who runs a 'very successful' business, she lives 'pay cheque to pay cheque' and was hoping to make some much-needed money from her time on the show.

After a gruelling week, Kylie and Brad were met with criticism from the judges, who pointed out that their front yard seemed unfinished.

Judge Shaynna Blaze noted the outdoor area required 'more thought and planning'.

A tense exchange erupted between Kylie and Scott Cam during feedback.

'Alright, let's wrap it up,' Kylie interjected as Scott read the judges' critiques.

When Scott replied, 'I'm not going to wrap it up... this is part of the deal,' Kylie muttered under her breath, 'I fking hate this guy...'

A tense exchange erupted between Kylie and Scott Cam during feedback last week, with Kylie saying 'I fking hate this guy' while talking about Scott

The feedback session concluded with a frustrated Kylie dismissing the critiques as a 'f**king joke.'

Drama continued when the judges revealed their scores, with Darren Palmer awarding them a seven out of ten.

Disillusioned, Kylie fumed, 'I'm leaving, I'm not dealing with this s**t,' before railing against her fellow contestants, claiming they 'don't even need money'.

'I need to go home and make money,' she said. 'I'm wasting my time here... it's as simple as that.'

A feedback session concluded with a frustrated Kylie dismissing the critiques as a 'f**king joke'

The explosive episode reached a climax when the results placed Kylie and Brad in fifth place with 26 points out of 40.

As the other contestants celebrated the week's winners, Courtney and Grant, Kylie immediately stormed out, followed closely by Brad.

A frustrated Cam attempted to call them back, only for Kylie to threaten to 'break the f**king camera' if the crew kept filming her.

Kylie split from her husband Brad on national TV following his flirtatious comments to Mimi Belperio

With her dramatic exit, Kylie sealed her promise to boycott auction day, even if it meant forfeiting any potential profits from her time on The Block.

Kylie split from her husband Brad on national TV during last week, following his flirtatious comments to Mimi Belperio. They are now back together after working on their marriage.

The couple, who share four children together, saw their relationship implode when plumber Brad, 32, told Mimi he would 'follow' her OnlyFans account if she had one.

Kylie sensationally quit the show after the flirty exchange and flew home to Cairns, only to return to the Phillip Island construction site last Wednesday to dump her tradie husband on TV.

'If I gave up we'd leave with nothing so, whatever we get, even if its 10 grand, I'm taking f***ing half of what you get and then I'm leaving your a**e, you can keep your f***ing house, and I'm f**king off,' she said last Wednesday night.

'I don't even know if I'm staying in Cairns to be honest there's nothing there for me anymore.

'You treat your partner like this you can f**king deal with it,' she continued to fume in an overheard argument between the couple, who have been married for seven years.

She added: 'My biggest problem is the entire time we've been together, and even when we were starting out, you have never flirted with me like that in our entire relationship so you can only imagine how that makes me feel.'

'I'm sorry,' Brad attempted, but Kylie cut in with: 'Sorry doesn't fix anything.'

Kylie then went on to admit the flirtation between Brad and Mimi had been so bad she believed the pair had secretly slept together behind the scenes of The Block.

'Why are you talking to her about following her OnlyFans?' Kylie began.

'When you were like: "I need to go to the toilet..." I honestly thought you guys had come in to f**k and then you guys were in here for ages.

'In my mind I feel like something happened. My biggest thing was I already voiced my concerns to you about her and how she felt about you.'

As Brad could do nothing but listen to his wife slam him, Kyle then dealt the final blow.

'You've just completely gone with it and completely annihilated our entire relationship,' she said.

'What you need to understand is just by me talking to you does not mean I'm okay. Just so you know. This is us being separated. We are officially single people.'

The pair have since reunited and were even seen mingling with Mimi and the entire Block cast at the Melbourne Cup earlier this week.
Strictly Come Dancing fans have been left shocked as the results of the week eight elimination show were leaked online on Sunday morning.

Viewers branded the show result 'totally unfair' and claimed the judges 'had it in' for the celebrity who has missed out on next week's Blackpool Special.

The BBC show will air its results show tonight after it was filmed on Saturday night, however the next celebrity name to be sent packing is already circulating on X.

Many were surprised at who ended up in the bottom two and had to dance their routines for a second time.

But it seems the judges had a split decision when voting who to send home and it was head judge Shirley Ballas who had the final say.

Strictly Come Dancing fans have been left shocked as the results of the week eight elimination show is leaked online on Sunday morning

Viewers branded the show 'totally unfair' and claimed the judges 'had it in' for the celebrity who has missed out on next week's Blackpool Special

Others fans expressed their annoyance at the leak which has been common most Sundays during recent series due to a notorious mole.

'Unfortunately the judges had it in for XXX from the start.'

'I think Craig and Motsi were correct. Shirley probably just wanted to use her head judge status. Feel sorry for the person who left;'

'Such a shame. I thought XXX was overmarked and should've gone;'

'I personally dont like the one they saved. Im fuming for who Shirley voted out. I think she should go, Craig should be head judge!;'

'Shirley getting casting vote is a joke ..if its 2-2 should come down to audience vote;'

During this weeks show, Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu found themselves at the bottom of the judges leaderboard with their Rumba as they scored 30 points.

During this week's show, Shayne Ward and partner Nancy Xu and Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas (pictured) found themselves joint bottom of the judges leaderboard

Meanwhile scooping the same top score of the evening was JB Gill and partner Lauren Oakley and Love Island star Tasha Ghouri and partner Aljaz Skorjanec (pictured)

But it was Pete Wicks that left BBC viewers in tears during his emotional performance which paid tribute to his nan

Sharing the bottoms spot was also Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas for their moody Argentine Tango.

Meanwhile scooping the same top score of the evening was JB Gill and partner Lauren Oakley and Love Island star Tasha Ghouri and partner Aljaz Skorjanec.

But it was Pete Wicks that left BBC viewers in tears during his emotional performance which paid tribute to his nan.

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.
Katy Perry gave her fans a glimpse into her drama-free relationship with her fiance Orlando Bloom's ex, Miranda Kerr as they attended the 2024 Baby2Baby Gala on Saturday.

The Roar songstress, 40, who met her partner in 2016, looked incredible as she stepped out in a white silky gown.

She cut an elegant figure in the diamond accessorised dress which she paired with a pair of heels.

Katy appeared in top spirits for the event as she posed alongside Miranda, who wore a pale pink satin wrap dress.

Australian model Miranda, 41, looked pretty in pink as her garment featured a feather skirt and and a two meter-long train.

Katy Perry gave her fans a glimpse into her drama-free relationship with her fiance Orlando Bloom's ex, Miranda Kerr as they attended the 2024 Baby2Baby Gala on Saturday

Katy, 40, appeared in top spirits for the event as she posed alongside Miranda, who wore a pale pink satin wrap dress. Australian model Miranda, 41, looked pretty in pink

Miranda, who is married to Snap Inc. co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel, has only ever had kind things to say about her ex and his love, as she gushed in 2022 that she 'adore[s]' Katy.

'I adore Katy and am grateful Orlando found someone he is happy with. Now Flynn has four happy parents who get along,' she said at the time.

The brunette beauty added that she and Orlando had managed to stay good friends almost a decade after opting to end their marriage.

'When we separated, the most important thing we decided we could do is that when we make a decision, we ask, "Is this in the best interest of our child?"'

She added, 'We will be family no matter what.'

Miranda and Orlando began dating back in 2007, with an engagement following in June of 2010.

They were married just a month later, and the couple welcomed their son Flynn in January 2011.

But in October 2013, the two announced that they were divorcing and had already separated months earlier.

The Roar songstress, who met her partner in 2016, looked incredible as she stepped out in a white silky gown

Miranda looked incredible as she showcased her feathered two-meter train

Miranda and Evan first met at a Louis Vuitton event in 2014.

The model recounted how former Harper's Bazaar editor-in-chief Glenda Bailey, who sat next to them at the dinner, told her out of the blue, 'I know about these things. I have a strong feeling you will get married.'

The lovebirds were officially dating by 2015, and they got engaged the following year before marrying in May 2017.

In 2018 they welcomed their first child together  and her second  Hart, four, and their son Myles, two, followed in 2019.
Eamonn Holmes looked unrecognisable as he revealed 'brilliant' transformation on Saturday.

The former ITV star, 64, - now a regular on GB News - shared a photo with Instagram followers after transforming into US President in waiting Donald Trump, and joked that he was not 'looking himself'.

He humoured his followers as he shared a Trump-style suit and tie and sported the divisive Republican leader's bronzed look.

In the snap, Eamonn swept his grey hair to the side in a Trump-like comb over as he posed in front of a large window resembling the one Trump will be reunited with when he returns to the Oval Office.

He layered his two-piece suit over a white crisp shirt and a red tie which mimicked the newly elected President Of The United States Of America.

Eamonn Holmes looked almost unrecognisable as he revealed 'brilliant' transformation on Saturday

The former ITV star, 64, shared a transformative snap to Instagram as he joked that he was not 'looking himself'

Sharing the snap with his 793,000 followers, he penned: 'Got some new publicity pics 

'I'm just not looking myself in these am I?'

And his fans loved the look as they dubbed it as 'brilliant'.

One penned: 'Brilliant!!'; 'These are brilliant', 'I think you look stunning, the tan is the best', 'Brillante. you could win look alike'.

His transformation comes after he attended his first showbiz event with new girlfriend Katie Alexander on Thursday, but avoided the red carpet.

The TV star, has been dating counsellor Katie Alexander, 43, since his split from Ruth Langsford and has been open about his new partner.

And they 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.'

His transformation comes after he attended his first showbiz event with new girlfriend Katie Alexander on Thursday, but avoided the red carpet. (pictured with Laura Whitmore at the event)

The TV star, 64, has been dating counsellor Katie Alexander, 43, since his split from Ruth Langsford and has been open about his new partner (Katie is pictured back right, with TV star Laura Hamilton pictured back left)

The event held at The Grosvenor House Hotel in London was also attended by presenter Laura Whitmore and Irish dancer Michael Flatley.

Eamonn and Loose Women star Ruth, also 64, announced their plans to divorce in June after 14 years of marriage and 27 years together.

Now, 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.

She has been helping Eamonn through the split from Ruth, but her friends say she is at pains to point out that their friendship has only grown close once the marriage was over in May.

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.

The Northern Irish presenter has been open about his new relationship with the pair pictured enjoying two holidays together over the summer.

In May it emerged Eamonn and Ruth had split after 14 years of marriage and would divorce . Cracks had started to appear in their relationship and they had not been photographed together for two years.

They made their first appearance as a couple at The Irish Post Awards, but a ccording to The Mirror, 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' (pictured with Lisa McHugh)

Eamonn and Loose Women star Ruth, also 64, announced their plans to divorce in June after 14 years of marriage and 27 years together

And it has now been revealed that Eamonn and his new girlfriend first messaged each other 12 years ago.

The pair first exchanged flirty messages on social media in 2012 according The Sun.

The TV host and and relationship therapist were both married at the time and the messages initially included her then husband George.

Back in 2012, Katie's former partner joked that he believed his wife was 'flirting' with Eamonn, but with both men sharing a love for Manchester United, quipped: 'Good job we're both Red.'

Reports then emerged she'd been left 'devastated' when she discovered 'messages from another woman' on his laptop.

A source has now told the The Sun: 'We knew Eamonn and Katie got together via social media, but no one knew how far back they went.

'Ruth will be shocked they were in contact 12 years ago. I don't think she would have known.'

'Eamonn gets a buzz out of replying to messages from fans. He and Katie had a real connection, and it blossomed into something more.'

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

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.
British acting legend Gillian Anderson has reportedly been approached to be the new face of Marks & Spencer.

The X Files star, 56, was hailed as 'chic, high calibre and sophisticated' by the store after it tried to sign her for its new adverts.

Just some of the big names to work with the British retailer have included Sienna Miller and Hannah Waddingham as the brand leans into a star-studded edge.

An M&S insider told The Sun: 'Gillian is the perfect face to help evolve the brand.

'She is chic, high calibre and sophisticated, so bosses are keen to sign her as a key brand ambassador.'

British acting legend Gillian Anderson has reportedly been approached to be the new face of Marks & Spencer

The X Files star, 56, was hailed as 'chic, high calibre and sophisticated' by the store after it tried to sign her for its new adverts

It comes after Gillian discussed her 'complex relationship' with co-star David Duchovny on the Table Manners podcast.

She claimed she learned more about her The X-Files co-star from his podcast than working with him on set.

Gillian joined hosts Jessie and Lennie Ware to discuss her groundbreaking new book Want, her co-star David, 64, The Fall, Sex Education, and what she ate on The X-Files.

Gillian said: 'We've always had quite a complex relationship. You know, when you work that intensely with somebody for such a long time.

'I mean we were basically married to each other. Ive listened to his podcast a fair number of times, and I think its good, its interesting.'

'Its interesting hearing a man talk so openly about emotional things. I feel like Ive learnt more about him listening to his podcast than from working with him.'

The star also discussed her new book Want, where she collected anonymous sexual fantasies from women around the world.

Explaining her reasons for not including ages in the submission of her book, Gillian said: 'That was an internal decision within Bloomsbury.'

Just some of the big names to work with the British retailer have included Sienna Miller and Hannah Waddingham as the brand leans into a star-studded edge

An M&S insider told The Sun : 'Gillian is the perfect face to help evolve the brand' (Pictured in The X Files)

It comes after Gillian discussed her 'complex relationship' with co-star David Duchovny on the Table Manners podcast

'It was because they felt that fantasy is ageless and that somehow maybe it would be more identifiable to women if they were reading and not necessarily know.'

She continued: 'Sometimes it's evident, and whats really interesting is you read a fantasy and somebody talks about never having kissed anybody and then they reveal that theyre 70 years old.'

'Fantasy is ageless.'

Describing her book, the actress added: 'Its a very moving book. Theres a lot of tenderness and compassion and sadness and a lot of joy.'

'Theres a lot of provocation, theres a lot of c**k, a lot of orgasms theres a few tentacles.'

Revealing that she would be interested in doing a sequel, Gillian said: 'Id be interested whether at the end of all this whether thered be a different question that we would ask, or maybe it wouldnt be about fantasies'

'It might steer us in another direction based on how people respond to it or how successful it is.'

Gillian appeared on Jessie and Lennie Ware's Table Manners podcast (pictured) this week, where they discussed her groundbreaking new book, Want, and favourite foods

Aside from her book, Gillian also discussed whether The Fall would return for a fourth series.

The actress, who stars as investigating officer Stella Gibson in the thriller series, revealed that the series didn't quite 'follow through'.

Explaining that they tried to film the series, Gillian said: 'We tried for Season 4 for a while but it didn't quite follow through.'

Aside from starring in The Fall, Gillian also played the role of sex therapist Jean Milburn in the Netflix comedy-drama Sex Education, and previously admitted she banned her children from watching the show.
Susan Sarandon has reflected on being dropped by her agent and her fears over never working in Hollywood again - after her controversial comments at a pro-Palestine rally last November.

The Oscar-winning star, 78, has been vocal in her support for Palestine, and present at several rallies calling for a ceasefire in Gaza since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

And last year, the legendary actress was dropped by her Hollywood representative, United Talent Agency, which is run by Jewish CEO Jeremy Zimmer, for her comments.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show star caused controversy after she claimed Jewish people 'are getting a taste of what it feels like to be Muslim' amid the war with Hamas at a rally in New York City.

She then apologised for her remarks, saying that she had not planned to speak at the rally, but had been invited to address the crowd, and had intended to 'highlight the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza'.

Susan Sarandon has reflected on being dropped by her agent and her fears over never working in Hollywood again - after her controversial comments at a pro-Palestine rally last November

The Oscar-winning star, 78, has been vocal in her support for Palestine, and present at several rallies calling for a ceasefire in Gaza since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict

Now in a new interview with The Times Sarah has reflected on how the controversy led to the departure of her agent and how she is no longer able to star in mainstream studio films.

She told the publication: 'I was dropped by my agency, my projects were pulled. I've been used as an example of what not to do if you want to continue to work.

'There are so many people out of work right now since November of last year who have lost their jobs as custodians, as writers, as painters, as people working in the cafeteria, substitute teachers who have been fired because they tweeted something, or liked a tweet, or asked for a ceasefire.'

Asked if she would ever be offered a big film role again she replied: 'I don't know. Not anything in Hollywood.'

Back in July Susan apologised for her remarks, saying her 'phrasing was a terrible mistake' while covering the latest issue of Elle Spain.

She also reiterated her desire to end the 'genocide' in Gaza, saying she had long been motivated to stand against injustice.

Covering the magazine, the actress explained that her position has a famous actress is a 'loudspeaker' allowing her to bring visibility to social issues.

Accepting that by speaking out she has ensured her blacklisting by a large part of the industry, Susan insisted that everyone had to come together to stop Israelis and Palestinians dying, because 'no one deserves to die this way.'

The Rocky Horror Picture Show star caused controversy after she claimed Jewish people 'are getting a taste of what it feels like to be Muslim' amid the war with Hamas at a rally in NYC

She said: 'Injustice has always hurt and angered me. I grew up in Washington in the 60s, with the Vietnam War hovering over that time and assassinations like Kennedy or Martin Luther King Jr. overshadowing our culture.

'I didn't have to force myself to educate myself in this sense, it was the only plausible option.

'That's why I'm so surprised by the misinformation that exists today, at a time when we have everything within our reach.

'It is up to each of us to stop the genocide that is happening in Gaza, and that means that Israelis and Palestinians stop dying. No one deserves to die this way.

'I understand that it is hard to accept that we are all part of the problem, but a war like this is only forged with our taxes, with your money and mine.

'That's why it's admirable that countries like Spain, Ireland or Norway raise their voices and say: 'We don't want to contribute to this.''

Susan recalled: 'I realized that my profession carried with it a loudspeaker in the 70s, when the United States introduced the Equal Rights Amendment.

'At one of the marches I was walking with Marlo Thomas, and she said to me: 'The only way we are going to be in the news is for you to speak.' And I did it, scared to death but I did it, because it is the way of life that I conceive.'

Susan has previously protested for the visibility of AIDS, to end the war in Iraq and against gun violence, even being arrested.

She was arrested in June 2018 at the Women Disobey protests for protesting against Donald Trump's controversial migrant policy of separating children from their parents.

While her second arrest was last year at a protest to raise the minimum wage for tipped restaurant workers.

She said: 'It will never cease to surprise me that an American thinks that someone is desperate to enter our country, when what they are really trying to do is achieve a dignified, stable and, above all, free life.'

The Rocky Horror Picture Show star previously caused controversy in November, after she claimed Jewish people 'are getting a taste of what it feels like to be Muslim' amid the war with Hamas at a rally in New York City.

She apologised for her remarks, saying that she had not planned to speak at the rally, but had been invited to address the crowd, and had intended to 'highlight the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza'.

But Susan acknowledged that her words ignored 'centuries of oppression and genocide in Europe' as well as recent atrocities, such as the Tree of Life synagogue attack.

Taking to her Instagram, she said: 'Intending to communicate my concern for an increase in hate crimes, I said that Jewish Americans, as the targets of rising antisemitic hate, 'are getting a taste of what it is like to be Muslim in this country, so often subjected to violence.'

'This phrasing was a terrible mistake, as it implies that until recently Jews have been strangers to persecution, when the opposite is true.

'As we all know, from centuries of oppression and genocide in Europe, to the Tree of Life shooting in Pittsburgh, PA, Jews have long been familiar with discrimination and religious violence which continues to this day.

Now in a new interview with The Times Sarah has reflected on how said that the controversy led to the departure of her agent and how she is no longer able to star in mainstream studio films

'I deeply regret diminishing this reality and hurting people with this comment. It was my intent to show solidarity in the struggle against bigotry of all kinds, and I am sorry I failed to do so.'

'I will continue my commitment to peace, truth, justice, and compassion for all people. I hope that we can meet with love and willingness to engage in dialogue, especially with those with whom we disagree.'

Susan has continued to be an advocate for Palestinian rights, and proudly wore a pro Palestinian button on the red carpet on Thursday for the New York premiere for her new film The Fabulous Four.

In April, she joined a host of film stars and directors donating memorabilia and time to a Cinema for Gaza auction to raise funds for humanitarian relief in Palestine, including Paul Mescal, Olivia Colman, Ayo Edebiri, Tessa Thompson, Louis Theroux, Jonathan Glazer and Stellan Skarsgard.
Georgia Kousoulou cut a radiant figure at the weekend, as she shared a glimpse into her lavish baby shower, ahead of the birth of her little girl.

The TV personality, 32, took to her Instagram on Sunday to post a slew of snaps from the bash, calling it 'the most perfect day', as she prepares to welcome her second child with her husband Tommy Mallet, 31.

She dazzled in a pale pink asymmetrical dress, which hugged her figure and showcased her blossoming baby bump.

The off-the-shoulder number also boasted a thigh-high slit, displaying the TOWIE star's long legs and strappy white high heels.

Georgia swept her hair up into an elegant bun and sported a full face of glamorous makeup, as she posed in front of a lavish balloon display and giant satin bow.

Georgia Kousoulou cut a radiant figure at the weekend, as she shared a glimpse into her lavish baby shower, ahead of the birth of her little girl

The TV personality, 32, took to her Instagram on Sunday to post a slew of snaps from the bash, calling it 'the most perfect day', as she prepares to welcome her second child with her husband Tommy Mallet , 31

Georgia swept her hair up into an elegant bun and sported a full face of glamorous makeup, as she posed in front of a lavish balloon display and giant satin bow

Gushing about the event, she penned: 'My dream baby shower happened yesterday & I'm just so thankful.

'I was walking around so happy & emotional looking around knowing how much I have prayed for this. I can't believe we are counting down the days now.

'Everyone who came made it so so special & all my lovely suppliers who helped me create the most perfect day. Please be prepared for baby shower content for the next week '

She was joined by a number of her famous pals, including several of her fellow TOWIE alumni and Love Island star Dani Dyer.

Dani, Billi Mucklow, Chloe Lewis and Amber Dowding all beamed as they posed alongside the pregnant star and took to their own Instagrams to share snippets of the day.

A personalised welcome sign could be seen under blossom tree was decorated with fairy lights, while the tables were adorned with pink candles and roses.

While platters of sandwiches were laid out at the back as well as numerous pink-themed desserts, including cupcakes, mini trifles, pavlovas and chocolate covered strawberries.

The baby shower comes following a stressful time for Georgia, after she was rushed to hospital last month due to feeling 'reduced movement' from her unborn baby girl.

Gushing about the event, she penned: 'My dream baby shower happened yesterday & I'm just so thankful. I was walking around so happy & emotional looking around knowing how much I have prayed for this. I can't believe we are counting down the days now'

She was joined by a number of her famous pals, including several of her fellow TOWIE alumni, who all took to their own Instagrams to share snippets of the day

A personalised welcome sign could be seen under blossom tree was decorated with fairy lights, while the tables were adorned with pink candles and roses

While platters of sandwiches were laid out at the back for the guests to snack on throughout the shower

While there were also numerous pink-themed desserts, including cupcakes, mini trifles, pavlovas and chocolate covered strawberries

The reality star, who underwent IVF, explained in an update to her Instagram Story that luckily 'everything was good' and she made sure to get checked over quickly.

Georgia shared photos of herself undergoing a series of tests as she lay in a hospital bed with wires and straps across her tummy.

She wrote: 'Baby girl wanted attention. Rushed out the house as felt movement was reduced so made sure I got checked and everything is good, thank you God.'

The update comes after Georgia hared a heart-warming clip of her son, Brody, helping her get an ultrasound scan, after revealing she is expecting a baby girl.

She emotionally admitted to be feeling 'so blessed' as Brody, two, stood by her side during the ultrasound scan.

In the sweet video, he was seen holding the sonographer while helped by the nurse, who showed him the newborn on the screen.

Georgia announced her pregnancy back in May, one year after she tragically suffered a miscarriage.

Taking to Instagram to announce the news, she wrote: 'Our little rainbow baby due December. Words can't express the emotions we have, we have prayed, wished & with a little help it's happened..

The baby shower comes following a stressful time for Georgia, after she was rushed to hospital last month due to feeling 'reduced movement' from her unborn baby girl

Georgia shared photos of herself undergoing a series of tests as she lay in a hospital bed with wires and straps across her tummy

'I can't thank my team enough. Rehan Salim you are the best IVF specialist - I'm so blessed we met you & Michelle my amazing nurse who helped me every step of the way!

'These guys made my experience with IVF so much better than I could of [sic] even imagined.

'I was so scared as all the things I had heard beforehand but they were simply the best & held my hand the whole way through. Thank you for giving us the best gift of all.

'To anyone watching who is suffering... I am with you & I know how you feel. I pray this post doesn't trigger you. I know how hard it is seeing announcements. Please know you are not alone & please don't give up hope.'

Georgia previously said she will 'never get over the feeling' of losing her baby after she suffered a devastating miscarriage at 12 weeks.

The star had started having therapy after struggling with emotional triggers and feeling 'drained' by grief.

And Georgia's sadness was brought back to the surface as she reflected on her trauma while writing new book I Wish I Knew, where she speaks openly about the heartache of baby loss.

After almost a year since since the nightmare, Georgia says she's 'distracted' by 'dream child' Brody but often experiences negative thoughts, especially when she's on social media.

Georgia revealed she was expecting her second child with her husband Tommy Mallet, 31, in May, one year after suffering a miscarriage (pictured with their son Brody)

The update comes after Georgia shared a heart-warming clip of her son, Brody, helping her get an ultrasound scan, after revealing she is expecting a baby girl

But she wants to try to have four children with Tommy, who she married in a surprise ceremony last year, as she's always visualised having a big family, like it was when she grew up with two siblings.

She said: 'I don't think you ever get over the feeling. Ihave just started therapy, I'm much better, luckily for me I have Brody who's the love of my life, he's a dream child and keeps me distracted - but there are still triggers.

'The problem with baby loss is there are triggers everywhere. All my Instagram is either babies or weddings.

'The hardest thing I have learned is that it's okay to feel sad but happy for other people. I really struggled with that... I thought I was a bad person.

'The aftermath is draining, it is hard. Hopefully one day I will be pregnant again and maybe that will make me feel better, but I don't know.

'I really want a big family; I see us having three or four children. When you're old, you look at your table and it's full of people, that's what it comes down to.'
India's export of fuels like diesel to the European Union jumped 58 per cent in the first three quarters of 2024, with a bulk of them likely coming from refining discounted Russian oil, according to a monthly tracker report.

The EU/G7 countries in December 2022 introduced a price cap and an embargo on the imports of Russian crude oil in a bid to cripple Kremlin's revenue and create a vacuum in its funding for the invasion of Ukraine.

However, a lack of a policy on refined oil produced from Russian crude meant that countries not imposing sanctions could import large volumes of Russian crude, refine them into oil products and legally export them to the price-cap coalition countries.

India has become the second biggest buyer of Russian crude oil since the invasion, with purchases rising from less than one per cent of the total oil imported in the pre-Ukraine war period to almost 40 per cent of the country's total oil purchases.

The rise was primarily because Russian crude oil was available at a discount to other internationally traded oil due to the price cap and the European nations shunning purchases from Moscow. Fuel exports were, however, at full price.

"Capitalising on the refining loophole, India has now become the biggest exporter of oil products to the EU. In the first three quarters of 2024, exports to the EU from the Jamnagar, Vadinar (in Gujarat) and new Mangalore refinery - which are increasingly reliant on Russian crude - saw a 58 per cent year-on-year rise further," the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) said its latest report.

Europe typically imported an average of 1,54,000 barrels per day (bpd) of diesel and jet fuel from India before Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This has almost doubled.

While CREA did not give an absolute number for imports, the European think tank had in a previous report stated that Euro 8.5 billion of price cap coalition countries' imports of oil products in 13 months to December 2023 were made from Russian crude.

These imports in 13 months were equivalent to 68 per cent of the EU's annual commitment to aid Ukraine between 2024 and 2027.

"In the 13 months since the oil price cap took effect (in December 2022), over one-third of India's exports of oil products to sanctioning countries was derived from Russian crude (EUR 6.16 billion or USD 6.65 billion)," the Finland-based CREA had said in the previous report.

While there are no restrictions or sanctions on buying/using Russian crude oil and exporting fuels like diesel derived from it, the Group of Seven (G7) rich nations, the European Union and Australia - called the price cap coalition countries - first set a crude price cap of USD 60 per barrel starting December 5, 2022, and later on products like diesel to keep the market supplied while limiting Moscow's revenue.

CREA in the latest report said India, the world's third largest oil-consuming and importing nation, in October bought Euro 2 billion worth of crude oil from Russia, down from Euro 2.4 billion in the previous month.

"China has bought 47 per cent of Russia's crude exports (in October), followed by India (37 per cent), the EU (6 per cent), and Turkey (6 per cent)," it said.

"India was the second-largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels in October, contributing 19 per cent (EUR 2.6 billion) to Russia's monthly export earnings from its top five importers. An estimated 77 per cent of India's imports (valued at EUR 2 billion) comprised crude oil."
African nations, with their unique histories, alliances and economic interests, find themselves divided over the Israel-Palestine issue

The ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israel and Palestine, which began on October 7, 2023, marks a significant military engagement in the region, being the largest confrontation since the 1973 Yom Kippur War. This conflict has global ramifications, with the African continent likely to feel its effects profoundly. Africa, with its 55 countries and diverse political landscape, is particularly vulnerable to such geopolitical divides.

Africas Divided Stance on Israel-Palestine: African countries vary widely in their stance on the Israel-Palestine issue, often shaped by historical, ideological, and economic factors. Pro-Palestinian countries like Algeria, Tunisia, South Africa, Senegal, Mali, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Libya support Palestine, often viewing the Palestinian struggle through the lens of their anti-colonial histories. In contrast, several nations, including Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Morocco, and Chad, have established close relations with Israel, motivated by economic, technological, and security interests. Additionally, neutral countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sudan maintain diplomatic ties with both Israel and Palestine, typically refraining from favoring one side over the other.

At the continental level, the African Union (AU) has traditionally supported Palestines statehood and criticised Israeli policies.

A Deeper Look at Africas Reactions: African responses to the Gaza conflict highlight the continents fractured stance on foreign policy issues. In South Africa, for instance, public protests have likened the Palestinian struggle to the countrys anti-apartheid movement. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has voiced strong support for Palestine, and his government filed a lawsuit against Israel at the International Court of Justice. Algerias Foreign Minister similarly condemned Israeli actions, citing international law, while Comoros President Azali Assoumani labeled Israeli actions as genocidal.

On the other hand, several sub-Saharan nations, including South Sudan, Cameroon, Togo, and Cape Verde, chose not to support the recent United Nations resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Even Muslim-majority countries like Morocco, Chad, and Sudan have limited their response to public condemnations without altering diplomatic ties. Malawi and Kenya recently agreed to send laborers to Israel following a halt in work permits for Palestinians, further signaling the complexities in Africas stance. Africa and Israel share a complex, long-standing relationship that dates back to before Israels founding. Theodor Herzl, the founder of the Zionist movement, expressed support for African liberation, envisioning solidarity between Jews and Africans in their quests for self-determination. This vision gained traction in the 1960s, with Israel maintaining a strong presence in Africa, including 33 embassies across the continent. Israels model of decolonisation and development attracted the admiration of African leaders who saw parallels in their own struggles for independence.

However, following the 1973 Yom Kippur War, pressure from Arab countries led many African states to sever ties with Israel. This led to a period of estrangement, with African leaders feeling frustrated by unmet promises from Arab allies, particularly in the realm of energy cooperation. Gradually, ties began to thaw, and by the early 21st century, Israel was once again seeking partnerships in Africa, with diplomatic and economic collaborations resuming.

In recent years, Israels outreach has intensified. In 2016, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited East Africa, and a year later, he addressed the Economic Community of West African States. In 2022, Israel and several African nations agreed to expand cooperation in renewable energy, trade, and technology. Kenyas President William Ruto visited Israel in 2023, further strengthening ties in agriculture, climate change, security, and other sectors.

These relationships are essential for African nations, many of which aim to modernise infrastructure and boost economic growth through partnerships with technologically advanced countries like Israel.

Given the historical context and current diplomatic landscape, it appears unlikely that the Gaza conflict will irreparably divide Africa. While opinions on the Israel-Palestine issue are undoubtedly polarized, African nations often prioritise pragmatic interests over ideological alignment. The Gaza conflict may not permanently alter Africas alliances, but it does highlight the need for more cohesive foreign policy coordination on the continent.

Africas relationships with Israel have historically ebbed and flowed, often dictated by external pressures and internal priorities rather than a single, unified stance.

(The writer is faculty, department of African Studies faculty of social sciences University of Delhi; views are personal)
As history has shown, when influential businessmen back controversial leaders, the consequences reach far beyond politicsimpacting nations and the global landscape

In the world of investment banking, theres an adage: Insult is an investment. The idea is simplethose who are underestimated and ignored often end up making the most successful moves, purchasing stocks at a lower price before the crowd catches on. In political terms, this strategy mirrors how Donald Trump, after being insulted and sidelined following the 2020 election, has managed to turn his defeat into a powerful comeback.

But Trumps resurgence isnt just a matter of political savvyits also about alliances, the kind that transcend national borders and redefine power structures.

One such alliance is his relationship with Vladimir Putin, which, when examined through a historical lens, resembles the complex political alliances of the past. Trumps approach to Putin could be seen as a Trump card of sorts. A new world order under autocratic rule, with Putin at the helm, is a scenario that increasingly seems possible.

Amid these shifting global tides, theres one group that Trump has promised to save: the Hindus. While Indias Prime Minister Modi may claim to be their protector, Trumps Diwali pledge to safeguard Hindus worldwide paints a different picture. For some, this might sound like a lofty promise, but for others, it is seen as a vital lifeline in a world where geopolitical alliances matter more than ever.

Meanwhile, Indias relationship with Canada is one of the most sensitive flashpoints in this evolving narrative. Canada, a close ally of the US is already at odds with India over several issues, particularly as Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus administration has taken stances seen as anti-India.

As Trudeaus policies potentially fuel Sikh extremism, the instability could escalate, further complicating Indias geopolitical position.

If Sikh militancy gains traction, it may find unexpected allies in the form of Pakistan, as Islamic extremism and Sikh separatism threaten to form a dangerous alliancea combination that could undermine Indias internal security. This scenario isnt entirely unlike the world that Henry Ford once supported, albeit in a different era and context. Ford, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, became infamous for his admiration of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis.

Fords business interests aligned with the Nazi regime, including lucrative contracts that benefitted Fords German subsidiary, Ford-Werke.While Fords connection to Hitler was ideological, it was also financial, a pragmatic alliance that offered both political and economic rewards. Fast forward to today, and we see a striking similarity between Fords support for Hitler and Musks endorsement of Trump.

Elon Musk, a tech magnate with enormous influence, has embraced Trumps populist message, praising him for his policies on deregulation and free markets. Musks relationship with Trump may not be rooted in ideology to the same extent that Fords was with Hitler, but the political and business calculations are eerily similar. Like Ford, Musk sees in Trump an opportunity to align his business interests with a powerful political figure. Musks recent purchase of Twitter, his vocal support for Trump, and his willingness to use his platform to reshape public discourse are strategic moves, not just personal convictions.

At the heart of this dynamic is a simple truth: both Ford and Musk, at their respective times, recognised the value of political alignment in securing economic and business power. Ford saw his admiration for Hitler as a path to financial gain in a fractured Europe. Musk, meanwhile, sees his support for Trump as a means to ensure policies favourable to his empire, such as deregulation, low taxes, and the prioritisation of business over social welfare.

Just as Fords relationship with the Nazi regime was instrumental in expanding his companys reach in Europe, Musks ties to Trump could bolster his business interests in the current global economy.

Musks approach to Trump is also a form of personal branding. Both men have cultivated larger-than-life personas, largely through social media, and both understand the power of controversy.

Just as Ford was able to influence public perception through his business prowess and his political affiliations, Musk uses his platformTwitter, now Xto shape political discourse. Musks support for Trump also mirrors Fords early 20th-century nationalist rhetoric. While Fords nationalism was overtly racial, Musks alignment with Trump echoes a modern brand of populism, focused on nationalism, America First policies, and anti-establishment rhetoric. However, the ultimate question remains: What happens when business and politics intertwine in such a way that it threatens the very fabric of democratic institutions?

Fords support for Hitler contributed to the global rise of fascism, and Trumps alliances with figures like Putin raised concerns about the future of democracy and global stability. Musks role in this political theatre could either be a footnote in history or a major chapter in the ongoing struggle between corporate power and political freedom. The rise of populism, the fracturing of traditional alliances, and the unpredictable actions of powerful business figures like Musk and Trump all point to a future where global stability could be at risk.

The future is uncertain, but one thing is clear: as history has shown when powerful businessmen like Ford or Musk align themselves with controversial political figures, the consequences can be far-reaching and transformative. Whether for good or ill, their influence is undeniable, and their alliances, however pragmatic, will shape the world for years to come.

(The writer is an associate professor; views are personal)
Arshdeep Singh Gill alias Arsh Dalla, who was designated a terrorist by India, is likely to have been arrested in Canadas Ontario province following a shooting incident, sources claimed here on Sunday. The incident occurred on October 28 in Milton.

The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) had on October 29 said that it had arrested two men on charges of discharging firearm with intent following an investigation after the duo had come to a hospital and one of them was treated for a non-life-threatening gunshot and later discharged. It did not disclose their identity and said both accused were held in custody pending a bail hearing.

The sources claimed that one of those arrested is believed to be Arsh Dalla, who is associated with the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and ran terror modules on behalf of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a designated terrorist who was killed in June last year. The HRPS was contacted by Guelph Police in the early morning hours of October 28, 2024, after two males attended a hospital in Guelph. One of the males was treated and released for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound apparently suffered in Halton region. The other was not injured.

The HRPS Major Crime Bureau is now investigating and both males have been arrested. A 25-year-old male of Halton Hills and a 28-year-old male of Surrey BC have both been charged with Discharging Firearm with Intent, a Halton police statement said, adding they were actively investigating the incident.

Earlier on Sunday, Punjab Police announced the arrest of two shooters of Arsh Dallas gang, who were allegedly involved in the murder of a Sikh activist last month, from Kharar in Mohali. Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said the arrest came in a joint operation of the state special operation cell, the Anti-gangster Task Force and Faridkot Police. The two were identified as Anmolpreet Singh alias Vishal, a resident of Bhadorh in Barnala and Navjot Singh alias Neetu, a resident of Nijjar Road in Kharar.

Arsh Dalla, who has been accused of involvement in targeted killings, terror financing and extortion in Punjab, was in January last year designated a terrorist by the Indian government. The Union Home Ministry had said in a notification that he was involved in the cross-border smuggling of drugs and weapons on a large scale.

He is an accused in various cases registered and investigated by the National Investigation Agency, including targeted killing, extorting money for terror funding, attempt to murder, disturbing communal harmony and creating terror among the people in Punjab. The central government believes that Gill is involved in terrorism and hence designated as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 by exercising the powers conferred by clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 35 of the Act, the notification had said.

In September 2024, Dalla publicly claimed responsibility for the murder of Congress leader Baljinder Singh Balli. Balli was shot dead in Moga district of Punjab. Dalla was the acting chief of the Khalistani Tiger Force and was seen as the successor of slain terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Dalla, a wanted person on the National Investigation Agencys (NIA) terrorist list, has been allegedly orchestrating criminal activities in Punjab from his base in Canada for the past three to four years. A native of Moga, Dalla is accused of multiple targeted killings in Punjab.

Born in Ludhiana, Dalla was designated as a terrorist by the Government of India in 2023. According to a gazette notification by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Dala is associated with banned terrorist outfit Khalistan Tiger Force.

Dalla is accused of being involved in heinous crimes like murder, extortion and targeted killings. He is also accused of terror financing, cross-border smuggling of drugs and weapons at a large scale. According to the MHA notification, Arsh Dalla is accused in various cases registered and investigated by the National Investigation Agency including targeted killing, extorting money for terror funding, attempt to murder, disturbing communal harmony and creating terror among the people in the state of Punjab. Dalla became active in 2020.

He was mostly engaged in terror funding, raising terror modules, coordinating the supply of weapons from the other side of the border, and planning specific murders across Punjab. According to the dossier created by the intelligence agencies, Dalla has a more killing record than the assassinated KTF leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Dalla allegedly planned an attack on a Hindu priest, Pragya Gyan Muni, in Phillaur, Jalandhar, in January 2021 through his associates Ram Singh, alias Sona, and Kamaljeet Sharma, alias Kamal.

Dalla was also involved in the murder of Manohar Lal, a disciple of Dera Sacha Sauda, in Bathinda in November 2020. Dala also claimed responsibility for the murder of Sukhpreet Singh, a deceased criminal. Dalla collaborated with gangster Bikram Brar and Canada-based Goldy Brar in 2021 to form a 4-member KTF module tasked with targeting specific individuals. The module was assigned to target Bittu Premi, Shamma Badmash and Sirsa-based DSS follower Shakti Singh.
While the controversy over students hailing from Jammu and Kashmir sporting a beard, in government-run colleges in Karnataka has been amicably resolved, another issue seems to be brewing in Rajasthan, around the institutions seeking to paint their buildings orange.

The Rajasthan College Education Commissionerate has directed 20 government-run colleges to get the facade of their buildings and entry halls painted orange, under the Kayakalp Scheme. According to the Commissionerate, the move is to ensure a positive environment in the education institutes. The scheme is a national initiative by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to promote cleanliness, hygiene, and infection control in public healthcare facilities in India

The Opposition Congress slammed the move as an attempt to politicise educational institutions. Targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government over the matter, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) general secretary Swarnim Chaturvedi said that it was an attempt to politicise education in colleges. The BJP government has failed to deliver on promises made to people. The government has nothing to highlight as its achievements and in order

to divert attention; it is resorting to such moves, he said.

Rajasthan government Joint Director (Planning), College Education, Vijendra Kumar Sharma issued the order last month regarding the paint of front facade and entry halls of colleges under the scheme. In the first phase, a total of 20 colleges, two colleges in each division level, have to be painted, the order said.

The colleges are the main centres of higher education. The educational environment and scenario of the college should be such for the students that they feel positive as soon as they enter the college, the order stated.

The joint director further said in the order that in the first phase of the scheme, two government colleges of each division have been included and the front facade and entrance hall of the 20 colleges buildings should be phase painted with Asian Paints White Gold 8292 and Asian Paints Orange Crown 7974.

Down south, in Hassan in Karnataka, a row over students from Jammu and Kashmir studying in a government nursing college in Karnataka having long beard has been sorted out amicably, an official of the institute said on Sunday.

The issue came to light when the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association wrote to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on the significant challenges faced by the students at the college at Holenarasipura in Hassan district.

The issue was amicably solved after the students agreed to comply with the directions of the college management, said Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences director Dr Rajanna.

There are about 40 Kashmiri students in the college who alleged that they were facing significant challenges. They communicated their concerns to the Srinagar-based Jammu and Kashmir Students Association. It has come to our notice that over two dozen Kashmiri students at the college are facing significant challenges due to restrictive policies concerning their personal appearance, the association said.

The college administration has reportedly been compelling the Kashmiri students to either trim their beards to a 01 trimmer length or be clean-shaven before they could be allowed to participate in college activities or enter the premises, particularly for clinical duties, the association wrote to the CM.

Students who have beards are being marked absent during clinical duties, impacting their academic records and attendance, it alleged.

No student should be subjected to such discrimination or forced to compromise their beliefs and practices to access education. Such actions not only infringe upon the rights of these students but also create an atmosphere of fear and exclusion, which is detrimental to the spirit of education and democracy, it added.

However, Dr Rajanna rejected the associations charges. These students have mistaken the instruction given about the untidy dress and keeping a long beard. During the clinical process they were instructed to keep their dress neat and trim their beards, he said.

Rajanna said that when he came to know about the issue, he had discussed with the students, who later agreed to come with a neat dress, to be punctual and to keep the beard trimmed. The issue is now resolved. Right now there are 40 students. The students are happy in their hostels. The faculties and principal have visited their rooms and counseled the students, he explained.
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), on Saturday, said that JMM is ready to fight for the rights of investors invested in Sahara Finance at every level. Although this is not a matter of the State Government, despite this we will fight for the investors of Jharkhand against the Central Government, the party said.



Addressing a press meet JMM General Secretary cum Spokesperson Vinod Pandey said that a big scam was carried out by creating a multi-state cooperative society in the name of Sahara. "The Union Home Minister of the Country and the Ministry of Cooperation is responsible for this, whose minister is Amit Shah. Shah has rubbed salt on the wounds of about 1.50 crore investors and victims of Jharkhand by coming to Jharkhand recently. The cooperative minister came and left after giving a slogan," he added.



Pandey said that Shah had said that if BJP forms the Government, then the money of the investors of Jharkhand will be returned. "What is this deal with Jharkhandis? Will the investors' hard earned money be returned only if BJP forms the Government in Jharkhand, otherwise not. This is completely the matter of the Central Government. Why don't you return the money of the investors," he added. He said who is responsible for not returning the money of those who invested in Sahara, the State or the Central Government.



The party General Secretary said that after putting Subrata Roy in jail on the orders of the Supreme Court, Rs 25 thousand crores were collected by selling the assets of Sahara, but why did Amit Shah not distribute this amount among the investors while being the Cooperative Minister. "Even if the Central Government ignores the investors of Jharkhand, but JMM is ready to fight for the rights of the investors at every level. Although this is not the matter of the State Government, despite this we will fight for the investors of Jharkhand against the Central Government," he added.

Pandey said that on July 19, Union Minister Amit Shah had said that the investors' money will be returned in three to four months. For this, a web portal was created and applications were sought from investors, but 90 percent of the applications were approved. It is unfortunate that today the people of Sahara family are enjoying themselves abroad with the Country's money and investors are committing suicide. These are the same people who did not take care of even a single family who committed suicide and went to Subrata Roy's house when he died," he added.



On this occasion, Janardan Mishra of Vishwa Bharati Janseva Sansthan, who is fighting a legal battle to get back his invested amount from Sahara, said that his Rs 1 crore is stuck in Sahara. "His only son has died. He pleaded several times for his invested money but I was told that I will get the money only if I have access to the top. Every time I was cheated. Amit Shah is the cooperative minister, why doesn't he pay our money? Only the principal amount of Rs 1800 crore of the people of Jharkhand is stuck in Sahara," he added.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said that the Ladli Behna Yojana is a major step in fulfilling social responsibility. Initially, the scheme provided eligible beneficiaries with one thousand rupees per month, which was later increased to 1250 rupees, with plans for further increases.

Yadav announced another initiative for womens empowerment: an increase in reservation for women in government services from 33 percent to 35 percent, marking a significant step forward. He emphasized that Madhya Pradesh is setting new benchmarks in empowering women. Additionally, he highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to womens representation, with a recent announcement to grant 33 percent reservation for women in the legislature.

Chief Minister Yadav transferred Rs 1,573 crore as the November installment to 1.29 crore beneficiaries of the Ladli Behna Yojana during a programme at Nehru Stadium in Indore on Saturday. Additionally, he transferred Rs. 333 crore to 55 lakh social security pension beneficiaries and Rs. 55 crore for gas cylinder refills into the accounts of 26 lakh Ladli Behenas.

This event, titled "Shaurya Veera," featured a weapon art demonstration by Nari Shakti and was held in honor of the 300th birth anniversary of Lokmata Ahilya Devi. In a historic moment, thousands of girls and women set a world record by performing a synchronized swordsmanship demonstration at a single location, showcasing unity and strength.

Chief Minister Yadav said that Madhya Pradesh has a proud legacy of women empowerment, with many courageous women from the state playing key roles in defending the countrys honor and independence. Indias achievements in empowering women are recognized globally, and womens empowerment remains a defining feature of our nation. Madhya Pradesh is advancing rapidly in this area, with initiatives like the "Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna Yojana-2023," designed to promote economic self-sufficiency for women, improve their health and nutrition, and strengthen their influence in family decisions.

The state government has also been consistently providing gas cylinders to Ladli sisters, alongside beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Gas Connection Yojana, at a subsidized rate of Rs 450 since July 2023. Through this programme, over 26 lakh women beneficiaries who have refilled their gas cylinders are receiving Rs 55.60 crore directly in their Aadhaar-linked bank accounts, facilitated by oil companies and the Madhya Pradesh Electronic Development Corporation. This subsidy is helping Ladli sisters reduce their household expenses by enabling them to access affordable LPG.

On this occasion, Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development Smt. Savitri Thakur, Water Resources Minister Tulsiram Silawat, Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava, Divisional Commissioner Deepak Singh, Collector Ashish Singh, Police Commissioner Santosh Singh, MLAs Mahendra Hardia and Manoj Patel, District Panchayat Chairperson Reena Malviya, renowned film actress Jayaprada, Gaurav Randive, Chintu Verma and other public representatives were present.
Sanjay Kumar, the Returning Officer and Sub-Divisional Officer for the Garhwa Assembly Constituency, stated that as of the evening of November 8, there have been a total of 30 complaints submitted through the C-Vigil App regarding the ongoing Garhwa Assembly Election.

The complaints consist of 11 each against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), while four were aimed at the Samajwadi Party (SP). The remaining complaints were either unrelated or various other types. Some allegations were validated, resulting in appropriate actions being taken, but around 60 percent were found to be unfounded or false.

With voting for the Garhwa Assembly seat set for November 13, residents are urged to report any irregularities or violations of the election code of conduct via the C-Vigil App. The Election Commission intends to address complaints within 100 minutes, ensuring the confidentiality of the complainants.

Kumar highlighted that the Election Commission of India has launched the C-Vigil App to promote free, fair, and transparent elections. This app empowers citizens to report breaches of the Model Code of Conduct online and will remain operational from the day of election declaration until one day after voting ends. Designed to quickly respond to electoral misconduct, the complaints filed through this app will also be examined by the Election Commission of India.

To use the C-Vigil App, users must have an Android smartphone with a camera, internet access, and GPS capability. Citizens can capture photos or record videos, of up to two minutes in length, of any observed violations.
A Sarv Dharm Prarthna Sabha marked the inauguration of the new state office of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday. Singrauli Mayor and State President Rani Aggarwal helmed proceedings, which were attended by a bevy of party leaders and workers.

The officelocated near the Subhash Nagar railway crossing, close to the Prabhat Petrol Pump in the state capitalwill serve as the epicentre of party activities in Madhya Pradesh.

AAP, which currently holds about 2.5 percent of the vote in the state, has been working to strengthen its organisation with attempts to reach out and address various sections of society, informs party spokesperson and media in-charge Bhupendra Sharma 'Vikal'.

He said that the party's central leadership has promised to strategise future plans based on feedback received from the state unit.

"We have appointed district-level bodies and created and strengthened various wings to consolidate the party's performance in the state," he added.

Meanwhile, State Unit Chief Aggarwal addressed the media and held consultations with various district presidents and unit chiefs who were present at the inauguration ceremony.

The AAP has been promising a viable third alternative in the state, but repeated changes in the party's central command have set back its plans in the state.

The party currently has 22 elected representatives in various civic bodies across the state and had surprised many with Aggarwal's stunning victory in the Singrauli mayoral election.Party leaders say that Aggarwal's win has helped AAP regain supporters who had lost interest in the party's activities. "We have worked tirelessly, and now we can say that we are in a position to consolidate our politics in the state," iterates Sharma."We have ensured that the central leadership is both cognisant and supportive of our struggles in Madhya Pradesh," he adds.
Abhivyakti 4.0  a three-day literary festival organized by the Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA)  concluded on a vibrant note on Sunday, celebrating the resilience, creativity, and intellectual depth that literature brings to society. Held in Chandigarh, this fourth edition of Abhivyakti attracted luminaries from the literary, military, and cultural fields, who engaged audiences with inspiring conversations and thought-provoking discussions.

The festival's final day kicked off with an insightful keynote address by renowned author Dr Radhakrishnan Pillai, who highlighted the essential elements of writing and the importance of fostering a reading culture. Each of us has a story to tell, Dr Pillai shared with the audience, urging aspiring writers to explore beyond textbooks and embrace storytelling in all its forms. India is a nation of multilingual readers, yet most read only textbooks. We need to inspire people to read more diverse content, he added, underscoring the need to broaden literary horizons across the country.

Following this, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Command Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar unveiled Generals Jottings  a new book by Lieutenant General (retired) Kamaljit Singh. The book reflects on Singhs experiences in the military, offering insights into leadership, service, and the personal reflections of a decorated officer.

One of the highlights of the day was an engaging dialogue between former diplomat Navtej S Sarna and veteran journalist Vipin Pubby. Sarna, Indias former Ambassador to the United States and author of acclaimed novels The Exile and Crimson: A Novel, shared his experiences and challenges in writing historical fiction.

Reflecting on his approach, Sarna discussed the delicate balance of fact and fiction, particularly when weaving narratives around historical figures like Udham Singh and Maharaja Duleep Singh. Distorting history is a risky endeavour, Sarna noted, adding, I have been careful to stay true to facts while using fiction only to bridge the unknowns.

The events second half featured dynamic panel discussions, resonating with the festivals theme of rekindling the love for reading. Journalist Soni Sangwan moderated a discussion titled Rekindling the Habit of Reading, featuring panelists Ajay Jain, Vandana Palli, and Saguna Jain, who shared insights into the evolving reading habits of the youth and strategies to inspire a generation accustomed to digital media.

Another lively session, Digital Narratives: Storytelling in the Age of Screens, moderated by Ambreen Zaidi, brought together experts Shikha Akhilesh Saxena, Gunjan Mishra, Amrinder Maan, and retired Major Nithi CJ. The panel examined the impact of digitalization on storytelling, discussing how writers and creators must adapt to an age where narratives are crafted for screens and often consumed in snippets.

Jyoti Malhotra, The Tribunes Editor-in-Chief, delivered the festival's closing remarks, emphasizing the vital role literature plays in shaping society. Sharing her own journey as a journalist, she spoke passionately about the challenges and rewards of a career in media, especially as a female leader in the field.

The closing ceremony, filled with cultural vibrance, featured a medley of regional dances performed by Patiala's North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC), leaving the audience captivated. Shuchi Katiyar, Regional President of AWWA, offered a heartfelt vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to the speakers, guests, and organizers who made Abhivyakti 4.0 an unforgettable experience.
In a significant breakthrough against cross-border drug trafficking, Amritsar Police Commissionerates CIA team has seized two kg of heroin and detained three suspects linked to an international drug network. The arrests, made at Dana Mandi near Bhagtawala, are the result of targeted intelligence efforts aimed at disrupting smuggling operations along the Punjab border.

Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar on Sunday confirmed that preliminary investigations indicated the that suspects were in contact with Pakistan-based drug traffickers, using social media applications to orchestrate deliveries via drones. The trio was apprehended while traveling on a motorcycle, which has also been impounded as part of the investigation, he said, adding that the suspects disclosures led to the recovery of the heroin.

The police are withholding the identities of the suspects due to the ongoing investigation, which sought to trace the full extent of their network. A case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Division C police station, with further inquiries underway into their cross-border connections and modus operandi.

CP Bhullar said that preliminary inquiries revealed the arrested individuals were in contact with Pakistan-based drug traffickers, utilizing social media apps to coordinate drone-delivered smuggling.
HP CM condoles demise of Padma Shri Musafir Ram Bhardwaj

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday expressed deep condolences on the demise of Padma Shri recipient Musafir Ram Bhardwaj, a renowned musician, who passed away late on Friday. The recipient of Indias fourth highest civilian honour hailed from Sanchui village in Bharmaur sub-division of Chamba district. Musafir Ram Bhardwaj was known for his mastery of Paun Mata, a copper drum akin to a damru, and would be remembered by generations for his contribution to the arts, especially folk music and culture of Himachal Pradesh, he said, praying to the Almighty for the peace of the departed soul and strength to the family members to bear this irreparable loss.

Dengue cases are on rise in Hry: Kumari Selja

Chandigarh: Senior Congress leader and Sirsa MP Kumari Selja on Sunday alleged that with the changing seasons, dengue cases are on the rise in the State. Notably, Haryana is witnessing an increase in dengue patients every day with Panchkula currently being a hotspot, with cases also increasing in Faridabad, Karnal, and Hisar, she added. Selja alleged that despite all this, the administration is still considering fogging, and many districts have not yet carried out fogging. Although health department meetings are held regarding dengue prevention, actions on paper are completed while nothing happens on the ground, she alleged.

Punjab VB books PCS officer on corruption charges

Chandigarh: Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) filed a corruption case against PCS officer Harpreet Singh, posted as Hoshiarpurs Assistant Labour Commissioner, along with his offices computer operator Alka Sharma, for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000. Alka Sharma was caught red-handed and has been remanded to jail for 14 days, while Harpreet remains absconding. The complaint came from a Hoshiarpur shop owner who provided evidence of the bribe demand. The VB has registered the case under the Prevention of Corruption Act and continues efforts to locate Singh.

3 killed as tractor, pick-up vehicle collide in Jhajjar

Jhajjar: Three persons were killed and six others were seriously injured in a collision between a tractor and a pick-up vehicle on the Sampla road in Jhajjar district on Sunday morning. The police said that the deceased have been identified as Kranti Devi (50), Mukhtiyari Devi (40), and Phanak (13) of Uttar Pradesh (UP). The injured are undergoing treatment at PGIMS, Rohtak, where the condition of some of them is stated to be critical. The mishap took place when the pick-up vehicle was on its way to Jahajgarh village from Uttar Pradesh. The vehicle overturned after the collision leaving the three persons dead.

Revoke airport kirpan ban for Sikh employees: GSC Urges PM Modi, Minister Naidu

Chandigarh: The Global Sikh Council (GSC) on Sunday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Civil Aviation Minister Naidu to revoke the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) directive banning Sikh airport employees from wearing kirpans on duty. Citing discrimination, GSC president Kanwaljit Kaur noted that while passengers may carry kirpans on domestic flights, Sikh employees are barred from doing so in restricted airport areas. The GSC emphasized Indias constitutional commitment to religious freedom, urging a balance similar to that upheld in the UK and Canada for Sikh rights at airport security.
Elections Don't Change Everything

Pope Francis meets Mar Awa III, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, on Nov. 9, 2024. ( Vatican Media) Elections, such as the recent contest between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris in the United States, often promote a strongly absolutist psychology about the consequences of selecting one leader over another: In one direction, to hear commentators and partisans tell it, lies redemption, salvation, and virtue, while in the other lurk ruin, perdition and evil.

Truth to be told, Catholics sometimes succumb to this bipolar thinking too. And while there obviously are consequences from the choice of one leader over another, what sometimes gets overlooked is the vast range of things which fall into the category of institutional commitments, and therefore are not really dependent upon whoever happens to be in office at a given moment.

A good reminder of the point came Saturday, when Pope Francis welcomed Mar Awa III, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, which is not in communion with Rome or anybody else, to the Vatican, along with members of a mixed commission for dialogue between the two churches.

Assyrians, members of an ethnic group traditionally concentrated in Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Iran, were among the earliest converts to Christianity, and have remained committed to the faith despite almost two millennia of hardship, persecution, and forced dislocation. Today, membership in the Assyrian Church of the East is estimated at around 400,000, giving it roughly the same following as the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin -- proof, among other things, that in ecumenical relations, size really doesn't matter.

Headquartered in the Ankawa neighborhood of Erbil in Iraq, the Assyrian Church of the East has been active in the modern ecumenical movement for some time, including its 40-year journey with the Catholic Church.

A high point came in 1994, when then-Patriarch Dinkha IV traveled to Rome to meet Pope John Paul II, and the two leaders signed a common Christological declaration announcing that despite verbal differences over Christology dating to the 5th Century, the two churches now recognize each other's faith as valid.

Pausing for a moment to let that sink in, the significance actually is extraordinary.

Before the rupture of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in 451 over the Council of Chalcedon, before the Great Schism between East and West in 1054, before the Protestant Reformation in 1517, the first breach in Christianity came in 431 when the ancient Church of the East rejected the conclusions of the Council of Ephesus and specifically its endorsement of the term Theotokos, or "Mother of God," for Mary, insisting, in keeping with the doctrine of Nestorius, that Mary instead should be termed the Christotokos, "Mother of Christ."

The 1994 common declaration, for all intents and purposes, declared that original schism in the Christian world resolved, an act of healing 1,500 years in the making.

Almost as breathtaking, seven years later the Vatican issued a document entitled "Guidelines for Admission to the Eucharist between the Chaldean Church and the Assyrian Church of the East." (The Chaldean Catholic Church originated in the 16th century, when a portion of the Church of the East decided to enter into communion with Rome.)

Though issued by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christianity Unity, the document came with the agreement of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, headed at the time by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, and also with the personal approval of Pope John Paul II.

In essence, the document stipulated that when faithful from the Church of the East cannot attended Mass in their own tradition, they can take part in a Chaldean Catholic Mass and receive communion, and vice-versa for Catholics at a Mass of the Church of the East. This recognition of the validity of the Assyrian Mass came despite the fact that its Eucharistic Prayer, the Anaphora of Addai and Mari, does not contain the Institution Narrative (the portion of the prayer that contains the lines, "This is my body" and "This is my blood.")

It was a fairly stunning decision, given that Catholic theology had long regarded the Institutional Narrative as an absolutely necessary condition for the validity of the Mass -- the 15th century Council of Florence, for example, referred to the words of the Institution Narrative as the "form of this sacrament."

The late Jesuit Father Robert Taft, one of Catholicism's leading experts on eastern liturgies, declared the 2001 guidelines as "the most remarkable Catholic magisterial document since Vatican II." By treating consecration as something accomplished by the entire liturgical prayer, and not by an isolated set of "magic words," Taft believed the Vatican had repudiated a quasi-mechanistic understanding of the sacrament that "seriously warped popular Catholic understanding of the Eucharist."

All this, let us recall, came with the express endorsement of two popes -- the sitting pontiff at the time, John Paul II, and the future Pope Benedict XVI.

The thrust toward reconciliation has continued under Pope Francis, with a common declaration in 2017 on sacramental life and a document in 2022 on images of the church in the two traditions. During the visit by Mar Awa III this week, Francis also announced that he was adding St. Isaac of Nineveh, also known as St. Isaac the Syrian, to the Roman Martyrology. He was a seventh century bishop in the Church of the East, celebrated for his spiritual writings, and long venerated as a saint in the Assyrian tradition.

Now, Catholicism has recognized him as a saint as well.

(While rare, the gesture is not unprecedented. In 2023, Pope Francis added 21 Coptic Orthodox martyrs to Catholicism's register of saints. The 21 men, mostly from Egypt, were beheaded by ISIS on a beach in Libya in 2015.)

What all of this means is that through three election cycles in Catholicism -- conclaves that brought John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis to the papacy -- not to mention the same number of transitions in Assyrian Patriarchs, the commitment to detente between Ankawa and Rome has remained intact, and that's hardly the only element of continuity. It's simply the one that happens to be on clear display right now.

Sure, it matters who's in charge, both in Catholicism and in secular politics. Just recall that no matter how despondent or elated you may feel about the outcome of any particular vote, it's never as glorious or as awful as it seems in the moment -- because while personalities come and go, institutions and their interests endure.
Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi assembly Vijender Gupta on Sunday accused the Delhi government of mishandling the reinstatement of marshals, stating that the government's indecisiveness and inactivity have raised questions about these marshals' livelihoods.

Earlier in the day, according to government sources, the ruling party restored bus marshals in a bid to bolster womens safety in public transport. The source said that the move was decided unanimously in a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Atishi on Sunday at the Delhi Secretariat.

The Delhi Ministers unanimously agreed that the deployment of marshals is crucial for ensuring women's safety in Delhis buses, he added. "The cabinet has recommended the immediate reinstatement of bus marshals," said government sources, noting that a report detailing this decision has been submitted to Chief Minister Atishi and will soon be sent to the Lieutenant Governor (LG) for approval.

Meanwhile, Gupta alleged that the government has shown a complete lack of sensitivity toward their employment issues. He claimed that the AAP government has played politics with this issue over the past year, wasting time in accusations and counter-accusations. According to Gupta, these marshals deserve permanent jobs, not just a temporary four-month position.

He noted that if the government had taken the process of regularizing the 10,000 marshals dismissed last October by then-Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal seriously, their jobs would have been secure by now. Instead, the government showed no concern, even though the marshals were owed seven months of back pay when they were removed, the Lop said.

When the BJP introduced a proposal on this issue in the Assembly, hopes were raised for permanent employment for the 10,000 marshals. Despite orders from the Lieutenant Governor, the Delhi government deliberately delayed action, he claimed, adding that the LG had to write to Chief Minister Atishi twice, warning her, which finally prompted the government to begin action.

However, it was only for a four-month duty period and with a 15-day delay. Atishi announced yesterday that these marshals would be deployed on duty by Tuesday or Wednesday, which means that instead of starting on November 1, they will begin on November 15, resulting in a direct loss of half a month's salary, he said.
A female government employee has accused Assistant Director of Agriculture Department Manoj Chaudhary of molestation in the state capital.

The victim claimed that the officer touched her indecently. On the complaint of the woman, Koh-e-Fiza police have registered a case against the accused officer under sections of sexual harassment on Friday.

This incident of molestation took place on Friday afternoon in D Block of Bhopal Collectorate, Old Secretariat.

The Assistant Director of the Agriculture Department found the female employee alone on the stairs of the office and molested her.

The victim reached Kohefiza police station with her husband late on Friday night. She told the police that the accused officer has molested many female employees in the last few years.

He used to call women to his chamber and touch them indecently. Not only this, he also used to pressure the female employees to meet him alone. An internal departmental complaint was also made about this.

A female employee has accused Assistant Director of Agriculture Department Manoj Chaudhary of molestation.

Victim has claimed that the officer threatened, if you do not talk, I will defame you. The woman told the police in her complaint that she was going to the treasury for office work on November 8 at around 1 pm. While coming down the stairs of SDM Huzur office, Assistant Director Agriculture Manoj Chaudhary came from the front and touched her by holding her hand with bad intentions.

The woman alleged that Manoj Chaudhary had done such an act earlier also. Such incidents have been going on for three years. According to the woman, Manoj Chaudhary says that if you do not talk to me, I will defame you.

Koh-e-Fiza police station of Bhopal has registered a case against Assistant Director Agriculture Manoj Chaudhary on the complaint of the female employee.

In this case, Kohefiza police has registered a case under sections 74, 75 and 78 of BNS 2023.

According to the woman's husband, Manoj Chaudhary has been posted here since 2016 and he has harassed many other women in this manner.

Kohefiza police station in-charge Brijendra Merscole said that a case of sexual harassment has been registered. Statements have been taken from the complainant. The accused has not been arrested yet. Further action is being taken in the case. The accused will be arrested soon.
In a strong endorsement of Congress leader and the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhis warnings about market monopolization, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday voiced concern over the growing concentration of economic power within a few corporate giants. Sukhu, addressing the issue in Shimla, echoed Rahul Gandhis recent comments, urging the BJP-led Central Government to initiate urgent reforms to protect the interests of both consumers and the broader economy.

Rahul Gandhis stance isnt mere criticism; its a necessary call for transformative reform, said Sukhu, referencing Rahul Gandhis comparison of current monopolistic practices to those of the British East India Company. According to Sukhu, unchecked market monopolies threaten not only the economic framework but also the social fabric of the nation. He emphasized that the Congress partys ideology has long been focused on equitable resource distribution and public welfare, values that he believed are being compromised under the dominance of a few powerful corporations.

Sukhu pointed out the adverse effects monopolies can have on market health, citing risks such as inflated prices, reduced competition, and compromised product quality. A balanced and competitive market is essential for keeping prices fair and ensuring consumers receive quality goods and services. Monopolies erode these basic protections, he warned. The Chief Minister further urged the Union Government to view this issue through a lens that transcends political affiliations, emphasizing national interest over partisanship.

Calling for a national conversation, Sukhu stressed that the risks of corporate monopolies deserve widespread public scrutiny. This is a matter that affects every Indian citizen, and the implications of monopolistic control must be made clear. We need to foster awareness so that people can understand the importance of a fair and competitive marketplace, he asserted.

Sukhu reiterated that Rahul Gandhis appeal for reform isnt just about challenging the current system, but a vision for a more inclusive economy. He called on the Central Government to prioritize policy changes that reduce economic inequality and foster a level playing field for businesses of all sizes. If the government genuinely seeks to act in the publics best interest, they must consider Rahul Gandhis recommendations seriously, Sukhu urged, adding that policies which reduce economic disparity and empower local businesses would ultimately protect Indias economic sovereignty.
In a twist thats drawing widespread amusement and critique, the Himachal Pradesh Government has clamped down on sharing Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhus photos without prior clearance, as an curious samosa scandal brews. The CID is busy investigating the missing samosas, sparking a storm on social media and jabs from opposition leaders questioning the governments priorities.

The directive, issued by the states Department of Information and Public Relations, applies to all photos taken at official meetings, events, and public engagements involving the Chief Minister. The order, which was circulated to secretaries and departmental heads, emphasized the potential risks of photos that may portray inappropriate gestures, which could harm the Chief Ministers image. Unregulated sharing can distort public perception and damage the reputation of the Chief Minister and the Government, the notice asserted.

The unusual move has sparked strong reactions, especially as it coincides with a social media frenzy and scornful remarks from the BJP regarding a peculiar samosa incident. BJP chief JP Nadda, during a rally, questioned the Governments focus, quipping, In Himachal, they promised unemployment benefits and jobs. But today, theyre investigating who ate the samosas!

The snack saga began last month when samosas from Shimlas Radisson Hotel, intended for Chief Minister Sukhu during an official event, ended up being served to staffers by mistake. This sparked a curious internal CID probe, prompting a series of amusing theories and political jabs. While the Chief Minister insisted that the probe pertains to a case of misbehaviour and not missing samosas, Deputy CID General Sanjeev Ranjan Ojha clarified, This is an internal matter, not a samosa investigation. The CM doesnt even eat samosas!
Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed an enthusiastic crowd at an election rally in Potka, East Singhbhum, on Saturday, rallying voters to support BJP candidate Meera Munda. Shahs message was clear: a BJP-led government in Jharkhand would prioritize the removal of infiltrators from the state, which he accused the Hemant Soren government of harboring to secure votes.

Shah launched a direct attack on the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led administration, alleging that Chief Minister Hemant Soren has turned Jharkhand into a "hub of infiltrators" for political gain. "The people of Jharkhand will teach them a lesson in this election," Shah declared. He assured the crowd that, if elected, the BJP would immediately act to address this pressing issue.

Addressing nepotism concerns, Shah accused the ruling coalition of favoring family interests over the welfare of the state. He remarked, The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Congress, and RJD are only focused on developing their own families. Such a government cannot be expected to bring genuine development to Jharkhand. This sentiment was echoed by supporters at the rally who expressed frustration with the states slow progress under the current administration.

Shah also tackled the issue of corruption, calling the Soren government neck-deep in corruption and blaming it for stalling Jharkhands growth. Shah highlighted how rampant corruption has deprived citizens of essential services and economic opportunities, pledging that a BJP government would restore transparency and accountability.

In a bid to resonate with local sentiments, Shah also assured the gathering that his government would ensure the return of every penny lost in the Sahara financial scandal. Further, he emphasized BJPs commitment to Jharkhands rich cultural heritage, promising to add local languages, such as Ho, to the official list of state languages and to push for their inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

The Potka rally infused fresh energy into BJPs campaign efforts, solidifying the partys promises of security, transparency, and cultural pride. Before arriving in Potka, Shah conducted a roadshow in Jamshedpur, where hundreds of supporters greeted him, demonstrating strong backing for the BJP.
Challa Sreenivasulu Setty, Chairman of State Bank of India attended the MSME Cluster Outreach Programme held at Govindpura industrial area, Bhopal.

This program, identified by the Department of Financial Services, focuses on promoting the growth and development of MSME sector by extending services to recognized MSME clusters. This program witnessed virtual presence of Union Finance minister and Minister of MSME.

As part of this initiative, two key clusters Bhopal and Jabalpur have been selected, with Bhopal recognized as the engineering cluster. SBI Chairman shared valuable insights with the attendees, emphasizing the role of MSMEs in driving economic growth and innovation, and encouraged active participation from all stakeholders to foster a more robust business ecosystem.

Further in his visit, he handed over cheques totaling over Rs 1.5 crore 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 marginalized sections of society into the mainstream.

This support will significantly contribute to the revitalization of Government schools, Old age homes, Orphanages, Anganwadis, Primary Health Centres, and Girls' toilets across Ninteen districts across Madhya Pradesh.

In addition, Mr. Setty inaugurated a large LED screen at the Local Head Office in Bhopal. This screen aims to effectively disseminate information about welfare schemes of the central and state governments, as well as the Bank, to the general public, enabling them to benefit from these programs.
The Delhi Police amped up its security outside the Canadian High Commission in the national Capitals Chanakyapuri area amid a Hindu-Sikh group held a demonstration condemning the recent attacks on Hindu temples in Canada.

The police put barricades and beefed up police deployment outside the High Commission to ensure there is no breach in law and order.

However, this didnt put a stop to angry protestors who had members of Hindu Sikh Global Forum, representing a coalition of Hindu and Sikh communities, members who took out a march to demand a stop to such attacks. These protestors, including the Sikh members, also tried climbing up the barricades despite the police presence and shouted slogans such as Jo bole so nihal, sat sri akal and Justin Trudeau, haye haye. Delhi Police was seen pleading the protestors to stay behind the barricades.

"We have deployed additional forces and barricadings outside the High Commission of Canada following a protest march call. No one will be allowed to breach law and order," a senior police officer said. The protestors also held placards with Stop the attacks on temples in Canada, Awaz do Hindu Sikh ek hai, and Na tutege na batege, hum ek hai written on it.

This comes after a series of violent incidents targeting Hindu temples in Canada, the latest being at a temple in Brampton on November 4.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah electrified the city with a massive roadshow on Saturday, as he campaigned for BJPs bid to reclaim power in the State. Riding through crowded streets, Shah was visibly moved by the overwhelming turnout, later expressing on social media platform X, The love and enthusiasm of the people in Jamshedpur show that the BJP is set to come to power in Jharkhand. The show of support underscored BJPs strategic efforts to consolidate its voter base in the region ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.

Accompanying Shah were two prominent faces of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Jamshedpur: BJPs Purnima Sahu, contesting from the Jamshedpur East seat, and Saryu Rai of the Janata Dal (United), the NDAs candidate for the Jamshedpur West seat. Together, they rode through the city in an open-top vehicle, waving to crowds and greeting supporters as flower petals rained down upon them.

The streets of Jamshedpur were filled with the fervent chants of Jai Shri Ram and Bharat Mata Ki Jai as thousands of locals lined up to witness the spectacle. Youth, women, and elderly citizens stood side by side, waving flags and cheering as the Home Ministers convoy made its way through the heart of the city. Many locals saw the roadshow as an opportunity to show their support for the BJP, while others viewed it as an important moment for Jamshedpur in the national political spotlight.

Throughout the rally, the fervor and optimism were evident among BJP supporters, who expressed hope for political change. Amit Shahs presence here shows the seriousness with which BJP is taking Jharkhand, said Ravi Singh, a local businessman who attended the roadshow. We need stronger leadership to address our citys issues, and seeing the Home Minister here gives us confidence that BJP is ready to make that change.

The decision to spotlight Jamshedpur East and West in this roadshow reflects BJPs strategic focus on these key constituencies. Jamshedpur East, a highly contested seat, has long been a battleground between the BJP and its rivals. This time, with Purnima Sahu as the BJP candidate and the support of NDAs Saryu Roy in Jamshedpur West, the alliance aims to consolidate its influence across the steel city.

The roadshows route covered several key areas in Jamshedpur, where party workers, dressed in saffron, had meticulously prepared decorations and flags. The sight of the Home Minister in an open vehicle, alongside Sahu and Rai, drew cheers and chants from every corner. Local resident Preeti Mishra, who participated in the rally, described the excitement: Its not every day that a leader of Amit Shahs stature comes here. The energy in the crowd reflects our hope for positive change under BJP.

Sikh community accords grand welcome

Jamshedpur: People from different communities welcomed the Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the roadshow. On behalf of the Sikh community, young BJP Sikh leaders Satvir Singh Somu, Chanchal Bhatia, Joginder Singh Jogi, Rocky Singh, Ravinder Singh Rinku, Satinder Singh Romi, Gurvinder Singh Bunty, Avtar Singh Pintu, Akash Singh, Vinay Khurana, Harpreet Singh, Daljit Singh, Pintu Saini and many other Sikh youths welcomed him by showering flowers in Sakchi. Satvir Singh Somu said that the public is with the BJP and the formation of the BJP government in the state is certain.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Sunday, took a swipe at Akhilesh Yadavs PDA plank, terming it as Production house of Dangai (rioters) and Apradhi (criminals).

He also said that the CEO (chief executive officer) of this production house was Akhilesh Yadav and Shivpal Singh Yadav its trainer, with all criminals business partners in the party.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav had coined the acronym PDA for the Pichhde (backwards), Dalits and Alpsakhyak (minorities) during the 2022 assembly polls and he has been using it since the general election earlier this year.

Samajwadi Party talks about PDA. Let me tell you what PDA is. It is the Production house of Dangai (rioters) and Apradhi (criminals). We are giving you this new definition. The bigger a criminal is, the bigger a rioter is, they are part of Samajwadi Partys production house, he said

The Katehari assembly seat in Ambedkar Nagar district is among the nine seats in Uttar Pradesh going to the polls. The election was necessitated after Samajwadi Party MLA Lalji Verma was elected to Lok Sabha.

"Every dreaded criminal, mafia, rapist is born in this production house. And Akhilesh Yadav is its CEO, Yogi said, referring to allegations against Samajwadi Party leaders in rape cases in Ayodhya and Kannauj.

He also alleged the SP tried to save the man accused in the Ayodhya rape case.

Dekh Sapai, bitiya ghabrai (daughters are scared when they see Samajwadi Party leaders), he said in another rally at Majhawan in Mirzapur district. Here, sitting MLA Dr Vinod Bind is now a Lok Sabha member.

"Whether it was Atiq Ahmed of Prayagraj, Mukhtar Ansari of Ghazipur, Khan Mubarak of Ambedkar Nagar... all of them were the products of the Samajwadi Party's production house. All of them were business partners of the Samajwadi Party in crime. They looted the poor, captured the land of the weak and disrupted social harmony, he said, adding that the double engine government of the Bharatiya Janata Party at the state and the Centre ended their era.

Later, addressing an election rally at Tilak Inter College grounds in Kotwa in Phulpur assembly constituency in Prayagraj district in support of BJP candidate Deepak Patel,

Accusing the Samajwadi Party of giving patronage to the mafia, Yogi said after Independence, the socialist movement was started with values and ideals and people like Jayaprakash Narayan, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia, Acharya Narendra Dev, Chandra Shekhar, Janeshwar Mishra, Mohan Singh were associated with the movement, but today, the SP had deteriorated into a gathering of criminals and mfaia,

Yogi said that earlier the money of the public used to go to the Saifai family and their agents. He also alleged that the murder of MLA Krishnanand Rai in 2006 was committed at the behest of the SP, and so was Raju Pals in Prayagraj.

Yogi asked what was the compulsion of Congress and INDI Alliance in the withdrawal of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. The government of Jammu and Kashmir has passed a resolution for the withdrawal of Article 370. This Article 370 is being withdrawn to promote terrorism. The Narendra Modi government will never let it return. There will be one symbol and one Constitution in the whole country, Yogi said.

Yogi said that Prime Minister Modi had changed the image and destiny of the country in ten years. He said the double-engine government was working without stopping and without getting tired. He said UP was earlier known for anarchy and riots and there was a crisis of identity, the honour of daughters and sisters was not safe, farmers used to commit suicide, traders were insecure, youths did not get jobs as they were auctioned, but this image of the state had been changed by the BJP which stood of peace and prosperity if the people.

Nine UP assembly seats are going to bypolls  Katehari (Ambedkar Nagar), Karhal (Mainpuri), Meerapur (Muzaffarnagar), Ghaziabad, Majhawan (Mirzapur), Sisamau (Kanpur Nagar), Khair (Aligarh), Phulpur (Prayagraj), and Kundarki (Moradabad).

Eight of these seats fell vacant after their MLAs were elected to Lok Sabha while bypoll is being held on the Sisamau seat due to the disqualification of SP MLA Irfan Solanki, who was convicted in a criminal case.

In the 2022 assembly polls, Sisamau, Katehari, Karhal, Milkipur and Kundarki were held by the SP, while the BJP had won Phulpur, Ghaziabad, Majhawan and Khair.

The Meerapur seat was held by the RLD, which is now an ally of the BJP in the NDA.

The Congress is not contesting the bypolls and supporting its INDIA bloc partner SP, while the Bahujan Samaj Party is contesting solo on all nine seats.
Leading philosophers, educationists and schoolteachers will gather at a Delhi University college for a two-day conference to discuss the challenges and advantages of teaching Philosophy in schools across the country.

The conference -- Teaching Philosophy at School Level: Problems and Prospects -- will be organised on November 19-20 at Mata Sundri College for Women in collaboration with the Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR).

The speakers include Prof Sundar Sarukkai, founder of the Barefoot Philosophers Initiative, Prof Kapil Kapoor, Prof Arindam Chakrabarti, Prof Bhagat Oinam, and school educators from Coimbatore, the college said in a statement.

They will share their experiences on how Philosophy can be integrated into school education, it said.

"This conference represents a significant step toward integrating Philosophy into school education, fostering a culture of critical thinking, and establishing a strong foundation for the discipline," Prof. Harpreet Kaur, Principal of Mata Sundri College, said. The conference aims to explore the potential benefits, challenges, and prospects of introducing Philosophy as a subject in school curricula across the country.

There are many social science subjects like History, Geography, and Political Science (taught as civics at school level) that are taught from early school days, that is class 3 or even class 2 onwards.

There is, therefore, an inbuilt familiarity, exposure and comfort level with these disciplines when they are taken up for higher studies in colleges and universities, Dr. Garima Mani Tripathi, Associate Professor in the college, said.

The key conference themes include understanding Philosophy as a discipline, methodologies for teaching Philosophy to young students, and practical tools to make the subject accessible.

The conference's goals also include building a consensus on the need to elevate the profile of Philosophy in schools, making it as familiar and accessible as other social sciences, such as History and Political Science.
After administration and police failed to curb illegal sale of liquor women of Raipur village on Berasia Road on the outskirts of state capital took to the road against the illegal sale of liquor. They protested in front of District Panchayat Vice President Mohan Jat and talked about blocking the roads.

A protest was also held on Friday regarding the illegal sale of liquor. Even before this, Sarpanch Dara Singh had made a written complaint to the Collector and SP and demanded action.

Mohan Jat, District Panchayat Vice President said that liquor is being sold illegally in many villages of Berasia district area, which should be stopped. If this does not happen, then we will block the roads with the villagers.

Sarpanch Dara Singh told in a letter written to the Collector-SP that illegal liquor is being sold in Raipur. Many men and women of the village are in the grip of addiction due to being sold at a cheap price. Due to this, not only disputes are increasing in the houses but many crimes like fights have also increased. Therefore, the police and excise department staff should take strict action against those selling illegal liquor by checking.

District Panchayat Vice President Jat said that women have protested in the village on Friday, he also reached the village and talked. Women said that illegal liquor is being sold in the entire village.

The Police and Excise Department team are not taking any action. <

Due to this many youth are in the grip of addiction, women protested on Saturday also.
Endorsing Rahul Gandhi's concerns about the monopolization of the market by a few companies, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has said the Leader of Opposition's stance is not just criticism but a call for significant and essential reforms.

Sukhu said the "Congress' ideology has always been rooted in providing equal opportunities to all citizens, ensuring fair distribution of resources and prioritizing public welfare within the nation's economic structure".

"Rahul Gandhi has raised this serious issue boldly and clearly which resonates with the concerns of every citizen in the country," he added.

The chief minister said that a healthy competitive market would not only keep prices in check but also improve the quality of services and products for the consumers.

"The Union government needs to look at this sensitive issue from a perspective that transcends party lines and prioritises national interest," he added.

Sukhu said Gandhi's questions regarding the monopolization of the market by some large corporate groups are crucial for the welfare of every citizen.

Gandhi's comparison of such monopolistic practices with the East India Company highlights the potentially dangerous consequences for the nation's economy and social fabric, he added.

"Rahul Gandhi is the voice of the nation. His concerns are not only valid but also deeply aligned with the welfare of the common citizen. The Union government should adopt a positive approach and take necessary steps towards policy reforms that serve the public interest," Sukhu said.

The chief minister further said Gandhi is not merely raising objections but is advocating for transformative change.

His views and suggestions are eye-opening for citizens across the country, he added.

"If the Central government truly seeks to work in the public's best interest, it should seriously consider these suggestions and adopt robust policies to reduce economic disparity," Sukhu said.

He added that such issues warrant a nationwide discussion so that people remain aware of their rights and benefits, ensuring equitable economic empowerment for all.
Remembrance Sunday commemorates the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women in the two World Wars and later conflicts. It is held on the second Sunday in November (the Sunday nearest to 11 November, Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of hostilities in World War I in 1918).

Sacrifice for the country may be something that is alien to much of the youth of today, but in the past there was camaraderie, bravery, honour and service in protecting the realm.

Today, King Charles will be joined at the National Service of Remembrance by other members of the Royal Family, including the Prince and Princess of Wales.

The King will lay the first wreath on behalf of the UK at the Cenotaph. He will be followed by Prince William and Princess Anne, then Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the countrys other political leaders.

Members of the armed forces, including veterans of World War II, will then lay their wreaths.

Services will be held in almost every town and city across the UK  with some of the biggest gatherings expected in Belfast, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Plymouth, Liverpool and Manchester.

The Princess of Wales will be watching on from the balcony of the Foreign Office.

Veterans have spent the morning gathering near the Guards Memorial on the Horse Guards Parade ahead of the Royal British Legions March Past the Cenotaph, ahead of the March Past the Cenotaph.

The two-minute silence will begin at 11:00 when Big Ben will chime to signal the start of the two-minute silence. A cannon blast from the Horse Guards Parade, accompanied by a bugler playing the Last Post, will mark its conclusion.

Armistice Day will follow on Monday, commemorating those who died in the Great War, World War I.
There is likely to be a very significant increase in deportations in the coming years, Taoiseach Simon Harris said as he set out his partys immigration policy for the general election.

The Fine Gael leader also said his party would implement a means-tested, income-linked contribution towards State accommodation for international protection applicants with jobs.

Speaking on the campaign trail in Cork, Mr Harris said common sense had to be implemented in the immigration system.

He said: The next step we must take now is around a contribution model for people in international protection.

Now, let me be really clear: Im talking about people who are earning money.

People who come to our country do have a right to work after six months so this would be a means-tested contribution.

Mr Harris said deportation orders had increased over the last 12 months.

He added: It is a statement of fact, though, as we move forward with Europe and have a better policy over the next few years in terms of working at a European level on migration, that its likely well see a very significant increase in the number of returns to other countries.

It makes sense now to have an availability to call on a chartered plane should that need arise.

Of course, many people leave the country of their own volition. Many people leave on commercial flights, but it is sensible now to put the infrastructure in place should a charter flight be needed.

Asked if this would involve deporting someone to a third country, Mr Harris said: No. This is about returning people to the country of origin or to a country where they may have already sought asylum.

Its not in any way comparable with policies that the UK have had in place in relation to Rwanda, policies that I in the past have described as despicable and stupid.

At Labours candidate announcement, party leader Ivana Bacik said she was disappointed with Fine Gaels position.

Ms Bacik accused the party of populist pandering to anti-immigrant feeling.

She added: Im very disappointed to see it coming from a Government party and I think its particularly shameful when we see it being trotted out now alongside a whole range of issues that some of the Government parties are going to be putting forward during the campaign.

Speaking in Dublin, Fianna Fails Jim OCallaghan said the policy was surprising given that Fine Gael has held the Department of Justice portfolio for almost 14 years.

He said: When you look at my constituency (Dublin Bay South) at tents and you look at barriers, its not a system thats working very effectively.

Fortunately, Minister (Helen McEntee) listened to Fianna Fail when we suggested that she needs to designate further countries as safe countries, when we said you need to increase the fines on airlines.

Mr OCallaghan added: It sounds to me that if it was a proposal they were serious about, they would have implemented it over the past 13 years.

Fianna Fail Minister of State James Browne at the Department of Justice said his party wanted to introduce a Department of Domestic Affairs to manage immigration issues.
Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) is to receive 2,178,284 in capital funding for research equipment and infrastructure upgrades, it was announced today by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick ODonovan TD.

The funding is part of an 80 million package in capital funding for higher education institutions across the State. 1,343,047 of the funding for DkIT is through the Devolved Capital Grant, and can be used to support small-scale building works including energy efficiency and decarbonisation upgrades, health and safety works, access upgrades, refurbishment and equipment purchase or renewal including ICT.

The remaining 835,237 is being made available through the Higher Education Research Equipment Grant (HEREG) and will assist DkIT in purchasing world-leading research equipment that will serve the research and development needs of Irish industry.

Speaking today, Minister ODonovan said: I am very pleased to allocate 80 million to our college campuses across the country through these two grants. The Higher Education Research Equipment Grant will not only allow universities to upgrade research equipment but also purchase new or additional research equipment.

The Devolved Capital Grant will allow universities to invest in minor capital works programmes, refurbishment and renewal of equipment and will ensure their facilities remain up-to-date, fit for purpose and respond to climate objectives.
a farm safety educational platform for children. and Irish Rural Link, established in 1991 to represent the interests of locally based rural groups in disadvantaged and marginalised rural areas, are calling on AgriKids,and Irish Rural Link,are calling on Louth communities to register their interest in a new farm safety education manual designed to support primary school teachers, and members of their local farming communities, with the tools needed to co-deliver an effective farm safety education programme in the classroom.

The manual, which was funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine with additional funding from Flogas, includes information on how teachers and members of the community can work together to co-deliver the programme; ideas for topics which can be covered; tips for making the information accessible for children; and much more.

It is just one of several new learning supports in development under the Engage, Educate & Empower pilot, a community-led learning initiative in farm safety education. As well as the creation of the manual on community-led learning, a farm safety gaming app and a video animation to the farm safety song, When Youre Working on the Farm are also in development and due for release later this month.

These new resources will be freely available to schools and communities and add value to AgriKids existing suite of supported learning farm safety programmes, where the Engage, Educate & Empower ethos originated.

The community led learning strategy has been collated with input from an advisory panel made up of members of An Garda Siochana, teachers, farmers, community development officers and farm accident survivors, all of which have been involved in or participated in farm safety events in the past.

Their unique insight is invaluable in creating a high impact and relevant resource, so teachers can have support in delivering curriculum linked lessons on farm safety with assistance from members of their community.

AgriKids founder, Alma Jordan said, When it comes to farm safety the saying it takes a village is so apt. The fact is no one teacher, school or individual can deliver the farm safety message alone. We need our communities to come together to make sure that the message gets home and is relevant. I get so many requests to visit schools and all too often I must refuse as its simply not possible to visit them all.

"By adopting a more community led approach we can not only encourage education of farm safety in schools, but also support people in the area who may be invited to schools to deliver talks and make sure they feel confident and assured while doing so.

Irish Rural Link, CEO, Seamus Boland said, Irish Rural Link has a long history of tackling key social issues in rural Ireland such as safety, wellbeing and socio-economic challenges. By partnering with AgriKids and activating our combined network of farmers, educators and advocates, we aim to deliver a successful community-led approach to help educate children on the importance of farm safety.

AgriKids and Irish Rural Link are calling for primary schools and individuals in the community who may be invited to their local school to carry out a farm safety talk to register for a training manual which contains all the information the schools and community members need to deliver a relevant and engaging farm safety programme. https://form.jotform.com/ 242984653704061
The Green Party has officially selected dedicated local Councillor Marianne Butler as their candidate for Louth in the upcoming general election. A long-serving advocate for Dundalk South since her election in 2009, Butler brings over 15 years of experience in Louth County Council to her campaign. This election marks her debut run for Dail Eireann.

Speaking after her selection, Councillor Marianne spoke about her motivation to run. Im running for the Dail because I want to try and tackle the root cause of the issues facing my constituents. I am confronted on a daily basis by the challenges people face in housing, healthcare, education, childcare and a host of other areas. As a councillor, I can only do so much. As their TD, I could do a whole lot more.

Rooted in her community, Butler grew up on the Quay in Dundalk and currently lives on Avenue Road with her husband and two young sons. She has held pivotal roles in local governance, including former Chair of Dundalk Town Council and Vice Chair of Louth County Council. Her service extends into education and community development as a former member of the governing body of DKIT, the Louth Meath Education & Training Board, and the board of Creative Spark.

Reflecting on the Green Party's record in government, Butler expressed optimism but also caution about leaving the main parties in power without a junior partner to push them hard.

We have shown change is possible if politicians are focussed on results and pursue them with a sense of urgency. It has allowed us to reduce Irelands carbon emissions to their lowest levels in 30 years, double investment in public transport, slash the cost of childcare by 50%, and massively increase support for the arts and sporting organisations. In the next Dail we need to take the same approach to other areas where our coalition partners have not made as much progress.

With a clear vision for Louth, Butler aims to champion positive change for her community and beyond: "Louth is a vibrant county, home to two of Irelands largest towns, thriving businesses, stunning natural amenities, and continuously improving infrastructure.

"But we need a local TD who is thinking about whats next: enhancing local public transport, ensuring children have access to safe green spaces, building new schools for our growing communities, supporting DKIT in its journey toward university status, and strengthening local businesses. For me, politics is about public service and delivering real results for the community. Im fiercely proud of Louth, and I want to be a TD that Louth can be proud of.
Simon Harris has distanced his party from comments made by Ryanair boss Michael OLeary, who suggested teachers should not lead the country, while endorsing a Fine Gael candidate.

It comes after the comments were described as extremely offensive and hugely insulting by political opponents and teachers unions.

The airline chief announced his support for a Fine Gael candidate in the General Election, adding it was important to elect a government that gets shit done.

Mr OLeary endorsed Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke in the LongfordWestmeath constituency, adding that he would give his second preference to Fianna Fail candidate Robert Troy.

The multimillionaire based part of his endorsement on Mr Burkes background in the private sector, as he criticised TDs who were teachers in the past. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin is among those who has a background in teaching.

The Dail is full of teachers  nothing wrong with teachers, I love teachers, but I wouldnt generally employ a lot of teachers to go out and get things done, he said.

The Teachers Union of Ireland said the comments were extremely offensive, while the Irish National Teachers Organisation added that the remark was outrageous and deeply insulting.

Elsewhere, Fianna Fail Minister of State James Browne said the remark was offensive, adding that he was the chair of a board of management for a primary school.

One of the most effective things you can do with your life is being a teacher, he said.

Fianna Fail candidate for Dublin Bay South Jim OCallaghan added: As the son of a primary school teacher, I can tell him hes absolutely incorrect  teachers are very effective at getting things done.

In an apparent reference to Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach Simon Harris, Mr OCallaghan added: We need people from different backgrounds in Dail Eireann, teachers, all walks of life  it cant be the case that everyone just decides at 19 years of age that Im going to be a politician and stay in politics for the rest of their lives.

Elsewhere, Labour leader Ivana Bacik said it was very disappointing to hear someone in public life taking snipes or sneers at teachers, as she called on Fine Gael to distance themselves from the comments.

She said: Were all conscious of the enormous contribution that teachers have made.

She added: Its particularly disappointing at a time when we know theres a crisis in education, the recruitment and retention of teachers.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald also weighed in, saying: For teachers to be jeered and demeaned in this way is unacceptable.

Mr Burke later distanced himself from Mr OLearys remarks, telling RTE radio that he absolutely disagreed with the businessman about teachers.

Mr Harris, Fine Gael leader, said the Ryanair bosss comments were unacceptable but welcomed the endorsement.

He said: Teachers are the backbone of Irish society and Im not sure theres people who would last five minutes standing at the front of a class and I have nothing but respect for teachers.

Michael OLeary is a very successful businessman, I think the fact one of the most successful businessmen in Ireland thinks the minister for business is doing a good job is important, is good.

But I also think this: The Dail needs diversity, the Dail needs a mix of people in it.

Speaking at Mr Burkes campaign launch in Mullingar, Mr OLeary also took aim at Sinn Fein and continued a long-running feud with the Green Party.

Mr OLeary, who grew up and lives in Mullingar, said the November 29 vote would be one of the most seismic elections within the next three decades because of the expected population boom.

He added: So it is vital this time that we elect a government that delivers.

We need a government that delivers for enterprise, that creates jobs. We need a government that delivers infrastructure that fixes the problems we face today, and above all, its vital that we elect a government that gets shit done.

Because, frankly, Im fed up with the left-wing politicians telling us that if they tax us more and spend more, all will be well.

Mr OLeary urged the crowd to also support Fianna Fail candidates but urged them not to vote for the Green Party or Sinn Fein.

I would also urge everybody to give your number two to somebody in Fianna Fail as well, he said.

Its important, I think, in this election that Fine Gael and Fianna Fail supporters transfer to each other.

Ryanair has repeatedly criticised the Green ministers for transport and tourism, Eamon Ryan and Catherine Martin, over what the airline sees as a lack of action on the Dublin Airport passenger cap.

What is most important in this election is we weed out the Greens. Weve learned after five minutes that the Greens are just weeds, Mr OLeary said.

They poison enterprise. Theyve destroyed transport.

He added: Please dont vote for Sinn Fein. I would ignore Sinn Fein. If you cant run your own party, you havent much chance of running a government or a country either.
What will Irish cities look like in 2050? That is the question posed in a new three-part series on RTE1 next week.

Called Futureville Ireland, it airs on RTE1 on successive nights from Tuesday November 12 at 7pm, and offers a vision of a new Irish city a generation from now: How will it look? What will daily life be like here? What are the latest innovations from the Irish research community that will make it possible?

Athlone has been chosen as the place to be re-imagined for the series, as a near future metropolis, a capital of the midlands, and a new home for a quarter of a million people in 2050. This exciting transformation, built on Irish scientific research, could happen just as easily to any other Irish town or city such as Cork.

The first episode highlights the newest technologies that will enable our vision for this city of 250,000 people to become a reality.

It focuses on the housing and sustainable urban design of the future, how to bring new life to the main streets of our towns and cities, how robots will become an integral part of our daily lives at work and at home, the shopping experience of the future, and how breakthroughs in neural technology could benefit all of us.

A number of expert contributions are heard on different elements of the journey to creating this future city.

Orla Murphy, Assistant Professor at UCD School of Architecture, and architect Sean Harrington talk about the sustainable urban design and new building technologies that will help us build enough quality homes for everyone in Futureville.

Gerry Lacey, Professor of Engineering at Maynooth, explains how robots will become a key part of our daily lives, while Miriam Simon, consumer and retail expert, talks about the changing consumer experience, and Manus Biggs, Associate Professor in Biomedical Engineering, reveals how neural implants will become a key part of our treatment of brain disorders in the future. The episode also features a blend of Athlone residents  Leah Moloney and brothers Adam and Ross Mulvihill are desperate to move out of their family homes and find a place of their own; Rosie Boles, owner of Irelands oldest department store; Darren Magee, business owner, and ex-Dublin GAA star and Tadhg Kelleher  who provide insights into the daily lives, the challenges they face and their hopes for the future.

We also meet Megabyte, the robot pet of the future.

The series is presented by RTEs Carla OBrien (pictured on the cover of TV Week) and Dr Lorraine Mancey, of the UCD Innovation Academy.
A panel discussion focusing on Cork Prisons Open Door pop-up restaurant will follow the Irish premiere of Benvenuti in Galera/Welcome to Jail a film which explores the prison restaurant in Milans Bollate Prison, during the ongoing Cork International Film Festival.

In the Italian jail, inmates are provided with professional culinary training and high quality dining, described as a transformative experience, and this is similar to what is happening in Cork Prison through the Open Door project.

Munster Technological University (MTU) culinary lecturer JJ Healy will be one of the key figures at the panel discussion in the Triskel Arts Centre on tomorrow evening.

Mr Healy, whose career spans culinary education and hands on prison rehabilitation work, will be joined by a panel including Liam Spacey, the governor of Cork Prison, Karen C Whelan, the chief officer work training in the prison and Odran Lucey, the executive head chef at Tralees Rose Hotel.

The Open Door demonstrates how culinary skills can provide prisoners with a genuine pathway to rehabilitation, instilling a sense of pride, confidence, and a tangible set of skills that can directly impact their lives post-incarceration, said Mr Healy in advance of tomorrow nights event.

Its exciting to see these types of initiatives gaining recognition, and I look forward to discussing how education and training in hospitality can empower individuals for a brighter future.

The Open Door project is a collaboration between the Irish Prison Service, MTUs Department of Tourism and Hospitality and the Irish Association for Social Inclusion Opportunities.

Each year, six inmates undergo a practical, eight-week culinary skills programme, culminating in a pop-up restaurant run entirely by the inmates, with MTU hospitality management students taking on roles as front-of-house staff.

The event offers guestsa mix of potential employers from the hospitality industryan opportunity to experience the talents of the inmates while offering a platform for future employment.

The next Open Door pop up event will be in March 2025.

Tomorrow night's event gets underway at 7.45pm in the Triskel. To book tickets visit corkfilmfest.org or download the myCIFF app.
A West Cork cocaine dealer got a suspended jail term and a warning from the judge, The court has given you a chance  dont waste it, but five months later he was caught dealing the same drug again.

Sean McCaffrey, aged in his 30s, is now facing into a three-year jail term as a result of his repeated drug-dealing.

Judge Dermot Sheehan revoked the suspension on the two years at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on the older case and imposed a consecutive 18 months for the latest crime with the last six months suspended.

Detective Garda Colin OMahony said the defendant was caught with 4,500 worth of cocaine at his address at 28 OMahony Avenue, Bandon, County Cork, on October 29, 2023.

That premises was searched under warrant and 65 grammes of cocaine were found in a bag concealed in a coal bunker.

Det Garda OMahony said that throughout the house various drug paraphernalia were found including baggies, phones and weighing scales.

The defendant told gardai that day that he had gone back dealing drugs four weeks earlier.

He was floating around pubs in the Bandon area three times a day. He would start conversations with random people and sell them cocaine. He had small bags in the house which were testers for his customers.

He would have an enduring involvement in the drugs business in West Cork, Det Garda OMahony said.

He had nine previous convictions for drug possession and three for dealing.

Defence barrister Elaine Audley asked the detective, If he broke contact with the people he was associating with, would that help? Det Garda OMahony agreed that it would.

Ms Audley said, In his own words he says if he does not change his life around he is going to die.

Back in May 2023  five months before this cocaine dealing was detected  Sean McCaffrey was before the same court in front of Judge Catherine Staines.

Detective Garda Grainne Duggan testified about the drugs seizure at a house in Millstreet in April 2021 where the combined value of the drugs seized amounted to 6,800.

Judge Catherine Staines said on that occasion that apart from the aggravating factor of the amount of cocaine involved there were several mitigating factors and she imposed a sentence of two years which she suspended.

Turning to the accused man that day, the judge said, The court has given you a chance  dont waste it.
If re-elected to government, Fianna Fail will expand garda numbers by 5,000, the single greatest increase in the force in the history of the State, Tanaiste Micheal Martin has said.

Mr Martin was speaking to journalists yesterday morning after a canvass of Douglas Village Shopping Centre.

He said there was a perception that Irish towns and cities are not as safe as they should be, and his party would favour getting more gardai onto the streets.

There is a need for substantially more gardai on the streets, Fianna Fail plans to expand the gardai force by 5,000, that would be the largest expansion ever in the history of An Garda Siochana, Mr Martin said.

Asked by The Echo about recent claims by the Garda Representative Association that community gardai in Cork are being taken off community policing duties on Sundays to fill holes in the core policing roster, the Tanaiste said that while acknowledging that garda resources are stretched, community gardai play a huge role.

The community garda programme has been the most effective over decades introduced by An Garda Siochana, and I have personal experience of the impact community gardai have had right across my constituency, and I think sometimes it doesnt get valued by leadership at times, Mr Martin said.

Asked if he meant garda leadership, he replied: No, Im just saying generally.

Water issues

Asked also by reporters about the ongoing issue of discoloured water in areas of Cork city, the Fianna Fail leader said Uisce Eireanns handling of the matter had been too slow.

He said an extra billion had been allocated in the budget to the water utility, and further investment would be made in the coming years.

Using the capital resources that the Apple case have made available, water will be a key feature of that allocation, the Tanaiste added.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin, canvassingin the Douglas Village Shopping Centre, met Santa and his elf, also known as Art and Ted O'Callaghan. Picture: Donal O'Keeffe

Earlier in the morning, Mr Martin had carried out a whirlwind canvass of Douglas Village Shopping Centre, where he opened a new branch of Pamela Scott.

It was a good-natured canvass, with Mr Martin stopping for chats and selfies.

Politics is the family business, and he was accompanied on the canvass by his wife Mary and their three adult children, Micheal Aodh, Aoibhe, and Cillian, each of whom now and then steered him toward constituents they thought he should meet.

Outside, at the farmers market, Mr Martin called to almost every stall.

Fine Gaels new leader Simon Harris might have trademarked the idea of bringing new energy to politics, but the Fianna Fail leader was buzzing on the first full day of the general election campaign.

Next year will see Mr Martin celebrate his 40th anniversary as an elected representative, and his 65th birthday, but if his Douglas canvass is anything to go by, Mr Martin will continue to give anyone a run for their vote.
Update:

Brooke Daley Reidy (12), who was missing from her home in South Cork city since Saturday has been located safely, a garda spokesperson has confirmed.

"Gardai would like to thank the public and the media for their assistance," they added.

Earlier: Gardai are seeking the public's assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 12-year-old Brooke Daley Reidy, who is missing from her home in South Cork city since yesterday.

Brooke is described as being approximately 5 foot 8 inches in height with a regular build, brown hair and blue eyes.

She was last seen at approximately 6:45pm yesterday evening.

Brooke was wearing a black tracksuit with 'White Fox' across the front.

She was also wearing white Nike Air Force One runners.

Anyone with information regarding Brookes whereabouts is asked to contact Anglesea Street Garda Station on 021 452 2000, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any garda station.
A cafe which had been in business in Blackpool village for more than 30 years has closed due to mounting overheads and the community's ongoing vulnerability to flooding, its owner has told The Echo.

Dunleas cafe was operated by Bill Dunlea and his family since 1991 but it has now joined a long list of other food businesses in Cork city to close in the past year.

The cost of overheads had gone through the roof, you know, electricity and gas, said Mr Dunlea.

Were there since 1991, thirty odd years  my wife ran it for the most part and then my son, Stephen, jumped in around ten years ago.

But then we lost the post office in Blackpool  it moved to the shopping centre  and we lost 70% of our business overnight, people did their business in the post office and then went for a coffee locally.

These things happen  then the flooding issue was a major disaster, thats still not resolved.

His son Stephen still has a place in the Marina  also called Dunlea's, Thats still going and will be for the foreseeable future, said Mr Dunlea.

"We have been through a fair bit in Blackpool because it isn't getting help from anywhere, it's a disaster for a place [which] was booming one time."

Mr Dunlea said issues had been exacerbated by decisions relating to flood protection and a bypass which cut through the village.

"There is no joined up thinking in relation to flooding anywhere in Blackpool," he said.

"I don't know how they're going to resolve it.

"It doesn't make for good business in there - people are keeping away from us."

Thomas Gould outside Dunleas Cafe in Blackpool. The cafe, which had been in business in the village for more than 30 years, has closed due to mounting overheads and the community's ongoing vulnerability to flooding, its owner Bill Dunlea told The Echo.

The closure of the cafe was described as a "heart-breaking decision" by Sinn Fein TD Thomas Gould.

"I want to wish Bill and all of his family well into the future.

"His contribution not just to Blackpools economy but to the wider community has been huge.

"I hope he continues to play a role in Blackpools future," the Cork North Central TD said.

Mr Gould said more support was needed for small businesses in addition to flood relief works and a regeneration of Blackpool.
By Cillian Sherlock, PA

The Tanaiste has been accused of putting the cart before the horse by announcing a new complaints process for the Defence Forces.

It comes after Micheal Martin appointed Kevin Duffy, former chairman of the Labour Court, as the interim grievance manager for the Defence Forces for 12 months, supported by external HR professionals.

The new procedure is designed to allow for an external and independent investigation of interpersonal complaints involving members of the Defence Forces.

The Women of Honour support group for former and current Defence Force members said the move was premature, pending the outcome of the tribunal of inquiry which was established to investigate bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment within the Defence Forces.

The Government committed to a full statutory inquiry into allegations of sexual misconduct, bullying and discrimination in the Defence Forces after the recommendations of a report by an independent review group (IRG).

In a statement to the PA news agency, Women of Honour said: Any final processes for the Defence Forces should only be statutorily established based on learnings that come from revelations at the upcoming Tribunal of Inquiry.

Claiming to be transforming the Defence Forces before a Tribunal has diagnosed its cultural problems is putting the cart before the horse and such claims are more of the State and its institutions closing ranks to protect themselves.

Many, many Defence Forces personnel are too afraid to give statements to the Tribunal for fear of retribution, so non-statutory processes such as this latest PR exercise by the Tanaiste will encounter difficulties too until the daylight of a proper investigation sterilises the past and confidence builds for the future.

That will not happen overnight.

Tanaiste and leader of Fianna Fail Micheal Martin (Gareth Chaney/PA)

The Women of Honour group said it had no input in designing this complaints process.

Mr Martin said the new independent and external grievance process is another important step in the cultural transformation of the Defence Forces.

He added: My priority is to make it available to personnel without further delay.

The Defence Minister said he had constructive engagement with the external oversight body, Defence Forces representative associations and the womens networks in developing the process.

He said the new strategy would provide a strong basis to legislate for a permanent complaint resolution process.

The Department of Defence said it addresses a key recommendation contained in the Independent Review Group (IRG) Report, that members of the Defence Forces should have access to an independent and external complaints system.

Mr Martin said stakeholders will be consulted and their views fully reflected in a review of the interim process next year.

Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sean Clancy welcomed the development.

He said: It will be a further key enabler of cultural transformation within the organisation.

I encourage all members to support this initiative and to engage fully with the process whether they are a complainant, a respondent or a witness.

Mr Martin also progression on the development of a complaints system for civilian employees and civil servants who work with the Defence Forces.
By Cillian Sherlock, PA

Ryanair boss Michael OLeary has endorsed a Fine Gael candidate in the general election, adding it was important to elect a government that gets shit done.

Mr OLeary endorsed Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke in the LongfordWestmeath constituency, adding that he would give his second preference to Fianna Fail candidate Robert Troy.

Speaking at Mr Burkes campaign launch in Mullingar, the airline boss took aim at Sinn Fein and continued a long-running feud with the Green Party.

Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke (Brian Lawless/PA)

Mr OLeary, who grew up and lives in Mullingar, said the November 29th vote will be one of the most seismic elections within the next three decades because of the expected population boom.

He added: So it is vital this time that we elect a government that delivers.

We need a government that delivers for enterprise, that creates jobs. We need a government that delivers infrastructure that fixes the problems we face today, and above all, its vital that we elect a government that gets shit done.

Because frankly Im fed up with the left-wing politicians telling us that if they tax us more and spend more, all will be well.

Mr OLeary urged the crowd to also support Fianna Fail candidates but urged them not to vote for the Green Party or Sinn Fein.

I would also urge everybody to give your number two to somebody in Fianna Fail as well.

Its important, I think, in this election that Fine Gael and Fianna Fail supporters transfer to each other.

Ryanair has repeatedly criticised the Green ministers for transport and tourism, Eamon Ryan and Catherine Martin, over what the airline sees as a lack of action on the Dublin Airport passenger cap.

What is most important in this election is we weed out the Greens. Weve learned after five minutes, that the Greens are just weeds, Mr OLeary said.

They poison enterprise. Theyve destroyed transport.

He added: Please dont vote for Sinn Fein. I would ignore Sinn Fein. If you cant run your own party you havent much chance of running a government or a country either.

Mr OLeary said recent controversies over the cost of the 336,000 bike shed at Leinster House and the 1.4 million security hut at Government Buildings shows that tax and spend is not the way forward.

He added: I can think of nobody here, certainly in the current government, who demonstrates more action, more energy, who works harder, and I think, is true to his principles, than Peter Burke.

Thats why Im pleased and proud to be here this evening to help Peter launch his re-election campaign.

Mr OLeary based part of his endorsement on Mr Burkes background in the private sector, as he criticised TDs who were teachers in the past.

The Dail is full of teachers  nothing wrong with teachers, I love teachers  but I wouldnt generally employ a lot of teachers to go out and get things done.
By Cillian Sherlock, PA

Stormonts First Minister Michelle ONeill has participated in the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at Belfast City Hall  the first time a senior Sinn Fein figure has taken part in such an event in Northern Ireland.

Ms ONeill, who said her attendance is a demonstration of her determination to fulfil her pledge to be a First Minister for all, laid a laurel wreath at the Cenotaph in Belfast.

A message on the wreath read: As First Minister, I wish to take our society beyond old limits, to build bridges and to a shared future together.

Today I remember all lives lost in the horror of war and conflict  past and present.

First Minister Michelle ONeill, left, stood alongside deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly for the ceremony (Liam McBurney/PA)

Ms ONeill attended the commemoration alongside DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, who also laid a wreath.

Hundreds of people lined the streets outside City Hall as Armed Forces members participated in the ceremony.

In a statement, Ms ONeill said: I am committed to representing everyone equally. Through my words and actions, I will honour that commitment.

We each have our own identity, experiences, and perspectives. As an Irish republican who believes in a united Ireland, I have my own perspective also.

As we move towards a better future I am committed as First Minister to moving beyond old limits and building bridges.

It is through understanding and respect for our differences that we can build a stronger, respectful, and united society.

I will never shy away from my responsibility to take decisions  no matter how personally challenging  that will help build a new Ireland, defined by inclusion and respect for all traditions.

Elsewhere, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn attended the annual Remembrance Sunday commemoration at Enniskillen, where hundreds gathered to pay their respects.

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 8th, 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.

Taoiseach Simon Harris said he decided not to attend the commemoration on advice from officials that it would not be attended by the senior representatives of the Executive.

Members of the Armed Forces during the Remembrance Sunday service at Belfast City Hall (Liam McBurney/PA)

Mr Harris absence was a rare break with the tradition of the sitting Taoiseach attending the event. The commemoration falls two days after he formally announced the general election.

The Government was represented by Mr Harris Fine Gael party colleague and Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys, who is not seeking re-election.

A range of other events to pay tribute to the war dead took place across Northern Ireland on Sunday.

Meanwhile, President Michael D Higgins said he would lay a wreath in remembrance of all those who have died in war as he attends the National Service of Remembrance in St Patricks Cathedral in Dublin.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald also said she would attend the Dublin service.
Nathan Tippett was in a serious life crisis that consumed him and even believed he would not live past 21, but meeting Phan Khanh Khanh changed everything.

He recalls the gloomy winter day in 2019 when he received a friend request on a dating app from a girl named Phan Khanh Khanh. He decided to accept. Khanh, a marketing undergraduate who had moved from Vietnam to Canada for high school, struck him as approachable from their first online conversation.

Though reserved, she listened attentively, which made her presence genuinely warm. In turn, Tippetts daily gestures of kindness won over the girl from My Tho City in the southern Tien Giang Province.

After two weeks of messaging, they arranged to meet. She had expected him to pick her up by car and take her out for a meal or coffee, but as she approached the intersection outside her home, she was surprised to see him waiting on the other side, having walked over. The two spent the day strolling around town, marking the beginning of a relationship, the first for both.

Khanh and Nathan during their trip to Vietnam to visit Khanh's parents. Photo courtesy of the couple

Soon she sensed a sadness beneath his cheerful demeanor. One day, two months into their relationship, she noticed his eyes were red and teary. Setting aside what she was doing, she encouraged him to share his thoughts. After a long silence, he opened up about his painful childhood.

His parents divorced when he was eight, and he spent half the year with each of them. Left largely unattended, he drifted from school and eventually dropped out. At 18 he worked part-time to help his mother pay her rent, but had to move in with his father when she found a new partner. During this period his mental health deteriorated. He neither studied nor worked, and tensions with his father escalated. His father eventually placed him in an adult reformatory center, but he was expelled within two weeks for misbehavior. He ended up homeless and on the streets.

"His body trembled when he recounted that Christmas in 2018 when he had to message his father, begging to come home," Khanh, now 24, says. Over the following months he stayed with his grandmother. A month before meeting Khanh, he had secured a steady job and moved into his own place. Shocked to hear his story, she hugged him and assured him that he would not have to face lifes struggles alone anymore. "Understanding his past helped me empathize with him and offer comfort whenever he felt down," she says.

But his struggles were more difficult than she had imagined. In February 2020, during a visit to his brother in another province, he made a video call to her with, to her horror, his wrist soaked in blood. Drinking and mental distress had driven him to slash his wrists. "Fortunately, Nathans brother found him in time and rushed him to the hospital," she recounts.

Tippett returned to Ontario, where Khanh put everything on hold to stay by his side, offering him support and encouragement to help him through his dark period. As the snow melted and cherry trees began to bloom outside, she made nourishing soups and porridges and made him eat. "That was the first time I envisioned a peaceful life with someone who truly cared for me," he says.

With time his mental health stabilized. A year into their relationship, they considered moving in together, but Khanh was firm about a commitment: "Lets get married," she said, catching him off guard. He told her that early marriages were uncommon in Canadian culture, with many couples cohabiting for years before marrying, if at all. "I was 22, she was 20, and we had nothing," he says. After a few days of thought, he agreed on one condition: "If we have children, no matter what hardships come, we will not separate but work through them together."

Khanh and her husband Nathan holding the keys to their new home in December 2023. Photo courtesy of the couple

Phan Phi Khanh and his wife received their daughters call at their home in Tien Giang Province announcing her wedding plans. Initially they were against the marriage. She was still in school and inexperienced, and they feared language and cultural differences, worrying he would not be as loving and understanding as someone from her own culture.

However, her three aunts in Canada, who had met Tippett, found him kind-hearted and genuinely caring toward their niece. Her parents gradually softened as her aunts kept putting in a good word for him. "I realized that our daughters happiness is what truly matters," her father says.

In December 2020, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the couple held an intimate wedding ceremony with only 20 guests. They used their combined savings of CAD50,000 (US$36,000) and wedding gifts from family and friends to start their new life. With work limited due to pandemic restrictions, Tippett resumed his studies to get his high school diploma. This enabled him to secure a full-time position at an automotive manufacturing company with better pay and benefits than his previous part-time job.

Khanh graduated and worked briefly in a corporate role before starting a haircare business and later moving into insurance. After originally planning to buy a home by 2025 they achieved the goal sooner thanks to steady jobs and careful savings. In the winter of 2023, three months before their first child was born, they moved from a cramped 27-square-meter basement flat to a spacious 100 sq.m condominium. Their new home now echoes with the sounds of their sons laughter and cries.

Tippett took five months paternity leave to help his wife care for their child. During this time they also brought their son to Vietnam to meet his grandparents. As they spent time together Khanhs parents developed a deep bond with their grandson and son-in-law. "Knowing Nathans childhood, I grew more attached to him, and began to view him as my own son," her father says.

Khanh, Nathan and their son in Ontario, Canada in October 2024. Photo courtesy of the couple

Whenever they meet, Tippet's parents and grandmother continuously thank Khanh for turning his life around. But she sees it differently: She is grateful that he has brought purpose to her life. Once a carefree girl from a well-off family, she has learned to be mature, managing a household and embracing family responsibilities.

"He has always been my rock, my most steadfast supporter, helping me grow in my career," she says. Tippet says people often ask him why he married young and his answer is: "When you cannot imagine a future without someone, marriage becomes the most obvious choice.

"I used to think I was unlucky, but now, looking back from my 20s, I feel fortunate to have found someone who made me want to change."
Sunday, November 10, 2024

Republicans have for the past eight years charged that the Democrats, with their allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, never recognized the legitimacy of Donald Trumps first-term presidency. In the summer of 2020, a Republican-led Senate Intelligence Committee panel found that Russia indeed launched an aggressive effort to interfere in [that] election on Trumps behalf. However, a May 2023 report issued by Justice Department special counsel John Durham also heavily criticized the FBI for the flawed handling of its investigation into accusations of the Trump campaigns conspiracy with Russia.

In November 2020, it was the turn of President Trump and his supporters to launch their own complaints about the outcome of a presidential election. The president and his associates claimed that the Biden victory was not certifiable, alleging that there was widespread voter fraud in some states. Despite rulings by numerous courts finding no such material irregularities, Trump and his acolytes have continued to insist, to this day, that the 2020 election was stolen from him.

The denialism had poisoned the political atmosphere so much that like most people, I was seriously worried about the potential for violence in the days leading up to last weeks election, and in its aftermath. Given how heavily the Republicans had questioned the integrity of the voting system, my expectation was that the final result would not be known for days, if not weeks. And the danger was that the longer the outcome was in doubt, the greater the likelihood of mayhem. I was thus hugely relieved when it became apparent on Tuesday night that the contest was going to be settled much quicker than I anticipated.

Democrats are understandably reeling from the decisive nature of the Trump victory. But there are two silver linings in that outcome that they should see with clear eyes. First, having such a result that leaves no doubt in anyones mind, thus removing the threat of violence that could have disrupted every aspect of national life, should be viewed as a positive by every American. Second, the comprehensiveness of the defeat will force the Democratic Party to engage in the type of critical self-examination that it so badly needs, but would have refused to carry out otherwise.

Personally, I extend my sincerest gratitude to the thousands of dedicated and patriotic fellow citizens who helped run such a flawless election. Because of the heated rhetoric, poll workers in some parts of the country faced grave threats of bodily harm, but they bravely went and did their jobs anyway. Their impressive work, and that of state and local officials who oversaw the entire voting process, should put an end to the Republican nonsense that the electoral system has been so massively corrupted that it shouldnt be trusted. I havent heard the president-elect and his supporters say anything about the voting system since they won the election last week. Apparently, to them, the process is fair only when they win. It would be nice for them to apologize for impugning the integrity of our fine compatriots who work diligently and honestly at all levels to ensure that we have free and fair elections during every cycle.

With regard to the issue of nefarious external actors meddling in our elections, I would argue that we should perhaps do some soul-searching as a country. Of course, our intelligence agencies should vigorously monitor and root out all forms of foreign interference. But there is no question that we have dumbed down our politics so much that a good part of the electorate has become conditioned to believe anything, no matter the source and how mindless it is.

In the 2024 election cycle, almost $11 billion was spent on political advertising, with more than $3 billion devoted to the presidential election alone. I have never in my life seen such staggering amounts of money spent so unwisely. The overwhelming majority of the ads were so bad that I kept wondering how anyone in either campaign hoped to sway any voters with the kinds of materials they were putting out. I started referring to them as peekaboo commercials. You keep expecting to see or hear something meaningful or concrete, but nothing of substance ever emerges. The way to nullify the misinformation efforts of malicious foreign actors is to inject maturity into our election campaigns. Political aspirants must show voters respect, and not treat them as if they are toddlers to play goofy games with.

The bickering over election results in the past eight years has diminished America in the eyes of the world. Our claim of being the model democracy that other countries are supposed to emulate has lacked moral legitimacy because of it. This great nation deserves a much better reputation than that. Those who have sullied Americas name with their election denialism should cut out that undignified behavior.
A government approved stock removal company has been fined 80,000 after an employee sustained a fractured skull at its site in Glasgow.

Grayshill Limited, a company specialising in the removal and disposal of fallen livestock, pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety regulation.

In addition to a fractured skull, the worker sustained a broken clavicle, a ripped earlobe and haematomas down his right side, a court heard.

An investigation found this was caused by being struck by a telehandler bucket while working at Grayshill Limited on 19 October 2022.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) concluded that the firm had failed to implement a safe system of work for the use of quick hitches on the telehandler.

The worker had been removing cattle from the back of a lorry when the telehandler bucket became detached and struck him.

A quick hitch is a latching device that enables, in this case, the bucket, to be connected to the arm of the telehandler and changed quickly.

A manual quick hitch requires an operator to manually insert a metal pin from the latching device to secure the attachment.

On the morning of 19 October 2022, a self-employed agricultural engineer had serviced the telehandler, which included removing the bucket, but he did not correctly reattach it onto the telehandler after the service was complete.

The health and safety watchdog's investigation found that the securing pin for the quick hitch had not been reinserted.

HSE principal inspector Hazel Dobb said this was a serious incident that had resulted in a worker sustaining horrific injuries.

She said: "We thoroughly investigated this incident and found Grayshill failed to carry out the correct control measures and safe working practices at its site in Glasgow.

"The company also failed to check its vehicles after they had been serviced and repaired to ensure they were safe for use.

Grayshill Ltd, of Mollins Road, Cumbernauld, Glasgow, pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

The company was fined 80,000 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of 6,000 at Airdrie Sheriff Court on 28 October 2024.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 10. The Embassy of Azerbaijan in Egypt has made contact with an Azerbaijani family (3 people) involved in a car accident in Egypt, Spokesperson for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Aykhan Hajizada said in response to Trend.

The spokesperson confirmed that three Azerbaijani citizens sustained minor injuries.

The family members are reportedly in good condition and currently staying at their hotel.

Notably, a passenger bus was involved in an accident earlier today in the Egyptian city of Ras Sedr, affecting tourists from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Ukraine.
Susan Sarandon doesn't think about age or gender when it comes to relationships.

Susan Sarandon doesn't think about age or gender

The 78-year-old actress - who was previously married to Chris Sarandon and has daughter Eva, 39, with Franco Amurri, and sons Jack, 35, and Miles, 32, with former partner Tim Robbins - isn't too concerned about such "details" as she only wants to be with someone who has an "open heart and open mind".

She told the Sunday Times magazine: There are different people who are, you know, younger, but have lived a very full life that are more mature, more interesting.

Its very hard to find a much older guy whos still curious and not just trying to hold on to things the way they were...

It has to be somebody who has curiosity, a sense of humour, intelligence and appetite for life.

"So God bless you if you manage to find somebody who fulfils any of those things, whether theyre younger, whether theyre older, whether theyre female or male, whether theyre gender-fluid, whatever. Those are just details.

"I think the big thing is finding someone with an open heart and open mind whos still curious.

The 'Gutter' actress was in a relationship with Tim from 1987 until 2009 and she feels "bad" that some people are still upset about their split.

She said: I still run into people who were devastated when we broke up. I feel so bad for them.

But the pair are still friends and she'd be open to working with him again.

She noted: You have kids  you dont have any choice.

Asked if she'd work with Tim again, she added: If he brings me something I like, yeah.

Imagine if people in Hollywood didnt work with the people they slept with.

The 'Lovely Bones' actress has had a lot of "interesting" things happen in her life but has refused to write a memoir.

She said: I have sworn never to do that. The things that are really interesting I just cant talk about. Im pretty private, actually.

"[When it was suggested] I said, What about a book about all the people I could have slept with and didnt? "
Vanessa Lachey has wished a happy birthday to herself and husband Nick Lachey.

Nick and Vanessa Lachey have been married since 2011

The 44-year-old beauty and Nick, 51, both celebrated their respective birthdays on Saturday (09.11.24) and Vanessa has taken to social media to mark the occasion.

The former 'NCIS: Hawaii' star - who has been married to Nick since 2011 - wrote on Instagram: "[heart emoji] Happy Birthday to Us, My Love [heart emoji] 19 years we have celebrated together Im always ALWAYS By Your Side! (sic)"

Vanessa's post also featured a throwback photo from their wedding day.

What's more, Vanessa shared her birthday post from last year on her Instagram Story.

The post reads: "[heart emoji] November 9, 2006 [heart emoji] 18 years ago, we celebrated our first birthday together. I will never forget the feeling I had in my heart when you told me we had the same birthday! You were meant for me! I Love sharing my birthday with You, but more importantly, I Love sharing Life with You! Happy Birthday, My Love! To Us! [heart emoji] (sic)"

Nick previously revealed the secret to their happy marriage, explaining that they always "make time to prioritise each other".

The TV star - who has Camden, 12, Phoenix, seven, and Brooklyn, nine, with Vanessa - told PEOPLE: "Sometimes you have to be deliberate. You have to make deliberate attempts because the spontaneity, the romance, whatever you want to call it that existed pre-kids, it just can't exist the same way.

"And I would argue that it shouldn't exist the same way because your priority should be your kid, but you have to also make time to prioritise each other.

"And if you lose sight of that and lose track of that, then I think that's when you can get into some trouble."
ITS TIME to take a trip back to Brokenwood for New Zealands deadliest drama, which returns for its highly anticipated 10th anniversary series.

The Brokenwood Mysteries Series 10

Over the last nine series, this marvellous mystery drama has charmed audiences across the globe with its charismatic characters, cracking cases and stunning scenery, topping the charts as U&Dramas number-one show for its ninth series. Now fans can look forward to the DVD release of The Brokenwood Mysteries Series 10, which arrives on 2 December 2024, courtesy of Acorn Media International, following its run on U&Drama; The Brokenwood Mysteries Complete Series 1  10 DVD Box set will also be available.

Many moons ago, Detective Mike Shepherd (Neill Rea  Go Girls) arrived in the seemingly tranquil, rustic town of Brokenwood in his classic car with a country music collection to die for  and never left. Now, The Brokenwood Mysteries Series 10 takes us back to the town where the population is small, but murder lurks around every corner.

The new series once again joins Brokenwood C.I.Bs finest, D.S.S. Mike Shepherd and his associates, Detective Kristin Sims (Fern Sutherland  The Almighty Johnsons) and D.C. Daniel Chalmers (Jared Rawiri  Shortland Street), as they wrestle with the alarming murder rate in the dangerous town, with warmth, camaraderie and deadpan humour.

With the help of curious pathologist Gina Kadinsky (Cristina Ionda  Filthy Rich), they use all manner of unconventional methods to solve the macabre and seriously strange crimes. From a brutal murder with a Jurassic twist to a spooky scene amidst the Day of the Dead carnival, a lovestruck dental patient, someone claiming to be Jesus Christ and a vicious visit to a House of Horrors, this seasons shocking slaughters will keep you guessing whos the killer in New Zealands most murderous metropolis. Keep your wits about you in The Brokenwood Mysteries, where murders never far away.

SPECIAL FEATURES include: The Making of Series 10 featurette.

Title: The Brokenwood Mysteries Series 1  10 Complete Box set Release Date: 2 December 2024 Cat.No: AV3799 RRP: 149.99 Cert: 15 Running Time: 4,320 mins on 24 discs.

Title: The Brokenwood Mysteries Series 10 DVD Release Date: 2 December 2024 Cat.No: AV3800 RRP: 27.99 Cert: 15 Running Time: 540 mins. on 3 discs

Available to download and keep digitally from 2 December 2024

Competition

Would like to be in with a chance to win a DVD copy of The Brokenwood Mysteries Series 10 Click here

by Matt Shine for www.femalefirst.co.uk

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King Charles led the UK in two minutes of silence at the National Service of Remembrance on Sunday (10.11.24).

King Charles at the service in London

The 75-year-old monarch - who was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year - was joined by other senior members of the royal family, including the Prince and Princess of Wales, as the nation remembered the men and women who lost their lives at war.

The king - who was dressed in the Royal Navy uniform of the Admiral of the Fleet - laid a wreath on behalf of the nation at the Cenotaph in central London.

In February, Buckingham Palace announced that Charles has been diagnosed with a form of cancer, but he's made a gradual return to public duties over recent months.

Prince William, Prince Edward and Princess Anne also laid wreaths at the war memorial in London, while Catherine, Princess of Wales and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh both watched the service from a balcony.

Catherine, 42, has been gradually returning to public duties herself, after undergoing her own cancer treatment earlier this year.

However, Queen Camilla was absent from the annual service after she was recently diagnosed with a "seasonal chest infection".

Buckingham Palace explained that Camilla, 77, was "following doctors guidance" by missing the Remembrance events in London over the weekend.

The 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 intended 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."
Catherine, Princess of Wales will "hopefully" be well enough to embark on royal tours next year.

Prince William is looking forward to working alongside wife Catherine, Princess of Wales again

The 42-year-old royal has made few public appearances this year after undergoing abdominal surgery followed by preventative chemotherapy but her husband Prince William has revealed she is looking to increase her workload in the coming months and he'd like her to join him on overseas visits again.

Speaking to reporters while in Cape Town, South Africa, for his Earthshot Prize last week, he said: I think hopefully Catherine will be doing a bit more next year, so well have some more trips, maybe, lined up."

The heir to the throne - who has Princes George and Louis, 11 and six, and nine-year-old Princess Charlotte with Catherine - also spoke of his "different" approach to the monarchy in the modern world, explaining he and Catherine want to be seen as empathetic leaders with less formality.

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.

Its more about impact, philanthropy, collaboration, convening and helping people.

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.

William, 42, has particularly focused on mental health initiatives, his Earthshot Prize competition to save the environment and Homewards, a scheme to combat homelessness, but he isn't sure what he will do next beyond it aligning with his core values.

He said: 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."
Catherine, Princess of Wales joined senior members of the royal family at the Festival of Remembrance on Saturday (0911.24).

Catherine, Princess of Wales at the event in London

The 42-year-old princess - who underwent abdominal surgery and preventative chemotherapy treatment earlier this year - joined King Charles and other royals at the event at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

The princess - who has Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six, with her husband, Prince William - has slowly been returning to public duties over recent weeks, after focusing on her health issues earlier in the year.

The Festival of Remembrance is geared towards recognising the sacrifices made by serving personnel, veterans and their families. It is widely considered to be one of the most important events in the royal calendar.

The princess was joined at the Royal Albert Hall by Charles, who is still receiving treatment for cancer.

The 75-year-old monarch - who was diagnosed with cancer earlier in 2024 - is also set to lead the royal family at the Remembrance Day ceremony at the Cenotaph on Sunday.

However, Queen Camilla will miss the ceremony after she was diagnosed with a "seasonal chest infection".

Buckingham Palace previously explained that Camilla, 77, was "following doctors guidance" by missing the Remembrance events in London over the weekend.

The 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."
The calendar-adjusted output of the Dutch manufacturing sector in September this year was 3.3 per cent lower year on year (YoY), according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). YoY output has now contracted for fifteen months in a row.

More than half of the industrial sectors produced less than they did a year earlier. Of the eight largest sectors, output fell the most sharply in transport equipment sector.

The calendar-adjusted Dutch manufacturing sector output in September was 3.3 per cent lower YoY. YoY output has contracted for fifteen months in a row. More than half of the industrial sectors produced less than they did a year earlier. Seasonally-adjusted manufacturing output fell by 3 per cent month on month in September. Manufacturers were more negative in October than they were in September.

After seasonal adjustments, manufacturing output fell by 3 per cent month on month in September.

Manufacturers were more negative in October than they were in September, and were more negative about expected output in particular, a CBS release said.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh recently called for stronger partnerships between businesses from his country and China to concretise agreements, commitments and common perceptions reached by the two countries.

He made the call while addressing the Vietnam-China Business Seminar in Chongqing city as part of his ongoing tour of China to attend the 8th Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) Cooperation Summit and related summits.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called for stronger partnerships between businesses from his country and China to concretise bilateral agreements, commitments and common perceptions. Both sides are working to deploy a smart customs system and devised policies to improve logistics infrastructure, provide financial support, foster technical cooperation and develop emerging industries.

Both sides are working to deploy a smart customs system to simplify procedures and devised policies to improve logistics infrastructure, provide financial support, foster technical cooperation and develop emerging industries like digital economy, green economy and circular economy, the prime minister was cited as saying by domestic media outlets.

Vietnam is accelerating the implementation of three strategic breakthroughs of institutional building, strategic infrastructure development and high-quality human resource development, he said.

It is also doubling efforts to build an open, transparent, fair and healthy business and investment environment, he added.

As of October 2024, China poured almost $30 billion in investment capital in nearly 5,000 projects in Vietnam. Trade between both sides stood at $172 billion last year and $190.9 billion in the first nine months this yeara year-on-year increase of 14.5 per cent.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Prime Cotton: A New Name in Azerbaijan's Cotton Industry

MKT Production and Commerce Transitions to Prime Cotton

MKT Production and Commerce LLC, part of GP Cotton Holdings and a leading entity in Azerbaijan's cotton industry, will now operate under the name Prime Cotton LLC. This rebranding move is intended to establish a strong corporate identity and a refreshed image following the company's modernization and development projects in recent years.

Prime Cotton's logo represents its commitment to natural values, quality, and corporate standards. The blue cotton flower symbolizes product purity, green emphasizes ecological responsibility, and circular elements reflect collaboration and precision. The simplicity and modernity of the Raleway font enhance brand reliability, while the symmetric design conveys respect for nature and humanity. The logo visually embodies Prime Cottons commitment to quality and sustainable growth.

In 2024, as the company celebrates its 30th year in the cotton industry, it has expanded significantly through its successful operations and is now active in 15 of Azerbaijan's 20 cotton-producing regions. Prime Cotton currently stands as Azerbaijans largest cotton producer by land area. Thanks to a successful strategy, it has become one of the top ten non-oil sector exporters in recent years and has led exports in the first nine months of 2024.

Prime Cotton will participate in the COP29 Global Conference, showcasing its invaluable experience and sustainability efforts in cotton production. Visitors can stop by GP Cotton Holdings stand to learn more about Prime Cotton's sustainable practices and innovative approaches in cotton farming. Rovshan Mahmudov, the company's Executive Director, will speak on "Better Cotton" in the Green Zone on November 14 and on "Soil Health" in the Blue Zone on November 21 at COP29.

Rovshan Mahmudov, Prime Cottons Executive Director, commented: Sustainability is one of our strategic priorities, and we will continue to implement innovative approaches. COP29 provides an important platform for sharing our experiences in sustainability and exchanging ideas with other participants.

Prime Cottons extensive infrastructure includes advanced textile facilities such as the Baku Textile Branch, Sumgait Textile Branch, Mingachevir Textile Park, and Shirvan Oil Refinery, alongside initial cotton processing branches in 11 regions and Area-Type Branches in three regions. Additionally, Prime Cotton operates Innovation Farms in six regions, implementing cutting-edge technology and sustainable practices in cotton farming.

Innovation Farms serve as testing grounds for new cotton varieties and pesticides, utilizing the latest technology to enhance product quality. International cotton varieties are trialed here, with results shared with local farmers to boost productivity.

Adhering to both local and international standards, the company exports its yarn, cotton oil, and other products to Turkey, Russia, the CIS, Europe, and the Middle East.
Volkswagen AG faces significant challenges as its stock price tumbles amid a perfect storm of market pressures and internal conflicts. The German automaker's shares plummeted 2.4% to 83.72 on Thursday, approaching its 52-week low, reflecting investor concerns over the company's performance. In China, a crucial market for Volkswagen, electric vehicle sales have nosedived by 20% in the first nine months of the year, contrasting sharply with the overall market's 21% growth. In response, the company plans to launch a new sub-brand in China by mid-2025 to reinvigorate its position.

Labor Disputes Intensify Market Anxiety

Adding to the company's woes are ongoing wage negotiations that have sparked internal tensions. Volkswagen is pushing for a 10% wage cut for its core brand, a move strongly opposed by the works council. The labor representatives argue that personnel costs constitute only 17% of total expenses, while the IG Metall union demands a 7% wage increase. This internal strife could potentially impact productivity and further erode investor confidence, compounding the challenges faced by the automotive giant in an increasingly competitive global market.

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Spey Resources Corp. (CSE:SPEY)(OTC:SPEYF)(FRA:2JS) (the "Company" or "Spey") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a share exchange agreement dated November 8, 2024 with Antimony Assets Inc. ("Antimony") and the shareholders of Antimony to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Antimony in consideration for an aggregate of 4,975,000 common shares of the Company at a deemed price of $0.0675 per share (the "Consideration Shares"). Antimony is a privately held arm's length party that holds an interest in two mineral claims covering 3,550 hectares, located in Haida Gwaii, British Columbia (the "Claims").

The proposed transaction remains subject to customary conditions of closing, including the Company completing due diligence to its satisfaction and the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange (if required), and is expected to complete shortly.

The Consideration Shares will be issued pursuant to an exemption from the prospectus requirements under applicable securities laws pursuant to Section 2.16 of National Instrument 45-106 and are anticipated to be free trading upon issuance. There are no guarantees that the proposed transaction will be completed as contemplated or at all.

Name Change

The Company is also pleased to announce it intends to change its name from "Spey Resources Corp." to "Armory Mining Corp.", effective on or about November 19, 2024. The trading symbol on the CSE will change to "ARMY". An application is pending for a symbol change on the OTC and will be provided once available. The new CUSIP will be 042279109 and the new ISIN will be CA0422791099.

No action will be required to be taken by shareholders with respect to the name or symbol change and the share capital of the Company will remain unchanged. Outstanding share and warrant certificates are not affected by the name change and do not need to be exchanged.

The Claims

The Claims, known as the Riley Creek Project, are located on the west side of Graham Island, Haida Gwaii in the north coast region of British Columbia. The Riley Creek Project surrounds four small claims owned by an arm's length company that cover four separate gold-antimony occurrences. These four occurrences are described as hydrothermal hot spring deposit types within the Middle Jurassic Yakoun Group pyroclastic andesites, volcanic sediments and argillites. They occur along the regionally significant Rennell-Louscoone northwest trending fault system. No Qualified Person working for the Company has been able to verify the information related to the four occurrences, but the Company believes the proximity to the occurrences supports exploration for new targets in the Riley Creek Project area. The references to these occurrences are not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Riley Creek Project area. Significant features of the individual mineral occurrences are summarized briefly below:

NEEDLES: - Gold, silver, antimony showing. "A 3.0-metre chip sample of the altered zone assayed 0.93 gram per tonne gold and a 1.0 metre sample assayed 0.96 gram per tonne gold and 0.68 gram per tonne silver (BC Assessment Report 15325)." SOL (GUMBO ZONE): - Gold, silver antimony showing. "A drill hole intersected a 2 metre section which assayed 3.3 grams per tonne gold and 0.6 grams per tonne silver (BC Assessment Report 8225)." COURTE: - Antimony, gold silver, lead, zinc showing. "A chip sample of continuous exposure in Sol Creek assayed 1.37 grams per tonne gold and 0.4 per cent antimony over 95 metres (BC Assessment Report 24981, page 8)" Also "A drill hole 425 metres east-southeast from mineralization exposed in Sol Creek assayed 1.37 grams per tonne gold and 0.23 per cent antimony over 10 metres (BC Assessment Report 24981, page 8)." And a "A 2.27 kilogram sample, taken by Luke Watson in 1942, assayed trace gold, 19.2 grams per tonne silver, 0.1 per cent lead, 0.2 per cent zinc and 32.9 per cent antimony (Minister of Mines Annual Report 1942, page 32)" RUMPLESTILTSKIN: - Gold showing. "Surface samples have returned from 1.25 to 7.8 grams per tonne gold (George Cross Newsletter #94 May 17, 1982)." Figure 1: The Riley Creek Project and Surrounding Four Small Claims with Gold-Antimony and Silver Showings

Qualified Person

Harrison Cookenboo, Ph.D., P.Geo., is an independent Qualified Person for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release.

All data in this news release is historical in nature and was not verified by Spey. Referenced nearby occurrences provide geologic context for the Riley Creek Project, but are not necessarily indicative that they hosts similar potential, size or grades of mineralization.

About Spey Resources

Spey Resources Corp. is a Canadian lithium focused mineral exploration company which has an 80% interest in the Candela II lithium brine project located in the Incahuasi Salar, Salta Province, Argentina. Spey also holds a 100% interest in the Kaslo Silver project, west of Kaslo, British Columbia and an option to acquire a 100% interest in certain mineral claims located in Nova Scotia.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Nader Vatanchi

CEO, Director

e: nader@speyresources.cap

p: 778-881-4631

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as the term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this news release.

Certain information contained herein constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to the Company completing the acquisition of Antimony, the consideration shares being free trading, the receipt of approval by the Canadian Securities Exchange, the name change and symbol change and anticipated timing thereof. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipates", "anticipated" "expected" "intends" "will" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and they are from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different, including receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals. Although management of the Company have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: Spey Resources Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 10, 2024) - Pelangio Exploration Inc. (TSXV: PX) (OTC Pink: PGXPF) ("Pelangio" or the "Company) is pleased to announce that the company will attend the upcoming 2024 Precious Metals Summit in Zurich, taking place from November 14th to November 15, 2024. This exclusive event gathers top-tier investors, analysts, and executives from the precious metals sector.

As Pelangio explores the potential for near-term production at its flagship Manfo gold project in Ghana, the Zurich Summit provides an excellent opportunity to present these developments, along with insights into the ongoing update of the Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE), expected by December 2024. Pelangio's engagement in the event aligns with its strategy of building relationships within the investment community and exploring opportunities to expand its shareholder base.

"We are excited to connect with investors at the Zurich Precious Metals Summit," said Ingrid Hibbard, President and CEO of Pelangio Exploration Inc. "With the potential for near-term production at Manfo and the anticipated updated MRE, this is an exciting time for us to share our progress and strategic direction with stakeholders interested in the precious metals sector."

Pelangio invites all interested parties to connect during the event. For more information or to schedule a meeting, please contact us at the details provided below.

About Pelangio Exploration Inc.

Pelangio Exploration Inc. is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company focused on advancing its portfolio of gold projects in West Africa and Canada. The company's strategy is centered on acquiring and developing highly prospective projects with the potential for significant returns. Pelangio holds a 100% interest in several properties located on the prolific Sefwi and Ashanti Gold Belts in Ghana and continues to advance its exploration efforts in one of the world's most productive gold regions.

For additional information, please visit our website at www.pelangio.com, or contact:

Ingrid Hibbard, President and CEO

Tel: 905-336-3828 / Email: info@pelangio.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements herein may contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements or information appear in a number of places and can be identified by the use of words 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 statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information include statements regarding the Company's strategy of acquiring large land packages in areas of sizeable gold mineralization, and the Company's ability to complete the planned exploration programs. Regarding forward-looking statements and information contained herein, we have made many assumptions, including about the state of the equity markets. Such forward-looking statements and information are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement or information. Such risks include the changes in equity markets, share price volatility, volatility of global and local economic climate, gold price volatility, political developments in Ghana, and Canada, increases in costs, exchange rate fluctuations, speculative nature of gold exploration, including the risk that favourable exploration results may not be obtained, the option may not be exercised, near-term production may not be viable, delays due to COVID-19 or other safety protocols, and other risks involved in the gold exploration industry. See the Company's annual and quarterly financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statement and information. There can be no assurance that a forward-looking statement or information referenced herein will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Also, many of the factors are beyond the control of the Company. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward- looking statements or information. We undertake no obligation to reissue or update any forward-looking statements or information except as required by law. All forward-looking statements and information herein are qualified by this cautionary statement. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

THIS NEWS RELEASE IS INTENDED FOR DISTRIBUTION IN CANADA ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/229438

SOURCE: Pelangio Exploration Inc.
Following the prelude Master Maqbool in Mumbai in 2022, DAG is pleased to announce the opening of Husain: The Timeless Modernist, an exhibition that celebrates the legacy of Indias foremost modernist, Maqbool Fida Husain. Spanning almost six decades of his practice across the key themes that dominated his work, Husain: The Timeless Modernist features a collection that translates every phase of Husains artistic journey from the 1950s to the 2000s and reflects on his everlasting impact on the world of art.

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Opening on 26 October 2024 at DAG, New Delhi, it brings together 116 works including depictions of women as mythological, historical and everyday beings; his fascination with horsesrooted in childhood experiences and observations of Indias culturally diverse practices; drawings and paintings that explore the idea of nationhood; and portraits and self-portraits that reflect his larger-than-life social persona. In an effort to decode as well as pay tribute to the master, Husain: The Timeless Modernist highlights Husains dynamism and versatility as an artist who embraced all forms of art, including cinema.

It features works ranging from toys and sculptures to acrylic sheets used as props for his film sets, a rare edition of photographs taken in Madras titled Culture of the Streets, and, of course, his distinctive paintings from different periods of his practice. Archival material in the exhibition include his poetry manuscripts from the late 1950s, which attest to his engagement with language and poetry, as well as exhibition invitations, photographs, and preparatory drawings.

Speaking on the exhibition, Ashish Anand, CEO of DAG, notes, There is not much I can say about M. F. Husain that hasnt already been said. A true and everlasting icon, he needs no further laudatory words. Husains larger-than-life persona was matched by the deep relationships he formed throughout his career. His approachability and accessibility made him a much-loved figure, not just among art connoisseurs but also the common manall of whom shared an interest in his life as much as in his art. His eccentricitiessuch as walking barefoot, live painting performances at classical concerts, his practice of painting in homes he visited, hotels he stayed at, restaurants he ate inadded to his unique and charismatic personality. This persona, perhaps a conscious construct, complemented his iconic art. However, despite his profound contributions to Indian art and culture, he faced significant adversity towards the end of his life. Persistent threats from political entities forced him into self-exile, and he yearned to return to his homeland. DAG has been waiting a long time to dedicate a comprehensive exhibition to the legendary Husain and with this we have honoured our pledge. 

The accompanying publication brings nuanced perspectives on the artist through essays by scholars and historians. Dr. Rakhee Balaram provides an overview of Husains work, exploring the influence of geometry on his dynamic creations, be they his depictions of women, gods and goddesses, life in a village or a city, and his iconic horses. Balaram shows how his oeuvre was shaped by his upbringing, the cultural syncretism he observed around him, his constant experimentation with material choices. Dr. Sumathi Ramaswamy focusses on Husains works on Mahatma Gandhi, unpacking the artists vision of the nation-state, and his reverence for the Mahatma and his nonviolent quest for Indias freedom.

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She explores Husains secular approach to spirituality, reflecting the philosophies and teachings of various religious traditions of India. Ina Puri adds a personal touch, sharing her relationship with Husain and his connection to her home city, Kolkata. The exhibition has been divided into six sections to better understand Husain, the painter and artist. Idea of a Nation can be seen as Husains love letter to the nation, with his paintings serving as a visual translation of Indian history and culture, delving deep into its many layers. Husain captured the nations colours, myths, symbols, rhymes and rhythms in expressive lines and cubist forms.

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Influenced since his childhood by Indias cultural heritage and religious traditions, such as the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, Ramlila and Muharram processions, as part of his Indian identity. Deciphering Desire looks at women from all walks of life who took on the role of Husains muse. Whether it was his late mother draped in a Maharashtrian saree, figures from mythology, those drawn from his interest in Gupta and Khajuraho sculptures, public figures like Mother Teresa, or movie stars like Madhuri Dixithe saw them all converging into a symphony of artistic inspiration and awe.

In Freedom of Form, his Poetry Manuscripts, which also include his line drawingswritten in the 1950s in Bombay and Londonare a testament to the power of his words and lines. Cinema, too, was a significant part of Husains life. From starting his artistic journey painting Bollywood billboards in Bombay to making award-winning documentaries and popular feature films, Husains art was steeped in the language of cinema. Equine Elegance shows how horses captured Husains imagination from a young agewhether the farrier whose workshop he frequented, the papier- mache Duldul of Muharram processions he witnessed as a child, the paintings of Chinese masters Qi Baishi and Xu Beihong, his lifelong fascination was an ode to their grace and power in paintings depicting their boundless energy and fluid movements. In Conversations and Connections, Husains exploration of portraiture is a testimonial to his ability to capture the essence of his subjects, whether well-recognised national icons or in the form of the personal connections he developed with his patrons.

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Alongside, his self-portraits mirrored his complex identity as an artistdeeply rooted in Indian tradition yet constantly exploring new forms of expressionand served as a visual diary, documenting the various emotional and creative phases of his life. Monochrome Musings looks at Husains line drawings and monochromatic sketches, reflecting his spontaneity and versatility as an artist. He was known for creating quick sketches on any available surface that was at hand, from restaurant tabletops, napkins, to margins of newspapers, capturing moments, people and places with immediacy and fluidity.
Contrary to its name, the Temple of Satan: Satanists and Luciferians of Chile does not believe in sacrifices or call on its followers to worship the devil. It does not worship or believe in Satan. Rather, the worshippers revere the ordinary life, individualism, rationality, and pleasure. The group is now asking the Chilean government to recognise them legally as a religious association read more

Siuling, center, a member of The Temple of Satan: Satanists and Luciferians of Chile, takes part in a Celtic pagan celebration, in Santiago, Thursday, October 31, 2024. AP

This weekend, members of the Temple of Satan in Chiles capital, Downtown Santiago, gather around a table to start a ritual. Sharing a bottle of wine, they burn black candles on top of an altar decorated with chalices and knives.

The organisation is similar to the Satanic Temple of the US that made headlines five years ago, unleashing a wave of panic when it was designated a church.

It is now asking the Chilean government to recognise them legally as a religious association.

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The Temple of Satan

Chile is a conservative country where half of its population of 18 million identifies as Catholic.

Contrary to its name, the Temple of Satan: Satanists and Luciferians of Chile do not provide sacrifices or call on its followers to worship the devil.

Publicists, firefighters, police officers, lawyers, and psychologists are among its 100 members; they have discovered a method to challenge religious impositions, moral standards, and dogmas within the organisation.

They do not worship or believe in Satan, even if they embrace the label Satanist. Rather, they revere the ordinary life, individualism, rationality, and pleasure.

They honour humanity rather than gods.

Members of The Temple of Satan: Satanists and Luciferians of Chile, drink wine at the start of a monthly ceremony in Santiago, Friday, September 27, 2024. AP

You are the owner of your present and future, there is no God that makes decisions for you, Haborym, a spokesperson for the group, during a walk through tombs and mausoleums at the General Cemetery of Santiago, told The Associated Press. He notes that the figure of Satan is purely symbolic and their rituals are performed to bring out the emotions and leave the intellect aside.

Citing mounting threats, Haborym and other members of the Temple of Satan in Chile spoke under a condition that their true names not be used, especially because several of them work in public positions.

Satanists were portrayed as being associated with sacrifice, evil, suffering, and death in Hollywood films like Rosemarys Baby and television shows like True Detective.

However, modern organisations like Chiles Temple of Satan are strongly against animal abuse, forbid associating people with criminal histories, view pleasures as a joy rather than a sin, and refrain from speaking their minds unless prompted to do so.

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We dont want people killing in the name of Satan, said Haborym.

To become a member of Chiles Temple of Satan, applicants must complete a lengthy process that involves completing a form, providing documentation of their clean criminal record, appearing before a special commission for an interview, and then being assessed by a psychologist.

Members can select a new name after being approved, usually a fallen angel or demon, to be used both inside the Temple and among other associates.

According to Haborym, the Temple of Satan in Chile was founded in 2021 and currently has 100 members. In the last few weeks, almost 400 people have applied to join. The groups formal request for legal recognition as a religious association by the nations Ministry of Justice at the end of July sparked a surge in interest.

The debate

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The result was a media frenzy that sparked a contentious debate and a stir among Chiles major religious groups.

The history of Satanism is well known (and) it has often been the cause of tragedies, the leaders of several churches in Chile, including the Catholic, Anglican, Jewish and Evangelical, said in a joint statement.

In line with Anton Szandor LaVeys 1966 foundation of the Church of Satan, modern Satanists emphasise logic and scepticism above supernatural or celestial entities. Its adherents are allowed to create their own rituals, beliefs, and spiritual practices.

While some self-described Luciferians and Satanists are witches or believe in the power of magic, many are atheists.

We do accept that there are certain bases, both academic and esoteric, that give meaning to our existence and reality, said Azazel, who quit Judaism four years ago and, one year later, founded the Temple of Satan of Chile.

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His words resonate in the darkness of the chamber and are interspersed with chants, clapping, mantras and readings of passages from the Satanic Bible and the Bible of the Adversary, the main guidelines of the group.

Like Azazel, numerous people who are dissatisfied with traditional religions have flocked to the Temple of Satan. Catholics, Jews, Protestants, and Evangelicals are among the new members in addition to occultists and esotericists.

A woman holds copies of The Satanic Bible by Church of Satan founder Anton Szandor LaVey and The Bible of the Adversary by Michael Ford, before the start of a ceremony at the General Cemetery in Santiago, Saturday, September 14, 2024. AP

In Satanism, there are no solutions or absolute truths. You are your own god and you create your own reality, said Kali Ma, a dentistry student born and raised in a Jehovahs Witness family. If we compare both, Jehovahs Witnesses are the real sect, she said. They dont let you do certain things, they tell you how to dress, what to do, how to behave, whether or not to grow a beard.

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Nestor da Costa, an expert in secularism and religion at the Catholic University of Uruguay, said the influx of people seeking answers through different perspectives might be linked to the search for less dogmatic approaches.

It may be a readjustment of the religious side of people who leave Catholicism but continue to believe in something, he said.

A push for religious recognition

According to academics, believers, and locals contacted by AP, Chile is going through a crisis of faith.

This is because of the revealing of numerous sexual abuse scandals within the Catholic church over the years, despite the countrys longstanding Catholic tradition playing a prominent role in public discourse.

These types of organisations now feel that they have greater support to challenge what was virtually impossible before, said Luis Bahamondes, a professor at the Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Chile. And thats because, until very recently, the Catholic Church enjoyed an unprecedented power. It had an opinion on everything: politics, economics, geopolitics, sexuality and education.

Although it is uncertain whether the Chilean government will formally acknowledge the Temple of Satan as a valid religious organisation, the groups very existence has already sparked a discussion that was unthinkable in this conservative nation until recently.

Demanding recognition is the ultimate expression of everything praised by Satanic aesthetics: the rebellion against the status quo and the breakup with deep-rooted traditions.

We comply with everything that is requested of us as a religious entity, says Haborym. So there would be no reason to reject us beyond the fact that were a controversial figure.

With inputs from The Associated Press
Donald Trump scored a big win in the US after defeating Democratic rival Kamala Harris. He will be back in the White House and this has spooked liberal Americans. But what does Trump mean for India and the world? Our weekly roundup has the answers read more

Donald Trump is the newsmaker of the week the month the year. After a dramatic election campaign that included Joe Biden dropping out, failed assassination attempts on the Republican candidate and whatnot, America made a decision. It picked Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris.

While pollsters predicted a close contest, the former president defied it all to make a comeback to the White House. Its not the popular vote (which he won anyway) that decides the presidency but the Electoral College. Trump is projected by the US media to have secured 295 of the 538 electoral votes; it takes 270 to win.

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Harris has conceded the race; US President Joe Biden in a speech on Thursday (November 7) has called for a peaceful transfer.

Meanwhile, Trump has already gotten to work. While he will remain president-elect until January 20, he has made the first appointment picking a woman White House chief of state in a historic first.

In our weekly wrap, we explain the US election results and their impact on the US, India, and the world.

1. Donald Trump has stormed to power in the United States. For days, pollsters said that the election would be neck and neck. But when counting began, Trump started surging ahead and there was no looking back. Fox News was the first to call the election; soon other US media houses followed.

At 78, he is the oldest president to be elected. He is only the second to lose re-election to the White House and then make a comeback (Grover Cleveland is the first). Heres how Trump scripted history.

US President-elect Donald Trump arrives at an election night watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Center, Wednesday, November 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Trump will take over from Joe Biden on January 20. AP

2. After Joe Biden dropped out of the race, there was a lot of optimism among Democrats. From celebrities to donors, everyone but their weight behind Kamala Harris. There was joy, cheer and laughter. But it all waned and disappeared as votes were counted on election night.

The vice president could not convince Americans that she deserved to be in the White House. What went wrong for Harris and her campaign, which appeared so promising? We analyse.

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Vice President Kamala Harris gestures as she delivers a concession speech for the 2024 presidential election, on November 6, on the campus of Howard University in Washington. AP

3. The US election system is complex. You could lose the popular vote but still win an election. Its what happened to Donald Trump in 2016 when Hillary Clinton won the popular vote but lost the election.

However, the 2024 presidential race turned out to be different. Trump bagged both the Electoral College and the popular vote. He is the first Republican in 20 years to do so. But whats the popular vote? And how did Trump pull off this feat?

4. Trump is not yet the official 47th president of the United States. He is president-elect and will continue to until next year  the noon of January 20, to be precise. He will take charge only after he is sworn in. But why is there a gap of 11-odd weeks? This explainer has the answers.

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Supporters watch returns at a campaign election night watch party for Donald Trump at the Palm Beach Convention Center, on November 6, in West Palm Beach, Florida. AP

5. One of the first leaders to congratulate Donald Trump was Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The PM called the president-elect his friend. They have shared a bond in the past. But will Trump remember this friendship when it comes to dealing with India?

While campaigning, the Republican politician spoke about tariffs. But will he slap them on India? Will New Delhi benefit from the Trump presidency? We explain.

6. The job of the US president is one of the most important in the world. Its also the most powerful one. We are in the middle of two wars  the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflict. While a Trump victory is making many Ukrainians worried, Israelis seem more assured. Heres why.

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7. In American politics, families play their part. When Donald Trump made his victory speech, declaring himself as the next US president, his family shared the stage with him. There was his wife Melania, daughter Ivanka, son Barron and more. Say hello to the soon-to-be First Family of America.

Donald Trump holds hands with Melania Trump as their son Barron Trump, is seen in the background at the Palm Beach County Convention Center during an election night watch party, on November 6, in West Palm Beach, Florida. AP

8. Weve spoken a hell lot about Trump. Now lets talk about his running mate JD Vance. The vice-president-elect has an India connection. His wife Usha Vance traces her roots to a village in Andhra Pradesh. But thats not all.

9. Trumps return to power has American liberals spooked. There is a rise in the sale of dystopian novels like The Handmaids Tale and 1984. Several Americans including Hollywood celebs are googling how to leave the country. Some women are swearing off sex, inspired by South Koreas fringe 4B movement. Our stories delve into the Trump effect.

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10. US presidents can serve for only two terms. This will be Donald Trumps second. But can he change the law and run again? We explain.

A supporter reacts as Democratic presidential nominee and US Vice President Kamala Harris delivers remarks, conceding the 2024 US presidential election to President-elect Donald Trump, at Howard University in Washington, U.S., on November 6. Reuters

Thats all on the American elections this week. Our long reading list should have you covered. Happy reading and have a good weekend.

PS: If you have had enough of Trump, heres one of our most-read explainers of the week. Its about a sex tape scandal in Equitoral Guinea. Who would have thunk?
Protestors from the Hindu Sikh Global Forum were seen toppling barricades trying to march towards the high commission building as they raised slogans of Indians will not tolerate the insult of temples in Canada and Hindus and Sikhs are united read more

Security was beefed up outside the High Commission of Canada in Chanakyapuri amid the protests. PTI

Hindu and Sikh activists on Sunday held massive protests outside the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi to protest against the violence at a Hindu temple in Brampton last week.

Protestors from the Hindu Sikh Global Forum were seen toppling barricades trying to march towards the high commission building as they raised slogans of Indians will not tolerate the insult of temples in Canada and Hindus and Sikhs are united.

#WATCH | Delhi: People of the Hindu Sikh Global Forum on their way to the High Commission of Canada, Chanakyapuri, to protest against the attack on a Hindu Temple in Canada, were stopped at Teen Murti Marg by Police. pic.twitter.com/ONaXu46gJi  ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2024

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Security was beefed up outside the High Commission of Canada in Chanakyapuri amid the protests.

#WATCH | Delhi: Security heightened outside the High Commission of Canada in Chanakyapuri as members of the Hindu Sikh Global Forum march towards it to protest against the attack on a Hindu Temple in Canada. pic.twitter.com/SvAT3iFoOJ  ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2024

The demonstrations came as the Canadian police arrested a 35-year-old Brampton resident on charges of assault with a weapon during a violent demonstration at a Hindu temple in the city, authorities said.

On November 3, a protest occurred at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton and unverified videos circulating on social media appeared to show demonstrators holding banners in support of Khalistan. The videos showed fist fights and people striking each other with poles on what appears to be the grounds surrounding the temple.

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The Peel Regional Police responded to the altercation during the demonstration at the Mandir. As tensions between opposing sides increased, the demonstrations became physical and assaultive, a statement said on Saturday.

With inputs from agencies
A narrative that paints India as unstable and conflict-ridden aligns with the Wests interest in dampening investor confidence, effectively slowing Delhis economic rise and discounting its role in shaping the international system read more

A supporter waves a Khalistan flag during a protest outside India's consulate after Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau raised the prospect of New Delhi's involvement in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Vancouver, British Columbia. File photo/Reuters

History has always served as the handmaiden of the victora notion that may seem exaggerated until we consider the lasting influence of the post-WWII order, or Pax Americana. In this framework, narratives are moulded not merely by events but by the interests of those who wield global influence, shaping perceptions and, ultimately, policy. As the Cold Wars ideological battleground gave way to a multipolar world, were now seeing a new kind of soft power at playone that often uses cultural, ethnic, and religious divides, not to mend but to manage.

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The West has a complex history of supporting separatist movements when it serves strategic interests, with examples ranging from Kosovo in Serbia to regions within the Middle East or even meddling in domestic politics such as in Bangladesh and Ukraine, among others. These instances highlight a recurring pattern: when a separatist cause aligns with broader geopolitical goals, it often receives Western attention or backing, sometimes at the expense of regional stability. This brings us to a question largely overlooked in the West: why has the Khalistani movement, with its violent extremism, been allowed to simmer under the Wests watchful eye?

The emergence of Khalistan as a tolerated and even emboldened cause within Canada, Australia, the UK, the US, and some European nations reflects a similar strategy. While India has positioned itself as a rising global power with a strong stance on sovereignty and territorial integrity, Western nations may find an internal issue like Khalistan useful as leverage to prevent India from becoming too independent on the global stage.

The recent attacks on Canadas Hindu community, carried out by Khalistani mobs with the tacit allowanceor at least, leniencyof Canadian authorities, have exposed a deeper and unsettling dynamic. This wave of hostility against Hindus in Canada has occurred against the backdrop of the diplomatic fallout between India and Canada to the extent of withdrawal of the Indian High Commissioner from Canada over the alleged killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Khalistani separatist leader.

As the Wests selective tolerance toward Khalistani extremism continues, it raises important questions about underlying motivations, double standards, and the long-term implications for both Indo-Western relations and global geopolitical stability. A fragmented or internally troubled India could theoretically be more amenable to Western influence, particularly on trade, domestic policies, regional diplomacy, and foreign policy.

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Until just a few weeks ago, the entire diplomatic standoff and downgrading of relations were largely seen as a product of Justin Trudeaus political calculus, aimed at securing the support of Canadas micro-minoritythe Sikhs of Indian origin. However, its becoming clear that this issue runs deeper than mere political pandering. There appears to be a broader agenda at play, one that involves the Western order leveraging these tensions for strategic gains. The shielding of Khalistani separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the United States has further underscored the Wests complex relationship with separatist movements that align with its strategic interests.

Pannu, who has gained notoriety for his incendiary rhetoric and actions promoting the Khalistani cause, raising calls to balkanise India, organising sophisticated referendums, threatening to bomb Air India flights, and attacking the Indian Parliament, has found a degree of protection and even support within the US. This phenomenon illustrates a broader pattern of the West providing sanctuary to individuals who espouse separatist ideologies when it serves their geopolitical narrative.

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By subtly supporting or tolerating Khalistani narratives, the Western order could be aiming to exert pressure on India, a rising power with its own strategic independence. This approach allows the West to create leverage over Indias foreign policy, keeping it aligned with Western interests or, at the very least, counterbalancing Indias alignment with Western allies. Indias rising stature as a stable, emerging economy has attracted substantial international investment and strategic partnerships. A narrative that paints India as unstable or marred by conflicts aligns with the Wests potential interest in dampening investor confidence, effectively slowing Indias economic rise and discounting its role in shaping the international system.

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The Canadian governments reaction, combined with its silence or perceived complicity in attacks against the Hindu community, adds another layer to this friction. If Canada continues to tolerate or subtly support Khalistani rhetoric, it risks not only alienating India but also promoting an environment of hostility towards over 8 lakh Hindus in Canada.

Attacks on Hindus coming out of temples are an explicit display of violence targeting a specific religious community, which may foreshadow growing insecurity for Hindu diasporas in the West. The Hindu community in Canada finds itself increasingly marginalised, treated as collateral damage in a broader political game. This scapegoating is not just a passive occurrence; it is actively fuelled by political actors seeking to capitalise on these divisions for electoral gain.

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The images depicting Canadian police handling peaceful Hindu protesterswho are responding to violent attacks by Khalistani extremistsare not just disappointing; they exemplify a troubling instance of victim shaming. Rather than protecting a community under siege, the authorities seem to be prioritising the narrative of dissent over justice, further exacerbating the plight of those simply seeking to assert their right to safety and expression.

The international community has taken a strong stance on many separatist and extremist movements, especially post-9/11, and yet Khalistani extremism, which is responsible for one of the worst aviation tragediesthe Air India Flight 182 disasteris often dismissed or downplayed as freedom of speech.

India, representing a significant voice for the Global South, should increasingly perceive the Wests approach as neo-colonial interference in its internal affairs and a deliberate attempt to undermine its sovereignty. This pattern echoes the Wests infamous stance on the Kashmir issue, where it seeks to influence narratives and undermine Indias sovereignty. The recent treatment of the Hindu community in Canada serves as a stark reminder of how political expediency can distort the truth and manipulate vulnerable communities for geopolitical gain.

The ongoing geopolitical manoeuvring by Western powers, particularly their tacit support for Khalistani separatism, illustrates nothing but a calculated strategy to destabilise India from within. Its high time India should unequivocally assert its sovereignty on the global stage, challenging any foreign intervention in its internal affairs. As an initial response, India must label Canada as a state sponsoring terrorism. By doing so, India would disincentivise and would send a strong message to the Five-Eyes that it will not tolerate any nations complicity in fostering an environment that endangers its citizens.

Moreover, India must acknowledge that it views such attempts at intervention as neo-colonial efforts aimed at undermining its sovereignty and influencing its internal dynamics. This recognition is crucial, as it frames the narrative around foreign involvement not merely as an isolated issue but as part of a broader pattern of exploitation and control that has historically plagued nations of the Global South.

The author is a research assistant at the Department of Public and International Affairs in City University of Hong Kong (CityU). Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 10. The UK is ready to champion climate finance agenda at COP29 in Baku, said the countrys Ambassador to Azerbaijan Fergus Auld, Trend reports.

For the last 11 months, we've been counting down, planning, and preparing. Now, it's time for action. For the next two weeks, the eyes of the world are going to be in Baku, and the UK government is here, leading by example. The UK government is here to champion domestic delivery on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, to help channel climate finance to those who need it most, and to promote green jobs and growth.

We are also here to build partnerships with COP29 Presidency Azerbaijan, with every party ready to turn climate pledges into climate progress, and with leaders from business and civil society who are key to success. The countdown is over. It's time to act, he said in a video message.

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.
Pakistans continuous proxy war, driven by its intelligence agency ISI, demands a more aggressive denial strategy that focuses on punitive deterrencemowing the lawn periodically with military operations is insufficient read more

The peace in the Kashmir valley has been shaken by a spurt in terrorist attacks after a period of relative calm. A series of high-profile attacks targeting civilians, non-local labourers, and security forces has brought back the focus on Kashmir. This spike in violence following the recent Assembly elections and the formation of a new government has raised concerns about the motive behind the escalation. The back-to-back attacks highlight the fragile security landscape in Kashmir and the attempt of Pakistan to revive the focus on Kashmir post the recent elections and life in the valley returning to normal.

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The problems of Kashmir are twothe problem in Kashmir and the problem of Kashmir. The former has seen a major positive trend with the near-nil recruitment and the Article 370 abrogation, integrating the region while isolating the anti-nationals. Yet traces of radicalism remain embedded in a few elements that could be exploited by those opposing the present regime. The other is the problem of Kashmir, which is essentially a creation of Pakistans proxy war as a means to keep the trio of Mullah, Military, and Ministers relevant to their survival and deflect the crisis that is threatening its survival. The problem of Kashmir engineered by Pakistans ISI remains formidable and a state-sponsored proxy war.

Fragility of Peace in Kashmir

The situation in Kashmir underlines the complex nature of peacea concept that goes beyond the mere absence of violence. Effective peacebuilding is a multi-stage process, which can be broken down into three stages:

Enforced Peace (Negative Peace): The initial stage, characterised by the suppression of violence, is fragile and time-sensitive. While violence may appear to be controlled, underlying tensions remain.

Adequate Peace: At this intermediate stage, violence is minimised, and the rule of law and public order are restored, creating a conducive environment for political processes to take root.

Enduring Peace: This final stage involves not just the elimination of violence but the establishment of functional governance, de-radicalisation efforts, and peacebuilding initiatives to prevent future conflicts.

The recent wave of terror attacks reveals that Kashmir remains caught between the stages of adequate peace and enduring peace. The abrogation of Article 370 and the targeting of terror funding networks have reduced some militant activities. The peaceful elections have strengthened the democratic process and peoples choice. However, recent attacks signal that deep-rooted issues persist and a sustainable, long-term solution is yet to be fully realised. Enduring peace is still a challenge.

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Key Incidents Signalling Resurgence

The resurgence of violence has been marked by targeted attacks across Jammu and Kashmir. While some may wish it away as isolated incidents, the wise would realise unless they are stemmed they could result in spiral escalation. The recent key incidents include:

Killings of Non-Locals: Attacks on non-local labourers and other workers in Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Bandipora, Budgam, Ganderbal, and other districts aim to disrupt economic stability by creating fear among the migrant labour force, undermining socio-economic cohesion. This underscores militants strategy to create widespread panic and destabilise everyday life.

Attacks on Security Forces: Encounters and ambushes on security personnel, such as the assault on an army convoy in Akhnoor, reflect an attempt to challenge the states authority and disrupt public confidence in government control. Two soldiers and two army porters were killed in a militant attack on an army vehicle in Gulmarg.

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Public Attacks in Srinagar: The recent grenade attack in Srinagars flea market injured 10 people, marking the return of militant activity to urban centres previously considered secure. Encounter in Srinagar after a gap of two years hasreminded of the militants presence in the heart of the valley.

This resurgence serves as a stark reminder of militancys presence and the volatility of peace in the region. While the security forces have been giving a befitting reply, including the so-called Lashkar-e-Taiba top commander being eliminated, it is clear that the upsurge is to keep the fire of militancy alive.

Causes Behind the Renewed Militancy

Political Uncertainty and Power Transitions: Militant groups may view political transitions, such as the recent elections and the formation of a new government, as opportunities to destabilise the region and test the new leaderships resolve. Militancy and politicians have been a traditional mingle for survival in the valleys of politics. The fissures of the centre-state divide have their negative fallouts too.

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Pakistans Proxy War and Terrorist Support: Pakistans role in perpetuating unrest in Jammu and Kashmir is well documented. Despite Financial Action Task Force (FATF) scrutiny, Pakistan-based groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its proxies, including The Resistance Front (TRF), continue to find ways to operate, often exploiting radical fissures. The ongoing proxy war by Pakistan calls for a global response to hold Islamabad accountable for state-sponsored terrorism and destabilising the region.

There is pressure on the Pakistani Army, ISI, and its Chief, General Asim Munir, from multiple frontspolitical, internal, the western front with the Taliban and TTP, and economic crises. To divert attention and gain credibility, the faucet of terrorism in J&K has been turned on again. Creating pressure in Jammu seems like a ruse for deflecting the focus and reviving militancy in the Valley. This strategy provides an alternate narrative to the world post-2019 abrogation and peaceful conduct of democratic elections and showcases the Kashmir cause.

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Strategic Targeting of Non-Locals: Targeted attacks on non-local labourers aim to disrupt the regions economy and development of infrastructure and deter migration and investment, thus weakening efforts towards socio-economic integration.

Psychological Warfare and Fragile Peace: Militants focus on soft targets and crowded public spaces is a form of psychological warfare, emphasising the fragile nature of peace in Kashmir. The goal is to instill fear among the populace and highlight the states limited control, perpetuating a cycle of violence and distrust.

Local Radicalisation and Recruitment: While foreign militants play a major role, local radicalisation and toxic ideologies remain challenges. Militants exploit this internal fault line to recruit young people, sustaining a base of local support despite intensified security measures.

Review External and Internal Strategies

The government must approach militancy in Kashmir through a whole of nation approach, addressing both external and internal dimensions of the proxy war. Pakistans continuous proxy war, driven by its intelligence agency ISI, demands a more aggressive denial strategy that focuses on punitive deterrence. Mowing the lawn periodically with military operations is insufficient; instead, a focus on striking at the root of militancy and dismantling terror-support infrastructure is necessary. One or two surgical strikes are not adequate. The need is to hit hard, hit where it hurts, and hurt where it lasts with precision targeting even by a swarm of drones to keep the adversarys head down.

Complementing the above kinetic strategy is the non-kinetic strategy of the 3M frameworkdenying militants men, material, and money by targeting radical ideologies, curbing material support to terror networks, and disrupting financial channels. This approach should operate alongside counter-terrorism efforts that bridge the gap between citizens and the government, fostering goodwill, governance, and inclusive growth to bolster peacebuilding in the region.

Actions Required for Sustained Peace

Enhanced Intelligence and Surveillance: Real-time intelligence gathering, especially in urban centres, is critical to preventing attacks. Intelligence networks should optimize technology for tracking communications between militants. Empowering and integrating the efforts of the plethora of security forces and intelligence agencies needs greater focus.

Reinforced border security with advanced surveillance technologies is necessary to prevent cross-border infiltrations, reducing the external influence of Pakistan-backed militant networks. Search and strike mission drones on militant launch pads must find greater effort. The militant leadership and supporters must find dust soonest.

Deny, Attrite, and Dismember. Deny entry, safe havens, resources, and space. Attrite terrorist leadership and morale of cadres. Dismember the linkages to deny collusion between terrorists, underground workers, overground workers/supporters, political nexus, and people.

Countering Digital Propaganda: Militants use social media to radicalise youth. The government should intensify counter-narrative strategies, working with digital platforms to curtail extremist content.

Community Engagement and Confidence-Building: Establishing trust between local communities and the government is vital. Engaging civil society and local leaders in peacebuilding efforts and addressing legitimate grievances can encourage cooperation with security forces.

Focus on Governance and Inclusive Growth: Development, Empowerment, and Security are essential for mainstreaming the Valley. Building societal equilibrium by ensuring equitable development and addressing grievances will reduce militant recruitment and strengthen security measures.

International Accountability for Pakistan: Exposing Pakistans role in promoting terrorism in Kashmir at global forums is crucial. Holding Pakistan accountable for its destabilising actions will increase international pressure on Islamabad to curb militant activities.

Conclusion

The recent surge in militant activities highlights the fragile nature of peace in Kashmir, where efforts are still grappling between enforced and adequate peace. Achieving lasting peace requires a robust, multifaceted approach combining firm counter-terrorism efforts with community-driven initiatives, economic empowerment, and governance reforms. Maintaining societal equilibrium is crucial for long-term stability in Jammu and Kashmir. Building trust among local communities and ensuring their active participation in governance is essential. Societal stability acts as a deterrent to militant recruitment and support, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of security measures.

The centre-state harmony in the spirit of nation above all can work towards establishing an enduring peace in Jammu and Kashmir, laying the foundation for sustainable stability and growth in the Valley. Meanwhile, our brave security forces will ensure that those who participate in or support militancy have their meeting with almighty God at the earliest.

The author is former Director General, Mechanised Forces. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
PM Modi and Trump have worked with each other during their first term in office, when they were relatively new in the global arena. Reuters

Call him Lady-killer of a different kind, but US President-elect Donald Trump holds the distinction of being the only one to have gone to the Oval Office by trouncing women rivals. It is another matter that Hillary Clinton (2016) and Kamala Harris (2024) are the only women  both Democrats  to have come this far close to the White House in the nations long history of democratic elections.

The fact that Joe Biden could defeat Trump in 2020, however controversial the latter sought to make it out to be, goes only to show how Americans preferred another man to Trump, and Trump to any woman, American or non-American. This kind of argument will continue to do the rounds until the next presidential elections, when TV anchors will be asking their guests: Is US ready for a woman President? Ask your Indian friend or cousin who is a voter in the US, and he (especially if it is a she) would tell you how from homes to offices, the average white American is a misogynist, and may remain so for a long time to come. Their sense of equal rights for women is a thus-far-and-no-further concession. A Hillary Clinton can become Secretary of State, a Kamala Harris could become the Vice-President, but it stops there  and it should stop there  or so it seems.

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Yes, courts in the country have reserved orders against the President-elect, and they have until January 20 to come up with their verdicts. That is when the US Constitution says Trump can take over from Biden. Once President, Trump gets the mandated immunity due to an incumbent for the next four years. Indians are not unfamiliar with popular mandates trumping court-ordered convictions and sentencing, mainly in corruption cases against senior politicians, starting with that of J Jayalalithaa in 2001. In a nation that claims to be the most modern and most influential in the post-War world, Americans are still following norms and traditions fit for an era when Americans were a divided, and not a federated nation, and were travelling on horse-back through the harsh winter months. There is no reason other than conventions and consequent convictions that they have to vote for a new President on the Tuesday after the first Sunday of November, every four years. Crazy, did you say, in this year of science and rationalism?

Unless the American courts want to stop him, Trump is here to stay.

Howdy Modi?

Yes, in India in general and southern Tamil Nadu in particular, there are people that Kamala Harris with her Indian/Tamil background deserved to win, and her election would have made a lot of difference to bilateral relations in every respect. Going by four years as Vice-President, such constructs are not supported by facts. Yes, she might not have been directly involved in the ongoing FBI probe alleging official Indias involvement in a conspiracy to kill a Khalistani-American, but she had not done anything positive for the betterment of bilateral relations with her mothers land for Indians and India to have any big hopes for the next four or eight years, if she had been elected President.

For starters, the US media reports have consistently pointed to her constant identification with her Jamaican fathers background rather than her Indian mother. In the past four years as Vice-President, she did not seem to have made any attempt to visit India, or any other part of South Asia. The closest she came to India was to the ASEAN Summit, midway through her vice-presidency. Its not that President Biden or anyone else nearer home would have stopped her from visiting India and her mothers parental village, Thulasingapuram in Tamil Nadu, if she had wanted, but she simply did not care.

In contrast, during Trumps first term, even his daughter Ivanka Trump visited Hyderabad, to inaugurate a three-day Global Entrepreneurship Summit, in the company of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in 2017.

Then, there were the Namaste Trump road-show in Ahmedabad and the Howdy Modi return-event in the US. Reams were written about it at the time, and reams will now be written now, recalling the two occasions and the bonhomie that marked the hug-and-wave relations between the two leaders, and its imminent return to cement bilateral ties at a crucial time in bilateral history.

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Roses and thorns

Going by pre-poll American media reports and post-poll analyses, many Indians who were traditional Democrat voters had gone the Trump way, if not to his Republican side for good. Of course, Republicans did have a substantial share of Indian-American voters and also elected legislators through the past years. How far they were influenced by the Modi-Trump bonhomie from the latters first term as President but there are already expectations in India that the duo would hit off as well this time too with mutual benefits for both nations.

Modi did not lose time to congratulate Trump, nor did the latter delay in responding. Even during his campaign and addressing the Indian/Hindu community in the US, Trump had said that if he were elected President, India and Hindus would have a true friend in the White House. He has said as much while accepting Modis congratulatory message, first on the social media platform X and later in a telephonic conversation.

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Does it mean that it would all be a bed of roses for India now? Or, would it still be a bed of roses and thorns as used to be the case under Trump 1.0? In political terms, yes, India can count more and more on a Trump presidency than during the predecessor Biden administration. It would be especially in terms of the so-called Khalistani issue and attendant American allegations of human rights violations and murder-attempts involving Indian officials who had gone rogue while working in Indias Washington mission. However, would and could a new administration undo all damage that has already been done in this case even if Trump so desired? That is a question only a reality-check after he became President can provide the answers.

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Deep State, what

There were also grey areas in bilateral relations at the commencement of the Ukraine War, when India decided to procure cheap Russian oil against American bidding and those by Americas Western allies. Biden may have started off on a wrong foot, possibly the West also did not expect New Delhi to stand firm on its decisions, be it on oil-import or UNSC-UNGA votes blaming Russia unilaterally, time and again, for the war. But by the time it was time for Biden to pack up and go, administration officials had begun claiming credit for what was not theirs by any stretch of imagination. That was when US officials claimed that it was only on their advice that India imported cheap oil from Russia, if only to check against runaway oil price-hike in global markets.

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Another tough decision that India took early on was to clarify that the country was not there in any military alliance at the global level. The US too has moved away to create a separate AUKUS security alliance with the UK and Australia, leaving Quad to deal mostly with non-traditional security and the like. Will Trump try to reset the clock on either? Or, will his presence back in the White House revive old tensions in Americas China relations and try to adversely impact the possibilities of India improving broken ties with China? After all, the two Asian giants finally ended the Galwan stalemate, unilaterally created by China, and now hope to build on the benefits in the coming months and years?

Of course, there are two related areas in which a hard-line Trump stand, namely, on immigration and trade, will affect India and strain India relations. The President-elect has not minced words on trade protectionism and denying locals jobs to immigrants (including Indians). He has also promised to create more and more manufacturing jobs nearer home. It could mean a slow down, if not a cut-down, in American investments in India and other Third World nations. Much of it anyway now is in the high-end services sector, and will Trump touch them, too?

The writer is a Chennai-based Policy Analyst and Political Commentator. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
There is widespread resentment towards the US, especially under the Biden administration, in the Global South. America under Trump, by seeking cooperation from India, may normalise relations with the developing countries read more

It is hoped that under the leadership of Donald Trump, the United States will adopt a more pragmatic foreign policy. This will help Trump to resolve the war between Russia and Ukraine as well as the long-standing conflict in the West Asian region. At the same time, he will undertake strong measures against China if one sees his record during his first term as president. Trump will also try to improve ties with Russia. Similarly, India-United States relations will reach a new height during Trumps presidency. Hopefully he will work towards creating a more equitable global order.

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The expected victory of President-elect Donald Trump for the second term as President of the United States provides an opportunity to examine how he will be able to mend Washingtons foreign policy. The second question that arises here is whether he will move away from Bidens foreign policy plank, which will contribute to the rapprochement between the US and Russia as well as bring an end to the Russia-Ukraine war and also ensure peace in West Asia.

Third, another important aspect that needs to be underlined here is how far the Trump administration will be able to address the global economic meltdown and climate governance issues more pragmatically. Finally, there is a need to underline how, under the Trump administration, a new chapter in India-US relations will be opened up. Some of the above-mentioned issues will provide an in-depth understanding of Trumps role in strategising the US foreign policy goals.

Russia-Ukraine War

President-elect Trump, in his victory speech soon after the presidential election result was announced, made it clear that he intends to resolve both the Russia-Ukraine war as well as the West Asian strategic impasse. One may recall here that Trump is a strong votary of limiting the role of NATO and, on a number of occasions, has also condemned the Biden administrations policy towards Ukraine. In fact, before his election as President, Trump underlined the need to end the war, citing the fact that it was putting too much burden on the US exchequer, which was around to the tune of around $74 billion as per the data of the US Department of States report, US Security Cooperation with Ukraine. At the same time, he urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky not to prolong the war further.

Trump has also made similar suggestions to President Vladimir Putin, with whom he shares a good personal equation. Soon after the presidential election victory of Trump, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, in his congratulatory post on X, stated, We agreed to maintain close dialogue and advance our cooperation. But it is too early to comment on the fact that Trump will continue the policy of Biden.

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Unlike Biden, Trump will adopt a more cautious policy towards the Russia-Ukraine war, considering the fact that he does want to annoy Russia. Though President Putin has not sent any congratulatory message to Trump, in his address at the Valdai Discussion Club on November 8, 2024 (after the declaration of the US presidential election result), Putin called Trump a courageous man. He further elaborated that the person [Trump] displayed his qualities in extraordinary conditions. He behaved in a very proper way, courageously, as a real man.

From the speech of the President, one can get a sense that he is looking towards constructive engagement with President Trump. Earlier, Kremlins spokesperson, Dmitry Peshkov, just after the US presidential election result was announced in a message shared on Telegram, stated about resetting Russia-US relations. Peshkov underlined that whether it will be done and how it will be done, you and I will see after January [Trump will assume office].

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Looking at the present context, it can be stated that though the war will not end immediately after taking over President Trumps office, he will attempt to resolve the war between Russia and Ukraine. Similarly, observation from Putin demonstrates his commitment to engage with Trump. This can be considered a step towards resolving all outstanding bilateral disputes between Russia and the US. At the same time, it can also potentially lead to the end of the war between Russia and Ukraine.

West Asian Geopolitical Cauldron

Trump will also make an attempt to bring peace to the tumultuous West Asian region. One may recall here that it was Trump, way back in 2019, who brought Iran and Saudi Arabia together, which resulted in the signing of the Abraham Accord. Though there was a lull in West Asia after Trumps exit from office, this region again witnessed a flare-up of geopolitical cauldron when, in October 2023, the Hamas terrorist group launched an unprovoked war against Israel, thus bringing out further political instability in this part of the world. Slowly and steadily, the Israel and Hamas War has made its spillover impact on the West Asian region, thus accentuating an Iran-Israel war and redrawing the West Asian geopolitical map.

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In this regard, one can add here that, as usual, the Biden administration, following the long-standing US West Asian policy, supported Israel. However, if one goes through some of the past tweets of Trump, he criticised the ad hoc policy being pursued by the Biden administration in resolving the dispute. In fact, in the month of August 2024, Trump advised Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to get over with it fast.  Get your victory and get it over with. It has to stop; the killing has to stop. He further stated, He [Netanyahu] knows what hes doing; I did encourage him to get this over with. This suggestion on the part of Trump is contrary to Bidens policy. Quoting US Vice President Kamala Harris and his rival in the presidential election, Trump stated, From the start, Harris has worked to tie Israels hand behind its back, demanding an immediate ceasefire, always demanding ceasefire. In this context, Trump stated, I will give Israel the support that it needs to win, but I do want them to win fast.

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It is expected that Trump will pursue an aggressive policy towards Hezbollah, the terrorist group supported by Iran. There is a considerable opinion that Trump may force Hezbollah to return to a negotiation table. This will also push Hamas to enter into a deal with Israel. Along with the Abraham Accord, another major achievement of the Trump administration in the first term was that he recognised Israels stake over the Golan Heights, which, in fact, irked major Arab countries. It is also expected that Trump is going to take strong measures against Iran, and there is a likelihood that sanctions on Iran will further prolong. Despite his pro-Israel posture, Trump will make an attempt to stop the war. This can be underlined by his victory speech, where he stated, Im going to stop wars.

Global Economic Meltdown and Climate Accord

Another moot question that needs to be underlined here is whether Trump can provide a new approach to the global economy. Trump already vowed to impose tariffs on imported products as part of his America First policy. This may have an impact on the global economy. This is more so in the context of the recession, which is hitting the global economy and the USs domestic economy. One important point that needs to be examined is how Trump allows foreign investment into the US. Similarly, one has to look at how Trump is addressing the question of issues of climate finance, which will be the key concern. One may recall here that Trumps withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord led to a setback in the global fight against mitigating climate adversity. There is also speculation that he might propose to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord once again, as well as from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). However, Trump will adopt a more pragmatic approach to addressing the climatic concerns, and if the US stops funding the UNFCCC, this will also impact the functioning of this august body.

In fact, Trumps approach to the global economy and climate finance is closely tied to his engagement with China.

China and the Taiwan Crisis

Trumps engagement with China must be closely examined. This is more so in the context of the USs position on Taiwan, along with the fueling of a trade war and competition to dominate global geopolitics. Chinese President Xi Jinping, in a message, welcomed Trump by stating that a stable, healthy, and sustainable China-US relationship is in the common interest of both countries and is in line with the expectations of the international community.

Tough Jinping expressed his optimism about maintaining steady relations with the US, but it is not too easy. There is growing speculation that to weaken the Chinese economy, the Trump administration may add more tariffs up to an extent of 60 per cent on products imported from China. Trump is doing this to boost the domestic economy.

In retaliation, China in the past has also imposed a 25 per cent increase in tariff on agricultural products imported from the US. The trade war between the US and China is expected to intensify under the new Trump administration. The most important consequence of the trade war will be that the US companies currently operating in China may move out. This may adversely affect US-China trade relations. Though both the US and China are the largest trading partners, it is largely skewed in favour of China.

However, during the first term of Trumps presidency, a negotiation was reached between Washington and Beijing to end the trade war, but China never practiced the same to address the US grievances over the past couple of years. The Trump administration may also once again hunt China on the same issue, which may affect relations between the two countries.

The Taiwan question is another contentious issue that may put US-China relations under backfoot: the Taiwan crisis. It is a fact that Trump will take a strong stand on the Taiwan issue vis-a-vis China and may use it as a bargaining tool. In October 2024, the Biden administration, as reported, provided an air defence system worth $2 billion to Taiwan. However, the question arises whether the Trump administration will give de jure recognition to Taiwan.

Apprehensions are also being raised from many quarters regarding the question of transfer of technology with regards to chips and semiconductors, as Trump accused Taiwan in the past of the question of transfer of technology. Similarly, apprehensions are raised from many quarters about whether Trump will provide the necessary security to Taiwan, as he raised the issue of fees. However, one expects Trump will reconsider his view on Taiwan after assuming office, considering larger geopolitical implications, including the looming China threat.

Quad and Indo-Pacific Security Structure

The Trump administration will also give priority to greater security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific security structure. During his first term, Trump also gave priority to the Indo-Pacific region as a major balancer of global stability. In this context, the escalation of conflict between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea region is going to be another major challenge for the Trump administration. This is because of persistent challenges from China. In this context, to contain the expansionist tendencies of China, it is expected that the Trump administration will give priority to the strategic Quad. The Trump administration will also prioritise greater engagement with Southeast Asia and Central Asia as part of a strategy to encircle China.

Similarly, it is believed that President Trump will provide support to the de jure Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasinas, return to power. In fact, this will correct the mistakes carried out by the Biden administration by deposing her from the prime ministers position. This, in fact, pushed Bangladesh into a crisis-like situation. In fact, he will support Hassina to bring stability to Bangladesh. In a way, it will also give justice to the minority Hindu community who are being persecuted in the aftermath of the removal of Hassina from power. This, in fact, can contribute to the geopolitical stability of South Asia. Peace and stability in Bangladesh can also contribute to geopolitical stability in the Indo-Pacific in a broader context. Trump will also take measures to sanction the Justin Trudeau government, under whose leadership Canada is taking irrational steps.

India-US ties

It is believed that Trump will pursue a policy of greater engagement with India. This is because the Trump administration is going to balance Asian geopolitics by engaging with New Delhi. There is a likelihood of escalation of a trade war between the US and China. It is believed that most of the US industries located in China will move out to India. Hence, India is going to be the net beneficiary in case of a trade war between the US and China.

It may be noted that though the Trump administration may also impose tariffs on Indian products, they will be nominal in comparison to China. This is because Trump always considers India a preferred strategic trade partner. At the same time, under Trumps leadership, India-US trade relations will further strengthen, and more areas of cooperation like semiconductors, chip production, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, climate change, and outer space cooperation will be considered.

Trump may also give priority to India in locating many of the American industries currently operating in China. One of the major factors that will guide Trump in terms of the US economic engagement with India is the emerging middle class as well as a stable market. At the same time, Trump may also seek Indias investment in the US economy to tide over the current recession. Similarly, on the immigration issues, Trump was quite vocal during his election campaign. However, it will not affect the Indian workforce working in the US because most of them are skilled.

In terms of strategic engagement, as discussed above, Trump will engage with India more pragmatically. This is more so in the context of the long-standing dispute between the US and China. Secondly, Trump understands Indias leadership role in the Global South. Hence, he will chart out a more constructive engagement with India, which will help the US win confidence among the Global South countries. It is a fact that there is widespread resentment towards the US, especially under the Biden administration, in the Global South countries. By taking Indias help, the US under Trump may normalise relations with the Global South countries.

At the same time, there is a high probability that a new form of strategic triangle will emerge in the near future involving India, Russia, and the US. Though it appears highly imaginative at present in view of the present state of relations between Russia and the US. If Trump is able to resolve the war between Russia and Ukraine, there is a high chance that such a triangle will emerge. This is because Prime Minister Modi, President Putin, and President-elect Trump share a workable personal equation. The same can be observable during the first phase of Trumps presidency, where there was a greater degree of camaraderie spirit among the three leaders. Scholarly studies suggest geopolitics is a dynamic concept. Using the same analogy, one can underline here that the India-Russia-US strategic triangle is a viable proposition and can set the tone for a new and more equitable global order.

One major factor that provides much substance to India-US relations is the leadership quality of both Prime Minister Modi and President-elect Trump. The same can also be inferred from the personal chemistry shared by both. For instance, in his congratulatory message to Trump after his election victory posted in X, Prime Modi called him my friend. Prime Minister Modi further observed, As you [Trump] build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, lets work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability, and prosperity. Similarly, Trump stated in his telephone conversation with Prime Minister Modi that he considers him and India a true friend.

It is expected that India and US relations will undergo a massive upsurge under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and President Trump. This, in fact, will provide the necessary stability to the global order.

Conclusion

From the above analysis, it can be underlined here that the US foreign policy under the leadership of Trump will undergo a significant departure from the present Biden administration. This is because after holding office, Trump will pursue a more pragmatic policy, which will add more teething to the US foreign policy. For instance, he will move to resolve the Russia-Ukraine War and the West Asian conflict.

Trump will also give more primacy to promoting the geoeconomic interests of the US, and this may certainly aggravate the trade war with China. At the same time, to balance China, the Trump administration may seek closer relations with India. This may, to a great extent, stabilise the geopolitical equilibrium in both Indo-Pacific and Asian geopolitics. In the long run, this may also contribute to ushering in a new global order.

The author teaches at the School of International Studies, JNU, New Delhi. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
The development comes one year after a similar gathering in Riyadh of the Cairo-based Arab League and the Jeddah-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation during which leaders condemned Israeli forces actions in Gaza as barbaric. read more

Rescue workers use excavators to remove the rubble of a destroyed house hit in an Israeli airstrike, as they search for victims in Aalmat village, northern Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. Image- AP

Arab and Muslim leaders have started arriving in Saudi Arabia ahead of a summit on Monday focused on the ongoing conflicts between Israel and Gaza, as well as Lebanon, according to Saudi state media.

The summit, announced by the Saudi foreign ministry in late October, follows the first meeting of an international alliance advocating for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Attendees are expected to discuss Israels ongoing actions in Palestinian territories and Lebanon, as well as broader developments in the region, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

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This summit follows a similar one held a year ago in Riyadh, where leaders from the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned Israeli military actions in Gaza as barbaric.

The Saudi state-affiliated Al-Ekhbariya news channel broadcast footage on Sunday of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati landing in Riyadh.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was also scheduled to attend, the Pakistani foreign ministry said last week, adding that he planned to call for an immediate end to the genocide in Gaza and the immediate cessation of the ongoing Israeli adventurism in the region.

The 57-member OIC and 22-member Arab League include countries which recognise Israel and those firmly opposed to its regional integration.

Last years summit in Riyadh saw disagreement on measures like severing economic and diplomatic ties with Israel and disrupting its oil supplies.

The war in Gaza erupted with Hamass unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7 last year, which resulted in 1,206 deaths, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Israels retaliatory campaign has killed more than 43,600 people in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to data from the Hamas-run territorys health ministry that the United Nations considers reliable.

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Lebanon-based Hezbollah, which like Hamas is backed by Iran, began firing on Israel after the October 7 attack.

The regular cross-border exchanges escalated in late September when Israel intensified its air strikes before sending ground troops into southern Lebanon against Hezbollah.

With inputs from agencies.
France-based Interpol publishes red notices at the request of a member nation, based on an arrest warrant issued in their home country read more

The interim government of Bangladesh on Sunday requested Interpol to issue a red notice alert for ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasinas loyalists who are now fugitives.

Hasina took a chopper to New Delhi in August after widespread student protests in the Southeast Asian country forced her removal from the top leadership. Following their leaders ouster, Awami League leaders too fled the country.

Those responsible for the indiscriminate killings during the mass uprising in July and August will be brought back from wherever they have taken refuge, Asif Nazrul, the interim governments law advisor, told reporters on Sunday.

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We will ensure they are arrested and brought to justice.

While some leaders managed to escape prosecution by the Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, others were arrested after Hasinas regime collapsed.

What does an Interpol red notice mean?

France-based Interpol publishes red notices at the request of a member nation, based on an arrest warrant issued in their home country.

Red notices issued by the global police body alert law enforcement agencies worldwide about fugitives.

Nazrul said they would request a red notice as soon as possible.

India is a member of Interpol, but the red notice does not mean New Delhi must hand Hasina over.

Member countries can apply their own laws in deciding whether to arrest a person, according to the group, which organises police cooperation between 196 member countries.

Arrest warrant issued against Hasina

A Bangladeshi court last month issued an arrest warrant for former Hasina over the mass killings of student protestors in July and August.

Mohammad Tajul Islam, chief prosecutor of Bangladeshs International Crimes Tribunal said, The court has ordered the arrest of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and to produce her in court on November 18.

The prosecution has also requested arrest warrants against 50 other individuals allegedly involved in the mass killings during the student protests against the Hasina-led Awami League government.

With inputs from agencies
Canadas Peel Regional police announced on Saturday that they have arrested a 35-year-old man carrying an assault weapon in connection to the pro-Khalistani attack on Hindu Sabha Temple in Brampton read more

The Canadian police made a fresh arrest on Saturday in connection to the pro-Khalistan attack on a Hindu temple in the Greater Toronto Area. Last week, violence erupted at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton following a visit by Indian officials. Pro-Khalistani protesters created havoc in the region which eventually spread to two other locations in Mississauga and continued on Monday.

In a news release on Saturday, Peel Regional Police notified that they have arrested a 35-year-old man in connection to the case. The authorities stated that the man was carrying an assault weapon and will be presented in court soon, Global News reported.

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Before this, the authorities have made four other arrests in the case as of now. Among those arrested in the case included a 57-year-old man who was charged with public incitement of hatred. Not only this, a Peel police officer was also suspended.

Police condemn the violence

In the Saturday statement, police noted that several protests occurred during the demonstrations and many were captured on video, including one where someone is seen using a loudspeaker to incite violence by calling for people to storm the temple. Videos that were circulating on social media showed fistfights and people hitting each other with poles on the temple grounds.

There continues to be additional offences which are being investigated and we are certain that further arrests will occur, Peel regional police chief Nishan Duralappah said in a statement, Global News reported. Each incident saw violence and hate. It is unacceptable and has no place in our communities, he added. The authorities went on to urge locals to give any information related to the incident.

The clashes which took place outside the temple quickly turned violent, injuring one person, who was later treated by paramedics. Recently, Canada has been witnessing a major rise in the pro-Khalistani movement with many activists frequently vandalising Hindu temples. The issue has also created a major rift between India and Canadas diplomatic relations.

With inputs from agencies.
Chinas move came two days after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed two laws demarcating the governments claims in the disputed waters. read more

In a move thats likely to increase tensions over overlapping territorial claims, China has released geographic coordinates marking baselines around the contested Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.

Chinas move came two days after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed two laws demarcating the governments claims in the disputed waters.

Both China and the Philippines lay claim to Scarborough Shoal, located west of Luzon, the Philippines main island. China took control of the shoal in 2012, limiting access for Filipino fishermen, despite a 2016 international arbitration ruling that invalidated most of Chinas claims in the South China Sea  a decision Beijing has ignored.

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The disputed area has seen frequent confrontations, including ship collisions and incidents of the Chinese coast guard using water cannons against Philippine vessels.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry statement said that the delimiting of the baselines was in accordance with a U.N. agreement and Chinese law.

This is a natural step by the Chinese government to lawfully strengthen marine management and is consistent with international law and common practices, it said.

The statement added that one of the laws signed by Marcos, the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, violates Chinas sovereignty in the South China Sea.

China firmly opposes it and will continue to do everything necessary in accordance with law to firmly defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, the Foreign Ministry said.

China stakes claim to almost the entirety of the South China Sea. It has a series of disputes with several Southeast Asian nations including the Philippines and Vietnam over territory in the waters, which are part of a key shipping route in Asia.

With inputs from agencies.
Israel has struck deeper inside Lebanon since September, when it killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and most of his top commanders. read more

Rescue workers and people search for victims under the rubble of a destroyed house hit in an Israeli airstrike, in Aalmat village, northern Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. -AP

Israel Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday that his country has defeated Hezbollah and that eliminating its leader Hassan Nasrallah was the crowning achievement.

Now it is our job to continue to put pressure in order to bring about the fruits of that victory, Katz said during a ceremony at Israels foreign ministry.

Katz said Israel is not interested in meddling in internal Lebanese politics as Israel has learned our lessons, but that he hoped an international coalition would capitalize on this opportunity politically and that Lebanon would join other countries in normalizing relations with Israel.

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Israel strikes deeper into Lebanon

Israel has struck deeper inside Lebanon since September, when it killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and most of his top commanders. Hezbollah has expanded its rocket fire from northern to central Israel. The fighting has killed over 3,100 people in Lebanon, according to the Health Ministry, and more than 70 people in Israel.

After Israels strike in Aalmat, some 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Beirut, legislator Raed Berro denied that any Hezbollah personnel or assets were in the building hit: Everyone can see, in front of cameras, that what is being pulled from under the rubble are women, children and elderly people who have nothing to do with weapons or rocket warehouses.

Hassan Ghaddaf, who lived next door and was lightly wounded while heading to his balcony with morning coffee, said displaced people were in the building.

I had seen them and got to know them the other day, Ghaddaf said. They were peaceful. On the contrary, they had someone from the Lebanese Internal Security Forces that works for the state, and we saw their garb and clothes in the rubble.

In Syria, an Israeli airstrike hit a residential building in the Damascus suburb of Sayyida Zeinab and the Defense Ministry said seven civilians were killed, state news agency SANA reported. Britain-based opposition war monitor The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights suggested Hezbollah was targeted. Israel did not immediately comment.

With inputs from agencies.

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The military spoke after a video circulated on social media showing around half a dozen people dressed in Israeli uniforms jumping and singing a religious maxim as one of them sets fire to the flag with a lighter read more

The Israeli military on Saturday accused a group of soldiers of burning a Lebanese flag in southern Lebanon where they are fighting the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

The military spoke after a video circulated on social media showing around half a dozen people dressed in Israeli uniforms jumping and singing a religious maxim as one of them sets fire to the flag with a lighter.

We view the act of some soldiers burning the Lebanese flag in southern Lebanon as a violation of orders, inconsistent with the values of the defence forces, and misaligned with the goals of our military activities in Lebanon, said military spokesman Avichay Adraee.

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Our war is against the terrorist Hezbollah, which has never been truly Lebanese in creed, ideology, or identity, he added in an Arabic-language post on social media platform X.

The post did not mention any possible sanctions against the soldiers.

It did include a video allegedly showing a Hezbollah militant tearing a Lebanese flag off its pole and replacing it with the groups banner.

Israel has been at war with Hezbollah since late September, when it broadened its focus from fighting Hamas in the Gaza Strip to securing its northern border, even as the Gaza war continues.

Hezbollah began low intensity strikes on Israel in support of Hamas following its allys October 7, 2023 attack on Israel which triggered the Gaza war.
Netanyahu said he had talked to Trump about great opportunities before Israel in the field of peace and its expansion. The US is Israels top ally and military backer, and the election came at a critical time for the Middle East amid wars in Gaza and Lebanon. read more

Rescue workers and people, centre, search for victims under the rubble of a destroyed house hit in an Israeli airstrike, in Aalmat village, northern Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. Image- AP

Israeli strikes killed dozens of people including children on Sunday in Lebanon and isolated northern Gaza, as the world watched for signs of how the US election might affect the war against Iranian-backed militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said Sunday he had spoken three times with US president-elect Donald Trump over the past few days about the Iranian threat to Israeli security.

In the last few days, I have spoken three times with President-elect Donald Trump Talks designed to further tighten the strong alliance between Israel and the US, Netanyahu said, quoted in a statement issued by his office.

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We see eye to eye on the Iranian threat in every aspect, he added during a weekly cabinet meeting, according to the statement.

The Israeli airstrike in Lebanon killed at least 23 people including seven children in Aalmat village north of Beirut, far from the areas in the east and south where Hezbollah militants have a major presence. Lebanons Health Ministry said another six people were wounded. There was no Israeli evacuation warning. There was no immediate Israeli comment.

Hezbollah began firing rockets, drones and missiles into Israel after war broke out in Gaza, in solidarity with the Palestinians and Hamas. Israel retaliated, and a series of escalations have led to all-out war.

In northern Gaza, an Israeli strike on a home sheltering displaced people in the urban refugee camp of Jabaliya killed at least 17 people including nine women, according to Dr. Fadel Naim, director of Al-Ahly Hospital in Gaza City.

Israels military said it targeted a site where militants were operating, without providing evidence. It said the details of the strike are under review.

A separate strike hit a house in Gaza City, killing Wael al-Khour, a minister in the Hamas-run government, as well as his wife and three children, according to the Civil Defense, first responders who operate under the government.

The United Nations has described the area as under siege, and Washington set a deadline of this coming week for Israel to get more aid in or face possible cuts to military assistance.

After the strike in Jabalia, Israels military said it hit infrastructure in which militants were operating and posed a threat to troops in the area.

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Prior to the strike, numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians, including the use of aerial surveillance and precise intelligence, a military spokesman said.

Another strike on the Sabra neighbourhood of Gaza City killed five people, Gazas civil defence agency said.

US threat

In Lebanon, the health ministry said an Israeli strike on the village of Almat north of Beirut killed 23 people including seven children on Sunday.

Under the rubble, there are only children, elderly men and women, Hezbollah lawmaker Raed Berro said at the scene, denying Israeli allegations that Hezbollah members or weapons were embedded among civilians.

In south Lebanon, Israeli strikes killed three Hezbollah-affiliated rescuers, the health ministry also said.

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A war monitor also reported that an Israeli strike on an apartment belonging to Hezbollah south of Syrias capital Damascus killed three people.

Israel strikes deeper into Lebanon

Israel has struck deeper inside Lebanon since September, when it killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah as well as most of his top commanders. Hezbollah has expanded its rocket fire from northern to central Israel. The fighting has killed over 3,000 people in Lebanon, according to the Health Ministry, and more than 70 people in Israel.

After Israels strike in Aalmat, some 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Beirut, legislator Raed Berro denied that any Hezbollah personnel or assets were in the building that was hit, adding: The important people are on the front line resisting  It is impossible for them to be among people in civilian life."

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Hassan Ghaddaf, who lived next door and was lightly wounded, said displaced people were in the house that was struck.

I had seen them and got to know them the other day, Ghaddaf said. They were peaceful. On the contrary, they had someone from the Lebanese Internal Security Forces that works for the state, and we saw their garb and clothes in the rubble.

In Syria, an Israeli airstrike hit a residential building in the Damascus suburb of Sayyida Zeinab, state news agency SANA reported. Britain-based opposition war monitor The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least three people were killed and suggested Hezbollah was targeted. Israel did not immediately comment.

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With inputs from agencies.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 10. The Azerbaijani Parliament has issued a statement condemning a hybrid attack by the international NGO Global Witness targeting the COP29 climate conference, Trend reports.

On November 8, 2024, Global Witness released two articles as part of its "investigation."

The reports, titled "COP Officials Facilitate Fossil Fuel Deals for a Fake Investor During Secret Investigation and "COP29 for Oil Deals," referenced a virtual meeting held via Zoom with Elnur Soltanov, the CEO of COP29. The published information was aimed at misleading the international community.

A joint investigation by the Azerbaijani Parliament Commission on Foreign Interference and Hybrid Threats, in cooperation with relevant authorities, confirmed that on September 13 this year, a Zoom call took place between Elnur Soltanov and a person named Stephen Lee, who claimed to represent a Hong Kong-based company. However, Soltanov was not informed that the meeting was being recorded.

It was found that Global Witness employed methods that go against the globally accepted principles for non-governmental organizations, resembling the tactics of intelligence agencies. By creating a fake company named "EC Capital Holdings," along with a fraudulent website (www.eccapitalholdings.com) and a fake LinkedIn profile for Stephen Lee, Global Witness made contact with the COP29 team. They exploited the trust of several officials, becoming part of a coordinated disinformation campaign against Azerbaijan ahead of the COP29 summit.

Notably, the BBC provided media support for Global Witness in this operation. The BBC article titled "COP29 CEO Caught on Camera Discussing Fossil Fuel Deal" revealed that the footage was recorded covertly. However, the report selectively presented only parts of the meeting, leading to potential manipulation of the information, thereby violating the principles of impartial journalism.

The Azerbaijani Parliament Commission on Foreign Interference and Hybrid Threats considers the actions of Global Witness and the BBC as a hybrid attack and plans to address relevant government bodies for a more in-depth investigation of the issue.
Prabowo Subianto wrapped up the first stop of his first overseas trip since taking office three weeks ago. He is headed next to Washington  where the US government is confronting Chinas rise  and then to Peru and Brazil for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and Group of 20 summits read more

Indonesias new leader called for collaboration rather than confrontation with China after the signing of $10 billion in new deals at a business forum on Sunday in the Chinese capital before heading to the US.

President Prabowo Subianto told the forum that his country wants to be part of Chinas emergence as not only an economic but also a civilizational power.

We must give an example that in this modern age, collaboration  not confrontation  is the way for peace and prosperity, he said.

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Subianto wrapped up the first stop of his first overseas trip since taking office three weeks ago. He is headed next to Washington  where the US government is confronting Chinas rise  and then to Peru and Brazil for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and Group of 20 summits.

He and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed Saturday to deepen ties, elevating security to a fifth pillar of cooperation in addition to political, economic, maritime and people-to-people exchange. They agreed to hold a first-ever joint meeting of their foreign and defense ministers in 2025, a joint statement said.

Indonesia is very clear, Subianto said. We have always been nonaligned, we have always been respectful of all great powers in the world.

Indonesia has remained on the periphery of the territorial disputes between China and its Southeast Asian neighbors in the South China Sea. It doesnt have a formal dispute with Beijing though Indonesia said its patrol ships repeatedly drove a Chinese coast guard vessel away from an Indonesian energy company vessel conducting a seismic survey less than a month ago.

Chinese companies have invested heavily in mining in Indonesia, as they have elsewhere in the world. China also helped build Indonesias first high-speed railway, a 142-kilometer (88-mile) route between Jakarta and Bandung that opened last year.

But a flood of low-priced Chinese products has hit Indonesias garment makers hard, shuttering factories and prompting calls for import tariffs. The government has sought to placate domestic producers while not angering the countrys biggest trading partner.

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Mexico is dealing with a security crisis linked to organized crime and warring factions of drug cartels that is one of the most pressing challenges for new Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. read more

Gunmen killed 10 people in a bar in the central Mexican state of Queretaro late Saturday, authorities said, adding to a wave of violent crime that is gripping several areas of the country.

The incident took place in a bar in the downtown area of the states capital, also known as Queretaro, where four gunmen entered, killing seven men and three women, according to the state attorney general and Queretaro citys security chief.

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Seven other people were injured. One person was so far in police custody, authorities said. Investigators were at the scene and also looking into a vehicle believed to be linked to the incident.

Queretaro is not commonly prone to high levels of violent crime, such as homicide, and is considered relatively safer than many other areas of Mexico.

I reiterate to the people of Queretaro that there will be punishment for those responsible for this brutal act, we will continue to seal our borders and maintain the security of our state, Queretaro governor Mauricio Kuri said on X.

Mexico is dealing with a security crisis linked to organized crime and warring factions of drug cartels that is one of the most pressing challenges for new Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

There have been 2,788 homicides in the country since her inauguration on Oct 1., according to pollster TResearchs analysis of government data.

Sheinbaum has vowed to crack down on violent crime and unveiled a security plan aimed at increasing opportunities for vulnerable young people, improving intelligence sharing among government institutions and beefing up the countrys National Guard.

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The accord  the result of more than 18 months of negotiations  comes amid growing water scarcity on both sides of the Rio Grande river, which forms part of the shared border, the countries boundary and water commission said read more

The United States and Mexico said Saturday that they have signed an agreement aimed at preventing water shortages in parched southern US states with more reliable Mexican deliveries of river water.

The accord  the result of more than 18 months of negotiations  comes amid growing water scarcity on both sides of the Rio Grande river, which forms part of the shared border, the countries boundary and water commission said.

The United States is consulting with Mexico about securing water deliveries as soon as possible during the current rainy season, the statement said.

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The last 30 years of managing over-stretched water resources in the Rio Grande basin have produced broad agreement that the status quo was not acceptable, said Maria-Elena Giner, US representative to the boundary and water commission.

Under a treaty dating back to 1944, Mexico supplies water to the United States from the Rio Grande in five-year cycles.

In return, the United States delivers water from the Colorado River.

The new agreement provides Mexico with tools and flexibility to provide water earlier in a five-year cycle to reduce or prevent shortfalls, the statement said.

The decades-old treaty has been the focus of diplomatic frictions in the past over delivery delays, as well as protests by Mexican farmers worried about the impact of drought on their crops.
The rally in Dhaka by Hasinas party was to commemorate the death of a party activist on Nov. 10, 1987, which had sparked a mass protest against former military dictator H.M. Ershad. He was eventually ousted from office, ending his nine-year rule in 1990. read more

Rival political groups opposed to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina blocked her Awami League partys attempt to hold a rally in Bangladeshs capital on Sunday. The rally was intended to commemorate the death of a party activist on November 10, 1987, an event that sparked a mass protest against former military dictator H.M. Ershad. He was eventually ousted from office, ending his nine-year rule in 1990.

The day is observed as democracy day, commemorating Bangladeshs shift from a presidential system to a parliamentary democracy in 1991. Since then, Hasina and her political rival, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, have dominated the countrys political landscape.

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On Sunday, activists from Zias party, along with members of the conservative Jamaat-e-Islami party, filled the area where the rally was to take place, effectively preventing it from going ahead.

Others, including hundreds of student protesters, also announced that they wouldnt allow Hasinas supporters to stand on the streets and hold the rally. The protesters said that they think Hasinas party was trying to make a comeback by holding a rally on the streets on Sunday. The protesters from the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, a group that led the mass uprising in July-August, aggressively hunted for supporters of Hasina.

Groups of people surrounded the Awami League partys headquarters near the Noor Hossain Square in Dhaka where Hasinas supporters were supposed to gather to hold the rally.

Security was tight in the area, but witnesses and local media said that the protesters attacked several supporters of Hasina when they attempted to reach there and chanted slogans in favor of the fallen leader.

The Awami League party said that many of their activists were detained by police as they came under attacks.

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Tensions ran high throughout Sunday with the anti-Hasina protesters saying that they wouldnt allow the party to hold any public rally under any circumstances.

The Awami League party posted a number of videos on Facebook on Sunday showing its supporters being manhandled. Its party headquarters had earlier been vandalized following Hasinas fall on Aug. 5, and on Sunday it was empty and there were signs of destruction. Outside, control was in the hands of Hasinas opponents.

The political chaos in the South Asian nation went on as Zias party was seeking quick reforms and a new election from an interim government headed by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus. The party believes it will be able to form the new government in the absence of Hasinas party, while its other allies are also struggling.

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The Yunus-led government said it would seek extradition of Hasina and her close associates as they face charges of crimes against humanity involving deaths of hundreds of protesters during the uprising.

With inputs from agencies.
The archaeological parks director, Gabriel Zuchtriegel, said visitors to the main site now exceeded an average of 15,000-20,000 every day, and the new daily cap would prevent the numbers from rising further read more

FILE - Tourists walk through Pompeii near the Villa of Mysteries in Italy. AP

Italys Pompeii has decided to limit the number of tourists to 20,000 a day from next week to tackle overtourism and protect the historic site, which was buried under ashes in AD79.

The move comes after the heritage site recorded a whopping four million visitors over the summer. The entire civilisation in Pompeii was incinerated by a devastating fire after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

The archaeological parks director, Gabriel Zuchtriegel, said visitors to the main site now exceeded an average of 15,000-20,000 every day, and the new daily cap would prevent the numbers from rising further.

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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, Zuchtriegel said.

Another step that officials hope will gatekeep tourists is issuing personalised tickets that will include the full name of the visitor. From November 15, only 20,000 of such tickets would be released.

While the aim is not to keep history enthusiasts away from the legendary site, the parks managers

are trying to encourage tourists to visit other ancient sites connected to Pompeii, including Stabiae, Oplontis and Boscoreale, by providing a free shuttle bus under the Greater Pompeii project.

The measures to manage flows and safety and the personalisation of the visits are part of this strategy, Zuchtriegel said. 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.

In April, Venice became the worlds first large tourist city to charge people to enter, as part of a trial aimed at dissuading day trippers and due to return next year. The 5 (4.15) levy, which applied on 29 peak days and ended in July, was also an emergency response by local authorities to avoid the Unesco heritage site being blacklisted.

With inputs from AP
Europes largest economy was thrown into disarray last week with the collapse of Scholzs three-way coalition and disagreements over how much money the government should spend to encourage growth and support Ukraine. read more

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is facing mounting pressure to expedite a parliamentary vote of confidence, which could trigger snap elections following the collapse of his governing coalition. This comes after two prominent Green party members urged for the confidence vote to take place in December, rather than January as initially planned by Scholz.

The Green party, which shares power with Scholzs Social Democrats (SPD) in a minority government, made their demands known through Bild newspaper. This development has thrown Europes largest economy into turmoil, particularly after Scholzs three-way coalition dissolved due to disagreements on government spending to stimulate growth and support Ukraine.

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As the situation unfolds, Scholzs leadership is under intense scrutiny. His governments collapse significantly affects Germanys economic and political landscape. With pressure building, how Scholz will respond to the calls for an earlier confidence vote remains to be seen.

Greens Anton Hofreiter and Irene Mihalic are the most prominent voices so far from the two parties still in power to back an earlier vote. A confidence vote is a necessary precursor to an election.

Scholz has suggested holding a vote of confidence in his government on Jan. 15, with a snap election in March, but the conservative opposition led by Friedrich Merz wants an election in January.

Olaf Scholz should call a vote of confidence in December so that everything can be clarified before Christmas and the New Year, Hofreiter told Bild.

Spokespeople for Scholz and the SPD did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Scholz was scheduled to speak in a nationally televised interview later on Sunday.

Scholz on Friday demanded a calm debate among Germanys squabbling factions on setting a date for a snap election to pull the country out of its political crisis.

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 an election.

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With inputs from agencies.
Putin said Russia could help countries with sustainable development, the struggle against terrorism and extremism, combating epidemics, food problems and the consequences of natural disasters 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

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday promised Moscows total support for Africa, at a conference with African officials in Sochi in southwest Russia.

Our country will continue to provide total support to our African friends in different sectors, Putin said in a speech read out by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to other foreign ministers and senior officials.

Putin said Russia could help countries with sustainable development, the struggle against terrorism and extremism, combating epidemics, food problems and the consequences of natural disasters.

The conference taking place on Saturday and Sunday comes after two Russia-Africa summits in 2019 and 2023.

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Lavrov said Russias relations with Africa have been strengthening more and more.

We see progress on all axes of co-operation, he said.

The conference is another chance for Russia to promote its vision of a multipolar world  a month after it hosted a BRICS summit of major emerging economies.

Russia wants to show that Western sanctions aimed at isolating it over its Ukraine offensive have failed.

Russia was a major player in Africa in Soviet times and has been growing in influence on the continent in recent years, including with the help of Russian mercenary groups and through large investments in the raw materials sector.
Putin signed a law for the ratification of the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty between Moscow and Pyongyang, on Saturday. The Russian leader first signed the deal with North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un during his visit to Pyongyang in June this year read more

As the Russia-Ukraine war continued to escalate, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed legislation to ratify a strategic bilateral treaty between North Korea and Moscow. This ratification came at a time when Ukraine, South Korea and the US claimed thousands of North Korean soldiers are currently deployed near the Ukrainian border.

According to Russian news outlet Tass, Putin signed a law for the ratification of the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty between Moscow and Pyongyang, on Saturday. The Russian leader first signed the deal with North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un during his visit to Pyongyang in June this year.

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Before Putins signature, the lower and upper houses of the Russian parliament approved the bill for ratification, earlier this month. The controversial treaty entails that if either of the parties is invaded and placed under a state of war, the other will deploy all means in its possession to provide military and other assistance, without delay.

North Korean troops clash with Ukrainian forces in Kursk

Earlier this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that North Korean troops deployed in Russias Kursk region have fought the Ukrainian forces on the battlefield. Zelenskyy noted that 11,000 North Korean troops are deployed in the region, where Ukraines three-month military incursion into Russian territory has stalled.

Eleven thousand North Korean soldiers or soldiers of the North Korean army are currently present on the territory of the Russian Federation in the border with Ukraine on the north of our country in the Kursk region, Zelensky told reporters at the European Political Community summit in Budapest, Hungary, on Thursday.

Some of these troops have already taken part in hostilities against the Ukrainian military. Yes, there are already losses, this is a fact," he added. However, the Ukrainian leader did not specify the number of fatalities and which side suffered the most.

With inputs from agencies.
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said that Russias gains are only worth for tiny increments of land. It is, however, putting immense pressure on Ukraine read more

Britains chief defence on Sunday said that the Russian Army suffered a loss of 1,500 dead and injured in October alone as a result of the Ukraine war.

Talking to BBC, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said that Russians are paying an extraordinary price owing to President Vladimir Putins invasion and that the country bore the worst loss in October since the war began in 2022.

Russia is about to suffer 700,000 people killed or wounded - the enormous pain and suffering that the Russian nation is having to bear because of Putins ambition, the chief of defence staff said.

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Radakin said that Russias gains are only worth for tiny increments of land. It is, however, putting immense pressure on Ukraine.

He stated that the war, consuming over 40 per cent of public spending on defense and security, is also a significant burden on Russia.

Situation remains challenging

Meanwhile, Ukraines top commander Col Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi has said that the situation in Ukraine continues to remain challenging and that there are signs of escalation.

The enemy, leveraging its numerical advantage, is continuing offensive actions and is focusing its main efforts on the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove directions, he said.

Largest attack on Moscow

Russia downed 34 Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow on Sunday, the defence ministry said, in the largest attack on the capital since Russia began its offensive in Ukraine in 2022.

The attack, which forced the temporary closure of three Moscow airports, injured a 52-year-old woman and set two homes on fire in the village of Stanovoye in the Moscow region, officials said.

The defence ministry said Russias air defence had downed a total of 70 Ukrainian drones between 0400 GMT and 0700 GMT over six regions.

It said 34 were downed over the Moscow region and the rest over Bryansk, Orlov, Kaluga, Tula and Kursk.

In the Moscow region, local officials said the drones were downed in the Ramenskoye, Kolomna and Domodedovo districts.

With inputs from AFP
Security was beefed up outside the Canada High Commission in Chanakyapuri area after many Sikh protesters climbed the barricades and raised slogans against the violence inside a temple in Canadas Brampton. read more

Security was beefed up outside the High Commission of Canada in Chanakyapuri amid the protests. PTI

Security was heightened outside the Canada High Commission in Chanakyapuri after a protest by a Hindu-Sikh group denouncing the attack on a Hindu temple in Canada. During the demonstration, several Sikh protesters climbed the barricades and shouted slogans condemning the violence at the temple in Brampton, Canada.

The protest was organised by the Hindu Sikh Global Forum, which claimed over 1,200 Sikhs, including 300 women, took part. Delhi Police were seen urging the protesters to remain behind the barricades to maintain order.

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We have deployed additional force and barricadings have been done outside of the High Commission of Canada following a protest march call. Our teams are not allowing anyone to breach the law and order, a senior police officer said.

The Forum said it submitted a memorandum to the Canadian Embassy demanding immediate investigation and action against the culprits.

The Sikh community has always been contributing to the construction of the temple and the kind of allegations being levelled against the community are being made to divide Hindus and Sikhs, which the community will never tolerate, it said in a statement.

Protestors carrying Khalistani flags clashed with people at a Hindu temple in Brampton on November 3, triggering condemnation by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Indian government.

With inputs from agencies.